Skipping school isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s a rite of passage in most schools. (There’s actually a “cut day” at the high school I attended, a time when it’s widely known to students and teachers as the designated day to skip class.)
For Gabe, he hated one of his teachers and would do anything to get out of class. With a math test scheduled, Gabe thought he could ditch the class that day and avoid having to take the test altogether. Feeling confident that his absence could span the entire day without going noticed – a la Ferris Bueller – Gabe planned a day of fun at the mall and his favorite lunch spot.
With his attempt to avoid Mr. Hudson in the afternoon class, Gabe enjoyed his morning checking out the latest CDs at the mall’s music store. He got some lunch and then went to the movie theatre. After the film, Gabe’s teenage hormones kicked in and he went to a newsstand to get his jollies flipping through adult magazines. They were always high up on a top shelf, sometimes behind a slight plastic barrier but the title could be seen peeking from above.
When the coast was clear of adult customers, it wasn’t uncommon for high-school boys to gather around and flip through some pages and giggle with excitement. The cashiers at the store wouldn’t allow the purchase of said materials but didn’t stop the group for ogling.
The convenience store that he and friends frequented didn’t have any mags in stock. The cashier, who obviously recognized the thirsty teen, mentioned another place close by that had an entire section devoted to the printed smut. It wasn’t a porn store, it was technically a newsstand. Curious and definitely interested in the prospect, Gabe all but ran to the place to check it out.
When he got there, a loud door chime announced his entrance. Instantly, he noticed all eyes dart in his direction as if to startle anyone who just got busted doing something they shouldn’t be. Aisles and aisles of magazines and newspaper racks filled the store. Any kind of car magazine, music publication, sports periodical – and every interest in between – was available. Curiously, though, dirty magazines didn’t appear in the mix. Surely, in a place with so much variety there had to be some skin mags. (Did the convenience store dude lie?)
As he casually wandered the aisles pretending he didn’t know what he was looking for, Gabe made his way to the back of the store where he noticed an entirely different section to the left.