The Cable Guy Summer

The July heat wave had turned everything into a sauna, including my dad's van where I sat dying of boredom. This was my summer job: assistant to the cable guy. My dad, technically.

"You gonna sit there scrolling TikTok all day or help me with this box?" he called from the customer's driveway.

I rolled my eyes but grabbed my **water** bottle from the floorboard. The plastic crinkled in the oppressive heat. At the door, Mrs. Henderson waited, probably in her eighties, squinting at us behind thick glasses.

"The television's been fuzzy since Tuesday," she complained. "Can't watch my stories."

"We'll fix you up, Mrs. H," my dad said, all charm and professionalism.

I followed him inside, already sweating. The living room smelled like lavender and old books. Behind me, someone cleared their throat.

"You're the cable guy's kid?"

I turned to see a girl around my age sitting on the couch, phone in hand, looking impossibly cool in this situation. Retro band tee, ripped jeans, zero embarrassment about her grandma's cable emergency.

"Yeah," I managed. "It's glamorous, honestly."

She laughed. "I'm Jordan."

"Marcus."

My dad was already behind the TV, untangling a mess of wires. "This **cable** is older than you, kid," he muttered. "Probably the original installation from 1998."

"My parents should really switch to streaming," Jordan said, watching my dad work. "But grandma's loyal to her cable package."

"Loyal to what end?" I joked.

She smiled, and something in my chest did a little flip. We talked while my dad worked—about school, about how we were both going to be seniors, about how this summer was dragging forever. It was easy, natural. Not like when I tried to talk to people at school and my brain short-circuited.

"So you're like, forced family labor?" Jordan asked.

"Basically. My dad said I needed to 'learn responsibility' and 'earn my keep.'" I made air quotes. "But he's paying me under the table, so I can't complain too much."

"That's actually kinda smart. My parents just make me volunteer at the food bank." She leaned closer. "Hey, want to hang out later? My friend Tyler's having people over. His parents are out of town."

Was this happening? Was I getting invited to a thing by a cool girl I just met while my dad fixed her grandma's cable?

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound casual. "That sounds chill."

"Perfect. Just..." She lowered her voice. "Tyler's been super **bull**-headed lately because his girlfriend dumped him, so fair warning. He's been acting all tough but he's actually miserable."

"I feel that," I said. "My best friend went through a breakup last month and acted like a complete different person. Started working out obsessively, posting thirst traps, the whole deal."

"Classic male response to emotional pain," Jordan said. "Repress everything and get buff."

Our eyes met, and this moment stretched between us—electric and charged and confusing. Was she flirting? Was I misreading everything? I suddenly became hyperaware of everything: my dad humming behind the TV, my sweaty hair, the way my voice sounded.

"Got it!" My dad stood up, dusting off his knees. "All fixed, Mrs. Henderson. You should be good to go."

We had to leave, but not before Jordan slipped me her number. "Text me about Tyler's," she said. "If you want."

The whole way to the next job, I couldn't stop grinning. My dad noticed. "You made a **friend**?" he asked, surprised.

"Maybe," I said, staring out the window at the shimmering asphalt.

"Good," he said. "Summer's better with friends."

Later that night, I sat on my bed, phone in hand, staring at Jordan's contact. My heart was racing. I'd never gone to a party without my usual crew. Never gone somewhere where I didn't already know everyone.

But then I thought about Jordan's easy laugh, about how she'd called me out on being forced family labor. About how she hadn't made me feel like the cable guy's weird son.

I typed out: Hey, this is Marcus from the cable situation. Still down for Tyler's?

Send.

Three dots appeared immediately.

Yeah!! 7pm. Don't be lame and bring **water** because Tyler will make jungle juice and you will regret everything.

I laughed out loud in my empty room. Summer wasn't dragging anymore.