“Calm down, you’re gonna wake the dead.” A gravelly voice called out from one of the “suites.” Sefira heard boots slowly clunking in their direction. Shortly thereafter a tired-looking older black man clad in a grandpa-style white t-shirt and khaki pants emerged. He held some sort of snack on a plate, his amber-brown eyes were wide, appearing shocked by the idea of a stranger in their home. The thin grey hair on his head was tousled, the color matching the unruly whiskers on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me we had company?” He put his plate on the kitchen counter and brushed the crumbs off his mouth in a vain attempt to fix himself up. Walking over to Sefira, he grinned and offered his hand. “Hi, I’m Alfredo, Blythe’s dad. And you are?” He asked the question politely; however, Sefira could tell he already knew the answer.
“I’m Sefira.”
“Aah. Finally, you two have met. I’ve heard a lot about you. The resemblance is uncanny.”
Baffled, Sefira inquired, “The resemblance to…”
Sefira could’ve sworn Blythe cut Fredo a look. “What I meant is that Blythe has the same ‘look’ in her eye that you do. You’ve got the power, don’t ya kid?”
Completely caught off guard, Sefira looked to Blythe for reassurance before answering. “Don’t be afraid,” said Blythe, “he knows.”
Sefira chuckled nervously. “Uh, yeah. I guess so.”
“You can rest assured that your secret will go no further than this room. Blythe can attest to that. So how can I help you ladies?” His chair squawked as he joined them at the table.
Blythe answered. “Sefira is looking for her mom. It’s a long story, but she has reason to believe she may be locked up in North Carolina.”
Fredo scratched the top of his head. “Well now, I think you can go to the Internet nowadays and look her up. Do you think she’s in County or State?”
“No,” said Blythe, scooting her chair further in. “That’s not what I mean. I mean—”
“She’s locked in a mental institution.” No point in waffling through this. “They’re doing research—I think.”
“Yeah,” said Blythe, picking up where she left off. “Since you’re from there I was wondering if you could help us narrow down our search.”
“I see.” He clasped his hands together. “She could be anywhere, quite frankly, but I’d bet my bottom dollar that she’s somewhere in the Triangle Park area. The government conducts a lot of scientific research there, and everything is kept nice and quiet-like.”
“I always knew you were good for something,” Blythe joked.
“Very funny. Anything else?” Fredo asked—he looked eager to please.
“No, thanks for the tip,” answered Sefira.
Blythe turned to Sefira. “Now that we’ve got things narrowed down a little, give me her info, and I’ll put a call in to my friend Binx—the guy I was telling you about.”
“I don’t have her information on me.”
“I’ll call you. I’ve got your number,” she said.
“You really think this can work?” asked Sefira, a hand cupping her chin.
“Yeah. I’m telling you Binx is like a prodigy at this stuff. Getting into your phone was like a morning warm-up for him. We’ll let him work his magic and see what he comes up with. If she’s there, he’ll find her.”
Sefira nodded. “Well, I better get home. I have a lot of homework and I have a feeling I’ll have a hard time concentrating.”
“Okay,” Blythe said.
“Whatever you do,” Fredo interjected, “please look out for my baby girl. Sometimes she reacts first and thinks later, and I can’t have anything happen to her.”
“Aw you’re so sweet, Fredo. Quit turnin’ it up for the company,” Blythe teased.
“No—I’m serious. You’re a headache, but you’re all I’ve got left in this world and I can’t imagine life without ya. You be careful, ya hear?”
Fredo walked around the table and they embraced. Sefira might have felt a little uncomfortable witnessing their exchange if it weren’t so darned touching.
“I will, Fredo,” said Blythe patting his back. “Don’t worry,” she stepped back, “you’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
“Oh, speaking of getting rid of things. You’re going to have to stop feeding these cats.”
“What cats?” asked Blythe.
“You know, the ones that have been hanging around the side of the house.”
“I’m not feeding any cats.”
“Well, somebody is because there’s at least ten of ‘em meowing outside my window at night. Can’t get any sleep. If it ain’t you, maybe it’s Ms. Zoila over there turnin’ into the cat lady.”
While Blythe pondered Sefira stood up. After all, it was getting late. “It was nice meeting you, sir. Thanks for the—” Blythe put a finger on her, and they were instantly whisked back to a remote area of Eisenhower High.
“Seriously Blythe, you’ve got to stop doing that.”
“Don’t worry, he won’t take it personally. Just get me that info ASAP and clear your calendar for this weekend.”
“Why?”
“Knowing Binx, he’ll have some info. for us by then.”
“Alright, if you say so,” Sefira said.
Blythe threw up two fingers. “Peace.” With that, Blythe was gone and Sefira was left to retrieve her things from her locker and meander toward the parking lot to meet Celeste.
Blowing Kisses
“What’s this?” Celeste asked as Sefira dropped a piece of paper in her lap.
“It’s a permission slip. We have an away meet at San Luis Obispo, and we’ll be there till Sunday. I just need you to sign this so I can go.”
“Why are you giving me this at the last minute?” She looked up, wearing her funny-looking reading glasses.
“Sorry, I missed school that one day, and the meet completely slipped my mind. Can I go? Please?”
Celeste thought about it. “It’s the whole team, right?”
“Right.”
“You’ll be gone two days? Why so long?”
“Coach wants us to bond. We’re supposed to go to the meet and have breakfast together the following morning. They’re footing the bill for rooms, food, everything.”
“What about the sleeping arrangements? Where are you staying?”
“Um, the DoubleTree I think. They’ve got parent volunteers and things; everything will be fine.”
“What are you running?”
Sefira hated lying, but she was knee deep now, she had to commit. “So far, the 110, 220, and 4x100. I’m the first leg.”
“That’s great honey, congratulations. Hand me a pen.” Celeste signed the slip and passed it back. Her face screwed as if she were contemplating something. “You know, maybe we should make this a family affair. Randall, Carli and I could all come out to watch. It would give us all a chance to get out of the house. Where did you say the meet was again?”
“Uh, that’s okay. These are just preliminary meets. They don’t count for anything. When the real ones start, I’ll let you know.” Sefira folded the permission slip and placed it in her back pocket. Sefira’s cell phone rang from the kitchen counter. Thank God. She slipped away. “Hello?” Sefira answered.
“Hey Sefira. It’s Kaetano.”
Sefira smiled. “Yeah, I figured as such. What’s up?”
“You busy?”
“Why?”
“Would you mind stepping outside for a moment?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at your place.”
Sefira sighed. I knew it. I knew he was gonna come. “OK. Be there in a minute.”
The night air brushed Sefira’s cheeks bringing with it hints of rose as she walked out the front door, down the porch steps and rounded the corner of the walkway. The moon was out, it’s crescent glowing behind cloud cover. Kaetano was on the sidewalk, with his back propped against the side of his car. His green sweatshirt looked brown bathed under the orange light of the stre
et lamp. At the sight of her he unfolded his arms and straightened up, his face dissolving into a smile.
“Hey,” he called out.
“Hey,” said Sefira, drawing near.
“I know I should’ve given you more of a head's up,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure things were okay. I, um, was thinking about what you said about Coach, and so I hope you don’t mind—I talked to him. You can easily get your position back if you let him know you’re serious about track.”
“Yeah?” Sefira slid her foot down the side of the curb, relishing the gritty feel of concrete against her bare feet. “That was sweet of you. But, I’m not even sure if I want it anymore. ”
He studied her. “You know,” elbows bent, he rested his palms on the car. I have this weird feeling that there’s something you’re not telling me.”
Sefira kept her poker face. “No, I’m cool. I feel bad that you drove all this way to find that out.” She rubbed her arms.
“I drove all this way because I care about you. I know we just met, but I feel…” He looked to the sky chuckling at himself. “I don’t know…there’s just something about you—about us.” Even in darkness his eyes were intense. “I think you feel it too.”
“Kaetano.” She swallowed, her eyes averting his as her stomach took a tumble. I can’t believe I’m about to do this. “I think you’re a great guy,” I have to do this, “but honestly there is so much going on in my life right now, I don’t feel like I have room for anything else.”
Her eyes met his. Kaetano pressed his lips, glancing at the ground before meeting her eyes. “I know the 'just friends' speech when I hear it. Can’t say I’m not disappointed, but it’s cool. Just—don’t squeeze me out, okay? I want to be there for you. If you’ll let me.”
Sefira bit her lip. Sweet words. Why couldn’t you have come around before all of this happened? Sefira didn’t consider herself boy-crazy, but she could recall a time or two when she would lie on her bed fantasizing about some mysterious boy materializing out of nowhere. In her daydreams, he was handsome, clever, sweet and romantic. And she would bump into him at some benign place like a bookstore or coffee shop. They’d sit and talk for hours, laughing, marveling over shared dreams and feeling like they’d known one another forever. He’d be her best friend. Her champion. And she’d be his. In the dream, they’d walk off, hand in hand; a sunlit future warming their faces, shadowy pasts at their backs.
Kaetano’s voice brought her back to Earth. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you some space, but if you change your mind or need me for any reason, I’ll be there.”
Sefira nodded. “I appreciate that. We’ll talk sometime, okay? Just not right now.”
“Okay.” He reached over, smoothed her cheek with the pads of his fingers and kissed her gently on the forehead. How she managed to avoid becoming a puddle on the ground she would never know. “Talk soon,” he whispered and just as suddenly as he came, he left.
Sefira stood there, barefoot on the sidewalk, wind in her hair, sadness in her heart. As disappointed as she felt, she knew she had made the right decision. There was no time for “like”, let alone “love”. All of that would have to wait. As grandma would say, ‘there are bigger fish to fry.’
Surreal
The rain kept Sefira up as she lay in bed. It hummed as it travelled through the house’s rain gutter and emptied onto the pavement below. Any other day it would have been welcome, but tonight it irritated her. In fact, everything irritated her. What did I ever do to deserve this?
It took a long time for her to finally drift off to sleep, and when she did, she was immediately submersed in a dream.
It was sweltering outside. The sun sat in the middle of the sky like an angry egg yolk raining sweat down Sefira’s forehead and back, soaking her sundress. She was standing in the middle of a dirt road, the sides of which teemed with tall green grass and trees which stretched into infinity. A warm wind gusted through, kicking up a plume of dry red earth that stuck to her white canvas shoes.
A battered green street sign marred with the same red dust hung limply from its post. No doubt it had seen better days. She squinted and was able to make out the word “Bucknee.” The name had a familiar ring to it, but she couldn’t remember why. She decided to walk alongside the road, and after what seemed like hours, happened upon a blue and white house tucked in the woods. A white pickup was parked on the pebbled driveway.
Her thirst was insatiable, so she proceeded to walk up the driveway and didn’t give a thought to walking straight through the front door to fetch a drink. The inside of the home was immaculate and surprisingly modern. To her right was a small living room and to her left a kitchen. The wooden floor creaked underfoot as she entered, heading for the sink when she heard a voice. She walked through the kitchen and into a family room. A small boy, maybe four or so, sat on his knees pushing a train on its tracks. He looked familiar. “Wanna play?” he asked, looking at Sefira.
“No thanks,” she answered.
“Play time’s over,” a man declared from the other side of the living room. “Time to exercise.”
The boy’s shoulders slumped and he dropped his gaze to the floor. “Again, Dad?”
The man returned an icy look. “Do I hear whining? You know there’s no whining allowed in this house. Right?”
“Yes, sir,” answered the boy, eyes lowered.
“What was that?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, louder this time. Slowly he rose to his feet and followed the man through a door, Sefira in tow.
They were now in a basement of some sort devoid of natural light. The room was illuminated by fluorescence. Unlike the rest of the house, this room looked clinical. Expensive looking equipment lined the walls, and a lab coat with the name “Mark Witherspoon” embroidered across the chest, was draped over a chair. The man was now seated on a short stool opposite the same boy, only he was older now, about thirteen, and his face was full of fear. She watched as the doctor strapped him down, hooked him up to monitors, and placed a strange contraption on his head. Something of a wreath of twisted metal with five metal points. Secured to each point were yellow and blue braided leads that ran to numerous points on his body. He was definitely no stranger to this process. The leads were secured by plier like apparatuses and she could see purple and black marks where its teeth had previously dug into the boy’s skin.
A phone rang. “Hold on,” said the man as he pulled a cell from his pocket. The kid looked relieved as the man walked into an adjoining room, black book in hand. Sefira followed.
“I know what I said,” the man said, speaking to the voice on the other end of the line. “I’ll have your money, with interest. Just give me more time.” He fidgeted with the binding on the book. “You’ll just have to trust me.” He pushed a button and went back into the main room.
“I’ve got a lot of money invested in you, Chase,” he remarked to the kid in the chair. “It’s time for my investment to pay off.” He cranked the knob on the machine and the boy’s jaw clenched. Numbers appeared on a computer screen. Sefira couldn’t tell if the man was recording them or writing something else, but his nose was now buried in that black book as he scribbled away, then cranked the machine up a notch.
The boy was wailing now and his hands trembled violently. Sweat poured from his temples and Sefira’s stomach knotted. The boy couldn’t turn his head, as his neck was strapped in, but his eyes turned. He looked directly at Sefira, mouthing “Help me.” Filled with a sense of panic, Sefira lunged for the knob and managed to snag its tip, but in her haste forgot about the stool in front of her. She tripped, banging her elbow hard against the equipment.
Sefira was panting when she opened her eyes. Was it a dream? Turning her head slightly, she felt the cushiness of the pillow beneath her, and when she moved, the sheets wrapped around her waist. It was a dream. But it felt so real. Rain pattered against the roof like a steady drum, and this time she was thankful for it.
Water. A nice tall glass
of water sounded really good right about now. She turned to get up and a sharp pain pierced her elbow. She winced, reaching for the sore spot when her arm brushed against something cool and spherical, knocking it to the hardwood floor. Like a marble it rolled until it bumped into something.
A cold shiver crawled up her spine. That’s not possible. She knew she should investigate but knowing and doing were two different things. If it turned out to be what she thought it was, she feared she might lose it entirely. She sat there with goose bumps popping over her skin when something flashed in her peripheral. Lightning?
The covers slid off of her silken pj’s as she gathered the courage to get out of bed and pad over to the window beside her desk. The pane was cold against her forehead as she leaned into it, breath fogging her view. Wiping the pane with her fingers, she peered outside and the first thing she noticed was that her yard was an abyss. The back-porch light must have burned out. That was probably what flashed. She sucked her teeth. That’s the second time that dumb thing has burned. Water. Before she turned away, lightning struck, briefly illuminating her backyard as well as something else—the silhouette of someone standing below, a few feet away from her house.
Her pencil box tumbled to the floor as she recoiled, tripping over her own feet and nearly taking everything off her desk with her. What the? It took everything in her to muster up the courage to get up and go back to take another look. Cautiously she returned to the window, clutching her shirt’s neckline as she waited for lightning to strike again. It did, several times. The light was so bright that she could clearly see that there was no one there. It’s the dream, that’s what it is. It’s messing with my head. Despite knowing this, she couldn’t resist the temptation to wait a little longer, just to be certain.
Waiting proved difficult. Minutes dragged. Her attention was about to turn to the mess she’d just created when lightning struck again. This time a face pressed against her window. She must’ve cleared a foot when she jumped back yelping as something or someone rapped on her windowpane.
For Blood & Glory Page 26