by R. J. Ladon
Ready to give up, he walked back to his bedroom. Against the knee wall that surrounded the stairwell was an enormous wooden box with a domed lid. Inside, Kevin found a few old outfits, but most of the box was empty. “Perfect.” Kevin fetched his father’s nasty, outdated clothes and unceremoniously tossed them into the trunk. Afterward, he trotted down to the main floor.
“Rap, do you believe that? Darn, kids have no respect.” Grandma pet the cat as she watched a news report about graffiti in downtown Avalon. She glared at Kevin. “I hope none of your friends would do that to public property.” She pointed to the painted image of an eye with a slit-like pupil put on park benches and slides in a playground.
“Of course not.” Kevin frowned. All he had was Annie, all he wanted was Annie, and she would never do that. “I’m going to fetch my stuff. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Okay, dear.” Ruby waved her hand to acknowledge she heard him.
The grandfather clock in the hallway between the kitchen and living room chimed 4:45. He loved the reassuring thrum.
Kevin slipped through the kitchen and out the back door into the backyard. Ruby loved to garden and kept her raised beds in a herringbone pattern. During spring and summer, flowers, shrubs, and herbs filled almost every open space. Now only perennials and mulch were left. Ruby enjoyed playing in the dirt even if there were no weeds to pull or seeds to plant. She used to become depressed in the winter until she discovered mushrooms and cultivated them in the basement. Over time she added culinary and medicinal herbs to her basement garden. The greenery thrived under UV lamps.
He walked under the old sprawling bur oak. The branches were gnarled and twisted. The tree used to give Kevin nightmares when he was little, but now it reminded him of Halloween. Within its protective canopy was a fancy clubhouse Grandpa and Grandma made for Kevin’s father, Jerry. As a child, Kevin was too afraid of the tree to use the magnificent fort. His triplet sisters, however, never had a problem and played in the structure often.
Kevin opened the chain-link gate at the back of Grandma’s property and stepped into his parent’s yard. His mother had little time left in the day to maintain a garden like Ruby. Instead, her backyard was the domain of the girls. They had an enormous jungle gym, with slides, swings, monkey bars, and a climbing wall. It was enclosed by edging and filled with wood chips. Recently the girls were ignoring the play equipment, using the clubhouse instead.
He walked into the kitchen of his parent’s house. Donna looked up from chopping vegetables. “Hello, Kevin.”
“Hi, Mom. Can I use a laundry basket to bring some clothes to Grandma’s?”
“Sure, dear.” She continued chopping. “Oh, Kevin, why don’t you and Grandma come over for supper? The girls would love it if some things didn’t change.”
“Seriously? I haven’t even been gone for a day,” Kevin whined. It’d be challenging to see Annie if he still had to play big brother to his kid sisters.
“They love you, Kevin. One day you’ll appreciate that.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Kevin stomped into the laundry room and grabbed a basket. He walked to his bedroom, set the basket on the floor, and dumped his clothes inside.
“Do you think Mom would let me sleep in your room?”
Startled, Kevin turned quickly. “Inez, you love scaring me, don’t you?” His sister lounged on his bed. Her long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders.
She smiled at him. “I’m not Inez; I’m Mina.”
Kevin laughed. “Liar.”
Inez frowned. “Dad falls for it all the time.”
Kevin added his deodorant to the basket. “I’m not Dad. Besides, you three aren’t identical.”
“What?” Inez sat up, indignant. “We are too. Our teachers can’t tell us apart. Or the doctors and dentists. Or Father Pat.”
“Oh, I’ve heard stories about you three causing mischief at school and church. But you’ve got your differences. Your teachers only need to pay attention.” Kevin scanned his bedroom. “What else do you think I should take?” His eyes fell on his video game system and laptop.
Inez slid off the bed. “You’re next door.” She placed her hands on her hips. “If you forgot something, come and get it.” She left Kevin’s room, shoulders square, nose in the air.
“Did I piss you off or something?” Kevin shouted to the open doorway.
Her fist appeared with the middle finger erect. The hand vibrated with intensity.
“Love you too, Inez.”
“Jerk.” And the fist was gone.
“Does this mean you won’t carry my gaming system?”
Chapter 4
K evin and Ruby entered his parent's house through the rear door. Setting the empty laundry basket on the floor, Kevin pushed it towards the laundry room.
Donna kneaded a ball of dough. “Good, you’re here. Would you please go in and play a game with the girls?” She tucked the dough's edges under itself until it was round and taut and then placed it in a bowl. “Kevin, put the basket away. Don’t leave it there.”
Kevin sighed, disappointed she’d noticed. He grabbed the basket and put it with the others.
Mina, Tess, and Inez sat on the living room floor. Each girl had five cards. Even though the eleven-year-old triplets had similar facial features, their mannerisms and clothing styles were vastly different. Kevin never understood why people couldn’t tell them apart.
“What are you playing?” Grandma asked.
“Rummy,” Mina replied.
“Who’s winning?” Kevin asked
“Me, of course,” Mina said, tossing her long black hair back, looking smug.
“It’s no fun playing games with her,” Inez said, pointing at Mina. “She always wins.”
Tess nodded in agreement. “Please play with us.”
“All right,” Grandma said as she settled on the floor next to the girls. “Let’s spice things up a little by adding another deck.” She snapped and pointed at Kevin. He turned and looked in the cabinets until he found a blue-backed deck to go with the red one in play.
“But that’s not how you play Rummy,” Mina protested.
“We’re not interested in rules; we’re interested in having fun,” Grandma said.
Tess nodded. “Yeah.” She moved closer to Grandma and leaned on her.
Kevin handed the cards to Grandma and then sat between Mina and Inez.
Grandma added the blue deck to the red, shuffling the cards like a dealer from Vegas. She bridged the cards a few times and dealt seven to everyone. “Okay, to make this more interesting, we’re using more cards per hand. All flushes and mates must be of the same color. So, if you have four Jacks, they all better be black or red. The same with your flushes. Understand?”
The girls said, “yes,” in unison. Mina pouted.
“Good,” Grandma said. She picked up her cards and spread them in her hand, arranging them to her liking. She smiled. “I have an excellent hand. Anyone interested in a bet?” She reached into her bra and pulled out a five-dollar bill.
“Grandma, you know Mom doesn’t like betting,” Mina scolded.
“Fine. Mina, you go first.” She returned the bill, frowning.
The clanking of plates and cups on the dining table prompted Kevin to shout, “Mom, do you need help?”
“No, no. You’re helping by playing with the girls.”
“Okay,” Kevin said under his breath. He wanted to move things along so that he could visit Annie.
A mumbled response came from the dining room, followed by the clatter of silverware.
“Leave her be, dear. If she wanted help, she would ask for it.” Grandma nodded. “Your turn.”
Kevin chuckled. “Am I going too slow?” He found Grandma’s itch to play games and gamble almost comical. With slow deliberation, he arranged his cards and then pulled a new one from the draw pile. He looked at it then eased it in and out of his hand, placing it in different locations, only to put it into the discard pile. Each of his mo
vements seemed to push Grandma deeper into a state of frustration and anxiety. “The look on your face is priceless,” Kevin said. The girls laughed.
“Shush and play.” A hint of a smile tugged on Grandma’s lips.
Inez drew a card, and the game resumed with stifled giggles from the girls. They played a total of three hands, with Tess, Inez, and Grandma, each winning. As Grandma shuffled the next hand, Mom called everyone to the table.
“But Dad isn’t home yet,” Tess whined.
Mom entered the living room. “He said to get started without him.”
“Okay, Mom,” the girls whined in unison.
Roast chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed vegetables, and freshly baked bread sat on the table. It smelled wonderful. The girls perched three-abreast on a bench with Kevin and Grandma sitting on the opposite seat. Mom sat closest to the kitchen.
Grandma grabbed the mashed potatoes to add a spoonful to her plate.
Mom cleared her throat, giving a piercing stare to Grandma. “Grace first.”
Grandma grunted, setting the bowl and ladle down. She took Kevin’s hand, then reached across the table to grasp Mina’s, completing the circle.
Mom said the traditional Catholic prayer, with Kevin and the girls joining in, “Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
Grandma mumbled a Wiccan prayer under her breath. “Corn and grain, meat and milk, upon the table before me. Gifts of life, bring sustenance and strength, I am grateful for all I have.”
If Mom heard what Grandma said, she gave no indication. “Okay, everyone, dig in.” She never approved of Grandma Ruby’s Wiccan practices, but she wouldn’t make a scene at dinner. Everyone tucked into the delicious food. Only the sounds of appreciation filled the room. Mom often dreamed of opening a restaurant or food truck. Kevin was confident she would be a success.
The front door opened with a thud and then reclosed. The girls brightened at the sound. “Daddy,” they squealed, turning in their seats to race toward their father.
“Stay at the table and eat,” Mom snapped.
“Aww.” The girls turned back, frowning. They huddled together, talking in their secret language, a combination of simple syllables and hand gestures. Mom disapproved of the communication. Kevin suspected they used it openly to make her mad.
Everyone at the table ate quietly while they listened to the noises Dad made. He dropped his lunchbox and shoes near the door and shuffled down the hall into his bedroom. Drawers opened and closed. Zippers were undone. He farted, then stumbled into the kitchen, mumbling something unkind about Tom, who was his boss. The refrigerator opened, followed by the pop and hiss of a bottle top.
Dad entered the dining room, wearing grey sweats and looking exhausted. He kissed Mom on the cheek. “Dinner looks great, Donna.” He passed the girls, patting them on the head, and sat at the table. Dad placed his beer next to his cup and reached for the chicken.
Mom grunted. “Jerry, you need to say grace.”
Dad looked first to Mom and then Grandma Ruby, who sat next to him. He bowed his head and mumbled a prayer. Kevin didn’t hear what prayer he said but suspected it was Wiccan. Dad grabbed the overflowing bowls and platters, piling meat and vegetables on his plate.
“So how was your day, dear?” Mom asked.
“Awful. My stupid boss wants us to work more hours.” Dad shoved mashed potatoes into his mouth but continued to talk. Most of what he said was muffled and distorted by the food. He drank some beer then continued. “Fast, he wants, and accurate.” He waved a drumstick in the air. “He has no clue. Fast I can do. Accurate I can do. But both?” Dad’s laughter had a tinge of mania to it. “Accuracy always suffers when I increase speed.” He stuffed the drumstick in his mouth and spoke around it. “The man is an idiot.”
The girls giggled.
“Dad, you sound crazy,” Mina said while she poked at her vegetables.
“Crazy?” Dad appeared offended. “I’ll show you crazy.” He crossed his eyes, flopped his hands around, and made grunting sounds.
The triplets giggled louder.
“That sounds like something I heard before. The mating call of a sasquatch.” Grandma Ruby nodded. “That’s right. A sasquatch.” She leaned forward, toward the girls. “I saw it a couple of months ago, in the woods down the street.”
“Do you think this is an appropriate conversation for the girls?” Mom asked.
“I do. It’s vital information.” Grandma retorted.
Mom looked at the clock, then sighed. “Your Sundowners wouldn’t allow you to know real from imaginary. Not to mention your history of LSD.” She said the three letters like they were some cryptic code that only adults knew.
Grandma waved her hand casually, dismissing the comment. “It was late that night,” she continued telling the girls. “I was out for a walk. The stars and moon were beautiful. I saw the beast lurking behind a tree, at Miller Park, like it was trying to hide from me.”
“May Jesus save your soul,” Mom said to Grandma.
Grandma Ruby shot an angry glance at Mom, then turned her stare to the girls, with a smile and twinkle in her eyes. “The squatch was nothing compared to the gnome that lives in my garden. He tells me all kinds of secrets. Like the boy, Tess has a crush on.”
Tess’s eyes widened. The triplets gasped and moved their heads closer together.
“Okay, okay, enough of this nonsense. It’s getting late. You all have school tomorrow. Now get ready for bed.”
“Aww, Mom,” Tess and Inez whined.
“She’s right. You didn’t finish your science homework,” Mina said scathingly and pointed to Inez.
“Tattletale,” Inez shouted, smacking Mina.
“Girls!” Mom barked. “You’ll get your showers in, get ready for bed, and if there’s enough time, you’ll work on that assignment, Inez. In fact, I want her to shower first.” She looked at the silent triplets through narrowed eyes. “Now, say goodnight to Grandma and Kevin.”
The girls grumbled but quickly hugged Grandma and Kevin before running down the hall, arguing about who got the shower second.
“In two more years, they’ll be teenagers.” Mom put her face in her hands. “I don’t know if I’ll survive.” She sniffled behind her fingers. “They set off smoke bombs in the boy’s bathroom today. Yesterday, Tess and Inez copied Mina’s science report. I thought I could go back to work soon, but I’m not so sure. Most days, I’m at their school talking to the principal or teachers.”
Grandma Ruby frowned sympathetically at Mom. “Come on, Kevin. Let’s clean the table, and we can get out of Jerry and Donna’s hair.”
Kevin nodded in agreement. He wondered if moving out of the house helped Mom. She seemed more frazzled than before. But if he hadn’t, then she would be taking care of Grandma as well as the triplets.
Chapter 5
T he drive home was uneventful. Avalon was a quiet town of twenty thousand. Megan’s father often referred to the city as a bedroom community. There were no factories or large businesses, which forced residents to either telecommute or work elsewhere. Still, Megan watched the rearview mirror and made sure she didn’t have a tail.
Large trees hung over Megan’s brick driveway, their autumn colors vivid red, yellow, and orange. The setting sun turned her white house to a soft pink. She clicked a button on her car’s console, and the center garage door opened.
Her father’s car was absent, which wasn’t unusual; she figured he wouldn’t be home for another hour. He worked in Chicago, and the commute time varied. Megan grabbed her gym bag, backpack, and the bug-out bag from under the car’s passenger seat. She entered through the kitchen door by punching in the six-digit number.
As she walked in, she tossed her gym clothes in the laundry room hamper. The cleaning lady washed clothes twice a week. Megan never saw her, but the house had a distinct pine smell on cleaning day. The chemical smell at the gym was similar. She often w
ondered if the same service cleaned both places.
Megan set her bookbag on a stool in the breakfast nook, then untied her bugout bag, unrolling it into a flat mat with many pockets. She fetched the cleaning kit off the top of the refrigerator, where she left it two weeks before. She turned on the small kitchen television. The PBS channel was playing a repeat of Nature - Worlds Most Wanted Animal. The episode was about the pangolin, a small, bipedal anteater, whose scales are worth a fortune on the Chinese black market. The story initially thought the pangolin would become extinct quickly, but the adorable creature soon caught hearts everywhere, which produced laws to save the animal and its habitat.
Megan’s phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Good, I caught you. Did you go to the gym today?”
“Aerobics.” Megan pulled her SIG Sauer P250 .40 caliber from a pocket in the bugout bag. She dropped the magazine, racked the slide to eject the round in the chamber, then field-stripped the pistol. Because the weapon stayed in the car, it was subject to vast temperature changes and humidity. Moisture and rust were ever-present enemies. The idea of a stainless pistol crossed her mind once, but the high shine would be a liability.
“I ought to go with you some time. What’s that noise? Are you watching TV or working on your car’s engine?”
“You can hear that? You know me and my science shows.” Megan set the gun chamber on the table quietly to lessen Bonnie's growing suspicions.
“Sure do. What is it this time? Wait, let me guess, something on PBS?”
“That’s where the best shows are. I love Nova and Nature.” Megan ran a microfiber cloth over the disassembled pistol, picking up trace amounts of moisture.
“Did you get a chance to look over the English assignment yet?” Bonnie asked.
“It’s not due until next week. I’m working on math and science tonight.” With a cloth-covered dowel rod, she plunged the chamber.
“We’re supposed to work on it together.”
“I know.” Megan’s father wouldn’t allow Bonnie in the house. “What are you thinking?”