by Geoff North
They were almost at the top of the tree. The few remaining branches and leaves above swayed in the cool breeze revealing a dark mauve sky. The two watched as it turned navy blue and the first stars began to twinkle.
Becky broke the silence after another ten minutes. “I’ve never felt like this before.”
“What?”
“Like this… my body feels so right. So strong. It’s like I’m high or something.”
“You are high—high up a tree in Africa.” She giggled and he imagined that beautiful smile spreading across her face in the darkness.
“Do you think it will last?”
“What, these new powers or us being stuck here?”
“Both.”
“I don’t know.” He snuggled up against her and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her fingers ran gently along the dried blood on his forearm and settled on the back of his hand.
“There’s something you should know about me, Abe. Maybe now isn’t the right place or time but I need to tell you how I really feel about you.”
Abe could no longer think of any place or time better. They were alone in the night, safe in a private nest above the African savannah. The stars were shining above. That kiss he’d been ashamed of thinking about earlier would be the perfect end to an unimaginable day. “Go for it.”
“I always thought you were an asshole.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry, that didn’t sound very good… Let me try again. All those years growing up—being best friends with your sister… it was tough because you were always hanging around and bugging us. I guess I meant to say you were a pain in the ass—not an actual asshole.”
“Yeah, there’s a difference… I think.” He pulled his arm away out of embarrassment, not resentment. He could never imagine being angry at her for anything.
“But today, after all of this… maybe just being alone with you for the first time in our lives… well it’s kinda opened my eyes. You’re a nice guy, Abe.”
A nice guy. Even though they were the same age, Abe felt more like a “little brother” to Sheila, especially around her friends—and more specifically—Rebecca. He had been a pain in the ass, but only because he’d been secretly crazy about her since Elementary school. A part of him had always hoped she would see this. An even bigger part of him kept it a secret because of Allan and all their other friends. He’d lied to her earlier. He had called her Tubby behind her back—more than once. But he always felt like crap when he’d said it—he had only been going along with the other kids because that’s what teenage boys did. It’s how they acted and behaved when they were together. He’d never meant it. Never.
But that still didn’t make it right. And she still hadn’t brought up the fact that he’d run from the thing in the woods and left her behind. Hardly his most chivalrous moment. He supposed—he hoped—with everything they’d already been through in the last few hours it was something she wouldn’t remember. That doesn’t make it any better. He stared up through the branches and gazed at the stars. Would they find their way home in the morning? Could he keep them both safe until they did? Did he have the courage?
Becky shifted around and faced him. She reached for his arm and pulled it back across her waist. She whispered even though there wasn’t another soul around to hear. “I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m sorry.” He started to reply but she placed a finger over his lips. “Maybe it’s because I’m scared, and focusing on my insecurities helps keep my mind off things. I shouldn’t be bringing all of this junk up now.”
The finger that had touched the creature’s blood was still resting against his chin. He could feel the hardness of it. A million insects buzzed and chirred in the swaying grass for miles around. A monkey screamed even further away. Abe leaned over in the dark and kissed her forehead without saying another word. It wasn’t how he pictured the night ending a minute ago, but he wasn’t disappointed.
Chapter 4
Allan gave her a hurt look. “An asshole?—is that what you think I am?”
Sheila flicked a piece of pepperoni across the booth at his face but Allan was ready. He caught it between his teeth and chewed it in with the pizza crust already in his mouth. She glowered at him, wishing it had stuck against his forehead. “I was maybe hoping for an apology. After what we did in the afternoon… the way you just left.”
“We already talked about that. I said I was sorry.” He waved the waitress over and they ordered more soft drinks. Allan watched her walk away, his eyes dropped to her behind the moment Sheila reached for a napkin from the metal dispenser against the wall.
“I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy it. I just hoped it would be more special—not so rushed.”
“Sometimes these things just happen.”
“Oh listen to you, the voice of experience.” She leaned across the table so none of the other patrons at Eldon’s Diner could hear. “I’m not ashamed to admit it was my first time, so don’t act like you weren’t a virgin either.”
Allan leaned in even closer and kissed her. “I’m not ashamed. It was the best fifteen minutes of my life.”
The waitress returned and cleared her throat as she set the drinks between them. “You lovebirds ready to pay up, or can I get you something else?”
Sheila sat back quickly. “Uhh… sorry about that… the bill please.”
Allan was grinning and reaching into a back pocket for his wallet. “Aww, look at you. You’re blushing.”
“That’s Brenda Taves, one of my Mom’s best friends.”
“So?” He was fishing in another pocket.
“So I don’t want this getting back to her…She can be awfully over-protective.”
“I’d be more worried about your dad. I don’t think he likes me very much.” Allan was checking his front pockets. “Shit, I think I left my wallet at home. Didn’t you bring a purse or anything?”
“Are you kidding? It’s our first date.”
“So we’re dating now, hey?—Seriously, I got no money.”
“Well you better think of something quick. She’s coming back.”
Brenda smiled at the two and placed a small tray on the table with the bill. There were two red suckers wrapped in plastic placed on top. “You kids all done?”
Allan returned her smile with as much charm as he could muster. “This is really embarrassing but I left my money at home. Would it be possible to come back first thing in the morning?”
“Well I could get you both in the kitchen to wash dishes.”
Sheila could feel her cheeks turning red. She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “I’m never going to hear the end of this.”
“Relax, sweetie,” Brenda comforted her. “Casanova here can come back in the morning.”
Allan was still grinning, and like most teenage boys, took things a little too far. “Better still—how about you pay for it?”
Brenda’s good humor vanished. She turned to Allan—no doubt ready to direct him into the kitchen where a sink full of dishes waited—and her face went blank. She reached into the wide pouch at the front of her apron and produced a small wad of crumpled bills. “That… shouldn’t be a problem. I have more than enough in tips to cover your bill.”
Sheila reached for Brenda’s wrist and gently forced her to put the money back. “No, please, that’s not necessary. We’ll be back in the morning to pay. I’m so sorry he said that.”
“No, I insist… I want to pay for your meal.” Brenda placed a few crumpled five dollar bills on the table. She weighed it down with some quarters and dimes and backed away from the couple. “You kids take your time—stay as long as you want.” She went to the next table with a slightly vacant look on her face and asked the elderly couple seated there if she could bring them more coffee.
Sheila’s cheeks were still burning. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“I can’t believe it worked.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “Come on—let’s get going before she changes her
mind.”
They made their way quickly outside. “I still want you to come by in the morning and pay her back.”
“I’d rather save my money and take you out again tomorrow night, maybe go for Chinese.” He made it sound as if Birdtail was a huge city with different dining options for each night of the week. In fact, their hometown had less than two thousand residents and only three restaurants.
“What’s gotten into you today?”
Allan wanted to say something dirty but decided against it. He was filled with energy and confidence. The girl he’d had a crush on since grade three was holding his hand. They were on their first date and they’d made love earlier in the day. He wasn’t surprised Brenda Taves had paid for their meal. “I just feel good. It’s been a great day and I feel like there isn’t anything we couldn’t do.”
“Well don’t push your luck.” She saw the deflated look on his face and kissed the back of his hand. “It’s been a great day for me too.”
The cocky smile returned. He pulled a rolled up twenty dollar bill out of his jeans. “There it is! Stuck inside that dumb little pocket behind the bigger one.”
“Shouldn’t we go back and pay for the pizza?”
“And miss the coming attractions? I’ll pay her in the morning.”
A small lineup had already started to form in front of the theatre. There was only one screen in Birdtail’s movie house, but it wasn’t as busy as it had been back in its heyday during the late seventies and early eighties. Those were the days when Allan’s parents had gone to the movies together, before his Mom left and his Dad became an even bigger raging alcoholic. They no longer played movies every night of the week, only Fridays and Saturdays. Talk was it would shut down in the fall and be converted into another old folks retirement home. The crowd outside this evening consisted of less than a dozen other teenagers from school.
A few kids were from their grade. Todd Curdett—one of Birdtail High’s resident jocks that normally didn’t have more than two words for Allan any other day—spotted the unlikely couple headed their way. “You gotta be kidding me… Allan Bagara and Sheila Feerce? If they weren’t holding hands I’d say they were just sharing the sidewalk at the same time. How’d you manage it, Bagara? What’s a dickhead like you doing with one of the hottest girls in town?”
Allan ignored him and took his place in line. He gripped Sheila’s hand tighter.
Todd’s girlfriend, Amy Jayce, spoke next. “If you think she’s so hot, why are you with me?”
The two argued for the next few minutes and their friends joined in, leaving Allan and Sheila alone. They moved away from the crowd and sat on a bench at the corner of the theatre. “I dated him a few times back in Grade nine,” Sheila said. “He’s just jealous I’m with you now.”
“Whatever.” It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to knock him down. He was with Sheila tonight. That’s all that really mattered.
The doors opened moments later and they fell in behind the other kids to buy their tickets. When the others had passed through Allan smiled at the man behind the counter. Old Tom Smarte wasn’t the nicest man in town. His grumpiness was legendary among the younger crowd. It could’ve been another reason people weren’t flocking to the movies like they once had.
“You and the girl?” He snapped when Allan continued to stand there with a shit-eating grin plastered to his face.
“Me and my girl,” Allan answered. “We just came from a supper I didn’t have to pay for. I would like you to let us in for free, too.” He could feel Sheila wilting next to him.
“I guess that’d be alright,” Smarte answered after a moment’s pause. “You kids want some popcorn?”
“Two large with extra butter and one medium-sized Coke.”
He prepared the snacks and waved them through. “Enjoy the show.”
“That didn’t happen,” Sheila whispered as they found seats in the darkened theatre. “I could see us getting a break on the pizza, but that old buzzard’s never let anyone in for free. You’re behind this, aren’t you? You phoned Brenda and Mr. Smarte before we left home.”
“As if the old bastard out there would go for that.”
“You’re serious… you didn’t arrange any of this?”
Allan shook his head and munched on popcorn. An older couple walked down the aisle and sat directly in front of them even though the seats were still over three quarters empty. “You gotta be kidding me,”
Sheila whispered out the side of her mouth. “All this room and they have to sit right there.” The man in front of her was Albert Heyse, a teacher from the elementary school. He must have seemed like a giant to the children in kindergarten because the top third of his six-foot-six frame blocked out most of the screen.
“Want me to try some of that new found charm? A little more hypnotic persuasion?”
“No, you’ve embarrassed me enough and made us look like mooches.” She leaned forward and politely spoke between the two heads. “Sorry to bug you Mr. Heyse—but could you maybe scrunch down a little so I could see the screen?”
Smythe did better than that. He leaned forward and placed his head between his knees. “Is that better?” He asked in a muffled voice that floated up from the back of his seat in front of her feet. Sheila rolled her eyes and sat back. She always thought he was a nice man—a little intimidating maybe, but quiet and soft-spoken—a true gentle giant. She didn’t expect him to be such a jerk in public. The coming attractions started. Heyse’s wife, Greta, poked her husband in the ribs with a fat elbow. “Quit acting like a fool and sit up.”
Allan finished a mouthful of popcorn and attempted to smooth things over. “Don’t worry about it, we can find another seat.” He’d actually wanted to move the moment he saw her waddling down the aisle. Albert Heyse was tall and gangly, Greta was all width. Allan had worried the seat would collapse into his legs when she sank into it. And then there was the smell—like a three-hundred pound block of old cheese left out in the sun. He stood up and waited for Sheila. She gave him a defiant look and remained seated. Wonderful, he thought. She’s about to make a stand.
“Why should we have to move? We were here first.”
Greta’s fingers dug into her husband’s forearm. “Sit up and say something to that little bitch.”
Sheila looked from Allan to the pasty blob with hair on top. “Excuse me?”
Greta turned and challenged her head on. “You’re one of the Feerce twins, aren’t you? Does your mother know you’ve already started whoring around?”
“Shut your mouth,” Allan said.
There were a few hushed calls somewhere from behind to be quiet. Todd Curdett rushed by them as Allan yanked Sheila out of her seat and disappeared back through a door to the ticket booth. He’s probably going to complain to Mr. Smarte about us. They made their way to the far side of the theatre where the view was acceptable and the air smelled of popcorn and discarded chewing gum instead of sour body odor. Greta Smythe didn’t make a sound.
Smarte appeared from the back and loped down the far aisle, peering over the seats through the thick lenses of his black-rimmed glasses. His hunched form threw a monstrous shadow across the screen as he searched through the front seats and started up Allan and Sheila’s way. They slouched down in their seats.
“What the hell’s wrong with you kids?” He said once he’d spotted them. “I let you in for nothing and give you free stuff, and this is how you behave. Goddamn ungrateful is what you are.”
Sheila tried to defend herself, sinking lower into the seat. “She called me a whore.”
Smarte leaned in closer. “It doesn’t give you the right to back-talk adults. You two should be ashamed. I want you out of here.”
“Go away,” Allan said.
Smarte straightened up and cocked his head to the side. He had that same puzzled expression on his face when he’d let them in—the same blank stare that had passed over Brenda Tave’s face as she’d dug into her apron for tip money.
All
an whispered. “Now.”
Smarte went back to the front without another word.
The Hangover had started and most of the audience was already laughing. Only four people inside the theatre weren’t sharing the humor. Allan was pissed off and scared, and Sheila had sunk into her seat as far as she could go, fighting off tears. Greta Heyse sat with her lips sealed, bubbles of snot popping out of her nostrils because she couldn’t open her mouth to scream. Her husband couldn’t see the movie at all with his head buried between his knees.
“I want to go home,” Sheila managed to say.
They went through the front lobby—Mr. Smarte stared down at the carpeted floor as they passed by—out into the early evening. It was a mile and a half walk back to the Feerce farm and neither had much to say along the way. They were no longer holding hands. Sheila’s arms were crossed tightly over her chest, Allan’s hands were planted into his pants pockets.
“Maybe the water in town’s polluted,” Allan said as they started down the forested lane. “Or maybe the adults are all on crack.”
Sheila stropped as they came round a bend and watched the sun as it started to set behind the house. “Where’s my brother?”
“You have a brother? That’s news to me.”
“My twin brother… Your best friend.”
“Okay. You have a twin brother and he’s my best friend. What’s his name?”
She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Allan reached out to steady her. Sheila pushed him away. “I don’t know. I don’t know my brother’s name. Allan… what’s happening to me… to us?’
He held her against his chest. “You’re an only child… like me.” He could feel her hitching but she didn’t make a sound. “This other stuff—the way we made those people do what we wanted—I don’t know what the hell that is.”
“Abraham… his name’s Abraham. Everyone calls him Abe, but sometimes you call him Abie. Do you remember?”
Allan stroked some hair away from her wet eyes. “His hair’s black, like yours.”