Killdeer Dance

by Ronn Fryer

  She was tempted, however, to respond to the letter concerning the warranty expiration on her vehicle. She’d better hurry though, this was the second ‘Final Notice!’ All the same, she wasn’t upset with the U.S Postal Service. They made money off junk mail, and even if they lost all her birthday cards, they did at least deliver her termination letter.

  Reaching into the faded mailbox this morning, however, Olivia’s heart fluttered. Not only was there an actual letter, it was marked Air France. She instantly knew who it was from, even though she had no idea how it found its way across the big pond, to her little mailbox.

  Livvy stared at the letter a long time; so long, in fact, that a car actually passed by on Bissonette. The letter was real enough though, complete with bright red and blue diagonal strips bordering the envelope. It even had a return address: Ramona Blanchard, 19 Rue Constadt, Nice, France.

  The mystery of how the letter found its way here intrigued Olivia almost as much as its contents. Her curiosity for either, would certainly have been fatal to most felines. She didn’t know when she’d find the courage to open it, but she definitely wasn’t ready to face it yet.

  Totally perplexed, Livvy stood rooted by the roadside, her bare feet only inches from the poison ivy creeping up the mailbox post. Clutching the letter against the non-existent wind, she began reminiscing about the little French exchange student. It had to have been extremely difficult for Ramona to leave her native country, especially during her senior year.

  The truth however, was that the girl could have counted all her friends on four fingers with three left over. She did have a real friend, once. Sadly, intimate kisses slowly fostered a coldness born of unrelenting guilt.

  Ramona had known she was different from the earliest age. She never saw the logic of coveting the latest frock or acting stupid around boys. She had nothing in common with the other young girls who flocked together, planning a series of parties designed to display their charms to the most popular boys – often the same ones that taunted her relentlessly. Sadly, cruelty almost seemed a rite of passage for the young males, especially once they became aware of her tendencies.

  Lycee years started off just as painfully, until she finally confronted the whispered rumors.

  "Ouais, je suis gay - quel est donc votre point de vue?" – “Yeah, I’m gay – so what’s your point?” After which, she was ironically granted her basic wish of simply being left alone.

  Olivia, of course, knew nothing of the girl’s past. Summoning the will to finally carry the letter to the cabin, she knew only that Ramona had been taken with her, had been unbelievably sweet, until – well, until that horrible incident.

  There’d been no goodbye. The girls had literally pulled up stakes the morning after Tina’s visit; Jennifer and Kiki piling into Courtney’s Toyota minivan, while Nikki and Ramona climbed into Stacy’s Grand Cherokee. They sounded their horns as they passed Ruthie’s and continued six miles up River Road, over the bridge into Oscoda. By noon they were south of Standish. While the girls in the Toyota chatted nonstop, Stacy listened to the radio as Nicole cat-napped. Seated behind, Ramona spent most of the trip back, simply staring out the window.

  Olivia could only imagine what her former admirer had thought, or felt, since the cooler episode. She certainly had plenty of time for soul-searching. Not only was the canoe trip over, her stay in the U.S. had also come to an end. If she hadn’t sorted things out by the time she reached Detroit Metro, there was always the long flight back to France. The other side of the world should be far enough away.

  Although already late getting to the tower, Olivia remained at the kitchen table, staring at the letter. Trying to guess its contents was evidently a damn sight easier than actually opening it. Was it a diatribe on how despicable Olivia had been? She certainly never tried to lead Ramona on. True, she hadn’t disclosed the intricacies of her biology, but she just didn’t feel the need to blurt out – ‘oh, by the way’ – every time she met someone.

  The letter, of course, might just as easily be an apology: ‘Sorry I fawned all over you, gawked at you like you were a freak after you risked your life to save me, then left without a word.’

  Of course the letter might be something completely different, something Olivia couldn’t guess or even possibly imagine. One thing was for certain though, she’d never know what was inside if she didn’t open it.

  Chapter 5 – Tina Gives Notice

  Olivia didn’t realize how much she missed Tina until she heard the Sabre pull up to the cabin. The sound of the Buick with its squeaky fan belt was instantly recognizable through the uninsulated walls – not to be confused with horrible El Caminos or police cruisers. With no other company than the kits, Livvy had been spending her evenings lost in paperbacks.

  Her routine rarely varied. After a long, tedious day of staring at treetops, she’d trek home along the old railroad ridge, make sure there were no unwanted visitors at the cabin, jog across the clearing and shove the key into the door latch. Then, as soon as she entered, she’d quickly lock the door behind her. She was young and resilient, her face no longer showed any trace of Bobby’s handiwork, but she had absolutely no interest in a return bout.

  With school back in session and the football season well under way, the boys had plenty of new subjects on which to inflict pain. Hopefully, after a day of trouncing opponents they’d be too tired to continue harassing some stupid little forest twit. She was tremendously relieved that there hadn’t been any new gouges in her road recently. All the same, the vintage Schlage offered precious piece of mind.

  Once safe in her knotty pine sanctuary, Olivia would feed her babies, change out of her greens, and curl up in the living room’s only piece of furniture. The threadbare lounger was hardly impressive décor, but it had survived the seventies with only superficial wounds and it was noticeably more comfortable than either of the wooden kitchen chairs. And, bathed under the glow of the ceiling’s single 60 watt, it offered sweet refuge after a long day of sighting the Osborn on perpetually uncharred terrain.

  Even though loneliness was taking its toll, Olivia had begun staring fondly at the cabin’s interior, wishing she didn’t have to leave. It might not be much, but it was hers – at least for the time being. Unfortunately, the remaining days of her occupancy now seemed shorter than her stack of twenty-five cent yard sale finds.

  Olivia didn’t try to hide the joy of Tina’s visit. The poor girl didn’t even get a chance to knock. Jumping up before the Sabre’s door slammed, Livvy dropped her book (without even marking the page), and darted across the slippery cement floor. Twisting the deadbolt, she pulled the door open and enveloped her friend in a massive hug.

  “Good to see you too,” Tina managed, in spite of her squished lungs.

  Confused by the sudden disturbance, Arvy yipped and Felicity scooted into the bedroom.

  “I’m sorry,” Livvy offered apologetically, as she released her embrace, “Come in!”

  With the cabin’s rustic furnishings eliminating the need for options, Tina set her purse on the kitchen table and pulled out the chair with the wobbly back. Olivia shushed Arvy and plopped down across from her friend, more than a little eager to catch up.

  “I’ve missed you,” Livvy confessed, as if her enthusiasm wasn’t obvious enough. “What’ve you been up to?”

  Tina offered her trademark smirk and began relating a series of excruciating dull events, most of which hardly worth mentioning. Evidently Olivia wasn’t the only one dealing with the beast of boredom. It sounded as if the cashier had finally reached the end of whatever rope she’d been clinging to. One more night of babysitting might seriously drive her to drink, and the store’s business had slowed down to its usual crawl after the Labor Day weekend.

  “Guess Ruthie’s isn’t the most exciting job,” Olivia offered.

  “Are you kidding,” Tina quipped, “I could hardly contain myself after I sold the second loaf of bread today!”

  “White or wheat?” Livvy asked.
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br />   “Sesame seed!” Tina exclaimed, as if it had been a significant milestone in her career. Then, rather than disclose any more details of her fabulously exciting life, she turned the focus on Livvy. “So what about you, girlfriend?”

  Olivia’s heart nearly melted at the feminine reference. Those two syllables pretty much answered every question she was afraid to ask. After a lifetime of emotional abuse, Livvy wondered if she even deserved such a friend.

  “Me? Let’s see.” Livvy began. “Well, after I finished touring with Beyoncé, I did the talk show circuit. Now I think I’ll fly my Learjet to Monaco and retire to my mansion.”

  “Ooouu, sounds exciting.” Tina cooed.

  “Yeeeah, well,” Olivia admitted, “I might be exaggerating a little.”

  “Oh,” Tina replied, “You mean your mansion’s not in Monaco?”

  “No, you’re actually sitting in it now.”

  Tina scanned the bleak interior of the cabin in mock admiration, “I love the chandeliers and marble statues.”

  “What about the chipped knotty pine cabinets and the frayed curtains?”

  “Very shabby chic,” Tina said. Then, turning serious, she added, “Well, it is a bed and a roof over your head.”

  Sighing, Olivia admitted, “For another couple of days anyway.”

  “Meaning....?” Tina asked.

  Livvy reached for her purse, opening it carefully without exposing the unopened air mail envelope tucked inside. Once Tina saw it, there’d be no resisting her persuasive powers. Olivia wasn’t being intentionally secretive, she just wasn’t ready to inspect its contents, or her feelings.

  Deftly selecting the official correspondence, she slipped the termination notice out and slid it across the table. “Is Ruthie hiring?”

  Tina scanned the document and looked back to Olivia. “Well, actually, there is going to be an opening.”

  Studying her friend’s expression, Livvy asked, “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

  “Yep, I just gave notice.”

  Olivia’s heart sank. She’d done her best to avoid thinking about the days ahead. Even though she’d managed to save a good deal of her salary, it was pretty hard to be optimistic without any more foreseeable income, or a place to live. Staying in this little berg without her friend was unthinkable; and, if any prospective employers were considering her resume, they were certainly good at keeping it a secret.

  A mere six months earlier she’d been elated, so eager to start a new life. Now her future seemed as bleak as the cabin walls. After all, what did she have to offer – a half years’ experience watching trees blowing in the wind?

  Tina’s outlook, however, had to be something else. She was amazing. With her looks and personality she could go anywhere and do anything. It was a wonder the town had managed to keep her this long.

  Olivia knew they were destined to part ways soon enough, but the sudden realization all but sucked the air from her modest little chest. Even though she’d had plenty of practice concealing her emotions, the thought of never seeing Tina again sidestepped all her defenses. Tears burst from her eyes in a flashflood.

  Stunned, Tina asked, “Why are you crying?”

  Sniffling and apologizing at the same time, Olivia mumbled, “I’m sorry.....I just.”

  The soon-to-be-unemployed cashier, however, realized she’d neglected to reveal all the details of her travel plans. Everyone, including Olivia, assumed Tina was completely self-sufficient, that she didn’t need anyone. That wasn’t quite true. Foote Site’s loveliest resident may never have hurt for attention, but popularity didn’t necessarily equate with quality. Despite the all the sweetness and light, people usually had a hard time getting past her looks and jealousy doesn’t tend to be much of a compliment.

  Tina wasn’t unaware of her physical assets, she just never let them define her. There certainly wasn’t any reason to apologize for who she was. She just never played games and she didn’t tread water, unless, of course, she happened to be in the river. Authenticity meant everything to her; and, consequently, she’d learned to be selective. And, whatever anyone’s cursory remarks might imply, her affinity toward Livvy wasn’t just a matter of circumstance. Despite biology’s little miscalculation, Olivia was genuine – painfully so, at times. Even as their friendship meant the world to Livvy, it meant every bit as much to Tina.

  Reaching across the table, she captured Olivia’s hand. Staring straight into the girl’s eyes, she squeezed it ever so slightly, and confessed, “It is time I left, but I wasn’t planning on leaving alone.”

  Chapter 6 – Cal’s Gift

  Cal never talked about his all-expenses paid spa retreat, trudging through the Asian rice fields. The shrapnel that sliced up his legs sent him home early and he considered it a blessing of sorts. Facing the bloody carnage from the blast could have sent him into irreversible shock, but his extremities were oddly numb; and besides, he couldn’t see a damn thing. Everything had gone from retina scorch to pitch black in a microsecond.

  The original prognosis had been grim. Recuperation was going to be excruciating and doctors were skeptical that the young recruit would regain his vision, much less his mobility. Odds weren’t conclusive on either, but nothing they’d bet on.

  Cal, who perpetually lost his ass at poker, nevertheless managed to beat the house at the VA hospital, holding tight with the medical equivalent of aces and eights. Within six months he could not only hobble about with the aid of a cane, the cloudy images were gradually getting clearer.

  Released with a medal, a walker, and glasses thick as January ice on the Pond, the young man returned home to the little store in Foote Site where his mother hugged the stuffings out of him and put him to work stocking shelves.

  Hardly a glamorous life, it did, however, provide a steady paycheck and an attached apartment. Fifty feet behind the store, there was also a ramshackle garage that held the powder blue and white, 1965 Volkswagen bus purchased just before his deployment. Decked out with a factory camper unit and popup top, it was still patiently waiting for the big road trip to Colorado. Dreams, it seems, don’t die easily. Even though Cal could no longer drive, he nevertheless had the local mechanic faithfully service it each year, which pushed the odometer dangerously close to two thousand miles.

  The day Tina gave her notice, Calvin tossed her his keyring and said, “You’ve had your nose in those travel magazines ever since you started here. I know your heart’s set on leaving, but that POS of yours won’t get you anywhere.”

  Tina, basically dumbfounded, didn’t know what to think. She knew Cal had something stored in that old garage; but, like most things associated with the past, he never talked about it and she never asked. Her best guess was that it was probably some kind of muscle car.

  “The big key is the garage, you’ll figure out the others,” he added, as he steadied himself against the chip rack.

  Despite being unsure what he was even offering, Tina protested, saying, “Cal, I can’t...”

  Ruthie’s only son wasn’t much of a talker. He didn’t bend your ear and he never argued. It was one of the many reasons they’d always worked so well together.

  “Yes, you can,” Cal corrected her. “Besides, you don’t even know what’s in there.”

  “Cal, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone,” Tina said, then added, “...I’m not even sure I’m coming back.”

  Calvin shifted his weight, readjusted his glasses, and gave her a look. Even if they didn’t share blood, she couldn’t have asked for a better big brother. He’d been her friend, confidant, and protector from day one. A good part of whatever faith she had in humanity was due strictly to his benevolent nature.

  Chrissy, in turn, adored Cal, never taking his kindness for granted. She’d been grateful for so much, least of which was his sudden appearance the time Bobby and Slacker had confronted her at the store. His presence had been an absolute blessing, even though she doubted he could have offered much deterrent if things got ugly. She never suspe
cted, however, the full extent of Cal’s loyalty, or his past.

  Tina knew that Calvin had served overseas, knew it had been traumatic, but that was years ago. Working beside him at Ruthie’s, she couldn’t picture a young solider huddling in the unrelenting rain, Saint Christopher white-knuckled in his grasp. Only his nightmares flashed back beneath palm fronds dripping rivulets, as sweat trickled down through his stubble.

  Terrified in the face of unspeakable violence, he’d counted the seconds as the world disintegrated about him. Grateful beyond words, he’d somehow survived the worse conflicts, only to later witness inexcusable acts of retribution inflicted on helpless captives.

  That was a different time, of course. Front-row seats to perdition, however, provide a lifelong memento; an annealed wisdom and the strength to enforce its will.

  As calm as he may have appeared that day, Cal knew those boys and he recognized sheer meanness. Even as his voice remained pleasant, his hand never came out of his pocket. Assuming false confidence was her best deterrent, Tina never once suspected that the act Cal would not have hesitated to execute, would guarantee her safety. His reference to the boys’ coach was, after all, intended to save their asses, not hers.

  Meanwhile, Tina continued to protest such a lavish gift. Her benefactor, however, knew the matter was already settled. “Chrissy, I’ve been here a long time,” he explained, “know pretty much everybody in this town and I’ve got more fingers, than people I can count on. Those that have my back are even fewer.”

  A grin spread over his face as he added, “I heard what you told that lady.”

  “Lady...?”