Summer of Seventeen

by Jane Harvey-Berrick

  I stopped by a couple of other places on the way home, but they all said the same thing. I even looked at the ads posted on the community board at Publix. But it was just people looking for nannies and babysitters. It was easier for girls—they could always get jobs looking after kids or walking dogs. I wouldn’t have minded doing that, pet sitting or whatever. I liked dogs, but adults thought girls were more responsible or something.

  I was batting zero when it came to earning any money this summer. I would have liked just being a beach bum, but there was no way Julia would give me anything, not that I’d ask anyway, and I hated being broke.

  I took a quick shower when I got home, but I’d left my wet towel in my bedroom a couple of days ago and it smelled rank, so I borrowed Julia’s. She wouldn’t mind. So long as she didn’t know.

  Then I heard her yelling my name.

  Busted.

  “Nicky!”

  The whole neighborhood could have heard her. Seismometers probably measured something on the Richter scale. If they ever needed a Godzilla at Disney World, she could nail it. Probably wouldn’t need a costume either.

  “WHAT?” I yelled back, because I knew that would annoy her. If she wanted to treat me like a kid, that’s what she was going to get.

  “Get down here!”

  Yeah, not happening. She only wanted to yell at me some more. I took my time getting dressed, hoping that if I was slow enough she’d change her mind about wanting to see me. That worked sometimes.

  I could hear the low rumble of voices from the den, which probably meant that the dude had arrived to see the room. I could tell that Julia was being all nicey-nice, like she was a princess or something. She wasn’t a princess—she screamed when Ben was fucking her, words that I didn’t know she knew.

  I walked downstairs slowly and watched her while I leaned against the doorjamb. I never used to notice stuff before. Now I noticed everything, even when it made no sense.

  I’ve been like that since Mom died. I don’t know how to describe it—it was kinda like I was looking for the clue, the sign that would tell me, this person is going to die on Tuesday. Like Mom. Shouldn’t I have known? Shouldn’t there have been some sign the day before, something that told us to say everything we needed to say? To say goodbye?

  But it doesn’t work like that.

  Right now Julia had this super sweet smile on her face that made me want to hurl, and she kept tucking her hair behind her ear and twirling it like Zoe Ward did in eighth grade when she wanted me to notice her.

  Then Julia saw me.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that we had someone coming over to see the room?”

  “You weren’t here.”

  Her eyes narrowed and her lips got all thin. “You couldn’t leave a note?” she asked, her voice rising too sharply.

  That made me hide a smile because I could tell she wanted to yell some more but not in front of the guy.

  “This is Nicky,” Julia said to him, rolling her eyes in that chick way.

  “Nick,” I said, and pushed my hands in my pockets.

  The guy looked at me, like really looked at me, and then held out his hand.

  “Hi, I’m Marcus. We spoke on the phone. How you doin’, man?”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  I shook his hand. Julia was smiling again now and totally eye-fucking him. He was a lot like the kind of guys she used to have pictures of on her bedroom wall before she started dating Ben. I could tell that this dude worked out a lot. I was pretty toned and had the kind of long, lean muscles that you get from surfing, but this guy was built. Funny thing was, he looked like me, but with gray eyes instead of blue, and I guessed he was maybe ten years older. I looked a whole lot more like him than I did Julia—yeah, me and Marcus could have been brothers.

  “Nicky is my little brother, who I am going to strangle for not telling me you were coming,” she said to the guy, like I hadn’t spoken.

  I hated it when she did that. She knew it, too.

  “I can come back later?”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  Fine? So why was she making like I’d committed a crime by not telling her about him?

  “How many rooms do you rent out?”

  Julia’s eyes flickered to mine, and I wondered if she really was planning on renting out my room.

  “Just the one. Our mom died … so we kind of need the extra money, you know?”

  “Oh, sorry.”

  No one ever knows what to say when you tell them that your mom died. They say ‘Oh sorry’ but what they really mean is that they’re sorry you embarrassed them by telling them someone died, as if it’s catching or something. So they say ‘Oh sorry’ like it means something, but it’s just words.

  Then the dude looked at me.

  “That sucks,” he said.

  I didn’t reply because it sucks when you forgot there was a test and then you get a D, or when you miss the bus and have to walk miles, or some douche steals your last dollar because he thinks it looks cool to light a blunt like he’s Snoop Dog. Those things suck.

  Mom died and the world doesn’t spin the same way anymore. I wanted to say that, but I didn’t. I just looked at him and nodded.

  “Don’t mind my little brother,” said Julia.

  And I was burning inside, but I didn’t show it because that’s not how I roll. So I just stared at her like I didn’t care and that pissed her off even more. But it was her fault because she made me out to be a dick in front of this dude, and maybe I was a dick, but “us against the world,” that’s what she said at Mom’s funeral. What a freakin’ bunch of bullshit.

  “It’s $590 a month, all utilities included. The bathroom and the kitchen are shared—obviously.”

  “No problem.”

  I could tell Julia was uncomfortable when she told him, “It’s the first month’s rent plus a security deposit.”

  The dude just gave her a toothpaste-commercial smile, but looked her right in the eye.

  “Can we say a week in advance, and I’ll give you the rest when I get paid? I’ve just started a new job.”

  “Oh, I don’t know…”

  “Just till I get paid.”

  “Well, I guess…”

  Ha! She’d caved already. The dude was good, because that never worked for me.

  “Thanks, that’s great...? Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Oh! I’m Julia.”

  And then he winked, and her face went beet red. It was kind of nauseating. I thought she was into Ben.

  “Can I move my stuff in tonight, Julia?

  He was saying her name like I wasn’t even in the room.

  “Tonight?”

  She was really flustered now and kept looking at me. But it was her deal and usually I kept my mouth shut around her, because everything I said was wrong.

  “It’s either that or sleep in the van,” said the guy, still smiling.

  I looked out the window and saw a vintage VW camper parked outside. It had a couple of surfboards and a paddleboard secured to the roof rack. It wasn’t that surprising—we got a lot of guys coming here to work the summer months and hope for waves. The surfing wasn’t great during the season, but the fact that Kelly Slater was born here still pulled them in, even though the dude was really old, like 40 or something. But being an eleven time ASP world champion earned respect.

  It was kind of interesting watching Julia with this guy.

  “Um, well, as you can see, the room isn’t furnished yet. I only posted the listing yesterday. I didn’t think anyone would want it so soon.

  “Well, hey, that doesn’t bother me. How about you make the rent $450 and I’ll get my own furniture?”

  I could see my sister doing the math, or trying to, because even though she was a teacher assistant in the elementary school, she couldn’t add for shit. I could have helped her out and told her she’d be losing $420 if he stayed the whole season, and that you could get used furniture for way less than that. I could have.
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br />   “Um, yeah, that sounds fair,” she said.

  “Great! Thanks, Julia.”

  “Just one thing,” she said, and this time she used her school voice. I recognized it because she used it on me all the time. “I have to get up early for my job. I can’t be dealing with a lot of noise at night.”

  That was news to me. Maybe Julia was working as an assistant teacher for the summer program. She hadn’t told me. Yeah, so freakin’ surprising.

  “Well, I’ll be working some late shifts, but I can park the van around the corner.”

  “Where do you work?

  “The Sandbar, down by the pier. Do you know it?”

  “Oh yes. I go there sometimes.” She hesitated and looked at me again. “Well, I’d better get you the spare key, Marcus.”

  She left us alone, and I stared at the room with the worn sofa, scuffed paintwork and sagging floorboards. It looked empty without Mom’s TV and her magazines, especially now that we’d gotten rid of her broken old cot that she’d sleep on. Julia had sold the TV even though she knew I wanted it for my room.

  “There didn’t seem to be much swell today,” the guy said.

  I’d almost forgotten he was there.

  “Nope.”

  “Guess I’ll take my paddleboard out.”

  I shrugged and looked away.

  “It must be pretty shitty to have a stranger come and rent a room.”

  I was surprised by what he said, but it was true. It sucked major ass. I hated being poor.

  “I’ll try and stay out of your face.”

  Julia walked back into the room, throwing me an evil look. Jeez, I hadn’t even said anything. Maybe I was breathing too much air.

  I left the room, but Julia screamed out to me.

  “Nicky! I hope you didn’t use all the hot water again—Marcus wants to take a shower!”

  Great. The dude had only been here five freakin’ minutes and he already wanted to shower. Just what I needed: Julia stressed out because of him being here. Fun times were certainly in my future. Not.

  I headed for the kitchen hoping that there were some Pop Tarts left. It would be at least an hour before Yansi’s mom served dinner, and I was starving.

  I finally found one lousy package left all the way in the back of the kitchen cabinet. Then I heard the shower running so I guessed the new guy had made himself right at home.

  While I waited for the toaster to pop, I grabbed a soda from the fridge and sat on the step outside the back door watching Julia hang out some towels on the line. I wanted a beer, but Julia would be pissed and I didn’t think it would be a good idea to show up at the Alfaros smelling of alcohol. I was trying to stay on Yansi’s parents’ good side—although I wasn’t sure Mr. Alfaro had one when it came to me.

  The shower turned off at the same time the front door opened and Ben walked in. Julia had given him a key two months ago. I guess Mom had agreed to it, but I don’t know because no one tells me shit. I mean, I didn’t really mind, but I thought it would have been nice for someone to mention it seeing as though I lived here, too.

  There were footsteps on the stairs, then I heard Ben’s voice.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  He sounded pissed. I guess Julia hadn’t told him about renting the room out either. Funny enough, that made me feel a little better.

  Marcus kept his cool though.

  “Ben, right? I’m Marcus. Julia rented me the room today.”

  There was a pause, but Ben sounded much calmer when he spoke again.

  “Oh! Sorry, buddy. I just thought…”

  I could see from Julia’s face that she’d heard everything as she marched past. Boy, she looked mad, and for once it wasn’t aimed at me.

  “What did you think, Ben? I’d really like you to finish that sentence!”

  I followed her into the hallway, curious to see how this was going to pan out.

  Marcus was still halfway down the stairs, wearing just a towel. I could see how that might have given Ben the wrong idea. Marcus looked amused, standing there with his arms crossed.

  Ben looked like a dog who was about to get whipped.

  “Babe, I…”

  “I’m not finished!” she yelled. “Kitchen! Now!”

  Then she pushed past me, and Ben followed after her, still apologizing.

  Marcus looked at me. “Are they always like that?”

  I thought about it for a moment. Julia yelling at full volume. Check. Ben getting his ass handed to him. Check.

  “Yeah, pretty much,” I said.

  Marcus shook his head as he walked into his room.

  “Fun,” he muttered.

  I heard the toaster pop and wondered whether it was worth risking life and limb by going into the kitchen, but the yelling was pretty one-sided, so I thought it would be safe.

  I snuck in and snatched up the Pop Tart, juggling it between my hands, hoping it wasn’t going to ooze or anything gross like that before it was cool enough for me eat.

  But Julia spotted me.

  “Nicky! Where are you going?”

  I scooped up my Tony Hawk from the hall and slammed the front door behind me. I didn’t owe her an explanation. She wasn’t Mom.

  Mr. Alfaro’s truck was parked outside the house when I got there, and he was unloading a bunch of equipment he used for his lawn care business. I’d hoped he wouldn’t be home yet because, like I said, he didn’t let anyone speak English, which made it hard for me. Yansi’s mom was more laidback and I think she liked me, or felt sorry for me or something, and she was always trying to feed me, which I didn’t mind.

  At home, Julia bought the groceries but she never cooked anything. She didn’t trust me to buy food either, in case I came back with things that weren’t on the list. That was a misdemeanor, maybe a felony.

  “Hola, Señor Alfaro. Can I help you with that, sir?”

  He stared at me with flat, black eyes, then nodded once.

  I hopped up onto the bed of the truck and passed down two weed whackers in different sizes, a chainsaw and some other shit that he used. He even had one of those old fashioned hand mowers that you pushed. I thought most people had ride-on mowers these days, so I wasn’t sure when he’d use it, but I guess he did because it looked pretty banged up. Yansi said he took care of 20 yards each week, depending on what the owners wanted done, and sometimes worked on Saturdays too, but never on Sunday.

  I heard their front door bang open and looked across to see Yansi standing there in these real short denim cut-offs, barefoot.

  She grinned up at me, rubbing her ankle with the sole of her other foot. She did that all the time, and I told her it made her look like a flamingo. She did it now because it was sort of like a private joke for us.

  She had great legs even if she wasn’t that tall, with smooth, caramel-colored skin that felt like silk when I touched it. I must have let my eyes linger a little too long, because Mr. Alfaro snapped something at her, too fast for me to catch. Yansi scowled, then turned on her heel and darted back inside.

  I felt guilty and annoyed—even more so when my face heated up.

  Without another word, Mr. Alfaro pushed the mower toward the garage, leaving me standing in the truck.

  I wasn’t sure if I’d been dismissed, but after a few seconds I headed inside.

  Yansi was waiting and attacked my mouth the moment the door was closed behind me.

  “Ignore him,” she murmured as her hands roamed under my t-shirt and across my chest.

  For someone who’d never had a boyfriend before me, this girl had some moves.

  I shivered as the tips of her fingers brushed over my nipples. I have no idea why they were so sensitive—I thought that was supposed to be just girls. I had to push her away quickly when I saw Beatriz watching us with solemn eyes.

  “Mami, ella está besando a Nico de nuevo!”

  “You little sneak!” hissed Yansi, but her sister darted away before she could grab her.

  “Holy shit, Yans! You wanna
get me killed?” I choked out, sounding like someone had sandpapered my throat.

  We heard her mother call from the kitchen and Yansi sighed, giving me a look full of longing that was in danger of heading straight to my shorts.

  “Ya vengo, Mami,” she said, and walked away, smiling at me over her shoulder as she swung her hips.

  That girl just about killed me. I looked down, but my t-shirt covered my semi pretty good.

  I followed her into the kitchen where Mrs. Alfaro was stirring a huge pan of Sancocho. Yansi hated it, mostly because they had it three or four times a week. I could eat it every day and never get bored because her mom never made it the same way twice. Today I could smell the chicken in the stew and when I peered into the pan, large pieces of corncob were floating in it.

  “Hola, Nico! Cómo estás?”

  We caught up on our days while Yansi set the table, and I told her that I’d been job hunting but hadn’t had any luck. Then we had a few minutes before supper was ready, so Yansi pulled me out into the backyard where we could talk without being overheard. But no touching. Mrs. Alfaro could see us from the window.

  “What’s up?”

  I could tell by now that Yansi was pissed about something.

  “Mami got a job as a nanny with some rich family over in River Falls.”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “So,” she said, sighing heavily because I’d obviously missed the point, “it means I’ll be stuck babysitting all summer.”

  “Oh.” Crap.

  “Yeah. It really sucks. And I won’t even get paid. I’ll never be able to see you!”

  “We’ve still got the evenings, maybe some weekends?”

  I was really pissed off about it, but trying to hide it for Yansi’s sake. I guess I wasn’t doing a good job because she scowled.

  “You know they’ll never let me out in the evenings, especially with you.”

  “Tell them you’re meeting your girlfriends. Esther will cover for you.”

  “That won’t work. Papi always phones her parents to make sure I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

  “Go for a sleepover. When her folks have gone to bed, you can sneak out.”

  Her eyes lit with excitement and I felt my pulse speed up.