by Jack Wallen
Babbette turned to Timely and tilted her head. “Cookies, really?”
“Do you have any better ideas?”
“We sit here and wait for Scott to come out,” said Babbette with finality.
“Seriously? That’s your plan? We’re two teenage ‘Kind girls beyond the boundaries of Tyler’s End and you want us to just sit wait? Who are you and what have you done with my bestie?”
Babbette turned to Timely, the look on her face dark, almost grave. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Timely stared, eyes wide, mouth agape. “Okay, Babs, you’re freaking me out a little. Is this where you tell me the ‘Kind are actually some inbred, cannibalistic, caveman holdovers?”
Babbette laughed. “No, silly. I was looking through some of father’s books the other day and came across this.” She pulled a small book from her bag and opened it to a page marked by a scrap of burgundy velvet. “Take a look at this picture.”
Timely’s jaw drapped. “It’s Scott…or…it looks like him. Exactly like him. Who is this?”
“According to my father, this was the first leader of the ‘Kind. He was the man responsible for tracking down the witch who saved our race from the plague. It was because of him that we survived.”
Timely ran her fingers over the image. “So you feel it’s your duty to connect with this doppelganger, in order to fulfill some prophecy or circle of life for our people?”
Babbette laughed. “Not at all. I just think he’s cute. Well, okay, sure…I feel some sense of duty to at least find out if Scott could be the descendant of this man. Apparently, after he brought the savior to our people, he disappeared. It was rumored he’d sold his soul to save us.”
Timely laughed. “Wow, this is getting deep. I don’t know if I should believe it all or assume you’re playing me the fool.”
“No one is playing anyone for anything, Timely. You and I are just creeping on a cutie for the afternoon.”
“Now that I can believe.”
Just as Babbette opened her mouth to continue her explanation, the front door of the house opened and Scott appeared. Behind him, a young female followed. Babbette stiffened at the sight of the other human.
“Who’s that, Babs?”
“I don’t know.”
As Scott and the stranger stepped together toward the driveway, they shared a laugh that spoke of familiarity.
“You want I should rough her up?” Timely dropped into a tough, New York accent. Normally, Timely’s antics never failed to elicit a laugh. This time, she was met with silence.
Scott and the girl slipped into a very generic, green car. Moments later, they pulled out of the driveway.
Timely slipped a pair of sunglasses over her masked face.
“It’s time to roll, my friend.”
The vehicle carrying the marks glided off. Timely gave a moment’s pause and then pulled out to follow. After a few blocks, she had their speeds matched and was holding at a constant distance.
“Don’t lose them, Timely.”
“Are you kidding? And kill the most excitement I’ve had in a very long time? Girl, it’s on.”
The tail was uneventful and led them into a part of town neither Timely or Babbette had ever laid eyes on. The buildings were graffitied in an almost orderly way – as if intentional – like the local authorities approved this ‘artsier’ facade to attract a ‘hipper’ crowd.
“All in the name of consumerism,” Timely mumbled.
“What was that?” Babbette asked.
“All of this art. It’s been too strategically placed to be organic.” She pointed toward a local pizza joint. “Above that dive; see the sign advertising nearby bars and chain restaurants? All to draw the crowd away from the local diner.”
“Look,” Babbette excitedly pointed across the street. “They’re going into a tattoo parlor, stop the car.”
Timely pulled the car over, shifted into park, and killed the engine.
“What do we do now?” asked Timely. “Do we follow them in?”
Babbette’s eyes went wide. “Yes.”
“Seriously? Who are you and what have you done with my Babbette?”
“Don’t worry. I came prepared.” Babbette reached back into her bag and pulled out two human masks.
Timely sucked in a quick, deep breath. “Babs, whose masks did you steal? That’s…”
“Against the law? Not these. I had father make these for me a long time ago, in case I needed to go out into the public without being seen.”
“What else do I not know about you? Babbette, I thought…”
Babbette touched her hand to her best friend’s face. “Timely, my love, as I’ve said before, there are things you cannot know. But I promise you this, everything will become clear soon enough. You are as much a part of the Gaultier family as am I. Father cannot keep our darker secrets from you forever.”
“Darker secrets? I don’t like where this is going, Babbette.”
Babbette laughed. “Maybe I shouldn’t have used that word. Yes, we have secrets. Are they dark and evil? Not at all.”
Timely sighed. Babbette looked back at the tattoo parlor.
“I promise you I will tell all after we find out what’s going on in there. Now, put on your mask and let’s go.”
Both girls replaced their human masks.
“Oh, this feels weird, Babbette…like not living in my own skin.” Timely shivered and peered to Babbette through new eyes. “How does it look?”
“Like I’m seeing myself in a mirror,” Babbette whispered. She reached out and traced the lips of the mask with her finger. “I’ve seen that face so many times over the years.”
“And I’m looking at a stranger.” Timely’s voice was distant. “I’ve never seen this face before.”
Babbette smiled. “It was the mask I wore the first time I ventured outside of Tyler’s End.”
“I prefer the real Babbette mask.”
“And I, the real Timely.”
The girls smiled at one another, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the shop. As soon as the door opened, they were assaulted by what sounded like a chorus of raging bees.
“Dad,” the voice of Scott cut through the air. “Is it cool if we’re here? I told Sally what you were doing and she wanted to stop by and watch you work.”
“Of course. You know you’re always welcome here, Sally.” The adult male voice replied.
Babbette and Timely walked on, toward the voices. They stepped into a hall to find Scott standing at the other end. He turned and locked eyes with Babbette.
Babbette’s heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight of Scott Maskey.
“Dad, looks like you’ve got some customers.”
Scott nodded and walked forward, toward Babbette and Timely.
“Sorry, my dad’s elbow deep in a piece. Is there something I can help you with?”
Babbette turned to Timely, her eyes large and her mouth tight.
“Ummmm,” Timely to the rescue. “We just wanted to look at some artwork. We’re both thinking of getting matching tattoos. Is that okay?”
“If you look around?” asked Scott.
Timely nodded.
“Of course. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. This is my dad’s shop. He’s down here.” Scott gestured toward his father and smiled – the sight threatened to melt Babbette’s heart and resolve. When he turned back to watch the work, Babbette turned to Timely.
“What are we doing?”
“I don’t know. This was your idea,” whispered Timely. “Let’s just look at some of the work and see if we hear anything.”
“No, Timely; I mean what are we…what am I doing? He’s a human boy. This could never work out.”
Timely grabbed Babbette’s arm and turned her so she could look deep into the wells of her fellow ‘Kind’s eyes. “Babbette, you are my dearest friend. In all of the many years since I’ve known you, I’ve never watched you fall so hard and be willing to v
enture so far off the beaten path, just for the chance to follow love. That’s what you’re doing. The ‘Kind have been so strangled by rules and prophecy that we’ve forgotten how to live outside of formal dances and human masks. You’re following something most ‘Kind have let grow stale with age – your heart. Who knows if anything will come of this or even if this human boy is right for you? But he came to you…twice. You owe it to yourself, him, and me to follow through with this.”
Babbette turned to Timely, tears sprinkling her cheeks. “Thank you, Timely. I don’t know what I’d do without your encouragement.”
“You’d still be stuck in Tyler’s End being courted by Skorsdan.”
Babbette shuddered and cast her eyes to the shadows on the floor.
“What is it?” asked Timely. “Babs?”
“We must talk about Skorsdan; but not here, not now. There’s much you need to know.”
Laughter spilled from the end of the hall. The young girl rushed past, chased by Scott.
“Sally, wait up.”
Sally stopped and held out her hand to Scott. “Kiss it. Kiss the ring of superiority.”
Scott dropped to one knee, took Sally’s hand in his, raised it to his lips and kissed.
“I bow to your intellect, my queen.”
Babbette grabbed Timely’s hand and squeezed…hard.
“It was a lucky guess. Oh wait, your dad is the tattoo artist. You should have known the answer to that question. So yeah…I guess I am queen for the day.”
Sally released another glorious laugh and exited the building. Scott followed close behind. Babbette stood, frozen silent, and watched the two race to their car.
“Can I help you, ladies?”
The voice caught them off guard. Both Babbette and Timely spun quickly on their heels.
“Was that your son?” The question shot out of Babbette’s lips before her brain could prevent her from asking.
“Yeah,” the man smiled. “My name is Don, Don Maskey. This is my shop. Are either of you looking to get some work done?”
“Was that your son’s girlfriend?”
Babbett’s follow-up question took Don by surprise. He tilted his head, like a curious dog, and smiled. “No. That’s Sally, Scott’s best friend. They’ve been running around together for, oh God, over ten years. Wow. You kids sure do grow up fast. Do yourselves and your parents a favor and stay as young as you can for as long as you can.”
Babbette and Timely exchanged knowing glances as Don paused to remove the black latex gloves from his hands.
“Wait, do you go to school with Scott? He didn’t do anything to either of you…”
“Oh my goodness no,” Babbette nearly shouted. “Your son is…”
Timely stopped Babbette before she dug a hole from which she’d never escape. “My friend here has a bit of a crush on Scott, that’s all.”
Don Maskey let loose a great and wonderful laugh.
“I’m sorry…not laughing at you. It’s just…it’s such a relief to finally hear a cute girl like yourself has an interest in my son. He’s always had Sally by his side, so he never really stood a chance with another girl. I can get him back here if you like?”
Had the flesh mask that covered Babbette’s true face not been there, the rise of a heated blush would have been obvious.
Babbette stepped forward and offered her hand to Don. “No, that’s okay, Sir. Thank you so much for your time.”
Don took Babbette’s hand in his and gave it an easy shake.
“You’re very welcome. Stop by any time you want. Scott often comes in after school to help out. I’ll introduce you.”
Babbette let loose a light giggle. “Thank you. Maybe I will.”
With that, Babbette grabbed Timely’s hand and the two ‘Kind girls exited the shop. The second they were outside, Babbette released a sigh and dropped Timely’s hand.
“I made a fool of myself. How can you stand being around me?”
Timely danced around Babbette. “Was that your son’s girlfriend? Was that your son’s girlfriend?”
Babbette swatted at Timely; her fingers just barely brushed her shoulder. “And you…ratting me out to Scott’s dad. How could you?”
Timely stopped her dance and stared at Babbette, hands on her hips. “I ratted you out to prevent you from blowing our cover. You were about to tell him we go to school in Tyler’s End. What happens when he describes us and Scott comes looking for these faces? He won’t find them. But now, at least, Scott might learn some other girl has a crush on him. I just laid the foundation for you to build upon.” Timely twirled around in place. “Are those wedding bells I hear? One, two, Scotty’s coming for you. Three, four, cross the marriage floor. Five, six the wedding bliss pin pricks.”
Babbette grabbed Timely’s hands and stopped her twirling. “Enough,” she said. Both girls stared at one another and finally broke out into fits of giggles.
“Come on, we best return to Tyler’s End. You got what you came for – confirmation that your precious Scotty is single. Now we just have to get him back to Tyler’s End and in your arms.”
Babbette’s grin was inescapable, as she lowered herself into the car seat.
seventeen | Middleton’s confession
I used to love school. There were always other outcasts to kill time with and watch your back. Unfortunately, time and evolution was not on my side. Peer pressure is a force that could not be solved with f = m x a. Being a teenager might well be the one thing math could not solve. The second you feel the pressure mounting to do this or be that, try this or screw that, you wind up setting aside everything you really love on the off chance you could wind up sitting with the cool kids at lunch.
It never happened. No matter what you changed, who you did, or how you thought – once an outcast, always an outcast.
I think that’s why it always shocked me that Sally stayed by my side. There was no intelligent reason for it. She could easily waltz over to the cool table and blend in. Or at least she could have, at one point. Instead, she destroyed her chances of gaining any form of popularity by associating with me.
Spooky.
“Hey, Spooks,” David Bazo rushed by, pushing me into a row of lockers hard enough for me to bounce off and careen into a squad of cheerleaders. Miniskirts and scrunchies flew up and out in all directions. When they realized who it was that bowled them over, they screamed as if they’d been accosted by a leper.
That pretty much sums up my existence.
I never understood it. My dad is one of the coolest humans in town – by association, I should be guilty.
But then, talking like Yoda never helped my cause either.
“Scott Maskey, please report to Counselor Middleton’s office immediately.”
The voice over the PA system had a grave undertone. Of course, according to everyone, everywhere, I thought everything had a grave undertone.
To avoid further shame, I turned and raced to Middleton’s office. No reason to put off the inevitable…whatever.
When I entered the main office, not one pair of eyes acknowledged my existence. That was the typical reaction. I had actually expected much more, this time around. Maybe it was a good sign. Maybe no one in the family had died or I wasn’t being permanently expelled.
I stepped up to the receptionist’s desk and said, “Scott Maskey. I’m here for Mrs. Middleton.”
The grandmotherly woman smiled at me and nodded. “Oh yes. I’ll let her know you’re here.”
It took no time for Middleton to step out into the waiting area and wave me into her office.
Great; looks like it’s going to be a whole thing.
I followed her, resisting the urge to stare at the backs of her legs.
I didn’t succeed.
When we entered her office, she sat behind her desk and motioned for me to have a seat.
“Did I…”
Middleton laughed. “No, Scott, you did nothing wrong. At least…not yet.”
There was an und
ercurrent of dread in her voice – a sour note I’d never heard her use before. As I stiffened in my chair, she nodded in recognition of the tension.
“This has to do with the Gaultier girl, doesn’t it?”
“Babbette? Yes.”
Middleton produced the book I’d stolen and sat it on the top of her desk between us.
“How much of this book did you read, Scott?”
“I don’t remember the exact page number. I guess, about a quarter of it…maybe. Why?”
Middleton stared at me, her perfectly shaped eyebrows raised and her lips ventured dangerously close to ‘ducking’. “Would you say this book is fact or fiction?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure I know how to answer the question.”
“Simple…with the truth.”
I swallowed and let it all out. “It’s truth. All of it. I’ve witnessed enough to believe.”
Middleton stared, unsure of how to proceed. “Who have you told about this?”
There was no logical reason to drag Sally into whatever mess this might come to. This was my tragedy to play out.
I shook my head. “No one.”
“Are you sure?” insisted Middleton.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Scott, what I am going to tell you, goes no further than this office. If the wrong people were to find out, I could lose my job and my license and put a lot of wonderful people in danger. Do you understand?”
Not one bit.
I nodded.
“Scott, Tyler’s End is my home.”
I waited for the rest of the bomb to drop. It didn’t.
“The people of Tyler’s End are my family, Scott.”
“Sorry, Middleton…Mrs…”
“Ms. No Mrs…not yet, at least.”
“Sorry Ms. Middleton. I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
She stared at me, unsure of what to do next.
“Scott, how well do you know Babbette Gaultier?”
“I’ve visited her. We’ve talked a little. That’s all.”
“What has she shown you?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ve been in the house; you danced with her at her Coming of the Ages Ball.”
That stopped the show with a punch to the gut.