Beauty Returns

by Sylvia McNicoll

  “In Hollywood, where everyone has tons of money and chases after each other on last-minute flights. But not people like us, who rely on our parents to pay our long-distance bills.”

  “Still, that’s in September, next year. It’s not even Christmas yet.”

  “You’re not going to like this.”

  “Try me.”

  “He finished his essay. He doesn’t need you.”

  “He wasn’t using me!”

  “Don’t be mad! You made me tell you. This is what always happens. Guys get in the way!” Alicia sighs.

  “I love him,” I whisper.

  “Oh, Liz.” She hears I’m crying now. “In case you haven’t noticed, he’s blind. That’s going to be a pretty big disadvantage later.”

  “It doesn’t matter to me.” My voice breaks.

  She sighs again. “Okay. Stop crying then. It’s worth another try.” She waits a breath for me and then continues. “You know dogs. Remember when Beauty used to be spooked by buses? You trained the fear out of her using treats and a tape recorder. Convince Kyle you can find a way to make Beauty behave for him, too.”

  Hmm—she’d hit on something, something tucked way at the back of my mind about Beauty. With Kyle, the dog seemed overcharged with energy, like a grade-school kid who’d suffered too many indoor recesses. When I threw the stick at the park for Magic, I remembered playing with Beauty in just that way. Did Kyle ever throw the stick for her? His sister Shawna used to throw the ball for Beauty. Maybe Beauty needed more exercise and more playing time with Kyle. And what if Beauty saw more of me paired up with Magic? Hard as it was for her, wouldn’t she finally realize that she no longer belonged to me?

  “You’re brilliant!” I tell Alicia over the phone as I look down at Magic. She wags her tail in agreement. When I smile, she throws one golden paw on my knee and lifts her ears as if hoping for more good news. “I’ll show Kyle how to make Beauty listen to him.”

  “Great, I’m glad I could solve your problem for you. But I called for another reason. Friday night, Scott wants me to go to his uncle’s ski chalet with him. Can you cover for me?”

  “You’re going someplace overnight with Scott?”

  “Don’t say it like that. We aren’t going to do anything. It’s just too far to drive back in one day, and we want to get some early morning skiing in.”

  “You don’t ski.” Stupid comment. Alicia goes along with anything her boyfriends do. Rollerblading, skiing, watching hours of sports.

  She doesn’t even pretend to disagree with me.

  “So what’s your point, really? Listen, you cover for me Friday, and if you get back together with Kyle, I’ll cover for you sometime.”

  There’s a bad taste in my mouth suddenly, like kibble-breath—Magic breathing on me? Her head rests heavily on my knee. I pat her head—no, nothing to do with her breath. If I lie for Alicia, she’ll lie for me—just like what I’m doing with Rolph. Neither feels right. Still, what would it be like to go on a regular date with Kyle, no reading or essay writing involved? If I can convince him about Beauty and get him back, I’ll have Alicia’s favour in my back pocket, like a plane ticket, waiting.

  “Okay, sure. Gotta go now. I have to work on that Shakespeare essay.”

  “See you tomorrow.” A breezy, light goodbye for her—for me, it feels like something important has ended with the click of that receiver. Truth and honour? Innocence? I stare at the phone for a few seconds and shake my head—that all ended a long time ago, when Mom forbade me to see Kyle.

  “Let’s go downstairs, Magic. We’ve got an essay to tackle.”

  She wags her tail and springs to her feet. A walk anywhere is exciting to her. She races me down the stairs, and when I’m seated at the computer, she lies down on my feet. I search the net for some opinions on Shylock. I swear the research takes me twice as long as writing the thing. And all the time, I’m thinking over what Alicia said. If I convince Kyle about Beauty, she’ll cover for me so we can go out. Stupid Ryan has a party every weekend. What if I just show up at one? Would Kyle be there? Too risky. I swallow hard and message him.

  Red: I think I know how 2 make sure Beauty listens to u. I press Send, and my fingers hover over the keys, waiting and hoping Kyle’s online. Ding! Hurray, he’s there.

  Music Man: I’m willing to try anything.

  I type back, Are u really?

  Music Man: It’s like I’m dead without you.

  I smile, because I believe him. Alicia’s wrong, Kyle could never just use me. I type again.

  Red: When’s Ryan’s next party? Alicia says she’ll cover for me.

  Music Man: Saturday, I’ll be there early.

  Red: Okay, I’ll find a way to be there too. I sign off just as another Ding signals—Alicia wants to message.

  Playgirl: Liz, u r home Friday, right? Make sure u take any phone calls from my mother.

  Red: I said I’d cover for u, didn’t I?

  Playgirl: U r a true friend.

  Red: No problem. U need to cover for me Saturday night. I’m going to Ryan’s party to be with Kyle.

  Playgirl: My idea worked. Cool!

  Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder and quickly snap the window shut.

  “Sorry, Liz. Did I interrupt?” It’s Dad, and he’s carrying a My Computers bag.

  “Look at this. George got me this prototype webcam. Check it out. One setting gives you wide-angle motion sensor recording—it’s a complete security system. The other one will just let your friends see you when you message them.”

  “That’s great.” I smile for a second, thinking how I can use that to stay in touch with Kyle next year. Then I realize it won’t do Kyle any good.

  “Just give me a second, Dad, then you can have the computer all to yourself to hook it up.”

  “Sure, honey.” Dad leaves the little round camera on the desk and heads back upstairs.

  I open the window up again and type.

  Red: Dad’s going 2 b installing a webcam for the next little while don’t type anything personal.

  I sign off.

  “Dad, you can have it now!” I call.

  “Back upstairs, girl,” I tell Magic as I stand. Magic races me for the stairs and beats me to the top. I open the door for her, and she scrambles ahead—only to knock into Rolph.

  I see him lift his leg to kick her away. It’s a quick, nasty move that matches the look on his face.

  Magic makes a quick move of her own. It’s half a lunge, with half a growl.

  Rolph leaps back now. “Did you see that? That dog is vicious.”

  Dad walks in at that moment. “Liz, did Magic just snap at Rolph?” he asks.

  “No, well yes. But Rolph kicked her.”

  “I did not. I merely pushed the dog away with my foot. This animal isn’t safe around Teal. I’ve been talking to Debra about this, believe me.”

  “Talking about Magic?” I scrunch up my eyes at him. “Magic is perfectly safe. If Magic had really wanted to bite you, you wouldn’t have a foot left.”

  It isn't really the right thing to say to reassure him—he looks even more afraid of the dog now. But I’m afraid, too. What has he suggested to my sister as a solution, seeing he thinks Magic too vicious to be around Teal?

  CHAPTER 20

  Kyle Alone

  “I only took one extra week. You can deduct marks. I realize that. I’m not asking for special favours.”

  Friday morning, before the bell rings, Maddie waits at the door for me as I hold out my essay to Mr. Veen.

  He does not take it from my hands. No sympathetic noises come from him either—I sense that he’s a brick wall. No sounds come from him at all, till he clears his throat, and then his ahem sounds antagonistic.

  “You didn’t submit any of your opening lines or supporting statements on the due dates.” A blast of poison wind from him—he must know about me surfing the net for the pop quiz. Now he thinks I’m cheating again. Still…

  “But I can’t write like that
. And I’ve done all the work, what does it matter?”

  “I’m sure you’ve done all the work,” he answers.

  I shake my head. I’m right; he’s pegged me for a cheater. “If I hired someone to write the essay, wouldn’t they make sure to deliver it on time?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

  “But I need a good English grade to get into Queens.”

  “Oh, really. I’m sure they’ll make special allowances to let you in. They must have some quota.”

  “What is your problem, exactly?” Maddie’s voice suddenly calls out from right beside me. “Why won’t you just look at his paper and grade it? He’s not asking for any special favours.”

  “Oh, isn’t he? I’m not stupid. I checked the computer you wrote the quiz on, Kyle. The history of the Internet sites used, in particular.”

  Bang. My face gets red. I know what is coming.

  “I can’t prove that it was you who logged on those sites that day, but you and I both know you did.”

  “We’re talking about this paper,” I tell him. “And I wrote it myself.” But isn’t that partly a lie, too? Liz read the book to me and typed all my thoughts out for me.

  “Come on, let’s go.” Madison tugs my elbow. “We can get someone else to grade it.”

  For a moment, I still hold out the essay, but then I turn, grab onto Maddie’s arm and follow her out the door.

  “Someone else? Do you think any of the teachers in this school will second-guess Mr. Veen?”

  “I don’t know. We have to try.”

  “But, Maddie…it’s true. I surfed the net to answer his pop quiz.”

  Maddie sighs. “So what? Did you write that essay or not?”

  “You know I did. I worked really hard on it.”

  “Well, then, come on, Kyle. You want to be a lawyer, don’t you? You know you’re innocent till proven guilty. You just have to fight him on this.”

  I smile, grateful she isn’t chewing me out about the quiz. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But for now, Maddie, I just want to make it to my French class so I can turn in that book report. Can you get me there in time?”

  Maddie guides me to my class swiftly, as she has been doing the whole week. This is the last day. Beauty will return Monday, a school holiday, so I can spend the whole day with her. Just as Liz suggested, I’m going to spend more time playing with Beauty. I can hardly wait. I’ve missed her so much.

  I put Veen out of my mind. Tomorrow’s the party, and I’m going with Elizabeth. It’s good that Beauty won’t be around. Nothing to get between Elizabeth and me, no essays to write and no misbehaving dog.

  Saturday afternoon, Ryan comes by early—so that I can do the white cane trick to get beer for the party. Without Beauty, that takes forever, too. People like to approach a dog; they don’t want to step forward to a beggar. Together we pick up Elizabeth from Alicia’s house, Ryan’s exchange for the humiliating beer run. She’s hanging out there for her parents’ sake.

  “Gosh, I wish you’d come earlier,” Liz says as I step out of the front of the Mustang so she can slide in the back. “Alicia’s mom started to get chatting with us, and I nearly slipped up about Alicia and Scott’s little trip out of the city.”

  “I wish I’d been here sooner, too.” I touch her arm to draw her closer. “Sorry.”

  I kiss her so long that Ryan gives us a whistle.

  “Did you hand in your essay?” Liz asks as she gets in the back. “What a relief to get that out of the way.”

  “Would be, except Old Man Veen won’t accept it now. I’m going to have to get someone else to mark it and stand up to him.”

  “My mom would look at it. She can convince him, too, if only she doesn’t know it’s yours. We’ll give her a blind copy, and I’ll just tell her it’s my friend’s.”

  “Blind copy…that’s good!” Ryan chuckles. “What are you going to do? Take the ink cartridge out when you print the sucker?”

  “Oh, honestly, give it up, Ryan. I’ll just give her a copy with no name on it,” Liz says.

  I don’t feel entirely safe with that idea. As soon as they talk, Veen will realize whose paper it is. But for now, I don’t argue. We’re going to have a good time at a party together, which is a first. So far, all we’ve ever done together is homework—and Rollerblading that one time.

  When we get to Ryan’s party, Liz and I both take a beer, just to carry around and fit in with the rest of the crowd. Liz sips at it but complains about the taste. We sit on the couch together, then someone hands me his guitar. To be the performer felt good when I partied solo, but now, I just want to spend time with Liz. So I beg off after a couple songs and dance a slow number with her.

  It’s the best thing that’s happened to me all week. Her sweet baby-powder smell floats all around me, and I float, too. She sways against me, her hair tickling up against my chin. Autumn hair, I remember her telling me. Freckled eyes, freckled nose—a picture of her forms in mind. She is beautiful and I hold her closer.

  She lifts her head and kisses me—soft, soft lips. Everything with Liz is sweet and gentle and makes my skin burn for more. We linger together for beat after beat of music, till Ryan jeers again. “My bedroom’s around the corner.”

  “Come on, Liz,” I whisper. “Let’s take him up on that.”

  “I don’t know. I’d feel funny,” she answers.

  “We can be alone and talk without anyone bothering us. Otherwise they’ll make me sing again.” I take her hand, and she leads where I tell her to go, back towards Ryan’s room. We shove the coats off the bed so we can sit there side by side, backs against the wall. We talk more about how we should handle Beauty when she gets back. Liz will bring Magic, and we can both play with our dogs at the same time. Beauty will learn that I’m the only one for her. It’s something the trainer explained to me and Liz repeats, “You need to be the one who does everything for and with Beauty.”

  “If only that would work—I’ve got to try, Liz. I don’t know if I can live without you.” I kiss her again, and she moans.

  Then she pulls away. “I…I can’t.”

  “Do you want to watch some television?” I ask. We’ve never had the chance to do ordinary things together.

  “You like TV?” she asks me.

  “Sure, what time is it anyway?” I push the button on my talking watch. “Eleven o’clock,” a deep voice answers. I tell Liz about my favourite comedy show, which is on right now, descriptive view.

  “Descriptive…oh you mean, someone tells you what’s happening on the screen?”

  “Yeah. Do you see the remote somewhere?”

  I hear the set come on and tell her how to get the DV option. Meanwhile, I tuck my arm around her waist. It feels like heaven—we’re together, nothing else to think about for a change.

  On TV, the comic draws a big audience laugh, but it feels like they’re laughing at us, with us. Liz chuckles too, like a stream bubbling. I smile and lean my head on her shoulder. I could stay this way forever—everything and everyone else so far away.

  Suddenly, the door bangs open.

  “Phone for you, Elizabeth. Better get downstairs.”

  Ryan’s voice. “Your mom knows where you are, and she’s on her way over.”

  CHAPTER 21

  Elizabeth Alone

  “Liz, I’m sorry.” Alicia’s on the other end of the phone. “Your mother just showed up here and insisted on speaking to you, some kind of emergency. I had to tell her where you were.”

  “What time did she show up?” I ask, as if that will make any difference. The doorbell rings before she can even answer. “Never mind. Gotta go.”

  “Call me!” she commands as I disconnect and hand Ryan back the phone. He takes it and opens the door.

  Mom stands there, shoulders hunched in her fun-fur coat, mouth puckered tightly shut, eyes squinting. It’s freezing out, which is why her breath comes out in smoke clouds. She looks like some kind of fire-breathing polyester bear.

&nb
sp; “I’ll get my jacket.” I slam the door on her and push through the crowds of kids, huddled in the hall smoking and drinking. When I get back to the room, I paw through the pile of coats at the foot of the bed.

  “Elizabeth?” Kyle calls to me.

  “My mother’s here. Don’t come out. It will only make things worse.”

  I dash back, slip out quickly, so Mom can’t see too much of the party scene. My mother walks ahead of me silently to the car. She opens the door and slides in.

  “You smell of beer,” she finally says as she turns on the ignition. I’m only half in the car, so I rush to get my side shut and buckle my seatbelt.

  “You lied to me; you know you weren’t supposed to be at this party.” She half turns to check behind us, puts the van into reverse and backs out of the driveway.

  “I’ve been seeing Kyle,” I tell her quietly as she shifts into drive.

  “Pardon?” Her eyes never leave the road. It’s much easier talking to her this way.

  “After school, I’ve been helping him with his homework. I went to this party to be with him. That’s why I lied.”

  “I trusted you!”

  “No, you didn’t—or you wouldn’t have forbidden me to see him.”

  “You’ll be grounded forever.”

  “If you won’t let me see him, I don’t care anyway.” We drive by the park, and I can see the river by the bridge has frozen almost completely over. I shiver and wipe tears from my face.

  Mom puts her hand on mine for a second.

  “Look, we’ll have to talk about all this later. Rolph and Deb are at the hospital with Teal. Magic bit him.”

  “What? Is Teal all right?”

  “Oh, he’s fine. But he does have teeth marks on his arm and broken skin.”

  “Oh, Mom, Magic would never bite Teal. More likely they’re Rolph’s teeth marks.”

  Mom actually smiles, then shakes her head.

  “I don’t know. Rolph was alone with them at the time, and when I came home he had Teal all bundled up to go. He says either we get rid of Magic, or Teal should live with him.”

  “Can he do that?” I ask.