The Night the Sky Fell

Home > Other > The Night the Sky Fell > Page 4
The Night the Sky Fell Page 4

by Stephen Levy


  “And you’re proud of your heritage?” Banks retorted. Ann smiled. Banks continued, “Yes, I will come here for Thanksgiving if you’re here.”

  Stan, Tricia and Peyton waved goodbye to Banks and climbed the stairs. Julie escorted Banks to the front door. She handed him the Braille book that Peyton borrowed; but, she does not let go of the book as he attempted to take it. She stared at his eyes. Instantly she understood all in this moment of realization.

  She exhilarated, “It’s the eye drops! They made your vision better.” Banks attempted to release the book but Julie clenched it tight. “Peyton and I have made the medical circuit from Seattle to Los Angeles. No one could help…anyone except you. I pray to God every day for help for my son. Don’t you see, Banks, you’re the answer to my prayers. This is bigger than us. This is bigger than the Chief. I’ll give you things that you dream of…things that will give you a better life. Eye drops for Peyton and a better life for Banks.” She removed her crucifix necklace and draped it around Banks’ neck. She took the book from Banks and quickly placed her Bible on top. She handed the two books to Banks.

  Julie continued, “Banks, sleep on it. I can do so much for you. After church on Sundays we have brunch here. Ann will be here. Please come. Please think about it. You do trust me don’t you?” Banks was surprised and astonished. Marilyn could never prepare him for this moment. This was totally out of his realm of calculation. One thing was for sure, if he agreed to her offer it would be looked upon by his uncle and tribe as an act of treason.

  The only thing that came out of Banks mouth, “Thank you for a wonderful evening.” He remembered his own rule which was to say very little if he were unsure on how to respond.

  As Banks walked to his truck, he looked in wonder at the Powers’ house. It represented to him a new and wonderful life. It was the ultimate symbol of capturing his goal in life. He rubbed his white stickman. Then he looked next door at the Abrams’ house. He felt the necklace dangle around his neck. He looked at the two books. Too many things happened too quickly. There was Julie’s offer and the girl next door. And creeping into his mind were dissatisfying words from is his uncle. The realization of his dream was handed to him on a plate. He got into his truck. As he pulled out of the driveway there was a flash of indigo in the sky above. The Monarch Raven knew of Banks’ dilemma. The Monarch Raven knew how Banks would choose. And that choice would lead to the coming of the Old Soul.

  Banks’ Dilemma

  On his thirteenth birthday, Banks Blackhorse was expected to spend 24 hours with the tribe’s Shaman in the Juneau wilderness. This was to celebrate his becoming a young adult. They would hike together and look for brown bears. They would seek out whales breaching and watch glaciers calving. They were also looking for eagles but only found a curious raven soaring above them who would caw excessively.

  The Shaman would prepare Banks into becoming a young adult. Banks wondered exactly when he would become a man. But the Shaman told him that it was not an exact age but rather a specific dilemma that Banks would address. Whatever the dilemma was, his decision would mark his entry into adulthood and shape the rest of his life. And since one day he would become Chief, it would shape the direction of the tribe. But Banks Blackhorse was not ready for his vision quest.

  Banks asked the Shaman for more specifics. He wanted to know exactly what a dilemma was. Shaman simply told him that it was a choice of two equally weighted circumstances. Both circumstances could be good or they could be bad. But Banks must choose the one he Banks would believe was better. This choice would mark his entry into adulthood.

  Somehow, Banks thought that the dilemma had been given to him by Julie Powers. He had planned for a long time for this day to happen. She would be his ally. His entry to Juneau white society would be solidified. Julie was his benefactor to everything he wanted. And there was Ann in the bargain. Ann would be the “girl next door” which was a bonus. He felt something for her that he never felt for anyone else. It was a good feeling.

  Banks parked the truck in front of his uncle’s apartment. As he scurried up the stairs as the Chief opened his apartment door. Once inside his apartment, Banks eyed the two books he carried. He held his grandfather’s Braille book in one hand and the Bible that Julie gave him in the other. His necklace dangled between the books. With arms outstretched he ‘weighed’ the books as if he were the Scales of Justice. He then placed the Indian book in a drawer and carried the Bible to his night table. His decision was made.

  After undressing, he studied his new look in the mirror. He wondered if he should remove the necklace. As he began to take it off, he interrupted its removal and decided to leave it on. He opened the Bible while fondling the necklace. Unseen by Banks, Chief Dan watched through Banks’ window.

  About an hour later, Banks was sound asleep and downstairs Marilyn said goodnight to the Chief. The compound was quiet. Suddenly, a barrage of pea-sized meteorites splattered against only Banks’ door. They made a whooshing sound and left green dripping ooze while each pea sized meteorite emitted a puff of gas. The sound awakened Banks. He wetted his lips and headed to the fridge. As he opened the fridge door, the meteorite strikes escalated. Amongst the eye drop vials, he grabbed a Coke and gulped it down. As he closed the fridge door, the bombardment dwindled. He eyed the main door attempting to apply logic to the event. After a moment, he opened the main door slowly and caught glimpses of the ooze and mists of gas. He closed the door. Returning to the fridge, he opened/closed the door several times noting the increase/decrease of the bombardment that followed this action. He thought that his experiment controlled the meteorite’s intensity. He was correct in his assumption.

  Ann Abrams couldn’t sleep. She was thinking about the evening at the Powers’ house. She remembered the intense moment that Banks and she had. Her feelings were elevated when Banks gave his account of the “Night the Sky Fell.” At first he was reluctant to speak about it. Thanks to Peyton’s prodding, he revealed the story with logic, passion and humor. This revelation led Ann to believe that Banks had hidden talents that he could not disclose with his tribe. She understood these frustrations. She wanted to know Banks more. This new feeling that bubbled in her body was fresh and exciting. Ann wasn’t thinking so much about the sex act as she was the sharing of intimacy. Finally, she found a plausible candidate in which she could be herself instead of creating an identity that was acceptable to her peers. She knew that she would have to take the lead. So after going through the possibilities of attempting to know Banks better, she concluded that she would ask him to be her date at the school’s Junior Prom. Now the Prom was months away, but this would open the door to Saturdays at the mall, lunches or maybe even a dinner. So that Banks would not feel uncomfortable about money, she planned on telling him that this was a birthday gift from her parents and all expenses were covered.

  Ann felt alive. She would have a new friend. She stood up in front of her full length mirror and revealed more of her body. She posed a sexy look that she learned from Tricia and then quickly scolded herself, “That’s not me!” She checked herself out again and poised her natural smile. Ann Abrams was becoming a woman. But what she didn’t realize was that her plans were all going to be altered by Sunday’s events. Someone or something had different designs for Ann Abrams.

  Down the hall from Ann’s room, Murray Abrams picked up the remote and turned off the television. Dassi closed her book as the couple of two decades snuggled in their bed. This was not sex night so their goodnights would be finalized with a long kiss. During the kiss, Murray emitted a noisy and smelly fart. Dassi kept an air spray can near the bed for such matters and with a chuckle she deodorized the bed. “Moishe, this is what happens when you eat non-kosher food.” Murray replied with, “Once again, Dassi, mama knows best. Say, Ann was so aglow this evening. She was really taken with Banks.”

  Dassi challenged, “I like the Tlingits.”

  Murray smiled, “He’s a nice young man. I really don’t care if he’s a Native Alas
kan as long as he makes Ann happy.”

  Dassi smiled, “As always, father knows best.” They kissed again. This time it was uninterrupted.

  Next door, in the quiet of her room, Tricia Powers was seething. She thought, “How could the Indian ignore the most beautiful girl at her high school?” This was irritating to her. Then she thought of Johnny’s perfect chest and biceps and how she could wow him into a panting frenzy. This thought momentarily satisfied her but then again she began to seethe at the thought that ‘Plain Ann’ had won the tug of war. “Disgusting!” Tricia actually grunted aloud. After many attempts to achieve Om by practicing her breathing lessons that her Yoga instructor taught her, she grunted again. She thought, “There is only one way to relax and get to sleep. I must concentrate on Johnny with the help of Mr. Magic.” Tricia went to her special drawer and pulled out Mr. Magic the vibrator. Back into bed she went and got down to business. But all she could think of while the vibrator was inserted was Banks Blackhorse.

  Julie knelt at her bedside and whispered prayers. When she stood she crossed herself. Stan watched her nightly ritual and knew that the next step would be her nightly dose of medicine consisting of two shots of Scotch. Stan closed his Bible and made a move that had been rejected for years. Because of the success of the dinner they launched together he felt close to her. He touched her arm and Julie simply whispered, “No.” She put on her night mask and lay on her side with her back towards Stan.

  Peyton Powers lay in his bed with eyes wide open. He did this sometimes to wander into his mind’s eye. Peyton decided that it was easiest to enter his private world if he were awake and alone. Using his Braille to read his family’s book opened his mind to explore new places. Here in his special world he could see the Spirit world for what it really was. He could see himself flying in the sky atop of a black horse. He controlled the ups and downs of his black horse by whispering in its ear, “Go higher, Banks. Go higher.” What Peyton could not understand was why a big black raven was flying directly towards him.

  As the raven flew directly into him, Peyton fell from the black horse. He screamed, “Banks, save me. Save me, Banks.” But there was no one to save Peyton. He tumbled over and over again and entered a new world. His new mind’s eye could see many colors.

  At daybreak, all doors at the Tlingit compound were unmarred from the previous evening’s onslaught. All doors except for Banks.’ Banks opened his door. He carried a bucket of soapy water with some brushes. He commenced the cleanup.

  Marilyn White Owl scrubbed herself in the shower. No matter how much she tried to get rid of the stench of fish she still thought she could smell salmon or halibut. Many fish would live another day because Marilyn never went out on Sundays. Marilyn also wanted to feel fresh and clean for her friend Carol. Carol Rainwater had considered becoming closer with Marilyn but as of yet she couldn’t bring herself to submit to Marilyn’s brand of closeness. The tribe shunned homosexuality but Marilyn would be discrete and already reserved a room on the other side of town. Marilyn and Carol worked together catching fish and their friendship grew over the past twelve years. It was time that these two Tlingits took the next step. What neither of them knew was that each would become incredibly bonded without the sexual act.

  Banks also had secret plans that would lead to a shunning. He knew that once he was discovered for distancing himself from the tribe he would be socially excommunicated. He thought about how much his eyesight improved and knew it wasn’t just the honey. He could not come up with any rational idea of how is uncle was able to attract the meteorites directly into the vat. He rubbed his arm where the white stick man tattoo was. He did this every time he weakened and needed direction back to his goal. He took out several vials of eye drops from the refrigerator. He inserted few drops into his eyes and placed the unopened vials into his suit pants. He straightened his tie and buttoned the middle button of his suit jacket. Then he adorned himself with Julie’s necklace. He thought, “I’m so white.”

  Banks stepped out of his apartment carrying his new Bible. Dan met Banks at the stairs. After the Chief scrutinized Banks from necklace to polished black shoes, “You’ve betrayed us!”

  “That’s nonsense,” replied Banks.

  Dan continued to study Banks, “You’re chasing an illusion…false dreams.”

  “And what dreams are here for me, Uncle?” As Banks drove off, Marilyn walked over to the Chief. She spat chewing tobacco at the same time the Chief did.

  In the Juneau Catholic Church sat the Powers’ family. The adults thought of past sins and the kids thought about future sins. Tricia could explore her sexuality with Johnny but only after she got her birthday gift. Peyton plotted and planned how he can get a guide dog. Yes, the church was full of people thinking about sin. Adults felt guilt and the kids felt glee.

  But the wandering thoughts of the congregation came to a grinding halt when the Pastor boomed, “I have come to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother…and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. That’s St. Matthew, Chapter, 10, 34.” As all responded, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,” Tricia broke the rhythm of cracking gum. Stan looked upon his family as a potential threat. He thought they could only be a threat if they found out about Evelyn Sands. He made mental pact again: “No more Evelyn Sands.”

  Banks Blackhorse took a seat directly behind Julie Powers. Peyton sensed his nearness; he smiled. At that instant Peyton turned to Banks and a rainbow of light emerged from the window nearby. Julie turned around. She had a look of hope that her wish would be granted by Banks Blackhorse. Banks handed Julie three vials of eye drops.

  She whispered, “Praise to you, Banks Blackhorse.” And at that instant as if the Spirit commanded it, the rainbow morphed to one color…indigo…where the Old Soul resided. Only Peyton could hear the cawing of The Monarch Raven from the Church roof.

  Julie placed the vials in her purse. She was oblivious to everything around her except Banks. She took a deep breath and exhaled her anxiety with a sense of relief. She wanted Banks to join them for Sunday brunch. Banks could only respond, “Are you sure?” And Julie said the words that Banks longed for, “You’re family now.”

  The Monarch Raven knew that there was a difference between the intention of committing an act and the actual carrying out of the act. When the Julie received the eye drops from Banks, the bargain they entered into was complete. At the same time that Banks gave Julie the eye drops, the breach of his bargain was complete. The Monarch Raven knew that the wrath of the Spirit Above his Head had begun. The raven’s caws turned into screams.

  As the Chief chanted in Tlingit in his apartment, Marilyn cooked breakfast. She handed the Chief a plate of fried bread. He continued to chant as Marilyn whispered something odd, “It’s time to sleep.” When the Chief turned to thank Marilyn, he was shocked to find her lying on the floor motionless.

  Carol Rainwater told five lies during her twenty eight years. Outside the door of the Chief she spoke to three inquisitive married tribal women. They wanted to know where Carol was going and if they could join her. Carol had rehearsed this moment ever since she agreed to meet up with Marilyn White Owl. “I’m going to do a version of the Christian labyrinth…sort of a vision quest.” This was code to her three friends that she wanted to be alone on her Sunday. The three women began a drill and grill but were interrupted by the Chief, “Quick, get the Shaman.”

  As the foursome turned to the Chief, they stated simultaneously, “It’s time to sleep.”

  The four Tlingit women dropped to the ground. They lay on the pavement with their eyes shut.

  Chief Dan Blackhorse looked up to the sky in horror, “It begins.”

  PART II, THE WRATH

  Brunch Postponed

  In the Abrams’ kitchen, Dassi and Ann wrapped the last of the Brunch food trays. It was easier to have Sunday brunch at the Powers’ house since Peyton knew the territory. As Dassi and Ann carried the trays to the Abrams’ door they waved to
Murray and Stan who wanted to finish there football game. Julie greeted Dassi and Ann at the Powers’ door and the trays were placed in the fridge. The threesome exchanged niceties. Peyton swayed to the music while sitting on the living room sofa wearing a headset totally immersed in his mind’s eye creation.

  Ann brushed against Peyton and he lifted the headset. “How was church, Peyton?”

  Peyton answered, “A guy could get nightmares.”

  “That bad! Is Tricia—”

  Peyton pointed upstairs and Ann scampered to the second floor.

  As Peyton reinserted his headset, Julie came over with eye drops. “Open wide, sweetheart.” As she inserted drops into each eye Peyton whined, “This is gooey and different, Mom. I don’t like it.” Julie continued with the drops despite Peyton’s complaint.

  Upstairs, Ann knocked on Tricia’s ajar door. Tricia, who was on the phone, gestured to Ann to sit. Tricia continued by ending her phone conversation with, “…so come over for Thanksgiving, Johnny.” Ann smiled as she locked eyes with Tricia.

  Ann truly hoped that Tricia and Johnny would be a thing. This of course should end any meddling from Tricia when Ann would make future plans with Banks. Ann thought Johnny was a good fit for Tricia. They were so egotistical. “Friends of Narcissus,” Ann thought.

  Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Julie confided to Dassi, “I graduated law school but I’m not a lawyer, never took the bar. Peyton was born and I well…you know.” A swig of gin punctuated the ending of the story as Julie asked, “Don’t you and Murray want another child?” Dassi teared. Julie wanted to ask Dassi this question for a long time. Dassi was totally speechless as Julie put down her glass.

 

‹ Prev