Scrap Everything

by Leslie Gould

  The whole town did know. Elise crossed her arms and then, aware of how defensive she looked, uncrossed them. “Poor Rebekah.”

  “She was just relieved that Mark is okay.” Sandi fidgeted with her tennis-ball-sized hoop earring. “You must be about ready to wring his neck.”

  Elise nodded. “He was very sorry.”

  “Did he say why he did it?”

  “No.” Elise kicked at a pebble in the driveway.

  “He told Rebekah that he was headed to the mountains.”

  Elise rubbed her lower back and grunted some noncommittal response. She wasn’t about to discuss this with a gossip. But it did make her wonder. She had loved My Side of the Mountain as a child. The thought of gaining independence and making it on her own had been so appealing—when she was ten. Of course, as a parent she saw the story a little differently. Had Mark read the book? She didn’t think so. Had he planned to hang out in the forest for a couple of months? He’d dropped out of Cub Scouts as a nine-year-old.

  “John and I went to our Bible study at church after I was done at the Scrap Shack.” Sandi leaned forward. “We prayed for you—for Ted too—but especially you.”

  “Thanks.” Elise ran her hand through her limp hair. “So, Sandi, what do you do? Are you retired?”

  “I work part-time as a hospice nurse.”

  “And that’s how you know John? From when Maude died?”

  Sandi shook her head. “I was acquainted with John and Maude through church, and then John took my grief class.”

  Elise forced a smile. What if John married her? How horrible for Ted. How horrid for all of them. That’s all they needed—a stepmother, stepmother-in-law, and stepgrandmother. Sandi was so different from Maude. “It’s chilly.” Elise rubbed her arms. “Would you like to come in for some tea?”

  Sandi shook her head. “John will be done in a minute. Will I see you on Friday night for Midnight Madness?”

  “Hopefully.” Elise said good-bye and then turned toward the house, relieved to be going in alone.

  “All done.” John wheeled the charge box out of the garage as Elise reached the front door. “Let the car run for fifteen minutes or so, or go for a drive.”

  “Thanks.” Elise stepped back onto the sidewalk.

  “Mom, phone.” Mark wore his pajama bottoms and dirty black sweatshirt and stood next to the 4Runner.

  “Just who I was looking for.” John motioned for Elise to go first into the garage.

  She took the phone. “Hello?”

  Mark started into the house, and John followed him.

  Elise hurried after them into the kitchen.

  “Hi.” It was Ted. “How are things?”

  “Fine. Your dad came over to jump the 4Runner.” Elise headed to the hall. Had Mark gone into Ted’s study? Had John followed him?

  “How’s Mark?” Ted sounded tired.

  “Fine.” Elise started down the hall.

  “I know things are hard for him, but he needs to suffer the consequences for this.”

  “I know. I was thinking community service.”

  “That’s a good idea. Ask Dad. He might know of an older person in the church who needs yard work done or something.”

  “I’ll ask around.” Elise heard voices upstairs. Had John followed Mark up to his room? She heard steps on the landing and hurried to the kitchen, not wanting John to find her lurking. “Ted, I’ll call you back in a few minutes. Your dad is just leaving.”

  “That kid,” John said as he headed to the garage. “He’s the most obstinate person I know.” Elise followed him and waved to Sandi. John shook his head as he backed out of the driveway.

  Elise sat back down at the dining room table and picked up a photo of Mark dancing in the middle of their condo in Virginia with a string of beads around his neck. She stood in the background, nine months pregnant. On the back she had written: “Waiting for Michael.”

  Elise carried the photo up the stairs. Mark had been happy. He’d never been easy, but he had been happy. When had he grown so miserable?

  She knocked on his door. No answer. She pushed it open. He stood at his window.

  “I found this picture,” she said, stepping over his dirty jeans and a pile of smelly socks.

  He shrugged, the black hood of his sweatshirt covering his head.

  “Look.”

  He turned and took the photo. “Is it Michael?”

  “No, it’s you.”

  “I look really stupid with those beads around my neck.”

  Elise shook her head. “No. You look really cute and, well, happy.”

  He handed the picture back.

  “Mark, honey, I love you.” Elise reached out and patted his arm. He pulled away. She wished that she could cradle him like a baby again. She wished that she could hug him, a good solid hug, not a half hug or a pat.

  “There’s a squirrel in the tree,” Mark said. “He jumps from that limb to the roof and then back again.” He pushed his window open wide and stuck his head outside. “It’s about a four-foot jump. That’s pretty far for a squirrel, don’t you think?”

  Elise had no idea what was a long way for a squirrel to jump. “I talked to Dad about your consequence.”

  Mark closed the window and slouched on his bed, his nostrils flared.

  “We decided on community service. We can ask Grandpa—or the pastor—for the name of someone at church who needs yard work or house projects done, someone who is sick.”

  “The Grahams need help.” Mark sat up a little straighter. “Pepper’s sick, and Rebekah can’t keep up with the horses. She told me that this morning. That’s why she was out in the barn so early.”

  Elise massaged her lower back with one hand. Helping the Grahams wouldn’t be her first choice for Mark. She still felt unsettled about his not wanting to come home. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “Mom, we’re here!” Michael’s voice carried up the stairs. She hadn’t started dinner. She would call for a pizza—maybe two pizzas since Reid was here too. She headed back downstairs with the photo.

  “Do you plan to come to Midnight Madness on Friday?” Rebekah stood in the entryway while Pepper helped Reid find his backpack, sports bag, and shoes.

  “I’m not sure.” Elise wadded a greasy napkin in her hand.

  “Is it Mark? You don’t want to leave him alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ask John.”

  Elise wanted to laugh. “I don’t know if that would be a good idea.”

  “Mark could go to the game with Patrick. Give him some options. Ask if he wants to stay home. If he runs, you know you really have a problem. If he doesn’t, maybe last night was a fluke.”

  “But what if he does?”

  “Then you have a problem.” Rebekah smiled.

  “I’ll let you know what I decide to do.”

  “Mom.” Mark stood behind Elise, a piece of pizza in his hand. “Did you ask Rebekah about the community service?”

  Elise clutched the napkin. “No.”

  “Community service?” Rebekah turned from Elise to Mark.

  “My punishment.” Mark spoke as he chewed. “We wondered if I could help take care of your horses.”

  Elise grimaced. Mark assumed she was in favor of his helping with the horses. It would be easier than arranging a project to help someone they didn’t know. She forced a smile.

  “That would probably work. I’ll talk to Patrick.” Rebekah shoved her hands into her back pockets. “Did Reid tell you about our scare this morning?”

  Elise wasn’t sure if she was talking to her or Mark. They both shook their heads.

  “Sky got out of the pasture where the fence needs to be repaired and decided to go for a run down the highway.”

  Elise’s hand flew to her face.

  “Is he all right?” Mark asked.

  Rebekah clasped her hands together. “A logging truck was coming down off the mountain. Pepper and I were in her bedroom and went tearing out the door, yelling and wa
ving. Pepper was in her pajamas and barefoot.” Rebekah continued. “I was in my socks—”

  “Mom!” Pepper called from the dining room. “I wanted to tell the story.”

  “What happened?” Mark asked.

  “Sky ran into the field across the road at the last minute.” Pepper stopped beside Mark in the entryway. “And we got him back in the pasture and patched the fence.”

  “Thank goodness.” Elise turned to Mark. “Go check on Reid, okay?” She patted his shoulder. “Tell him I put his shoes by the back door.”

  Pepper followed Mark.

  “It looks like he’s taking responsibility,” Rebekah whispered.

  “How’s Pepper?”

  “Okay.”

  “Any word on a donor?”

  Rebekah shook her head. “She won’t get on the list until Friday. She has B blood, the least common, so I’m not as hopeful about the list, unless a universal donor is a match.”

  Elise’s stomach lurched.

  “That’s why I’m counting on someone in her birth family to donate a kidney. It would be best.”

  Michael thundered down the stairs, followed by Reid and then Pepper.

  “Thanks for having him.” Rebekah reached for the sports bag. “I owe you a favor.”

  “Hardly. Thanks again for everything you did last night.” Elise closed the door behind them. Thank goodness Michael hadn’t heard the conversation about blood types. She didn’t need him asking any questions.

  Elise babies him. That’s why she stayed home tonight.” Sandi poured Dr Pepper into her red plastic cup.

  The Scrap Shack door buzzed.

  “Hi, Mom!” Pepper and Ainsley thundered up the stairs.

  “Pepper, how was your transplant class this morning?” Sandi raised her cup.

  “Fine.”

  “Did you get on the list?”

  “We did,” Rebekah answered. “We have a plan. We’re on a list, but at the same time we’re going to look for a live donor.”

  “Where?” Sandi took a drink of pop.

  “Don’t worry.” Rebekah laughed. “I won’t be taking tissue samples from you.”

  “I would get tested—seriously,” Sandi said. “But I wouldn’t qualify, because I have high blood pressure.”

  “Thanks.” Rebekah stood. “Honestly, though, things will work out.” Going to the meeting and putting Pepper’s name on the list felt like a big step.

  “Where do you plan to find a kidney?” Sandi asked.

  Pepper grabbed Ainsley’s arm and headed to the sticker rack.

  Rebekah lowered her voice. “I sent a letter to Pepper’s birth grandmother.”

  “Oh, that sounds complicated.” Sandi pulled a folder of paper from her bag. “So the list you put Pepper on last night is a cadaver list?”

  Rebekah nodded.

  “What kind of list?” Ainsley spun around.

  “Cadaver,” Rebekah answered.

  “Like, dead?” Ainsley slapped her palm over her mouth as she turned toward Pepper. “You’re going to get a dead person’s kidney?” she asked between her fingers.

  “Ainsley.” Rebekah placed her hands on her hips. “We all do what we have to. Whoever gives—” She stopped. Elise stood at the top of the stairs. Rebekah turned back to Ainsley. “Whoever gives Pepper a kidney will be giving her a wonderful gift. If it’s from a cadaver, we will be forever grateful to the family. We will pray for them and thank God for them. But we will never be repulsed by their gift.”

  “Okay.” Ainsley stepped backward, her hand still over her mouth.

  “Mom.” Pepper’s face was red.

  Ainsley looked as if she was going to cry. Rebekah put her arms around both girls. “I’m sorry. I’m tired. But I don’t want to hear negative stuff about kidney transplants. We have to be positive.”

  The girls ducked away from Rebekah and went downstairs.

  Elise pulled out a chair across the table from Sandi. “What happened?”

  “Tell you later.” Sandi smiled. “But let me warn you. Don’t mess with Rebekah or her baby.”

  “I heard that.” Rebekah crossed her arms.

  “Come sit down.” Sandi pulled out the chair next to her. “You’re exhausted, Rebekah. You’ve got to slow down.”

  “And control my mouth.”

  Sandi shook her head. “No, that was fine. Sit.”

  “Elise, how’s Mark?” Rebekah pulled out a chair.

  “Okay. He stayed home. He was watching an old Pink Panther movie, so I decided to come, just for a while.”

  “How’s Ted doing?” Sandi asked.

  “Fine. Our conversations keep getting cut off. I think our satellite is on the wrong side of the moon or something. He’s already started working, so he feels good about that.”

  “Mom,” Pepper called up the stairs, “where are the horseshoe charms?”

  “Excuse me.” Rebekah started down the stairs.

  An hour later Elise slipped on her coat to leave. “When can Mark help with the horses?”

  Rebekah leaned against the table. Patrick had reluctantly agreed. “How about Sunday, after church?”

  Elise hesitated. “That should work.”

  Rebekah tidied the calligraphy pens in the center of the table. “Why don’t you come out too, stick around? We can all ride. Mark too. I would love to see him on a horse.”

  “I’ll ask him.” Elise paused. “Thanks, Rebekah, for everything.”

  Rebekah leaned against the balcony as Elise walked out of the shop. She looked so small, so lonely, so afraid.

  “I think it’s time to liven things up.” Sandi stood and clapped her hands. “How about some cartwheels?”

  “Mom.” Pepper slapped her hand against the table.

  Rebekah held her hands over her head.

  “Mom!”

  “Just kidding, sweet pea. I wouldn’t do that to you.” Rebekah poured herself a cup of Dr Pepper and winked at Sandi. “It’s up to you, girl.”

  Sandi collapsed on her chair, laughing.

  Rebekah crossed the lawn and met Elise and her boys by their car, in front of the corral. “How’s your hand?” she asked Mark.

  He grunted.

  “Aren’t you going to ask about the inside of my mouth?” Michael asked.

  “Sorry, but I’m not worried about it getting infected with barn bacteria.” Rebekah tousled his curly hair. “Reid’s waiting for you.”

  “Have fun with the horses.” Michael bolted toward the house. “Rodeo Queen.” Reid started down the back steps, dribbling his basketball.

  “Come on, Mark.” Elise nudged him toward the barn.

  “Are you all right with Michael hanging out with Reid unsupervised?” Rebekah asked. “Patrick had to go into the office.”

  Elise hesitated.

  “They can reach Patrick on his cell. No problem.”

  “Okay.”

  Was Elise uptight about the boys staying alone? They were almost fourteen. Rebekah pushed the barn door open.

  “Over here.” Pepper led the saddled gelding out of his stall. “We thought that we would ride first and then muck out the barn. It looks like it might rain.”

  “Can I ride Sky?” Mark asked.

  “Nope. Only Mom rides Sky. You get the quarter horse. He’s safe for beginners.”

  Rebekah opened the Appaloosa’s stall door and handed Mark the reins. “Lead him out to the corral. Maybe you can ride him in a few months.”

  “Did you know that horses have seventy senses?” Pepper sat on the palomino while Mark hoisted himself up on the quarter horse.

  “That’s ridiculous.” Mark wiggled his Adidas into the stirrups. “There are only five senses.”

  “But theirs are so fine tuned that they have subsets of each sense.”

  “Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. How can there be subsets? Are they aliens?”

  Elise swung her leg over the mare. Rebekah smiled as she mounted Sky. Elise seemed more relaxed every time she rode.

&n
bsp; “Kind of.” Pepper led the way. “For example, horses never get lost. They have an amazing homing sense.”

  “Homing sense. Would that be under smell or sight?”

  Pepper rolled her eyes. “Another example is that their ears move around, and they can absorb more sound than we can.”

  “That’s still hearing.”

  Pepper shook her head. “I read it in a book. They have seventy senses.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t read it on the Web? Maybe some kook’s blog?”

  Pepper touched her chin with her index finger. “Maybe I did.” She laughed.

  “Let’s ride to the falls today.” Rebekah slowed Sky until they were in the back. Mark rode like a pro; he would do fine on a long ride.

  A half hour later they passed through the meadow and then up a rocky incline. “This is where I lost my hat on my midnight ride.” Rebekah nodded over the ledge.

  Elise leaned to the side and then quickly away from the deep canyon. “Whose land is this?”

  “The Forest Service’s.”

  A few minutes later they passed into another grassy area. “We call this the upper meadow. Want to rest?” Rebekah asked.

  Pepper and Mark dismounted. Elise’s legs shook a little as she climbed down. The horses began to graze.

  “Did you know that grass-fed horses eat eleven to thirteen hours a day?” Pepper plopped down in the middle of the clearing.

  “How boring.” Mark tossed a dirt clod at Pepper’s feet.

  “Mark.” Elise wiped her hands on her jeans.

  “We saw a cougar a couple of weeks ago.” Pepper tossed the dirt clod back at Mark.

  “I know.” Mark tossed another dirt clod over her head. “My mom’s seen it twice.”

  Rebekah smiled. They were talking as if she and Elise weren’t along. “Maybe it’s in the forest right now.” Mark tiptoed around, taking exaggerated steps.

  “Nah. The horses would let us know. It’s one of their senses.”

  “The cougar sense? Is that sense number sixty-one?” Mark shook his head.

  Pepper nodded. “They stayed huddled for two days after we saw the cougar, or else they wanted to be in the barn. I watched them from my window. But on the third day, Sky went to sleep in the field, and then I knew the cougar was gone.”