Alice 1

by Ernest Kinnie

  Wonder if I can help her out. The third wheel slows down and hesitates just before it comes to a stop. Yeah, I can help. After the second wheel stops I’ll know if there’s a chance for a payoff. Like if the first two are plums, I’ll wait for the third wheel to slow down. If there’s a plum nearby my Shadow hands can speed up or slow down the wheel for a nice payoff.

  Worked great and she even got a $200. jackpot, but then I caught gambler’s fever. We were flying high, screeching it up with the best of them, and when I saw a chance for a second jackpot I took it. Unfortunately the third jackpot bar was too far from where it would normally stop, and I had to push too hard. Alarms went off and people came running.

  The technician looked very puzzled when he opened the front of the machine, “never saw that before.” The third wheel was smoking. Oh well, she did real good and the third wheel stopped at the jackpot bar so they had to pay her another $200. She was so happy.

  My new family was not so happy. They were seriously concerned I didn’t know the definition of the word cool. Ok, ok, I deserve a little sarcasm and vowed to be good. After a while everybody was cool, and we had dinner at a great, little place just west of Sacramento.

  CHAPTER 4

  The next morning Molly, Linda and I went out to the veranda with our tea and coffee, and watched waves crash against the rocks, and seagulls swirl and squawk.

  I never had any female friends. The girls in those foster homes were stupid, wacked out and a pain in the ass. And that description fits me pretty good, except for stupid. I have many, many faults, but stupid isn’t one of them. Humility isn’t up there either.

  Now maybe I’ll get some girl talk.

  Yes, there really is girl talk! Santa’s been kind of weird lately. He’s friendly and helpful but holding something back, like he has a big secret. Johnny’s an open book and usually a nice guy, but a little macho. They were a pain when we were young. Now so easy. Males are not too bright, not even a psychologist like Johnny.

  I pointed out Linda’s awful lipstick and Molly laughed. “Yeah I told her, but Linda’s stubborn as hell. Let’s grab her, wipe that crap off, and put on some good stuff.”

  We wrestled on the ground, laughing and shrieking like a bunch of school girls. Hot tears splashed down my cheeks. All those years in all those foster homes. Gone!

  They’re going shopping tomorrow if I want to come. Going up to Marin where the super rich, super elegant live. The fancy women wear designers a few times and throw ‘em away. All that expensive stuff ends up in a Tiburon or Sausalito second-hand store. Of course they don’t call them second-hand stores up there. They have names like Twice Blessed and Daphnia’s Delight.

  ____________________

  Up early, hit 101, and got to Sausalito mid-morning.

  So much fun prancing around, modeling stuff, talking colors, style, prices.

  “No! No! No! Makes you look like a pregnant pig.”

  “Well sure, go for it if you want to look lumpy and dumpy.”

  “Oh yeah, that’s nice. Turn around.”

  “How can that cheesy little purse be so expensive?”

  We got great stuff and great bargains. Yeah, yeah, I know. I have lots, I mean lots and lots of money. Doesn’t matter. A bargain’s a bargain no matter how rich you are. Anyway, I like playing poor little waif. You learn a lot about people when you look naïve and easily taken.

  Kinda weird though. Sometimes I flash to a dirty, smelly little village on a bluff, high above a big city. Up there I really am a poor little waif. The Krazy Kid. It’s so real.

  VILLAGE ON THE BLUFF

  As we left Dorothy’s Dowry, a middle-aged woman wearing a funny hat waved from across the street, and Molly and Linda waved back. She gives me the creeps, twisted in some really bad way. When we went into Matilda’s Treats I asked who she was, but they don’t want to talk about her in the store.

  We were tired and happy with packages under both arms when we went into The Purple Onion for mid-afternoon whatever it’s called.

  Linda explained, “Betty Bradenton is the head of a coven here in Sausalito and visits her mother in Carmel every other week. Yeah she’s weird, but sometimes we aren’t too bright and thought it was a good weird. So we spent a week-end with her coven. They’re into the ‘female power’, ‘we can do anything’ trip.

  “They were Raising-the-Shield to protect a member from a black magic attack. I decided to help out a little. So at the critical moment when the Cone-of-Power was cast into the little shield on the table, up it went. They just stared, and then Betty shrieked, ‘We have the Power.’ She raised her hand and up it went. She lowered her hand and down it went. That was probably the happiest moment in her life. Given the almighty power of the placebo effect, we figured there wouldn’t be any more black magic attacks.”

  Betty came through the door and plopped down at our table. “We figured out we need you two to raise the Cone-of-Power. Who is she?”

  “She’s a close friend,” Molly said, not too politely. “We’re just finishing.”

  “Stop, just for a second. Please. Don’t you realize how important this is? We’ve found the combination that raises the Cone-of-Power. Are you sure she’s ok? She looks like a little twit.”

  “We really have to go.”

  “God Damn it, don’t you get it?! I’m asking you nicely to come join us. I won’t ask nicely a second time!”

  Perhaps you remember I don’t take threats well. Calling me names is also not a good idea.

  “Who the hell are you, you ugly bitch. Get your fat ass out of here before I dump a big Cone-of-Shit on your stupid head.” I learned a lot of fun words walking the streets around my foster homes. My guardian didn’t care how bad the neighborhood. He’d probably get a cut of the estate if I died.

  Her face turned a glorious purple, and with eyes bulging, tiny breasts quivering, belly bouncing, she made great circles in the air with her hands, and threw whatever she gathered at me. I laughed in her face, which didn’t seem to calm her much. She screeched a few truly vile threats, and left.

  Just outside the Purple Onion the Shirley Temple look-a-like from the courtroom, ran up, jumped in my arms, and gave me a big kiss.

  “Hello Alice, you’re so pretty. We’re going to have such fun together in Sedaria.” Jumped down and started to run away.

  “Hey! What’s your name? And where is Sedaria?”

  “Ashara,” and disappeared around the corner.

  Who the hell is Ashara? Linda and Molly never saw her before and never heard of Sedaria.

  ____________________

  Santa looked worried when we told him about Betty Bradenton. “Alice, you must control your temper, you must. We will not harm you, but others will”.

  “What others?”

  “It’s late and you’ve had a long day. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about a visit from John the Baptist.”

  CHAPTER 5

  The next morning we went out to the veranda with our coffee, tea, scrambled eggs, and waffles smothered with real Vermont maple syrup. The fog had rolled back out to sea and the sun was warm and lovely.

  “About a year ago an old man came to the door. He said he was John the Baptist so I figured I had a nut case. But then he touched my shoulder with his Shadow hand and said we need to talk. He’s from the Dancers, who make sure groups like ours don’t go crazy. Few believe Shadow hands exist and the Dancers want to keep it that way. Back in 1857 in Hangtown, a couple of guys were using their Shadow hands to steal gold from the other miners. They got greedy and were warned, but kept on stealing so the Dancers sent in their assassin.

  “They are very concerned about Alice Shannon, a young girl they’ve been watching for a long time. She’s self-centered, immature, and uses her Shadow hands to get even with people. But they’re reluctant to get rid of her. She’s highly intelligent with enormous potential. Would our group take her in and see if we can grow her up? I said we’d take a look and let him know.”

  “So you were t
elling the truth the first time. I am being tested to see if I live or die. Are the rest of you in on this little secret? Linda? Molly?”

  “No they aren’t, and I’m not sure I made the right decision. I was afraid knowing your life really was in danger would put too much strain on everybody. I care for you Alice, and I’ve been worried how you’d react when you found out the truth.”

  “Damn straight you should be worried. Except. Except. If you care, I can take all the lies and games you can throw at me.”

  And in the warmth of the sun, the sound of the sea, the fresh ocean breeze, and a few sand fleas, we had a lovely group hug. Yeah, yeah, I know. Too soupy for some of you.

  Wanna kiss my pretty kitty?

  “We’ve always known we must not be the only ones with the Gift,” Johnny said, “but I don’t like the idea we can be killed anytime the Dancers decide our behavior is unacceptable. Maybe the guy was just spinning a story. It’s pretty far out to think the Dancers were in California during the gold rush and sent an assassin to Hangtown to do in some greedy miners. What do you think?”

  ”He was very convincing, but that doesn’t mean he was telling the truth.”

  “The hell of it is,” Johnny continued, “we have no idea what kind of threat we’re dealing with or how to protect ourselves. If he’s telling the truth, the Dancers know a whole lot more about Shadow hands than we do.”

  “He left a phone number to call when we feel Alice is no longer a danger. We can ask a few questions when he comes to check her out.

  “I’m ready now. Call him.”

  They looked so worried, but didn’t say anything. “Look. Ten foster homes taught me how to survive. Call him!”

  They still looked worried. “Ok, ok, you doubt I’m ready but don’t want to say so. It’s my life. I take responsibility. Call him.”

  Santa called him. John the Baptist will come this Friday evening, and bring a woman with him.

  ____________________

  Molly and I were in the kitchen getting refreshments ready as the minute hand moved closer and closer to seven. The guys were in the living room going over questions they want to ask.

  I’m cool. I’ve faced so many crises in my life I stopped worrying long ago. I will survive or I will die. So be it. Makes me strong. Maybe foolish.

  The doorbell rang.

  Everything was ready, so we loaded trays and brought them into the living room. The old man introduced himself as James Benson and the woman as Maggie O’Flanigan. He must have just been having a little fun with his John the Baptist routine. He’s old all right. White hair, wrinkled skin, and half-asleep.

  Maggie is maybe in her 40’s, red hair, green eyes, and not much bigger than the leprechauns that haunt the Irish countryside. She looked up as I gave her a cup of tea and I suddenly felt very sad. I turned away so nobody would see I was starting to cry, and went into the kitchen.

  Damn! Where’s the tough broad who chewed out a high school principal, and shoved a couple of big bastards off the pier, and laughed as they splashed into the cold Pacific? When I dried my eyes and went back, Maggie got up and invited me to walk with her along the shore.

  We walked for a while beside the hissing surf, watching seagulls take off ahead of us.

  “Is the story about the Dancers sending an assassin to Hangtown true?”

  “No.”

  “Do the Dancers exist? Are you a member?”

  “Yes, they exist. I lead them.”

  “I don’t like that. Do I have to bow, say sir, or something?”

  “Leadership doesn’t require such nonsense. We are equal in every way except I have more experience. If my experiences are useful to you, learn from them. If they aren’t, don’t.”

  “And you kill people who misuse the Gift?”

  “Yes.”

  I waited, but she didn’t continue.

  “Ok then, how come you look like a nice lady instead of the leader of Killers International?”

  “For the same reason nice people kill rabid animals.”

  “Oh no you don’t, bad analogy! It’s one thing to kill an animal frothing at the mouth and attacking everything in sight. Quite another to kill a guy because he’s greedy.”

  “Ah young lady, you are so correct. The analogy is a bit of a stretch.” She was becoming irritated and the nice, nice was slipping away fast. “Ok then, how about this? We have a big edge and not about to let anybody blow it.”

  “At least honest, but that makes you just as greedy as the people you kill.”

  “Yes!” Her face twisted, and her voice grew ugly and hard, “and if we have to kill to protect our edge that is what we will do. And that is what you will do!”

  I felt myself grow strong in a very deep, quiet way. “No! I won’t do that. If that’s your test, I failed.”

  I closed my eyes, felt my body grow warm, and knew my life was ending. I have no regret for the choice I made, but regret not knowing what might have been.

  Nothing happened, and I opened my eyes. Hers were full of tears.

  “No Alice, you didn’t fail, you passed. Welcome to the Dancers.”

  CHAPTER 6

  When we got back, everyone was so relieved when they saw Maggie smiling. What a weird bunch of loveable lunatics, but then I remembered those Russian dolls within dolls. I looked around the room at the smiles, the caring, maybe even love, and wondered how long before the next doll pops.

  “Are you all Dancers?”

  “All Dancers,” Skinny Santa answered.

  “Do the Dancers kill people who misuse the Gift?”

  “No.”

  “Then what do you do?”

  “Support. Training. Missions. And lots of fun and games.”

  “Missions?”

  “Yeah, like finding lost Gold Rush coins for a friend.”

  “Bullshit! You’re holding something back.”

  Skinny Santa laughed. “You’re going to be very valuable. We need a good lie detector. Yes, we sometimes take risks, like once retrieving documents from a Russian courier.”

  “That sounds right, and buttering me up will get you nowhere.”

  “Sure I was buttering you up. I was also telling the truth.”

  “God knows what the truth is in this group. The only way I might find out is to be around you for a while. Am I invited to become a full member of the Dancers, or are you going to play some more games with me?”

  “You are invited to be a full member and no more games. And you’re right. The only way you’ll know if we’re telling the truth is to join. Do you accept our invitation?”

  “I do.”

  “Good! Maggie is holding a class for Molly, Linda and Johnny tomorrow morning at nine on the veranda. You’re free to attend, and the room you’ve been using is yours if you’d like to stay for a while.”

  ____________________

  Another warm, sunny day by the sea. We ate a delicious bacon and cheese omelet breakfast, and went out to the veranda.

  “Today we’ll practice temperature control,” Maggie said. “Most people can learn to make their hand warmer or colder, especially if they use biofeedback.” She opened her bag and passed out little black boxes with silver wires ending in gold rings.

  “Put the ring on a finger and watch the number on the box.

  “Notice the number is going up as the temperature of the ring matches the temperature of your finger.

  “Ok. Now just play around changing the temperature of your finger. Just intend the change and it will happen.”

  After a remarkably short time, we could all move at least a degree up and down.

  “Good. Pair up. Molly, Johnny. Linda, Alice. Take turns increasing and decreasing the temperature of your partner’s finger.”

  My Shadow hands hovered over Linda’s finger and sent down waves of heat and then waves of cold. I don’t know how I do that. I intend it to happen and it happens. I have no idea how I raise my hand, but I want it to go up, and up it goes. I have no idea how all tho
se neurons, muscles, and tendons are coordinated.

  We all succeeded after an hour or so.

  “Good,” and took an ashtray and piece of paper out of her bag. “Now everyone, increase the temperature of the paper.” After a few minutes there was a little puff of smoke. “A bit more concentration.” After another minute or so it burst into flames. I suspect she did most of the work.

  “Ah, what a talented group. Here are more ash trays and paper. Go to it.” Heating the paper was so much harder than warming fingers. But by lunch most at least smoked the paper and a couple of us got that marvelous flame burst.

  After lunch Maggie brought glasses of water and by the end of the day we could all at least float a few ice crystals.

  “Good. Tomorrow we go to Cannery Row and have a little fun.”

  ____________________

  Click Cannery Row.

  Maggie picked a pastry shop near the aquarium.

  “Linda, see the guy in the blue shirt over there? Heat his fork just enough to get his attention.” The guy looked puzzled, and dropped the fork. After a few seconds the guy carefully picked up his fork, shook his head, and went back to eating.

  We spent the next couple of hours practicing. No problem, except Molly upset a lady when she cooled her cup of tea. The lady started screaming and screeching that her tea was cold. Molly quickly got the tea boiling as the waitress and manager came hurrying over. Oh I wish you had seen the expression on the lady’s face when she looked down and saw steam rising from her cup.

  ____________________

  There was cold rain the next morning and we could barely see the hills surrounding the Carmel Valley. We met in the cozy den with a log burning in the fireplace.

  “Ok Johnny, take this briefcase and walk past Alice. Alice, there’s an envelope inside. As he goes past zip the envelope from the briefcase into this handbag.”

  Piece of cake. At school I zipped lots of goodies out of lunch bags into mine with my Shadow hands. Good thing I have a high metabolism or I’d be big as Dumbo. Did it for their own good too. I only stole from fat boys and girls. Oh Yeah.