by Roger Hayden
“Well,” I had said back. “I think a lot about Laffy Taffy, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to put it in our vending machines.” I wasn’t even sure what I meant, but she had burst out laughing at my sarcasm more than I had expected. It seemed like the less I showed that I cared, the more interested she became in me.
That Friday, Nick admonished me for giving them another chance. “After they ditched like that? Are you crazy?” He paused to catch his breath as students shuffled around us in the hall. “If they burn you again, you’ll only have yourself to blame. Remember that.”
I nodded as he walked away and couldn’t help but to feel a little ashamed. I suspected a little jealousy on his part but later wished I had taken heed of his warning, no matter how petty I had perceived it to be.
It was Friday evening. A cool breeze consumed the air. We wore sweaters and jackets as we lay in an open soccer field at Hyde Park. There was plenty of beer to accompany our stargazing. The night sky was aflutter of millions of clear tiny bulbs. I was next to Betsy and Liz. Cooper, Victoria, and Gordon were nearby, each with beers in hand and their heads propped on travel pillows. It seemed just like old times again. How quickly I had forgotten everything before.
Betsy asked me to identify the constellations. I attempted to show off, but only made it to the fifth one before forgetting the rest.
She laughed, and I could see her white teeth shine in the moonlight. “I am sorry that we didn’t hang out more after art class,” she said to me, taking my hand.
I waved her off immediately. “Nah. That-that’s okay. Stuff happens.”
“A lot was going on I haven’t told you. But I am glad we’re hanging out again.”
“Me too,” I said back. She squeezed my hand as I contemplated kissing her. Whatever Cooper or anyone had said about Betsy and her past, none of it mattered at the moment. Suddenly, I heard a thud on the ground and looked over to see Cooper and Gordon wrestling.
The girls were on their knees laughing. I sat back and watched as the two boys grunted and rolled around. Cooper eventually pinned Gordon down and jolted up with his arms in the air and a victory shout to follow. Things calmed down for a bit as Cooper walked over to me with a fresh beer. He handed it to me and I thanked him.
“All right, Buddy. I’ve got a cool idea if you’re up for it.”
I looked around, confused, and then back to Cooper, nudging him to go on.
“Remember what we talked about a while back?” He waited and then continued when it was clear that I didn’t. “The factory, remember? Your factory. Let’s go there.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Sure. But I don’t work until Monday.”
Cooper laughed. “I’m not talking about some workplace visit. I’m saying we all hang out there tonight. Check the place out.”
“A factory after hours?” Liz added, excited. “That’s creepy.”
I shook my head. “Maybe another time. Sorry.”
Cooper stepped forward, not wanting to drop the idea. “Come one, man. What are you afraid of?”
“I don’t know who you think you are, but—” I stopped suddenly as Betsy took my arm.
“Cooper, let it go,” she said in a calm tone. “If Landon isn’t comfortable with the idea, that’s that.”
Cooper eyed me in amusement. I felt the collective stares of the group join in. Everyone was watching me and waiting for an answer. “It’s just not a good idea. My dad watches that place like a hawk, especially when it’s closed.”
“You’re going to be running it someday, right?” Cooper said, defiant. “Forget your dad.”
“No!” I said a bit too loud.
Everyone was looking at me. I had enough and was ready to walk home. I glanced at Betsy and could see disappointment in her eyes. I could see it in all their eyes. I stammered and shifted as silence filled the soccer field. Cooper crossed his arms, waiting, and I looked at Betsy first with my concession.
“Fine. You guys want to go there so bad, we’ll swing by. But if anyone’s there, we keep going. Got it?”
Cooper’s smile reached from ear to ear. He shook my hand with a firm grip. “That’s what I’m talking about, Landon. Be a man.”
A sense of dread followed the cheers of the group. We could get away with a little time of sneaking into the factory after hours. But we wouldn’t be staying long. I told myself that I’d put my foot down if things got out of hand. Betsy took my hand as we all walked back to the car. Cooper drove a sleek red Pontiac Firebird.
It was a two-door, like my car, and equally cramped. I sat in the back with Betsy on my lap and everything started to make sense again. Cooper backed out and burnt rubber through the parking lot. Inside, the muffled roaring engine vibrated the floor and seats. I’d never felt so alive.
We drove under the night sky, illuminated by the full moon. My anxious silence during the drive increased the closer we got to the factory. Cooper glanced in the rear-view mirror and seemed to take notice.
“You okay there, buddy?”
I was quick to respond. “Yeah. Of course.”
“Well, I think this is going to be fun,” Betsy said. “I’ve never been in a factory before.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” I said. “It’s not much to look at.”
“For a hundred-year-old building, I’m sure it’ll be interesting,” Cooper added.
I didn’t know if it was that old, but I never forgot Cooper’s earlier interest in the land. He was up to something. They all were in on it, but the only thing that matter was Betsy and the prom. That was the even exchange. We turned onto Old Industrial Way, and I could see the long chain-link fence of the factory come into view. My heart raced the closer we got. I had seen my father angry with me before, but taking a group of kids into his business after closing hours was a line I had never crossed before.
We pulled up to the locked gate. Cooper parked, opened his door, and got out. He moved the seat up for me. Betsy got off my lap, and I stepped out next. I approached the gate with headlight beams shining onto the chained padlock in the middle. Beyond the loud engine, there was a desolate quiet in the air. I unlocked the gate, pushed it open, and stepped aside as Cooper drove in. There was no turning back at that point.
I led the car to a parking space near the entrance of the monolithic two-story building. A single light hung above the door I had keys to. The group piled out of the car, Gordon grabbed the beer from the trunk, and everyone followed me to the door in silence. I figured a little humor would break the ice, so I frantically patted my pockets with panic on my face.
“Damn. I forgot the key.”
Cooper stepped forward, unamused. “What do you mean?”
“Relax,” I said, holding it up as Betsy and the others laughed.
“Very funny,” Cooper said.
Betsy lifted her head back and examined the building in awe. “Your family owns this place?”
“They sure do,” I said and unlocked the door.
My father hadn’t installed an alarm system yet, which made it all the easier for us to sneak in. I pushed the creaking door open and invited them inside where it was dark.
“Welcome to Priceless Plastics,” I said and flipped the light switch. Rows of fluorescent bulbs went on over the bay floor, revealing a line of machines amid long stretches of conveyor belts, pallets, and a line of stacked boxes.
They walked around the shop floor as Gordon set the pack of beer onto a shop table. Cooper went off on his own with his hands in his pockets, gazing around.
“Don’t wander too far,” I said.
Betsy suddenly took my arm and looked at me. “Can I get a grand tour?”
I obliged as she pulled me farther ahead, leaving the group behind. We went down the long hallway toward the back. I showed her the break room, my father’s office, the shipping and receiving area. Betsy talked about her plans after high school, her excitement of becoming a nurse and moving out of Summerville for good. I was saddened to think that we’d part ways after the s
enior year.
“Why now?” I asked as we reached the shipping and receiving bay.
She glanced at me, confused. “What do you mean?”
I tried to backtrack. “Never mind. Just thinking out loud.”
“About what?” she asked.
For a moment, I couldn’t think and had forgotten that there were other people with us. “I just wonder why it took so long to finally get to know you. High school’s almost over.”
She smiled in response without running away, much to my relief. “I don’t know. It’s complicated. I do want this to continue though.”
“Come here,” I said, walking ahead. She followed me outside to the loading dock. From there we had a majestic view of the lake. The large white moon reflected onto the calm ripples. The chirping of unseen crickets consumed the surrounding wilderness. Betsy stared out into the lake, tugging at the ends of her jean jacket.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
I took a breath and put my arm around her shoulder. She casually lowered her head into my chest not saying a word. We stared at the lake for a while as I couldn’t think of any better time to pose the question.
“You know, Betsy. Prom’s coming up in a few months.”
She groaned in response. “Don’t remind me.”
“So, I was sort of wondering if you’d like to, uh… If you’d like to go with me?” I winced as silence followed and felt four inches tall. Betsy moved away from me. I opened my eyes to see her looking at me.
“You know. I was wondering when you were going to ask me.”
My mouth dropped. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I am.” She paused and then bit her bottom lip, thinking. “Put me down for a maybe.”
I looked away, embarrassed as she laughed. “You’re so touchy! Yes, I’ll go to the prom with you, Landon.”
I still couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not. “You mean it this time.”
She laughed again and we hugged under the stars. I said no more as we went back inside. Like any moment with Betsy, I never wanted it to end.
“Thanks for showing me that,” she said as we reemerged on the factory floor.
I could already hear Cooper and Gordon raising a ruckus down the hall. A loud welcome awaited our return.
“It’s about time you two got back,” Cooper said, hoisting up two beers. “Have yourselves a drink before they get warm.”
“You got a stereo in here?” Gordon asked.
I pointed to a boom box by one of the machines and he rushed over to turn it on. He found a rock station and we stood around, laughing and drinking as the night went on. Cooper asked me a dozen questions about the factory, but his prying didn’t faze me. Not with Betsy at my side.
I felt light as air over the weekend. My father didn’t say a thing. I was in the clear, my homework was all caught up, and I had a date to the prom. I’d never felt so alive. Sitting in my room with a book in my lap, I jumped every time the phone rang. Each time, the call wasn’t for me, and I was getting worried. I didn’t hear from Betsy on Saturday or Sunday.
I figured she was busy. Or maybe she was waiting for me to call. I told myself to give her some space, to not seem desperate, and to not look like I was thinking about her all the time. Which I was.
By Monday morning, I was mildly concerned but managed to run into her and Cooper in the hall outside of class before. They both seemed surprised to see me, though I couldn’t understand why. Cooper sped past Betsy and gave me a head nod. “Thanks again for letting us hang at your factory. Had a great time.”
I noticed that Betsy was having trouble making eye contact with me.
“Yeah, no problem,” I said. “Are you headed to Astronomy?”
Cooper looked around the crowded hall. “Actually no. I’ve got a—something to work on.” He turned to Betsy and me, said, “See ya,” and walked off.
“What’s his deal?” I said. Betsy stared ahead with her pink three-ring binder close to her chest. “Are you okay?”
She snapped out of her daze and smiled at me. “No. I’m sorry. I’m just feeling so swamped right now. After this, it’s my first day at Hooisers’.”
Hooisers’ was a new local sports bar where Betsy had just gotten a serving job.
I tried to keep things light and wished her good luck. Then came my need to know. “I didn’t hear from you this weekend. Could I maybe call you later after school?”
“Sure,” she said, her attention elsewhere. “My shift starts at six, so call before then.”
“Mine too,” I said. “Of course. I could always drive you home too.”
“I’ll be fine, thanks. Bye, Landon.” She took off before I could say another word. I didn’t want to think anything was unusual about her behavior. I wanted to believe that she really was swamped and it had nothing to do with me or us.
I watched her move quickly down the hall as Nick came out of nowhere, already getting on my case.
“Don’t tell me that you’re upset with her again,” he said.
I felt scared and hurt but couldn’t explain it. It seemed like Betsy was back to giving me the cold shoulder again. I wasn’t going to tell Nick anything, lest I get an “I told you so” in return.
“We’re cool,” I told him, referring to Betsy. “I’ve got to get to class now.”
He asked me what happened over the weekend with Betsy, and I lied. “Nothing. I, uh… had to visit my grandparents. Very last minute.”
“Ah. Well, probably for the better,” he said, sipping from his Coke.
We walked together across the green-tiled floor and split off as he went up the stairs. I entered the classroom with my mind was on autopilot and brewing with fear and confusion. Something had happened. Betsy and Cooper were acting strange, and I needed to find out why. I wouldn’t get the answers that day. As promised, Cooper was absent from class, and I didn’t see Betsy, Victoria, Liz, or Gordon for the rest of the day.
Betsy didn’t answer the phone after school either. I held the receiver to my ear, dumbfounded, as the line rang again and again. I hung up the phone with a sickness in my stomach as I wondered what the hell was going on.
My mother suddenly knocked on my door with an urgent tone. “Your father wants you to get to the factory immediately.”
Fresh panic swept over me. “What? Did he say why?”
The door opened as she stuck her head inside, her face stricken with worry. “Something about vandalism and the machines not working.”
“He just discovered this?” I asked, astonished.
“No. They’ve been acting up all day.
I thanked her as she closed the door. I hadn’t even changed out of my school clothes yet. Increasingly frustrated, I tossed a text book across the room and got up to find my work clothes in the closet. I grabbed a clean but oil-stained blue short-sleeved button up work shirt and a pair of jeans and placed them on the bed. My shift didn’t start for another hour, but my father already wanted me there. Maybe he found out about Friday night and needed to coax me there. My heart started beating a little faster as nervousness took hold.
“There’s no proof,” I told myself. “No proof of anything.”
It took me fifteen minutes to arrive at the factory. I stuck to the back roads to avoid after-school traffic, including buses and crosswalks. I remained calm as I exited my car, fastening the top button on my shirt. There were five other vehicles in the parking lot, including my father’s pick-up truck. I also took note of an electrician’s van parked nearby.
The sun was beating down without a cloud in the sky. It was warm that day and spring was right around the corner. I suddenly realized that Valentine’s Day was coming up. It was on Thursday, only a few days away, and had completely slipped my mind. I paused at the entrance, shocked at the oversight. Maybe that’s what Betsy was upset about. I hadn’t asked her out for Valentine’s Day.
“You idiot!” I said under my breath with my fist balled. That explained everything. Only, I didn’t kno
w for sure. I walked inside, feeling a rush of air from the overhead vent, and removed my sunglasses. Oddly enough, the bay floor was quiet. All the lights were on, but none of the machines were running. I saw my father and a bunch of people gathered around a press with flashlights in hand. I could slip in undetected for a moment. I shuddered at the sight of Bruce standing nearby with his hands on his hips and his large gut protruding from his shirt.
“Hey guys. What’s going on?” I asked.
There was an electrician on his back, under the engine compartment of the machine. “I’m not sure what it is,” he said, face hidden. “Something ain’t right.”
“With all of them?” my father said in angered disbelief. His face was flushed and exhausted. He took one look at me and the anger only grew.
“Come here,” he said and grabbed me by the shoulder. “I want to speak to you.”
He led me off and away from the machines as everyone watched. We walked toward his office in the back as an intense nervousness took hold. What did he know? Once we were out of earshot from everyone, he turned to a trash can and pulled out two empty Bud Light bottles.
“You know what this is about?” he said all suspicious-like.
I glanced at the bottles and shook my head. “No. Why?”
He dropped them back into the trash can with a clang. “Couple guys found them by the molding machine. I can tell you that no one in this factory drinks Bud Light.”
I kept my cool with a shrug. “Never seen them before.”
His unconvinced eyes narrowed. “Really? That’s strange. Somebody screwed with the machines. We’ve lost a day’s production so far over this shit.” He paused and took a deep breath. “And you don’t know anything about it?”
I shook my head. “I have no clue. What’s wrong with the machines?”
“Parts missing,” he said. “Little electronic resisters, plugs and stuff, just gone. Ralph is making a list of it as we speak.”