Tells

by Scott Rhine

  “Oh, hell no,” Blaise said. “I just did my nails.”

  I put a hand on her shoulder. “You can bus tables with me. They usually have carts to collect the dirty plates and silverware. The other two are stronger and better at applying elbow-grease to pots. Just remember to smile and be gracious to people as you take their things.”

  “Are you going to teach me the royal wave next?”

  “No, but I’ll take your picture in an apron and hairnet and e-mail it to the school cafeteria workers if you don’t roll with this.”

  Smiling, Emma said, “Cold stuff stays cold, and warm things warm. Meat goes into the refrigerators for now, and after it’s cooked, it gets put into a warming tray. After the bags are unloaded, wash your hands to the elbows. Weapons stay in the van. Each of you will need a hairnet once we open the first package.”

  She was like a drill sergeant, ordering people around.

  As we circulated in the dining hall, lot of old ladies said I was such a good girl and pinched my cheek. Blaise had other things pinched by a dirty old man. She complained to the teacher immediately.

  Emma replied, “When you put out a welcome mat, everyone thinks it means them.”

  “Even the creepy ones,” Luca said. Although, I didn’t want to know what constituted creepy to someone who had piercings and slept with weapons.

  Because Mom had been a therapist, I had smiling, nodding, and asking open-ended questions down to an art. Even with the glasses on, I became a magnet for people with problems.

  One homeless woman in particular complained loudly that her dog wasn’t able to come in. Two ROTC guys had to block her way. Blaise whispered, “What’s the big deal? People in stores have service animals all the time.”

  I replied, “This dog is for defense, so nobody robs or rapes her while she’s trying to sleep. If we let all of them in, they’ll fight each other. We might also lose our food license for violating health codes. Go in the back and get one of those ice cream bowls. Fill it with a little water and a lot of ice. Hurry. I’ll stall her until you get back.”

  Putting on my best sympathetic smile, I had the men step inside so I could hear the woman out. Despite the temperature, she wore a thick coat and several layers of dirty clothing. The smell nearly knocked me over, but I didn’t flinch. “We’re getting your dog an ice-water.” The German shepherd crouched defensively, ready to take the arm of the first person who touched its master.

  She grunted. “About time. It’s boiling out here, but I won’t leave her alone.”

  “I’ll stand here and make sure she doesn’t run away while you get a meal and whatever else you want.”

  The homeless woman blocking the doorway took offense, and the dog bristled at her agitation. “My Vicki ain’t no dumb mutt.”

  “Of course not. Why don’t you let her know I’m safe.”

  “Hold out your hand and don’t move,” she ordered.

  As the wary dog leaned into my hand, Blaise stumbled through the door, spilling the bowl of ice-water over the homeless woman.

  “Ack! Damn you!” Vicki’s owner smacked Blaise around the head and shoulders.

  Vicki took the curse as an attack command and latched onto my suede jacket, growling. When the ROTC men burst outside and grabbed the woman’s arms, the dog became enraged, shaking its head and tearing the fabric of my jacket. I couldn’t pry her off. “Ow. Put her down and grab Vicki!”

  Since no one but me knew the dog’s name, the men stood around looking confused while Vicki knocked me on my behind and climbed atop my fallen form. The pain wasn’t registering yet, like the first few moments after a burn. I was living on borrowed time, but no one was acting.

  Blaise made a disgusted sound, dropped the bowl, and grabbed Vicki’s jaws with her bare hands. She squeezed until the dog yelped, but it wouldn’t yield. “Call off the dog, or I’ll snap its neck.”

  “Vicki, come.”

  With a snarl at Blaise, the animal trotted over behind its owner.

  In fear, I parted the shredded fabric to examine the damage to my left arm. My skin was pink but unbroken. How?

  Luca’s kicking open the door distracted everyone while I covered my arm again.

  I let Blaise help me to my feet but stayed hunched over. “I’m okay. Let her go. We just need to clean it in the kitchen.” My voice was shaking.

  Pointing to the road, Luca told Vicki, “Leave now, and we won’t call the cops.” The ROTC guys backed her on either side.

  “Government always pushing me around,” the woman muttered as she left.

  My friends all but carried me to the back, and a pale Emma rushed over to examine me. “What happened?”

  “Freaking dog mauled her,” said Blaise. She ripped open the sleeve before I could stop her. “What the hell?”

  I lowered my voice in an apologetic tone. “Another miracle. I didn’t charge my amulet, and I hid it before anyone else could see.”

  “Oh, honey.” Emma pulled me close. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

  Lilith asked, “Is this like Daniel in the lion’s den.”

  “No,” I replied. “Those animals couldn’t even open their mouths. It may be residue from the Tree of Life pattern.”

  “Or maybe it wasn’t a real dog,” Blaise suggested. “Like this was a test, and you passed when you forgave the woman.”

  Emma shrugged. “If God wanted you to know, he’d have told you. You remain unharmed because you were serving as His hands.”

  “Regardless of how, she can’t go back out there, or people will know,” Luca said.

  “I don’t want to wait in the van for the rest of the day.”

  Emma held up a hand. “Relax. I’ll wrap it in gauze to make things look normal, but don’t leave her alone again.”

  “Aye-aye, sir,” said Luca, taking over as my partner.

  Blaise sighed. “There go my nails.”

  I laid a hand on her arm. “Thank you for rescuing me. Not many people would’ve taken that risk.”

  She shrugged. “Meh. I did it for selfish reasons. You’re the only one of my relatives I can stand and the only girl who would agree to be my chem lab partner.”

  In an uncharacteristic show of warmth, Luca patted my cousin on the back. “I’ll spread the word. Nobody’s going to bother you in gym class again.”

  That earned a smile.

  ****

  Once all the diners were gone and the last dish put away, the breakfast crew handed the baton to us. Emma asked me, “Since you’re the veteran, what do you think we cook as the main course? I like to give them choices for dinner because life has taken so many decisions away from them.”

  I backed away, holding up my fake-bandaged arm. “I suck at cooking. Luca should do that. She’s an ace at sauces, so I’d say a pasta dish. We can also combine the stuffing mix with the extra burger to make a meatloaf.”

  “Fine,” Emma said, nodding at the suggestions. “Blaise, you cut up those loaves of French bread. We’re going to make garlic bread to go with the pasta.”

  “With cheese?” asked Lilith.

  Luca shook her head. “The bags we got are mostly Mexican blend. I’ll stuff it inside the meatloaf.”

  “Sounds good,” replied Emma. “Isa, refill the condiments and add the ketchup bottles. Blaise, you should arrange the cookies on those big trays. Use your artistic ability.”

  “I’m jealous. You have the best job,” I said to encourage her. When she frowned, I asked, “Have you ever given a person who’s lost everything their first cookie in a month? They treat it like a Christmas present. It’s the best feeling.”

  Blaise looked at the bags of assorted nearly expired cookies in a new light. “Thanks.”

  I avoided the heat of the kitchen. While the others chopped and mixed, Emma and I made table decorations from her stack of pink paper. She said, “The little touches convey the love.” So I tried extra hard to make the origami flowers well. She had three different patterns, but I could only fold one.

&
nbsp; After the main courses were simmering and baking, my friends checked in with Emma for more instructions.

  “Do you see what I mean about Isa?” whispered Luca. “The kid just touches them, and they smile. Like she reminds them of something good they used to have.”

  Emma replied, “This is the best magic I’ve seen from her yet. Are any of the rest of you feeling led to a ministry of service?”

  Eyes wide, Lilith asked, “Like a nun or something?”

  “There are many ways to serve. I have friends who run meetings for alcoholics or help people in prison change their lives for the better. Even women without Books can move mountains a little at a time. We’re all God’s hands.”

  Yesterday, the words would have sounded trite or canned, but watching my Math teacher sacrifice her weekend to make these people’s lives better couldn’t be discounted. By the end of the afternoon, my friends were in awe at the poverty and suffering in their own backyards.

  Luca seemed the most shell-shocked. “I think I owe my mother an apology. I called her a self-centered addict before I left. These people know what it means to have drugs, alcohol, or mental illness rip a family to pieces.”

  Lilith asked, “How are there so many of them?”

  “There are far more elsewhere. This is a well-heeled community with a free clinic,” Emma replied.

  “I throw out more stuff each week than these people own.” I could tell from the break in her voice that Lilith struggled to hold back tears.

  I put my arm around her. “The makeover you did for Blaise was really special.” The others nodded. “Do you think you might be able to do something like that at a women’s shelter? A lot of them could use some pampering and a way to feel better about themselves after someone has torn them down for so long.”

  That did it. Lilith cried on my shoulder for a while. A stupid superpower. When she calmed I turned to Emma. “Where are we eating supper? I need to sit.”

  Luca replied, “We’re all invited to Gran-gran’s.”

  The dying person I promised to visit.

  This brightened Emma’s aspect. “That’ll sure be easier on my bank account. I thought I’d be paying for a girls’ night out.”

  “Just provide the pineapple soda,” said Luca. “And I’m sorry about what I wrote on Bradstreet’s door.” She clamped her mouth shut and glared at me like the confession was my fault, which I suppose it was.

  “What?” asked Emma.

  Luca pretended to find something interesting on the ceiling. “I had the leftover UV paint in my locker. I may have scrawled some unkind words on the lockers and transom in invisible ink.”

  Emma covered her mouth with her hand so no one would see her smile. “We’ll deal with that Monday. When the headmistress is distracted, I’ll signal you to come with the scrub brush and soapy water.”

  “I’ll help,” I said.

  “Me, too,” said Blaise. “I want to read what Luca called her.”

  32. Favor

  Gran-gran’s A-frame house on Lake Placid had an awesome view of the water. It was all windows and polished wood. Everyone but me recognized the elegant old woman when she opened the stained-glass-paneled front door. She’d been an actress on a popular TV show, but Luca swore us all to secrecy. According what they told me, her grandmother had played the matriarch of a powerful Western family, holding off bandits and delivering children with equal aplomb. Only her hair color had changed. We curtsied mutely as if meeting the queen. After hugging Luca, she graciously ushered us into her home, greeting each of us by name except Emma.

  Luca remembered her manners. “This is our Math and Ward teacher, Miss Cow—” My friend winced. “Sorry. Emma Creutzfeldt. She’s very nice and drove us to our public-service obligation today.”

  “Your granddaughter is a wonderful cook and a terrifying bodyguard.”

  Gran-gran smiled and shook Emma’s hand. “Did you ladies learn anything today?”

  Almost glowing with joy, Blaise replied, “Giving out cookies is the best job. People actually liked me and not just for my tits.”

  “Homeless people aren’t lazy,” said Lilith. “A lot of them had horrible things happen to them, and they need help getting back up.”

  Luca blurted, “Isa’s father is still in love with her deceased mother, but Emma is going to help him over that. So we’ve decided not to sabotage her.”

  Emma blushed and looked away.

  “I love your open floor-plan,” I said, taking off my shoes in the foyer. I ran my hand over a subtle ivy pattern carved into the wooden wall panels. “Your wards are elegant.”

  “Thank you. Though I rarely charge them anymore.” Gran-gran led us through the living room, where I noticed several complicated medical machines. This caused me to slip off my glasses and shift into analysis mode. “I’ve sent my staff on errands so I could entertain without distraction.”

  Gran-gran was marble-pale in one corner of her jaw where she’d smudge or missed with her makeup. The dining room had a huge table, adorned with a lace tablecloth, golden candelabras, and china that could have hung in a museum.

  Emma gasped. “You didn’t need to go through so much trouble.”

  “Please.” Gran-gran took the lid off of a rectangular warming tray to reveal quesadillas. “It’s the only thing Luca would eat the only summer she stayed here with me. Other people may enjoy my chicken enchiladas in the other dish. I’m told they’re restaurant quality.”

  “You made all this yourself?” asked Lilith. “Thank you, ma’am.” She pulled out a seat and unfolded the cloth napkin onto her lap.

  “The real treat is dessert. I have six types of ice cream in the freezer and dozens of toppings on the table. My favorite is the German chocolate icing.”

  A painting on the wall piqued Blaise’s interest. “Ravens circling a cowboy slumped in the saddle. The detail in the foliage is magnificent. Those are all drought-tolerant species from the southwest—very authentic.”

  “Thank you,” said Gran-gran. “I spent a lot of time on that one.”

  “Blaise dreams about ravens, too. She nearly died when she was five,” I said. “Being underground still causes her discomfort.” The last was a supposition, but my cousin didn’t deny it. “My friend Lilith just beat cancer.” From Gran-gran’s expression of grief, she was facing death herself. I took her hand, and it was like ice.

  “Let’s eat,” said the lady of the house, holding back her emotions to be the perfect hostess.

  Everyone deferred to me when it came time to say grace. I couldn’t think of anything for several seconds, but looking down at my hands reminded me that someone might be listening. If I wanted Gran-gran to have any privacy, I’d have to do something about the bug. “Thank you, Lord, for the constant reminders of your love.” I removed my watch and strapped it to Luca’s wrist while people had their eyes closed. If I just left it on the table, the people monitoring me would notice the lack of a heartbeat and send a text. I padded the prayer while I worked and finished with, “We ask you to bless this food. Amen.”

  We chowed down, a little more politely than in the school cafeteria, but with just as much chatter. As the food disappeared, the rest of us wound down, but somebody had put a quarter in Blaise. She was excited about Eddie, one of the ROTC guys from the boys’ school. He had been hinting around about movies she might like to see.

  Lilith snorted. “Wait. Do you mean Edward Boogerhands? The kid who ate glue from the bottle?”

  “That was in kindergarten. He has better manners now and muscles.”

  As a newcomer to the school, I had nothing to add to the debate, so I cleared the empty dishes. Gran-gran chased me into the kitchen, objecting. “You don’t have to do that. You’re a guest in my house.”

  When the door swung shut, I put down the plates. “I know, but you wanted to speak to me alone.”

  She sighed deeply. “I’m so nervous.”

  “I’m just a girl, your granddaughter’s friend.” I watched her fret, unable to a
sk her question. It was painfully obvious. “You’ve died on-screen a dozen times, but now it’s for real. You want to know what to expect.”

  Gran-gran collapsed into a chair like a party balloon somebody had let go of. “I’ve devoted what remains of my life to charitable foundations, but I did a lot of hedonistic things in my youth. Made mistakes. I offended my children so badly that my family rarely visits. It all feels so empty now.”

  “Luca cares a great deal about you. I can see echoes of your strength in her. What you’ve built will last.”

  “Angels talk to you. What happens…?”

  I sat on the edge of the table. “No one tells me these things, but in science class, they talk about conservation of energy. Some part of who you are will continue afterward. You know that from using your family Book. Do you want my theory?”

  “Please!”

  “I have nothing to back it up, but I think people are like the Hungry Caterpillar. One act in this life doesn’t condemn you. Though, what you do consistently adds beauty to the colors in your wings. Once you unfold in your new body, people will look at you and see the wonderful things you’ve held inside. And a caterpillar can’t hope to imagine what flying will be like. We just have to trust. I’m sure when I die, my mother will be waiting to ease my transition. Sometimes, I feel her watching me, hoping for me, but unable to comfort me. I think that’ll be the hardest part of dying—so many things will make sense that have puzzled you for so long, but you won’t be able to tell the ones left behind. While you’re soaring, they’ll still be slogging through the mud.” I held up my glasses. “You won’t need crutches like this to see forever, and your body won’t limit you anymore.”

  She was openly weeping. If my friends overheard, they would politely ignore us. “Am I a good person?”

  “That’s the wrong question, I think. Have you loved at risk to yourself?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “A wonderful husband and three children.”

  “Have you made the lives of others better? Are you a candle in this dimly lit world?”