Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4

by Claudia Hall Christian

  “And why this chandelier?”

  The screen switched to an image of the chandelier.

  “When it’s lit, it looks like rain,” Jill said. “Even with the fluorescent bulbs.”

  “For the garden on the walls?” Salvator asked.

  “Yes sir,” Jill said. “With any luck, the copper will turn green.”

  “This is a brilliant room.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Jill said. “We’re proud of how it turned out.”

  “You may sit down,” her teacher said. “Mrs. Biatchi will allow us to tour their home on Friday afternoon after you turn in your designs for the room.”

  “Sir, we meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” a man near the back said.

  “And you turn in work on Friday. When available, we’ll take field trips to see the actual redo of the rooms we work on,” Salvator said. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  “No sir,” the man said.

  “Good.” Salvator pointed to Jill. “This is your competition. I’d understand if you wanted to transfer. Go ahead. Ms. Roper is already a pack leader, if not the pack leader.”

  Jill blushed.

  “Let’s move on,” Salvator said.

  For the next two hours, Jill wrote furiously. After the class let out, she looked over her notes to make sure she didn’t have any questions. Awful woman knocked into her shoulder. Jill looked up.

  “Pack leader my ass,” awful woman said as she passed.

  Jill grit her teeth. She was going to win the weekly competitions if it was the last thing she did.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Thursday night — 9:25 P.M.

  Charlie woke up with a start. He hadn’t intended to fall asleep. But like always, lying on Noelle’s bed, he fell sound asleep. He shook himself to make sure he was awake.

  And angry.

  He hated rehab. He wouldn’t speak to Aden in the car on the way home. He’d made sure everyone felt his rage. From snide comments to sheer defiance, he’d forced everyone into his angry world. Aden shook his head at him. Sandy hugged him and told him she loved him. Nash and Noelle rolled their eyes at him. More than once, Noelle told him to stop being such a jerk.

  But Charlie wouldn’t stop.

  He’d had enough of the rules and the bullshit. He was fine on his own, on the streets. He’d planned to leave after the ‘little kids’, his new term for Nash and Noelle, went to little kid bed. But he fell asleep on Noelle’s bed listening to Sandy tell a story.

  Again.

  Rage coursed through his veins. How could he be stupid enough to lie down? Stories were for little babies, not men like Charlie. He pulled on his new jeans and the jacket Sandy bought for him. He was leaving tonight.

  No more rehab. No more rules. No more bullshit. Just his friends, his pipe and the open night. His buddy Razor was meeting him at 9:30 outside the Castle.

  He slid down the hallway toward the living room. He saw Sandy sitting on Aden’s lap in a high back dining room chair. Their dinner lay uneaten on the table. Staying in the shadow, he could see them but they couldn’t see him. When Sandy flipped her hair, he saw that she was crying. Sobbing really.

  Charlie felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

  He’d never seen Sandy upset. She might drop a tear or two, but never like this. Her face was red. Her eyes were almost swollen shut. Sandy’s black and white cat, the one that slept with him every night, pranced on the dining room table trying to get her attention. He heard Buster, their ugly dog, scratch at Noelle’s door. Like Cleo, Buster was drawn to help Charlie’s sobbing sister.

  He could only make out a word or two she said. ‘Failure’ was one. ‘Child endanger’ was another. He heard Aden’s low soothing voice but not his words. He was about to storm in when he heard:

  “Charlie’s going to die. He’s going to die.”

  Charlie stopped in his tracks.

  Sandy was crying about… him.

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTEEN

  Charlie

  Charlie took a step back into the hall. Unbidden, his mind flashed on Sandy’s bright face. She was the light of his life. No matter what he did, she had always loved him. He remembered seeing her outside the Hotel Teatro. She was so small, tiny compared to him but the bright beacon of her essence drew him to her like a magnet. He had run to her just to be near her, by her side. Wherever Sandy stood was a perfect place for Charlie.

  He stared at Sandy and Aden for a while before he felt a hand on his arm. He looked down to see Nash. Nash gestured toward his room. When Nash opened the door, Buster zoomed into the hallway. Noelle was sitting on Nash’s bed. Feeling left out, Charlie anger and attitude returned. He grunted at Noelle.

  “We hoped we’d catch you,” Nash said.

  “Catch me?” Charlie grunted.

  “Delphie talked to me after dinner. She said you were leaving tonight and if you left…” Noelle panted with excitement. “You would die and Sandy would die and the baby would die. Nash set his alarm so we could stop you.”

  “Why do you care if I die?” Charlie asked. “Sandy’s fine.”

  “Sandy’s in trouble,” Nash whispered.

  “The doctor’s worried about the baby,” Noelle whispered. “That’s why Sandy’s so upset.”

  “She feels responsible for us and you and your sister,” Nash whispered. “She feels like she’s failing at everything. The doctor said the baby isn’t gaining weight like it should.”

  Stunned, Charlie’s attitude slipped a tiny bit.

  “The doctor wants to put Sandy on bed rest,” Noelle whispered. “But she won’t be able to help you or Sissy and us. She refused.”

  “Sandy’s health is coming apart,” Nash whispered.

  “Her hair is falling out!” Noelle whispered.

  Realizing Nash and Noelle knew something about his sister that he didn’t, he was angry again.

  “How do you know this and I don’t?” Charlie asked.

  “Delphie knows stuff… psychically. She told Noelle you planned to leave tonight,” Nash said. “You won’t survive tonight. You and your loser friends will get high but you’re still too sick. You’ll die.”

  “And Sandy will be so heartbroken that she’ll lose the baby,” Noelle said.

  Not willing to give up his anger so easily, Charlie said, “Why should I care about some stupid baby?”

  “This is Sandy, you idiot!” Noelle said. “You may not care what happens to you, but Delphie said Sandy and the baby will die. I remember life without Sandy and I don’t want to do that again.”

  “Dad’s trying to convince her to go on bed rest, but she won’t because she’ll miss your stupid rehab,” Nash said.

  “She’s willing to risk her life for you but you just want to be a jerk,” Noelle said.

  Nash’s door opened and Aden walked in.

  “What’s this?” Aden asked.

  “This isn’t what you think,” Nash started.

  “How do you know what I think?” Aden asked. “Noelle get to bed. Nash get in bed. Good lord, don’t we have enough trouble without you guys misbehaving?”

  “Dad, we…”

  “I don’t want to hear it,” Aden said.

  “What about Charlie?” Noelle asked.

  “Charlie’s coming with me,” Aden said.

  Shrugging, Noelle went through the bathroom to her bedroom.

  “But Dad!” Nash said.

  “In bed now,” Aden said. “I don’t want to hear it.”

  Aden grabbed the back of Charlie’s jacket and pushed him toward the door.

  “Get in bed,” Aden said to Nash.

  “Fine,” Nash said. “But…”

  Aden glared at Nash and Nash got into bed. Aden pushed Charlie into the hall.

  “Where is it?” Aden asked.

  “What?” Charlie asked.

  “Your pipe, your drugs,” Aden said. “I told you no drugs.”

  “I don’t have drugs,” Charlie said.,”

  “If you think I w
on’t strip search you right here, you should think again,” Aden said.

  Charlie took his pipe out of his pocket. He held it out. Aden dropped the ceramic pipe on the ground and crushed it with his heel of his boot.

  “Where’s Sandy?” Charlie asked. “I want to talk to my sister.”

  “Your sister is upstairs with Jill,” Aden said. “You and I are going to talk to your friends.”

  “My friends?”

  “Seems someone named Razor is downstairs waiting for you,” Aden said. “He and his merry band of boys seem to think you’re being held hostage here. Hostage? Really? Are we torturing you too, Charlie?”

  “I had a bad day at rehab,” Charlie started.

  “Whoop de fucking do,” Aden said. “You’re going to have plenty of bad days at rehab. That’s why you have to go, dumbass.”

  Aden grabbed the back of Charlie’s collar and pushed him through the apartment. He pushed Charlie out the door.

  “Go,” Aden said.

  Charlie swallowed hard. He opened his mouth.

  “Don’t give me that look,” Aden said. “Your sister perfected that look. You can’t rip the heart out of me. Your sister already completed that task tonight.”

  “What?”

  Aden sighed.

  “I’m not kicking you out. You need to tell your friends you’re not available. And it would be nice if you told him you’re also not being held hostage.”

  Charlie slunk down the stairs and Aden followed. At the bottom of the stairs, Charlie saw this big guy with a bushy beard and a mean look.

  “This is the hostage?” Mike asked.

  Aden nodded. Mike grabbed Charlie’s arm and pushed him through the doorway. Razor and Charlie’s friends stood in the middle of the Castle living room. There was another big red haired guy and the guy he knew as Jake. The old guy, Sam Lipson, stood near the kitchen.

  “Your friends appear to believe they can rob the house tonight,” Jake said. “They believe you were going to let them in to... ‘rob the rich people blind’… yes, I think that was it.”

  “Punk ass,” MJ, the big red haired guy pushed one of Razor’s friends.

  “I never said that,” Charlie said. “I was going to meet them. I…”

  When Jacob gave him a long look, he felt like he was stripped to the bone. Jacob nodded and turned back to Razor and the guys.

  “What do you want?” Jacob asked Razor.

  “We’re hungry,” Razor said.

  “Val’s making food for you,” Mike said.

  “Charlie, you have something to say?” Aden asked.

  “I know I told you I was a hostage here,” Charlie said. “My sister lives here. She and her husband are letting me stay… here… with them.”

  “Anything else?” Aden asked.

  “They’ve been taking care of me – food and clothing and medical stuff,” Charlie looked from face to face and looked down. “I really like it here. I was just pissed off this afternoon so I said all that stuff.”

  “So your friend is fine. You’ll get a warm meal,” Jacob said. “Anything else?”

  “Place to sleep?” a young boy Charlie called Jeffy said. “It’s still cold out and…”

  “You can sleep here,” Jacob said.

  “But you should know prick,” MJ said. “The house has premium security. You stray from this room and I’ll know it.”

  The boys’ eyes went wide with horror at MJ.

  “And… I don’t like you,” MJ said.

  Coming into the living room, Valerie carried a pot of beef stew. Delphie followed her with bowls and loaves of sourdough bread. Seeing Valerie, the boys nudged each other.

  “You made all of this?” Mike asked Val.

  “Delphie made it this afternoon,” Valerie smirked at him.

  “You’re a movie star,” Razor said.

  “I am a movie star,” Valerie said. “Right now, I’m the only person who stands between you and my husband.”

  She nodded toward the big, mean looking guy. Charlie gulped. Aden grabbed the back of Charlie’s coat and pushed him out of the room. Behind him, he heard the sound of stew being dished out. Aden nudged him up the stairs. He turned to talk to Aden at the top of the stairs.

  “What’s going to happen?” Charlie asked.

  “You need to be in bed, son,” Aden said. “You’re still sick. Get going.”

  Charlie shuffled toward their door.

  “No really, are they going to call the police?” Charlie asked.

  “No,” Aden said. “The boys will get a warm meal. They can stay in the living room tonight. It’s locked. They can’t get out. Jake’ll get them cleaned up and wash their clothes. Tomorrow morning, we’ll offer them work if they want it. If not, we’ll try to contact their families.”

  “Why would they do all of that?”

  “It’s what they do,” Aden said. “Your friends aren’t the first homeless people to arrive on the doorstep of the Castle. They won't be the last. This is what Sam, Val & Jake do when anyone needs a warm meal and a place to stay.”

  “How did they know they would be here?”

  “Delphie,” Aden said. “She’s usually one step ahead of stupidity.”

  “Delphie?”

  “You haven’t met her yet?” Aden asked.

  Charlie shook his head. They walked to the living room door.

  “Why don’t you wait here and I’ll get her?” Aden asked. “You’d do well to talk to Delphie tonight. Go on in. I’ll meet you back here.”

  “Sir?” Charlie swallowed hard.

  “Yes,” Aden turned back to Charlie.

  “It was my fault Nash and Noelle were awake,” Charlie said. “I was going to leave tonight. They were trying to talk me out of it.”

  Smiling, Aden gave him a tight nod. He turned back to walk down the hall.

  “Sir?”

  “Yes, Charlie,” Aden said.

  “Is Sandy going to die?” Charlie asked.

  “She’s very upset,” Aden said. “We all count on her as our anchor. Each of us uses her to make our world better. She can’t do that right now. We have to make our own worlds better so that she can rest. But she won’t do that until you and Sissy are safe and stable.”

  “Oh,” Charlie said.

  “You can make a big difference,” Aden said. “If you choose to. Think about it.”

  Charlie nodded. He went into their living room and sat down on the couch. After a few minutes, Aden appeared with an older woman. The woman had a bright smile, dyed red curly hair and wore a flowing flowered dress. She looked somewhere between an aging hippy and a gypsy. Aden nodded to Charlie and moved to leave.

  “Where are you going?” Charlie asked.

  “I’m going to see if I can do something for my wife,” Aden said. “Delphie offered to stay with you kids tonight. Sandy and I will stay upstairs so that Jill can fuss over her.”

  Charlie felt a stab of sorrow that surprised even him.

  “She’ll be back in the morning,” Aden said. “Don’t worry. Jill’s touch is exactly what Sandy needs.”

  The aging hippy lady smiled at Charlie and led him to the kitchen where she made some green tea for herself. Without asking, she made Charlie’s favorite Raspberry tea and poured it over ice. She smiled when she gave it to Charlie.

  “Why don’t we drink our tea then clean up a bit?” Delphie asked. “I’m Delphie.”

  “Charlie,” he said.

  She smiled at him. He followed her into the living room where they sat down. She got up to turn on the gas fireplace.

  “Jake’s installed these fireplaces all over the house,” Delphie said. “They’re perfect for relieving the chill. Are you cold, Charlie?”

  “I’m okay,” Charlie said. “How did you know I was going to leave tonight?”

  “I know things,” Delphie said. “That’s what I do.”

  Charlie’s eyes squinted as he puzzled out what she said. Taking a drink of his ice tea, he shrugged.

  �
��How did you know the exact time?” Charlie asked. “Nash set his alarm by it.”

  “I could see the clock in the mirror behind your head in the hallway,” Delphie said. “Just a single image and a knowing that you were angry and leaving. The rest was simple. Go check yourself.”

  Charlie walked over to the hallway. Sandy’s antique mantle clock reflected off the glass of a painting and was easily visible in the full length mirror in the hallway.

  “I usually see exactly what I need to see,” Delphie said. “You have something you wanted to ask me. I could feel it when we were downstairs.”

  Charlie looked over his shoulder to see if Nash or Noelle were still in their rooms. Discovering they were alone, he went back to the couch and sat next to Delphie.

  “What’s wrong with me?” Charlie asked.

  “What do you mean?” Delphie asked.

  “I’ve never been quite… normal,” Charlie stumbled and rushed his words. “When my glasses broke, I was glad ‘cuz I didn’t have to try so hard any more. I can’t read or do what other kids do. The first time I felt even sort of normal is with Teddy and Nash and Noelle. And let’s face it. They aren’t really normal.”

  “They aren’t,” Delphie said. “They’re special kids.”

  “But I’m not special,” Charlie said.

  Charlie stopped talking. He collapsed into himself.

  “Your father had these same problems,” Delphie said.

  “My… father? My father was a saint.” Charlie repeated what his mother had said a billion or more times.

  “Hardly. You should ask Seth about him,” Delphie said. “Or Sandy. They knew him better than anyone. They’ll tell you that he struggled a lot. He had a drug addiction, like you do. He wore reading glasses, like you do. He was tall and handsome, like you are. He had been with both women and men, like you have.”

  “Hey, I was just with men for money,” Charlie said. “I’m not gay.”

  “You’re not,” Delphie said.

  “I’m not?”

  Charlie had been troubled by this. If he was gay, he could accept that. It was a genetic thing, plus it explained why he felt so weird all the time. At the same time, the things he did to get drug money didn’t bother him too much. If he was really straight, wouldn’t they bother him? He didn’t feel gay or straight.