Her words sliced Danny’s heart. A tear ran down his cheek. “Ok, have it your way! Come study with your un-boyfriend!”
“Well… I didn’t say you weren’t my boyfriend, either.”
“You can’t have it both ways, Patti!”
“Who says I can’t?”
“Geez, I wish you’d make up your mind.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you’re driving me absolutely nuts!” the boy screamed, fighting back the tears.
“Daniel Ormont! A lady needs time to think about such things.”
Danny dropped the phone, slapping his forehead repeatedly.
“Yoo-hoo? Danny? …Are ya there?”
“Maybe I should go study with…with…Cheryl!” Danny recovered.
Damn you, Danny Ormont! You’re more clever than I figured. “Be at the library Sunday at noon…understand?”
“Hey, what changed—” CLICK!!! Patti hung up without saying goodbye. “What the heck just happened here?” Danny rubbed his temples. A headache was coming on.
Patti stood beside the phone, brooding. “Of course!” she gasped. “He was just bluffing! Why didn’t I call his bluff?” She dropped onto the sofa and pouted. “Now, what do I do? Still, it might pay to keep him around… That’s it!” The sly girl snapped her fingers and laughed. “Thank you, Mouse! You make the perfect bait!”
“Is everything all right, my darling?” Mother asked, glued to the television.
“Oh, boy!” Patti giggled. “It just keeps getting better and better!”
Sliding across the couch, she snuggled close to Mother when a commercial came on TV.
“Say, I meant to ask…” Mother eyed Patti with suspicion. “Will you be able to keep your grades up?”
“Certainly, Mother…in fact, I just bought me some insurance!”
Mother hugged her daughter. “That’s my precious girl!”
“Now, you give me a lift to the library on Sunday at noon, and I’ll…”
“Wait a minute…” Mother growled. “We agreed you’re gonna see your father!”
“But, Mother! Aren’t my grades more important?” The telephone rang, and Patti stormed into the kitchen.
“Look, don’t try to weasel out of this, Patti…” The second ring passed. “If that’s your little pet again, you just tell him to forget all about Sunday!”
“Hello?” On cue, Patti grabbed the phone after the third ring.
“Hey, what’s shaking, babe?”
“Oh, it’s only you…” Geez, what is it with these boys? “What do you want, Mark?”
“Hey, that’s no way to treat your jail bird.”
“I can’t talk right now…”
“Yeah, right, sure…whatever. Look, I just wanted to ask…”
“Spit it out already!”
“Do you still like me, or what?”
“Mark, you lizard, you messed up everything!”
“Hey, girl, you still owe me!”
“Oh, boy!” Patti groaned. “Give me a break!”
“Don’t give me your stuff!”
“Better run, Mark. The museum’s lookin’ for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re history, clown!”
“Is that so?” Mark growled. “Well, I’m not through with you!”
“Sorry, game over.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“End of the line, clown!”
“Who is he, Patti?”
“Oh, just someone from class...”
“You just tell ole whats-his-face, he better watch out!”
“You know, Mark, I’ve missed you. I can’t wait to see ya in class, Monday.”
“Really? I swear, sometimes, I don’t get you.”
“Sure! So, you can tell him yourself!” Patti hung up without saying goodbye.
“Did you put your pet back in his cage?”
“Yes, Mother… Just leave everything to me!”
“Good! Now, be sure to—”
But, Patti slipped down the hall and stole into Lynn’s bedroom. “I got it made in the shade.”
“Peachy. I explained the deal to Stinger. He ain’t too thrilled, but…” Lynn said. “Just keep your end of the bargain.”
“Real keen, Lynn!”
“Great! Now, here’s what’s shakin’ Sunday…”
* * *
Danny sat in the vacant bedroom taunted by Patti’s words spinning in his head. “Things certainly did not go as I had hoped.” He gazed out the window. The weary sun kissed the earth goodnight, and the sky blushed. The days were appreciably shorter now. The encroaching shadows made the boy feel like a forgotten toy. “At what age does it get any easier?” He stared longingly at his parents’ portrait once more. “I suppose I won’t live that long…”
Outside, the puff balls stretched into a dismal cloud bank silhouetted by the terminal twinkle of twilight. If gray clouds are just darkened, white clouds… he reasoned. If her no means yes...
“Hey! It’s our first date!” He jumped, startled by the sound of his own voice. “…Sorta. After all, she did agree to meet me at the library!”
The excited boy grabbed the phone, dialing in haste. “Andy?” Danny whispered, struggling to contain himself. “You won’t believe what I’m doing Sunday!”
Danny paused, allowing Andy to recover from the shock of his big news.
“That’s great, but…will your parents let you?”
“Will my parents let me? They won’t even know she’ll be there!”
“Get off the phone!” Mr. Ormont bellowed from downstairs. “And, get to your room!”
“I better go, Andy. …Wish me luck.”
“I’ll do better than that,” Andy said. “I’ll find you a good lawyer!”
CHAPTER XX
Hot Times
“Mother, I’m leaving!” Patti shouted, halfway out the door. “Don’t wait up!”
“Whatever…”
“See, Lynn, what’d I tell ya?” The youth strolled off with her older sibling. “She don’t even bother to ask.”
“Figures. She’s in her own little world.”
“I can sneak out anytime I like.”
“So could I – if I didn’t have to worry about someone snitching on me all the time.
“You don’t have to sneak,” Patti griped. “You’re big enough to do whatever you want.
“Not totally. I still have to be careful whenever Mother sobers up.”
“Anyways, you got it good compared to me,” Patti frowned. “I wish I was big...”
“You forget you got Mother wrapped around your little finger,” Lynn said. “Lucky squirt, getting’ all the attention.
“Ha! She don’t pay me no attention.”
“She lets you get away with murder.”
“That’s because she don’t pay no attention to nothing at all!”
“So, like, what’d ya nab?”
“Eh, my old stand-by…a carton of cigarettes.”
“Then, let’s get going. Stinger’s waiting at the grove.”
“Wait! What about Reb? …Did ya set Stinger straight?”
“As long as you set Reb straight.”
“Oh, boy! …I’ll run and get him.”
The petite girl disappeared down the walk towards Reb’s residence. Lynn took a cigarette from her purse and lit up. She puffed like a chimney while waiting for Patti’s return. Holding hands, Reb and Patti came tripping down the walk to discover Lynn pacing nervously “Now, Reb, don’t you go rattling Stinger’s cage, understand?”
“Yeah, yeah…I got it.”
“Because if ya don’t,” Lynn showed some muscle. “I can help make it very clear for ya.”
“For the record, I’m only doing this for Patti.”
“That don’t concern me. Just keep your big mouth shut.”
“C’mon, let’s get going!” Patti whined.
The three scampered across the street and vanished into the thick
et. Following the familiar dirt trail, they were soon greeted by the gentle babblings of Sable Creek.
Stinger chugged a beer. “Where the hell have you been?” he said, crushing the can.
“Cool it,” Lynn said, consulting her watch. “We got time.”
Stinger pawed at Patti’s satchel. “Whatcha bring us?”
“Nothing if you don’t relax.” The sassy girl evaded Stinger’s grasp.
“Wanna hear a joke?” Lynn took a swig from a bottle and passed it around.
Stinger lit up. “Sure…”
The giantess strode beside her sororal kin. Dwarfing the girl, she rested an arm across Patti’s shoulders. “L’il Sis here’s gonna see her old man Sunday.”
“That really is a joke,” Reb agreed. “When’d ya see him last?”
“Don’t remember, and I really don’t care.” The tomboy struggled to light her cigarette, sheltering the soft glow of a lighter’s flame from the evening breeze.
“At least you knew your old man,” Lynn said. “My Dad ran off when I came along.” She took a long drag of her smoke. “Never did see him.” The teen turned her back to the group and wiped away a tear.
Stinger piped up, leaning against a tree. “Damn, I ain’t seen my old man, neither, ya know. My folks went straight from Honeymoontown to Splitsville.” The brute popped open a beer.
“Just the same old, same old…” Reb muttered, smoke billowing from his lips.
“Hold that thought!” Patti spied a butterfly. The straggler flitted and danced in the Indian Summer air then rested beside a puddle. Patti pounced, splattering mud over her companions. The yellow-winged jewel was reduced to an unrecognizable, twitching heap.
“Patti!” Lynn shrieked. “Look what you’ve done!”
“It was just one butterfly…” The girl took a drag from her smoke. “No big deal.”
“No, I mean look at yourself!”
Patti examined her soiled clothing. “Well…” She wiped mud from her cheek, donning an angelic smile. “It was worth it.”
“Now, there’s a real nature lover!” Stinger snickered.
The pack jabbered over Patti’s compassionate act – except for Reb. The loner stood beside the creek, reflecting upon the tales of his cohort’s childhood memories.
Patti approached the boy, resting a hand on his shoulders. “Hey, Reb!” Patti jabbed her buddy in his ribs. “Tell ‘em what you once told me.”
The punk shot his girl a disgusted look, lifting a cigarette to his lips. The sweet taste of tobacco soothed him. He shrugged off her hand and walked away.
“Aw, go on…” The girl refused to quit. “Ain’t no secrets here.”
Reb flicked his cigarette into the mud puddle. The burning butt died beside a colorful stain where the vibrant butterfly once lingered. “My old man got remarried…” Reb gripped his bottle of Old Grannie, running his thumbs over the label. A swig of whiskey granted him the courage to continue.
“She used to be the other woman when he was married to Mom. Even now, he’s still sneaking around. He’ll say he’s at my sister’s when he’s really supposed to be here. Later, we find out that no one’s seen him. He plays these games so he can drop in on his latest girlfriend whenever it’s convenient. But, do ya think we’re gonna clue-in his clueless new wife? Hell no! She’ll find out soon enough exactly how Mom felt competing with the other woman.”
Having relayed his life’s story, Reb staggered away from the group, wiping the tears. He guzzled the remaining contents and drowned the painful memories.
“Makes ya wonder if we were even wanted,” Lynn said.
Stinger spit on the ground. “It’s like we’ve been forgotten.”
“Sometimes, you just wanna run away from it all,” Patti gazed skyward.
“A friend of mine did,” Lynn added. “Hitched a ride to Florida. Never heard from her again.”
“I bet they wouldn’t even notice.” Reb rejoined the circle. He moved in close to Patti and attempted to steal a kiss. The girl stepped aside without missing a beat. Loverboy fell into the mud puddle, face first, kissing the sludge instead. The gang howled at Reb’s undoing.
“Hey! Look, Patti!” Stinger hovered his foot over Reb. “Another sorry butterfly! Should I crush it?”
“Just let him be.” Patti shoved Stinger off-balance. “…You can get up now, Reb!”
The haggard boy arose, wiping his muddied face on his shirt.
“Brrrrr!” Lynn shivered. “Wind’s really whipping. Better make tracks.”
“Where’s the fire?” Patti quipped.
“Looks like a hot time shakin’ up there.” Stinger pointed to the far embankment where one house in particular shone bright, every window illuminated. The teen skittered across the fallen log, leading Lynn by the hand. Patti and Reb trailed behind. Under the full moon, the foursome followed the path toward Majestic Mews.
“I stroll into the house by sun-up,” Stinger plowed through the high grasses. “But, Mom don’t notice nothin’...”
“My old lady just grunts at me,” Lynn said, crushing the overgrowth under her boots. “If she’s not passed out on the sofa, that is. Patti knows the score.”
“Mother don’t really care what I do.” Patti smoked her cigarette down to a nub. “I just cramp her style.” She exhaled in disgust and flicked the smoldering butt carelessly into the cornfield. It landed under an abandoned tractor where a black puddle sparked to life.
“Christ, girl!” Stinger howled. “Are you mad?”
Reb chugged his peppermint schnapps. “Maybe she looked at your face!”
A ravenous fire feasted merrily upon the dried crop. Fanned by a stiff breeze, flaming tongues licked at the fence line and blocked their path forward.
“Beat feet!!!” shrieked Lynn.
The gang stampeded down the hill. Reb stumbled and bowled over his companions. The foursome tumbled head over heels, landing in a briar patch.
Patti rubbed her back side. “I feel like I rode a twister in a tumble drier!”
“No thanks to your boyfriend!” Lynn snapped. “You’re two peas in a pod!”
Stinger pulled thorns from his denim jacket. “Ya got that straight!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Patti fumed, yanking needles from her jeans.
“Simple, you’re a nature freak, and…” The brute squirmed, checking for hidden hitchhickers. “Reb’s a goddamn freak of nature!”
The weary warriors staggered back to the grove. “We can hang back at our pad,” Lynn shivered. Four shadows raced against a crimson sky, scrambling for shelter within Lantern Lofts. In the distance, the fire encroached upon the houses of Majestic Mews – the closest being the Ormont residence.
* * *
Danny paced his room like a caged panther, fearing the looming punishment. Thump-Bump! Thump-Bump! Thump-Bump! His heart beat in time to his father’s heavy footsteps. Mr. Ormont pushed open the bedroom door to discover his son crouched in one corner, crying.
“Danny, come here…”
The boy approached the edge of the bed where his father was seated.
“You’ve done a terrible, terrible thing.”
“Yes, sir…”
“And so,” the lecture continued. “You must be punished severely.”
“I suppose…”
“Yet, you still refuse to have your seat moved in school?”
Danny nodded, staring at the floor.
“Why, Danny? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
The boy gazed up at his father, yearning to tell him everything. He opened his mouth, but the right words would not come. “A whipping won’t hurt me, but moving my seat will kill me!”
“Tell ya what, let’s see what your tea—” KABOOM! Exploding glass rocked the house. “Stay here! I’ll go see what that was.”
Mr. Ormont raced to the kitchen. Flames leapt through a gaping hole where a bay window once stood. Mr. Ormont froze, surrounded by chaos. Everything moved in slow motion. A distant voice
called to him; a woman yanked him out the front door. Together, they fled to the safety of a neighbor’s house.
“Denny?” Mum trembled. “Where’s Denny?”
“Oh, my God! I told him to wait in his room!”
The hysterical woman wept uncontrollably. “Me baby…”
“Now, Aggie, stay calm. I’ll tell the firemen. They’ll rescue him.”
“Denny! Denny! …He needs me!”
Mr. Ormont embraced his wife. Tears soaked her husband’s shirt while her husband gestured for a neighbor to inform the firemen.
Danny remained in his bedroom, wondering what detained his father. A flickering filled his room. He rushed to the window. Flames licked the house. The boy stepped into the hall. The thick smoke was suffocating. Trapped in his bedroom, he sought shelter in his walk-in closet. The fresh scent of clean clothing tickled his nose. The meek one dove under a curtain of haberdashery. Squashed, he crawled out and fumbled for a pull string.
Dink! The bare bulb shed its ghostly glow. Oppressive heat radiated through the door. Danny assessed his position. Time was running out as were the options. Visions of suffocation clouded his mind. Overhead, an attic hatchway was his only hope. But, could he ever reach it?
The only glimmer of hope was to climb to a high shelf filled with forgotten toys.
“Wow, what luck!” Danny unearthed two crates hidden under the garments. “At least this will give me a boost.” The scout dumped over each crate, kicking the contents under the wall of clothing. He pushed the crates to one side where a narrow rack of shelves lined the corner. He stacked the crates and ascended with care. The precarious tower shifted under his weight. He placed one foot on the edge of first shelf. It groaned under the strain, but the shelf held firm.
“It’s hotter than Hades!” The room was a sauna. The boy wiped streams of sweat off his face. He scaled the shelving like a ladder until he reached the top.
“Now what?” He glanced around in the dim light. “I’ll never make it that high.” Danny pushed the toys off the shelf sending them crashing to the ground. At the far end of the shelf was a forgotten laundry basket filled with old clothing. “Mum must’ve placed this here.”
Danny was about to dump the basket when something green and sparkling caught his eye. It was his “birdie” t-shirt from those lost years with Debbie. “Oh, Debbie, please remember me!” Danny wept into the precious memento.
With no time to spare, he stuffed the shirt into his back pocket as a keepsake. The innovator turned over the basket, retaining its contents. He climbed on top. The soft material sagged under his weight until the bundle of clothes offered support. Now, Danny could reach the attic hatchway. He pushed against the plywood covering until it budged. The panicked child was showered by sawdust. A loose bolt of insulation blanketed him.
Premonitions Page 17
