by Mav Skye
She turned away from the girls and Joey, and twisted her hair to the side and touched Godzilla. She looked around for a cart of fresh pool towels when she heard belly laughing from across the pool. Donny’s chess group were throwing Cheetos at each other and giggling like maniacs. The lifeguard blew her whistle and barked at them.
Donny and Kara Leigh stood off to the side. Kara Leigh was talking quickly and throwing her hands up in the air, obviously upset. She was so intent on what she was saying that she hadn’t noticed that Donny paid no attention to her. He was watching Chloe and Joey, hurt on his face.
Their eyes met.
Part of her felt guilty for the way she had treated him earlier, but the other part of her, the stronger part, still seethed in anger. Anger at him, at Kara Leigh— though she felt guilt about her, too— at the clown who could have hurt Sharon…at herself. All of it serpentined into a rage that rattled inside her. She wanted to strike out. Hurt him like he hurt her. And she knew the one thing that would hurt Donny the most.
She turned back to Joey, pushed her body up against his and kissed him full on the mouth.
Joey tried to say, “Chloe, what are you—” He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to untangle himself from her embrace, but she kissed him harder. He stopped resisting and kissed her back, letting her hustle him down to the towel.
Chloe could hear the twins giggling insanely on the lounge chair. Most of all, she sensed Donny’s red hot glare on her. On Joey.
Good, let him feel what it was like to be her for two seconds.
And then a strange thing happened, Chloe liked the feel of Joey’s mouth on hers. Their bodies close together. She felt a fire light in her belly and she kissed him harder.
Joey made a surprised groan.
The twins sang,
Joey and Chloe sitting in the tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love
Then comes the hatchet
Joey hacks up Chloe
And sews her skin into a jacket
Joey bit her lip, hard.
“Ouch!” Chloe opened her eyes to a bewildered Joey, a realization of what the twins had been singing, and about a thousand eyeballs staring at them for the second time today.
The girls started over again, yelling the lyrics louder.
Chloe pulled away from Joey, not sure if she was more surprised by how the kiss made her feel or by the words the twins just sang.
Joey said, “Sorry, I bit you. That song they were singing—”
Erin, lively as ever, shrieked, “This one? Joey and Chloe sitting in the tree!”
He turned to the girls. “Hey, knock that off, yo?”
Which made them start over again.
Chloe felt her face go beet red. “Erin and Sharon Pratt, stop it right this minute.”
They both stopped and began to laugh, and Joey tickled their toes. Erin reached for her axe and started pounding him with it, giggling.
When Chloe glanced around for Donny, she discovered he and Kara Leigh were gone and so was the anger. It was replaced by guilt.
“Who are you looking for?” asked Joey.
“Oh, no one.”
He raised his eyebrow at her. “Uh huh.”
She blushed, embarrassed, guilty about what she’d done.
The twins started up again:
Joey and Chloe sitting in the tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love
Then comes the hatchet
Joey hacks up Chloe
And sews her skin into a jacket
Chloe said, “Erin! Where did you learn that terrible song?”
Erin shrugged and looked at Sharon. “I don’t remember. Billy Butts always sings that at school.”
Joey burst out laughing. “Billy Butts? Is that his real name?” And the girls burst out laughing. “Butts! Butts!”
Chloe scolded them. “He sings that exact song?”
Erin said, “Not the Joey hacks up Chloe and sews her skin into a jacket part. I made that up.”
Sharon said, “And I made up the hatchet.”
Chloe shook her head in disbelief at the girls. “Your mother is going to kill me.”
“No,” said Sharon. “Joey is.”
Her words hung in the air, and an eerie silence fell among them.
Chloe broke the silence in the sternest voice she had. “Sharon, don’t talk like that. Do you hear me?” Geez Louise the twins were gruesome. Chloe wondered where they got it from. Shirley certainly wasn’t this way.
“Why? What’s wrong, Chloe?” Sharon looked ready to cry.
Chloe glanced over at Joey and shook her head, exasperated.
Joey took over. “Killing people is wrong, Sharon. It’s bad and…scary. Chloe here loves you and doesn’t want you to talk that way. It isn’t nice.”
“Oh,” Sharon glanced back and forth from Chloe to Joey.
Joey said, “Can you talk nicely to Chloe here and me, little Shar-Bear?”
She nodded her head yes and Joey smiled. “Good girl. Hey, I have an idea, how about all of us play in the pool.”
Both the girls shrieked, “Yay!”
Chloe gave Joey a grateful look, and he offered her his hand to help her up. She stood, and he held her hand as they all moved toward the water.
Erin and Sharon held hands, too, as they walked toward the steps leading into the water. That is where Erin stopped and refused to go in.
“She’ll go in when she’s ready, Shar-bear,” Joey petted Erin on the head before letting Sharon climb on his back, and he took her into the water.
Chloe said, “Erin, would you like to ride on my back? I won’t let go of you for one second. I promise.”
Erin frowned and looked down at her knees. Chloe sat beside her and realized Sharon wasn’t holding her balloon anymore. She turned back toward the lounge chair to see it fly away up into the sky. It drew higher and higher until it was no longer more than just a dot of blood in the sky.
13
Behind Every Balloon
SHIRLEY HADN’T SPOKEN A WORD AFTER Chloe told her what happened. They drove home mostly in silence. The girls were pooped and leaned against each other, sipping on sodas. Joey sat in the back with them, looking out the window.
Chloe hadn’t told Shirley about the clown. She had been so used to not telling anyone about Mr. Jingles, even when, especially when, it involved danger. No one had believed her for so long. But this involved more than herself now. Her obsession with the clown could have killed a little girl today. Not just any little girl, but Erin and possibly Sharon, too. Chloe needed this to end—one way or another. Why had Mr. Jingles wanted Sharon to see him today? Why had he given her the balloon? Perhaps he had planned to snatch Sharon away when everyone was focused on Erin. If Donny hadn’t seen her—
Donny. Had he been trying to tell her about the clown before she threatened to kick Kara Leigh’s ass again?
Ugh. Chloe closed her eyes. How dumb could she get? He had been the one who spotted Sharon. The clown might have stolen her if Donny hadn’t run over there. Mr. Jingles must know where the twins lived, which meant they were still in danger.
Chloe made the decision to tell Shirley about the clown, and before she could change her mind again, she blurted it out loud and fast. “A clown gave Sharon a red balloon today.”
Chloe could see Joey from the backseat; his eyes practically popped out of his head.
“Okay…” Shirley’s face was pale and tired. She leaned her elbow on the car door and propped her head against her hand.
Chloe said, “It was weird.”
“I don’t think a clown giving a little girl a balloon is weird.” Shirley turned on the radio and fiddled with the dial.
Chloe sat back in her seat and folded her arms in front of her chest. The windows were rolled down, and she had caught a chill, despite the warmth of the sun beaming in through the windshield.
Shirley said, “What I think is that everyone has had a long day, and
we are all tired and could use a good dinner. Would you two like to stay for barbequed chicken?”
Chloe and Joey said a tired, “Sure.” At the same time.
The twins giggled.
Shirley slowed, and turned into The Misty Goose. A few minutes later they were in front of Shirley’s trailer. The girls popped out of the car and ran up to the front door.
Shirley said, “Joey, here’s the keys. Would you mind opening up the house for the girls?”
“No problem.” He took the keys and followed the girls up the steps.
Shirley turned to Chloe. “Look. I don’t blame you for what happened today. Mistakes happen. We all adore you; you feel like part of our family. But—”
Chloe could see in the woman’s eyes that she meant what she said, but she also saw more. Chloe couldn’t imagine what would have happened if the lifeguard hadn’t revived Erin.
Shirley continued, “But I need for you to be in the here and now when watching my girls. They are little and can slip away like—” She snapped her fingers. It was a clear, crisp snap that sounded like a bone being snapped.
Chloe nodded and felt tears come to her eyes. It sounded much like what Kelly had told her before they sang on the stage. Be here. Be in the now. Trust yourself.
Shirley said, “I remember what it was like to be distracted by boys at your age.”
Chloe wiped at her eyes, then touched Godzilla.
“I expect that. It’s completely normal. But when I leave my girls with you, it’s because I trust you with them, not anyone else.”
Chloe nodded again. It was a gentle scold and Shirley was completely right. Chloe should never have left the girls in Donny’s care. Not for two seconds.
Chloe’s voice cracked when she said, “I’m so sorry.”
Shirley said, “I know you feel bad, Chloe. I also know you will never let that happen again.”
Chloe nodded earnestly, her wind dried hair bouncing with the movement.
Shirley wiped at a tear on Chloe’s face. “How about some dinner?”
Chloe let out her breath, glad that the talk was over.
They both got out of the car, and Chloe suddenly remembered that she had wanted to check in on Mama Nola as soon as she got back. “Would you mind if I slipped down to my house for a minute. I just want to check on my Etsi.”
“Sure. In fact, if she feels up to it, why don’t you bring Ms. Sevenstars up for dinner, too?”
Chloe delighted in her calling Mama Nola Ms. Sevenstars. Shirley was the only one who had ever called her that. Everyone seemed to come up with their own affectionate names for the woman.
Chloe jogged down the gravel street. When she heard footsteps behind her, Mr. Jingles’ face came to mind. Was he following her?
She whirled around to find Joey running to catch her.
He said, “Hey, wait up.”
Chloe waited for him, and they walked around the fork to Goose Avenue, and started toward Chloe’s trailer.
He said, “Are you all right?”
“I will be.”
He spat out the question that he’d been holding in. “Why did you tell Shirley about the clown?”
“He gave her a balloon.”
“So? Clowns always give kids balloons. Maybe it was trying to show that it was friendly, that you don’t need to worry.”
She turned and looked at him. “It was a threat.”
“Why would he threaten you through Sharon?”
“Maybe he was threatening Sharon, not me.”
Joey shrugged. “It was just bad timing.”
“This is Mr. Jingles we are talking about here. Don’t you see? Sharon saw Mr. Jingles, too, Joey. He’s real. He’s real as I’m standing here.”
Joey said, “How do you know it was him?”
“She said she saw his bunny ears.”
“Other clowns could have bunny ears.”
Chloe said, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were defending Mr. Jingles.”
He put his hands in his jean pockets and shrugged. “Maybe I am?”
“Joey, he hit me with a hatchet.” She lifted her bangs to show him the scar. Then she touched it herself.
“Or,” he said, “you fell and hit your head. Your mother was there.”
“It’s not in my head anymore. I’m not crazy. I thought we established that.”
They both went up the porch steps, and both skipped the third step at the same time. “Listen, I’m not saying you’re nuts, but I am saying that I think you’re freaked about what happened with Erin today. And I think you are feeling guilty about it.”
He had a point, and Chloe felt annoyed that he always knew what she was feeling and thinking.
She opened the front door. “Mama?”
It was quiet inside and smelled of incense. Joey went toward the kitchen and Chloe walked toward the hallway. She halted when Joey called out to her. “Chloe, you’ve got to come and see this.”
She trotted into the kitchen to find a single red helium balloon floating at the ceiling.
Her heart thundered in her chest, and the world slowed down, down, down. She turned and ran slowly…slowly…down the hall. A single word fell from her lips. “Mama?”
She felt Joey on her heels, and when she reached her mother’s closed bedroom door, they both burst through it at the same time.
The first thing Chloe was aware of was the circus music coming from her jewelry box, then she spotted Mama Nola’s dark form in her bed.
“Etsi?” She took hold of her mother’s shoulders and gently shook her. “Etsi, wake up!”
“Ayita.” Mama Nola’s eyes opened, as she came to consciousness worry stretched across her face. “Ayita. What? What is it?”
Chloe still clutched the old woman’s shoulders, and hadn’t realized that she shook her again when she said, “Did you see him? Was he here? Did he hurt you?”
Joey grabbed Chloe away as Mama Nola sat up. “Ohanzee,” she said, “What is my daughter saying?”
“Let go of me,” Chloe roared and tried to shove Joey away.
He put himself between Chloe and the bed. “What’s wrong with you, Chloe? Can’t you see she’s afraid of you?”
The old woman trembled. “Ohanzee.”
Joey let go of Chloe and sat down on the bed, beside Mama Nola. “It’s okay, Etsi. I’m here.” The old woman wrapped her arms around him and cried.
Chloe paced the room. She was angry. Angry at Joey, angry at herself, but most of all she was scared. Couldn’t Joey see what the balloon in the kitchen had meant? It was a threat.
“You’ve scared her, Chloe. Get a hold of yourself!”
Chloe halted and pointed at the doorway. “But— but the balloon! The balloon in the kitchen!”
Mama Nola sobbed. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. Did I hurt someone, Ohanzee?”
Joey tucked the old woman’s head under his chin and rocked her. “No, Mama Nola, no. You didn’t hurt anyone.” She cried into his white t-shirt, leaving a smear of dark red lipstick on it.
“Mama? Etsi? I’m sorry,” Chloe moved toward the bed to comfort her mother, but Joey held up his hand. “No, no, get out.”
Chloe drew back, hurt. Stung. “She’s my mother, Joey.”
“You don’t deserve her.”
Stunned, Chloe said, “What is that supposed to mean?”
Mama Nola cried harder.
“Nothing. Nothing. Look, she’s upset. Only one of us should be with her.”
“Both of us should be.”
Joey shook his head and with authority in his voice said, “Go to Shirley’s. I’ll bring her over in a few minutes.”
“No,” Chloe said, “Joey, she’s my mother. You need to leave now.”
Joey tried to stand so they could go out of the room to talk, but Mama Nola clutched at his shirt, trembling, crying. She kept saying, “I’m so sory…”
He said, “Chloe, please, go, we’ll be over later.”
Chloe felt confused. Hurt. Why
did her mother want Joey instead of her? Why was she apologizing?
Joey pointed to the door. He was done arguing.
“Fine.” Chloe stomped down the hall, paused in the kitchen long enough to look at the red balloon, just to make sure she hadn’t imagined it, then stomped to the front door, opened it and slammed it shut behind her.
A few minutes later, she opened it again and walked in. Etsi was hysterical. Joey was talking to her in a hushed voice.
Chloe walked into the kitchen, and opened the junk drawer. She rustled around until she found what she was looking for. She picked up the old pocket knife, the one they’d use to cut twine when gardening. She slid it open and tested it against her arm hair. It was dull, but would work if she needed it. They all needed protection now, whether Joey admitted it or not. The balloon caught her eye. She snatched it out of the air and stabbed it with the blunt edge of the knife. There was a loud Pop! Satisfied, Chloe stomped to the front door and let herself out.
By the time Chloe got to Shirley’s, she felt cooled off enough to interact with the Pratts. The girls were coloring in the living room, and Shirley had just finished barbequing the chicken.
Chloe offered to make a salad, and they made one together. Shirley washed the lettuce, while Chloe chopped tomatoes, carrots, and broccoli. They talked about books, Days of our Lives, Twin Peaks, and the weather.
Joey and Mama Nola never showed up, but Shirley didn’t ask any questions. Chloe knew that Joey wouldn’t leave Mama Nola alone and that he’d stay the night. After what had happened earlier, she had no desire to see them at the moment, though she did worry about the red balloon and what it meant.
After dinner, they all sat on the couch. Erin curled up in her mother’s lap, and Sharon sat on Chloe’s. Their blow up axes lay on the couch between them. They watched Ernest Scared Stupid, and occasionally one of the twins would burst out laughing. After a while, Chloe heard snoring. Shirley had fallen asleep with her head resting against the back of the couch. Erin snoozed on Shirley’s lap. It would have made a darling photograph.
Sharon stirred on Chloe’s lap.
Chloe said, “Still awake, kiddo?”
Sharon said, “Do you believe me?”
