“You know the saying,” she said softly, like she was about to fade away into nothingness, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”
“You think this is junk?” Marshall asked, certain that she did.
“No. I’m just surprised that a kid like you likes these things.” Iris looked at the puzzle box. “Most boys your age are overwhelmed with excitement at video games, or cell phones, or some other electronic gadget. But not these.” And she tilted her head toward the box.
Marshall walked around the table and looked at the box too. “I know. But, there’s something about these that’s so much better than all that stuff.” Marshall didn’t care if she thought he was dumb. But, he looked at her face for a reaction anyway. She just nodded and continued to stare at the box, her eyes glazing into thought.
Marshall read the box. “The dimensions to this thing are enormous. Four feet by five feet.”
“Is that unusual too?”
“I’ll say… it’s way larger than most of ‘em I’ve done.”
She nodded as if she understood and then looked at the table.
“You think we should set it up?” she asked. Her lips were large and poufy like pillows. He wondered what they felt like if he touched them. Then he thought about his parents, and hoped they hadn’t found out he was gone.
Marshall cocked his head. “How old are you?”
“I’m eleven. Going into sixth grade.”
“So’m I. Well, I mean I just turned twelve. But, I’m going into sixth too.” They both looked at the picture on the box, the golden grasses looking like a blanket of smooth silk. “Sorry about your parents, anyway.”
She pressed her lips together and stared at the table. “Thanks.”
“I … can’t imagine what it would be like to not have parents.” He hoped his mom wasn’t having a conniption fit that he wasn’t on his bed. She was probably hyperventilating. Serves her right. And he hoped his father had tears of remorse that he sent him to his room. Serves him right too.
She slowly opened the lid to the box. “It happened when I was four. So,” she tilted her head, “I’ve been without them for longer than I was with them.”
He thought about that. How far away and foreign that was from his life. He couldn’t get further away from his parents if he wanted to, at least not permanently. And she couldn’t get any closer.
Marshall spoke. “Guess it’s not so bad at times—especially when you want to do something they don’t want you to do.” He put his fingers in the box. It looked like a million pieces in there; like all the puzzles he’d ever done were in there.
“Yeah, except sometimes, you just want someone to tell you what to do or what to follow so you feel like someone else is there to take care of you; to help you.”
He hadn’t thought about it that way before either. “You’re smart,” he said looking at her with a sideways grin. “You seem smarter than most kids our age.”
Her ringlets bounced as she sat down. A slight flush creeped into her cheeks, and her lips spread apart into a smile. “Let’s dump it out. That’s why he cleared this table, you know. You should have seen it before you got here.”
Marshall raised his eyebrows. “Bad?”
“Bad, as in an old-bachelor-without-any-maternal-instincts, bad. I counted four old pizza boxes … four.”
Together, they both held the box and flipped it over. The pieces landed on the wooden table like an ocean of water, spilling, thrashing and filling even the remotest places.
Iris was suddenly on her hands and knees. “Some of them fell on the floor,” she said, sounding far away.
He found his way next to her, and they picked up pieces of golden grass, the tail of a cow, a barn door, and a mountain cap of snow.
“I’m not supposed to be here you know,” he said, picking up a picture of a window, glinting with the glare of a setting sun. She looked at him, dark eyes and hair blending into the dark wood of the table. She sat down on the linoleum, cross-legged and casual, and then reached for more pieces under one of the chairs.
He copied her and picked up pieces and kept talking. “I’m supposed to be at home, in my room and grounded. I wasn’t supposed to return here tonight.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be sorry. I sort of deserved it.”
“What’d you do?”
“I came home late from this place this morning, when I was supposed to be on time like I promised.”
“Oh.”
“And to make things worse, I told my dad tonight that he wasn’t acting like a dad should.”
“Hmmm.”
Marshall bit his lip. What did she mean by that? But he went on anyway. “Suppose that was out of line.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“And because of that, I was sent to my room for the night without dinner.”
“Then what if you’re caught?” she asked, as if it were theoretical and not actual. “That you’re not at home?”
“I could be grounded for a hundred years or so,” he said, voice lowered in a growl. “Not a good result, really.”
The air condition was cool and icy under the table. A spider web hung down in one of the corners of the table leg, and a spider the size of a penny worked its way across it.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe you should go home, and come back when you can be here.” She looked at him with eyes of dark holes. He wondered how much knowledge was in her little head, because she seemed already thousands of books ahead of him in smartness.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Although, it could already be too late. Leila, that’s my younger sister, finds any good reason to snitch on me.”
They crawled back out and stood up, the mound of pieces facing them like a mountain of sand that they had to climb up and over. She held out her hand again, and they shook.
“I’m Marshall, by the way,” he said straightening his baseball cap.
“Marshall, that’s nice … sounds like a police officer kind of marshal.” He smiled. He liked that analogy. That actually made him sound important. “Got any other brothers or sisters?”
“Other than Leila, I’ve got an older one Mason, he’s fourteen.”
She nodded.
“What about you?” he asked.
She shook her head now. “Just me, myself and I. I keep pretty busy with them, you know.”
Marshall smiled. She was funny too. He began to feel a tingle in the back of his throat, as if the walls of it were shrinking. It felt like someone had put their hands around it and was beginning to squeeze. Hard. He didn’t want to use the inhaler in front of her. He didn’t want her to know about it yet. He had to leave. Stupid asthma, he thought, stupid, stupid asthma.
“See you tomorrow then?” she asked, to his relief.
He hoped so. Who knew how much discipline he’d brought upon himself with this stunt.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
He thanked Luke and told him he’d be back as soon as he could. He just hoped it was before he turned thirty-three.
Chapter 3: Grounded
The ride home was difficult. Marshall wasn’t sure how he was going to do it all quiet-like and get back inside. He’d only been gone for an hour, but someone surely had checked on him … hadn’t they? They had to know he was gone.
The sun had already set when he cruised home and a sliver of it was still on the horizon, like a slice of orange. It was a bit cooler now, the smell of autumn lingering above his head, just waiting for the cue from Mother Nature to descend.
No one was out front. No one was waiting for him. That was a relief—sort of. He pedaled his bike through the gate, and put it back in his spot, next to the minivan.
Marshall walked to his bedroom window. He looked in through the curtains and saw no one. Not even Mason. He slowly raised it and jumped onto the ledge, kicking himself in and onto the floor in a heap.
Suddenly, a voice pressed gently into his senses. “Is there any reason why
I should keep quiet about this little trick of yours?”
Marshall looked up from the floor, his hair in his face. Mason was lying on his bed with his hands behind his head, watching his brother unfurl from the drop.
“Sheesh Mason, what’s the deal?” Marshall picked himself up; trying to act like this was a normal, everyday occurrence.
“The deal is that you were supposed to be in this room. And I just caught you sneakin’ in.”
“So … what’re you going to do about it?”
He shrugged his shoulders and stared at the ceiling. Marshall stood frozen to the floor, like a flagpole in December. The constricted feeling in his throat returned and he forced himself walk over to his bed. He had to stop using his inhaler so much. He knew if he tried to control his breathing—for even half the time—he could cut down on using it. He could be more normal. Even Iris wouldn’t have to know.
“I don’t know Marsh,” Mason was serious and rolled to his side to face him. “If I don’t tell, you gotta promise not to complain about me making money for chores.”
Marshall took a deep breath. No way. That was why he was in his room to begin with.
“No.” Marshall lay down and watched a fly buzz around the ceiling, moving back and forth like a jumping bean.
The tickle had to go away. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He had to make it go away.
“Okay,” Mason sneered. “Have it your way. You’re gonna wish you’d said yes.”
Marshall kept his eyes closed. Mason got up from his twin bed in a huff and closed the door.
Marshall faced the wall. He didn’t care what happened to him. At least he’d gotten out.
The tickle in his throat backed away. Despite Mason finding out about his little trip, Marshall felt content. He’d learned about the surprise … he had met Iris.
***
Marshall awoke with a jump. The air conditioning was off and he could hear the fly buzzing around his window. He looked at his clock. It was ten. What had happened? His head was fuzzy.
He felt his legs. He hadn’t even changed into his pajamas.
Then memories came to him like a long lost friend.
Oh yeah, sneaking out to Luke’s. The puzzle. Iris.
Mason was in bed, snoring. Marshall wondered if he had told on him to their parents. He thought no because his dad didn’t come in to talk to him, and his mom didn’t come in to say anything either. Leila hadn’t burst in singing her chants of disdain.
He felt a thump against the wall. His dad had thrown his shoe into the closet. Marshall heard muffled voices.
“I don’t know what to do,” said a voice that was distinctly his father’s. A pause, another thud against the wall—the other shoe. “We have to instill obedience in him Marsha.”
Every time his dad said her name, Marshall thought of himself. Mom said she named him after her, because he was a handsome gift, which is what Marsh meant. Dad insisted he couldn’t have a son named Marsh; it sounded too girly. He wanted Marshall instead. So they came to an agreement. But she called him Marsh whenever she could.
“Yes but, he’s a kid,” she pleaded. “And he loves the junk store. He’s been saving money all summ— ”
“I don’t care what he’s been doing. If he can’t be home when you say he should, then we ground him. If he’s going to sneak out and try to get away with it, then he gets more discipline.” He grunted and Marshall could hear the springs in the bed. The walls were too thin. He felt like he was in the room with them. “You see where this will lead if we let it be?”
“Yes but, he loves that place … he starts school in a week. This is it for his summer fun.”
“Marsha, it’s a no. He’s grounded for this entire week. No in or out, unless it’s for church, or with you somewhere.”
The conversation ended, and he heard running water.
Church? Marshall wanted to laugh. They hadn’t been to church in years.
The fly buzzed again, the room was hot. Mason had opened one of the windows before he’d gotten into bed. Marshall usually had ears like a cat and could hear anything. But he hadn’t heard him. And it was so hot. If only he could be back in the junk store with the air conditioning.
He took off his shorts and t-shirt and tossed them next to his bed. He was in his underwear and it was still too hot. Dad said the air had to go off at nine. And Marshall was sure Mason had turned if off early just to get him back for saying no to him. A small haze was at the windows and a glazed light fettered through the curtain, even though the sun had been down for a while.
If they grounded him for a week, he wouldn’t be able to work on the puzzle. He wouldn’t be able to see Luke. What would Iris think? He’d told her he’d be back. He didn’t want to break a promise to her. She seemed … well, he wasn’t sure what she seemed. Fragile maybe, about ready to break like that favorite piece of china his mother had hanging on the dining room wall.
He reached down to his shorts and felt around for the inhaler. His lungs were itching for a breath of air. Just a quick breather.
He took a breath, and felt better until he noticed that Mason’s snoring was getting louder.
The last week of summer was the pits.
***
The entire week was the worst he’d ever had it. He could barely go outside for a chance to look at the clouds, when his mom whisked him back in. The only reason Mom knew was because Leila would whine her eyes out that he’d snuck outside.
After three days of being cooped up, his mom finally let him out back so he could deadhead all the flowers. Every day he thought about the puzzle. He wondered if Iris had started it. He even worried she’d have it finished when he finally made it back to Luke’s.
He knew that was stupid—and impossible—but he hadn’t seen her in three days. He had four more to go before the first day of school. And he had every intention of heading back to the store as soon as the bell rang at three.
But what if she was a genius at doing puzzles and she didn’t even know it? The biggest puzzle he’d ever seen and she would have it done in a week. Wouldn’t that be perfect.
Missy wandered over to him as he dug out weeds in the garden.
“Get out of here Miss,” but the cat ignored him and moved in and out of his arms and hands, just trying to get any petting she could. She circled-eight his hands, as he bent over to grab dandelions out of the vegetable patch, and meowed.
The neighbor lady, Mrs. Kelso, peeked over the fence. It wasn’t terribly tall. Leila could practically see over it, it was so short. And a good wind would knock the whole thing over like a row of matches. He was sure this winter would bring a new fence. And he hoped it was at least six feet tall this time.
“Oh, I’m sorry Marshall. Missy just loves company. Missy, come here girl,” the lady said, but the cat didn’t budge. Marshall pet the cat under her ears and chin, and the humming purr set in like a lawn mower.
“What are you doing out back pulling weeds? It’s hot out here,” said Mrs. Kelso, looking Marshall up and down and then looking at the slider door. She looked like she wanted to give his mother a word about working her son so hard.
“Yeah, well …” he paused. How much should he tell her? She was like the nosiest neighbor ever and knew everything about everyone. “Got grounded for staying too late at Luke’s.” He shrugged and went back to the weeds that were strangling the carrots.
“Oh, you mean the Luke’s Junk Store Luke?”
Marshall nodded. “You know him?”
“Sure do. That place sure is filled, isn’t it?” Marshall got the impression that Luke’s was not her favorite place.
“Yeah,” said Marshall, wishing he was there. “I was supposed to go back. There’s a puzzle he gave me, but I can’t start it now since I’m here.” He raked out some old acorns, and a patch of ants spread around him. He got up and watched them scatter around as if it was the end of the world.
“Funny you should mention that place; I was going to go there today. Need to dro
p off some things.” So she was the type who got rid of their junk and gave it to Luke, he thought. He wondered how many things he’d looked at in the past that was from her. It kind of made him feel weird. He decided right there he’d rather not know who the owners of all the stuff were.
Then an idea hit Marshall. “You think you could tell him I’ll be there next Monday?” he asked, heart pounding a little.
“Why of course I could.”
“Okay, thanks. I feel so awful about him not knowing I’m here.”
“Anything else you want me to say?”
He moved the rake from one hand to the other and adjusted his hat. “No, just that.” He couldn’t he tell her the sordid details. She was liable to tell his mom and dad even more stuff he didn’t want them to know and get him grounded for another week. “No, but thanks.”
She smiled and went back to the house. Figured as much. She didn’t really care that the cat was in his way; she just wanted to talk to someone. He frowned. Mrs. Kelso had been nice, but maybe he shouldn’t have said anything at all.
***
He didn’t see Mrs. Kelso for the rest of the week. He wondered if she’d relayed the message. But Monday morning came, and the bus was at their door at 8:10. Marshall was so glad for the first day, mostly because he could go to Luke’s after school. It was something he did a few days a week last year. He only hoped it stayed the same this year; and that his freedom to roam a few hours a week remained too.
“Hurry up Mason!” Marshall was at the door. The bus was idling, and after the second honk, ready to leave without them. Leila was waiting to go to, but she went on a different bus. Kindergarten through fifth grade went later. Sixth through twelfth grade went first.
She was singing, with her pink backpack around her shoulders, spinning around in her new skirt and brown leather shoes. “First day of scho-ool,” she said, grinning from ear to ear.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Mason waltzed into the front room. He smelled like cheap cologne, and his hair was gelled into a style Marshall had never seen before.
The Puzzle Master Page 3
