Snapdragon Book I: My Enemy

by Brandon Berntson

  vi

  Jeanie Masterson pulled the Mustang into Seth and Masie’s driveway at around eight o’clock Rheanna was in the passenger’s seat. Sunset was still almost an hour away, and the night was warm.

  Samantha was fine with the kids going out as long as they stuck together, and she had plans to enjoy a quiet evening at home by herself. She told them to have fun, envious they had something to do.

  “You can come with us, Mom,” Masie said, but her mother only laughed.

  “Nah. You kids have a good time. It will take your mind off things.”

  “There he is, ladies and gentleman, the one and only,” Jeanie announced, when Seth and Masie started down the driveway toward the idling Mustang. “The handsomest ten-year-old this side of Ellishome. There’s that smile! There’s those eyes! And now…yes…here it comes, the blush in the cheeks, the…dimples! We have lift off!”

  “Jeez, you’re gonna get the kid thinking you want to marry him,” Rheanna said, rolling her eyes.

  Seth blushed the entire way to the car.

  “Maybe that’s just what I want,” Jeanie said.

  Seth was surprised how much Jeanie’s presence affected him. After everything he’d experienced with Kinsey, he didn’t think it would be difficult ignoring Jeanie’s female inveiglement. But now that she was here, he found it to be otherwise. She wasn’t intimidating so much as she was simply a powerful force of femininity.

  Rheanna stepped out of the car and pulled the seat forward for Masie and Seth.

  “Howdy all,” Masie said, stepping into the backseat with Seth trailing.

  Once everyone was inside and the doors were shut, Jeanie pulled out of the driveway, and started down the road. Nada Surf was on the radio.

  “Seth has a favor to ask,” Masie told Jeanie.

  “Oh, good,” Jeanie said, smiling. She looked in the rearview mirror and winked. Seth blushed and shook his head.

  “I was just wondering if we could stop by a friend’s house. He doesn’t have a phone, so I couldn’t call him. I just wanted to see if he could go with us. If that’s okay with you guys.”

  “Of course it’s okay,” Jeanie said. “Especially if he’s a boy. Don’t want you cheatin’ on me now, do we?”

  “Too late,” Masie said, and smiled at Seth.

  “What?” Jeanie said. “Is she telling the truth, buttercup? You got another chicken in the henhouse?”

  Seth didn’t say anything. He didn’t want Jeanie to know in case she stopped flirting with him. Just because he was attached to Kinsey didn’t mean he should be denied Jeanie’s charms.

  “It’s true,” Masie answered. “Her name’s Kinsey, and according to Seth, she’s the prettiest girl at Ellishome Elementary. They went to a skate party together at school.”

  “Is that true, tiger?” Jeanie said. “Of course, I don’t know if I’m willing to give up on you just yet. I mean…I knew the day would come when you’d have girls following you. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.” Jeanie looked at Seth in the rearview mirror and smiled. Seth shook his head.

  “You’re blushing,” she told him. “You know what that means? That means you’re still attached. You are not ready to let go of your Jeanie Masterson. We still have a good thing going, don’t we, handsome?”

  Seth couldn’t control it and laughed out loud.

  “See,” Jeanie said. “I knew it was true. You can’t leave me yet. It’s not ethical.”

  Seth wasn’t sure what the word ethical meant, but he was already enjoying his night out.

  Jokes aside, he told Jeanie that Malcolm lived on the opposite side of town. Ellishome wasn’t the longest stretch of civilization, and even though Malcolm lived several miles from the drive-in, Jeanie was confident they could get back before dark, hit the popcorn stand, and catch the first movie with plenty of time to spare.

  The ride to Malcolm’s took roughly twenty minutes. Jeanie knew where Shadowbrook Lane was and had no problems finding the dirt road. Through the overhanging trees, the dark, silent house soon loomed into view.

  “Wow,” Jeanie said, slowing the Mustang. She stopped the car just before the porch. “Someone said this place was falling apart. But it sure looks to me like someone’s putting it together again.

  “I’ll let you out, sport,” she said to Seth.

  Jeanie climbed out and moved the seat forward. Seth climbed out and looked at the large house. A breeze rustled through the trees. It was hard to imagine his friend living in such a place. Malcolm’s BMX leaned against the porch steps.

  Seth walked up the steps to the front door. He rang the doorbell, and a chime echoed throughout the house. A minute later, the door opened. An old man wearing jeans and a bright red cowboy shirt smiled down at him. The hair of his bushy, wiry eyebrows branched off in all directions.

  “Well, hello,” the man said. The cheery smile caught Seth off guard over the vulture-like nose. “What can I do for you, young man?”

  “Uh…is Malcolm here?” Seth asked, feeling awkward.

  “That young whippersnapper!” the man said, and chuckled. “Come on in. You’re feet ain’t dirty, are they?”

  “No, sir,” Seth said, stepping into the house.

  “Algernon Alister,” the man said, putting out his hand. “Grandfather to the whippersnapper. Who do I owe the pleasure?”

  Seth couldn’t help but smile. “Seth Auburn,” he told him, shaking the man’s knobby hand.

  “A pleasure for me,” Algernon said. “Probably a little frightening for you. Make yourself at home.”

  Seth nodded and inspected the place, while Algernon called for his grandson.

  The impression Eddie had given him had never been further from the truth. For such a big place, it was simple, not as elaborate as he’d imagined. A large living room to the right bore a deep, scarlet rug under two wingback chairs. Old-fashioned lamps stood beside each chair along with round, cherry wood tables. Seth wondered if Malcolm and his grandfather read together in this room, or if Algernon asked Malcolm to read to him. Next to one of the chairs, as if confirming his thoughts, a stack of hardcover books sat on the floor. A large fireplace, silent and dark, took up a good portion of the wall. There had been a renovation recently, or so it seemed. The room seemed new to him. A single picture did not adorn the walls. The space seemed dedicated to meditation or study, even casual conversation. There was a dining area to Seth’s left. Behind the dining area, an entryway led into what Seth guessed was the kitchen. Beyond all this, in dead center of the house, a walnut stairway led to the second floor where Malcolm suddenly emerged, wearing long gray shorts and a baggy sweatshirt.

  “Hey Seth,” Malcolm said, brows furrowing. “What are you doing here?”

  “This extraordinary young citizen of the American enterprise came to pay you a visit,” Algernon said, and chuckled. The man wiped tears from his eyes, more amused at himself than anything else.

  Malcolm looked at his grandfather, rolled his yes, and shook his head. He started down the stairs. “The old man comes out of confinement, and now he’s a comedian.”

  Algernon laughed out loud, putting a hand to his belly. “You’ll have to excuse us, boy. We’re in rare form today.”

  Seth smiled. “We’re going to the drive-in,” he explained. “Everyone’s going. You didn’t have a phone, so I had to come by. Do you wanna come? I mean…as long as it’s okay with your grandpa?”

  Malcolm looked at his grandfather and raised his eyebrows.

  “Sounds like a good idea,” Algernon said. “Get yourself outta this dungeon for a while. It’ll be good for you.”

  “Thanks,” Malcolm said, coming down the last of the stairs. “Are you sure?”

  “You got money?” Algernon asked.

  “Yeah,” Malcolm said, patting his pockets. “Some I think.”

  Algernon reached into his wallet and handed Malcolm a twenty. “Take this anyway. Have fun, boys. It’s nice to see things returning to normal.” He turned to Seth. “It was n
ice to meet you, young man,” he said, putting out his hand again. Seth took it and shook.

  Seth smiled. “You, too.”

  “Keep the boy in line,” Algernon said. “He can be a bit of a challenge.”

  Malcolm shook his head. “Look who’s talking?”

  Malcolm and Algernon shared a chuckle. Seth watched this exchange rather pleasantly.

  “See you later, kids,” Algernon said.

  Malcolm nodded. They said goodbye, stepping out the front door. Malcolm shut it behind him. “My grandpa has definitely changed,” he said, once they were outside. “All of a sudden, he wants to get everything in order, the house looking like a house again. It’s a long story, I guess. I’ll tell you about it someday if you want.”

  “I like him,” Seth said. “You guys seem to get along really well.”

  Malcolm nodded, smiling to himself. “Things have been good lately. Well…as far as that goes, you know?”

  They walked down the porch and got into the Mustang. The backseat was snug now with Malcolm, Masie, and Seth. Seth sat in the middle since he was the smallest. He introduced Malcolm to his sister, Jeanie, and Rheanna. Jeanie turned the Mustang around and headed back down Shadowbrook Lane.

  “Are all your friends as cute as Malcolm, Seth?” Rheanna asked, smiling.

  “Hey!” Jeanie said. “That’s my line!”

  Malcolm, caught off guard, looked startled.

  “That’s quite the house you live in,” Masie said.

  “Yeah,” Malcolm said. “Grandpa wanted a pretty big house. He wrote books for a lot of years. Some did pretty well.”

  “Wow,” Jeanie said. “That’s pretty cool. Have you read everything he’s written?”

  “Yeah.” Malcolm said. “He wrote some good stuff, fantasy mostly, kinda on the darker side.”

  “Cool,” Jeanie said. “You’ll have to write down the titles for me.”

  “Sure,” Malcolm said, awkwardly.

  “Don’t let them bother you, Malcolm,” Masie told him. “They’re all talk. You might have something to worry about if they get you alone, though.”

  “Why would he worry about that?” Seth asked.

  A slow eruption of giggles ensued.

  “That’s my tiger,” Jeanie said.

  “I just don’t see why being alone with pretty girls would be a problem,” Seth said, and this, too, warranted more laughter.

  Malcolm looked amused.

  They drove back through town. The drive-in was a short jaunt through the fields to the east. From Newberry Street, Jeanie took a dirt road leading farther out from town. Soon, they were behind a line of other cars at the drive in, waiting to pay. Tall stadium lights illuminated the entire area, as if a major sporting event were happening outside of Ellishome in the weeds and the dirt.

  “Express Train and Gullible People,” Jeanie said, indicating what was playing. “Not bad. I thought about how awful it would be if they were showing horror movies.”

  Comedies weren’t Seth’s flavor, but tonight, it seemed the perfect thing.

  Masie handed her money up to Jeanie. Malcolm dug into his shorts and pulled out the twenty his grandfather had given him, handing it up front as well.

  “First timers get in free,” Jeanie said. “This one’s on us, handsome. Put that money away.”

  Malcolm looked flustered, but accepted. “Well, gee. Thanks.”

  The Mustang crept ahead slowly until it was their turn to pay. A thin, acne-ridden boy took their money, unable to keep from ogling Jeanie and Rheanna. Soon, Jeanie steered through other cars making their way forward.

  The screen took up most of the sky in front of them. Music blared from other cars, people laughing, talking, shouting, and having a genuinely good time. Amazing, Seth thought, how people could put aside the problems in Ellishome for a few laughs and some entertainment.

  Jeanie drove until she found a spot halfway between the screen and the popcorn stand. The night was coming on fast. Stars were visible in the coming dusk.

  “I am well prepared,” Jeanie said. “So, don’t worry. I got blankets and fold-up chairs in the trunk. I even got bug spray in case there’s an invasion.”

  It was warm outside. The drive-in wouldn’t be open for much longer, Seth thought, thinking of the colder months ahead.

  “This is gonna be fun,” Malcolm told him.

  “I like a positive attitude,” Masie said.

  Jeanie stepped out of the car. The Mustang was angled toward the movie screen on a slight rise of dirt. The others followed Jeanie outside into the warm night air.

  “Let’s get some goodies,” Jeanie said. “We’ll pull everything out when we come back.”

  The five of them went to the refreshment stand where everyone else seemed to be gathering. They walked inside, standing in a long line behind the rest of the moviegoers.

  “I have to pee,” Rheanna said, and bolted toward the restrooms.

  “What do you want us to get you?” Jeanie called.

  “Whatever,” Rheanna said, waving. “Popcorn and soda. Root-beer.” She disappeared around a corner and into the ladies room.

  “I should probably go too,” Masie said, hurrying after Rheanna.

  “Looks like it’s just me and the boys,” Jeanie said. “Lucky me.” She smiled at Malcolm and Seth.

  “Lucky us,” Seth said.

  Jeanie smiled. She reached out and pinched Seth’s cheek, making him blush. “There he goes. Look Malcolm. He’s a tomato. You can see it! There it is! He’s a tomato!”

  “That’s only because you pinched me,” Seth said, rubbing his cheek, but he turned an even brighter shade of red. Malcolm laughed and patted him on the back.

  “Jeanie does this kind of stuff all the time,” Seth told Malcolm. “You’ll get used to it.”

  “Hey, guys!”

  Seth turned and saw Eddie, Gavin, and Albert coming through the door.

  “You guys made it!” Seth said, excitedly. He was surprised to see all three of them at once.

  “Yeah,” Eddie said, when they approached. “I talked my parents into coming, so we didn’t have to come alone. Even though Dad hates the whole movie-going experience. He’s been grumbling the whole time.”

  Seth caught the deeper meaning of Eddie mentioning not coming alone and nodded. Malcolm did as well.

  “We went looking for you, but found Albert instead,” Eddie told him. “You can imagine our disappointment.”

  “Hey!” Albert said, nudging Eddie in the ribs.

  Gavin stared at Jeanie Masterson as if she weren’t even human. Albert did the same.

  “Aren’t you gonna introduce me to your friends, Seth?” Jeanie asked, batting her eyes.

  Seth blushed, waiting for Jeanie to embarrass him further. If she was planning anything, she was saving it.

  Seth introduced everyone. By the time he was done, Masie and Rheanna had returned.

  “Holy cow!” Albert exclaimed. “You guys are with girls!”

  Rheanna, Masie, and Jeanie burst out laughing.

  “You bet!” Jeanie exclaimed. “And these are the best looking guys in the bunch.”

  Jeanie wrapped her arms around Seth, while Masie did the same with Malcolm. The two boys blushed madly. Jeanie and Masie placed kisses on each of their cheeks, making them both (in the words of Jeanie Masterson) tomatoes. Eddie, Albert, and Gavin looked shocked and envious.

  “Holy crow!” Albert said, his eyes wide. “Seth, you should bring your sister in for show and tell!”

  “One up on you,” Masie said to Jeanie.

  Everyone laughed. Gavin, because of the day’s events previously perhaps, had a difficult time joining in.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Rheanna asked Gavin. “You’re not as spirited as your friends.”

  “I’m fine,” Gavin said, trying to smile.

  Eddie put a hand on Gavin’s shoulder and squeezed.

  “You guys are welcome to watch the movie with us if you want,” Jeanie said. “We don’t h
ave enough chairs, but there’s plenty of blankets.”

  “I’ll have to ask Mom and Dad,” Eddie said.

  “What about you?” Jeanie asked Albert.

  Albert, caught off guard, stammered over his words. “I…uh…” he said. “I…I’ll have to ask my mom and dad, too.”

  The line moved and Rheanna made a cynical comment about it.

  “How come your girlfriend didn’t come, Seth?” Jeanie asked.

  “Kinsey,” Eddie said, and was instantly embarrassed. “Sorry, Seth.”

  Seth smiled. “I tried to call her, but she couldn’t come.”

  “Pity,” said Jeanie. “I’m anxious to see what tastes you have.”

  “I like you, don’t I?” Seth said, smiling.

  Malcolm raised his eyebrows. Apparently, Seth had a side he didn’t know about.

  Jeanie laughed. “You’re a tiger, Seth,” she said. “A real predator.”

  “Jeez! Is this live ever gonna move?” Rheanna complained. “Or are we just gonna stand here and admire the gum on the wall?”

  “Well, the gum does have a certain art to it,” Jeanie said, looking at the wall, which did, indeed, have plenty of gum on it.

  “I’m just saying…” Rheanna said. “We’ll miss the movie.”

  The line shuffled along.

  “There,” Jeanie noted. “We’re moving. Like a slow train, but we’re moving.”

  Rheanna rolled her eyes.

  “Rheanna, dear,” Jeanie explained. “You’re going to have to accept the movie-going experience. Arrive late. Get candy and soda late. Get to movie late. There are two movies, Rheanna dear,” Jeanie said, holding up two fingers for emphasis. “Two movies.”

  “Smart alack,” Rheanna said, looking away. “If I don’t belt ya before the nights over, I’ll be amazed, Jeanie Masterson.”

  “Rheanna’s always sour, boys,” Jeanie said. “Don’t let her get you down.”

  Masie put her hands on Seth’s shoulders as the line shuffled along.

  “We’ll be the envy of all the football players, Seth,” Malcolm said.

  Seth smiled. “I think we already are.”

  Masie looked at Malcolm and smiled. “Oh, that’s sweet,” she told him, and Malcolm blushed.