[Jenna's] Gang of Deadheads_a World of Deadheads novel

by Paul Atreides

  Jason turned his gaze to a sky with a full, bright sun. A hawk floated on the updraft of breezes toward a bank of high, thin clouds that looked like wisps of feathers on wingtips. “You best take care with that one. Keep a firm grip,” he said to Nancy.

  She nodded acknowledgment. “Each evil creates more, doesn’t it? Is there doubt about what the future would hold — our future — if he had lived? What if we could stop that from happening?”

  “What do you propose?”

  “Let me go find her. Talk to her again. She means well, I know she does.”

  “Many have meant well and ended causing much pain and suffering in others. You know this or I would not have chosen you. You would do well to remember that,” Jason reminded her.

  “I do and it’s precisely why I want to help. I don’t mean this to sound impertinent, but Jenna’s intent is to stop these kinds of incidents, and I wonder what would happen if we allowed her to do so.”

  Jason responded without need to consider. “No. It cannot be allowed.”

  “Look at yourself, Jason,” Nancy stated quietly. “You’ve grown so weary that it’s taken you weeks to recover. It would save you, save all of us, every Keeper who exists … it would extend our ability.”

  Jason sat on the ground and leaned against a maple tree to think. A long while later, he roused himself to answer her, and found Nancy walking around the clearing. “Why does this effort mean so much to you?”

  She jumped a bit at the sudden sound of his voice and went to sit with him. “To save people from pain and suffering, especially the type that Jenna tries to halt. … I thought you knew this about me. I thought it may have been why you chose me, because it’s what gave me my strength.” When Jason made no remark, she continued, “I had a sister, older by six years but we were close. She wasn’t too bright when it came to relationships; boyfriend after boyfriend committed affront after affront. It wasn’t until one of them attacked me that she woke up. Her grief and anger at my loss fuel her behavior. She was good once, but what she does to men now is wrong. What if we were able to stop people like her from hurting others?”

  “By interfering with the living.”

  “By somehow breaking up the altercation,” Nancy insisted. “Which is all Jenna wanted and tried to do.”

  Jason went silent again and Nancy stayed as still as she could.

  “You will go find her and bring her to me.”

  “Jason, please. Consider what I’m proposing.”

  “You will bring her to me,” he stated in a firm, gruff tone, stood and returned to his recuperation among the cool, quiet stillness of the trees.

  -21-

  “Though your trip sounds —” Gianni placed fingertips to his lips and sent a kiss out to the universe “— wonderful, Bella, I shall see you soon.” He planted kisses on both of her cheeks and parted ways with the group at his own departure gate to head to Paris for fabric, then on to Milan where he would begin work in earnest on Jenna’s promised gown.

  Everyone else hopped the earliest flight headed to Miami they could find listed on the departures board. With no first class cabin available, Mike had to make due with traveling like “a regular schmuck,” as Marvin put it to him. With the world’s economy in shambles, they didn’t need to fight over seats; most were empty, unless you counted all the deadheads, then it could’ve been considered a full flight.

  As happened the year before, several deadheads recognized Tommy from Epstein’s Deli. Soon after take-off, Tommy leaned into the row where Marvin, Jenna, and Davy sat. “Dudes, can I get you anything? Snacks, beverage?”

  A man in the next row back said, “No, no. You sit and relax, Tommy. Anything you or your friends want, you let us know. We’ll take care of it.”

  The exchange impressed the hell out of both Davy and Diane. Leaning over to Davy, she whispered, “Wow. That’s some reception. It’s like everyone knows who Tommy is.”

  “I know. Maybe we should go to brunch some Sunday. I hear he does a pretty fabulous job at the grill.”

  The group’s every wish for snacks, or drinks, was granted, but after a while even Davy began to think Diane took undue advantage.

  In Miami, Tommy and Marvin both yelled “Dibs” on the first taxi headed to the cruise ship port. Not able to fit everyone into the same cab, the group was forced to split up. Along with their respective other halves, Tommy and Marvin melded their way in among the people actually paying for the ride.

  Tommy stood on the front seat pushing his head and torso through the roof, and joked to the disgruntled Diane standing on the sidewalk, “Hey, there’s always the hood or trunk.”

  She fixed Tommy with a withering stare. “Squeezing into someone’s luggage, while it may get me there, is not my idea of a vacation. But thanks for the offer.”

  Davy nudged her. “Oh, honey, you need to relax and lighten up, or it’s going to be a long week.”

  Diane pursed her lips. “What I need is decent transportation. If you’ll show a little patience, I’ll find us one.”

  Two deadhead kids, who looked to be barely out of high school, exchanged a glance. One broke into a big smile and said, “What the hell, bro. It’ll be just like car-surfing, only this time it ain’t gonna kill us!” The other laughed and they hopped onto the hood of the taxi, face-forward, latching their fingers around the hood at the windshield behind them.

  Marvin and Jenna sat in the crowded rear seat with an older couple and their fidgeting grandson who kept thumping a shaking leg through one of Marvin’s. “Jesus H, give this kid some valium or something,” he said to the couple, who didn’t respond, of course.

  Up front with Mike, Tommy insisted on riding shotgun. His usual antics caused the driver to break out in a sweat. The man pulled a crucifix and chain around his neck from under his shirt. Making the sign of the cross, complete with a touch to the lips, he mumbled, “Santa Maria. Mi Dio.”

  Tommy switched on the wipers for more fun.

  “Ow, what the hell?” The boys on the hood each yanked a hand into the air. “Hey! What’re you doing? Turn those things off, man.”

  “Sorry, dudes. My bad,” Tommy called out, flipping the switch to the off position.

  At the docks, the two boys jumped off and beat a path toward the Disney liner while Jenna, Marv, Tommy and Mike stood waiting for their straggling companions at the curbside drop-off. Almost half an hour later, Davy emerged from the back seat of a shining, grey stretch limousine and helped a smiling Diane out, though her smile was more of a smirk. “Looks like you should’ve waited.”

  “No biggie.” Tommy’s smile beamed. “I enjoyed my ride.”

  “Now, which one of these behemoths is ours?” Mike asked.

  “Heck if I know, dude. Guess we have to check the departure board,” Tommy replied, and headed down the sidewalk toward a crowd of people (dead as well as alive) staring up at a bank of signs.

  They all stood studying the dock information. After noting a name and departure, Diane turned her gaze to the ships, and then back to the board. “That one,” she said finally, pointing to a ship with a streaming school of brightly colored blue and purple fish painted along the side.

  “Whatever. Suits me.” Marvin linked arms with Jenna and started walking.

  Diane, of course, insisted on haunting a suite. Since Mike had the first class experience the year before, he agreed with Tommy they could just hang out on the deck in a couple of chaise lounges. Marvin and Jenna headed for one of the bars to snatch a glass of wine they could take to the bow.

  Left to his own devices and unable to help himself, Davy wandered the ship assessing the couture, more often than not shaking his head in disgust at the loud Hawaiian shirts straining to cover the paunches riding over the plaid Bermuda shorts of the men. Wishing instead for men in Speedos, he found the sight of women hanging around the pool in barely-there string bikinis a bit distasteful. He wandered off and ended up perched on a stool to watch Diane flirt with every trim, well-dressed male deadhead
she laid eyes on.

  The next day, in port at Nassau, Diane stood looking at the three-mast schooner with a sour face. “You’re kidding, right? It’s a joke?”

  “Nope. This is it. Absolute heaven on sea.” Tommy sighed.

  “But, there’re no real staterooms. Where am I supposed to stay?”

  “Granted, the staterooms are small, but how much time are you going to spend there? No, no, no, these babies,” Mike said, pointing to the ship, “these are made for a true sailing experience: out on the deck with the spray of the water on your face and the salt breezes blowing through your hair.”

  Diane scowled. “Well, have fun, kids. I’m staying here at a hotel where I can get the kind of service I deserve.”

  “And exactly who do you think is going to serve you, your highness?” Marvin asked. He raised the volume as she walked away and said, “You know what, you need to learn to live a little. Davy, what about you? Going or staying?”

  Davy didn’t make up his mind until Tommy badgered him. “Dude, I’m telling you, this trip is like, wow, man, far out. The party spread they put out on the island, to die for.”

  Aboard the ship they stood in a small group at the bow waiting to set sail. The jostling for position to avoid people bumping through them got to be too much for Marvin. He made his way to the makeshift bar at the stern and helped himself to a margarita. The bartender did a double-take at the sound of something crunching against glass and rubbed at his eyes when a circle pattern showed in the dish of salt.

  “I wondered if you’d remember,” a familiar voice said.

  Marvin turned to find Dennis, and Connie with a new person in tow, headed in his direction and raised his glass. “Of course we remembered,” he lied, not wanting to give away the real reason they’d made the trip. During introductions, handshakes, and hugs Marvin whispered into Dennis’ ear, “What happened to what’s-her-name?”

  “Mel? They broke up. Guess relationships aren’t any more stable here than in life,” came the whispered answer before Dennis stood back, his brows raised in hope, and asked, “Mike and Tommy?”

  “Of course. And Jenna,” Marvin announced.

  “Wasn’t she the fiancée you were so gloomy about last year?” Connie pushed her hand into a cooler, brought up two beers and handed one to her partner, Carla.

  “The very one,” Marvin replied, his face beaming.

  Carla accepted the beer and offered her thanks, then turned to Marvin. “So, how did you get a message to her to come, or was it just a coincidence?”

  “No, no, she’s with us now.”

  “You actually went through with it? You killed her?” Dennis asked, his tone incredulous.

  “If he’d done that, he wouldn’t be standing here right now.” Nancy’s voice came from behind Marvin.

  His face lost all color (if that was possible), his grin disappeared, and he turned to greet her as she moved into the circle of friends for hugs. “Nancy! What are — I mean, I’m glad you made it. Last year’s gang wouldn’t be complete without you.”

  “And it’s been added to,” she responded, indicating the bow of the ship with her head. “Why haven’t you introduced them to Jenna and Davy?”

  “Oh, we just hadn’t gotten that far,” Connie said. “But, I’m sure we’ll love her.”

  “Who’s Davy?”

  “I do believe he’s right up your alley, Dennis,” Marvin blurted out, and immediately wished he could take it back when he realized the double entendre. “I mean, oh, screw it. You know what I mean.”

  Dennis laughed. “That’s what I like about you Marv, always straight and to the point.”

  “Well, you got the ‘straight’ part right,” Jenna joked, sliding into the group at Marvin’s left. “I’d have to question the rest of that statement,”

  “Hey, hey, watch it there, kiddo. You could be cruising for one.” Marvin winked and balled up a fist, doing his best to put on a carefree front for Nancy’s benefit.

  “These must be all your friends from last year. I’m Jenna.” She held out her hand to Carla who stood sandwiched between Dennis and Connie. It wasn’t until she’d made the full circle that she noticed Nancy, standing to Marvin’s right. Her spine stiffened and the gasp of surprise didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Jenna, I’m so glad you’re here with us this year.” Nancy nodded at her. “It’s going to be a great week.”

  While the conversation continued around her Jenna studied Nancy looking for signs of deception in facial expression or body language; anything to indicate trouble might be in store.

  “Do we have a full boat this year?” Connie asked, dodging an oncoming body heading for the bar. “I mean, besides these annoying tourists who keep walking through us.”

  “I haven’t seen anyone I don’t know, yet. So, what, with you …” Nancy pointed to Jenna. “And Davy, that makes nine this year, right?”

  “Don’t forget me,” Diane accused, pressing her way through a crowd of the living. “Do introduce me to your friends, Marvin.”

  Marvin made introductions all around. Of course, when he got to Dennis, Diane’s demeanor changed in an instant. She crossed to him with an appreciative expression on her face even as she checked him from head to toe. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

  Despite his concern over Nancy’s presence, Marvin broke out in a genuine laugh. “Oh, this is going to be a very entertaining week.”

  -22-

  Marvin complained only once about Tommy, Mike, and Dennis running around the ship naked. “Jesus H, do you have to?”

  “Oh, leave them alone, Marv,” Jenna chastised. “Who cares?”

  “Yeah, dude, who cares?” Tommy chided from his perch in a hammock strung between the rails at the bow. “Besides, I seem to recall you streaking down the beach and going all Woodstock at some point last year, too.”

  “And, honey,” Davy said with a grin on his face. “Some of us rather enjoy the view.”

  Restful fun and light conversations brought the whole group together each day. They raided the galley of left-over food for midnight snacks afore of the schooner and told stories of how they’d messed with the living — hiding and moving things, putting them back in their proper place after the owner had thrown arms up in frustration. Tommy even badgered Marvin into recounting his escapade of trying to kill Jenna at Mr. C’s restaurant which had resulted in a newspaper story claiming the place was haunted. By the time Marvin finished the tale he had everyone in stitches, even those who had heard the story before. They gathered to watch dolphins play in the waves of the ship, or lie in the sun, and the days slipped by.

  Nancy bided her time, looking for the just the right moment to approach Jenna. The situation was serious, more serious than her inquiry with Marvin the year before. He’d been so full of love and longing, at that point anyway, that his threats to kill were only wishes on candles. The situation with Jenna had become tenuous. As much as her intentions were in the right place, as Jason had so pointedly spelled out, Jenna’s actions had gone terribly wrong. Nancy considered that, perhaps, the day of the island beach party might afford her the chance she needed.

  The crests of the ocean waves sparkled in the afternoon sun sending playful reflections across the canvas sails when something brought a stampede of living feet trampling through the small circle of women sprawled out on the deck to soak up the warmth.

  “Watch out, ladies,” Mike joked. “You could end up with a foot somewhere it doesn’t belong.”

  Jenna and Diane scrambled to port, and Connie, Nancy, and Carla scooted starboard, all uttering profanities.

  “This has been the most tedious trip, I can’t imagine what the hell they all find to be so exciting that they have to run like a herd of heifers,” Diane grumbled, still reeling from the effects of no eligible men on the cruise.

  “You might want to try joining in once in a while to relieve your boredom,” Dennis quipped. “And spare us poor common folk the pain of listening to you gripe.”


  “Now, now, children, be nice to one another.” Tommy sat upright in the hammock, placed a hand to his brow and peered out to the horizon. “It’s the island. Far out, dudes. You know, tomorrow is going to be absolutely groovy.”

  “Hey, hippie, your sixties are showing again,” Marvin called out over his shoulder.

  “Oh, come on, dude. Don’t bum me out when it’s time to ball, man.”

  Jenna looked over at Tommy and grinned. “Time to ball? Excuse me?”

  “You know, party, have fun,” he explained. “What did you think I … Oh, you thought it meant sex. No, that meaning hi-jacked the word sometime in the seventies or eighties. Sorry.”

  “Whatever. Jesus H., could you stick to the present for us youngsters?” Marvin asked, which made most everyone laugh since Tommy, though dead the longest, really was the youngest of the bunch.

  Nancy smiled but trepidation at the inevitable task held sway over her emotions. After the party the next day, the schooner would make a nighttime-leg sail back to Nassau. And she still hadn’t figured out exactly how to break the news to Jenna.

  The sun lowered in its famous Caribbean flash of green and, with no artificial light for leagues upon leagues, stars cast pinpoint reflections off the peaks of the waves on the water and the moon cast a glow laying a beckoning path to the sand. As the ship eased into the bay on the leeward side of the island, Tommy rose from the hammock and kicked off his sandals. Not knowing where he could safely stow his clothes, he slipped them on.