by K. R. Smith
“Is this Great Grandma’s special gravy recipe?” I paused before I picked up the gravy boat.
“Of course.” She answered.
I picked up the gravy boat, poured a generous amount over my plate and then I started to pass it to Dad.
“Your mother first.” He nodded towards his mate whom he doted upon.
I held the gravy boat for Mum as she finished doling out our glasses of milk. She took it from me, poured it and then passed it to Dad, coupled with a small smile. He beamed back, before he cleared his throat and turned my way.
“Are you going to Ben’s bonfire tonight?”
“Yep.” I answered as I picked up my cutlery.
“You’ll be home by midnight, OK?”
“OK.”
“Ask Derik to walk you home.” He added on.
“Why?”
“Because I’m old fashioned.” He said simply.
“Huh?” I gave a funny look.
“In the olden days it was the custom for men to walk women home.” Mum informed.
“Why?”
“Well, safety was the primary issue.” She shrugged.
“But I’m safe as nothing ever happens here. The pack keeps out strangers and outsiders.” I scoffed as I ate. Dad shared a knowing look with Mum, which I caught. “What is it?”
“How did the meeting with the Tribal Elders go?” My mother asked my father.
“Remember how we were talking a couple of months ago how Alma is starting to become repopulated again? Apparently there is a bad element brewing in the town. The Elders have been approached by a representative of the town who asked if the pack will remove the trouble makers.” He told her.
Mum arched her eyebrows in surprise. “What’s the consensus of the Elders?”
“They’re thinking about it.” Dad said. “What happens in town does affect our tribal lands. A couple of times when we’ve been on patrol we’ve had to warn off some of the new townspeople who’ve been poaching on our land.”
“What’s poaching?” I asked.
“It’s when somebody hunts game or wildlife on somebody else’s land… so in fact that they’re killing somebody else’s animals to eat.” She explained.
“Isn’t that stealing?”
“It’s definitely trespassing.” Dad said staunchly. “They feign ignorance, but twice I’ve caught the same group of men doing it.”
“The same group of men who are the bad element?” She guessed.
“Your father and brother told me when they’ve been on patrol how they’ve also moved this group of men on, when they’ve been drinking on our land.” He said unhappily. “The last six months we’ve had the most problems with these particular guys.”
“So how many people are we talking about here, that the pack has been asked to play law enforcers by removing?” She asked concerned.
“Around twenty.” He answered.
“And the townspeople have tried asking them to leave?”
“The townspeople have.”
“And what happened?” She pressed.
“They beat up the town’s representatives of the three men and one woman. A week later the hoodlums reopened the old Bar and are serving moonshine, attracting more of a bad element.” He said flatly.
Mum glared down at her plate, losing her appetite which I could tell as she just pushed the food around instead of eating it.
“They hit the woman?” I looked at my father in alarm as he gave a nod. I wanted to clarify, “they actually beat up the woman?”
Dad looked like he was regretting talking about this now, as he looked on guiltily.
“Hang on.” I put down my cutlery. “They – the men – the baddies in the story, HIT the woman?”
“Unfortunately that’s what baddies do, B.” Dad said softly, as he reached over to put his hand over mine.
Flabbergasted, I looked back… I hadn’t heard of men physically harming women except in the books I’ve read. Aside from the tribe’s story of the second last time a Lokoti Werewolf feasted on human was 300 years ago in vengeance of the English soldiers who had kidnapped six Lokoti women; the very last time a Lokoti Werewolf tasted human flesh was three months before I was born. A group of over 500 invaders who were sick, starving and desperate, tried to invade our tribal lands since unpolluted land safe from nuclear fall out was precious and rare.
I had grown accustomed to the blissful domesticity that our tribe had worked hard to create. Ours was a world where doors were left unlocked, everyone knew each other’s names and we had many tribal celebrations. Sure, things got sad when somebody died? But with the miraculous skill of our Medicine Man my Grandpa, he used his Werewolf supernatural senses to accurately diagnose and offer treatment. The highest cause of death in the tribe was simply old age.
Our festivities centered around the change in the seasons, or when it was somebody’s birthday, or when the tribe threw a Housewarming for a couple whom moved in together. Ben’s bonfire tonight was to commemorate the last night of the summer. All the tribe’s young people would be there to ‘hang out’ and sip soda which was only served on special occasions since it was becoming a rare commodity now.
“So I would prefer it if Derik walked you home after the bonfire tonight.” Dad patted my hand before he returned to his eating.
“Why?” I asked again. “No baddies or strangers make it past our boarders with the Werewolves patrolling.”
“Call it peace of mind.” He said coolly.
“But Derik lives at the bottom of the hill, twenty minutes away. So he’ll have to walk me home, twenty minutes up the hill and then back home again, twenty minutes back. That’s over half an hour out of his way.” I debated.
“I don’t think Derik will mind.” My mother smirked to my father.
“Not if he’s hoping for a kiss for his effort.” He smirked back.
“Mum! Dad! Shut up!” I turned bright red. My parents cracked up laughing at how quickly my face’s colour changed. “Besides as my father, aren’t you meant to be chasing my suitors away?”
“If your ‘suitor’ was a hoodlum or a baddie, yes I would chase him away. But this is Derik we’re talking about here. He’s been your best friend from the age of 0 – 16 and your boyfriend since.” Dad shrugged. “He’s a good boy.”
“He’s NOT my boyfriend.” I looked down to concentrate on cutting up my food. “Derik’s my best friend but that’s it.”
“What is with the women in your family?” Dad looked on Mum, who looked inquiringly back. “Your father took a while to woo your mother, it took me a while to woo you and now Derik is up against the same wall around our daughter?”
“Stop exaggerating!” She rolled her eyes. “My Mum had me when she was 19 years old and I had B when I was 19 too. I wouldn’t call that strong opposition!”
“Ah, but your father fell in love with your mother when he was 14 and I fell in love with you when I was 2 years old.” He arched his eyebrows. “It took me sixteen years to finally make a mark or put a dent in your exterior.”
“Oh excuse me for not becoming pregnant when I was 13 years old!” Mum said sarcastically.
“I saved your mother’s life when she was 5 and I was 7 years old.” Dad began the old story.
“Here we go.” She sat back and folded her arms.
“She nearly drowned when the river flooded after a bad storm. She was down there by herself, which she wasn’t allowed to do when she was that age. I sensed she was in danger and I reached her first.” He recanted the tale.
Mum and I exchanged smiles of amusement as we listened to him retell the story I’ve heard repeatedly since I was a little girl.
“I’ve always known that your mother is the woman for me. But getting your mother to see this point of view was another story.” He gave her a goofy grin. “When your mother was 7 years old, she started running away and hiding from me. When she was 14, I asked her out on a date but she turned me down. From the ages of 14 to 18, I kept asking her out and she
continued to turn me down. She was so stubborn, she would probably still be doing that; but then I saved her life a second time when she was 18 and I was 20 years old and from that day on, I could finally call her my mate.”
“Now I’m stuck with him for another 100 years.” She pulled a face, making me laugh.
“But she secretly loves every minute that we’re together.” He pulled a face too, continuing the laughter.
“Your father has his bearable moments.” She conceded with a sigh.
“My heart still races when your mother walks into a room.” He sighed too.
My parents shared one of their typical meaningful long glances across the table.
“Er, kids in the room.” I said uncomfortably as I stood up from the table and carried my plate into the kitchen. As I put my plate in the sink, I enquired, “do you want me to wash up?”
“No, you go on to the bonfire.” Mum said.
“And remember, let Derik walk you home.” Dad ordered.
*****
I arrived at the bonfire in Ben’s back yard just before seven o’clock and found a large crowd of young people, between the ages of 12 to 22 already here.
Ben was two years older than me and was a mechanic along with Declan and Uncle Finn. The garage they worked at was beside the general store/ gas station. The boys called themselves ‘grease monkeys’ and played loud rock music all day as they worked on a car or motor bike or boat engine. Declan may have been an arrogant asshole, but Ben was pretty cool. He was human, funny and charismatic. He’s been holding bonfire parties in his parent’s large back yard since he was 14 years old.
“Hey Ben.” I greeted him first, since this was his party.
“Hey B!” He smiled exuberantly, as he shook my hand. “Welcome! Grab yourself a soda. My Mom and Dad are over there, doling them out.”
“Thanks.” I walked away to let him continue his conversation before I interrupted. Ben was talking to Feather, one of the tribe’s prettiest girls.
“Hi B.”
“How’s it goin’, B?”
“Good to see you, B.”
I smiled as I said the expected pleasantries back to the familiar faces that I grew up with as I walked to the drinks table. I saw Derik was talking to Pan, a boy who was a year older than us. He noticed my arrival and waved me over. I waved back and mouthed ‘in a minute’. He understood and turned back to continue his conversation.
“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Shallow Water.” I greeted, approaching Ben’s parents.
“Hi Bianca.” She smiled warmly. “How are you? How is your mother?”
“Good thanks.”
“Say hi to her for me, won’t you.” Mrs. Shallow Water said. “Now what soda would you like?”
I looked at the bottles of root beer, creaming soda, lemonade and cola.
“I’ll go the cola please.” I pointed.
“Wise choice.” Mr. Shallow Water smiled and then he jokingly went on. “It’s a good year and was picked during a good harvest. It has a sweet flavor with a fizzy bouquet. Perhaps madame would like to sniff the beverage before consuming it?”
“Oh Cliff!” She laughed at her husband. “Take no heed of him Bianca. Here, enjoy your drink.” She passed me my plastic cup with the soda inside.
“Thank you.” I giggled at the both of them and then I turned around and I was about to head towards Derik, when I almost ran into Daniel.
“Bianca!” his eyes widened.
“Oh, Daniel! Sorry!” I laughed. “I didn’t mean to walk into you.”
“No harm done, you can walk into me any day.” He joked.
OK… I thought that was a bit of an odd thing to say.
“So, what are you drinking?” Daniel asked, looking at my cup.
“Um, cola.”
“Good choice, I think I might have the same.” He looked at Mr. Shallow Water who nodded and poured him a cup. He passed it to Daniel who immediately took a large mouthful, before he asked, “what have you been up to, B? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Oh um, I’m studying a lot.” I shrugged.
“That’s right.” Daniel nodded. “History, right?”
“Yeah.”
“When was the last time you went swimming in the river?” He next asked.
“Wow, what a good question… um, since ages?” I pondered.
“I’m going tomorrow with the usual gang.” He nodded towards his small group of friends standing off to the side, who like Daniel, were two years older than me. “You should come along.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on, before it gets cold.” He recommended.
“Um, I’ll see.” I smiled uneasily.
Daniel has never asked me anywhere before, he’s always just been a friendly acquaintance and nothing more.
“OK then.” He half turned away. “Well, I’ve gotta go back and join my friends. Feel free to come and say hi to them. You’ll see that we’re actually not that scary.”
“OK.” I laughed lightly.
“See you around, Bianca.” He squeezed my arm and gave a meaningful look, the same kind of look I had seen my Dad give my Mum only half an hour ago…
I stood still to watch him walk off, but as soon as he rejoined his friends he looked back my way. That IS weird! Why is Daniel, this older boy who I hardly talk to, who I thought has never noticed me before, paying attention to me now?
Just then Justin and Leaf walked past to the drinks table.
“Hey B.” Justin greeted.
“How’s it goin’, B?” Leaf asked politely.
“Oh um, what?” I snapped out of it. “Oh, I’m fine thanks. How are you two goin’?”
“Not bad.” Justin shrugged.
“I can’t complain – no one listens.” Leaf said the old joke. Then he paused to look on closely. “Are you wearing mascara?”
“No.” I gave him a funny look and so did Jack.
“Oh, sorry! It’s just that your eyes looked different for a second then.” Leaf blushed and looked down.
“Were you going to try to get some beauty tips or something there Leaf?” Justin laughed and nudged his friend.
“Aw, shut up!” Leaf nudged him back.
“So B, what have you been up to lately? We don’t see you around as much anymore.” Justin asked.
“Studying.” I answered.
“What are you studying?” Leaf asked.
“History.”
“What kind of history?” He asked again.
“All kinds of History. I’m reading about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece and Rome.” I told him.
“Rome? Oh yeah, like gladiators and stuff.” He nodded.
“Yeah, something like that.” I sipped my drink.
“Do you have a favourite part in History that you like?” He inquired.
“Um no, not really.” I shrugged. “I like all of it.”
“And how did you get interested in that sort of stuff?” Leaf looked on with wide eyes, almost as if he were drinking in the sight of my face.
I looked from him to Justin, wondering what was going on here? He appeared just as surprised at his friend’s sudden interest in me as I was. Justin and Leaf were cool guys, who were two years younger than I was. Leaf was like a little cousin since he was Uncle Ian’s son. His father was my father’s best friend and another Lokoti Werewolf. But like Daniel, they were just casual acquaintances. Until tonight, I had hardly said ‘boo’ to them except for polite acknowledgements at social gatherings such as this.
“How did I get interested in History? Um, I don’t know… I’ve always enjoyed hearing the stories about our tribe. I also liked finding out about my Mum’s family line from England and Australia.” I looked downwards as I felt antsy to get away.
“So what are you doing tomorrow, B?” Leaf asked. “Justin and I and a couple of the guys were going to have a game of soccer…”
…but before he could finish, he was interrupted.
“Alright small fry.” Declan suddenly a
ppeared beside me. “The lady’s taken. Skedaddle!”
Justin and Leaf’s eyes widened by the sudden appearance of the tribe’s most dangerous Werewolf, even if he was in human form. They quickly turned around and left to talk to someone else.
“Declan!” I whacked him on the arm as I felt my cheeks burn.
“What?” He gave a funny look.
“What did you do that for?!”
“Oh, you mean you like having all the guys at this party fall over themselves for you?” He looked on unimpressed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I felt my cheeks turn from red to crimson.
“No?” He arched his eyebrows. “Either you’re the most popular girl here that everyone’s inviting to swimming in rivers or to soccer games…but I’m thinking that these guys aren’t exactly inviting you to these events for the sport, or that kind of sport anyway.”
Declan was looking about with his eyes narrowing and I looked around to see what he was looking at. Beside Leaf and Daniel’s eyes looking my way, I actually noticed two other boys doing the same.
“Your popularity has certainly gone up around here.” He said stroppily. Then he gave me a peculiar look, “are you wearing a new perfume or something?”
“What?” I took a step away from him. “No!”
“Hey, don’t flatter yourself princess.” He sneered at my reaction. “I’m here looking out for my brother’s interests.”
“Excuse me?”
“Derik is just a human so he can’t smell the elevated testosterone around you.” He sneered as he looked about again.
“Don’t be disgusting, Declan.”
“Go and stand with my brother and stop flirting with the other boys, would you?”
“Drop dead Declan.” I said icily before I walked away.
Instead of walking to Derik, I went over to Rachel and Mandy, two girls my age whom I used to hang out with in school and I still got together with.
“Hi B!” Rachel smiled. “How are you?”
“I’m good thanks Rach. How are you?” I kissed her cheek and then Mandy’s.
“I’m OK.” Rachel answered congenially.
“How are your studies going?” Mandy asked.
“Pretty good.” I gave a nod. “How about with you guys?”
