Ronnie shrugged.
The three set off up the trail leading back away from the Falls. Before they crossed over Spit creek, Phoebe made the boys wait, while she took a few minutes to run over and check out the far side, watching the water stream over and down onto the rocks and debris piled up below.
"Come on, Phoebe!” Lee complained. “These shorts feel like they're shrinking."
"Then take ‘em off,” she said running up the path to catch up.
Ronnie, who was leaning against his bike, shook his head.
Lee was alternating pulling at the crotch and then at the seat. “It feels like my nuts are getting crunched,” he said to Ronnie.
Ronnie looked genuinely sympathetic. “There's no way Maggie isn't going to bar-b-que your butt when she sees you."
"Well what am I gonna do?” Lee let his hands fall slapping his thighs.
Ronnie leaned on his handlebars. “Seeing as how I'm such a good friend, I might could be persuaded to ride my bike home and loan you an extra pair of mine."
Lee lit up at the idea. “Ronnie, that'd be great!"
Phoebe, who was just now walking up shook her head, wiggling her finger back and forth at both boys. “You two aren't exactly the same size."
"It's a better idea than him wearing your shorts,” Ronnie shot back instantly. “Besides, I'm sure my mom ‘s got an old pair somewhere. I'm sure I can go through that big bag in the washroom and find something."
"Yeah, that's right.” Lee had really perked up. “She doesn't ever throw anything away. Can you bring me a t-shirt, too?"
Phoebe looked at Lee and then at Ronnie. “What's your mom do? Does she save your baby clothes, too?"
"At least I don't run around in no polka dot panties,” Ronnie fired back.
Lee recognized the same problem he'd seen for years. Almost anyone he liked, Ronnie didn't.
"Come on y'all, cut it out,” Lee interceded. “Let's concentrate on the problem we already have."
"I'll ride home, and y'all keep walking,” Ronnie offered. “We'll meet back up at the path by Spit Creek."
"Thanks, Ronnie.” Lee slapped him on the shoulder. “I'll owe you one."
Ronnie couldn't hide his eagerness. “Maybe I could ride your new bike some while you're grounded?"
"Lee's not grounded,” Phoebe replied.
Ronnie stood on a pedal and looked back over his shoulder at Phoebe. “You don't know Maggie."
"Just be sure to bring me the cut offs,” Lee hollered as Ronnie rode off up the trail.
Phoebe turned to Lee, then pointed at Ronnie. “Look, his shoe lace is untied again. He'll probably get it caught in the chain and wreck."
Lee and Phoebe walked together rolling their inner tubes. Along the trail they walked single file, but once out in the open they stayed side-by-side.
Phoebe had been surprised to learn when they passed the Willis house that people actually lived there, since she had asked Lee how long the place had been abandoned.
Lee was just happy that no one had been out to see him wearing the red shorts. That would be a tough one to live down with someone like Daryl.
When they arrived, all red faced, at the path crossing Spit Creek, Ronnie wasn't there yet.
"Do you want to just go on?” Lee asked.
"No, I'll wait.” Phoebe let her tube go and watched it roll around ‘til if fell flat. When it stopped, she sat down on it.
Lee joined her, absently pushing around the dirt at his feet with a stick he'd picked up making little troughs and designs. Phoebe must have been really tired, as she didn't say a thing.
"Is that him?” Phoebe pointed up the street.
Lee shaded his eyes. “I think so."
"He sure is riding fast,” Phoebe observed, then added, “what's that coming up behind him?"
Lee recognized what was going on almost immediately. Sticker had slipped his chain. Some dogs bark when they run, but not Sticker, he put every ounce of energy into capturing his prey and was gaining on Ronnie steadily from the left.
Ronnie's legs were working, peddling as fast as he could. If he'd been on Lee's bike he might have had escaped, but on the old twenty-inch he was riding he didn't have a chance. In no time the dog was right up on him snapping at Ronnie's legs. Ronnie, in defense, was weaving, turning the handlebars slightly in either direction so that his back tire cut Sticker off every time the mongrel lunged for a bite.
Phoebe was so excited she had gotten up and was jumping up and down, both fists clenched to her chest. “Go! Go!"
Sticker had begun to get wise to Ronnie's tactics, and he went left but cut in right, going for a piece of Ronnie's calf. Ronnie kicked out, planting his foot in the dog's hairy chest, though the defensive move staved off a bite it cost him valuable speed.
Ronnie had the cut offs in his left hand, which was gripping the handle bar. They might have been balled up when he'd started, but now they flapped out like a battle flag, tantalizing Sticker in the same way as a cape enrages a bull. With less than a block between them, Sticker dodged in and grabbed the cut offs, almost causing Ronnie to wreck when the dog ripped them out of his hand.
Ronnie slammed on his breaks, skidding a black streak twenty feet long. Sticker stuck out his four feet and slid to a stop, then immediately began thrashing the cut offs about, choosing this moment to unleash his growl.
"No!” Lee screamed, running at the dog and brandishing the stick he'd been using to scratch in the dirt.
Sticker was smart enough to realize he had his prize and retreat would probably be the best idea right now. He dropped the cut offs only momentarily, just so that he could get a better bite on them and turned tail and fled back to his hole under the porch.
Lee ran up to where Ronnie was and slowed the last few feet to plod miserably swinging his stick as he came to a stop.
Ronnie was doubled over, his head in the center of the handlebars.
Lee put his hand on Ronnie's shoulder but there wasn't anything to say. The cut offs were gone. In a day or two some of the shards of denim would probably be visible out in front of Sticker's hole.
Ronnie raised his head. His face was scarlet and streams of sweat were running down from his hair. “Goddamned dog,” he managed to gasp. He reached around in his back left pocket and pulled out a plain white t-shirt, offering it to Lee. “At least he didn't get this."
Lee took it and quickly put it on. It almost covered the shorts, almost.
"I know this is a lot to ask,” Lee said. “But do you think you might have another pair?"
Ronnie had seat dripping off his chin and nose. He shook his head. “I couldn't find any old pants, those were a pair of my regulars.” He took one huge, deep breath, then raised up straight. “My mom was gonna cut me some new ones for our vacation. But she hasn't yet. That's all I got, unless you want a pair of my jeans."
"Naw,” Lee came back. “I guess the t-shirt will have to do."
Together, with Ronnie straddling the bike, the boys walked back to where Phoebe was waiting. Along the way Lee tried to talk Ronnie into coming home with him and helping him out with Maggie, but they both knew they couldn't think of anything that wouldn't just make things worse an maybe even get Ronnie into trouble somehow.
"Give me a call,” Ronnie said, turning around to ride home, “And let me know how long the sentence is for."
Lee waved, but Ronnie didn't see it. Neither Phoebe nor Ronnie had said goodbye to each other. Lee let his tube go, watching roll down the creek bank and then about halfway up the other side before it fell over and slid down. Phoebe did the same, and then the both of them started down the trail.
Phoebe and Lee came up out of Spit Creek carrying their tubes on their shoulders. Lee pointed out Javier's magenta and turquoise house. The colors were so bright the little ramshackle house seemed to blazing back amplifying every shimmering ray of the late afternoon summer sun. Javier's Chevy wasn't there, but from the music coming out of the open windows, Lee knew Juana was home.
; With Lee in the lead, and Phoebe still conspicuously silent, they walked single file up the narrow short cut that led back to their part of Seminole Road.
Lee, in the lead, suddenly stopped, and Phoebe who was watching her feet, bumped into him from behind.
"What is it?” she asked, balancing her tube with the top of her hand.
"Awww, I can't believe it,” Lee turned back. “Maggie's out in your front yard, and she's talking to your Aunt Darlene."
Phoebe squeezed around and looked past Lee's. There was Maggie and Aunt Darlene, with Patty and Evie running around the yard.
Strangely, Phoebe's face was as dark as Lee's.
"What's the matter with you?” he asked.
"I just wish I wasn't in just my bikini bottom,” she came back.
"Why's that?"
Phoebe scraped her sandal into the dirt, not looking up. “Kind of one part of the reason I'm here helping Aunt Darlene, is my mom and dad think I've been actin’ kind of wild.” She looked up to Lee, but then back down again. “My mom caught me in our den on the sofa kissing with this boy a while back. I've been kind of in trouble with my folks ever since. With you wearing my shorts, Aunt Darlene will probably think something's up and say something to my mom the next time they talk.” Phoebe clenched her fist. “Damn! What's Darlene doing out there?"
"Do you want to wait?” Lee came back.
"Naw,” Phoebe said, pushing past. “I don't care. There's really nothing we can do but just go on and hope they don't notice."
Lee tugged at the t-shirt hoping it would cover enough so that Maggie wouldn't notice right off.
All eyes turned to them just moments after they emerged from the brush.
"Hi, Mom!” Lee called out brightly, holding his tube out in front as he walked.
Maggie didn't reply, and she definitely didn't look like she wanted to be called Mom just about now.
"Hi y'all!” Phoebe added.
Evie broke away from Patty and came running, squealing and flailing her arms in the air, she hollered out her version of Phoebe's name, “Bee-bee! Bee-bee!” She ran straight into Phoebe's tube and latched on.
As soon as they were within polite talking distance Maggie asked acridly, “Where've you two been?"
Lee wiggled his tube. “We went on a float trip, just like I said, Mom."
Maggie looked at Phoebe. “She doesn't look like Ronnie."
"I'm Phoebe,” Phoebe wiggled her tube, eager to show that she had been at the river too. She coaxed Evie to let go and set it down, leaning into the tube and keeping it between herself and the two women. “Hi Aunt Darlene. Any news from Uncle Boyd?"
"Not a word,” Darlene said absently. If she even noticed Phoebe's polka dot bathing suit bottoms she didn't show the slightest inclination to care. Maggie, on the hand had definitely noticed. Lee had seen her eyebrows go up.
Maggie let Lee catch a glimpse of the acid in her eye, then recomposed her face and said sweetly to Darlene. “It's been ever so nice talking to you again and getting to know you a little more Darlene.” Maggie smiled, though it didn't come across as sincere at all. “If you ever need to get a break from those babies, or just want to chat and have a cup of coffee, you be sure and just come over sometime. You'll be welcome."
Lee watched Maggie as she lied, knowing that Darlene was just the type of person Maggie loved to look down on. The only thing that kept Darlene from being considered outright trailer trash was the fact that she lived in a house.
"I just might do that sometime,” Darlene came back. “That is if I can keep Phoebe around long enough to help out without runnin’ off somewhere.” Darlene slouched planting her palm on her hip. “She ain't much of a good baby sitter."
Lee witnessed Maggie's wince and the following gleam of superiority in her eye.
"I just took off for one afternoon,” Phoebe replied. Her face, neck, chest and arms were a bright red, and her ponytail was really just a raggedy frazzle.
Maggie looked at Lee, and her expression changed when her eyes fell on the shorts. “We'll need to be getting you home, young man."
"Aw, Mom,” Patty squealed. “Me and Evie are having fun."
"She can stay and play, Mrs. Coombs,” Phoebe offered as sweetly as she could. “I'll stay out here and watch the girls."
Maggie came back with, “And who'll watch you? Your aunt Darlene has told me quite a bit about you."
Aunt Darlene looked down at the ground, avoiding Phoebe's eyes.
"Please, Mom!” Patty yelled, jerking on the hem of Maggie's shorts. “Please! I don't ever get to play outside!"
"Okay. Okay, sweetie,” Maggie sighed. “Just a little while longer. That is if it's alright with Darlene?"
"Fine by me,” Darlene, said hollowly. “I'm gonna go back in and check on the twins."
Lee took Phoebe's tube. “Bye. I had fun."
She reached out to tap Lee lightly on the shoulder. “Me too."
"Come on, you,” Maggie shoved at one of the tubes as soon as they were out of earshot. “You've got some explaining to do."
Maggie waited on the porch, leaning against a support and smoking while Lee put the tubes in the garage.
When he walked up onto the porch, Maggie pinched at his shorts and asked, “What are these?"
"I got ‘em from Art yesterday,” Lee had thought of this at the last second. “They were too big for him."
Maggie held open the screen door. “They look too small for you.” She flipped up the back of his t-shirt as he went inside. “What size are those?"
Lee yanked his shirt down defensively. “I don't know."
His dad was sitting on the sofa, the paper all spread around a fresh beer on the coffee table between two empties.
"Here he is,” Maggie announced, letting the screen door slam.
"Where've you been, son?” Ted leaned around, putting his arm up on the back of the sofa.
"I went to the river, just like I said."
Maggie, like some kind of inquisitor walked around to the overstuffed chair, never letting his eyes off Lee. “Ronnie came by, asking for you, you know?"
Lee moved over so the back of the sofa blocked his shorts from view. “So? I went to the river with Phoebe instead of Ronnie. Is that such a crime?"
"You lied,” Maggie pierced him with her eyes. “You not only lied about who you were going with, but you lied to keep from going to church. That's a big sin."
"Mom!” Lee tried the word, but it was plain it wasn't going to work. He knew he had to take a different approach. “Dad, come on, what did I do that was so bad?"
"Maggie's right, Lee, you lied to us.” His dad turned back to face Maggie. “Lee, come around here where I can talk to you."
Lee knew his father meant to come around in front of the T.V., but seizing on a technicality; he walked around by way of the hall and sat down at the dinner table.
Ted leaned forward and wrapped both his hands around his beer bottle with one thumb in the hole. “The thing Maggie and I don't get is why you lied in the first place. What difference does it make to us if you go to the river with Ronnie or Phoebe?"
"He knows why,” Maggie said vehemently. “That girl's a slut. God only knows what they've been up to?"
"A what?” Ted was incredulous.
"You heard me!” Maggie looked as angrily at Ted as she had at Lee. “Her Aunt Darlene told me all about her. Her parents sent her here for the summer not so much so that she could help out with the babies, but because they were afraid she was going to end up pregnant."
Lee was stunned.
Maggie turned and pointed at Lee. “Now she's taken up with you, hasn't she?"
Lee couldn't think of a thing, Maggie had so completely outflanked him.
Maggie kept her finger out. “Hasn't she?"
Lee came back to life. “Dad, come on. Phoebe's a nice girl."
"She's a slut!” Maggie spat. “You can see it on her. Her hair, those innocent freckles, and the way she—” Maggie ran her hands down in fron
t of her chest wiggling her fingers as she went. “She ain't foolin’ nobody. What've y'all been doin'? And on a Sunday, too."
"Dad, honest—"
Ted broke in. “Lee, your mother's upset."
"You're damn right I'm upset.” Maggie held her fingers over her mouth, her reaction to having caught herself uttering a curse word. “Look what you made me say!"
Lee thought it probably wouldn't be best to let her know she'd just said “ain't” too."
Maggie got up and stormed over to the table. She yanked at Lee's t-shirt to reveal the red shorts. “Why don't you ask him what he's doin’ wearing a pair of that girl's shorts?"
Thankfully, for everyone, Maggie had her back to her husband and didn't see the sympathetic grin that crept on Ted's face for the briefest of moments. “Okay, son, where'd you get the shorts?"
"I already told Mom!” Lee though, had seen his dad's smirk, even if Maggie hadn't. “I got ‘em from Art yesterday. I think they shrank in the river some."
"Shrank in the river!” Maggie strode over to the phone. “Do I have to call Art's mother? Do I? Is this how you treat your mother, one lie after another!"
"Go ahead!” Lee was becoming angry himself. He really couldn't see where he had done anything all so awful ... at least as far as Maggie knew.
Maggie picked up the receiver warningly. “I'm calling."
"Do it!” Lee came back, swiveling around in the chair to stare her down. “You're gonna feel pretty stupid. And you're not my Mom, you're my mother's sister!"
Maggie slammed the receiver down on the hook. “Did you hear what he said?"
"Calm down everyone!” Ted got to his feet, almost upsetting his beer when his knee hit the table. He raised his arms, then lowered them slowly. “Just everyone ... calm ... down."
After a moment of silence, he looked directly at Lee. “I don't know what's going on, but you lied, and that's that. You go to your room for the rest of the day, and you consider yourself grounded for a week."
"But Ronnie's leaving right after the Fourth."
"Not another word mister, or it's going to be two weeks,” Ted unsheathed his finger pointing at him to show he meant business. “You've got to help Maggie with any chores and—” he paused while he thought “-You're going with her to Mrs. Ballard's funeral on Tuesday."
Evil Heights, Book III: Lost and Found Page 23
