answered the Governor’s call to become a prison guard for the great city of Glacier Mountain, Alaska. He was married by then with a new baby in his life. As was typical in the village, the baby came first, and the marriage ended up being a formality. Unlike in the white world, in the village there isn’t the stigma placed on having a baby so young or out of wedlock; it is a simply a way of life. Allie Brickmore was a sweet girl, Sam thought and continued to think so even after she became pregnant. Fortunately both of them were able to finish high school before the baby arrived. And while the Brickmores had nowhere the status the Morrison clan had, that wasn’t a problem. Sam really loved his wife, and she really loved him. And their baby, a little girl, was a natural outcome of that love. They named the girl Ruth, to honor Sam’s aunt.
When the big move came, Marion asked if she could come to the city too. She really had no one. James was out of the picture. He quit school at 16 and signed on with Sam’s dad commercial fishing boat. James thrived on the open water. The only time he was truly happy was when he was out on the ocean. He also became the guy who literally had a girl in every port— something that would get him into a lot of trouble later in life. When Sam left, all that Marion had left was a grandfather who really didn’t understand her.
Sam was happy to have her along, because maybe it meant she was getting better. But Sam, even at a young age, was wise enough to ask his wife if it would be okay. Allie had known Marion briefly back when they were still in junior high so Sam wasn’t sure what his wife’s answer would be. To his great relief, Allie enthusiastically agreed. She would have someone to help her with the baby while Sam was at work, and to have some company in a city where she knew no one. Sam knew he had picked the right girl to spend the rest of his life with.
So it was settled. The three of them packed up and moved to the big city.
The culture shock nearly killed them.
Their first day in the city, Allie wanted to go home. In the village, people are always friendly even if they don’t like you. That comes from living in a clannish society. Offend one person, and you may find an entire family will shun you for the rest of your life. So it pays to be nice to everyone. In the city everyone was outright hostile. Sam suffered the worst of it, on the job. From the other guards, Sam probably heard every single Injun joke and slur twice over. On pretty much a daily basis someone would steal all his stuff from his locker and throw it into the dumpster outback. The stealing only stopped when Sam no longer took anything to work. Not even a lunch bag. The insults continued unabated.
Everyone in the city also seemed to drink. The number of bars and liquor stores easily outnumbered the churches. Allie had a horrifying experience at the grocery store that first year. She was in the checkout line, and the person in front of her was clearly drunk. He smelled drunk. He looked drunk. He sounded drunk. He had a drunk’s annoying habit of wanting to be everyone’s pal, and when he started for baby Ruth in her stroller, Allie wheeled the stroller and herself out of the store as fast as she could. What was worse, nobody seemed to care. Not that Allie was a prude when it came to drinking, but to be that drunk in public would have a shameful thing in the village. But everyone in the big city seemed to be on something at all times. 24 hours a day, 7 days week the good people of Glacier Mountain, Alaska were buzzed.
The only person completely unfazed by city life was Marion. Maybe it’s because she lived in Seattle. Maybe it was because she didn’t really care that much about anything anymore. Maybe it was because she was just going through the motions. Whatever the reason, Marion just drifted from day to day in her own little world.
They stuck out that first year, though, hard as it was. There was no way in hell Sam was going to be bullied out of job that paid so well. Not with a wife and baby to support. When the other guards saw that Sam wasn’t going to go anywhere, he earned something of a grudging respect. Sam’s real life line was ironically the prisoners under his watch. Since most of the prisoners were Natives from the surrounding villages, and since most were related to him in some way to him, Sam had a great time sharing village gossip or swapping stories with the prisoners. It was understood that when Sam was on duty you respected him because he respected you. It was always quiet on his watch.
Allie adjusted. Frequent calls to her mom back in the village helped. Marion was a great help with baby Ruth. She would change diapers without complaint (something Allie hated doing). The two of them would often take Ruth on a walk to the park. Allie was eternally grateful to have someone in the city she could talk to. Not that Marion ever said that much.
The city may not have fazed Marion that much, but she did have her own personal demons. Sometimes Sam or Allie would hear her sobbing in her room. When Allie would go check on her, Marion would either pretend to be asleep or say everything was fine. Other times, they would hear Marion cursing at herself in the shower. Calling herself stupid over and over again. They never said anything about it, not wanting to embarrassing Marion, but it was always there hanging overhead.
Marion only got upset at Sam once. Sam suggested to his cousin that maybe she should think about seeing someone. Someone she could talk to about her problems. It was hard for Sam to even bring the subject up. In the village one keeps their problems to themselves, especially the mental ones. But he worried about his cousin. He worried about the path she was on. It was a dark path that Sam could see had only one ending. An ending where Marion gave up on life altogether, and by her own hand, her old soul would finally join their ancestors.
Marion screamed that she wasn’t going to talk to some pervert, and left the room sobbing. Sam never broached the subject again, but prayed for his cousin even harder.
The only bright spot in Marion’s life was her brother James. James was the only one who could get Marion to smile. He was also the only man who could hug Marion without her cringing. When James came to visit the world brightened around them. It was during one of these visits that Allie enlisted James help. Allie thought it might help if Marion got her GED. She had never graduated from high school because of all that had happened, but Marion getting the equivalent of a high school diploma might give her a boost of confidence.
James rightfully pointed out, “Are you sure I’m the right one to tell her. I mean you know school and me didn’t exactly part on good terms.”
Allie answered: “You’re the only one she will listen too.”
And that was that. There was no arguing with Allie once her mind was made up.
So the next time James came to visit, he sat down with Marion while Sam and Allie looked on.
“Sister, I really think you should get your GED,” James began.
Marion looked at her brother strangely. “And what about you?”
“Yeah well,” James stammered. “Everyone knows you’re the smart one in this family. I’m just a dumb kid.”
“Don’t ever say that.” Marion answered. She looked like she was on verge of tears. “Don’t you ever say that!”
“Sister, I didn’t mean it like that...” James said. He was glaring at Allie now for putting him up to this.
Seeing that James was struggling, Allie came to his rescue. “Look Marion, I put your brother up to this. But we all think it would be a real good idea if you get your GED. You don’t get anywhere anymore without a high school diploma. We want to help you make a better life for yourself.”
Marion didn’t respond. She simply looked down at the floor. They all spent a few uncomfortable minutes waiting for Marion to answer. James, ever the peacemaker, saved the day by changing the subject to talk about baby Ruth.
The next day, Marion asked Sam for some bus money. Allie had taken the car so baby Ruth could go see the doctor for a checkup. Sam was a little worried about what his cousin had planned, but he also didn’t want to drag up the upset feelings of the night before. He handed her a couple of dollars. That was enough for the bus, but not enough for her to get into trouble, Sam figured.
Marion returned later that day.
When asked where she had been at dinner, she simply shrugged. Sam thought they might have to watch her more carefully now. Marion was keeping secrets.
A couple of weeks later, a letter arrived for Marion from the local college. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Allie torn open the letter, and screamed.
“Oh my god Marion, you got your GED.”
“Oh that.” Marion said flatly. She seemed completely detached from the matter.
“This is wonderful. We have to celebrate.”
Marion immediately dampened Allie’s enthusiasm.
“I’m too tired,” Marion said in the same flat tone as before. Then got up, and went to her room— leaving Allie holding her GED in one hand, and baby Ruth in another.
When Sam got home that night, he found his wife fuming.
“Well you kind of pushed her into it, honey.” Sam said.
“I guess.” Allie answered.
“At least she got it,” Sam answered. “That’s a start.”
But that little push set off a spark in Marion. She began hinting that she may want to start taking some classes in the fall. Allie, having learned her lesson, didn’t push too hard. Instead, she quietly agreed with Marion that was a good idea, and would be happy to help her fill out an application for a Pell Grant, if that’s what she wanted.
It was at the college advisor’s office that Allie learned that Marion had a bit of a reputation.
“Most people spread the GED out over the course of a few weeks,” the advisor informed them. “Your cousin is the only person we’ve ever had take the entire test in one day. Not only take the test but pass it with flying colors. Did you fill out that scholarship form we gave you?”
Marion bent her head low, and shook her head. “I lost it.” She said. In truth, Allie found out later that Marion had thrown the form away, as it required letters of recommendation from three different people who weren’t family members.
“We have filled out the application for a Pell Grant,” Allie chimed in. She liked this advisor. He was one of the few nice people they had met in the city.
“Good, good.” The advisor answered. “There are also other scholarship programs targeted specifically for Natives you could apply for. I will give you a list. We also have an excellent work study program.”
Marion perked up. “Work study?”
“Yes,” the advisor continued. “The university will pay you to do some light office work, with a very flexible schedule to attend your classes. Would you be interested?”
Marion nodded.
“Excellent,” the advisor said. “We have a small community college here, but its students like you who make this job worthwhile. Do you have a course of study planned out?”
Marion thought for a moment.
“Accounting,” she answered.
Things moved quickly then. Marion started school in September. She also started her work study job. Sam breathed a sigh of relief. At least his cousin had something to look forward to. Marion insisted that she give her entire check over to Sam to help with household expenses and to pay rent. Sam had to admit the money would help, but felt his cousin needed something. In the end he did take the money, and one day came home with a car. The car was used, and a junker, but it would get Marion where she needed to go. What he hadn’t realized though was nobody had ever taught Marion how to drive. That was fixed soon enough.
Marion only lasted a semester. She had made the honor roll, but quit before the spring semester began. Sam figured it must be because she was one of the few Native students. Sam never heard if she had been harassed like he had, but she hadn’t wanted to go back when spring came around. Her heart just wasn’t in it. It was a blow. Another blow was that Marion had to give up her work study job. Sam knew she had loved that job, and had often talked about it excitedly at the dinner table. Her supervisors also spoke really highly of her. They were disappointed she wasn’t coming back.
Allie— through a nurse at the pediatrician’s office— found Marion a job with a pharmacy. It was not a good fit. Marion had to deal with the public on a daily basis, and that dealt a blow to her confidence. All they could gather was people just weren’t very nice to her there. Not the customers or her co-workers. Finally, Sam thought bitterly, Marion is getting a taste of city life. Marion became sullen. She rarely spoke, and started to sob again in her room. Everyone felt as though a weight had been lifted when Marion was fired from the pharmacy.
It was Marion who got herself out her funk this time. She applied for a job with the State— even going so far as to get some letters of recommendations from her former supervisors and co-workers at the work study job. Marion got a call and must have aced the interview because they hired her right away. It had been a long time since Sam had seen her so happy. Sam gave her another gift too, all those pharmacy checks she had turned over to him, well they were enough to get her own place— nothing elaborate or lavish— just a small studio apartment downtown near her work.
The new job and the new place turned out to a mixed blessing, however. Marion rarely called or came over to visit anymore. Sam couldn’t help feel she was avoiding them.
“She is probably just embarrassed,” Allie said. “We saw her at her worst you know.”
Sam nodded. The love of his life was always full of sound advice, but sometimes Sam wondered if maybe they had pushed Marion too much. That maybe she wasn’t ready to live on her own. Marion in many ways was still like a teenager, and really hadn’t grown up. Maybe it was too soon for her to leave home. Maybe she still needed her family to keep off that dark path.
Sam pulled into the driveway of Marion’s place. He knew immediately that something was wrong. He couldn’t place a finger on what it was, it was just a feeling. Marion’s car, the old junker, was still there— buried in freshly fallen snow.
Sam walked toward the stairs, but then stopped. He noticed the front door to the apartment below was wide open. The bottom apartment belonged to an old woman, who was also Marion’s landlady. Sam had met the woman a couple of times, when he was setting up the apartment for Marion, and she seemed like a nice, if slightly lonely, old woman.
Sam approached the door cautiously, like he would if it were a cell inspection at the prison. He stood to one side of the door frame and reached over to knock on the door. No answer. He called out. Still no answer.
Sam peered inside. The old woman lay dead in the living room. Her neck had been broken. But when Sam saw the tiny green army men painstaking set up in a halo around the woman’s head, he knew what had happened.
Sam bolted. He ran up the stairs to Marion’s apartment and nearly broken his own neck tripped over the little green army men that cluttered the stairs.
Marion’s front door was also wide open. He burst in, with little regard to his safety. Marion was gone.
His mind raced. Finally it rested on an idea. He picked up Marion's phone and called home.
The first thing Sam heard was baby Ruth crying on the other end of the line.
“Sam,” his wife came on the line now, “Is that you? Where are you? Ruth is hungry, and the natives are getting restless.”
Sam couldn't speak. He had lost his voice.
“It's the Duke,” his voice sounded hollow as if someone were doing all the talking for him.
“What,” his wife cried.
“It's the Duke,” he repeated. “He's here in town.”
“Oh my god!” Allie cried. “Marion is she...”
“She's gone.”
He heard Allie sobbing. That gave him strength. He would fix this.
“Honey listen to me,” Sam said. His voice became his own again. “Are Tom and Derrick still there?”
His wife continued to sob.
“Did you hear me, Allie? Let me speak to Tom.”
He heard the phone drop. Then Tom's voice came on the line.
“What's going on,” Tom said.
“It's the Duke,” Sam repeated.
“Christ.” Tom an
swered.
“Did you and Derrick bring your uniforms?”
“Yeah. They're in the rental. We have to work first thing tomorrow morning. As soon as we get off the god damn plane...”
Sam had no time to hear his cousin rant again. Tom had been complaining nonstop about having to work a shift the day after Thanksgiving.
“Tom listen!” Sam practically screamed over the phone. “You and Derrick get dressed and head over to the ferry terminal.
“Gotcha,” his cousin answered, “Head him off at the pass, are we...”
Sam hung up without answering. Tom was a good man, but could talk your ear off if you let him. They were distant cousins, but then everybody in the village are distant cousins. Truth be told. Sam couldn't stand Tom, and had begged his wife not to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner. His sensible wife wouldn't hear of it. As it turned out Allie's instincts had proven true and she may have very well saved the day. Tom and his brother Derrick were village policemen. And if Sam knew anything about the Duke, it was that he would be shy of the police right now. If they could fool him, scare him from getting off the island, then maybe Marion would have a chance.
Once Allie calmed down, Sam knew she would call the city police. Of all of them, Allie didn't have much of a village accent. No thick and drawn out words for her. Allie spoke crisp and clear English— having practiced by watching PBS on TV. That had gotten them in trouble when they had tried to apply for a mortgage. The bank was expecting some nice young blond blue eyed girl, and what showed up to get some money were a couple of hicks from the village. But Allie had managed to talk the bank into giving them the mortgage anyway. The police were likely to also be fooled into believing that his wife was an all American girl and at least listen to her story.
Sam nearly tripped again over the little green army men. In frustration he kicked them off the stairs.
Soon he was in his car speeding toward the airport.
Article XII: Angel and the Badman
The Duke was riding high.
It was the pills that did it. The pills the doctor gave him for his “back” condition. When he mixed the pills with vodka, a storm would fire off in his head, and there would be a few blissful seconds where his mind became incredibly sharp and focused.
The Duke wondered how he had survived so long without the pills. The pills completed him. They were there to prop him up and give him strength. To comfort him in times of trouble. The pills were his soul mate. They were the thing that had been missing part of his life. They made the Duke the man he was always meant to be. He loved the pills, and they loved him— because the pills told him secrets.
For example, he remembered he was walking to the liquor store one day to cash his disability check. He passed some kids playing basketball in a park, but didn't think much of it. Once
Accident Prone: A Novel Page 21
