Magnolia's Fall From Grace

by Zara Teleg

  I had a feeling I knew who. His distinct laughter confirmed my suspicions. I spotted Spencer’s blond hair as I made my way down the grand staircase. Exactly as I expected, he was just my father’s type for me in his white shorts and a plaid collared shirt, his hair sprayed in place, and his white teeth gleaming as he acted like whatever my father said was funny.

  “See you tomorrow, son. Tee time’s 10 a.m.” My father winked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  His smile widened when his eyes fell on me. He was more like an eager tiger than the perfect gentleman my daddy thought he was. He took a step to me, his dock shoes squeaked on the marble floor.

  “Spencer.” I ground my teeth as he leaned in, pecking my cheek. His lips made my skin crawl.

  “You look beautiful as ever, Magnolia.”

  “Thank you,” I forced out the words.

  “I just wanted to say goodbye. It will be strange not seeing you at any of the club events this summer.”

  “Yes, I’m sure going to miss them. But duty calls.” I shrugged. “Thanks for stopping in to say goodbye. But I have to shower and get to bed. The bus leaves very early tomorrow.” I faked a yawn and took a step back, reading his body language. He was going to lean in for an embrace that I didn’t want.

  “Oh, uh, I understand. Well, I hope you have a safe trip and, uh, call me over the summer.”

  “Um, I will try, but a lot of the area still has no electricity.” I snapped my finger like I was disappointed.

  “Well, maybe Parker and I will take a road trip and see you.”

  “Ha, ha, ha. That’s not necessary.” I choked out.

  “Well, I guess I’ll see you.”

  I turned around and booked my way back up the stairs.

  Lying in bed that night, I kept imagining camp, and my nerves started getting the best of me. Had I packed everything I needed? Would the people there be…nice? I never had an easy time making friends; I was just too shy. I hoped I could press through it this summer because I really wanted this summer to mean something. I wanted to learn everything I could and help as many people as I could. If I was going to be a doctor someday, I had to have a breakthrough. I just had to. Thoughts kept swirling in my head, and before I knew it, it was 5 a.m.

  Frederick’s smiling face greeted me in the foyer, waiting to load my bags, when I came down. The eight-thousand-square-foot mansion was quiet and lonely, but his face made it feel like home. Frederick and Viola, our family’s on-premises caretakers, were the only reason I would ever miss home. Even my brother was just like my parents. His friends were as fake as theirs. I might not have had many friends in school, but the few I’d had were real.

  “Magnolia, my beautiful flower.” His tan calloused hands held my face before he pulled me in for a tight hug. “You’ve grown even more beautiful.” He pinched my cheeks and picked up my last bags, nodding his head to the door.

  “Let’s go. Viola is waiting in the truck.”

  “Ah, mi amor.” Viola’s grin was so full it took up most of her face. I hugged her tight. Once we were in the truck, she handed me a brown bag; I inhaled the comforting aroma of her fresh custard-filled empanadas and a cup of her sweet and creamy Guatemalan coffee.

  “I’ll miss you both.” I could feel the heaviness in my chest.

  “We’re so proud of you. You’re so special, mi amor,” she spoke in a Spanish accent.

  We spent the forty-minute drive catching up before pulling into the lot where the rest of the volunteers were filing in, saying their goodbyes to their families.

  “Before you go,” Viola took my hand and pulled a bag from the truck, “I wanted you to have this. Remember how proud she would be of you. I know Paige would be right here with you.”

  I tried my hardest not to let my emotions take over when I looked at the small, framed picture of two eight-year-old girls wearing the matching dresses that Viola had made for us. I held it over my heart.

  “Thank you. This means so much.”

  A horn honked as I hugged the couple who were more like parents to me than my own and said goodbye.

  I picked up my luggage and followed the others in line. The butterflies in my stomach intensified each step closer to the bus I came. I was doing it, starting my life. This was just the beginning.

  Chapter 2

  Magnolia

  I followed the line of volunteers loading their bags into the bus undercarriage. I immediately felt that familiar knot. The girls giggled and smiled, making instant friends. They were dressed in fun clothes and checking out the boys who were also forming groups. I scanned my floral high-waisted khaki shorts and pale-peach, button-down, short-sleeve shirt, as well as the brown loafers that matched my belt. I stuck out like a sore thumb. The girls had on makeup and fancy dangling earrings and their hair was done in fun styles. My pale-blonde waves were twisted and secured into a tight bun, my face was bare, and small pearl studs that I got for my fifteenth birthday adorned my lobes. Boring.

  My stomach tightened as I approached the bus with my small canvas purse and books in hand. I stepped onto the coach and searched through the aisle for an empty spot as people scrambled to find their friends. Eyes roved up and down me as I came to each seat, not feeling at all welcome.

  “Sorry.” I was nudged out of the way as seats were quickly filled.

  I found an empty space next to a girl who looked more out of place than I did.

  “May I?” I smiled gently at the mousy brown-haired girl with a mouthful of metal braces and thick glasses. I expected her to be happy at my asking, but instead, she rolled her eyes as she moved her bag over. This should be a fun eight hours.

  “I’m Maggie.” I offered her my hand.

  “Shannon,” she said flatly as she dug out her yellow Walkman and loaded a cassette.

  The humidity immediately had my legs sticking to the grimy vinyl seats. The chatter was so loud I could barely focus on the book I was reading about Louisiana bayous and swamplands. The sheer amount of dangerous wildlife was terrifying at first, but once I put some time into learning about the snakes and gators, they didn’t seem quite as scary. I tried to stretch my back and get comfortable enough to nap for a bit. But then a satisfied smile spread on Shannon’s face as she opened her Walkman and flipped the cassette.

  “Don’t ya just love Axl Rose?” She held her Walkman to her chest with a closed-eyed smile.

  “Um, who?”

  Her eyebrows knitted together as she looked in horror. “Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, duh.” Her eyes were wide, waiting for my answer.

  “Uh, I’m sorry, I’ve never heard—”

  “Do you live under a rock?”

  “I, uh, I don’t really listen to the radio.”

  She turned to me and placed her headphones on my head. “If we are roommates, considering we are the two nerdiest looking girls here, well, you more than me,” she observed, “then you need to know who they are. My mother wanted me to room with my horrible cousin, but there is no way in hell I am doing that.” She shook her head and pressed play as she pointed to the name of the song on the plastic case—“November Rain.”

  I read the case as a symphony began to play. It was beautiful, and when it was over, I asked Shannon if she could play it again. That made her smile. It seemed I’d just made my first friend on the trip.

  Shannon and I spoke a few times briefly when she switched tapes. After a few pitstops, we had finally arrived at the mission.

  Welcome signs and a station with sweet tea, water, lemonade, and snacks greeted us. A very excited-looking couple was introducing themselves to each person as they entered the area.

  “Welcome, I’m Paul. This is my wife, Catherine, and this beautiful little angel hiding behind her mother is our daughter, Anabelle. We’re the directors of the mission camp.”

  “Hi, I’m Magnolia, uh, everyone calls me Maggie, except my mother,” I blurted out for some weird reason. I knelt down to the adorable little girl with golden-blonde pigtails and
a shy smile. “Hello there. It’s so nice of you to help your mama and daddy.” Her smile lit her whole little face, and at that moment, I just knew my time here was going to be alright.

  Venom

  The community service bus pulled into the mission camp. We passed groups of people who actually volunteered to do this shit. They were being greeted by people and enjoying food. All of them had smiles plastered on their I’m-such-a-good-person faces. Who the fuck would want to spend their summer in the sweltering Louisiana heat in the middle of the bayou rebuilding shit-ass communities? I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

  Our club chapter resided in a mobile home park just for Cajun Kings and their families; we didn’t have a compound or a big clubhouse like our St. Genevieve chapter. I couldn’t imagine that if our homes were ravished by a tornado, some do-gooders would round up to help our sorry asses.

  Viper slapped my shoulder. “Ain’t that some shit? We end up back here in the shitty cabins while the others have the nicer ones closer to the main house and bathrooms.”

  Before I could say anything, the bus came to a sudden stop forcing us all to hit the seat in front of us.

  “Whoa!” Viper yelled. “I bet he did that shit on purpose.”

  I looked at the mirror where I could see the smile on the driver’s face. Jeremy, our coordinator in charge of making sure we were here on time and fulfilling our community service, turned to the driver and gave him a scolding glare.

  “We’re here,” he announced as if we didn’t know. I cringed as he stood and straightened his sweaty clothes that seemed to cling to him.

  “Now, everyone, I know after two hours, you’re ready to jump out and stretch, but I want to make sure I remind you again, we are guests here at the camp. They’ve been kind enough to provide you all food and cabins in exchange for your help, and you get to forgo a stint in the county jail. Be respectful.” He looked directly at Viper when he spoke. Viper put on his best innocent face like he had no idea why he would target him.

  “You have freedom here. But remember, no matter what you do, you must complete all your tasks and be on time. Check-in is at 11:30 p.m. If you are late, you better sleep where you are and report back by 6 a.m. Alright, gather your things, and I’ll hand you a packet with your cabin assignment.”

  We were led through an introduction and got work assignments after dinner. I wasn’t interested in socializing, so I left my brother behind to turn in early. Viper and I were sharing a small cabin with another boy I hadn’t met yet. Our tiny summer home consisted of two sets of bunk beds and two small dressers. Since the real work didn’t start until morning, I hopped on the bottom bunk and claimed it. I toed off my boots and rested my arms behind my head, dreading what might be in store for me this summer.

  Magnolia

  Our bus was one of the first to arrive. After getting ourselves registered, Shannon and I giggled as we made our way to the food tent. She was quite funny. We decided to room together in a tiny two-person cabin farthest from the center of the camp. She was relieved to not bunk with her cousin, and I was almost too excited to sleep. I couldn’t wait to start this adventure.

  “You don’t have to make your bed so nice. We aren’t at home. No one is checking.” She yawned and pressed the top on the portable radio that had rung with her alarm. I’d been up for an hour and had already gone for a walk just after sunrise and had found a perfect private area just beyond the tree line to say my morning prayers.

  I fluffed my pillow and plucked the crumb filled mini potato chip bag from her bed. “You’re going to attract bugs to our room.”

  Shannon giggled, placing on her huge glasses. “Sorry, I get the munchies when I read in bed. I didn’t keep you up, did I?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “No.” I waved my hand. “I went to boarding school, so I’m used to rooming with people. How do you read and listen to music, anyway?”

  “Boarding school?”

  “Yeah. I spent most of my life in St. Bernadette’s Catholic School for Girls.” I continued braiding my hair and speaking to her through the mirror.

  “You’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking?” She jumped off her bed and spun me around by my shoulders.

  “No. Why would I joke about that?”

  She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “I knew it was too good to be true. I find someone to room with, and they end up being friends with her.” She rested her hand on her head, letting out a heavy sigh.

  “I’m lost, Shannon. What do you mean?”

  “You must know my cousin, the awful one I didn’t want to room with—that school is not big.”

  An anchor felt like it was just launched in my gut. I found the mission through school. I knew a few girls were interested, but I didn’t see any here.

  “Who?”

  “Tara,” she said, making the anchor plummet deeper. That was the name of the girl who had made the past four years of my life miserable.

  “Magnolia, I understand if you want to room with your friend.” She looked at the floor, disappointed.

  “No way, Shannon. Tara and I aren’t friends.”

  Shannon smiled enough to show all her braces. “Really?”

  “Not even a little,” I assured her and left it at that.

  “I think the other volunteers are coming today, so this should be fun.” She shook her head, looking at the floor.

  We sat on the bus, getting our assignments as we headed to the job site. I felt blessed to know I’d be working with Dr. Stein in the medical tent. I didn’t think I’d get the spot I had applied for, but being pre-med and valedictorian helped. I did a research paper on Dr. Stein. He was known for his infectious disease work and helped organizations all over the world.

  Shannon kept quiet, her head bobbing to the music in her headphones as we drove to the community our mission was rebuilding. Warmth spread in my chest as I took in the buses lined up from all over. All these people were coming together to help the area that was ripped apart by nature’s fury.

  Paul and Catherine split up the groups according to the different jobs and the houses or work tents we were to work in. The bright red cross in a ring identified mine.

  “I’ll see you at lunch.” Shannon waved as she followed the group to her assignment.

  I stood alone for a few moments as I waited for Catherine, who put her finger in the air, letting me know she would be right with me.

  “Hey, Magnolia, you ready to meet Doc?”

  “Yes.” I followed her and watched as a group of boys who looked kind of scary with tattoos on their arms hoisted a tarp of poles to make their tent. “Um, I’ve read a lot of Dr. Stein’s research, and I really admire the kind of work he does.”

  “Oh, no one told you?” She held open the tarp door. “Dr. Stein got called away, so you’ll be working with—” Before she finished her sentence, a man in scrubs turned around. His brown hair was tousled, and his dark eyes looked kind. He was young and gorgeous. “Dr. Alcide Haydel. He’s a local and have just come back from Costa Rica. He was on one of Dr. Stein’s projects.”

  “Dr. Alcide, this is Magnolia.” She gave my body a nudge as I was frozen in place.

  “Hi, Doctor. I’m so pleased to work with you.”

  “Magnolia here was handpicked by Dr. Stein. She’s pre-med going to Drake University on a full academic ride and was valedictorian of her class.”

  I could feel the blush running up my pale face; I must’ve been tomato red when the doctor smiled.

  “I’ve heard all about you. I’m pleased you volunteered. Not many girls your age would want to spend their summer before college in the swamplands.” His voice had a slight Louisiana accent.

  “Okay, I’ll leave you two to finish setting up.”

  “Magnolia, you can just call me Alcide. We don’t have to be formal.”

  “Well, thanks, if that’s what you want, but in front of anyone else, you’re Doc. You’ve earned that. My friends call me Maggie Grace. Or Maggie, if you prefer that.
”

  “I would definitely like to call you whatever your friends do because, Maggie Grace, I think we’re going to be good friends.”

  I could feel my knees growing a little weak around Alcide. He was not just good looking, he was also, well, he was hot. His biceps bulged under the scrubs, and his butt, ugh… He was making me sweat more than the ninety-degree humid weather.

  I assisted him in setting up the makeshift room. He said we’d be helping people who got sick from the heat and doing some wellness checks for displaced families.

  “Maggie, do you think you can go to the utility tent and get an extension cord? We’re going to need one more. It’s that one right there.” He pointed to the tent I had seen the boys raise earlier.

  “Sure, whatever you need.” I smiled and started to walk out. “Anything else before I go?”

  “Nope. Thanks. That’s all I need, Maggie Grace,” he said, flashing me a hot smile, “for now.”

  Venom

  I woke up as the sun rose. I must’ve been really out. I didn’t even hear anyone come in last night. I grabbed my smokes, toothbrush, and towel before heading to the bathhouse.

  The water was too cold for my liking; I preferred scalding showers. I was ready for coffee and food. I lit a smoke as I left the bathhouse. It was just before six when I finally took in the camp’s beauty. It was secluded and about twenty minutes from town and forty minutes from where we would be working. The camp area was what I expected, little cabins nestled in thick green woodland. The site had lots of pockets of water and some swamp areas through the woods near the river. The sun shone through the trees in a way I never noticed at home.

  I liked the stillness. No one was around when I took a tour of the place. But then I heard a cabin door squeaking open in the mission volunteer area across from our cabin. A girl stepped out, clutching a book. Her waist-length hair cascaded in gentle waves, its white-blonde color shimmering in the sun’s morning rays before she disappeared into the woods. Like a magnet, I felt a pull to follow after her. The woods aren’t the safest place, especially for a little thing like her. I wanted to see her face. I had to.