Read Among You Online

Authors: Jack Wallen

Among You (5 page)


Am I not the most handsome man you have ever gazed upon?”

Babbette and Timely released a chorus of laughter that bounced off the walls of the room.


You are, Father,” said Babbette. “The most handsome gentleman in all the world.”


I don’t know,” offered Timely. “I believe I heard you saying something about a boy the other day.”


What,” roared Gorman. “Babette, is there something you’re not telling your father?”

Babette nervously shook her head. “No, Father. I’ve told you everything. There’s nothing and no one.”

Timely stepped between the two, her hands waving in the air toward Gorman.


Kidding! So kidding. You have no worries, Sir Gaultier; your daughter is as pure of mind as she is of heart.”

A silence befell the room; the three stared at one another for a long moment. Each burst into gales of laughter. Gorman struck his thigh with his hand. Both Babette and Timely fell to the sofa in a dusty whoosh of giggles.

Gorman pulled himself from the laugh riot. “Okay, young ladies, it’s time to get serious. The house opens tomorrow for the Halloween season. This place must be in perfect working order immediately and the spooks and ghouls well-rehearsed.

Babette and Timely stood sharp and offered a traditional ‘Kind salute.


Yes, Sir.” Both voices were in perfect unison.

Gorman started to leave the room, but turned before he could disappear back into the shadows.


Oh, and Timely, have you rehearsed your introductory speech?”

Timely’s eyes shifted to Gorman and then to Babette, in desperate search of an answer.


Babette,” Gorman refused to let go of the situation. “This is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer. Either you have or you…”


Haven’t.” Timely responded abruptly. “But I promise I will have it put to memory before it’s ever needed.”

Gorman smiled and winked at Timely. “Someday, ladies. Someday, our race will walk among the living without looking out of place.”

With a slight bow, Gorman Gaultier disappeared. Babbette turned to Timely, her eyes wide and her lips pursed.


Timely, you must never even hint at a boy around my father. He would come undone with anger.”

Timely tossed her head back and released a sigh. “Babbette, your father is eventually going to have to accept the fact that you are no longer a little girl. At some point, boys are going to factor into the equation…whether he likes it or not.”


Or not,” said Babbette.

Timely pulled a folded sheet of paper from her pocket.


What’s that?”

Timely grinned and shook her head. “Don’t worry, it’s not a note to you from an ickle boy which I plan on giving to your father.”

Babbette rushed to Timely and snatched the paper from her hands.


Oh, you…it’s just your speech.”

Timely danced around Babbette, her sing-song laugh followed in a swirl of joy.


You are such an easy bear to poke, Babbette Gaultier. Easy peasy, sang Louisey, while she ate radish pie. She said with a grin, as she wiped her chin, ‘I’d rather kiss ‘Kind than die’. Let me have my speech back.” Timely grabbed at the paper and just missed as Babbette yanked it from her reach. “Babbette…hand me back my speech. If I don’t memorize it by tomorrow, your father will rip me to pieces.”

Babbette laughed. “Who’s the easy bear now?”

Timely jumped and, as she reached for the paper, froze in place

her eyes, locked onto Babbette’s. The two girls stared hard at one another, unsure of what was happening. The moment was brief and Timely dropped hard to the room’s floor.


Timely,” Babbette cried out. “Are you okay?”

There was no reply.


Oh, my goodness.” Babbette knelt by her friend’s side. “Please answer me.”

Almost imperceptibly, Timely’s head nodded. She finally whispered, “I’m okay.”

Babbette reached a hand out to Timely. “What happened?”

When Timely was on her feet, she stared hard at Babbette. “You don’t know, do you?”


Know what?”

Timely smiled at Babbette and pulled her into a hug. “You’re going through the change, Babbette.”


What change?”


You know how boys our age start to emit the smell of sour eggs? Girls our age begin to manifest certain powers. It’s random and the power is usually weak. Sometimes the power fades. Other times…” Timely drifted off. “Has Gorman not given you ‘the talk’?


What talk?”


Hoo boy,” sighed Timely. “You have a lot to learn, Babbette.”

 

five | of breakfast and bullies

 

My mom and dad had a thing about breakfast. Actually, it was more like an obsession. For most kids my age, breakfast came from shiny silver packets and had more unpronounceable ingredients than a pharmaceutical lab. Not at the Maskey house. My mom and dad insisted the day start out together and with a full English style breakfast. I never really complained about it, mostly because my mom worked magic in the kitchen.

Sally often sneaked into the house to join. Her presence was not only welcome, it was encouraged. I knew where my parents were going with that….transparent, those two.

Newspapers and internet were not allowed at the kitchen table. Oddly enough, I found some out of place comfort in that. Not being able to stick my nose in my phone meant I had to talk. Unlike most teenagers, I enjoyed talking with my parents; our table talks were the stuff of legends.

As mom passed around a plate of sausages, dad took the spotlight. “So this young woman comes into the shop yesterday. I was finishing up my last appointment and she demanded I do a consultation. I tell her it’ll be a few minutes and she throws a fit. Little princess, it seems, is not used to being told ‘no’. While I’m trying to do the last bit of shading on this rather large man’s back piece, this petite little east-end, rich blond steps into my station, unzips her dress, lets it fall to the floor, and insists I tell her that the boy’s name on her stomach can be covered.”

Mom’s eyes bugged and her lower jaw nearly hit the table on the way to the floor.

Dad pointed to mom and said, “That was my exact reaction.”


Was she hot,” I asked.

Mom, dad, and Sally all glared at me.


I mean…well…did you forget I’m a teenage boy? You mention a young woman drops her dress in front of you and you expect me to think ‘How dare she’?.”

Mom sputtered.


Dad, come on…you were a teenager once. Right?”


That’s not really the point here,” Dad interrupted the awkwardness with a moment of sanity and a sly grin. “The issue was that Princess assumed her station in life gave her carte blanche to do whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted.”


So what happened,” Sally chimed in.


Well, the guy I was working on was perving out over the girl and insisted I at least have a look. So I pull off my gloves, give the work the once over, and tell her I could fix it
but she’ll have to make an appointment. So, the girl pulls up her dress, starts crying uncontrollably, and walks out of the shop. For the life of me, I had no idea what happened.”

Mom to save the day.


She was clearly heartbroken
over the loss of a boy. In a rash moment of panic, she decided the boy’s name needed to be removed from her sight, but it had to be done at that very moment – otherwise she’d never do it. You refusing her felt like fate. More than likely, she went home and called the boy to beg him back. It’s not what she wanted, but she’s young and impressionable.”

Dad and I stared at one another, unsure how to respond.

I broke the spell of silence with a change of subject. “I almost forgot, there’s a haunted house over in Tyler’s End I wanted to go to. It was mentioned in the paper – the Gaultier House. Sally already offered to drive, but she always does the driving. Would you let me borrow the car to…”


Sorry buddy, you know the rules. No driving cars out of town until you can afford the gas and insurance on your own.”

Great. With that logic I’ll be driving a car and a wheelchair at the same time.


Scott, I really don’t mind,” blurted Sally.

Or would you rather see if Princess Tattoo would be interested?”

The silent spell returned. All eyes fell onto Sally. After a moment she sheepishly grinned.


Gotcha,” said Sally. “Seriously, I’ve already told my parents we’re going. It’s not a problem.”


Are you sure?” asked mom.


Of course. I’m more than happy to spend a little extra time with Spooky.”

Mom shook her head. “Honey, we don’t call Scotty that in this house.”

I placed my hand on mom’s arm. “It’s okay, Mom. Sally can call me anything she likes.”


Poop face,” Sally blurted. “Dill weed. Frak Nard. Scotty Trained. Molasses Mucus. Zombie Brains.”

The hits continued pouring from Sally’s lips as we all stuffed our face. Dad finally stopped the flood of fun pouring from Sally’s mouth. “What time do you two plan on going tonight?”

I answered, “The haunt opens at seven. I’d like to be there around six thirty so we can be the first to go in. That’ll give me plenty of time to poke around after the fact.”

Mom leaned over her plate and glared at me. “Scotty, remember the last time you overstayed your welcome at one of those places. There’s no need to get kicked out again. Be considerate and remind yourself it’s just a job to most of those people…not an obsession.”


Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t let the same thing happen this time. I’m fairly certain one night being held up in a police squad car was enough for me.”

Sally jerked her head my way and said “Oh, no way. I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me. How long did this incident set you back? A year? Two years?”


Six weeks, nothing but school and sleep.”

Sally rolled her eyes. “That’s not so bad. Heck, I could handle that kind of punishment now and then. The discipline I always wind up with usually involves stripping me of my phone and internet. I’d rather face down a police officer than not be able to update my Tumblr or Facebook status.”

Mom and Dad shook their heads.


So kidding,” Sally laughed. “Those things really don’t matter that much. Not having a phone, on the other hand, means I can’t communicate with those that have become the single most important people in my life…my foster-step-family-in-laws.”

Sally leaned in close and attempted to put her arms around everyone at the table. When she failed, she stood, walked around the table, and hugged us one by one.


Okay,” Mom sighed. “Sally, you watch this young man. He can be a sneaky snake – just like his father.”

Dad held up his hands. “Hey, why do you have to bring me in on this?”

Mom pointed at Dad. “See? See? Guilty as charged.”

 

*

 

Sally pulled her car into her official school parking spot, turned the key, and then glared at me.


You realize it’s Halloween. You dragging us to the Gaultier House completely overlooks our long-standing tradition of dressing up and handing out candy.”


Not so. Trick or treat officially starts at five thirty. We get dressed before that, hand out the goods, and then hop on your broomstick and fly to Tyler’s End. It’s a twenty minute drive. We can pull it off.”

Sally grinned and punched my arm. “You’re lucky you are so damned cute; otherwise, you’d never get away with this.”

Guilt flushed my system. I could see the entire story written on Sally’s face – how badly she wanted me to lean over and kiss her. The moment had become too familiar between us.

She choked a sob back. “One of these days, Scotty.” Sally’s voice faded and her eyes closed.


I know, Sally. One of these days.”

It was a promise, on the first day of tenth grade, that we’d finally just fall into one another after so many years of being alive and alone. To me, it seemed a bit much for teenagers. Promising love when all other avenues were exhausted was an exchange best suited for college buddies.

But then, Sally and I were fond of the road less traveled.

Another familiar silence drifted into the car.


Hey, Spooky,” a scream interrupted our moment.


Oh crap, it’s Cody,” Sally sighed, just before she screamed out the window. “Go away, douche hammer.”

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