Charlie reaches across the seat to stop Sky before she escapes. “You’re not getting away that easily. You don’t scare me. I don’t care about your past. You once told me that you can’t help who you are related to. I can’t hold it against you now. You did what you had to do to survive. I just wish that you would have told me sooner. I love you, like it or not.”
The two of them hold on to each other as if the world were ending.
Tabitha butts in. “I hate to break up this moment, but I really have to pee. Is there a rest stop around here?”
Charlie’s parents live in a huge white house on a hill. It’s like something from a still life. The carefully trimmed hedges run from the street to the porch. White pillars stand proudly as a prelude to the grand entrance.
Sky feels her heart skip a beat as Charlie pulls the car into the driveway. “You said that your parents had money, but damn! Look at this place. It’s like a fortress. No wonder your mother plays the role of queen around here. She’s probably resting comfortably on a silk pillow right now, eating caviar from a golden plate.”
Tabitha sticks her legs out of the car door, stretching like a cat in the afternoon sun. She rolls her head back and forth to shake off the sleepy spell that she has been under, yawning. “Are we there yet?”
Sky opens the door and stands up in complete amazement. “What does the inside of that place look like? Do they have a maid? Are there statues of Greek Gods in the hallway? How much does a place like this cost? Can we move in with your parents?”
Charlie is used to this initial reaction from people, but it is entirely too cute coming from the girl of stone. “Calm down honey. There aren’t any statues of Greek Gods in there, and a house like this is way out of my price range. You’ll have to settle for a nice apartment in the city. All of a sudden love isn’t enough?”
Sky is blushing with embarrassment. “Sorry. It’s just that I’ve never been welcome in a place like this before. How about you Tabby?”
Tabitha sticks her head out of the open door and squints in the sunlight. “Nope. Looks like a dump to me. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s tripping over poor people in the street. Charlie, your parents are a drain on society. They should be punished.” She wipes her eyes and yawns again. “It might be too late for this, but are you sure you want me soiling your parent’s palace? I’m not exactly high-class. I sleep until noon. I slurp the milk from my cereal bowl. I look like a pin cushion, and I have a feisty Latina attitude.”
Charlie examines Tabitha over the hood of the car. “No Tabby. You’re the comic relief. My parents could use a little Tabitha in their lives. My dad is cool. You can hang out with him in the library and smoke cigars until you turn green. Don’t worry about it. At least you’re not the one I’m sleeping with.”
Sky feels terror rise up from her stomach. “Oh that’s just great! As if I didn’t nearly pee myself when we pulled up here. I swear that you like watching me squirm.”
Charlie has learned a little something on this road trip. She learned that Sky is a child beneath all of the armor, and Tabitha is just a child all together. The two of them are a perfect pair. One balances out the other. They argue because they are too much alike, but in different ways. Charlie is the voice of reason that doesn’t make any sense. “You two have handled tougher crowds than this. Cowboy up, would ya?”
Sky and Tabitha look at each other, then at Charlie. “Cowboy up?”
Sky lowers her shoulders in acceptance of her fate. “Well, let’s face the music.”
Tabitha reaches back into the car. “That reminds me. Can I bring my bass in with me, or should we save that for after dinner?”
Charlie smiles. “Why don’t we say hello before we pile on the charm? My parents are a little behind on the whole ‘New York bohemian culture’ thing. Just start walking. I’ll go first to protect you.”
Sky walks around the front of the car to meet Charlie. “Let’s go. I’m ready to cowboy up!” She makes a goofy face at Charlie, blatantly making fun of her.
Luanne opens the door with her husband standing behind her. “Lenore, honey! Give me a hug. So, these must be your friends. You must be Sky, and you…”
She stops dead when she catches sight of Tabitha standing there with her piercings shimmering in the sunlight. “Tabitha right?”
Tabitha tries to smile politely and shifts her body weight to her right leg. “Hello Mrs. Charles. I’m not nearly as scary as I look. This is just a prerequisite when you sign up for punk rockers anonymous. Would you like to see my membership card? I think I left it in the car.”
Luanne is smiling awkwardly at Tabitha. She’s not quite sure if that is supposed to be humor, or if this girl is just a shinning example of that New York rudeness that she has heard so much about. She is trying to be a good hostess, but she can’t help thinking, “Lenore has some interesting friends. She should have stayed here with the normal people. What kind of life is she living over there? Is it a lesbian thing or what?” Her outward appearance is as transparent as plastic wrap over rotten vegetables. That southern hospitality that she grew up with is tossed out the window from one encounter with Tabitha. “It’s nice to meet you both. Please come in. How was the trip? I’m making a wonderful dinner. Does everyone like fillet mignon?”
The three of them follow Charlie’s parents into the house. Tabitha puts her hand on Charlie’s arm to hold her back for a second. She whispers. “They don’t know that I’m a vegetarian do they? I can’t dig on some slaughtered animal. I hope there’s a lot of salad.”
Charlie groans. “Crap. I forgot to mention that. I’ll tell her.”
Luanne hears Tabitha with her super sonic ears. She turns to face them both feeling quite confused. “Vegetarian?”
Tabitha is trying desperately not to say anything stupid. She puts both hands in her pockets and looks at Charlie’s mother. “Uh, sorry. I don’t eat any meat for moral reasons. That basically covers anything that had a mother.” She cringes a little at the realization that she just said something stupid. She thinks, “Way to insult the moral core of others, Tabby. Why didn’t you just call her a baby killer, or a heathen? I should have said health reasons, health reasons sounds so much better. You can’t dress me up, or take me out. Dumb!”
Luanne is insulted, but she tries not to show it. “That’s all right honey. I’ll just pick up some fresh fruit tomorrow, and I think that I have some decent recipes in one of my cookbooks. Maybe we can try a vegetarian meal tomorrow. That might be fun for a change. What do you think Maxwell? You enjoy eggplant parmesan.”
Charlie’s father wishes that he could hide behind something. He is embarrassed by his wife’s attitude. “Yes, I like eggplant very much. I’m sure that we can work something out. I could always eat some extra fillet mignon. That’s not a problem. More for me right?” He looks at Tabitha with a timid smile.
Luanne straightens her posture as not to seem rude. “You don’t have any moral objections to cheese do you Tabitha?”
First impressions are important, and Tabitha just made a bad one.
Sky hates to feel relief from the tension between Luanne and Tabitha. She is secretly glad that it wasn’t her for once, but a good friend always comes to the rescue of a fallen comrade. She digs deep and finds the strength to redirect the spotlight. “Mrs. Charles, you have a beautiful home. Did you decorate it yourself? I love the colors that you used. I find green to be a very tranquil color. I’ve heard that it works well in parlors and bedrooms. Is that true?”
Luanne sheds the hostility instantly. Finally, something that she has in common with this motley crew. “Why yes, Sky. This design is entirely my own. I also find green to be a very tranquil color. I like to use it as much as possible, but the shade is also important. Forrest green is a nice accent for kitchens and bathrooms. Light greens are wonderful in bedrooms and parlors. It really sets the mood for relaxation. Why don’t I take you on the grand tour? I just finished painting Maxwell’s office upstairs. I used a dry brush technique with beige and cream accents. The regal blue furniture and dark woods add a nice pop. Contrast is extremely important. Lenore didn’t tell me that you have a taste for decorating.”
Sky is a little frightened at the idea of bonding with Charlie’s mother, but she does have an interest in her profession. “Yes ma’am. My family didn’t have much money when I was growing up and I was always fascinated by other people’s homes. I watch all of those decorating shows on television. I even take the phone off of the hook when they’re on. I just love it. When Lenore told me that you were a decorator my eyes just lit up. Maybe you can give me some sound advice? I enjoy writing and I find that environment is important. Do you have any suggestions that might inspire creativity?”
Sky and Luanne head up the stairs, talking over each other with matching egos.
Charlie is watching Sky work her magic with the abominable Luanne. She must admit that she is impressed. Sky has mastered the art of bullshit, but her ebullience is genuine in this case. Charlie thinks, “ God I love this girl. She’s so many people all wrapped up in one neat little package. I think that I’ll keep her. This is priceless. Maybe Luanne won’t torture her. I’ll have to keep a close eye on Tabitha though. Once Luanne decides that she doesn’t like someone, it’s all over.”
Tabitha breathes a sigh of relief when Sky creates a diversion. She promises herself that she will make an effort to keep her big stupid mouth shut, but she knows that this strategy rarely works. She knows that she is like broccoli. You either love her, or you hate her. There isn’t very much in between. Still, she will make a conscious effort to get along with Charlie’s mother. If that fails, she’ll try to get along with her father. If that doesn’t work she’ll just hide out until they head for home.
Charlie’s father puts his arm around Tabitha’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about the Mrs. Her bite is much worse than her bark. Lenore tells me that you enjoy a nice cigar every now and then. Would you like to join me for one in the library? I have some doozys in the humidor. How do you feel about expensive imports?”
Tabitha usually doesn’t like it when strangers put their hands on her, but Maxwell seems okay after all. She glances at Charlie. “Why sure, Mr. Charles, I’d enjoy that very much. Care to join us Lenore?”
“That sounds like a marvelous idea dad, but none for me thanks. I’ll just keep you company. I think that Sky will be okay with mom for a bit. I’ll rescue her later.”
Maxwell squeezes Tabitha’s shoulder. She strikes him as one of the guys. He’s not sure if she’s gay or not, but he respects anyone who enjoys a good cigar and brandy on a Saturday evening. After all, Saturday derives from Saturn, the Roman God of agriculture. One should enjoy the fruits of his labor on his day.
“You can call me Max. Formalities are wasted on me. I’m just a lucky guy from steel town. I wasn’t born a Mr., and I certainly wasn’t born with money. All of this is just a pretty wrapper. I’m the same person that pushed a lunch cart around for spare change. My wife however, was born a Queen. I would recommend referring to her as Mrs. Charles. She’s kind of funny that way. Beneath it all she’s really sweet, but watch your step. Land mines aren’t buried in deep holes. Remember that. It’s not only good advice; it’s necessary for self-preservation. I should know right? Shall we?”
The library is decorated in old English style. Cherry wood shelves reach all the way up to the fifteen foot ceiling, littered with books of every conceivable variety. Classic crushed velvet and squeaky red leather chairs sit in the middle of the room with undeniable sophistication. Ornate lamps with gaudy brass stands illuminate the otherwise dark room.
Tabitha is all but salivating over the wealth of knowledge that these shelves must contain. She isn’t formally educated. She barely graduated from high school, but she has always loved books of any kind. Science, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, and even plays. “This must be the erudite man’s Valhalla! Can I move into your library Max?”
“I take it you like books. What do you like to read? I have everything in here. I personally enjoy fantasy and science fiction. My favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien. I think that his work is incredible. Have you ever read The Silmarillion?”
Tabitha’s face lights up with excitement. She has met a kindred spirit. “Naturally. I’m a huge fan of his work, but I have to admit that one took me quite a long time to read. I love all kinds of books. If it has print and a cover I’ll give it a shot. I don’t really have a favorite genre, but I sure do get bent out of shape when I see people mistreating literature. I once yelled at a kid in school because her left his book open face down on the desk. I told him that he was going to ruin the binding. He looked at me like I was out of my mind. Maybe I am. I just think that books should be handled with kit gloves because they contain the history of worlds, cultures, and the inner workings of the human mind. Books and reason, those are the two things that separate us from the other animals. Well, that and thumbs.”
Charlie is taken aback. She would have never pictured Tabitha using words like erudite. Will wonders never cease? “My, my, my, do your friends know that you’re such a nerd? Do you discuss Shakespearean sonnets with Smew in your free time? We have more in common than I thought. I have some great books if you want to borrow them, Miss hard core punk. Art is art is art, right?”
Tabitha is far from being insulted, but she feels bad for poking fun at Charlie so much. “Nerds unite! A toast to the overeducated idiot savants of the world. Hold your brandy chalices high my fellow literature buffs. To the preservation of art, science, critical thought, and new friends!”
The three of them tap their glasses together in a show of unity and understanding. Tabitha and Max recline in the soft leather of their chairs and take long satisfying drags from the imported cigars, leaving the library in a cloud of sweet smoke.
The time for enjoyment is cut short by an intrusive knock at the library’s heavy wooden door. Luanne’s voice cuts through the entertainment like a spear. “Maxwell, I wish you wouldn’t smoke those things in the house. This whole place smells like cigars for a week, and please be careful with that brandy. I just put a new rug in there. Are you all ready for dinner?” The commands and inquiries roll off of the woman’s tongue with a slight hint of southern drawl, the declaration of her roots in old money.
Max lets the cigar dangle from his lips as he speaks in a perfectly modulated tone. “Yes Luanne, I’m a little hungry, but I’m sharing a moment with our daughter and her charming friend right this minute. Sky, care to join us? The brandy is aged to perfection, and the cigars are the best around. Please, sit. I’ll get you a snifter.”
Sky is torn between pleasing Luanne and enjoying herself. She’s not sure how to respond, and she searches for a clue in Charlie’s eyes. “Um, I could use a few sips of brandy after that long car ride, but no cigar for me thank you. What a fantastic library! You must have every book known to man in here. Please tell me that you have the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe. I have been looking everywhere for it. I lost my copy when I moved to New York, and I’d return it by mail if you allowed me to borrow it.”
Max feels a sense of pride about his daughter’s selection of friends. “How does a first edition sound? I just happen to have two of them. I read Poe twice a year. Where do you think the name Lenore came from? If you’re a fan, you’ve probably thought about that already.”
Luanne finds a smile to share with the group before her graceful exit. “Well, I’m going to start dinner. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“I’m going to give her a hand. See you at dinner.” Charlie is compelled to help her mother in the kitchen, and she feels comfortable enough leaving Sky and Tabitha with her father.
Sky’s attention is focused on Max. “Yes. I love the name Lenore, and I did wonder if her name was a result of Poe’s work. I can’t believe that you have two first editions. Where on Earth did you find them?”
“One of them was a gift from an old woman who lived down the road from my parents. She and I became great friends during my childhood. I used to do odd chores for her like mow her lawn, take out her garbage, and walk her dog. We played card games on her porch during the summer months. She taught me the importance of knowledge and books. When I turned fifteen she handed me a present wrapped in tissue paper. The note attached said, “To my dear friend Maxwell, The important things in life are not bought, they are learned.” She died four months later. I was heartbroken, but I kept that book close to my heart. I read it on my birthday and the anniversary of her death every year.
Few years ago I stopped at a garage sale. It was strange because I never shop from people’s lawns, but something told me to stop. Right there on a folding card table was another copy of the same book. So, I bought it. You must be the person that I’ve been waiting to give it to.” He walks over to a small table near the stained glass window and picks up the third book in the pile to hand it to Sky. “It’s yours.”
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
Tabitha is moved by this display. She tries to swallow the lump in her throat. After all, tough kids don’t cry. “That’s amazing. Sky has been looking for that book since I’ve known her. This must be fate. Max, your friend knew exactly what she was doing when she made you stop at that garage sale. It’s a beautiful thing people.”
Tension returns a few minutes later at the dinner table. Luanne is sitting next to Tabitha thinking, “She probably has the table manners of a perfectly wretched sow. Vegetarian, huh?” She is trying not to show her disgust with the girl, and feels that it is her social obligation to make small talk with the people at her table. “Sky, where did you meet Lenore? Did she treat one of your ill pets?”
“No. We met in September at a mutual friend’s apartment. I had just started my first semester at college, and Lenore inquired about my major. I told her that I was studying journalism and I hoped to publish some of my writing.” She maintains a pleasant tone, but she really wants to crawl under the table and hide. She’s trying to look Luanne in the eye, meanwhile she is thinking, “If she only knew the real story.”
Luanne realizes that she isn’t going to get anything out of Sky, she moves on to the next target. “Tabitha, where are you from?”
Tabitha doesn’t want to talk with her mouth full. She tries to swallow quickly. “I’m originally from Zanesville, Ohio. My mother moved to Brooklyn when I was ten. So, I guess that I’m from Brooklyn.”
“That seems like a strange move. Did your mother move for her work? What does she do?”
Tabitha pauses. “She’s a…self employed. She does medical transcription from home. Doctors and hospitals send her work, and she charges them for the documents.”
“What about your father?”
Charlie involuntarily drops her fork on her plate. “Mom. Please stop drilling the company, and please pass the salt.”
Dinner is a conversational nightmare. Everyone is happier when it is all over. Charlie is fuming as she helps her mother clear the table. “Are we still staying in the pool house mom?”
Luanne feels like she is being criticized for asking simple questions. “Yes. I’ll walk you over now if you want.”
Sky and Tabitha grab their luggage from the car and follow Charlie and Luanne to the pool house. Sky is thinking, “Pool house! Their extra house is bigger than the one that I grew up in. Keep cool. Try not to look too impressed. I made an ass of myself when we got here. I don’t want to do it again.”
Luanne opens the glass door to the pool house and flicks the lights on to reveal the true size of the interior. “Lenore, you are upstairs in the loft. Sky and Tabitha have their choice of either room downstairs. Make yourselves comfortable. There is a phone in the den if you need it. Breakfast is served at eight o’clock. We like to eat before church. You are all welcome to join us for church if you like. If not, we’ll be back at about noon. Lenore, your father and I would like to take the three of you out for lunch tomorrow if you don’t have any plans. Sleep well everyone. I’ll be up for a few hours if you need anything. Good night.”
When Luanne pulls the door shut behind her Sky looks at Charlie. “Is she serious? Does she actually expect us to sleep in separate quarters?”
The tone of Sky’s voice is slightly comical to Charlie. “I thought that you were talking about church for a second. After all, you are a godless lesbian, right? Separate sleeping quarters are to be expected. We aren’t a married couple you know, and if we were Luanne wouldn’t know who the husband was anyway.”