An Imperfect Miracle (14 page)

I didn't mention the little drunk, because I wasn't sure that Carlos and Father Tom would want his name out in public. Pastor Mike's blue eyes clouded up a bit, and he seemed like he was thinking a little too long and hard to answer such an easy question.

“I guess I must have heard it somewhere. In my job I have to talk to a lot of people. Maybe Father Tom told me. Who knows?”

His answer made some sense, since they seemed to be such good friends and all. I decided I better let Pastor Mike rest up a little. Plus, I was dying to find out what had happened to Mary. The firemen were pretty much done tramping around and smashing stuff with their axes, so they let me get a little closer. I walked over to Father Tom, who was searching around in some of the burned-up wood helping Carlos look for crosses and other merchandise. I asked him if Mary had gotten scorched in the fire too. Father Tom wiped the dirty streaks of sweat off his cheeks and let out a big happy sigh.

“That special glass case saved her. Otherwise, the concrete would likely have been blackened beyond recognition. Our friend John helped out too.” He pointed over at where the little fellow was yapping to Carlos about something. “He kept throwing buckets of water over her to keep the flames away until we got here.”

I told him what Pastor Mike had said about smelling gasoline. Father Tom stretched out his back a little and then smiled down at me.

“It was arson, all right. There was gasoline all over the place.”

I told him who I thought did it. But just like Pastor Mike he said I shouldn't go around blaming people without having all the facts first. He didn't even seem to know who Tim Runyon was, until I told him it was the same guy he'd wrestled to the ground right after Mary's blessing ceremony. Then Father Tom patted me on the shoulder, a little harder too than when he was showing me around his church. But it still didn't hurt nearly as much as when Dad used to do it.

“You better go home now. You don't want your mom worrying about you.”

Then Pastor Mike and Carlos came over, and they all started talking about whether the shrine had enough insurance to cover the losses and other money stuff that I didn't really understand. Just as I was leaving, Father Tom bent over real close and whispered to me not to forget to take Chewy.

“All we need now is some crazy dog running around getting in everybody's way.”

I told Chewy to behave herself, and then we both took off for home. I must have had pretty sharp ears just like Mary, because I heard Carlos saying that he thought Runyon was the guy who'd set the fire too. I looked back at Father Tom nodding his head and saying what a bad actor Runyon was and what a long criminal record he'd had, and I wondered why he'd just pretended not to know him. I asked Chewy about it, but she couldn't explain it either.

When I got home Mom was watching the TV reports about the fire. Marcie's mom must not have called her up yet, because she didn't yell at me for bloodying that kid's nose or causing a ruckus at the party. All of a sudden she switched off the TV and said that she better get to the hospital in case somebody was hurt. She said that breathing in too much smoke is what usually kills people from fires, and that it can sneak up on you fast if you're not careful. I thought about how worn-out Pastor Mike had looked sitting on the pavement. But I didn't say anything because I didn't want her to get all worried about him. Then she asked me how the swimming party went, and I told her it was okay.

“See. I knew you'd have fun. I don't know why you're always fighting me whenever I ask you to do something. You know how much I love you.”

“I love you too, Mom,” I mumbled. I didn't like getting all mushy like that, but I knew Mom wouldn't leave me alone until I said it.

Mom didn't get home until way past supper time, so we ordered out for pizza. While we were waiting for the delivery, I asked her if any of the firemen had gotten hurt. She said no, but that there'd been a bad car wreck out on the interstate. She said that some people from Missouri on their way home from a vacation at the beach had gotten pretty banged up. She said if she hadn't gone in to work, there wouldn't have been enough nurses to take care of them all.

“It's a good thing there was a fire then,” I said. “Mary must have been looking out for us after all.”

Mom looked at me kind of puzzled, but then the pizza came and I was too busy eating to think anything more about it. Before she tucked me in she made me say a prayer asking God to heal up those Missouri people. She'd never made me do anything like that before, and I wondered if it was because of Pastor Mike and whether they'd get married soon.

Chapter 10

The day after Mary's house burned down, while Mom and me were sitting at the kitchen table eating limpy spaghetti for supper because Mom had boiled it too long, Marcie's mom called up and told Mom what had happened at the swimming party. It was a bad break for me because Mom had just come home from the hospital in a happy mood, since those Missouri people looked like they were all going to make it just fine. Mom even called it “a minor miracle,” which made me think that all the praying me and Chewy had done the night before might have actually worked. I didn't say anything to Mom about it though, because I didn't want her thinking that I was trying to grab the credit.

While she was still on the phone, Mom was already throwing me frosty looks. So I started working around inside my head what I was going to say. After running through it all a couple times, I didn't see that I had much choice but to blame it all on that bratty red-haired kid. He was the one who'd started it after all, by making fun of Mary and me.

Right after Mom put down the phone she starting hollering at me so fast and loud that for the first minute or so I couldn't get in a word. When she finally stopped to catch her breath, I raced through my side of the story as quick as I could. But after accusing me of turning into a little liar just like Dad, she grabbed me by the ear lobe and dragged me out to the car and drove us over to Marcie's house, where I had to apologize to Marcie and her mom. I could tell by how bright and crafty her little eyes were shining that Marcie loved every second of it too.

On the way home I kept trying to explain to Mom that I was just sticking up for Mary. I told her that some people on TV were already saying how it was a miracle that Mary had made it through the fire without a scratch. But Mom just started sputtering and fuming all over again. I wondered for a second if she was going a little crazy, like Mr. Grimes for instance.

“I'm getting sick and tired of having to listen to all this silly Mary business. Haven't you ever heard at church that you're not supposed to get into fights? Do you want to grow up to be some worthless bum like your father?”

I decided to keep quiet, because I knew no matter what I said it wouldn't do me any good. When we got home Mom told me that I was grounded for a week. She said that if I gave her any lip about it, she'd ground me for the rest of the summer too. Then she stomped out to the kitchen and started throwing baking potatoes into the sink and crying a little. It was what she did sometimes when she got really teed off, like she used to when Dad was still running around hassling us.

Hearing those potatoes plunk down against the metal sink gave me the willies, like I was being chased by monsters or something. But I stood firm right outside the kitchen and took it like a man. I knew if I'd gone up to my room while she was still yelling at me there was no telling what she'd have done. Then all of a sudden she started bawling her eyes out. She slumped her shoulders over a little too, like she did sometimes when she was feeling worn out from being on her feet so long at the hospital.

After I told her that I wasn't planning to grow up to be some skunk like Dad, she finally dried off her eyes with the back of her hand and told me to go up to my room. But when I asked her if I could have some ice cream first, she charged at me so fast that I barely made it up the steps in one piece.

I spent the whole night lying in bed feeling sorry for myself and not sleeping much. Even Chewy hopping under the covers with me and snuggling her nose up real close to my cheek didn't cheer me up any.

The next morning when I came downstairs Mom was fixing me eggs and bacon and toast before she went off to work. She fixed me extra eggs and bacon too, I guess because she felt sorry for not letting me have dessert the night before. But she kept giving me the silent treatment like she used to do with Dad. Then just before she stepped out onto the front porch she threw me an icy sort of look.

“If you even think for one second about sneaking out of this house while I'm gone, you're risking a sore backside for the next year and a half.”

Mom must have been able to read my mind, because I'd been all set to stroll down to the shrine to tell Mary about my troubles. Mom said that she might have to work late and that I should keep the doors locked. For a second I was afraid she was about to get me a babysitter too, like she used to when I was real little. But she must have decided to cut me a break this time, because she didn't call up any of those silly neighborhood high school girls to come over and bug me.

Being grounded was still plenty brutal on me though, and I pretty much just sat around the living room all morning watching game shows on television and playing with Chewy. Chewy didn't like being stuck in the house any more than I did, and I told her that she could go outside and play in the woods if she wanted to. But Chewy was a loyal dog and wouldn't hear of it.

After I'd finished chomping down some of the BLT sandwiches Mom had left me in the fridge for lunch, I got up to stretch out my back. Then I went over and opened the front door to see what was going on out on our street. I didn't step out onto the porch though, because I didn't want to risk some nosy neighbor snitching to Mom about it.

Down on the glass pane at the bottom of the screen door, I noticed a spider wriggling around and bent over for a closer look. The spider was hanging by its back two legs off its web, which was made of shiny white strands so skinny that I could barely see them. There was something else wriggling around up above and I took a closer look at it too. It turned out to be a little round orange and black spotted bug that had gotten itself caught in the web and was trying to break free. The harder it fought and squirmed though, the more tied up it got. I didn't think it was a ladybug, but it might have been since I was no expert on bugs.

The spider closed in fast and was just beginning to line the bug up with its front legs, I guess so it could chew on it easier. That was when I noticed somebody coming up the street. I stopped watching the spider and put my nose flat against the screen and stared out as hard as I could. It was Tim Runyon, all right, and he was carrying some flowers with him, although they looked kind of cheap and droopy.

He was dressed in nice denim jeans and a light blue flannel shirt with little red ponies sewed onto the shoulders, and I figured he was coming to call on Mom. After I closed the door and locked it, I went back into the living room and hid behind the couch with Chewy. I was afraid that when he couldn't get in Runyon might start sneaking around the house peeking in the windows, like Dad used to do sometimes after Mom had locked him out.

Pretty soon I heard this quick sharp crackling bang on the screen door. It stopped for a few seconds and then started up again, but even faster and louder this time. Then he must have opened it up and started pounding his fist on the regular wooden door, because the knocks sounded a lot heavier and more solid. I hid there behind the couch the whole time holding my breath and trying not to make a sound, although I discovered that it's kind of hard for a person not to make any noise at all. I mean you have to breathe some time. Then I remembered that I'd left the back door open a few inches to let the air in, so I crawled over and closed and locked it too. I was extra careful to be quiet, although when I shut the door I couldn't help banging it a little. The wood along the side was warped pretty bad, and I had to shove it some with my shoulder to get it to close.

I crawled behind the couch with Chewy again, who was all sprawled out on her back with her eyes shut tight like she was begging for a belly rub. I would have bawled her out for acting so silly if Runyon hadn't been so close by. My hands were even shaking a little, and I was worried that I was about to start sneezing or coughing maybe too. I didn't feel sick or anything, but sometimes I just sneezed right out of nowhere, especially in the summer when all the flowers were out.

Then I saw Runyon's face peek in through the window next to the front door. His cheeks were all red and plump and his eyes were puffy, like Dad's used to get when he'd been drinking heavy. I was expecting him to bust through the glass any second and crawl in to get me. But he must have decided that no one was home, because all of a sudden his face disappeared.

I waited for a whole minute without moving, although maybe it was a little less than a minute because I wasn't exactly counting down the seconds. Then I crawled over to the front window to see whether he'd really gone yet or not. I was careful not to move the drapes back any when I was looking out. Runyon was pretty sneaky and might have been right outside hiding behind a bush. But instead he was walking down the street with his legs bowing in and out and looking pretty sure of himself. Since he couldn't hassle Mom I figured that he was probably headed down to Main Street to finish off Mary, being that the fire he'd set hadn't done the job.

Even though I was risking a spanking, I didn't see where I had much choice if I wanted to save Mary. I snuck out the door and made sure to stay behind the bushes and trees as much as I could so Runyon wouldn't spot me tailing him. Chewy came along too, but of course she was free to nose around wherever she felt like.

Runyon turned out to be just like Dad, because as soon as he got down to Main Street he headed straight for the only bar that was still open and disappeared inside. That gave me some free time, and I wandered over to see how Mary was holding up. It turned out that I didn't have anything to fear, because there were all sorts of construction workers cleaning up the place already and hauling everything away that had been burned up in the fire. I even saw the mayor standing around looking things over. I guessed that he was supervising, because he sure wasn't doing any work.

The mayor was all by himself, so I asked him what the town was planning to do now. I thought he might recognize me, but he must not have because he kept calling me kid. Anyway, he said that Mary was so popular that they were going to build her a new house as fast as they could. He said that this time they'd have cops patrolling Main Street all the time to make sure she stayed safe. I was about to tell him that the fellow who had set the fire was sitting in the bar right across the street. But then I remembered what Father Tom and Pastor Mike had said about not getting Mom into trouble.

Some people came by and started gabbing with the mayor, so I walked over toward the concrete steps to see Mary for myself. Carlos was squatting down right next to her sifting through some of the burned up junk on the ground. The little drunk was a few yards behind him crawling around on his hands and knees.

Carlos stood up as soon as he saw me and smiled real bright. I thought about how cool it felt when somebody important like Carlos was happy to see me. The little drunk didn't even look up at me, but I didn't really care what he thought.

“John and I were able to save most everything, except for some of the larger paintings of Mary holding the Baby Jesus. It's too bad, because they retailed for over two hundred dollars apiece, and I doubt that the insurance money will cover it all.”

“The mayor said that you'll be back in business in no time.”

Carlos mumbled something about how you can never trust a politician and then went back to work. I walked up the concrete steps and was glad to see that Mary looked just the same as before, except that they'd taken the glass case off since it must have gotten pretty scorched in the fire. I put out my hand and stroked my fingertips real gentle over her face. Even though she was still hard and cold and grainy, all of a sudden I felt like kissing her nose. I'd seen Mrs. Marcella doing that sometimes before they'd covered her up with glass. But there were too many workers and other strangers standing around watching. I whispered to her that everything would work out fine and then strolled back over to Carlos, who was hobbling around on his knees now fingering through the soot.

“So you agree with me that it was Runyon who set the fire, huh?”

Carlos winced a little, and then he shook his head and said kind of soft that he didn't know for sure. He didn't look me in the eyes though, so I was pretty sure he was fibbing. It surprised me some, because I didn't think Carlos ever fibbed. While I was wondering what to make of it I saw Runyon shoot out of the bar and head down Main Street toward the old mill. I decided I might as well follow him and see what he was up to. He might have had a secret hiding place after all, where he was planning his next fire or something. Dad sure used to have a lot of secret hiding places squirreled away around town, at least according to Mom.

It was pretty easy for me to stay out of sight on account of all the street signs and trash bins and fire hydrants I could fit behind. Right after the bowling alley Runyon turned down a side street and then headed up this real narrow fenced-in alley past a garbage dump. There was a big dog tied up outside the dump that was snarling and barking so loud that it sounded like it must have had rabies. I was careful to stay away from it, because I'd heard of kids getting bit by strays out at the old mill and having to go to the hospital for shots that hurt worse than the bite. That dog was so mean that even Chewy steered clear of it, and Chewy was no wimp either.

Runyon had been walking pretty slow and easy up until the junkyard. Then all of a sudden he started dashing around real quick and jerky and looking behind him and in front of him and all over. I ducked down right away and hid behind a garbage can. I was worried that he was about to slip away, when all of a sudden he stopped dead still next to a long black car parked along the curb. Then he picked up a big rock lying on the street and tossed the rock through the driver side window. Next he reached his arm in real careful through the hole so as not to get jabbed by the broken glass, and snatched the navigator gadget right off the front windshield. After stuffing it into his pants pocket, he looked all around one more time and then took off around a corner.