Talisman (22 page)

I
puttered off down the road, headed straight for the Sterling Drive-In. I arrived at the 50’s & 60’s themed eatery just as the lunch-rush was starting to wind down. Charlie didn’t mind a bit that I’d punched in early.  And as usual, he was beaming a jubilant smile that matched his casual, happy-go-lucky air like a pair of shoes.  Though this was the only job I’d ever laid claim to, in
my book
, he was the “perfect boss”. I spied Charlie’s favorite
Grateful Dead
jersey underneath his formerly-white, grease stained apron.  I wasn’t surprised to see it.  He was just an old lovable hippie at heart.  His long brown hair (which was becoming more laden with gray) was always braided in one strand that cascaded down from the nape of his neck like a rope.  I gave it a playful tug as I rounded up some salads.  I couldn’t resist.  It was like seeing someone dressed in suspenders that you just had to
“snap”
.

“Easy now,” Charlie teased and swatted my hip with a dishrag.  He straightened the
colorful tie-dyed bandana he was using for a hairnet.  “I need to keep all the strands I’ve got.”

I eyed the length of his braid, which stopped just above the tag of his Levi’s.  “Trust me.  You’ve got
plenty
,” I laughed and swung my modest dark blonde ponytail at him.  “
WAY MORE
than me.”

Charlie flipped his head like a silly flirt.  “
Jealous
,” he teased.

The rest of the afternoon went by
relatively fast.  The dinner shift was extremely light, but that was to be expected.  Pretty much everyone in town was at the game.  Charlie kept the doors open until midnight on game nights, mainly to make up for the lost dinner sales.

We knew exactly when the game was over.  People began flooding into the parking lot and all the bays were full.  The Welch Golden Knights were victorious and held on to their undefeated season by shutting down the Princeton Tigers.  The final score was
42 to 14.  Everyone was talking about “what an exciting game it was”, and how “Mike Riverside dominated the Tiger’s defense”.  They also couldn’t stop chatting about a fight that had broken out between the two teams after the game.  The Chief of Police and several officers had to break it up.

As I’d figured, Kara Leighton was crowned our Homecoming Queen.  Apparently, Lazarus Xcavare performed the opening coin toss. 
I heard a few people raving about the speech he gave at halftime, especially the part where he referred to Welch as being his new, “home away from home”, and his “big plans” for the town.

What a load of crap!  I’m
still not buyin’ what he’s sellin’ to everyone around town
.

Chloe showed up with Mike around 11 o’clock.  She looked really pretty, but she didn’t appear to be in good spirits
— not while Kara Leighton flirted up a storm with Mike.

If she’s
that brazen with Chloe just two-feet away, how in the heck is she going to act tomorrow night at the dance?

A wave of disappointment
rippled through me once I’d realized that it was fifteen minutes until closing time and Ty hadn’t shown up yet.  Then my overly-paranoid brain offered up a thought of its own.  All the other guys on the team were here celebrating, so I casually asked Kara if he’d gotten hurt during the game.  She claimed he hadn’t, but by the way the Homecoming Queen was bouncing around from player to player, shamelessly on her “slut-spree”, she obviously didn’t care.

There weren’t too many people left dawdling around
after midnight, so we managed to close up pretty much on time.  I raced home and crawled into bed.  I made sure to set my alarm for 6:30 AM.  I wanted to be at Ms. Sutherland’s house bright and early.  Of course, I wanted to help her, but I wanted something else too.  Something inside me kept questioning her so-called “disability”.  Just thinking she might be “faking” sounded crazy, but then again, so did
telepathy
.  I still couldn’t shake the feeling I had from yesterday.  Tomorrow would be the perfect time to put any of my doubts to rest.  I didn’t see the harm in doing a little “covert probing”.  At least this was one of my burning questions I could get a definitive answer to.

As I lay in bed, I had to admit my day was a little more “normal” than the
previous one.  For someone who had longed for something other than the same mundane routine that comes with being a teenager in a small coalmining community, surprisingly, I
needed
that.  With one notable exception —
Professor Tanner Grey
.

I drifted off to sleep thinking,
What’s his deal?
  Looks and charm aside, I didn’t know what it was about him, but he sure did leave a lasting impression.

I dreamed about him.  It was just a random dream, nothing special.  However in my dream,
Yes
— His eyes were
violet
.

Chapter  6  — 
Private Eye

As I’d figured, 6:30 AM came awfully quick.  When I rolled over to give the blaring alarm clock a good whack, I accidentally fell right out of bed.  I lay there for a minute, trying to will my sluggish body off the floor.  Once I’d acknowledged the long day ahead of me, I thought,
Well now that I’m out…I reckon I might as well “get up”
.

I staggered over to my dresser and stared at my vast collection of collegiate sweatshirts. 
I feel like a Virginia Tech girl today
, I mused as I pulled out the burgundy & orange sweatshirt and tossed it onto my bed, knowing I was risking a few daggers being hurled my way.  Around these parts, there was one simple rule for anything in those two colors that bore a “Hokie” mascot: “You don’t wear it, you don’t drink out of it, you don’t sit on it, and you certainly don’t date it!”  Nevertheless, I was known to go against the grain — from time to time.

I shuffled to the bathroom.  My plan was to take a very lazy & long shower, but our water heater had
other ideas
.  Unexpectedly, a blast of icy water struck my back.  The frigid blow catapulted me out of the shower, where I stood naked, freezing, and
without
a bath towel —
Damn!
  My only option was a small hand towel hanging by the sink.  Quickly, I grabbed a larger one from out of the hall linen closet and bolted into my room.  After a proper “dry-off”, I grabbed a grubby old pair of jeans and threw on the rest of my clothes.  To my surprise, I still wasn’t as “awake” as I needed to be. 
Maybe some coffee would help?
  I desperately needed a pick-me-up —
a warm one
this time.

Everyone was still asleep, so
I tiptoed down the stairs and headed for the kitchen to fix some coffee.  While it brewed, I ran out to the front porch and grabbed the Saturday morning paper.  I returned to the kitchen and slid out a chair as I scanned the front page.

They should’ve changed the
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
to the
Lazarus Times
.  Every article had
SOMETHING
to do with Xcavare.  It talked about their intent to purchase the mine, as well as their strategies for revitalizing our town.  I realized it was “big news” around these parts, but it was also an irritating reminder of what had happened, like a nagging thorn in my side.  I didn’t want to think about “him” or the “incident” for a second longer — and I certainly didn’t want to
read
about him.  After all, it hadn’t happened again. 
Maybe it was just a fluke?

I sprang out of my chair as soon as I heard the soft
“beep”
that ended the brewing cycle.  I wasn’t a major coffee-addict like my parents.  I only drank it occasionally, but for some reason — this particular morning — the smell was extremely arousing.  Mug in hand, I snatched some creamer from the fridge, poured a cup, dumped in a spoonful of sugar, and headed back to my room to finish getting ready.

Once my hair
had dried, I grabbed my trusty brown hair-band and secured my ponytail.  I’d felt a little chill in the air when I had stepped outside to get the paper, so I reached for my thicker jacket wedged in the back of my closet.  With my sneakers now on and purse over my shoulder, I dashed back down to the kitchen for a quick second-cup.

To my astonishment, Daddy was already up —
cooking
.   As soon as he spotted the college sweatshirt I’d chosen to wear, he chuckled, “I see someone’s lookin’ for
trouble
.  We still play ’em in basketball, ya know.”

“What are
you doing up
this early?
” I asked.

“What does it look like?” Daddy posed and tilted his head towards the floury mess on the counter. 
He was making breakfast, blueberry pancakes in fact. Daddy’s cooking skills weren’t extensive, but he made
the best
pancakes.

“You know what I mean.  Why aren’t you still in bed?” I questioned.

“
Oh
…I roused a bit when I smelled the coffee brewin’.  That’s better than an alarm clock,” he joked.  “I knew you had a late night and were gettin’ ready to head over to Bea’s, so I thought I’d make you some breakfast before you left.”

“How thoughtful,” I replied as I pulled him closer to give him a kiss on the cheek.  “
But why are you already dressed?”  He wasn’t in his pajamas.  Daddy was wearing a nice pair of chinos and his blue and white striped dress shirt.  “Where are you going?”  After all, it was Saturday — not
Sunday
morning.

Daddy
finished mixing the batter and folded in the sugar-coated blueberries.  “As a matter of fact, I have to run up to Bluefield today.  There’s a few things I have to take care of before I go into work tonight.”

“But you
always
have Saturday off?  Why do you have to work tonight?”

That’s crappy
, I thought. 
The first time I’m going to wear a dress in almost eight years, and he won’t even be here to see it.
  I was disappointed even in spite of the fact that the dress was atrocious.

Daddy let out a frustrated sigh.  “Mr. Xcavare had Harper close the mine over the weekend so his guys can inspect it. 
But I’ve gotta go through
a lot
of paperwork for Mr. Xcavare.  He’ll need all of it first thing Monday morning if they plan on closing the mine’s sale by Friday.  Shi, I’m sorry.  I’m gonna miss you going to the dance…
with Mike
,” he grumbled, shaking his head.  Daddy looked me square in the eyes.  “Are you sure you wanna do this?” he asked seriously.  ’Cause I’ll understand if you don’t.”

Daddy wasn’t the problem.  Charlotte and Chloe were the ones who wouldn’t be so
“understanding”.

“I’m fine with it
, Daddy.  I don’t blame Chloe for not trusting any of her friends.”  That was for sure.  I was secretly dying to let her in on what the captain of her cheerleading squad had been doing with
her
boyfriend.  “And anyway, Chloe already picked me up a dress.  It would really be a shame to let it go to
waste
.”

Honestly, what that thing needed was a
can of gas and a lit match!

“Did you try
on the dress?  It fit okay?” Daddy asked as he ladled the batter onto the griddle.

“Oh,
um
…Not
yet
.”  I paused to contemplate my reason.  “I didn’t want to get it
dirty
before I wear it tonight.  As long as it’s a size 8, it’ll be fine. It looked like it would fit.”

Daddy
threw me a smile as he flipped the pancakes.  I started fiddling around in my purse, so he couldn’t see how unenthused I was about my attire for the evening.  A subject change was needed.

“Did you know Ms. Sutherland was retiring?” I inquired.

“I’ve had my suspicions about it.  I guess Bea feels her time’s up at the mine, and she’s ready to move on.  She’ll definitely be missed around there.”  His words sounded very heartfelt and even a little sad.

“It’s not because o
f Xcavare Enterprises, is it?” I probed.

Daddy
let out a little laugh.  “You’d have to ask
her
that, honey.  I’m not a
mind reader
.”

I flashed an uncomfortable grin. 
I really could’ve done without that comment
.

The image of Beatrix Sutherland standing in front of the office window the other day was still haunting my thoughts.  I swear it felt like she
was watching me.  Normally, I would simply pass it off as paranoia, but with everything else that had been going on around here, I found myself doubting her disability more than ever.

“You really don’t know
how
she lost her eyesight?” I questioned.

“No.  I don’t,”
Daddy answered as he lifted one of the perfectly browned pancakes off the griddle and placed it on a large platter beside the stove.

“
I mean…Can she see
at all?
  Like values of light or
something?
” I continued.

Daddy poured
some more batter onto the griddle and then flashed me a curious look.  “I
honestly
don’t know, Shi.  Why are you so fascinated with her blindness all of a sudden?”

I must ha
ve sounded a little too inquisitive.  “Just curious…That’s all.”

“More like
nosey
, I think,” Daddy interjected as he playfully swatted my arm with the spatula.

When I
reached over to whack him back, I noticed something shining around his neck.  I pointed to it straightaway.  “What’s that you’re wearing?” I asked.

Daddy quickly adjusted something under his collar.  “Oh, it’s nothin’.  Just that old silver necklace I use to wear,” he replied casually.

I laughed.  “The one with the clear crystal rock on the end of it?  The one Mom said made you look like a hippie?”

Slightly amused by Charlotte’s past reference
, Daddy grinned as he pulled it out from underneath his shirt.  “That’s
the one
,” he confirmed proudly.

Daddy hadn’t worn it in years.  Charlotte and Chloe hated it, though I didn’t think it was
that bad
.  It was just a small, unpolished clear crystal with a simple silver chain strung through it.  Nothing fancy, kind of rough and masculine.

“What made you want to put
that
on today?” I asked.

“
No reason
…Just felt like it,” Daddy answered hastily and returned to flipping the pancakes.

I was a little perplexed by his somewhat evasive answer. 
No one ever wears something they haven’t put on in years without some kind of reason.  What’s the big deal?
  While I stood there thinking about the odd little necklace and what could’ve prompted him to wear it, I happened to glance at my cell phone lying nearby.  I’d left it in here last night and totally forgot to charge it.

GREAT,
I griped as I shoved it in my purse.  I turned around to look at the clock on the wall.  I really didn’t have time for breakfast.  It was already 7:40 AM.  I’d promised Ms. Sutherland that I would be there at 8:00 sharp, and I hated being late.  I threw my purse over my shoulder and swiftly snatched a pancake that Daddy had just flipped, catching it in midair.

“I’m going to have to get that
to go
,” I said as I took a quick bite and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  “Love you, Daddy.  Have fun running your errands today…and don’t work too hard tonight,” I called back, still munching on my breakfast.

“You
BEHAVE
tonight,” Daddy ordered with a laugh.  “You won’t have any metal Tonka trucks to conk him with.  I’m gonna get Samuel to stop by the house as my stand-in…
I’M SERIOUS!”

“Sure thing, Daddy,” I
hollered as I unfastened the deadbolts.  “Oh, tell Samuel not to forget his double-barrel shotgun,” I added with a laugh.  “And my complements to the chef.  This batch is your best ever!”

As I closed the door, I accid
entally started to call back, “Bye” before I quickly corrected myself.  Instead, I shouted out a pronounced, “See you later, Daddy.”

That was weird
. 
I almost told Daddy “bye” for some reason.  He hates that!
 
Maybe I’m still not awake enough yet?
 
That’s the last time I pull a double-shift at the Drive-In — especially on a game night!

I headed for my car, digging through my purse for my keys as usual.  Once I’d found them, I looked up and
abruptly stopped dead in my tracks.  Sitting on the roof of the old Charger was my gold & brown feathery-friend.

“Where did you come from?” I asked aloud.

The falcon squawked as I crept closer to the driver-side door, but it never moved.  Cautiously, I raised my hand towards the magnificent bird.  It was hovering inches from my arm, but it still didn’t budge.  Slowly, I extended my index finger and watched the bird edge closer.  I gingerly stroked the falcon’s wing.  It wasn’t going anywhere.  It shifted around slightly and squawked a bit, but it didn’t fly off.  It seemed to like it.

“I didn’t get to thank you for helping me the other
day,” I whispered.  “I think you saved my life.”

Normally I would
think talking to a wild bird was borderline-bizarre, but it felt natural, kind of like striking up a one-sided conversation with an old faithful dog that a person would’ve had for years.  Realistically, it wasn’t any stranger than anything else that had happened over the past couple of days.

A
n abrupt, loud
“bang”
blared behind me.  This time, the falcon’s feathers were definitely ruffled (mine too).  Straightaway, it flew off and squawked repeatedly until it disappeared from my sight.  I whirled around to see Charlotte standing on the front porch, dressed in her pink chenille robe and matching fuzzy slippers.