The Night the Sky Fell (4 page)

Tricia walked out holding school books and was stylishly dressed…she would never wear a backpack to school like the average students. She cracked the gum to announce her presence: “Fecal face. You can’t see.”
 

Startled, Peyton turned as his cane brushed Tricia’s breast. “Sorry, Tricia. It was an accident.”
 

“You’re the accident, Peyton! No one wanted you.” Tricia continued to crack the gum as Julie walked out. Julie gave a hateful scowl to Tricia. Peyton sobbed. Those words hurt.
 

Peyton howled, “Mom? Mom?”

 
“Yes, Peyton, I’m here.”
 

“Mom. Am I an accident? Tricia said—”

“Of course you are not an accident, Peyton. We love you.” Julie eyeballed Tricia: “Your father and I always wanted a boy, Peyton. You’re our boy.” Tricia grimaced and sent a text.

Tricia’s frown changed to a smile. Ann walked out of her next door house. She had books in one hand and her phone in the other…just like Tricia. Tricia and Ann met halfway as Tricia modeled her latest outfit questioning. “Tres chic?”
 

Ann scrutinized and wowed: “Such a fashionista.”
 

Julie yelled to the girls: “Come on, we’ll be late.
 

The SUV headed down the hill towards Juneau-Douglas High School. Peyton pretended to drive next to his mom as Tricia and Ann practiced French in the back. There was a pause in the girls exchange and Tricia popped and cracked gum.
 

Julie smirked, “No cracking until I drop you off, please.”
 

“But, mother, I don’t chew gum at school. It’s so…déclassé.” Julie rolled her eyes. Tricia continued, “You should kiss my feet. I don’t drink, smoke, do drugs and I’m still a virgin.”
 

Tricia cracked louder and louder as Peyton asked Julie, “What’s a virgin? Oh, I know. I know. It’s the ‘maculate misconception.’”
 

Tricia and Ann laughed as Julie forced a smile and then a chuckle. Tricia cracked a loud one, “Retard, Peyton. Retard!”
 

Peyton laughed, “What a bitch!”

After Tricia and Ann arrived at school, Julie and Peyton drove to Peyton’s school. “How’s my driving, Mom?”
 

Julie responded, “It’s fine, but Peyton you’re supposed to sit in the back seat.” Peyton snapped, “But Mom, drivers always sit in the front.

Banks met Peyton with a tussle and they all walked into the school for the blind. “It’s official, Peyton. The Leonids arrive Saturday evening.”
 

Peyton perked up, “Can we see them?”
 

Banks said, “Yes, they flare up and disintegrate. It’s a storm. When they hit the city they will be pea-sized, but as they approach they are falling stars.”
 

Peyton pleaded, “Mom. Mom, we need to have a party. A barbeque. Please, Mom. We’ll have Banks come and tell us all about it. It’s in the book. You know, the book that Banks let me borrow. I want to see it, mom. I want us all to see it.” Julie smiled at Banks.
 

Banks thought, “What a good move on my part. Yes indeed, it was well conceived and well timed.”

Peyton asked, “What color are the meteorites, Banks?”

At the Powers’ house, Julie, Stan, Tricia and Peyton finished dinner. Peyton concluded what he knew about the Leonids and was giving his take on having a party. Then Tricia astonished all by saying, “What a great idea, Peyton. I’ll invite Ann for dinner and her parents too. Is that okay, Mom and Dad?” Stan nodded yes. Tricia continued, “Mom, you take care of Peyton’s bath and I’ll clean up here.”
 

“Mom, Tricia’s being nice, is she sick?” Peyton and Julie climbed the stairs.

Tricia cleared the table: “Dad, remember the song ‘Sixteen Candles’?”
 

Stan smiled fondly. “What’s on your mind, Sweet pea?”
 

“There’s this new red Acura convertible…”
 

Stan raised his eyebrows. “I was thinking about a used—”

“Used! I can’t be seen in a used car. I don’t drink smoke, do drugs…” Tricia rehashed her virtues as if they were a threat to be vanquished if she did not get a new car.

Outside the sleeping Powers’ house, neighbors’ lights switched off. Crickets chirped. A patrol car drove down the street. A few tiny meteorites landed on the street. And when they hit the concrete, they gave off a misty gas. The crickets went silent. And The Monarch Raven cawed.

The Night the Sky Fell

Banks’ new and improved look had further improved. He had no glasses. His violet eyes demanded one’s attention. They screamed that he was of Anglo stock in case there were any doubt. His apparent tanned skinned, his chiseled chin and his new strut were movie star quality. His intensive exercise over the past months commanded admiring looks. Banks was transforming and he liked it.

 
He skipped down the stairs from his apartment. His good mood changed as Chief Dan sauntered over while chewing tobacco. “Banks, you look white. You’re going to them, that family, that rich white family with the blind boy. Always remember that this tribe is your home. Always remember that the Spirit Above Your Head sees all. Remember who you are and what you will be.”
 

Banks angered. He thought, “They don’t care about that shit, Uncle. And neither do I.” But he did not say that. He simply nodded to his uncle with respect. It was all part of walking the tightrope.

The Chief continued, “I don’t care about them, nephew. I care about you. You should stay with us and watch the falling sky here…where you belong.”
 

Banks brushed off his uncle considerately, “I’m running late.” Using his uncle’s tactics Banks added, “I made a promise that the Spirit would be unhappy if I broke.”

Banks drove off as Marilyn sauntered towards the Chief. Dan stared at the beauty of the setting sun. Marilyn asked, “Are we losing him, Chief?” The Chief continued to watch the sun set out of sight. He spat out tobacco which marred Marilyn’s sun setting appreciation of the moment.

At nightfall, in the spacious backyard of the Powers’ house, Stan Powers completed the arranging of a circle of reclining lawn chairs. There were eight of them. Stan’s mind drifted off to the circle of life. If only Julie and he could be one again. A bead of sweat dripped from his forehead. As he wiped his forehead clean, his thoughts turned to the scarlet letter A. Yes, Stan knew his adultery broke a commandment. He thought about confession and going to church with his family tomorrow. From the scarlet letter A, his mind wandered to a red Acura. Yes, red is Tricia’s color. Maybe he should buy her a new car. Somehow it might assuage the guilt, that nagging guilt.

Stan checked the barbeque. Julie greeted Murray and Dassi Abrams and their daughter Ann. Tricia played with her cell as Peyton, with the use of his cane, guided to a lawn chair. For an instant, all looked up to the sky just in case the meteorites fired up.
 

And then the doorbell chimed. Banks. Julie gestured to Tricia to get the door. She snapped a gum crack but reluctantly she obeyed. When she let Banks in, Tricia thought that Banks was astonishingly sexy. But the thought flew out of her mind when she reminded herself that he was an Indian.
 

Banks wanted to say very little to Tricia. He was worried about misinterpretations. Indifference coated with civility was the evening’s goal. He glanced at her positively well-endowed rack and quickly looked away. This was successful since Tricia looked at herself in the mirror when Banks made his glance. He thought about all the young Indian girls that were paying him too much attention. It would have been easy to get any of those girls into the sack but realized that this would create obligations. He wanted no obligations to girls. Especially Indian girls. He would find other ways to suppress his sexual drive. To give into his sexual urges was to prevent his goal from coming to fruition.

Tricia Powers guided Banks Blackhorse to the backyard. All of Banks’ thoughts about girls were about to change.

The moment Banks walked into the backyard, conversation ceased and all eyes were glued to him. But it was the eyes of Ann Abrams that locked with intensity. Banks was stirred with feelings he never thought he’d have. Hopefully this was not interfere with his long range plans. The other guests were in a fog. But Ann and Banks saw each other quite clearly. It was a new feeling for Banks; it was…passion for another. It was beyond sex. All were aware of this moment of their chemistry. All could somehow feel their heat. Ann’s father Murray hoped someday that she might date a young Jewish guy. But that was only because Dassi, her mother, wanted it so badly. But Murray thought that this was okay…this spark between them. Dassi wasn’t quite sure. No young man had ever come to the door to take Ann out on a date. Murray and Dassi looked at each other for a solution to the chemistry. Was it good or was it bad? They concluded with a nod that this was okay for now.

 
All seemed to feel this special moment and all were happy except Tricia. Tricia and Ann were best friends forever and it would seem that one BFF would be happy for the other. But Tricia couldn’t stand the thought that a good looking young man would appreciate someone else over her…even though the guy was an Indian.
 

While Tricia was guiding Banks to the backyard, she concluded that his apparent disinterest in her was that he was simply gay. This solved her temporary insecurity. She reveled in her judgement. After all, she had remarkable gaydar in school.
 

Tricia philosophized to herself, “Straight boys want to undress me. Gay boys want to dress me.”
 

She remembered a month back when a random Gay Boy said to her, “I’d die for your shoes. But Sweetie, your hand bag needs some…”

“Je ne sais quoi?” She added.

“Exactly, said Gay Boy, and we must get some on Saturday at the mall!”

Life was momentarily good for Tricia. And as Banks and she exited the house, Tricia went berserk. She saw the gaze between Ann and Banks and worse, she felt it. And of course, she wasn’t included. Envy engulfed her. To make things right, her pretense was to save Ann from the impending doom of this Romeo and Juliet moment.

Thinking quickly, Tricia clutched Banks’ arm and guided him away from Ann to her parents and competently made introductions while blocking Ann’s view. But Ann made her move; after all she learned from the best teacher…her BFF. Ann boldly walked to Banks as the four parents looked on.

 
“Hello, Banks. I’m Ann…the girl next door.”
 

“Ann, I like your name. It’s simple yet regal.”
 

Tricia whispered under her breath, “Oh brother!” Then she escorted Banks away to Peyton. At the very instant that Banks tussled Peyton’s hair, the stars above twinkled brightly. That synchronicity was back. This was to be more than just a wonderful evening. This was to be a mystical event.

Tricia blocked yet another advance from Ann: “Wipe the drool off your face, girl. So unseemly.”
 

Ann responded, “You know what I think?”
 

From Tricia with venom: “Slutty thoughts, Ann!”
 

Ann retorted, “Stop it, you’ve got Johnny.”
 

Tricia asserted, “Johnny’s for school.”
 

Ann summed it up, “You never noticed Banks until I did. What’s up with that?”
 

Softly and lovingly Tricia replied: “Oh, Ann. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. He’s too old for you and besides, you come from different tribes. I’m trying to protect you from impending disaster.”
 

Ann rolled her eyes and then they settled on Banks’ whose eyes were locked on hers accompanied with a sweet smile. This was breathless charm! As Banks sat on a lawn chair, Ann and Tricia sat next to him like two kids playing tug of war. The others joined and all conversation becomes public. From a bird’s eye view, the scene was a circle of seven white folk and one Indian. Then the Monarch Raven landed on the Powers’ roof.

Murray and Dassi were the last to join the circle. Although the Abrams kept a kosher home with carefully prepared meats and two separate place settings, one for dairy and one for meat, they followed the modern trend which was ‘kosher in—anything out.’ Dassi bit into her non-kosher hamburger, shaking a bit as if the wrath of the Supreme Creator were about to deliver punishment. Murray asked Banks, “When do the fireworks start?” All eyes were on Banks who simply shrugged his shoulders.
 

Peyton broke the pregnant pause, “Banks, tell them like you told me.”

Banks captivated all with, “We might be able to see some now. Place your chairs in a reclining position with your feet pointed to the east.”
 

All followed suit as the circle disassembled into a row. As Banks adjusted Peyton’s seat, Peyton delivered, “Banks’ ancestors discovered the Leonids.”
 

Tricia barked, “No one is interested.”

Ann jumped in with “I’m interested.”
 

 
“You could have fooled me,” said Tricia dripping sarcasm.
 

Peyton continued, “Banks’ dead father was Tlingit and his dead mother was a half breed Sioux!” Ann slowly lay supine as she sighed.