This One is Deadly (5 page)

Sigh.

Sigh.

Sigh.

And they say it’s only the first sip of beer that induces the endorphins in my brain. No other sip will taste as good. I don’t believe that. I’m going to stop at four, but I’ve earned them. I’ve earned every single beer and if Mandy wants to tell me I’ve had too much, then she can drive next time.

I’m not an alcoholic.

This is not whiskey.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Mandy said, as she smoothed out the ground before she set down a blanket. She must’ve picked up a dozen rocks trying to make it perfect. It was a waste of time. In two seconds, she’d sit down and try to get comfortable, but she wouldn’t be able to.

I’d waste a breath telling her that’s how the ground is supposed to feel.

“I’ve got a few more in the cooler,” I said. “They’ve all got my name on them.”

“It’s actually been nice. Even with the throw up incident. I think they’re finally getting it,” Mandy said. “We’re a family. Just like we always wanted to be.”

“We made it to the second day last time,” I said.

“Don’t spoil it, Ben.”

“That’s why I’m having a beer. It’s celebratory. And besides, no incident doesn’t mean I didn’t drive the four hours not anticipating one. I think it might be easier to get me to run into a burning building than to chance another drive with this lot. This is probably why my father smoked a pack anytime we were around.”

“Yeah, but then you won’t be around for when they have kids and we can really enjoy children. Kids are so much cooler when they’re not yours. That’s what my mother always reminds me, when she calls ours perfect little angels.”

“I wished you’d told me that ten years ago.”

Mandy knew I was joking, but she still put on her little show of shock just to see if I’d take her seriously.

Then she said, “You’re a good dad.”

“Then why do they all think that I hate them?”

Mandy manufactured the kind of laugh some chairman of the PTA had on standby, like I’d requested that students should be allowed to read Twain unedited. She said, “I spend a lot more time with them. They treat me like a laundry machine. You think I get any gratitude? You come home and give them a soda or say they can have pie when they didn’t eat their dinner. You’re they’re hero, Ben.”

“Except when you say, ‘tell your father what you did today.’ Do you know what fear looks like? I terrify them.”

“No. You don’t. They are just afraid of disappointing you. Don’t you remember what it was like to be a kid?”

“I do. And my father terrified me. I fell in love with my mother because for most of my teen years, she left my father out of it. He came home none the wiser that Charlie Norris and I’d been caught smoking cigarettes under the bleachers or that I got a speeding ticket one night trying to make curfew—after a date with you!”

Mandy laughed. “I remember that.”

“I just want them to be happy. I didn’t have a very…”

“I know,” she said. And I knew she didn’t want to hear any more about it. Hell, I don’t even know the last time I talked about it to anyone. It felt good to think that maybe I hadn’t even thought of it for some time. “But I think it’s working. They’re getting along great.”

“We make a good team though, you and I. Didn’t one of your books promise there’d be bickering and teasing.”

“Girls are vicious,” Mandy said. “We probably haven’t seen the worst of it yet.”

I downed that can. I crunched it for emphasis, and started on my second.

I thought I was done with hangovers. I’d drank more on so many other occasions, that I did not understand why my head felt like a bag of potatoes being shook out through a pepper shaker.

Then my tent rattled like a hubcap that spun off.

“Can we go now?” Devin asked.

I’d already heard his mother tell him to wait several times. But his eagerness to fish had managed to drown out my wife’s well intentioned warning.

“Devin, get back here. Eat your breakfast first! When your father is ready, he’ll…”

“But fish are early risers. So they can get the worm—right, dad?”

His voice echoed, or maybe he really did repeat his question several times. Might as well have been infinite the way I felt. What’s a hangover like in the Grand Canyon with a high school march band?

“Just a moment,” I said.

My back hurt. I didn’t clear out the ground beneath my sleeping bag like Mandy would’ve and slept with a root right in my drunk back. Probably felt great when I laid down. I think I remembered that nice warn drunkenness. Better than passing out in my pickup truck. That’d bring a sore back, neck, knees, and forehead, since I usually bounce my head off the steering wheel at some point.

I missed my bed.

I missed my shower.

All I could do right now is send them a post card promising to be back at the end of the week—unless something went wrong. Maybe it was the headache, but it felt like something bad was going to happen. Like I was just supposed to stay in my tent today.

I pushed open the tent flaps and bumped right into Devin.  He fell on his butt.

“Sorry, little buddy,” I said.

“I’m a tough guy, dad. That didn’t hurt one bit.”

Kid hadn’t lost a spark. They should find a way to bottle his enthusiasm and put it in coffee.

“Do you have your fishing rod?”

Devin displayed it. He had mine in his other hand.

“Tackle boxes?”

“I already put them down by the river. I found a great spot. Just like you said.”

He took me to the same rock I sent him off to last year. There was a small spray where the water splashed against the rocks. It wasn’t a great spot. It was just where I told him to go—when I needed some peace.  It was probably just the hangover, but looking back, I felt awful about it.

I didn’t hate him.

He wasn’t annoying so much as…

…I don’t know.

What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him. One day, he’ll be a parent and maybe he’ll figure it out. But then he’ll also have it figured out that I love him. I don’t know what his sisters put in his head. But he’s got to man up. The world is different for guys. I know women like to claim inequality and complain about needing to be proper. But a man’s got to be tough or the world will eat him alive. Call him queer, pass him up for a promotion, or cheat on him with the neighbor.

Dev…He can’t be the way he is now.

He’s a momma’s boy, but in a good way. I know I can’t get mad at him for that.  All he’s got to do is be decent. But he can’t be weak.

He can’t let them break him.

How in the world do you tell that to a kid?

“Alright, let me put your bait on,” Devin said. “Did you want live or one of the pretty ones?”

Sometimes I swear he said things just to make me shake my head.

“Start with live, that way the fish will spread the word that there’s good eating,” I said.

He hooked the worms like I had taught him. He had tucked in his lip like Mandy said that I always do. He’ll get there one day. I had to have faith in that. He’s not ready to start liking girls yet. It’ll come.

“Good job,” I said.

The look on his face broke me. Just a spilt second. Maybe I spooked him. Maybe that’s all it was. But he looked at me like he was shocked to hear me say that.

When did I become the monster?

“I love you, Dad,” he said.

“I…”

He cast his hook out too far. His line went down the river.

“Reel it in, quick,” I said.

He tried, but a piece of driftwood magically appeared, just in time to snag his line.

“Just cut it,” I said.

“I can do it.”

“I said cut it.” He wasn’t going to listen. I flipped open my pocket knife and grabbed his line.

He dropped his fishing rod before I could cut the line.

The river took it.

I said something. I said something awful, that’s all I would say. That’s what my stupid mind did without any good thought to rethink or rephrase it.

“You shit.”

Much to my surprise, Devin took it. He looked at me and his eyes burned.

“I had it just fine,” he said.

This was when he was supposed to turn and run to his mother. But he stood his ground.

“We’re done here,” I said.

“Yes, we are,” he said.

“Devin. You go to your mother right now and tell her what you did.”

“Yes, sir.”

He might as well have told me to screw myself. He shook his head, shrugged, and repeated the act all the way back up the bank and to the campsite. I wanted to swing my fishing rod at him. I could just whip him, just a couple of times.

No. I couldn’t be my father.

I wouldn’t be my father.

There was a scream inside me, primitive and violent. There was a rock I could punch, a tree, or I could just snap the rod. But I just stood there and seethed.

It was the hangover.

I wouldn’t have tried to cut the line if my patience wasn’t already gone. I would’ve had him do it. I would’ve taught him how to do it.

Mandy arrived on scene.

“Don’t even,” I said, and I shouldn’t have.

“What happened?”

“Didn’t he tell you?”

“He said you’re angry. That you…”

“I messed up,” I said.

“You didn’t have breakfast,” she said. “Some greasy bacon and eggs will help settle your stomach. There’s aspirin in the first aid kit.”

“I’m not a good dad. I’m just like him. I’m just like my father.”

“Ben,” she said.

“Don’t. You were right not to name him Benjamin. What an awful name. We are all awful. All six of us,” I said. “He’s a sweet boy. He’s going to be better than me. He’s going to get it all right. And he’s never going to forgive me.”

“Ben, why don’t you go blow off some steam. I’ll take the girls for another nature walk.”

“I’m screwing it up this time.”

“We’ll head upstream, and come back around lunch time. Maybe you can get the burgers and dogs ready.”

“Are you listening to me?”

“I am, Ben. You just need to calm down. Devin is fine. He’s not crying, he’s not scared. He came to me and told me that you sent him away because you were mad.”

“I’m the monster,” I said.

“You’ll feel better once you eat something. I’ll buy you some time.”

“Thank you,” I said.

I felt like I told her that I loved her. I didn’t and I felt like I let the moment pass. But I lost the ability to speak when I saw Kristen standing there behind Mandy. That’s when I realized that Kristen had heard everything.

I had to stop Devin.

Seconds ago, I passed him.

He told me what happened. The plan was in action. He told me to get ready then he started to provoke Jenny. I was supposed to keep our parents busy. I followed my mother and saw my father.

He didn’t hate Devin. He really didn’t.

He was so sad.

We couldn’t go through with the plan. Not today. I don’t know what would happen if anything went wrong—or if we succeeded. Something wasn’t right with my father. He’d kill Devin if the plan worked.

I just felt it.

My mother always said
, ‘Smile at everyone because you don’t know what kind of day they are having. Sometimes a smile is all the difference in the world.’

Devin wasn’t going to smile at my father.

It was the ultimate frown.

I helped him plan it.

Rebecca and Jenny had been collecting shells and rocks up river. They’d stopped after a quick nature hike with my mother to start the morning. I wasn’t going to stick around and end up ruining the plan by starting a fight too early. I trailed my mother back to camp. That’s when I saw Devin and he gave me the signal that it was on. I was supposed to interject into my parents’ conversation with my father, keep them busy. But then I heard what they were talking about.

Devin, how could he have known?

Even my father wasn’t sure how to tell his son that he loved him. That was men. They aren’t supposed to have feelings—which makes so little sense. Feelings are everything.

I ran back up stream, but the argument had already started.

It was going according to plan.

Jenny picked up a handful of dirt and rocks and threw them at Devin.

I called to them.

My mind split into past, present, and future. All my thoughts collided.

“If we do this, Mom and Dad will hate us forever,” I said. “They don’t understand that Jenny is a jerk.”

“Dad already hates me,” Devin said. “I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you. You were always nice to me. You looked out for me better than the people who are supposed to be my parents. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. I’m already dead.”

“Stop!” I yelled. “Devin! Wait!”

He was only three years old when Jenny made him drink gasoline. She then ran and told my mom that he was drinking gasoline. My mother spanked Devin. He couldn’t string together the words to tell her that Jenny had pulled his hair until he swallowed. That she held the can, and forced the nozzle down his throat.

That was all that saved him.

My mother arrived to vomit.

Otherwise he would’ve been dead, and Jenny would’ve gotten away with it. Just like everything else she ever did.

“You’re evil!” Devin screamed.

Jenny laughed. She yelled at Rebecca, “Go get your parents,”

Rebecca saw me. She didn’t obey Jenny. She charged at me. “You leave Jenny alone!”

She tried to tackle me, but I was bigger, and stronger. I sprawled out, so that my chest lay on top of her back. She was feistier than I gave her credit. Her nails dug into my arms. I flattened her against the ground.

“Devin did it,” Rebecca said.

“How? Devin wasn’t even home?” my father said.

“I don’t know. But he did.”

“Are you telling us the truth?”

“Of course she is,” my mother said. “Why would she lie?”

“Devvvvinnnnnn!”

“Devin! Stop!” Rebecca wouldn’t let go of me. I tried to shake her off, but she clawed and climbed around my back. We wrestled into the ground. I screamed. Hoping my parents would hear us and come to scold us.

I screamed again and again.

They didn’t come.

They wouldn’t come.

I shucked Rebecca off my back. “Go tell mom and dad to hurry,” I said.

Rebecca bit at me, but missed.

“Tell them. We have to stop fighting!”

“You’re not my mom. I’ll kill you,” Rebecca said.

“I’m not. I know. Just please listen to me!”

She charged again.

I kicked my sandal off, it missed her head. The one from my left foot did not.

“I’m telling!”

Finally.

Rebecca took off towards my parents.

My bare feet pained me as I dashed off towards Devin and Jenny.

Devin drove Jenny out onto the rocks. She had been so proud last year about her ability to jump from one to the next. We had planned to take advantage of that.

I woke while everyone slept.

Night is scary out in the woods. The rush of the river hid the sound of the creatures that seemed to watch my every move. But the only eyes I was worried about were those of my parents and siblings.

It had taken forever for everyone to go to sleep. My father drank almost all night, and then he stumbled off into the woods, for the longest piss I’d ever heard, before he finally went in the tent with my mother. His snoring was my alarm clock.

The moonlight was strong enough to guide my way. It was brighter than I could ever imagine. It was as if it even picked out the very rock in the middle of the river that I needed to get to. It made the water around it sparkle.

I leapt from each rock, as capable as Jenny was last year, and here I was two whole years younger. She just liked to show off in front of our parents. She always had to prove she was better than us.

She’d have a hard time after tomorrow.

I used the can of WD-40, and sprayed down the rock.  I used the whole can.

“Listen to me. Both of you stop.”

“Wow, who died and made you mom?” Jenny asked.

“Devin, call it off.”

“Call what off,” Jenny asked. She was three rocks out into the river. She started to smirk as she must’ve realized we’d concocted some trick.

Devin hopped out to the first one. “Go back to mom and dad,” he said. “Go now!”

“I won’t let you do it, Devin.”

“What? Why not?” Jenny asked. “Is he going to try to kill me?”

Devin’s face answered. He had every intention of it. We’d had every intention of it.

“Devin. Trust me. Just leave her alone.”

“You all did really want to kill me, didn’t you?”

“You’re a jerk!” I screamed. “To all of us, all the time. You’re supposed to be our big sister, but you’re not.”

“No,” she said.

“I’m going to get you,” Devin said. He jumped forward onto the next rock.

“I’m not afraid of a silly boy. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

I grabbed Devin, I pulled him away as he cried and kicked. He was only four years old and they had tied him to a tree and thrown acorns at him. He wanted to fight me. He wanted to fight everyone.

“Stop,” I said. “I’m your friend.”

He hesitated. Then he squirmed in my arms.

“Aww did Devin’s little mommy come and rescue him?” Jenny teased.

“Piss off,” I said.

“That’s not something a mother would say,” Jenny said. “You’ll need to practice. Otherwise you ought never be a mom. No one likes you. If you had children, they would eat you. Wouldn’t you like that? To be eaten? That sounds just right for you.”

“Yeah and poop you out in a toilet,” Rebecca added.

“Devin! I’m your friend!” I said.

“Friends don’t matter anymore,” he said. He jumped to the next rock. It was a little further than he’d anticipated. His heels splashed and he fell forward in hopes of not falling back.

“This is between him and me,” Jenny said. “Go away, sister. Go fetch your parents.”

Rebecca wasn’t back yet, it made sense. I couldn’t trust Rebecca to do anything. I should’ve. I should’ve gotten them. I yelled at Devin. “Stop. Wait. Please! I’m getting mom and dad!”

I took off running. It wasn’t that far away. They should’ve heard me screaming.

I screamed my head off.

My father came running first. He begged to know what the meaning of it all was. I couldn’t sell out Devin. I just said. “Quick. Hurry!”

But my mother’s scream twisted my father away from me.

She was right to scream.

Devin was swept away in the current. The water tinted red all around him.

My father ran, he splashed as far out into the river before he had to swim. By then, Devin was past him, floating down the river.

“Where’s your sister?” my mother asked me.

“Up there!” I pointed, but I cared more about Devin. She had done this. He needed me and I wasn’t there to help him stand up to her. I started down river.

“Stay here!” my mother said. “Rebecca?”

Rebecca stood by the river trembling. She knew Devin was in danger. She wasn’t evil like Jenny. She didn’t know any better, and now she was scared. She should’ve gotten mom and dad when I told her to.

I thought it was all her fault.

Just for a second.

Then I ran to the river.

“Stop!” I heard my mother scream. I didn’t.

Down river I saw my father reach Devin. He tugged him to shore. He was fine.

Then I looked up river, and spotted Jenny.

She clung to the rock, the water smashed into her again and again. She too had fallen in. and a thick red line painted her face. She was hurt too.

I ran across the rocks. My mother urged me to stay.

I wanted to get to Jenny.

I was going to hurt her. Push her in the water for hurting Devin. I was so angry when I reached her, and then I noticed how hurt she was. Bruises covered her face and her shoulder was cut open, but not bleeding. It looked like when the top of a muffin splits. There should’ve been blood. But the flesh was all pale around it. I felt like I could see through layers and layers of flesh, down to a white bone.

“Jenny!” I held my hand out, and she turned and smiled at me. “Are you okay?”

She spit up and coughed, and then tried to shield her eyes by lowering her head. I couldn’t reach her. I didn’t know if I wanted to, the current was too strong between us.

“Just hold on. Dad will come. He saved Devin. He’ll save you.”

“You bitch,” Jenny said. Her eyes were navy from eyelid to eyelid.  Her flesh was almost yellow, muscle flexed beneath her contorted face. She blamed me, but I knew it was her own fault. I would not accept the guilt she wanted me to have. She always passed it on. She always blamed someone. I saw that now. I realized she’d never be happy. She’d never be loved. “Bitch, bitch, bitch.” She repeated over and over again, her eyes were like teeth, bared and salivating. As if they would eat me if I stared too long into them.

“You made the rock slippery,” she said. And she was right.

Then the words slipped out of my mouth, leaving the flavor of regret to taste for a lifetime. It was the most hateful thing I could think of, it was what she asked me to say.

“We all hate you, even mom and dad. They know you’re an evil brat,” I said. “He loves Devin. He just doesn’t like his name, that’s all it is you stupid bitch. If Devin dies they will hate you forever!”

Water foamed from her mouth as she laughed at me.  No one else could hear it except me. My mother still called for me to get back to the shore where it was safe. Rebecca still trembled around my mother’s leg. And downstream my father hunched over Devin’s body.

She pulled herself up out of the water, just a little more. It was then I saw her broken elbow protruding from her flesh. Her fingers were broken as well.

I knew the right thing to do. I tried to find my footing. I thought about jumping out to her and grabbing onto her. In swim lessons, we practiced using a pole, but how much time did Jenny have before she lost her grip and drowned.  I readied myself. Tried to overcome my fear.

And then she said, “I gave him that name. I named him Devin. She wanted to call him Benjamin, but I choose his name! So that your father would hate him!”

Jenny bore a smile like I had never seen. It was a smile with silent laughter holding it from cheek to cheek.

She let go of the rock.

She showed me her hands for a second, still white from clenching on for so long. And before she went under I heard her speak, never breaking that wicked smile of hers. It echoed as her body was torn down river disappearing into the rapids.

The words haunted me ever since.

She said, “See you soon.”