Devil's Plaything - Matt Richtel [74]
After the accident in Irving’s car, I went into the back of the bakery, and I cleaned up, and this next part is funny, or certainly telling about my personality. I put on my brother’s black overcoat. I’d brought it to the bakery that morning. I had this idea that I would somehow be camouflaged in it—like maybe the shape of my body would be drowned out, or that I might look like a young man (I was hyper aware as a young woman that I had nice bosoms and that this attribute separated me from men). I also wore a cap that belonged to my brother. I was walking out of the bakery through the alley door when my father happened to walk into the back to throw something into the trash. He hardly noticed me at first, and then he saw how I was dressed. I thought he’d be curious or furious, but he said: “It’s smart for a girl to dress warmly and keep herself covered up.” I’d have had a big laugh as I was leaving if I wasn’t so nervous and excited about where I was going. I’m this 17-year-old girl, almost 18, and I’m feeling like a spy, dressed like a boy, and my imagination is galloping. I hired a taxi to get to the meeting. Even so, I was nearly late. I guess I hadn’t accounted for traffic. I gave the driver a quarter, which was a pretty big tip. He asked if I was sure that I wanted to be dropped off there; it was getting a little bit dark. But I told him I was meeting my fiancé. That made sense. There were lots of people around, and many couples walking. This was a place you could come for courtship, and not have your parents or friends feel like you were being loose, or easy. I can’t remember exactly now, but I’d guess there were a couple of dozen people walking around the entrance to the gardens. There was a food stand near the entrance. I don’t remember what it was selling, but it must have been hot dogs or caramel apples. A sign described all the garden’s activities and locations of those activities, including riding boats on the lake, pond fishing, the botanical garden, the picnicking area, and things like that. I was looking at the sign, trying to figure out where I might discover the secret meeting place. I didn’t have the slightest idea. I looked at a pocket watch I’d borrowed from my brother. I could see that I was late by 10 minutes. Maybe I’d missed the meeting. What was I looking for, anyway? Or whom. It was getting dark. I was wondering what in the world I was doing. And that’s when I heard the footsteps behind me.
This is a good story, Betty Lou.
(Laughter) You should like it. You wrote it.
When did I write it?
There’s a date here, on the front. It looks like 1974.
What?
You wrote the story in 1974.
Okay. You know this is the story of how my life changed. Everything in the world changed. I kept it a secret for so long.
Do you want me to keep going?
Okay.
So, you heard footsteps behind you. Now, I’m reading again: As you might imagine (dear reader), I nearly jumped to the moon. I started to turn around, and the first thing I saw were the boots. I wasn’t looking at the ground, but I caught them in the lower part of my vision. I could see the tops of them, maybe. Thinking back, I must have been hoping he’d be there, and I definitely associated him with the tough, leathery, work boots and the slightly pigeon-toed feet. That’s why they called him Pigeon. He was nearly a foot taller than me. I noticed that he was a lot less grimy or gritty than I expected or remembered. His face was clean shaven and I could see a spot of dried blood right under his chin where he must have nicked himself. His hair was parted and combed to the side, and he could have passed for a movie actor. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then I said, “I’m sorry that I opened your envelope.” And he smiled, and I thought he’d laugh. But he just smiled, kindly, and he said: “I knew you wouldn’t be able to help yourself, Lane.” I said: “You know my name?” I was kind of alarmed then, and he could tell. He said (I can’t remember his exact words): “There’s something I want to show you. There’s something I need to show you.” I think any normal young