Red - Jack Ketchum [26]
“So this is your spot, huh?” she said.
In the teachers’ lounge she’d said she was dying for a smoke. But smoking had been banned from the lounge twenty years ago as with everywhere else in or around the school. Usually she just left her pack in the glove compartment and suffered in silence until the bell rang and the day was over. But today Bill had said, come with me.
The ticket booth was perfect. The back door was the entrance directly to the gym. Nobody used it but the gym classes. Once they were out on the field you could only be seen from the parking lot. And during the school day nobody used that either.
“Been sneaking back here on my breaks for years now,” Fulmer said. “Smoke-free campus, my ass. All you have to do is police your butts.”
“You’re a genius, Bill. I think we’ll be running into one another more often from now on.”
He smiled and nodded. “Always glad of the company, Miss Raton.”
She glanced around the corner at the field. Saw Peggy Cleek sitting alone in the bleachers, her arms crossed over her lap, using her backpack for a pillow.
“You know Peggy Cleek, Bill? That girl over there?”
“Can’t say I do. Why?”
“There’s something going on with her. The last month or so she’s changed. A lot.”
“They do at that age, Genevieve. And fast.”
“I know. But this is…you know how they’re all dressing these days. The shorter the skirt the better, the skimpier and tighter the blouses and tees. Well, that’s how she was too. Now it’s all sweats and hoodies that are way too big for her. And don’t think the other kids aren’t noticing. They’re giving her funny looks. She’s a very pretty girl. She ought to be…”
“Flaunting it?”
“Yeah. Dammit. Flaunting it.”
They laughed.
“Did you, at her age, Genevieve? Flaunt it?”
He wasn’t coming on to her — he knew her better than that. He was teasing. She figured she could tease right back.
“I’d have made you pop your fucking zipper, William.”
~ * ~
Belle knew the IGA like the back of her hand and so did Darlin’ by now. She also knew that her daughter was bored to death with marketing and she had a window of about fifteen minutes before the whining started. She was too old to ride in the cart anymore and too young to leave on her own at home after Kindervale school — and Chris wouldn’t hear of hiring a sitter. So she paused only briefly over the cuts of pork loin and bottom round and otherwise moved them along through the aisles as quickly as possible.
Between the Arm & Hammer laundry detergent and the Lava soap she saw Vickie Silverman headed her way, smiling, her two year old Bennie’s legs jiggling out of the cart basket. She put on her own smile and reached for the Lava.
“Hi, Belle. Hi, Darlin’. And how are you two today?”
Vicki was a cheek-pincher. Darlin’ was well aware of that and kept her distance.
“We’re fine, Vic. And you?”
“All’s well here. We measured Bennie this morning and he’s grown another half inch! How about that. What do you think? Barbeque again soon?”
“I don’t see why not. Weather’s been perfect for it, hasn’t it?”
“Your place this time, maybe?”
Her voice said finally? Good God, she thought. That’s all I need. And aren’t you being a little forward volunteering me, Vicki? Even if we haven’t had guests over for barbecue in god knows how many years?
“Oh, I don’t know, the place is just such a darn mess.”
“With little ones around, how can it ever not be?”
“You’re right about that. But the big ones don’t help much either. I‘ve got to run, Vic. See you soon, okay?”
“Of course. See you soon.”
They moved their separate ways up and down the aisle.
Guests, she thought. Children. Running all over the place. The barn. The fruit cellar. That’ll be the day.
~ * ~
He handed Betty his notes out of the briefcase. He used his good hand.
“Okay,” he said. “Here are the basics of our agreement. All the figures and dates of payment