He leaned forward. "Is Thursday the first time you were outside after dark?"

  I didn't know how to answer that question. I didn't want to talk to Mr. Bankward again. "What happens if someone breaks the rules?" I asked.

  "You’re avoiding the question." Then he leaned back. "Well, it depends on the situation, but to be honest, when someone breaks one of the rules they often don't live to tell about it."

  I indicated outside. "Is that because something happens to them out there, or is it because someone in the town does something to them?"

  "There are reasons the rules are in place, and if you step outside of authority, then you’re asking for trouble."

  I narrowed my eyes and gave him an “eat shit” grin. "You’re avoiding the question. Is that what your daughter did? She broke one of the rules?"

  Hate pushed across his face and filled his voice. "I'm not here to talk about my daughter." He stood.

  I waved my hands. "Okay, okay. Sorry. I'm sorry, that was a terrible thing to ask. Please, sit back down."

  Franklin's glare subsided, and he sat back down.

  He took his time, then begin speaking. I had crossed the line, but I was glad he decided to stay.

  "Mr. Bankward has made arrangements for you to make a public apology to the parents, children, and the rest of the town for your actions."

  "Church?" I groaned. "Again? What if I don't go?"

  "Matt, don't give me grief," he warned, impatiently. "Show up, say you're sorry, and then life will resume with no hiccups."

  "That simple, huh?" I leaned forward on the sofa. "You know, Bankward threatened to beat me up."

  "To be honest, Matt, I'm surprised no one took a swing at you. You can't mess with someone's kids and not expect to pay for it."

  I knew all about people taking swings at me because of their kid. "Middwood is an eye for an eye kind of place. I got the message."

  "I hope so. I don't want to see anything else happen to you."

  His words made me feel better. He was a good man, and I knew he was trying to help.

  "Fine." I sat back on the sofa. "I'll be there Sunday."

  "Good." He slapped his thighs and rocked himself forward to get momentum to stand. "And I suggest that you stay home for the rest of the day. The fewer people who see you until church, the better and safer for you. I'll have the sheriff pick you up in the morning."

  "The sheriff? Are you serious? Isn't one rock enough?"

  He ignored my joke. "He'll walk you in. Unless you want to chance another attack? Plus he volunteered. Luckily, you've made a few good impressions."

  I raised my eyebrows. "I have?"

  "Listen, Matt. This is serious. You haven't done anything else to break the rules have you?"

  I had gone outside after dark numerous times. I wondered if I should tell him about the possum, that I moved my bed, or put the painting in the closet.

  "No," I lied. "That's the only time."

  He nodded. "Good. Make sure you don't get into any more trouble."

  He slapped my shoulder, and every nerve in my jaw lit up. "Gaw, fuck!" I shrilled, holding my jaw.

  "Good Lord, son, I barely touched you."

  I cradled my face. "I know..." I sighed. "I just need to get to the dentist."

  Franklin shook his head in concern. "We have a dentist, he's a good man, but that won't be until next week.

  "I don't know if I can wait that long."

  Franklin moved to the kitchen. "I'll do you a favor and get you taken care of, but you have to keep this to yourself." He stopped. "Can you do that? Keep a secret?"

  "If it takes the pain away, yes, I promise."

  Franklin nodded, then picked up the phone. "Tonya, do you have time today to help out Matt, the new teacher? He got the shit knocked out of him." He paused. "Gary creamed him in the face with a rock." He paused again. "Yes, that's what I'm asking." Pause. "I know." He paused and glanced at me. "I think so." Pause. "Yeah, can you send Peter to pick him up?" Pause. "That will be great." Pause. "One o'clock? He'll be here waiting. Thanks, Tonya."

  Franklin hung up and grinned. "Peter will be by to pick you up in a few hours."

  "Is Tonya a dentist?"

  He searched for the right words. "Something like that. She’ll get you taken care of." He pointed at me. "But remember, it's a secret."

  55

  A few hours later, Peter honked the horn, and I left to get my face fixed.

  "Sorry I'm late, I had to work on the engine a bit to get her working."

  "I would ask what was wrong with it, but I don't know anything about cars."

  "Your face is fucked."

  "Don't say that."

  "Well, it is. So much for being new and shiny."

  I grinned and shook my head. "After being a such an idiot, I deserve it."

  "Get with the times. The word is bozo, but it's cool, I'm just pickin' on ya."

  I shrugged. "I know, but...I'm sorry for all the things I said Friday."

  "What about what you said on Thursday."

  I huffed. "Jeez. I'm super sorry about that."

  "Then it's cool."

  I wanted it to be that simple, but I didn't know if it could be done. The "father" word fight had been terrible. My chest tightened because I needed him to know that I hadn’t been myself that day.

  I knew I shouldn't discuss this with him even though he knew about the pills. I was sure acting like Jekyll and Hyde was a pretty good indicator.

  "I'm sorry." I didn't know what else to say, but I wanted to say something. He needed to hear it, and I needed to say it. "Thanks for looking out for me."

  Peter's house was outside of town over the railroad tracks that ran parallel to Looney Creek. As Peter and I drove, I thought it was funny that his home was so far out that it was considered to be "in the sticks."

  The drive down WPA Road was nothing but witch trees decorated with little white crosses. My toothache worsened every time we passed one. Finally, shanties and trailers appeared, but the composition of the homes was wild to my Georgian eyes. Some of the houses were level to the road, but the next could be ten feet higher on the mountain while the next looked like it was built in a hole. It was Kentucky's equivalent to a mid-rise apartment building.

  * * *

  "They'll stick homes wherever they'll fit, won't they?"

  * * *

  "We stick them where we need them, I guess."

  I hadn't been to a student's house since the beginning of my teaching career, four years ago. It wasn't such a big deal then since I knew the family, and they even helped me get the job by making a few calls. Unsurprisingly, they disappeared after the incident with Darlene.

  After about ten miles we turned onto what looked more like a wagon trail from the TV show Bonanza. Pebbles pelted the bottom of Peter's truck, and the ruts in the road from a previous rain caused us to shake feverishly. He slowed down until the truck only bumped along.

  "We'll make it. Just hold on." He shook his head at me.

  I hadn't realized I was gripping the seat with my left hand and holding my cheek with my right.

  About a mile further along, the road merged into a single lane. He pulled across the grass and parked next to a little, white Ford.

  Peter lived in a simple, older, yellow house with green trim, but they had built on an addition with wood that didn't match.

  Peter opened the door. "And here I go."

  "What? Where?" I asked.

  "Don't worry about it. I'll be in there in a bit." He pointed. "Just go up to the back door and wait." With that, he circled the back of his truck and walked toward a set of large, worn, wood outbuildings.

  He left me sitting in the truck. I grumbled to myself anxiously and exited the vehicle, then walked toward the house. There were so many holes in the yard; little sunken pieces of ground. I, of course, almost stepped in one. I looked around the yard. They were everywhere.

  Landmines, I joked to myself, but then the thought didn't seem so funny. This is the backwoods, mister, so I decided to proceed with caution.

  After walking through about fifteen yards of peril, I made it to a set of rickety, old steps that led up to the porch. I was glad I wasn't a big man, I'm not sure the steps could have taken the weight. The porch was in the same deteriorated state as the stairs.

  Something buzzed past my head. I ducked and swatted. It was big, whatever it was. It attacked again from the right and then another from the left. I ran under the cover of the porch. They were all around me, but I couldn't hone in on what they were.

  "Hummingbirds," a velvet voice said behind me.

  I jumped and grabbed my jaw, then I let out a little laugh.

  Tonya grinned at them. "Beautiful, aren't they?"

  "Yes. They are."

  A hummingbird hovered at a little glass cup hanging from a porch beam. Cups were hanging on every post, and hummingbirds swarmed around each of them.

  "You must be very intelligent.” She smiled, relaxing into the conversation. "Peter goes on and on about you. Every day he comes home with a story about you. I'm so glad he's in school. He thinks most people are boring."

  A hummingbird darted past my ear with a strange swishing, buzz that caused me to duck, which made my jaw pulse. She laughed at my reaction. "They seem to be curious about you."

  "That, or they want to eat me."

  "They're aggressive, territorial creatures," she said.

  I eyed another tiny, winged creature scouting me. "I see that."

  "They don't attack humans. They probably think you're another post on the porch or your beard is a nest." She laughed, covering her mouth.

  I grinned back at her, watching her trying to tame the laugh into a giggle. "I'm sorry, Matt."

  I finger combed my beard. "I'm not that skinny, am I?" playing along with her good humor.

  "You'll be fine as long as you aren't evil."

  How did she know? I raised my eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

  Turning to the birds feeding from the small jars. "They're known for promoting happiness, beauty, and for warding off evil spirits." She spoke with a soft, confident passion and pulled out a pendant hidden between her breasts. "See?"

  I regarded both the pendant and her breasts. "Yes, beautiful."

  "Are you an evil spirit, Matt?"

  "I'm not a spirit, and I don't think I'm evil, but sometimes I wonder."

  "You mean you don't know?" she smiled with a laugh.

  Oh, God. Is she flirting with me? Oh, brother, I haven't even made it inside the door. However, she was a beautiful woman, so I gave it my best try. "I guess you can give me a verdict at the end of the evening."

  She laughed again. "Okay. I like that. You have a deal."

  Peter ran into the front yard from the side of the house carrying a sloshing pitcher of water in one hand and a coffee mug in the other. Tonya slapped the side of her thigh. "Peter, there you are."

  "No, there you are. I guess you guys have been getting to know each other?"

  Tonya seemed embarrassed. "I was just telling Mr. Christian how much you're enjoying school."

  Peter nudged her with the side of the pitcher. "Don't tell him that."

  She shrilled, "Peter! That thing is freezing."

  He raised his eyebrows and gave her a big grin. "I know, that's why I did it."

  She swatted at his arm. "I'm going to beat you."

  "Well, I didn't want him to know I liked school."

  "Oh? I had no idea." I gloated.

  "Well, it's mainly because you are so pathetic."

  "Peter," Tonya gasped.

  "I'm kidding, Mom." He shot me a look. "Trust me. I'm mostly kidding."

  Everyone was quiet for a moment, then Peter broke the silence. "Oh, yeah, here you go." He poured the water into the cup. "May I offer you a drink sir?"

  "Oh, thank you, but I'm fine."

  Peter laughed. "No dummy, this is why you're here."

  I glanced over at Tonya to inquire what he was talking about, but she gestured for me to take the mug.

  "Oh. Okay," I said taking it. It was strange because I had almost forgotten about my tooth, about that dull, burrowing pain. "I won't waste any more of your time. Franklin sent me over here for my tooth?"

  Tonya and Peter nodded at each other.

  "Have some water and tell me about it," she said.

  "Well, I'm surprised you haven't already heard." I took a sip, but there was no nasty taste or odor. It was so cold I marveled at how it wasn't frozen.

  "Holy shit that's—" I glanced at Tonya, grabbing the size of my face. "I'm sorry," groaned.

  "No, he's not. He has a filthy mouth."

  I widened my eyes. "Don't tell her that."

  "You two, stop." She swatted me on the arm. "Matt, drink."

  "Yes, ma'am." I took another healthy swallow. It was so clean. I shook my head. "Oh my gosh, that's the best, frostiest water I've had," I said, then gulped down the rest. "Can I get another glass?"

  Peter poured more water from the plastic pitcher. "Sure."

  "So one of the dad's was pissed at me and tagged me in the face with a rock. It hurt like hell."

  "It looks like it," Tonya nodded.

  "Can I do it, Mom?" Peter asked with eagerness.

  "Let him finish his water."

  "Do what?" I asked.

  "Nothing," she said, waving me off.

  I finished the glass.

  "Here, Mr. Christian, I'll take that." He looked at his mom. "Now?"

  She nodded. "Yes."

  56

  Peter slapped me in the jaw.

  I held my cheek in surprise. "What the hell are you doing?"

  "How does your jaw feel?" Peter asked with wide, excited eyes.

  My mind raced with explosive expletives, but I guarded my tooth instead. I massaged my mouth, attempting to soothe the pain...but there was no pain.

  "It doesn't hurt anymore, does it?" Peter asked with his face beaming.

  There was a silence in my mind like a fuse had blown. "How?" I muttered, then turned to Tonya. "How did you do that?"

  "Welcome to the backwoods!" Peter shouted and then laughed.

  I looked at Tonya's grinning face. "Tell, Franklin he owes me one."

  "Wait. You did this?"

  "Not me; the land, the valley."

  "The what?" I questioned.

  She touched then squeezed my shoulder. "This is Shawnee land, and the land has power."

  I cocked my head and nudged her with my elbow. "You mean like magic?"

  She smiled and held up her hands to the sky. "The land, the water, all blessed by the spirits."

  "The spirits of what?"

  "Spirits of the valley."

  I smiled in delightful confusion. "No really, what did you put in the water? BC Powders?"

  She laughed. "Peter said you were funny. I do hope you will join us for lunch?"

  I ran my fingers over where my cut was. "Well, I—"

  "And, no offense, Mr. Christian, but you look like you could use a good meal. Peter said you only eat cereal."

  "But my face?" I said pointing to it.

  Peter chimed in, "I know. It's awful."

  "Matt, stay for lunch and we can talk."

  I was nervous because it would be my first meal with a beautiful, single woman in a long time, and on top of that, she may have just drugged me or healed me. Regardless, I was grateful.

  Finally, I let go of my face. "Well, to be honest, I can also make a mean grilled cheese."

  She and Peter both laughed.

  Peter pulled on my arm. "Does that mean you'll stay?"

  Oh, God. What was I supposed to do? Run. Throw up. Play dead. I looked at Peter's longing face, then Tonya's gentle grin. "I-I suppose so."

  "That's great! She's a great cook, too, Christian."

  "Here, Peter, take the glass back and bring Mr. Christian a mason jar of it."

  "Okey-dokey," Peter said, then ran toward one of the side buildings.

  A low growl came from inside the house, and I turned as a creature stalked behind Tonya. It looked like a shaved possum, a skeleton covered with gray fur. Even its eyes were gray. My breath went thin, a ghost possum.

  I pointed. "Tonya, look out."

  She turned. The creature barked. She grabbed her chest and began to laugh. "Oh, Matt, you startled me!"

  "Is it real?" I asked blinking.

  She knelt, picked it up, and kissed it. "This is Baby."

  "What kind of animal is that?"

  "Oh, Matt, you are too much. She's a Chihuahua."

  "That's the largest Chihuahua I've ever seen." All I could think was how grateful I was to have already shaken her hand.

  "She's a long-haired Chihuahua." She moved Baby's head toward her. "Aren't you, precious? She would have more hair, but she has the mange, but we can't seem to get rid of it."

  "Even with your magic water?"

  "Some things are beyond magic or"—she raised a finger—"they're illusions." She smiled.

  "Which is it?"

  "I'll never tell," she smiled coyly.

  "Poor, Baby," Tonya said. "She has cancer, too, and she's blind."

  The dog was hideous and knocking on death's door. "Oh, God. I'm sorry to hear that."

  "I know I should have her put down, but I just can't bring myself to do it. She doesn't seem to be in any pain." The two exchanged kisses. "Are you, sweetie? Momma loves her Baby."

  Tonya was beautiful, but I was disgusted. Even though I'd already shaken Tonya's hand, I realized she'd touched her dog before I arrived. I needed to wash them as soon as possible. "Poor... dog indeed," I said not even wanting to wipe my hands on my pants.

  The dog looked in my direction.

  I closed my eyes. As if Baby knew what I was thinking, she growled at me.

  "There, there, Baby. You know everyone is afraid of you at first. It's part of your charm, sweet girl."

  Blind or not, Baby's dead, gray eyes swayed like she was trying to find me. I avoided her gaze by glancing over at the hummingbirds.

  "Do you have any pets?" she asked.

  "Um. No."

  "A dog is a good thing to have in the valley—a living alarm."

  Or a canine corpse with the mange, I thought.

 

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