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.