The Night the Sky Fell Read Online Free PDF Page B

this moment of their chemistry. All could somehow feel their heat. Ann’s father Murray hoped someday that she might date a young Jewish guy. But that was only because Dassi, her mother, wanted it so badly. But Murray thought that this was okay…this spark between them. Dassi wasn’t quite sure. No young man had ever come to the door to take Ann out on a date. Murray and Dassi looked at each other for a solution to the chemistry. Was it good or was it bad? They concluded with a nod that this was okay for now.
      All seemed to feel this special moment and all were happy except Tricia. Tricia and Ann were best friends forever and it would seem that one BFF would be happy for the other. But Tricia couldn’t stand the thought that a good looking young man would appreciate someone else over her…even though the guy was an Indian.  
    While Tricia was guiding Banks to the backyard, she concluded that his apparent disinterest in her was that he was simply gay. This solved her temporary insecurity. She reveled in her judgement. After all, she had remarkable gaydar in school.  
    Tricia philosophized to herself, “Straight boys want to undress me. Gay boys want to dress me.”  
    She remembered a month back when a random Gay Boy said to her, “I’d die for your shoes. But Sweetie, your hand bag needs some…”
    “Je ne sais quoi?” She added.
    “Exactly, said Gay Boy, and we must get some on Saturday at the mall!”
    Life was momentarily good for Tricia. And as Banks and she exited the house, Tricia went berserk. She saw the gaze between Ann and Banks and worse, she felt it. And of course, she wasn’t included. Envy engulfed her. To make things right, her pretense was to save Ann from the impending doom of this Romeo and Juliet moment.
    Thinking quickly, Tricia clutched Banks’ arm and guided him away from Ann to her parents and competently made introductions while blocking Ann’s view. But Ann made her move; after all she learned from the best teacher…her BFF. Ann boldly walked to Banks as the four parents looked on.
      “Hello, Banks. I’m Ann…the girl next door.”  
    “Ann, I like your name. It’s simple yet regal.”  
    Tricia whispered under her breath, “Oh brother!” Then she escorted Banks away to Peyton. At the very instant that Banks tussled Peyton’s hair, the stars above twinkled brightly. That synchronicity was back. This was to be more than just a wonderful evening. This was to be a mystical event.
    Tricia blocked yet another advance from Ann: “Wipe the drool off your face, girl. So unseemly.”  
    Ann responded, “You know what I think?”  
    From Tricia with venom: “Slutty thoughts, Ann!”  
    Ann retorted, “Stop it, you’ve got Johnny.”  
    Tricia asserted, “Johnny’s for school.”  
    Ann summed it up, “You never noticed Banks until I did. What’s up with that?”  
    Softly and lovingly Tricia replied: “Oh, Ann. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. He’s too old for you and besides, you come from different tribes. I’m trying to protect you from impending disaster.”  
    Ann rolled her eyes and then they settled on Banks’ whose eyes were locked on hers accompanied with a sweet smile. This was breathless charm! As Banks sat on a lawn chair, Ann and Tricia sat next to him like two kids playing tug of war. The others joined and all conversation becomes public. From a bird’s eye view, the scene was a circle of seven white folk and one Indian. Then the Monarch Raven landed on the Powers’ roof.
    Murray and Dassi were the last to join the circle. Although the Abrams kept a kosher home with carefully prepared meats and two separate place settings, one for dairy and one for meat, they followed the modern trend which was ‘kosher in—anything out.’ Dassi bit into her non-kosher hamburger, shaking a bit as if the wrath of the Supreme Creator were about to deliver punishment. Murray asked Banks, “When do the fireworks start?” All eyes were on Banks who