An Ocean in Iowa by Peter Hedges

Author:Peter Hedges [Hedges, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7953-4318-6
Publisher: RosettaBooks
Published: 2014-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

(3)

In the morning, after a breakfast of coffee cake, the Judge and his children opened their remaining presents. Maggie was the last to notice Scotty’s lack of enthusiasm, the way he slowly opened gifts. “You’ve lost the Christmas spirit,” she said, as she emptied her Christmas stocking on the living room carpet. Inside she found Barbie’s Accessory Pak and the Barbie Hair Fair, which included one Barbie head with short hair, a wiglet, ringlets, ponytail, and extra wig.

She sighed and said, “No more Barbie! Please!”

Then Claire carefully removed the wrapping off a book. It was a biography on Thomas Jefferson, whom both the Judge and Claire admired. By coincidence, Jefferson’s daughter had taken over the running of Jefferson’s house after his wife had died. The Judge apologized for the inference. But Claire said, “There are many differences between Patsy Jefferson and me. The most obvious is that they had slaves.”

Over the coming weeks, and always after Claire had ordered Maggie and Scotty to shovel the driveway or take out the trash, Maggie would say, “Yes, master.”

Claire got upset at the insinuation. She was no slave driver: She was doing the best she could.

The Judge insisted Maggie stop it. So Maggie substituted Mother for master, which Scotty began to imitate. “Yes, Mother. Okay, Mother.” Occasionally this would make Claire cry, but mainly she ignored them, clearing her throat in an intentional manner, and assigned them more chores.

***

As the Judge prepared to open his gift, Claire said, “Explain it, Scotty.”

Scotty said nothing.

“It was your idea,” Claire reminded him.

The commercial had been Scotty’s favorite during the holiday season. Santa Claus riding the Norelco Tripleheader shaver as if it were a sled down a snowy mountain. Santa delivering toys to all the good boys and girls on a razor. Every time the commercial played, Scotty lunged toward the TV and followed the razor with his finger as Santa rode it through the snow.

When he and his sisters had been dropped at Kmart to do their shopping, Scotty announced his idea. Anything to soften the Judge’s face had been Scotty’s thinking. A simple hug felt like a bed of nails being pressed to his face. It seemed like the perfect gift.

“It’s rechargeable, Daddy,” Maggie said.

The Judge seemed pleased.

Scotty started to open his gift after his sisters insisted.

“It’s what you asked for,” the Judge said.

Scotty couldn’t remember having asked for anything. He was in a fog. Everything felt as if it were covered in maple syrup. Was he the only one upset?

“Did you hear Dad, Scotty?” Claire asked. “He said it’s what you asked for.”

That meant Scotty better like it.

“Hurry up.”

Scotty finished tearing off the wrapping paper. The gift was an official NFL boy’s Minnesota Vikings uniform. In a few weeks the Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs would play in Super Bowl IV.

Inside the box were a helmet, shoulder pads, padded pants, and a purple and white jersey. Included were two sets of iron-on numbers.

“Gee, I wonder what number Scotty will want,” Maggie said.

Not only

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