Closer by Sea by Perry Chafe

Author:Perry Chafe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2023-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

The next morning, I stopped by Bennie’s before making the trek to the far end of the island. I knew that the boys were against going back to Solomon’s, but I thought Emily was firmly on board with the idea. Bennie’s parents were at work, but they now had house guests, so I thought it best not to barge in. For the first time ever, I rang the doorbell and listened as the faint musical interlude played inside. After a minute or so, the door swung open. But it wasn’t Bennie or Emily standing there. It was Emily’s mother, Sandra. She looked tired. Her short hair was sticking straight up in places, and she was still wearing a blue flannel housecoat.

“Yes?” she asked in a raspy voice.

“Is Emily home… I mean Bennie,” I replied, not wanting to be disrespectful.

She smiled. It was the same smile as Emily’s. “You’re Pierce, Diane’s son,” she said.

I nodded.

“My god, you’re the spit of your dad,” she said, studying my face. Though I looked more and more like my father the older I got, no adult had ever said that to me, perhaps thinking it would just stir up those feelings of loss. But it didn’t. What I felt was a sudden rush of pride.

“Thanks,” I replied with a legitimate smile.

“Emily and Bennie left a while ago to meet a friend on the other side of the island.”

Her words hit me hard. The smile quickly disappeared from my face. They went without me. My mind racing, I muttered a thank-you before jumping back on my trike and peeling away.

A rage brewed inside me as I raced across the barrens to confront my so-called friends. It had rained earlier, which further dampened my mood. Normally, I loved the feel of the island after a downpour. That earthy smell mingling with the ocean air. The way the water would cling to the brightly colored clapboard of the houses, making it seem like they were freshly painted. Everything just seemed greener and more alive than before. But this time was different. The trek through the wet and bumpy terrain was a messy one given the speed at which I was going. Heavy brush and water-filled potholes soaked the legs of my jeans.

I pulled up to Solomon’s house a little after ten, consumed by feelings of anger and betrayal. I jumped off my trike and barreled up the steps, then pounded on the door with the side of my fist like it was a hammer.

The door swung open, but it wasn’t Solomon who greeted me. It was Thomas. And he was eating one of my mother’s date squares.

“What’s all the racket about?” Thomas asked, stuffing the last bite into his mouth. I struggled to comprehend what I was seeing.

“You’re here too!” I huffed.

“We were invited, remember?” he replied. “Did you bring any more baked goods?”

“What? No,” I snapped.

Thomas swung the door open. “No worries. Bennie brought a loaf of homemade bread.”

I followed him inside to the large rectangular room where Bennie was drinking tea from a ceramic mug with the Memorial University of Newfoundland logo.

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