The Encampment by Stephen Davenport

Author:Stephen Davenport
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: West Margin Press
Published: 2020-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

Sylvia and her parents and Aunt M were gathered in the Little Room of the Head’s House, reading the books they had given each other for Christmas. It was cozy and warm. Her dad had lit a fire. “I love reading together like this,” he said. “It’s how it used to be before central heating. Now everybody goes off to their own room.”

Sylvia remembered back in sophomore year when Gregory van Buren had mentioned in class that Jane Austen wrote her novels in the living room surrounded by conversation and card games. Elizabeth had murmured from her desk, “Maybe that’s why her books are so boring.”

“What?” Gregory had asked.

Elizabeth had answered: “I really didn’t care whether Miss Bennett and Mr. Darcy ever got married. He was a horse’s ass, and she should never have persuaded herself that he wasn’t. Like it implies in the first sentence, what is interesting is the economics of the time. That could have been explained in a short essay, not in a boring romance novel.” Gregory had challenged her to write that essay and three days later she handed it in. It was so interestingly acerbic that Gregory read it out loud to the class.

Sylvia was trying to remember whether that was the moment she’d first been attracted to Elizabeth or if it was when she first noticed the oil rig on her ankle with the big X over it when she heard a knock on the front door.

Her dad got up and went to the door. Sylvia heard him say, “Merry Christmas and happy new year, Gloria. Come on in. Want some coffee?”

“No, thank you. I have some good news for Rachel and Sylvia, that’s all.”

“Good news? What a nice Christmas present! Come on in.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Gloria said, a minute later, her large form almost filling the doorway to the Little Room. She was dressed in a wool shirt and jeans, no coat. Upholding the tradition even on vacation.

“That’s all right, come on in,” her mom said. “What’s up?”

“Yes, tell us,” Sylvia said. Why doesn’t she ever tell me when I’m by myself? Aunt M was watching Sylvia over the top of her book. Her face was blank.

“Whoever stole the stuff brought it back.”

“They did!” Sylvia said. “When?”

“I don’t know.” Gloria looked mystified. “Security found it early this morning. Someone left a pile of it by the door of the shed.”

“Really?” her mom said. “That is good news.”

“Someone stole something?” her dad asked.

“Yes,” her mom said. “A while back. From the Outdoor Adventure Club.”

“Oh?” He glanced at Sylvia. “I don’t remember your telling us that. The Outdoor Club is pretty important to you.”

“I didn’t think it was that interesting,” Sylvia said. “I mean, people steal things.”

“Besides, you weren’t home,” her mom said, pointedly.

He flushed and stared.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

Gloria frowned, looked confused.

“Well, anyway,” Sylvia said. “It’s a relief to know it was an outside job, since the stuff was returned on vacation when the students were gone.”

Her mom looked surprised. “I never suspected it would be anything else.

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