Blue Summer by jim Nichols

Author:jim Nichols
Format: epub

Eighteen

Baxter, Fall, 1966

So that’s how that spring and summer went, and then suddenly it was the first Saturday in September, just a few days before school was to start again. It was Saturday the fourth, actually; I know the exact date, because it was the worst day of my life, which is really saying something.

I’ve never been able to talk it about very well, and even typing it won’t be easy, but there’s no point in setting this all down if I shy away at this point.

Julie and I were alone in the house for once, because Pike had taken off fishing, and our mother had gone to pick up Alvin from the school science fair, where he’d won a prize for this little electric motor he’d made out of coils of wire, a bolt, and a battery.

We were watching American Bandstand (which Pike had banned as being sinful) and giggling while we twisted and turned on the couch, making fun of the city kids’ dance moves.

Then something changed in the room and we stopped.

It was Pike, standing in the doorway, sunburned and red-eyed, wearing khaki shorts and a yellow Pike Agency sweatshirt, with the sleeves cut off. We hadn’t heard him come in—because of the music, or because he could move very quietly when he wanted to; he liked to sneak up and see what he could catch you doing.

He just stared at us at first, then took two big steps over to the TV and snapped it off.

“Garbage,” he said, and he was slurring just a bit.

He turned to see how we’d react, but Julie and I just got up from the sofa and headed for the hallway. If you didn’t make a fuss and avoided interacting, it would sometimes be all right.

But this wasn’t one of those times. I made the mistake of glancing back as we turned the corner—which narrowed Pike’s eyes and pretty much drew him after us—and then when we were both in the hallway, Julie said, “God, I hate him.”

She said it quietly, but two more stealthy strides had brought Pike close enough to hear. He barged into the hallway behind us and barked, “What’s that?”

We felt his words like darts, and walked faster. But we didn’t run, because it might provoke him even more. He caught us in the kitchen, brushing me out of the way and grabbing Julie by the arm. He turned her so they were face-to-face.

“Got something on your mind, Princess?”

Julie said, “No!” and tried to pull away, but Pike wouldn’t let go.

When she kept struggling, he took her under both arms and brought her face up close, giving her a shake in the process. “I asked you a question, missy!”

I couldn’t breathe, the air was so charged. I couldn’t move, either.

But then Pike shook Julie again, and I jumped him. I threw my arms around his bull neck and yanked. But scrappy as I’d become lately, I was still just a skinny boy, and it was no trouble

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