Cleaning Up by Leanne Lieberman

Author:Leanne Lieberman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Groundwood Books Ltd
Published: 2023-01-23T14:37:42+00:00

Yolo pulled up with beer and chips, his fingers still waterlogged from teaching swimming for eight hours. He wrapped a beefy arm around Cat’s shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek. He and Cat set up a folding table outside and used a sarong as a tablecloth. They set the table with an assortment of mismatched plates and cutlery and lit citronella candles to keep away the mosquitoes.

In the kitchen, Jess tensed as she watched Matt mix cocktails.

“These are called Palomas. Very refreshing,” he explained as he poured tequila into grapefruit juice and added lime juice.

Jess clenched her fists behind her back. This wasn’t like her father binge drinking or the trailer park kids with their mickey, but still.

She cleared her throat. “Can you make me one without alcohol?” she asked.

Matt grinned. “Since you are a minor that is an excellent idea.”

Jess gave a quiet sigh of relief and carried the drinks to the table. When she sank into a chair her arms and legs were tired from pulling weeds and digging, but it was a good tired.

After the dishes had been cleared, they retreated to the barn to the piano and Yolo’s drum set. Jess sank into the saggy sofa, happy to listen to the music.

She liked this time at the barn best. The others would forget that she was there as they played songs and talked about people they knew at school, and Jess would imagine that she played a violin or maybe just a ukulele and could be part of the band. No one seemed to care or mind that she listened to their band practice, just like no one seemed to care that her flip-flops were from the dollar store, or that she’d never been to Great Wolf Lodge or driven to Florida for March break. No one noticed how quiet she was when Cat and Yolo debated the relative merits of East Side Mario’s versus Kelseys — restaurants she’d never been to, or that she had nothing to add to conversations about skiing at Calabogie. They also didn’t care when Jess waved away offers of an occasional joint.

Jess closed her eyes as the others played the “Saturday Night” song they’d written, Yolo sweating at the drums, Cat intensely strumming her guitar and Matt alternately banging out chords on the piano and wailing away on the bass, as if he couldn’t decide which to play.

Suddenly he stopped playing.

“Hold up, guys.” He held his hands to his head, thinking. “The song needs something more.”

Yolo rolled his eyes at Cat. She shrugged.

Matt paced around the barn, singing under his breath, tapping the beat against his legs.

“It’s not enough rhythm,” he muttered.

Then he smiled and disappeared behind the screen with his bed. They could hear him rummaging in a box or drawer.

Yolo sighed. “This is never a good sign.”

“This song is good. Very good,” Matt said, peeking out from behind the screen. “But it’s lacking something. And I think I’ve found it.” He held up a tambourine.

“Great,” Cat said.

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