Flood by Melissa Scholes Young

Author:Melissa Scholes Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction / Coming Of Age, Fiction / Contemporary Women, Fiction / Family Life, Fiction / Literary
Publisher: Center Street
Published: 2017-06-27T04:00:00+00:00

BOBBY’S ASLEEP ON THE COUCH with his Game Boy beeping beside him. It’s sitting on top of Ms. B’s Tom and Becky manual; the cover is so worn that the g is faded and it now reads Paintin Fences, which is probably how folks would say it anyway. I turn off the Game Boy and tuck a light blanket around Bobby. I crank the air conditioner and stand in front of the coughing breeze.

Out the front window, a truck is shining its brights on the house. Whoever is inside is laying on the horn and won’t stop. Bobby stirs but falls back asleep. Dwayne and Darren come running through the house and out the front door in a rush just as the truck peels away. Sammy and Lance trail them and they all climb in Lance’s truck and follow the truck like they’re in an episode of the Dukes of Hazzard. Chelsea, Lisa, and Rose stand on the front porch watching the drama. “Bastard! What an asshole!” Rose yells at the empty road. It must have been Josh harassing Rose’s little party. Looks like he’s getting exactly what he wants. A high school car chase, a fight in a parking lot somewhere, drama that says nothing has changed at all.

The girls and I sit on the front porch talking and waiting for the guys to return. The conversation moves easily from Jesus to Jalaxy! “I heard your mama’s selling it, Laura. That true? I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout tryin’ it.”

“It’s true. I’m her little guinea pig, too.”

“Well, you look amazin’!” Lisa says, leaning over to look at my backside.

“I feel good, too, but I can’t say that it’s just the supplement. I’m eatin’ better, too.” No one is interested in my nutrition, though.

“I’m gonna call her up tomorrow, that’s for sure,” Chelsea agrees.

“My boss’s wife took it and said her diabetes is completely gone,” Rose adds.

I frown at Rose. “I highly doubt that.” I’m about to launch into a medical explanation of diabetes and nutritional supplements, but Lance’s truck comes around the corner and the guys are hooting and hollering from the cab. “You totally would of kicked his ass!” Darren yells, slapping Dwayne on the back. They didn’t catch up with Josh after all, but it doesn’t matter. It’s all about the chase, the effort, how you look.

I slip out a side door and walk the dark alley to my car. I open the car door, sink into the driver’s seat, and close my eyes. Rose is right. I do hide a lot when I’m in Hannibal. Something pulls me back here every time, but it strangles me just the same. I wipe the sweat off my face and turn on the key. The engine clicks five times before it stalls.

“Starter’s out. Or it’s your battery,” a voice says from the dark. It’s Dwayne. “Pop the hood.” He walks around the car, unlatches the hood, and looks inside.

After a few seconds, he calls, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere. Battery’s almost dead. Just wait.

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