Naked Mole Rat Saves the World by Karen Rivers

Author:Karen Rivers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Published: 2019-10-04T02:25:08+00:00

Clem

It was the first time Clem had gone with Jorge to one of Abu’s shows since The Most Talented Family in America, and she felt funny about it. Jorge, of course, had never stopped going. He always wanted to help and Abu always asked for help even though they weren’t really helpful. Jorge was so Jorge sometimes that she wanted to scream.

Specifically, she wanted to scream, “STOP BEING SO HELPFUL!”

An off-Broadway musical wasn’t the same thing as a TV talent show, but it also was the same thing. It was a spectacle. There were the same lights and the same hustle and bustle and the same dusty smell that seemed to always hang around stages (even when they were clean) and the same rows and rows of empty seats in the audience waiting to be filled.

This particular show was taking place at a small theater off-off-off-Broadway. It was not Abu’s usual kind of job, which should have made it no big deal, but Clem was nervous, all the same. “It’s not like you’re in the show!” she told herself. “Keep it together!”

Keep It Together was a kit-thing, so right away, she felt bad all over again about kit. She dug her fingernails into her arm because for some reason, the pinch of them made her feel better.

“This show is a labor of love for me!” Abu said. “Which means I’m working for almost nothing, but I love this crazy, magnificent show. Sometimes you have to do things just for fun and I’m having a blast!” He high-fived the air.

His exuberance made Clem ache for the person she used to be and wasn’t anymore.

Had she ever been that happy about anything? Ever?

“Do you love it?” asked Abu. He held his arms out, like he was going to embrace the entire stage.

“It looks good,” said Clem. “I like it.”

“It’s amazing, Abu!” Jorge said. “It’s the best!” He whooped and then ran across the stage, jumped off, and hopped over the rows of seats until he was in the middle of where the audience would be. “IT’S SO GREAT FROM HERE, TOO!” he yelled. He did two thumbs up, which seemed like one too many, to Clem. She scowled. Too much unbridled enthusiasm made her prickly.

“Settle down,” she mumbled, but not loudly enough for anyone else to hear.

Sometimes, like now, it felt as though it was her job to keep everyone from getting too wildly enthusiastic, too crazily out of control and her job was exhausting. Unbearable, really.

Clem wandered over to the side of the stage, crouched in the wings and looked back at the set. It was definitely different. Everything was built to look as though it were being viewed through a twisty, distorted lens. Buildings and trees and huge fire hydrants painted crazy colors that glowed under black lights all hung at different angles, moving slightly like they were in a breeze. The movement made her eyes feel like they couldn’t focus, which made her a bit queasy. And, anyway, if she were to be critical, she’d say that the skyline was too tall and too bendy.

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