Plastic: A Novel by Scott Guild

Author:Scott Guild [Guild, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

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Max comes stumbling down the stairs in his snowsuit, lugging his overstuffed suitcase with both hands. Below him, his parents make hectic preparations: Jess shoving chicken breasts into a cooler, Gary staggering to the garage with a huge rat cage in his arms, the bars adorned with an intricate roller skate pattern. Inside, her forepaws clasped in prayer, Daphne kneels before an altar with a tiny funeral urn. The base of the urn reads:

Blorko, Blorko, he did not die:

He’s bound for that roller rink in the sky.

Across the set, the doorbell gives two sharp, sustained rings. Jess lifts her head from the cooler with a look of concern.

“I’ll get it,” she says to Max. She hurries to the foyer, presses an eye to the peephole.

“It’s O. Just O,” she says with relief. She pulls the door open.

Under the porch awning, the fake snow falling behind him, the waffle boy stands shivering in his jacket, his bread swelling and contracting with his heavy breathing. In his right mitten he grips a bulging duffel bag.

Jess notices the duffel; the relief leaves her face. “Hi, hon. Is there…Can we help you with something?”

The waffle is covered in damp spots from the snow; a sheen of tears rims his rubber eyes. In an unsteady voice he says:

“I’m so sorry to just…to show up like this. But my parents—they told me they’re not leaving. They think it’s all a hoax. A liberal scam,” he adds with an angry quaver.

Jess looks amazed. “They think we weren’t bombed?”

“No, they believe that part. But the radiation…they don’t think it’s spreading this far. All their message boards are saying it—that the media’s just trying to make Wafflin look bad.”

“They’re staying here. Dear God.”

“I told them we need to go. Right now,” O continues. “But they’re not budging. Neither is my brother.”

Jess glances back at Max, who stands behind her in the doorway. O catches sight of his friend and raises an awkward mitten in greeting. Max raises a hand as well.

“So…what are you saying?” Jess asks the waffle.

Max exhales noisily. “Don’t play dumb, Mom. His bag is right there.”

“But honey, we need our supplies. And the minivan is—”

“Mom.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” Jess says. Shamefaced, she turns to the shivering teen. “I’m sorry, this is all really…what a night, you know?”

“I can come with you?” O asks, his face brightening.

“Of course, dear. Of course you can. Now come in out of the snow. You’ll get all soggy.”

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