Up Through the Water by Darcey Steinke

Author:Darcey Steinke [Steinke, Darcey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-26T20:00:00+00:00

“Before you shits got here, either raising your motels or working in them, this place was real nice.” John Berry sat across from Birdflower, who listened, his eyes tied to the tiny reflection of himself in his bottle. “I grew up in a house on Howard Street. You know what happened? Some idiot bought it from my mother. Painted it yellow. And is calling it the Canary Guest Cottage.”

“Why'd you throw the bottle?” Birdflower said.

“There's not a person I see in the winter months crossing that I don't know,” John Berry continued.

Through straggles of loose hair, Birdflower was looking him over.

“If you think this has nothing to do with you, asshole, you're wrong.”

Birdflower stood up. “Man, you're nuts.”

“Sit down,” John Berry said, standing and pushing him back into his chair. The bartender made a warning sign. John Berry held up his hand. “Okay, okay,” he said.

Birdflower stood. “Any other words of wisdom you'd like to lay on me before I go.”

Creepy Dracula music played and John Berry threw back his head like a crazy person. “She'll leave you, too,” he said. “You fucking guru.”

* * *

Alone on the road Birdflower counted his ribs carefully like a child doing scales. Headlights flashed in a parade of beach jeeps and trucks heading to the bar. He stuck his hands deep in his pockets and walked barefoot in the loose sand at the side of the road. He lost his balance and fell. Sharp gravel pushed into his palms and his knees grated against the asphalt. Standing, he brushed his hands and ran barefoot toward the restaurant.

Hidden by the low cedars near the storage shed, he watched her. The bright lights of the kitchen showed her arm ladling soup. He saw her face muted behind the screen's haze.

Nothing was wrong. Safe in the kitchen, she was working for Neal, who had an old boyfriend here for the weekend. She was even dressed in the cutoffs he had left wedged down in the covers of her bed. Birdflower lit a cigarette. They were going together to Norfolk in a few days. Things would settle. She was with him, not John Berry, who was just an ignorant old island boy way out of his league.

It was obvious to Birdflower that she didn't want John Berry, that her fascination with the backward lives of the islanders was over. Though he hadn't known her long, Birdflower convinced himself that they had similar desires, and that he was better suited for her because he understood free love.

Gnats circled his head: she would stay with him. Birdflower watched her put onions in an unseen frying pan—heard the snap and sizzle and imagined the blue gas flame. Moving back into the shadows, he watched her step out and head for the walk-in. Behind the veil of cold smoke she chose things. When she came out she gazed at the night sky. Birdflower looked up with her at a star showing through moving clouds.

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