Page 92 of Driftwood Daffodil

What else did one do with liquid?

“I could try and chew the sweet tea,” I dropped my gaze down to the contents of the glass, “But I don’t think that would work very well.”

“You know what I mean, Nova.” Veda scolded. “There better not be alcohol in there. It’s a school night.”

“Relax, Mother Teresa, it’s just sweet tea.” After my last drunken binge Maw Maw declared our trailer dry territory.

“Nova?”

“Ugh, Veda.” I shot back.

“Alright then,” she crossed her arms. “If you’re not drinking, then what are you doing out here?”

“Is there something wrong with someone enjoying the night air?”

“Someone, no. You, yes.”

I lifted my hand holding the glass and pointed at her, “I’m hurt by your insinuation.”

I wasn’t always up to something. In this case I was, but that was beside the point.

My eyes narrowed on the blue trailer down the road as two little boys busted out the door. Billy and Kyle Dunbar.Little pissants.

“Hello, are you even listening to me?” Veda sang.

“Of course I am” I stretched my neck to watch as they headed out into the yard.

That’s right you little shits, go check on your precious bikes.

They looked pretty worried. I can’t imagine why. Everyone around here knew those bikes were their prized possessions. And no one liked upsetting a child.

What kind of person would do that? Perhaps the same kind of person that would make an anonymous phone call warningthem that someone was checking out their bicycles. What could I say, I needed a distraction. And as Maw Maw said, neighbors should look out for each other.

“What are you doing?”

Oh right, Veda.

“I’m waiting.” I answered.

Her brow rose, “For what?”

Kyle’s grubby hand reached out for his bike and my voice deepened, “Revenge.”

A cloud of shaving cream erupted as the frantic screams of little boys flowed through my ears in a satisfying rhythm. And now my night was complete.

I sucked back another mouthful of sweet tea and let out a loud, “ah.”

Veda’s mood however, did not improve. Based on the look she was currently giving me, I’d said it dropped from somber silence to full on irritation. But it was a reaction, and that was more than she normally gave.

“Nova.”

“What?” I said in my most innocent tone.

“They’re little boys.”

“No,” I argued. “They’re evil spawns of Satan that deserve a lot more than what they got.”

Shaving my legs tomorrow wouldn’t be pleasant, but it was totally worth it.

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