“I’ve been doing this a long time since I’ve had three daughters in cheer, and I’m telling you that if you don’t stack the brownies, people will walk right on by. These are kids. They have no attention span.”
“What about these balloons we’ve got tied here? That’ll draw attention.”
“Yeah. Right. Like this is fourth grade.”
Kay glanced behind Jill at two of the other moms who were watching. She tried a smile, but they just stared. This was her first year as a cheer mom. She’d been against Jenna trying out for cheerleading, but Damien had convinced her Jenna was really good at it. She hated how pressured the girls were to wear those tight, belly-exposing uniforms. “All right. I’ll stack the brownies. No problem.”
Jill spun around. “Who has the change bag?”
“Nobody’s picked it up,” one lady said.
“Can’t anybody do anything around here?” Jill threw her hands up. Fifteen bracelets clanked against each other. “I’ll be back.”
As Jill stomped away, Kay took in a deep breath. All this drama over brownies? She began taking the brownies, which she’d laid in a perfectly acceptable circle, off the platter and started over.
“Don’t worry about her.” An attractive woman with a sleek ponytail and darkly lined eyes stood next to the table.
“Oh, um . . .”
“I’ve done cheer moms with her twice, and she’s a total control freak. I’m Shannon Branson, by the way.”
“Kay Underwood.”
The blonde behind leaned in. “She’s having an affair.”
Shannon glanced at her. “Kelly, you’re serious?”
“Totally serious. Susan told me.”
Susan popped up from a box she was digging through. “Nobody really knows what’s going on, except she’s coming home at two in the morning. That’s what her neighbor told me.”
“How do you know her neighbor?” Kelly asked.
“We go to church together.”
Kay tried a casual lean against the table. “All I know is she and Mike are getting a divorce.”
Shannon’s eyes widened. “No kidding.”
“Yeah, um, she told me herself.” Not exactly true. She’d heard something about it while eavesdropping on one of Jenna’s phone conversations.
“Maybe that explains her mood,” Kelly said, then looked at Kay, putting a hand over her arm. “Well, whatever. Don’t mind her. She’s a brat and always has been, which is probably why she’s getting a divorce. Did she say anything else about it?”
Susan said, “The day we were making the posters, I went to the bathroom and she was on her cell phone in there, really upset and crying.”
Kelly roared with laughter. “I see where Natalie gets her drama-queen genes. According to my Madison, Natalie cries at the drop of a hat.” She checked her watch. “The kids will be here in about fifteen. Kay, you want to come with me, grab some Starbucks for us?”
“Yeah, we’ll definitely need Starbucks,” Susan said. “You’ll be our lifesaver and forever friend!”
Kay smiled. “Sure, I’ll go with you.” As they walked off, Kay grinned and looked over her shoulder. “But, Susan, whatever you do, stack those brownies.”
The women howled.
4
Frank devoured fourteen chicken wings before he spoke a word to Damien, who never kept up, though he tried hard. The problem with Damien was his aversion to gristle, which slowed him down considerably.
Frank downed another bottle of beer and turned the sound up on the television, which had picture-in-picture going so they could watch the ESPN highlight show and the NFL game.
Damien popped open another can of Mountain Dew. “So, how’d it go?” he asked, wiping his mouth and reaching for a few more wings.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Damien leaned forward. “That’s different.”
“It’s a hard day for me, but I made it through.”
“That’s good, right?”
“That’s good. Maybe it’s getting easier.”
“It probably helped that you didn’t look through your old photo albums.”
“Yeah. Thanks for taking those.”
“Have another chicken wing.”
“My tongue is on fire,” Frank said. “Just the way I like it. You know, the first sign that Angela and I might not make it was the day I ordered chicken wings to surprise her for our anniversary.”
“A good woman loves chicken wings.”
“I know, and I totally thought she was that kind of woman. I really did. I mean, she smokes cigars sometimes. How can she hate chicken wings?”
“I don’t know, dude. Women are hard to figure out. Kay’s going through some sort of high school crisis with the cheerleading mothers. And she’s got a weird aversion to anything Jenna wears that doesn’t look like she stepped off an Amish buggy. I don’t get women, even my own.”
“You’re lucky to have ’em.”
“There are other women out there, looking for someone as loyal as you. In fact, there’s a woman at the office who—”
Frank held out a saucy hand. “Don’t want to hear it.”
“All right, fine. I tried.”
“It’s practically part of our yearly tradition now.”
“Speaking of traditions, let’s get War started.”
Frank hopped up. “Hold on. I gotta show you something. Follow me.” He led Damien downstairs to the basement, where his computer was.
“Aw, man. No, no. Let’s not do this tonight. I was in such a good mood,” Damien moaned.
“It’s not what you think.”
“That’s what you always say, and then the next thing I know, you’re showing me how to install a webcam or a wireless device. And although I appreciate the coolness of GPS, I just don’t want it.”
Frank sighed. “How do you even live in this world? Honestly. It’s not like you have to program anything. I think you must be still scarred from the early days of the VCR. Computers are easy to use.”
“You’re not going to be saying that when they take over the world and start hunting us for food.”
“Funny. If that happens, they’re going after you first because you don’t even know how to turn one off.”
“Now you’re being mean.”
Frank laughed. “You’d score huge points with Hunter if you showed him you were at least open to the idea of computers.”
“Computers are doing nothing but dumbing down our society.”
“Well, at least you’re keeping the resource department open at the library.”
“You should darken the door of a library once in a while. You might like it.”
“Yes. The Dewey decimal system is infinitely fascinating. Pull up a chair.”
Damien sighed as Frank yanked the string on the lightbulb. “I promise I’m not going to try to sell you on anything. But I found this on the Web and thought it was interesting.”
“Of course the Antichrist is interesting. That’s what makes so many people fall for him.”
Frank rolled his eyes. “No matter how many ways you spin it, www does not add up to 666. Now, stop fearing Armageddon and check this out.”
Damien leaned in. “What is it?”
“It’s called a Web site.”
Damien cut him a look.
“Just read it for a second.”
Damien moved in closer and silently read for a minute or so. “Okay, not really getting it. Is this a blog? Because it seems like endless nonsense.”
“I’m not sure what it is,” Frank said. His tone seemed a little more subdued. “It appears to be people’s conversations. They’re typed out, like transcribed or something.”
“What people?”
“That’s the question. But look at the top of the page. It’s a warning to our town. It specifically says Marlo.”
Damien squinted. “I’ve got to get glasses. What is that type, eight point?”
I have listened to you for a long time now, Marlo. Longer than I
should. I have tried not to listen, to tell you the truth. I’ve covered my ears, but your words are like flaming arrows. They pierce through anything, including, maybe, my good judgment.
I have hoped for more from you. I have given you the benefit of the doubt. I have stood near you and watched your faces, hoping to see light. Goodness. Anything.
But there are only words. So many. Too many. Or maybe not enough. I’m not sure. All I know is that they hang over all of you like the eye of the storm. It seems peaceful, doesn’t it? Like blue skies and calm winds?
The storm is coming, and it will sweep you away. The destruction will not end. Even when you call for help, it will not come. Because you have not listened.
My words are finished here. I will not speak again.
From this day forward, all you will hear are your words.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
www.listentoyourself.net
“It seems like somebody in Marlo is going around randomly recording conversations and then posting them to this Web site.” Frank looked at Damien as if waiting for him to say something.
“Terrific. I’m going to eat more wings.”
“Wait.” Frank grabbed his arm. “Seriously, this is weird.”
“There is no normal on the Web. It’s where every freak in the world is celebrated.”
“Look, I know you hate the Web. But don’t you think this is strange? I mean, posting people’s personal conversations? Sometimes there are five or six posts a day, and it’s just conversation after conversation.”
“Which was exactly what I was hoping for tonight. Mountain Dew and good conversation with my lifelong friend, Frank, who continues to faithfully mourn his ex-wife every year on their ex-anniversary and then celebrate, with his best friend and a bucket full of wings, the fact that he’s still rolling along.” Damien turned. “So let’s go.”
Frank sighed and followed him upstairs. “You’re in kind of a bad mood, aren’t you? I’m the one supposed to be sulking.”
“I’m actually in a good mood,” Damien said, returning to the couch. “I got promoted to investigative reporter.”
Frank stopped, his hand halfway to the bucket of wings. “You’re kidding.”
“Why would I be kidding?”
“Because you love your opinion and you love writing about your opinion.”
“I know. And I’ll still be doing that. But I thought maybe trying something new would put some life back into my work. It’s not quite as exciting as yours. I don’t get to hang out in school zones and wait for the principal.”
“You heard about that.”
“Surprisingly, news also travels the old-fashioned way these days. It’s called gossip.”
Frank grinned. “It was a fine moment.”
“I wish I could’ve seen the look on his face.”
“Back to your big news. So what does this mean? A big raise?”
“Actually it’s twice the amount of work for the same pay.”
Frank groaned. “That’s just like you, to get excited about something like that.”
“Words excite me. What can I say?”
Frank’s mood dampened. “Maybe I’m not as fond of words as you are.”
“Yes, well, words on the Internet are substandard words, Frank. They’re like the ugly stepchildren of all things literary.”
“Just shut up and take a chicken wing before I threaten to destroy all your eight-tracks.”
* * *
Damien arrived home to a quiet house, but he knew Hunter was upstairs by the glow of his bedroom light from outside. He dropped his things and pushed the answering machine button. They had to buy an answering machine because Damien refused to get the voice mail off the phone.
“Hey, it’s me. Jenna and I are still at the game. Went into overtime. Not sure when we’ll be home. Hope you had fun at Frank’s.”
The iron wall clock in the living room said fifteen minutes after ten. He climbed the stairs and tapped on Hunter’s bedroom door before swinging it open.
“Dad!” Hunter shot up, hit his leg against his desk, toppled the chair over, and tumbled to the floor. “What are you—?” From the floor, he reached up to his computer and clicked the mouse.
Damien froze, his legs spread wide, one hand on the doorknob and the other raised like something dangerous might be flying his direction. But no, all the excitement erupted from a speedy entrance into his son’s bedroom. Which caused Damien to instantly think the worst.
It was probably showing on his face by the way Hunter suddenly grinned wildly. “Sorry. You just scared me to death.”
“Oh? How would I do that?”
“I wasn’t expecting you; that’s all. I was . . . uh . . . concentrating on something here.”
“What?”
“Some math stuff. There’s a . . . uh . . . Web site that we can get on for math help.”
“Need some help right now? I’d be happy to—”
“No thanks. I got it figured out. I was just going to bed.” Hunter pulled off his socks and hopped onto his bed, fully clothed. “So, good night.”
A sudden sorrow swept over Damien. It was unexpected and frightening, as if his son were miles away and he couldn’t reach him. He and Kay had discussed not allowing Hunter his own computer in his room, but Kay had argued that they should trust him. Plus, the kid’s life revolved around computers and technology. Damien figured Hunter would probably make a great living at it someday.
If he didn’t turn out to be a reprobate. Damien whimpered as the word crossed his mind. How could he even think that? He glanced at Hunter, who stared at him from his bed all the way across the room. Maybe he was being too hard on the kid. After all, he didn’t have cold, hard facts. If he was going to be an investigative reporter, he needed to have the facts.
He slowly let go of the death grip he had on the doorknob and smiled, about three and a half minutes too late. Now he just looked awkward or intoxicated. But a determination set in. No, he was not going to let Hunter fade away into the screen-saver sunset. He and his son had always been close. He took a few steps into the room.
“Need something?” Hunter asked, clutching his pillow against him.
“No. Just wanted to say hi. Hadn’t seen you all day. Guess your mom told you I’d be over at Frank’s.”
“I know. It’s Frank’s ex-anniversary, right?”
“Yeah. Had some chicken wings and stuff.”
“Cool. Chicken wings are good.”
“Yeah.”
Silence again.
Then, like a magnet pulling his face, Damien turned his head to the right to glance at the computer. Now he looked like a snoop! But shouldn’t he be snooping? Shouldn’t he be wondering? He had to save face quickly. “Hey, Frank showed me something interesting tonight. Can I borrow your computer?” He sat down in front of Hunter’s computer.
Hunter swung his legs around and his feet hit the floor. “Show me something on the computer?”
“Yeah. Believe it or not, I do know how to use one of these things. I just need you to get me on the Internet.”
Hunter walked over, took the mouse, clicked on something, and up popped a picture.
“Is this where I type in the World Wide Web thing?”
“The address. Yes.”
Damien’s hunt-and-peck method drove his son crazy, but he managed to get it all typed in and push Enter.
“What are you doing?” Hunter asked.
“Someone has started a Web site about our town. It’s kind of weird. They’re posting conversations. Only conversations. Frank says it’s not a blog. Take a look.”
Hunter leaned over Damien’s shoulder, then said, “Yeah. Okay. Cool.”
Damien spun in his chair, trying to act enthusiastic. “What do you think about it?”
Hunter shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either. It’s a little strange. Why would someone want to post conversation after conversation? Is that something
new? Like a clog?”
“Clog?”
“Conversation log.” Damien laughed. “Sorry. Just being funny.” He spun back around to look at the computer. “Anyway, I just thought you might find it interesting. But maybe not. It’s probably pretty boring to you. But you know me . . .”
“You love words.”
“I love words. Words are important. Words—”
“I know, Dad. Connect us.” Hunter stood next to him, looking at the screen. “Somebody has too much time on their hands. But maybe there’s a point to it.”
“Maybe.” Damien stood and pushed the chair against the desk. They were connecting here. This was good. “I got the investigative reporter job today, so I’m probably going to have to start using a computer more for research and things like that. I was wondering if maybe you could show me a few things this weekend, like how to do research using search engines.”
“Sure. No problem.”
Damien grabbed Hunter’s shoulder and pulled him into a quick hug, then went to the door. “You know you can always come talk to me. About anything. You know that, right?”
Hunter nodded.
“And that I’m always proud of you. You’re a good kid, and I’m amazed at how much you know about computers. I know you’re going to go places.”
Hunter’s dull eyes of late brightened a little. “I kinda want to do what you do.”
“What I do?”
“Yeah. I think it’s cool how you write stuff and people respond and how you can change people’s minds and make people think about things. Like that.”
Damien couldn’t stop the smile on his face if he wanted to. “Really? I had no idea you even thought about it.”
“Not all the time, Dad. Just sometimes. Don’t get carried away.”
Damien grinned. “Good night, Son.”
Damien quietly shut the door and glanced down the hallway. Kay was coming up the stairs and going into their bedroom. Damien followed her in.
“There you are!” she said. “I was looking for you.”
“Just chatting with Hunter.”
“Oh. Everything okay?”