Free Rich Shapero by Too Far Page B

Bendies were in the
clear.
    "The cloudburst is over. But let's not
say farewell." Shivers spoke to their backs. "We're tight now. I've
got my gums in you, and I'm starting to chew."

6
    By the time they reached the Clearing, the
dinner hour was past. Mom would be angry, Robbie knew, and Dad would have to
calm her down. He and Fristeen said their goodbyes quickly. So much had happened.
The giants across the Pool were still looming before him. And when he put his
hand on the doorknob, it was shaking as if Shivers had hold of it. He wasn't
certain what he would tell his parents, but he couldn't wait to see them.
    When he walked through the door, neither
was in the living room. Except for the white candles, the dining table was
clear. Robbie glanced through the kitchen entry and saw Mom standing by the
sink. She wasn't doing anything, just gazing through the window with a stick of
celery in her hand.
    "Mom?"
    She jumped, then sighed and turned to face
him. "Daniel Boone's back," she said, as if from a distance.
    "Is Dad here?"
    "Not yet."
    Robbie saw the covered pots on the stove.
"What's for dinner?"
    "Linguine casalinga," Mom said.
She smiled, coming back to herself. "The way Grandma makes it. Hey—you're
drenched." She knelt, regarding him at close range.
    Could she see the agitation in his eyes?
    Robbie threw himself into her arms and
hugged her tightly. So often it seemed that Mom didn't understand. But there
were things Mom understood best. Sometimes you just wanted a squishy breast to
cry on. Sometimes you didn't want to be brave.
    "Oh Robbie—" Mom kissed him and
cradled him.
    "Will you help me change?"
    Mom laughed and nodded, and they started
down the hall.
    "It gets cold in the forest," he
told her. He shivered reflexively. "Know what me and Fristeen found? A
place where the trees are black and the water is red."
    Mom stepped into his room, sat on his bed
and drew him close. "Robbie—" She peered into his eyes, searching.
"You still love me. Don't you?"
    Mom seemed about to cry.
    "Of course, Mom."
    "I know you think I'm screwing up. I
think so too, sometimes. I'm sorry I'm always forcing rules on you."
    Robbie didn't know what to say.
    "We thought we wanted the same
thing," Mom said.
    He patted Mom's hand. She seemed so small.
    "It was wonderful. Our little home in
California—the rolling hills and the oaks— The weather was warm, and the
people—" The words caught in her throat. "It wasn't remote enough for
your dad." She paused. "We had our vision—"
    "The cabin-in-the-wild," Robbie
said. "Dad still thinks—"
    "I know what Dad thinks," Mom
said. She looked beyond him. "I wish you had a wider circle of friends.
It's hard to meet other moms. The people here are ... so different.
I guess Alaska is a little more than I can take."
    "Mom?"
    She met his stare.
    "Should I put some dry clothes
on?"
    "Yes," she smiled, "let's
get those things off."
    When they finished, they returned to the
kitchen and Mom put food on three plates. They carried them to the table and
sat down.
    They didn't eat right away. They waited.
Robbie twisted his fork in the noodles and listened for the sound of Dad's car.
Finally, they both started to eat. They didn't say anything and they ate
slowly. From time to time, Robbie glanced at Dad's food. You could see steam
rising up, and then the steam stopped.
    Dad had been late before, but Mom acted
like this was different. She was sad when they began to eat, and she got sadder
and sadder. She stared at her noodles as if they were all their arguments piled
in front of her, tangled together.
    When they were done, they bussed the dishes
and put Dad's food in the fridge.
    Then Mom put him to bed.
    Robbie lay there for awhile, listening. He thought
he might hear the sound of Dad's car in the drive. But he was wrong. The only
sound was Dad's voice echoing in his bedroom. "Goodbye," it said.
"Goodbye, goodbye . . ."
    ***
    Something raised him from his fitful sleep.
Robbie opened his eyes and found himself