Core. Kassten Alonso
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Out the screen door bang. Pollen floated from the trees. Pollen made things fuzzy in the pink sun. He ran past the apple trees climbed under the old gray fence ran down the slope of broomgrass and wild carrots to where the rusty cars sat. He climbed inside the old pick up truck. Bits of glass hopped on the broken seat. He reached for the bent up wheel. He twisted the wheel back and forth and cussed and kicked at the pedals. Linny was a big kid Linny reached the pedals. Linny was at summer camp. He was glad for that. He twisted the wheel and hit the dead horn.
There was a noise from the old willow trees. He climbed up on his knees to look. Somebody cried over and over. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. He could not see who was over there. He kicked his way back out the old pick up. He jumped to the ground. Oh. Oh. Oh.
The pink sun winked through the black cornstalks. He pretended he was an injun brave and snuck through the rusty cars. He tiptoed through the broomgrass. He peeked around a willow.
It was Roxy. Roxy’s frizzy red hair was spread out on the ground. A man laid on top of Roxy. The two of them laid next to the corn. Roxy bucked her hips she tried to get up. The man had Roxy down. They jeans was bunched around they ankles. The man moved back and forth over Roxy. Roxy squealed and bucked and pulled on the man’s butt. The man pulled Roxy’s hair. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.
Grandma hollered for him to come inside. Roxy’s mouth was open and her eyes shut. Roxy kicked on the ground. The man had her down. Pollen floated over the black corn. Sooner and the other dogs barked. A car started. Roxy and the man rolled side to side. The pollen floated. Sooner and the other dogs barked and the car drove up the road. Grandma hollered. Roxy cried. Roxy was looking at him.
He turned and ran.
IT WAS NOT HIS BATH DAY BUT GRANDMA MADE HIM TAKE ONE anyhow. Grandma combed his hair, even. And he had to put on his Sunday clothes. He did not see why all the fuss. Not for Ma and Pa. He did not see why everybody was so sad. Grandma pulled and tugged his tie and cussed and pulled the tie undone again. I want chocolate ice cream, he said.
They drove to the parlor. He sat on Chuck’s knee. Rob and Linny and Roxy sat in back. Grandma wore a veil. Everybody wore black. He tried to say something but Chuck just shushed him.
There was lots of people at the parlor. They all looked when Grandma and him and the others walked in. He got to sit on a sofa in front. In front was two boxes with flowers all over. And Pastor Fritz in his white robe. Pastor Fritz laid his hand on Grandma’s shoulder. Pastor Fritz bent over Grandma and whispered in her ear. Grandma nodded.
Thank you Grandma said.
Pastor Fritz went up front. Pastor Fritz’s voice was real loud. O eternal God in who there is no death and in whose presence we are called to live as immortal spirits, our thoughts turn to the loved ones whom we greatly miss. Their absence hath taken from us a treasure the world cannot restore. Yesterday our brother and sister were with us. Now they are with Thee.
Oh. Oh. Oh. He looked up. Under the veil Grandma’s chin puckered and her neck was all red. He never saw Grandma cry before.
Pastor Fritz said, The rocks endure though the centuries pass away. The ancient hills look down upon a thousand generations. The stars shine on man in his infancy and will shine beyond his little day, beyond the strength of mind to follow.
He looked up at Roxy. Roxy’s eyes was puffy red like everybody else’s. Last year Roxy kissed him on his birthday. Roxy chased him through the apple trees till she caught him. He felt all tickly and he giggled. Sh Roxy said and put her hand on his knee. Roxy wore a black dress. Her legs was all freckly. Roxy and the man laid on the ground. Roxy’s mouth opened and closed. Oh. Oh. Oh. Roxy hollered. The man turned his head. The man was Chuck.
The Lord bless thee and keep thee, Pastor Fritz said, The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen.
Amen, everybody said.
People lined up for Ma and Pa. It was so funny. Why people came to see Ma and Pa sleeping in those boxes. And why everybody was so quiet and sad. Chuck picked him up under the arms. Chuck had him so he could look at Ma and Pa all laid still and white in fancy new clothes.
Pa gots stuff on his mouth like Ma wears he said. He looks funny. Why Pa gots that stuff on his face? Chuck did not say nothing Chuck just set him on the floor.
Everybody went outside. Chuck and Rob and Uncle Jack and Lloyd and Bob and other men carried the boxes to the big fat black cars. Those’s called hurtses Roxy said. He watched Roxy’s mouth when she talked. It was his birthday next month. He wanted Roxy to kiss him again. His thing tickled him till it hurt. He pushed his hands down in his pockets.
Everybody piled into they cars. They drove after the big black hurtses to the burying place. The big men carried the boxes to the holes in the grass. They took straps and lowed the boxes in the holes. Your ma and pa was in a accident, Grandma said the other day. They passed on. You know what that means? It means they gone to heaven to live with God and Jesus and the angels. Like Grandpa, remember? He tried to think. He only could see Roxy and Chuck in the corn.
Everybody was crowded round. Pastor Fritz in his white robe said Almighty God Our Father, we commend unto Thy everlasting mercy the souls of our brother and sister, our friends.
He looked up at Roxy. Still she was crying. He had Roxy’s hand. Roxy’s fingernails was painted black. The other day he watched cartoons and Roxy’s door opened. Roxy walked down the hall to the bathroom. She wore a tee shirt and her undies. He could see Roxy’s butt. He rubbed his thing under the blanket.
Pastor Fritz said Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father. To Him be glory and domination forever and ever. Amen.
Amen, everybody said. A man lifted a shovel full of dirt. Pastor Fritz took a handful and shook the dirt over each hole. People cried.
Grandma and Chuck and Rob took they turns with the shovel. They tossed the dirt into each hole like Pastor Fritz. Roxy pinched some dirt with her fingers. Her dress was short and showed her legs. His thing hurt all over again. He saw Roxy’s eyes frown and Roxy’s mouth wide open in the pink sun. Roxy’s arms hugged him and her lips kissed him. Then Roxy’s hands moved down to his butt. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.
The dirt was cold and gritty in his hands. He turned and lifted his arms up over his head. He stared down at the boxes in the holes. He wondered how Ma and Pa would get out, and when they was coming home.
27
SHADOWS BODIES THRASHING WHEAT. SHADOWS BODIES weaved from sheaves, bodies rolled upon the threshing floor. Hulls and chaff and muddy heels. The drift of the flail dance. The echo of harvest drum. Dead offerings tossed to murky pond water.
He erupted from the bath. He gasped the nails and tacks and ground glass in his lungs. His hand slipped from under him He bashed his mouth on the tub he fell back in the water. He beat the tub with his elbows and floundered up again. Water slapped the tub, slopped over the sides. Water stung his nose and eyes. He Newborn brayed and sobbed for air.
Well I met this chick a couple weeks back, Cam had said. I don’t know if I told you.
No.
Yeah. She’s coming to the party tonight, Cam had said. Equinox, man.
He coughed at the light bulb in the stained ceiling. He coughed and rolled his body out the tub. His left knee thumped on the floor he fell over on his hip. Water all around him. Red spots adrift in his eyes.
But you know man me and the band’s playing tonight Cam had said Which means I ain’t going to be that great a date to this chick, so.
He lay beside the tub and rubbed his mouth. His heart bubbled in his chest. Newborns wanted only darkness, wet. Newborns did not want to be dangled in the light. Didn’t Cam know this of all things?
He sat up and pushed forward onto his knees. He grabbed the sink he pulled himself to his feet. He reached for a bath