Part 36 (1/2)
”What's going on here?”
”A party.”
”Yeah, I can see that. But all these actors. Where'd they come from? They can't all live in the Grove.”
”They're not actors,” she said. ”They're people from the TV. And a few movies too. Not many, but-”
”Wait, wait.”
He moved closer to her. ”Are these Lois's friends?” he said.
”They sure are,” she said.
”This town just keeps on going, doesn't it? Just when you think you've got it fixed in your head-”
”But they're not actors, Howie.”
”You just said they were.”
”No. I said they were people from TV. See the Patterson family, over there? They even have that dog with them.”
”Morgan,” Howie said. ”My mother used to watch that show.”
The dog, a lovable mongrel in a long tradition of lovable mongrels, heard his name called and scooted over, followed by Benny, the youngest of the Patterson children.
”Hi,” the kid said. ”I'm Benny.”
”I'm Howie. This is-”
”Jo-Beth. Yeah, we met. You want to come outside and play ball with me, Howie? I'm bored.”
”It's dark out there.”
”No it isn't,” Benny said. He directed Howie's gaze towards the patio doors. They were open. The night beyond was, as Benny had said, far from dark. It was as if the odd radiance that permeated the house, about which he'd had no time to speak with Jo-Beth, had seeped out into the yard.
”See?” Benny said.
”I see.”
”So come on, huh?”
”In a minute.”
”Promise?”
”I promise. By the way, what's your real name?”
The kid looked puzzled. ”Benny,” he said. ”Always was.” He and the mutt headed off for the bright night.
Before Howie could put the countless questions in his head into askable order he felt a friendly pat on the back and a rotund voice enquired: ”Something to drink?”
Howie raised his bandaged hand in apology for the absence of a handshake.
”Good to have you here anyhow. Jo-Beth was telling me about you. I'm Mel, by the way. Lois's husband. You met Lois already, I gather.”
”That's right.”
”I don't know where she got to. I think one of those cowboys is having his way with her.” He raised his gla.s.s. ”To which I say, better him than me.” He faked a look of shame. ”What am I saying? I should have the b.a.s.t.a.r.d out in the street. Gun him down, eh?” He grinned. ”That's the New West for you, right? Can't be f.u.c.king bothered. You want another vodka, Jo-Beth? You're going to have something, Howie?”
”Why not?”
”Funny, isn't it?” Mel said. ”It's only when these d.a.m.n dreams come in you realize who you are. Me...I'm a coward. And I don't love her.” He turned from them. ”Never did love her,” he said as he reeled away. ”b.i.t.c.h. f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h.”
Howie watched him enveloped by the crowd, then looked back at Jo-Beth. Very slowly he said: ”I don't have the slightest clue what's happening. Do you?”
”Yes.”
”Tell me. Words of one syllable.”
”This is because of last night. What your father did.”
”The fire?”
”Or what came from it. All these people...” She smiled, surveying them, ”...Lois, Mel, Ruby over there...all of them were at the Mall last night. Whatever came from your father-”
”Keep your voice down, will you? They're staring at us.”
”I'm not talking loud, Howie,” she said. ”Don't be so paranoid.”
”I tell you they're staring.”
He could feel the intensity of their gazes: faces he'd only ever seen in glossy magazines, or on the television screen, staring at him with strange, almost troubled, looks.
”So let them stare,” she said. ”They don't mean any harm.”
”How do you know that?”
”I've been here all evening. It's just like a normal party-”
”You're slurring your words.”
”So why shouldn't I have a little fun once in a while?”
”I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm just saying you're in no state to judge whether they're dangerous or not.”
”What are you trying to do, Howie?” she said. ”Keep all these people to yourself?”
”No. No, of course not.”