The Crescent (2 page)

I climbed the stairs back to my bathroom, pulled out a towel and hopped into the shower. My muscles had almost relaxed from my bush attack when my cell phone started ringing. I almost fell trying to get out of the shower rushing to my phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey you up?” That’s my best friend, always stating the obvious.

“Well, I answered the phone didn’t I?” I gave her my best morning dose of sarcasm.

“Serious Lacey. I mean are you out of bed? Did your parents’ go ballistic last night or what?” She was crunching on something.

“What are you eating?”

“Ok Miss avoidance…” She half laughed and crunched some more. “So are you grounded or what?”

“No, they didn’t ground me but they did go ballistic.” I hesitated, the terrifying golden brown eyes flashed through my mind. “They were already fighting before they realized I was home.”

“Your parents amaze me.” Crunch Crunch Crunch.

“Could you stop crunching in my ear? It’s a little early for that.”

“It’s almost 9!” Jillian’s voice elevated. I’m sure her parent’s were already up but there was no way Ricky was. “What are we doing today? Wanna go to the mall?”

Another day at the mall- we’d spent most of the summer at the mall and the movies. We needed something else to do; neither of us had a boyfriend, or even a prospect and no other close friends to really speak of. We were loners, but by choice and that choice was getting a little tiring (not to mention boring).

Jillian and I met when we were in second grade and had been practically inseparable ever since. I was there when she got her heart broken by Jimmy Lewis in Junior high and she was there for me when I had to put my beloved dog, Tippy to sleep. No topic was off limits for our conversations and no story that we didn’t know about each other. Except my father’s drinking, I shared that with no one.

“What about the beach?” Jillian chimed.

She got an A+ for effort but I wasn’t sure a day in the sun was really what I wanted, but the alternative was fluorescent lighting and the same $1.50 movies playing at the Cineplex. “Ok.”

“Don’t sound too excited!” Crunch Crunch.

“You’re crunching again.”

“Sorry! I need to eat before Ricky gets up. He’s going to take over the kitchen as soon as he emerges from his cave. He has some sort of track meet coming up and he’s been carb loading.”

“Yeah, whatever, just tell him he’s getting fat and move on.” We both started laughing. “Ok so I’ll see you in an hour?”

“Ok!” Jillian was more enthused about this plan than I was.

I wasn’t back in the shower long when the phone rang again. I abandoned all hope of getting to finish as I crawled back out of the shower reaching for the phone. “What now?” I snapped figuring it was Jillian again.

“Is that how you answer the phone at 9am?” Oh great. Mom.

“Hey mom. Sorry I thought it was Jillian. We are going to the beach today.”

“Well you need to pick up your room. Can you fend for yourself for dinner tonight?” She hadn’t realized I’d been taking care of my own dinner for weeks.

“Yeah.” My response bland; she wouldn’t be pleased.

“Lacey Marie.” Great- she pulled out the middle name.

“Yes mother.” I got off the phone as quickly as I could to set to the task of picking up my room. I guess I should’ve asked her what she was doing tonight that she wouldn’t be home, but the fact was, it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be home and dad probably wouldn’t either; that was nothing new. It left me a lot of freedom to hang out with Jillian and come and go as I pleased.

Jillian and I soaked up the sun on giant beach towels for the rest of the day. We shared magazines and books as chiseled men playing beach volleyball distracted us frequently. A sandy haired boy in his twenties came to retrieve their ball once and my body tensed slightly when the back of his hand brushed the top of my foot. I knew I needed to get out and expand my “friend” horizons to include some boys.

“Wow…” Jillian whispered as the boy ran away, looking much like an extra from Baywatch in his red board shorts. “They don’t look like that at West Brooke.”

“That’s probably because that boy isn’t in high school.” I didn’t take my eyes off him for the next hour. Sunglasses are the best invention ever, without them he may have filed for an emergency restraining order against me.

My parents were fighting by the time Jillian dropped me back off at home. “Sure you don’t want to come home with me instead?” She looked sympathetic. I’m sure everyone on our street could hear the argument.

“No. It’s cool.” I pulled out my headphones and dangled them between my fingers. “I’ve got Blink to keep me company.”

Jillian smiled. “Ok well if Travis isn’t enough tonight, call, ok?” I nodded and hurried up the sidewalk.

I watched longingly from the stairs as her Ford pulled out of sight. Taking a deep breath, I tried to hear what the argument of the night could possibly be. They were towards the back of the house, so their voices were too muffled to understand. I waited to see if they’d come back to the living room as a few neighbors walked by with their dogs and a few kids peddled by on bikes. It was just after dusk and the street lamps had started to illuminate the street a strange amber orange color. The first few stars had started to show in the blue and black night sky. Settling into the lounger, I started wishing my parents had turned on the porch light when they got home. I figured it wouldn’t look so obvious if I sat in the chair on the porch rather than eavesdropping at the front door.

When the night sky turned black and the moon hung high in the sky I finally considered going into the house. I still hadn’t the faintest idea what the argument was over. My stomach started rumbling and I covered it with my hands a few times wishing I had brought a snack in my bag to the beach. I peeked in one of the windows, they were on the couch in the front room; their argument no longer as loud- but still just as intense as before.

Around the side of the house I carefully wedged my way between the fence and the trash cans to get to the back door. I could at least get into the kitchen and get something to eat before being dragged into the fight. Stumbling over a misplaced rake, I lost my footing on the water hose and almost fell into the bushes. I seriously wished they‘d turned the lights on now. I finally got the sliding glass door opened and tried to close it as quietly as possible to not disturb the sentinels waiting in the next room. Digging through the refrigerator, I decided to make a sandwich. When they started to yell at each other again, I was rather satisfied with my portable choice of food. I wrapped it in a napkin and went out to my playhouse in the backyard to eat in privacy.

I slipped in my earphones trying to pretend it was a much easier time for my family. I ate my sandwich in peace to the melodic beats of Blink 182 numbing my mind. I needed to download one of their other albums because this one was starting to wear thin. The lights in the kitchen finally went out and my parents retreated to their bedroom. The house seemed like such a shell from the playhouse. When I was little I used to think my parent’s lives were perfect. They would throw huge barbecues and invite all of the neighbors, but it’s been years since the last one. I gathered my items back into my bag to head into the house, hoping it was safe to go inside now.

I tripped over the threshold exiting the dollhouse, tossing everything in my bag all over the ground. If I knew it wouldn’t be ruined by the morning, I’d leave everything scattered on the ground. Cursing at myself I shoved each piece back into the bag, not being too careful or really paying attention to how most of my magazines were now crumpled. Familiar chills raced down the length of my spine as my body went rigid. My heart started to race and I felt claustrophobic as hot breath swirled against my neck.
Ting Ting Ting.
Clanking vibrated in my ear. Taking the last breath of my short life, I waited for whatever was going to happen next.

But then, I felt a very soft, warm, wet…

Nose?

Wait no, fur?

My eyes shot open and I jerked my head in the direction of the breath. The largest black dog I had ever seen loomed over me with the dopiest look on his face. It looked like a wolf, but it had a dog collar with a set of tags.
Grant
was the only thing inscribed on the tag dangling close to my nose.

“You’re a fucking bitch.” My father’s voice boomed from the house as their shadows crossed their bedroom window.

Grant whimpered and laid on the grass next to me. The dog easily outweighed me and if we were both standing I’m sure he would be taller than me too. His large brown eyes never left my face as he put his furry head into my lap.

The argument upstairs started to escalate again and my heart sank further in my chest. Dad’s heavy footsteps pounded down the stairs and glass shattered in the house. Grant’s ears pushed back on his massive head as he glared at the house; his eyes forming amazing golden brown crescents. Then it dawned on me: Grant was in the bush last night. I rubbed my hand timidly across his mane trying to quiet the dog until my father went back upstairs; low growls vibrated his neck and head against my legs.

“
Shhhh…
” I whispered. “It’s ok.” I rubbed the length of the dog’s fur until he laid his head back in my lap. “They’ll be done soon.” The dog slightly whimpered again and closed his eyes. Grant’s even breathing and warmth against my side made me want to take him into the house and let him sleep on the bed like Tippy used to, but I knew that was out of the question, at least for tonight. I waited until my parent’s bedroom light went off and snuck into the kitchen. I grabbed several blankets and reheated some steak for him. I would make the playhouse a makeshift doghouse until I could find his owner.

“Ok boy, here you go.” I removed the small chairs and made a pallet on the floor for the dog.
I was amazed he had a hard time getting through the door of the dollhouse.
He walked around in a circle a few times, whacking me in the face with his big furry tail. When Grant finally decided to lie down he put his head on my lap.

“I can’t stay here buddy. I have to go inside. You’ll be safe here tonight.” Grant’s expressive eyes looked at me and he started to shift his body until his head completely pressed against my stomach, holding me to the side of the dollhouse. I ran my fingers through his silky hair several times until I swear I heard the dog snoring. His rhythmic breathing had me relaxed and asleep in no time.

THREE

Grant nosed and licked my arm, another moment and my father stood in the doorway of the playhouse.

“What the…” His eyes widened at the sight of the dog. “What the hell is that?”

Grant never moved his head from my lap, but a deep seeded growl rumbled up through his body and throat. I moved my hand gently across his nose and up between his eyes, not sure if I was trying to calm his nerves more of my own.

“I found him out here last night. He has tags; I’m going to find his owner today.” I continued to pet his soft fur. I’m not sure I would’ve stood up to my dad about having the dog here, if the dog weren’t so… imposing.

“You know the rules.” Dad looked at the dog and I, disapproving.

“I know dad. What do you expect me to do? Let him just stay out here in the cold?”
“Lacey, you don’t know if that dog has any diseases. It could seriously hurt you. How can you be so trusting?”

“How can you be so cynical?” I looked down at Grant. “He’s just a helpless animal dad. He was scared and lonely. I just want to help him get back home. For all you know he belongs to one of the new neighbors.”

“That dog is not helpless. I want him gone by the time I get home tonight.” Grant grumbled again and my dad took a step back. “The dog could be feral.”

Grant wasn’t feral; he was too clean and well behaved. My father stalked back across the lawn. For the next ten minutes he slammed cabinets in the kitchen and stormed around the house as he got ready to leave for work.

“Come on Grant.” I called my newfound friend and headed into the house when both mom and dad were gone. “Do you like hamburger?” I asked pulling out some ground beef from the freezer and rice from the pantry. We normally gave rice and beef to dogs that needed to gain weight; he definitely didn’t need to gain any. But since I didn’t know his normal diet, I figured it was a safe choice.

I sat at the table eating my cereal and thumbing through the lost ads as Grant cleaned his dish of the hamburger and rice mixture I had made. “Is that good boy? Huh?” I reached over and rubbed his thick mane. He claimed the spot next to me on the floor and stretched out on the cool tiles.

“Can you walk on a leash?” I asked as I pulled out a spare leash to loop to his collar. It was an adventure trying to get Grant to agree to go onto the lead; which he never did.

“Come on now. I can’t just go walking down the street with you. What if you run off? I’d never forgive myself if you were hit by a car.” Then again, the car would probably suffer more damage than the dog. I tried not to grin at the thought as I took aim and attempted to get the leash on his collar but he jerked away. I ended up doubled over him with my head to the floor and my feet towards the ceiling over his back. I slid myself slowly onto the floor and lay there looking up at the dog looming over me. “Ok, this is not going to work. How am I going to find your owner if you aren’t helping me?” He sprawled out flat on the floor next to me and laid his head on my shoulder. He was not making this any easier. Dad would blow up when he got home if the dog was still here. “Grant, I know you like it here. But you have to go home. Dad will never let me keep you, and I’m sure someone is missing you.” He let out a small whimper.

“I know boy. I know. I will find your owner”

A week later after I had blanketed my neighborhood with found signs, dad finally agreed to let Grant sleep in the house. Dad didn’t like it, but my mother and I took him on and wore him down. He bought a large dog bed and tossed it into one corner of the kitchen insisting that was the extent of Grant being
in the house
.