The Night the Sky Fell (9 page)

Johnny and Tricia approached near nudity and the twosome kissed aggressively. Johnny guided Tricia to her bed as he pulled out a wrapped condom. Tricia took it and opened it with her teeth. Banks was in control now and stopped dancing, “Come, Ann. Let’s go to my room.”

Meanwhile, downstairs, Julie stared at the ceiling. She appeared to be cognizant of her daughter’s actions and Ann’s thoughts. It appeared from Dassi, Murray and Stan that Julie was not in the present. She conveyed a sense of ‘elsewhere-ness.’ They wanted her input. Murray broke Julie’s trance, “Everything okay upstairs?”
 

Julie looked down to the others with a glowing smile, “Everything is fine. Everything is just the way it should be. Who wants more pie?”

 
Banks led Ann to his bedroom. He felt in control or perhaps Ann let him think that. Banks pulled out a folding chair for her and gestured for her to sit.

“I just wanted a couple of moments to be with you and to calm down. I need a few moments of silence while I catch my breath. I was feeling…dizzy”

“Not dizzy,” Ann corrected, “But rather lightheaded. I’ve felt that all day and more so when you held me. I thought I would swoon.”

“Swoon?” He rhetorically asked. He thought this was amazing that she used the exact word he was thinking about. There was something between them. A oneness in thought perhaps or maybe there was an emotional understanding between them. The two sat quietly for a few moments.

Banks’ thoughts drifted. He felt a sense of victory over his uncle and his tribe. Every decision Banks made led him to this exact moment with Ann. Banks opted for modern over tradition. He wanted opulence over poverty. He wanted a white girlfriend not a Native Alaskan. Banks felt good about himself. He enjoyed his work at the blind school and he enjoyed mentoring Peyton. Life was swell. What Banks did not think about was his improved eyesight and the promise he made to get it. That could be a mistake. But right now he was would celebrate with this rich, smart girl next door. Yes Banks Blackhorse reveled in this moment.

Banks studied Ann. She was politely silent. She gave him pause for thought. And then she uttered, “There is an eloquence to your silence.” He thought about this. He thought this was an oxymoron and then changed his mind. He laughed.

His laugh turned to a countenance of warmth, “Do you like your life?”
 

Ann didn’t expect this. But the comment indicated that she could be real and not dumb down an answer. She arose from her chair and sat next to Banks. She looked at him with adoring eyes, “Yes and even more since you came into it.”
 

Banks glowed, “I like my life…now.” He opened his arms as she scooted in to be embraced. And as he held her gently, the twosome kissed.

During that sweet moment, Ann discovered that this was their moment and could block Ann and Tricia from sharing her experience. It was an intuitive mental maneuver that the other two women hadn’t discovered yet. This additional new ability added to her excitement to the moment.
 

Banks’ passion grew as if he fed to her hunger and she in turn fed to his. In all the thoughts rushing out of his mind for the thrill of the moment, one remained. Is this love?

They paused for a moment as if they were two swimming mammals coming up for a breath of air. They realized that once they would breathe that they can sink to the depths and continue the perpetual motion of passion.

After an eternal kiss, they came up for air. They lay back on the bed with Banks embracing Ann against him and Ann holding Banks’ free hand. This geographical move was not to be construed as a maneuver to the ‘Tricia/Johnny’ step, but rather as comfortability with one another’s being.
 

As they lay silently on the bed, they each sighed. They stared at each other as perhaps Romeo and Juliet did during their first encounter of closeness.

“I would like you to be my date to our Junior High Prom,” said Ann, “it’s not until May and I hope this does not offend you, but my father insists that this is a gift from him.”

Banks smiled, “It sounds wonderful.” And at that instant, Julie’s thoughts are noted by Ann: “Wrap it up, upstairs. We’re going to need help getting things cleaned up. Ann’s parents are concerned.”

Downstairs, Julie explained to others, “It seems we can communicate telepathically. We call it ‘sending.’”
 

Peyton grills, “You can think to each other, mom?” Julie nods to all and answers yes to Peyton.
 

“Dassi added, “Remarkable.”
 

“Mom, the Great Spirit reads my mind too.” They all looked at Peyton, then the Abrams’ and Stan shift their eyes with a smile to Julie who smiles back.

The next four weeks’ events brought a slow distancing between Banks and Ann. After Ann and Banks finished cleaning up most of the Thanksgiving dinner, Banks wanted to share something special with her that he had not shared with anyone else. He wanted to take a Saturday drive to the wilderness where he did his camping with the tribe’s Shaman. This was not a secret with the tribe and he was free to include Ann is some of his earlier experiences. If nothing else, the area was breathtaking. Ann felt this was a part of sharing that she needed in life. She wanted to find out more about tribal culture and customs and Banks was willing to outline some interesting traditions that he promised he would explain while they were on their outing. They cemented the deal to meet Saturday morning at 9:00 am at his pickup truck. He promised lunch in the bargain as well. Ann exclaimed how she was really looking forward to this and wanted to know everything.

That Saturday morning, Banks waited in front of his pickup truck. He looked at his phone several times anticipating a text. After twenty minutes of agony, he walked over to the Abrams’ house. When Dassi greeted Banks at the door, she was surprised that Ann and Banks had a prearranged meeting since Ann went out to breakfast with Julie and Tricia and they were planning on going shopping after that.

Banks was puzzled. Ann was so gung ho about going out to these hallowed grounds. How could she forget? Banks brushed it off and wondered if he had made a mistake or didn’t hear something correctly.

He decided to see if Peyton would like to go instead. Peyton was in agreement and Stan was happy to let them go.

When Peyton and Banks returned, Ann was in the house quietly ‘sending’ with Julie and Tricia. The threesome in their silence seemed to Banks to resemble something out of
Macbeth
. Their laughs were almost synchronized and somewhat different then when Ann laughed before. Banks didn’t want to intrude, but he was so curious and hurt that some sort of explanation was required from Ann. He thought if she caught his eye, she would make a statement. The problem was, she was so engrossed with ‘sending,’ that she didn’t even look at Banks’ direction.

Banks broke their ‘sending’ with, “Good afternoon.” The threesome looked at him. There was a long pause. Then, Banks said, “I took Peyton to the spot I mentioned last Thursday.” Ann smiled, “Of course, I remember now. Sorry, but I wanted to be Tricia and Ms. Powers. Let’s shoot for next Saturday.” Before Banks could reply, the women began their ‘sending’ sealing out his existence.

Banks was hurt but rationalized that this new power of theirs appeared to be intoxicating and all other obligations were to take a lower rank in their hierarchy. When next Saturday came, Ann brushed past Banks with Tricia and Julie without saying a word. It was agreed upon earlier in the week that they meet “same time/same place.”

Once again, the following Saturday was his day off and Stan was to look after Peyton. He didn’t want to go to his apartment and deal with his Uncle right now. Banks simply went upstairs to his room and found solace in his books. The following Saturday brought optimism to Banks. It was Tricia’s sixteenth birthday.

Banks and Peyton were last to arrive. When he looked around the living room of guests, Johnny was conspicuously absent. All the girls invited were from Tricia’s A-crowd. There was very little talking and an extraordinary amount of laughter. Peyton simply said, “These girls are weird.”

Peyton and Banks were ignored by the bevy and they wandered into the kitchen where Dassi, Murray and Stan sat. They welcomed Banks and Peyton. Murray locked eyes with Banks and told him that he was not the only one ignored.
 

On the Saturday before Christmas, Banks decided that he must make some sort of amends with the Chief, Marilyn and the Shaman. He wanted to get some smart gifts for them and then go up to his apartment and collect a stash of vials from his refrigerator. Yes, he would spend a little time but he didn’t want to go into the accusation of abandoning his tribe…which was true.

Also during his early morning shopping he wanted to do something for all the members of both families. He would get a special gift for Ann. It would be a book and it would be about the mythology of the American Indian tribes. He thought this would interest her. At least he hoped so. He knew that the last night of Hanukah fell on Christmas Day and he wanted to make note of that in the card.

Two hours later, Banks drove up to Chief Dan’s apartment. With a trio of gifts in hand, he knocked on his uncle’s door. Carol Raintree let him in without saying anything. Marilyn White Owl was cooking fried bread and his Uncle sat at the kitchen table drinking tea.
 

“Hey, Marilyn. Good to see you,” greeted Banks.
 

Marilyn turned and locked eyes with him. There was a long pause and finally, she uttered, “Hi.” It appeared that what was going on Skyline Boulevard was also happening at the compound.

“Uncle, it’s good to see you,” humored Banks.

“Good to see you too,” Uncle said with a smile as Carol and Marilyn looked on.
 

Marilyn turned to Banks and stared for a moment. Finally, “Fried bread?”

“Absolutely, Marilyn. I guess you read my mind.” Neither Marilyn nor Carol found Banks’ comment remotely funny. The Chief offered a slight smile. Banks continued with his part time job on Skyline Boulevard without going into any depth. It was if he were cautious to say anything that might be overheard by the two women. It was also a possibility that he was uncomfortable with them around. But Marilyn continued with looking after the Chief and Carol continued with looking after Marilyn.

After numerous platitudes, the Chief grabbed a pen and wrote a note to Banks, which read, “Beware of the women!” Banks read it and then the Chief folded it up and placed in his pocket. Marilyn put some fried bread on the table. They ate peacefully. Marilyn opened the refrigerator and pulled out a large bottle of Coke. She downed all two liters.

Banks handed a gift to Carol saying this was for her brother Roger the Shaman. She handed a gift to Marilyn and the Chief. As he got up he hugged Marilyn and whispered, “I’m still a virgin.” Marilyn said nothing. He hugged his uncle and said goodbye to Carol. He ran up the stairs and removed the padlocks from the door and then the refrigerator. He grabbed some vials that would last Peyton and him for a couple of months. He locked up and took off.

On the way home, he thought about how rotten things were at the compound. He thought about the note his uncle wrote. He wished he could have met with Roger the Shaman but he was not at the compound. Then he thought about Ann. He analyzed his feelings. He concluded that despite everything, he still cared for her. Well actually he probably felt more than just caring. He had read about unrequited love and wondered if this is what he was feeling for Ann. He thought about Gatsby’s love for Daisy. Friends were supposed to use one another. He wanted Ann to use him. He felt ignored, even unwanted. How could he put it back to that wonderful Thanksgiving Day?

Merry Christmas

On Christmas Day, Tricia drove her ten year old Honda onto her driveway. After her wonderful Thanksgiving Day with Johnny, she told her father that a used car was fine and she apologized for her stubborn snobbery. Stan simply replied, “That’s my little Sweet pea.”
 

As she got out of her car she noted her neighbor, Mrs. Bundy, was waving to her. Tricia paused for moment as if she were sending to Mrs. Bundy; then she ran across the street and they exchanged Christmas greetings verbally.

Inside the Powers’ house, Christmas music played, the smell of holly permeated and the tree hovered over mostly opened presents.
 

Peyton opened a gift as Banks sat next to him under the tree. Banks’ eyes were on Ann as she ‘sent’ with Julie at a nearby table. The distancing between Ann and Banks during the past month took a different toll on Banks. The toll went from frustration to anger. He wanted to lash out. But against whom? And wouldn’t the rest of the family deem that unprofessional? They might think that when Banks became frustrated with Peyton in privacy, he might get extremely angry with him. Maybe he would get violent. No, Banks would hide his anger. He simply transferred his anger to a smile. He questioned daily what he is doing wrong. Ann only seemed to want to spend time with Julie and Tricia. What Banks may not know was that Murray and Dassi felt that same distancing from Ann.
 

Banks made an attempt to reach Ann with, “Ann, you didn’t open your gift that I got you.” Ann continued attending to Julie ignoring Banks. And Banks practiced his new smile.

Peyton had felt the similar distancing from his mother and sister which had brought him closer to Banks and his father. Two alliances formed in the Powers’ household. Boys against girls. Peyton whispered to Banks, “They’re so weird.” Tricia walked in after her encounter with Mrs. Bundy and Julie and Ann turned their heads toward her.