de Gallai - The Dancer. Steps From the Dark

THE DANCER

Steps from the Dark

by

Sen de Gallai

Firstpublished in2015

Copyright 2015 Sen deGallai

Smashwords Edition

The author hasasserted his moral rights.

All rightsreserved. The material in this publication is protected bycopyright law. Except as may be permitted by law, no part of thismaterial may be reproduced (including by storage in a retrievalsystem) or transmitted in any form, or by any means adapted, rented or lentwithout the prior written permission of the copyrightowner.

All characters in thispublication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons,living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Do mothuismitheoir, Nellie agus Gerry mr.

The night before, Grandpa had whispered in myear. He said it was the perfect time for a vaca. Mom, Dad, Lucasand I would be going on a trip, and it would work out good becausethe exterminators could come. I didnt believe in the termites anymore than I did in the fat, bearded Christmas guy. But whatever, Ithought. And we couldnt say anything to Mom. Or Lucas. He was allmouth. It was gonna be a surprise. She hadnt been doing so goodlately.

Earlier that day, Dadtold me to pack an overnight bag for Lucas and me, that our ridewould be coming that evening. He wouldnt answer my whys. But theway things worked out, it wasnt the surprise he and Grandpa werehoping for, seeing as the house caught fire just before we were dueto leave.

Grandpa came in quietlyand told me to wake Lucas. I was just about to do so when I heardGrandpa and Mom arguing in the kitchen. I threw my head around thecorner.

Not on my watch, youdont. That was all I could make out between the finger-pointingand slurring. Mom flicked her cigarette in no particular directionas she spat cuss words while Dad tried to make right. Then a littleorange flame appeared in a box of papers Dad had set on the counterto burn out back. In slow motion, I watched the flame getacquainted with the curtain tail, and I stood there, not able tosay a word. Mom was screaming almighty in between throwing her headaround and shaking Grandpa by the shoulders. Lucas emerged, wonderin his eyes, then started to cry. Grandpa caught sight of me andushered me not so pleasantly out the back door toward a truck. Abear-sized, bearded guy leaned against the pickup. When he saw uscoming, he opened the door and shut it quickly behind me.

Get ready to drive,said Grandpa. Ill be right back with Lucas.

I tried to catch mybreath and started chewing on my last Juicy Fruit, which just aboutkept me from screaming. The guy told me he was my uncle. I got outto find Lucas but the bear dude just stretched out a tree-trunk armand shook his head. Grandpa came back and said there was no pointtrying to get out again, that everything would be OK soon.

Old Buck, bear-man,whatever his name was, started up the engine.

I stretched my neck inbetween the headrests, gasping. Wheres Lucas? What about Lucas?I asked.

The bear droned like anold tuba. Dont worry. Lucas will be along any second now.

There was a bunch moreyelling. Grandpa looked over his shoulder, and he said Shit justloudly enough that I could hear. I spun round like a nervous puppyand looked out the back window. I could just about make out Lucassframe in the darkness, a small silhouette in the back seat as Momdrove off, gravel spitting. Dad chased after, shouting. So didGrandpa, but he came straight back.

There were some darkerplumes of smoke now coming out the kitchen window. Our littlerectangular home. Faded gray. A figure ran across the field fromthe neighboring house, a length of hosepipe around his shoulder.The frosty grass crackled under his feet. Dad filled a bucket fromthe outside faucet. My heart was going crazy. I had a feelingthings werent going to plan.

Grandpa! I yelled.Grandpa stopped talking and looked at me, then back to thebear-man.

You want me to followher? the bear asked him.

He thought a moment. No.Just take Alex. Call me when youre home. Grandpas voice wasgrim.

What? I yelled. Mybreath was short and quick.

You want me to wait tillmorning? the bear asked.

Call me. Ill be awake,said Grandpa.

But, Grandpa, what aboutLucas? What about Mom and Dad?

I didnt want to thinkabout the past few weeks. The past few months. My breath almostfroze in front of my face. Maybe the words froze as soon as theyleft my mouth. Bear-man wound up the window with a screech. Grandpastopped him halfway and gave me a sad, kind-eyed look.Everythings gonna be just fine, kid. Then he ran. I knew thatlook. I remembered that look. When Star came back lame after ourgallop. Just before they put her down. How could I forget?

Jesus! What yallthinkin? We cant leave now!

Bear-mans strong eyesregarded me in the rearview mirror. A final whimper escaped. Iturned to watch my little house fade into the distance. Was itover? Some of it was over, some only starting.

Cold night air crept intothe truck and chilled the tears on my cheeks. I pulled a stinky oldblanket over me. I couldnt bring myself to speak to him, not evento ask him to turn the heating on, ask where we were going. I knewif I opened my mouth tears would come. The bear-man justconcentrated on the dirt road, which wound for miles before we hitthe freeway.

The sky was empty, justblack. My hand began to ache, and I found myself clasping my veryfirst cuddly toy. Beauty had survived fourteen years without asingle stitch. I held him to my chest and sat facing backwards,looking for a star, a glimmer of light in the night sky. The tasteof salt had replaced the taste of candy as I blinkedrepeatedly.

Thats how I remained forhours, just me and the darkness. Perhaps it was the dull drone ofthe engine, but whatever the reason, exhaustion won over. I musthave slept.

When we arrived at thehouse, it was close to 6 a.m. Old Buck, or whatever his name was,opened my door, and I snapped awake like an angry tigress baringher teeth. Even though his eyes were kind, I slapped hisoutstretched hand. I didnt want to get out. Why did shit have tohappen?

I tripped over a toolboxas I got out of the truck onto the cold, hard ground. I swore atthe night.

Hey, kiddo, we reservethat kind of language for weekends round here, OK?

What about Lucas, Momand Dad? I spat.

Like Grandpa said,theyll be along in a day or two. Now come on in, he said with ashiver. The kitchens warm, and Tammys got tomato soup.

He may have been smiling,but it was impossible to tell because of all the hair on his face.I followed unwillingly.

The house smelled weird,like a candle store or something. My eyes struggled to adjust tothe brightness. I sat at an old wooden table, and he set a bowl oflukewarm gunk and a stick of bread in front of me. I felt sick. Awoman brushed my arm as I sat. I couldnt take my eyes off the bowlof red. It was a strange time for supper.

How are you feeling,Alexandra? Can I get you anything? Her voice was soft anddumb.

Its Alex. Only cops andteachers call me Alexandra.

Let me get you somethingto drink, honey, she said. Her husband passed her at the door, andthey whispered. I strained my ears.

Buck? Wheres Lucas?she asked, all concerned.

Not nowits not good.Well talk later. He went back outside.

I must have beensuffering from sleep deprivation. This woman Tammy was Mom, but notMom. She was her older sister, although I hadnt seen her since Iwas an embryo. She wasnt as pretty, but she had fewer lines on herface. Her hair was different toocurlier, cut in a bob. It wasinsane. I felt like crying or screaming at how messed up things hadbecome, but instead I focused on the spoon, turning it over in myhands.

She left anearthy-smelling mug of hot brown liquid by my side and stirred insome sugar and milk. The color changed from dark to golden. My nosescrunched as I took a sip. I was surprised at how good ittasted.