I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that, went Marlene.
FLASHES
Richard would have to settle a nice, plump debt the minute he set foot on the outside. He had no particular fondness for Italian models, but Alfa Romeo was a name that spoke to him—that murmured in his ear before settling into the basso profundo of a V6 with exhaust cutout. Naturally, he’d have to tweak it, soup up the engine, accessorize with a direct air intake, sixteen-inch tires, etc., and all of that carried a price tag. So it was important not to antagonize Nath. Not start shouting.
Until he could replenish—and his three months in stir had bled him dry, financially speaking—he’d have to play it cool, show tolerance and patient composure.
After all, she’s your sister, he said, touching her hand. She stared at him fixedly for a moment. Most men were such lousy actors. Transparent. But on the other hand, she had opened an account for Marlene and loaned her enough for a month. Something that, under normal circumstances, Richard would have found difficult to swallow.
She pulled away her hand in confusion.
Anyway, it’s just a loan, she hastened to add. I’m taking her on at the shop.
Nath, that’s for you to decide, he said with a smile. Family is family.
It’ll be all right. She’ll make out.
Yeah, he eluded. Let’s hope she doesn’t start sleeping around all over town.
Seeing that she didn’t appreciate the remark, he added, Never mind, forget I said anything.
He had a hard time feeling sorry for Marlene, compassion not being his strong suit. He had very little in reserve, to be dispensed with a dropper. Saving any for Marlene, that nutcase whom he’d met maybe two or three times at most, who went into a tailspin at the drop of a hat and attracted shit like a magnet attracts iron, was a waste.
By the end of the visit, and although she had remained quietly seated across from him like a schoolmarm, talking stuff and nonsense, he had a hard-on like a mule.
He would have paid a fortune for the two of them to be left alone for a minute. The days were long gone when he came home from a mission, half-crazed, still hallucinating, a bundle of nerves, and when he kept fucking and fucking Nath, moaning with pleasure in her arms like a child, for days on end. All that was long gone. But there were still flashes, heat lightning, an irresistible yearning for her despite the truckloads of young women who were always around, who turned up in droves, who moved in with their husbands and their brats, among whom he could pick and choose; all those adorable little bitches that he, somehow, deserved—he figured he had fought hard enough for them, for his country, for God knows what, and even for those asswipes who had given him three months for speeding, repeat offender or no.
He grimaced as his eyes met Nath’s, who stood up to leave. Repeat offender, my ass, he thought.
HELL
Welcoming guys home from a stay in hell was a duty, a tradition, a time for emotions, hugs, and tears as families reunited in the station lobby decked out for the occasion.
Night was falling, the train was running late, and noses and cheeks were reddening in the cold air that flowed under the glass roof, where a large welcome banner flapped, made from a PVC tarpaulin that they dug out each time—Dan and Richard had had their turn with it a few years earlier, coming back from Afghanistan, and you could bet it would be used again.
The veterans were supposed to set an example, and unless they had moved away, or were in the psych ward or behind bars, they were expected to be there to lend the event the necessary decorum, and Dan had just noticed that Marlene had new glasses—she was walking toward him, waving broadly—when the train headlights pierced the darkness in the distance and a noise of joyful relief rose from the crowd.
She kissed him on both cheeks, which took him by surprise and irritated him more than anything else. If he could avoid being seen with her, so much the better.
He stood stiffly, arms hanging limp, so that she felt a moment’s hesitation, but then the guys started pouring noisily from the train, grabbing everyone’s attention, and he relaxed.
He searched for something to say about her new glasses. He asked if Nath was around.
She’s coming, Marlene answered. She’s parking the car. But I’m dead on my feet. It was nonstop today, we just closed up.
A town official had grabbed a mic and was already spewing the usual blah-blah while the guys dropped their duffel bags like turds to sweep up their wife or mother or lift terrified children at arm’s length, and others headed rowdily to the watering hole where they were serving beer and refreshments.
Luckily, they didn’t celebrate the heroes’ return every day. Dan’s legs began to shake, seeing all those boys who would soon tip into suffering and never come out. Well, that’s some face you’re making, Marlene whispered to him. Looks like something’s wrong.
Nice glasses, he answered. The wood frames are a nice touch.
Nath joined them a little later, the requisite smile on her lips, making her way through the baby carriages, pregnant women, fused couples, the manics, the zombies. She and Dan exchanged blasé looks. It was a small town. As they knew, it was either this or go to Mass on Sunday.
Marlene, on the other hand, seemed delighted with the ambiance. She smiled at the mothers, spoke to the children. She took advantage to introduce herself, I’m Nath’s sister, I’m moving here, I work with her, it’s a beautiful day, I’m so happy to be here, to share this moment with you, I hope we’ll see each other again, get to know each other better. To the point where Nath finally grabbed her by the sleeve and dragged her outside, having no desire to spend the night there. She was hungry.
So was Dan.
FOWL
Unlike other girls her age, Mona didn’t have a boyfriend and had never had sex. It wasn’t what everyone else believed, not even the two or three girls who imagined they knew her well, despite the vagueness she deliberately maintained on the subject. Especially since she was hardly the type to lower her gaze or blush at a sexual allusion.
She had managed to forge a reputation as an experienced young woman without ever having to go through it, but she was the only one who could admire her handiwork. Even her own mother—and God knew that Nath had investigated the matter—couldn’t say for sure.
She was in no hurry; she got along just fine on her own. She didn’t see what was so urgent about throwing yourself into the arms of the first doofus to come along. If it was just to be like everyone else, or like her mother, thanks anyway. She had something else in mind.
It had been dark for a while, and she was going a bit stir-crazy when Dan came to pick her up.
You took your time, she said.
He shrugged one shoulder. The living room wasn’t a mess. He appreciated it, without letting it show. The train was late getting in, he said.