I am sleepy and content. It is January in my present, and Clare and I are struggling. This summer interlude is idyllic. Clare says, Id like to draw you, just like that. Upside down and asleep? Relaxed. You look so peaceful. Why not? Go ahead. We are...
Its Henry, right? I shake my head, and put my finger to my lips. We have arrived at the girls gym. We walk into the locker room and abracadabra! all the girls stop talking. Then theres a low ripple of talk that fills the silence. Helen and I have our...
CLARE: At school on Monday, everybody looks at me but no one will speak to me. I feel like Harriet the Spy after her classmates found her spy notebook. Walking down the hall is like parting the Red Sea. When I walk into English, first period, everyon...
Oh, what the hell. I step back and put my whole weight into a side kick to the groin. Jason screams. I turn and look at Clare, who is white under her makeup. Tears are running down Jasons face. I wonder if hes going to pass out. Lets go, I say. Clare...
and part of me doesnt want to beat up somebody whos taped to a tree. Jason is bright red. It contrasts nicely with the gray duct tape. Oh, says Clare. You know, I think thats enough. I am relieved. So of course I say, You sure? I mean there are all s...
Shes a.. .cock.. .tease. She has no idea. Its like torturing a kitten because it bit you. Jason doesnt answer. His breath comes in long, shivering whinnies. Just as I am becoming concerned, Clare arrives. She holds up the inhaler, looks at me. Darlin...
Thats all I need to hear. I draw the gun and step to Clares side. I point it at the guys chest. Hi, Jason, Clare says. I thought you might like to come out with us. He does the same thing I would do, drops and rolls out of range, but he doesnt do it...
Ill drive you, she says. Clare picks me up in the Fiat at the end of the driveway, out of sight of the house. Shes wearing sunglasses even though its a dim afternoon, and lipstick, and her hair is coiled at the back of her head. She looks a lot older...
Spanked? Clare looks at me, smiling, her eyebrows halfway to her hairline. Never mind. So you went to a movie, and...? Oh. Well, then he wanted to go to Travers. What is Travers? Its a farm on the north side. Clares voice drops, I can hardly hear her...
Clare stares at her lap. I dont want to talk about it. Couldnt you just take my word that he totally deserves it? I think I know whats going on; I think Ive heard this story before. I sigh, and move closer to Clare, and put my arm around her. She lea...
The car glides down the drive, around the bend and into the night. I walk after it toward a bed in the Meadow under the stars. Sunday, September 27, 1987 (Henry is 32, Clare is 16) HENRY: I materialize in the Meadow, about fifteen feet west of the cl...
Since you havent actually gotten married yet, I suppose we would have to say that you are my girlfriend. Clare puts her hand someplace it probably shouldnt be. Id rather be your mistress. Youre sixteen, Clare. I gently remove her hand, and stroke her...
Headlights appear in the distance. Clare turns her lights on and we are rushing along again, perfectly aligned between the yellow stripes in the middle of the road and the edge of the highway. Its 11:38. Clare is expressionless in the reflected dashb...
Clare is going to kill me for this. Im a friend of Clares parents. They were worried about her taking the car to a party where there might be alcohol, so they asked me to go along and play chauffeur in case she got too pickled to drive. Helen pouts....
HENRY: A long time has passed, maybe an hour or so. I eat half the potato chips and drink the warm Coke Clare has brought along. I nap a bit. Shes gone for so long that Im starting to consider going for a walk. Also I need to take a leak. I hear heel...
