Halversham (6 page)

“Oh, don’t worry, Corrine knows all of them. She’ll show you,” Aunt Magda said. Next, she filled a large plastic container with cakes, buns, and slices of pie and snapped it shut. “This is for you two if you get hungry.”

“Thanks.”

Corrine stepped into the dining room in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as Aunt Magda handed Andy the container. Her t-shirt hung loosely on her bony structure and the jeans had holes in some parts—Andy was sure it wasn’t a fashion statement. She had her hair tied in a ponytail and wore a brown sling bag across her shoulders. Aunt Magda scurried to the kitchen and left them alone again.

“Ready?” Andy asked, and Corrine nodded.

The first few houses were easy to find, as they were next to one another. Andy would dart to the door, knock on it, introduce himself, deliver the goods, collect the money, and be out within minutes. But once they hit the main street, things got confusing, with many little streets and dirt roads branching off to every corner of Halversham. Although Corrine never went up to any of the houses or even stood next to Andy when he delivered, she’d lead the way and point out the houses. Without Corrine, he wouldn’t have been able to deliver all of them before noon.

The last name on the list was Mr. Doyne. Since his house was at least a fifteen-minute walk from where they were, they took an easy stroll through dirt roads.

“Why did you drop out of school?” Andy asked when he couldn’t hold it back anymore. He was bursting with questions.

“Wow. Did my mom tell you that?” Andy nodded. They were walking along a quiet path flanked by green pastures. She shrugged. “I didn’t see the point. Everybody thinks I’m crazy anyway. Even you, right, Andy?”

Andy licked his lips as Corrine watched his face. She sidestepped a puddle of water on the road, thumbs hooked in her pockets.

“That’s not true. I wouldn’t be here talking to you if I did.”

“Why did you stop coming, then?”

“My mom got sick. You know that.”

“No, I mean, why didn’t you visit before that? It’s been three years since you last visited. Your mom only got sick in the last two. Why didn’t you come before?”

Andy had no idea Corrine took note of his visits, and he had no excuse to offer. In the end, all he could do was shrug. “I don’t know. I usually came with my mom. I don’t know why she didn’t come that one year.”

“So why are you here now?”

“Because my mom loved Halversham, and I wanted to see it again.” He shrugged again and Corrine laughed.

“And here I was thinking you came back because of me,” she said, spreading her arms.

“We weren’t that close, were we? I mean, you were always doing your own thing, and I hung out with my mom or Mort most of the time.”

“But I told you all my secrets.”

“Secrets?” Andy was confused.

“You were the only one I could trust,” she said. “So much shit went down in the last three years and I had no one to talk to.”

“Corrine… I’m sorry. I thought you were a happy-go-lucky type of girl who shared everything with everyone. I didn’t know you told me secrets. Besides, we didn’t talk that much, did we?”

“That’s so typical of you.” Corrine sighed and shook her head. “You know, I never understood you. And you haven’t changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“You look like this nice friendly guy, and everybody wants to be friends with you, but the moment they try, you pull back. It’s like you don’t want to get close to anyone. You’re so…” Corrine looked up to find the word and said, “Aloof.”

“That’s not true.”

“That’s exactly true. You’d rather be superficially close to my mom or Mort than be genuinely close to me or any of your peers. It’s crazy.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really? Who’s your best friend at school?”

“Well, I talk to a couple of guys. And girls.”

“Anyone you’re particularly close to? Like people you hang out with and talk emotional stuff with?”

“Guys aren’t wired like that. We don’t talk emotional stuff.” It wasn’t entirely true. He did talk about emotional stuff with his mother for hours on end. But mentioning that would only strengthen Corrine’s grossly inaccurate point.

“Right.”

“Look, yes, I like talking to older folks, but it’s not superficial. And it doesn’t mean I don’t make friends with people our age, or that I’m less genuine with them.”

“Fine. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“See?”

“See what? It’s got nothing to do with anything. It’s a choice.”

“And you choose to be close to no one. Not me, not your friends at school, I bet. It’s as if we’re not good enough for you.”

“That’s absurd. I don’t select my friends, and I’m not aloof. I’ll prove it to you. I’ll have at least one buddy right here in Halversham by the time I have to leave.”

“Deal. We’ll see how close you’re capable of getting to him. Or her.” She lifted an eyebrow teasingly and Andy rolled his eyes.

They were in front of Mr. Doyne’s house now.

“Do you want to come up and at least deliver this last one with me?” Andy asked, holding up the package meant for Mr. Doyne.

“You know I can’t.”

“No, I don’t. Why?”

“I don’t talk to these people. I can’t maintain my crazy, angry front with you standing next to me.”

“So you never talk to them even when you make a delivery?”

“Nope. Never.”

“How do you get them to pay?”

“I just stare at them like a raving mad creature and that usually gets the message across.”

“That’s crazy,” Andy said, unable to believe Corrine’s determination. “Why would you want to be this person you’re not?”

“Because I hate them. I hate the whole damn town and I won’t give them the satisfaction of me being civil.”

“Fine. Stay uncivilized here. I’ll go up.”

Corrine waited under an aspen while Andy climbed up the stairs and knocked on the door. A minute later, a big man with grey hair opened the door.

“Good morning, Mr. Doyne. My name is Andy, and my Aunt Magda sent me to deliver these to you,” he said, handing the brown paper bag to the old man.

“Oh thanks, kid. That’s very kind of you,” Mr. Doyne said, accepting the package. “Where’s Crazy Corrine?”

Although he’d heard the name many times before, this time, Andy felt bad for her. “Oh, I’m just helping Aunt Magda out while I’m in town. Giving Corrine some time off,” he lied.

“You should take over for good, kid. That silly vacant girl says not a word when she comes to deliver. She just stands there like a statue and waits. Matter of fact, she doesn’t say a word to anybody. And she comes late.” Andy bit his lip, torn between telling Mr. Doyne to go easy on Corrine and keeping the peace as an outsider. Mr. Doyne paused and looked at Andy with narrowed eyes. “You’re Patricia’s son, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry about what happened, kid. I heard. She was a fine lady.”

“Thanks.”

“Wait here while I get the money,” he said and lumbered back in, leaving the door wide open for Andy to peek in.

The living room was modest, with rattan furniture and faded curtains on the windows. It seemed as if no one else lived there except for the old man, but he could be wrong. Once there was a Mrs. Doyne, and Andy vaguely remembered Aunt Magda saying she died a year ago, after some tragedy hit the family. The place had a lonely, melancholic aura and Andy wondered if it was a lot more cheerful when Mrs. Doyne was around. Just like the Monaghans’ home in the city was when his mother was alive.

Mr. Doyne waddled back a few minutes later. “Here you go, kid. Thank your Aunt Magda for me, will you?”

Andy nodded. “Sure.”

“Poor woman’s tested too much,” Mr. Doyne muttered as he closed the door.

Was the Curds’ family situation widely known in Halversham?

Andy put the money in his pocket and turned around to head for the dirt road where Corrine stood waiting.

“You sure took your time acquainting yourself with James,” she said when he approached her.

“You sure have a reputation with the townsfolk.”

“That old goat said something nasty about me?”

“It’s not what he said. It’s what the whole town is saying about you. Surprisingly, it’s always the same thing: ‘She doesn’t talk, she looks vacant, she’s not a friendly person.’ Looks like I’m not the one being aloof.” Andy lifted his eyebrows and Corrine puckered her lips in a pout.

They counted the money they had collected, and Andy put it in his pocket. He’d give it to Aunt Magda when they got home later that evening. It was close to noon, and the air was warm now that the clouds had cleared to give way to the sun.

“Let’s have lunch. Your mom’s packed us some pies and cakes.”

“I know just the spot. But first, do you have any money on you?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Of course you do, rich boy. We’re going to cook in the wild, but we need to buy some ingredients.”

“Why cook when we have all this food from your mom?”

“Because I don’t eat that shit,” she said, walking away.

Andy was stunned into silence as he stared at her retreating back. What was wrong with her? Aunt Magda was one of the best cooks he had ever known. Probe further and he’d most likely be treading on sensitive territory. He’d have to be delicate or she’d clam up.

“Where are we going?” Andy asked, trotting after her.

“We’re going to stop by Dorrie’s and buy some supplies. And then we’re going to head to my secret lair,” she said.

“You have a secret lair?”

“Yup.” She paused to face him and added, “And Andy, it’s really a secret. So don’t go around telling people, okay?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” She turned around and they continued walking.

“You know, the other day I went to the foot of the hill to feed stray dogs like my mom used to. But they were all gone. Only one skinny little guy was there. Do you have any idea what happened to the rest?”

Corrine smiled an evil smile and said, “Maybe my mother ate them.”

Andy frowned while she laughed. “It’s not funny. And what is it between you and your mom?”

“I don’t like her.”

“Why?” Corrine shrugged. “Fine. But don’t talk about her like that to me, okay? I like her.”

“Okay, okay. I was just kidding. I don’t know what happened to those dogs. Maybe somebody came along and carted them away. To give them a better life.”

“Well, I hope so. Because my mother loved them. I know she’d want me to take care of them while I’m here.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“I saw Milton’s property fenced up. When did that happen?”

“A year ago, maybe two. I don’t know.”

“Why did he do it? It’s been without a fence for years.” Corrine shrugged again and they continued in silence. A moment later, Andy asked, “You remember Colin Navasky? The kid whose finger you hooked a fish hook through?”

Corrine giggled. “Yeah, I remember him.”

“His brother Chuck said Milton’s daughter is looking for someone to help him around the house. He asked if I wanted the job.”

“Do you want to work for Milton?” Corrine stopped walking and faced Andy.

“I wouldn’t mind.” Andy paused.

“Duh!” Corrine hit her head with the base of her palm and continued walking. “Friend to the senior citizen, right?”

Andy ignored the sarcasm. “Would that be bad? Working for him?”

“I don’t know, Andy. You have a weird way of connecting with weird people. So maybe it’d work out just fine. All I can say is that he’s one sonofabitch.”

“Yeah, your mom told me about that incident when you were a kid.”

“Boy, you and my mom sure talked a lot when I wasn’t around. What else did she tell you?”

“Nothing.”

They were soon standing in front of Dorrie’s, and Corrine led the way to the groceries section. Andy picked up a basket while Corrine selected several types of mushrooms, butter, parsnips, and a few other items.

“What are you planning to cook?”

“You’ll see.”

Andy walked to the cashier and queued behind a man while Corrine waited outside. He glanced along the row of cashiers, but Chuck wasn’t there, so he paid, picked up the bags, and exited Dorrie’s.

“Okay, we have the groceries. Where to next?” Andy asked in the parking lot.

“Follow me,” Corrine said, taking the lead again.

They walked along the main street, took a turn, and were soon in front of the bridge where his mom used to walk along the river. Corrine walked all the way to the end where the old hut stood and crossed into the dense forest.

“Where is this secret lair?” Andy said, his shoes sinking slightly into the moist earth.

“We’re here.”

“Where?” Andy asked, looking around the thick woods. Small insects made long, shrill noises and then paused before repeating themselves.