Prince by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Chapter 14
Sunday morning doo-dahs done without the tedious and inhibiting intrusion of any reverential entity on the dole, Prince and Polly scampered to their own bastion of adoration; the wild and crazy Bosque. The sun was just about to make its scheduled daily appearance over the stark mountains, now offering the slightest of a shy glimmer. The Rulestones had neglected their ritual chamisa kissing endeavors to weigh down their long suffering couch as Minister Jackson went through the early version of his faux impassioned wisdom for the benefit of the infirmed, to be repeated on the hour until high mass at noon, complete with special offers to join his ministry at five minute intervals. For only $399 one could not only be a
“contributing patron” for a whole year, but would also receive a three inch plastic cross which glows in the dark, as long as supplies last and an inference of heaven when the time came.
The Rulestone abode did not exhibit any shining crosses, regardless of size, as they were conflicted by their belief in the axiom that ”God helps those who help themselves,” and they could think of no better way of helping themselves than hanging on to their own hard earned inherited money. Needless to say, they diligently voted the Republican ticket.
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As Prince made short work of the declining puddles Polly offered thanks for the quiet; Camino De Lucia not yet drenched with the voices and hedge trimmers, which normally take residence this time of year. They seem to have a special fondness for the New Mexican warmth, until they depart to their winter homes in similarly bright Mississippi by December.
Without direction Prince went through the lightly trodden, bent grass path. Before they got to the dirty water ditch, Prince stopped and Polly took her eyes off him to look ahead. Leo was in front of them with Princess.
Leo awkwardly smiled and said; “Hi.” His gaze went to the nearby mole hill.
Prince recognized his friends and pulled Polly to them, she returning the sheepish “Hi” and he excitedly sniffing Princess.
Leo was apparently still fascinated by the mound of fresh dirt when he said; “I hope you don’t mind me being here.”
“No, not at all. I was hoping to see you yesterday .......
I mean I just wasn’t thinking about it today. ...... Oh, you know what I mean.” Polly nervously giggled.
Leo looked up and smiled at her twittering eyes, saying; “I have to tell you something. I lied to you the other day.”
Polly relaxed, but also got an ominous feeling. Leo seemed so serious. She said nothing and looked at him, while the royalty checked out each other’s butts.
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Leo continued; “I don’t really live on Camino De Lucia.”
Relieved, Polly interjected; “Who cares? Few really live on Camino De Lucia anyway. But, why did you say so?”
“I don’t know. I’m close by; one block over on Manierra.
Sounds like diarrhea.” He made the slightest of laughs; more like a snort and so did she. Displaying snout inspection, the Princess and the Prince discussed as much as they cared to about the nature of reality.
Leo continued; “And I live in a trailer.” He was again compelled to check the tiny earth hill.
Polly shrugged her shoulders and in a slightly high pitched voice said; “Cool. Got your own room?”
Leo breathed out a minute’s air supply, smiled broadly and said; “Yeah and I can do whatever I want with it. ...... Well, almost whatever I want. You know.”
Polly saw that behind Leo the sun had now fully risen and seemed to be lackadaisically frying away a few of the evening’s stringy, unsubstantial clouds. Prince and Princess decided that with all the energy of a new morning they had been still long enough, so they pulled their humans to the brown water ditch and descended to the flowing pastel chocolate. The Dalmatian and the German Shepherd drank and waded in the deepest part; just shy of their backs.
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Polly said; “He’s not really a swimmer. He gets nervous if the water is over his head.”
“Princess doesn’t mind the deep. I just hate it when she gets fully soaked, because when she shakes off it’s like a shower for ten feet. Do you always keep him on a leash?”
“Oh, yeah. If I didn’t he would eat everything he could get to and if he saw something he didn’t like he might attack.
You don’t?”
“Most of the time I do; like on Camino De Lucia. I used to let her off-leash here and I still do if I feel lucky. There’s some nutball woman with an umbrella in here who says that she’ll turn us into toads if Princess bothers her precious coyotes and she just might.”
Polly chuckled and said; “I met that weirdo too. Do you really think that she can turn people into toads?”
“Oh, no. I meant that Princess just might bother a coyote.
And I don’t really want that crazy woman following us around yelling. If I wanted company I wouldn’t have come here.”
The dogs climbed from the ditch in tandem.
Polly said; “Well, how about me?”
Leo said; “You’re special,” and immediately turned his head to Princess, who gave him a face soaking. Polly blushed and pretended to fix Prince’s collar, which showed no need for
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adjustment and consequently, got a lesser spray due to Prince’s shorter hair.
Led by the thoroughly soaked they all crossed the iron bridge and squiggled around the useless closed gate. Prince looked at the clear ditch and had no interest as he had already spent adequate time in the dirty water. “For some other time,”
he thought. He climbed the levee bank. Princess made a doggy shrug and followed. They all paused at the crest to take in the view of the river, the surrounding trees and the cold, rocky mountain in the near distance. It appeared insurmountable in its two o’clock elevation off the floor and having no observable paths. Closer examination might prove otherwise, but the foursome was not going there today, so final determinations were left to the future. They descended the graduated path to the river and Prince turned southeast, remembering the location of his stinky porcupine, but Polly held him back.
She said; “Leo, do you mind if we go the other way today?
I’d like to see what’s on this side.”
Leo was ambivalent and simply said; “Sure.” He followed Polly’s few steps before they both came to a sudden halt. They looked back to see two indignant looking dogs, stubbornly on their haunches, who thought; “Nobody asked us!”
Polly queried to Leo; “She does that stuff, too?”
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Leo said; “Not really. I think she’s learning from him. I mean she usually pulls me around all over the place, but sitting is a new one.”
Polly grabbed Leo’s arm and said; “I know how to handle it.
Watch this.” She sat on the ground, bringing Leo with her. Leo looked at her, smiled, shrugged and said; “Okay.”
Everyone reclined in the dirt like proper dignitaries.
However, unlike genteel VIPs they saw the river flow, the mountain behind it and the clear blue sky, which displayed both the AM sun and the opaque, inconsistent whiteness of the full moon, an added early morning feature in the area.
Princess was first to break the yoga session as she was not in the least bit used to remaining still for long. She got up and took a few steps toward Polly and Leo, to her north. Prince made a low grumble which sounded like “mmmrrr” and followed her.
He thought; “Somebody’s going to get that porcupine before I can get back to it. I just know it. Women!!!” The gang of four proceeded north at the speed of a dog trot, each pair making regular off-path excursions, sometimes in opposite directions, the tiny humans following the whims of their super sensed companions. Prince was fascinated by the scents left at tree bases and Princess liked the early flowering plants and bushes.
Leo said; “I have something else to tell you.”
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Polly thought; “Uh, oh,” but said nothing and glanced his way as much as her concentration on Prince allowed.
Leo held her hand a second, let go and said; “Let’s make a day of this. My family leaves for Lake Havasu tomorrow.”
Polly’s showed wide-eyed remorse and exclaimed; “You’re not moving. Are you?”
“Oh, no, no. There’s more work there this time of year.
We stay with Dad’s brother.”
Polly frowned and Leo explained further; “My folks kind of chase around after work. This has happened before. When you’re sweating in July I’ll be ten, fifteen degrees cooler by the lake.”
“I like the heat.”
“I’ll be back before school starts again. We’re in the same class. We’ll see each other every day.”
Polly didn’t want to appear desperate for Leo’s company, but was quite relieved that he wasn’t permanently moving. With a hint of sarcasm she said; “Oh, great.”
Leo’s furrowed brow and blinking eyes suggested that his feelings were hurt by her last remark, so Polly said; “We can do homework together.”
Perking up, Leo said; “Gebus is usually too drunk to remember to collect it.”
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Polly thought Leo was being purposely difficult, but liked his attempt to be pointless. She found herself feeling regretful, as without consciously thinking about it she had assumed that he would be her playmate all summer. For the first time the thought of being alone in the wild was chilling. Just a few days ago she thought that this was what she wanted, but now the sounds of something moving in the brush and the shrill call of an overhead black bird un-nerved her. She was reminded of a Stephen King horror movie that she had to terminate early.
The dogs led them through an area which seemed to have more dead wood on the ground than was living vertically and her need to watch her footing soon came to be the dominant thought in her head. “Slow, slow,” she called to Prince with the usual lack of results as he moved on leaping over fallen tree branches, intent on getting to something no one else detected. Princess pursued, temporarily having had her fill of fragrant flowers and curious to see what he found so compelling.
Leo was also having difficulty navigating the surface obstacles and breathlessly said; “You’ll have to work more on that one.”
“Slow, slow,” she called. “Slow, slow.” Her foot caught on a complicated limb and she tripped, falling head first into the remains of last year’s leaves resting on insistent spring growth, yet too small to be easily identified. She broke the
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fall with her hands and Prince was jerked to a stop. Prince turned around ready to complain, but when he saw Polly’s predicament he thought; “Ooooooooh, so very sorry,” and came to her to furiously lick her face.
She grudgingly accepted his moistening apology, both embarrassed to have been so clumsy and displeased that he refused to understand “Slow, slow.” She laughed because his rough tongue tickled as she was all right, excepting a few minor scratches on her palms.
Leo led a bewildered Princess over to Polly and seeing Prince’s efforts Princess felt obliged to also lick Polly’s face, but with less enthusiasm and looking around between licks as if to say; “Is this all right?” Leo put his right hand on Polly’s shoulder and said; “I’m glad you’re laughing. You okay?”
Polly dragged out a “Yeah” and pushed herself back up with her hands. She didn’t know that it was the highpoint of her three partner explorers’ day to see her back on her feet, though all noticeably breathed in and let out a sigh of relief.
The four looked to each other for a signal as to what to do next, producing a short pause which seemed to be a lingering hush. Prince started moving and was soon soaring over logs on his way to the yet unseen treasure. “Slow, slow,” and “Slow, slow,” came the cries of Polly and Leo.
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Doing their best in a challenging situation, the four were soon startled by the partial emergence of what appeared to be a man. They stopped and it continued its sudden revealing behavior from the shade behind a mature cottonwood. Its white beard hung to its belly, suggesting masculinity, but the group did not confuse Beardo with Santa Claus, as the conglomeration of matted hair tapered in a regular pattern, eventually coming to a point. The man was just finishing putting something in the left pocket of his floppy, burgundy pants. He looked at the group and made a smile, not to be confused with one of the friendly variety. It was more like the grin of a wolf greeting its new meal. He puffed a cigarette held between his hidden lips and slurred; “Looking for thumthing?”
Each looked to the other hoping they would say something.
Prince sensed what he was pursuing and lurched toward Beardo’s pocket.
The ancient man’s wrinkled pale face looked like a road map which had been run through the miniaturizing process ten too many times. He removed the cigarette from his mouth, displaying no teeth, merely a dismal hollow and in a lisping elevated voice said; “Hey, keep that dog backth,” bathing the four travelers in halitosis.
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Polly and Leo put their hands to their noses and giggled at the pronunciation. She firmly held Prince and said; “I’m sorry.
I’ve got him now.”
Beardo put the cigarette back in his mouth and said; “Well, good thing. I don’t think he likesh me.”
Prince said; “Mmmrrrrrr, wruuf, wruuf,” and again tried to lurch.
The man answered; “Mmmrrrrrr, wruuf and wruuf to you too, cranky little dog.” He took a hunting knife from his back pocket and quickly removed it from its sheath. He pointed the tip right at Prince’s face and stared at him with dead, unblinking eyes. Leo extracted a folding pen-knife from his left back pocket. As he exposed the silver blade it reflected the backlighting sun. Beardo sneered, but his eyes blinked rapidly from the glare, making him appear to be in some sort of pain.
Polly said; “Hey!! That’s a little radical.” Prince still wanted to get to Blinky, especially his left pants pocket. His attempt to move forward was stifled by Polly’s short hold of the chain. She gave him a tiny slap on the head to get his undivided attention. When Prince turned, she held up an index finger and firmly said; “STOP.” Prince relaxed appreciably, but said; “Mmmmmm.” Directing her conversation to Ancient Smirk,
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she said; “You can put that thing away now.” She turned to Leo and said; “You too, Lancelot.”
The two male “humans” kept their gazes steadily on the other as they complied with Polly’s wishes. Making a sinister chuckle the old man slapped the bulge in his left pocket and said; “I’m leaving. I got what I wanted.” He turned and trudged through the broken tree limbs heading away from the river toward the levee.
Leo sarcastically called out; “Come here often?” as if he were making particularly banal conversation in a single’s bar.
He really wanted to know as he knew that Polly would be coming this way again without the benefit of his masterful protection.
Road Map Face didn’t turn around, but said; “You muth not hear very well. I thaid I got what I wanted,” and disappeared over the levee.
Polly held Leo’s hand and said; “You were very brave. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.” She felt him trembling.
Now, without any hindrance, Prince scampered to the tree from which the old man had appeared and sniffed all around it.
Polly in tow, he circled it seven times and kept looking up at her with disturbed wide eyes as if to say; “I know it was here.
But, it’s gone now.” She was glad there was no dead porcupine, got dizzy from the circling and led him back toward the river.
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He made no objection, but walked slowly, looking back to be certain he had not missed something.
At a “normal” rate of speed the group got on the winding main path fifty feet from the river, going further north. They picked up the intoxicating springtime scent of life returning to the flora and fauna lucky enough to be near the banks of the strongly flowing and warming water. No one wanted to disturb the sounds of the birds calling, their wings flapping bringing them from branch to branch, the river cascading over rocks and around proudly high islands still solitary and unspoiled, the periodic rustle of the new leaves and twelve feet tramping through the path, crumbling the old.
A brilliant glow appeared just ahead. Their partially shaded, heavily treed and snaking path was leading them to the light at the end of the tunnel. They smiled radiantly in anticipation of something great and then saw the man made, shaved, ten acre drain field straight ahead with the handball court sized, concrete emergency flood canal to their left. They laughed out loud, Polly doubling over with her free hand on her belly.
Prince and Princess stopped as there were important decisions to be made. They could cut right through on the pickup truck tire track path in the middle, make a right to the river and try to navigate heavy brush, or go left on an easy
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circuitous path and maybe get in some handball. The feeling of a minute prior dissipated, Polly said; “Christ, there are nuts all over the place.”
The dogs’ bodies were still, but their heads were leisurely rotating like heaven observation machines, mercifully without the freaky whirr. Leo couldn’t come up with any retort better than “Yeah.” He thought of asking if he could move in with her so that he could be there for summer long protection, but decided that it was a bit too early in their relationship for such a step. Besides, his mother would never allow it until he was at least thirteen. He added; “Have you ever been this far out before?”
“Never.”
“Me either. Sure you want to? There might be even bigger nuts.”
Polly winced and made the smallest of shrugs, indicating that she had mixed feelings. She scanned what she could of what was ahead. The drain field left a lot to be desired, but after it there appeared to be an attractive heavily wooded area. She knew that they would be far away from the nearest public entrances, so only the hardiest of hikers would be possible limitations. She was about to say; “Yes,” when Prince and Princess made her ruminations irrelevant. They went ahead guiding their human escorts to the prettiest, but most difficult
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spot; the brush bordering the river. The next sound anyone heard was Polly and Leo saying; “Whoa, whoa” over and over again as the dogs found narrow coyote paths they could easily handle, but the clumsy bipeds stumbled along, at times getting tangled in the two foot high mass of brush. Prince looked back thinking; “Come on, come on. This is easy.” Without event they got through the brush at human speed, then without stopping to think Prince continued along the river, the path becoming a combination of pebbles and sand. Polly and Leo liked the choice as the other was back to another area infested with dead tree limbs. Princess liked the proximity of water.
With the woods to their left and the river on the right everyone felt as if they were on their own private island and lost themselves watching the others and feeling the increasing heat as the unfettered sun got higher and higher behind them.
Obstacles no longer a hindrance to speed they travelled the non-path quickly, probably more rapidly than any of the participants wanted, had they taken the time to think about it.
Fish leaped from the river, aiming at the sky, only to fall back to the depths. But, this didn’t stop them from trying again and again. The splashing flops got Prince’s attention and he decided that he wanted a fish of his own. He stopped and everyone else was relieved to do the same thing. He was fascinated with the strange creatures adept both in the air and
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water. He wondered if they were playing or trying to escape.
More importantly he wondered how they tasted. Prince pulled Polly into the river. While shallow at the beachy shoreline, he wanted to get to the deep stuff, home of the fishes and went out a few feet, where he found a drop-off. Polly restrained him as she didn’t want to get soaked above her sneakers. Prince’s body was totally immersed with only his head above the moving water, looking like a black and white Loch Ness monster. Princess wasn’t interested in the fish any more than as a visual delicacy, but reached Prince’s depth thinking that a swim was not a bad idea. Prince turned and lurched every time he heard fish acrobatics, tugging and moving Polly each time as her feet were in slippery mud. She yelled; “No, no, no, no, no,” but he didn’t pay any attention as he thought that this was a special treat and that she should be more accommodating under the circumstances. After all, it’s not every day that he saw a bold morsel of edible meat with the audacity to tease a red blooded American dog. One jumped a foot away from him and he tried to catch it in his mouth, but only was able to snap his jaws in the water. The same thing happened a few more times and he was frustrated. He shook his head in anger, vowing to get the next leaper and he did. He didn’t try to catch it in the air this time, but rather waited for its descent. Now soaked completely he pulled it from the water with his mouth clenched on its
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middle. He brought it back to shore and laid it on the sand, inspecting the squirming fish. It was not what he had expected and looked up at Polly who was making a wrinkled face, not fond of the sight. Prince discovered that a fish was not as appealing as he had imagined. She let go of his leash and used two hands to scoop up the flopping fish and threw it back in the river. The four watched it hightail it back to deeper water without it chancing any more flying.
“Lucky fish,” deadpanned Leo.
“You have to be lucky if you’re going to be so stupid.”
“Yeah, he had to do his fancy maneuvers right next to us.”
Polly pointed out to the river and said; “He’s much better off doing it out there.”
Leo shrugged and said; “Maybe he didn’t know where he was.”
“Like I said; stupid fish. You always have to know where you are. For freedom you must pick your spots.”
Prince and Princess got moving, pulling Polly and Leo behind them, who refused to break into a trot, always having one foot on the ground. They came to the end of the beach and were confronted with a straight uphill, two and a half foot incline, which led back into the woods. Prince surveyed the situation.
He thought; “If we are to keep moving forward Princess and I have got to get up this thing. If successful we can probably pull the less capable humans.” The inept two-leggers were
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already looking back, hoping to see a spot with a more gradual incline. Prince noticed the negative looks and rather than waiting to be led away he decided to take his shot. There was really nothing to lose as if he missed he was certain he could re-direct himself and land on his feet. He backed up a few feet to facilitate a running start and went for it. He dug his back paws in the dirt halfway up the incline, got his front paws over the top and pulled himself up. Now seeing how, Princess copied him. Polly and Leo looked at each other, smiled and nodded, then mimicked the dogs, who pulled them by chain for the last step.
They were now in the semi-shade of the cottonwoods, though they were also still right next to the river. The beach just ended, its existence due only to a decline in the river’s depth caused by development of the area and government “management.”
The break from the direct sun didn’t cause any human complaints as the still air and lack of clouds was allowing the sun maximum hot dominance over the area. Mild sweat on fully covered bodies on the kids and wet dogs were a contradiction as Prince and Princess wanted to move as quickly as they ever had; now feeling cool in the semi-shade. None of the four had been here before, but the canine approach to that was one of excitement, wanting to see everything as soon as possible, while the kids thought that they’d be back many times and if they didn’t get to it
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today they would another time. Besides, they had seen cottonwood forests and the river before. Polly held back on Prince’s leash, saying; “Take your time. It will be there when you get there. This is New Mexico. Nothing moves.” Prince made a tiny grunt and slowed down for a few seconds.
Leo offered; “The state animal is the toad and I hope we don’t find any of those.”
“Why?”
“I guess Prince hasn’t gotten one yet. They’re not afraid of anything because they are toxic. They hold their ground because they think that everybody knows that, I guess. Well, Princess didn’t and ate one. She foamed at the mouth and puked for the next six hours.”
“Eeyew. Take her to the vet?”
“No, she can puke just as well in the backyard as she can at the vet’s office.”
Prince picked up speed and Polly did her best to follow.
She saw no obstructions as he was content to stay on a narrow dirt path made by horses, some tracks visible on the loose, dry earth. However he veered off between two tree-sized logs which were there so long they were half covered by moss. The new
“path” was covered by sparse six inch grass and whatever was hiding in it, so Polly again held him back, saying her useless;
“Slow, slow,” as she stumbled over the small sticks.
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Prince and Princess kept abreast as each detected a new aroma and could not wait to see if its source was edible. Leo came close to falling over when his foot snagged on a log and he brought Princess to a full stop as he regained his balance.
Aggravated, he said; “Take your time. It will be there when you get there.” He was fortunate that Princess did not understand him as she and Prince knew that this stinker was on the move.
The front of the royalty’s necks were so tight against their collars that Polly wondered if it was possible to hang yourself in a horizontal position and consequently ran as best she could hoping that would make the race end sooner. Not to be outdone, Princess tried to keep up and so as not to be outrun by a girl, Leo picked up speed.
They soon saw that whatever they were chasing was tricky, quick and capable of making ninety degree turns as they virtually circled through the cottonwoods, paying more attention to the sporadic low branches than they were to the dogs.
Although this was a necessity of survival for the kids as a collision would be akin to running head first into a brick wall, the dogs weren’t fazed in the least as they easily passed under them and never considered whether or not their humans had the same ability, apparently assuming that they did.
A few minutes of this arms-fully-outstretched, run-stumble-run activity came to a welcomed end, when the dogs suddenly
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stopped. Eight wide eyes stared at two, which belonged to a bushy tailed black and white creature not to be trifled with; a skunk.
Polly and Leo spoke simultaneously, one saying; “Uh oh,”
and the other; “Oh, Jesus.” The skunk was tired of running and decided to make its stand, calling on its best weapon. Up until now, Prince and Princess were always attracted to stink, but this was a little much. No one moved and the tiniest terrorist turned up the gas, feeling that he had tolerated enough intrusion and running away in his own home land.
Leo got a small whiff and said; “Come on. Let’s get out of here before we get it all over us.”
Polly said; “You’ve got my vote. Now convince these two.”
These two secretly wanted to leave quickly as they had ten times the smelling sensation of the humans. However, each required one strenuous tug on the leash to show the little stinker that they were not in the least bit afraid of him. As they obeyed and retreated after one good yank, they hoped that the tiny territorial stench mogul didn’t know that to move them previously, it had taken a lot more than that.
Rapidly moving away from the foul smell and hoping it didn’t follow, the Four Musketeers found territory abundant with fragrant Western Virgins bower. The small white flowers in profuse branched clusters rose two feet from the floor and were
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spaced out affording easy passage. Prince and Princess casually followed them through the light woods back to the river, inhaling deeply and clearing the previous unpleasantness from their nostrils. They came to the prettiest spot they had yet seen and everyone sat taking in the view and the aroma. Mature cottonwoods stood about ten feet apart and the tiny white flowers were the only other thing growing. Without any huge shrubbery at shoreline they had an unimpeded view of the rippling Rio Grande River and the mountains on the other side of it. The water was four feet below a sharp drop-off which no one felt like negotiating. They remained silent, their gazes alternating from the river to the mountain to the flowers to the trees. Springtime and getting warmer. After a contented five minutes the silence was broken by a man’s voice which bellowed;
“This is my favorite spot.”
Polly was tempted to say; “It used to be mine too,” but thought better hoping that the drunken, staggering old man would continue on his way, but instead he sat with the group. Prince growled and barked out what only he knew to mean; “Shut up,” and the old, wildly haired man kept talking.
“My family owns this land and you’re actually trespassing,”
said the man in the stained red and black flannel shirt. The air was now filled with the scent of Gallo, which explained the stain.
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Polly and Leo both knew this to be public land, but rather than being contentious they both tried to find some other tangent to go on and came up with blank stares. Prince and Princess grumbled, Prince making a feeble attempt to check out the man more closely to determine the source of the wine scent, held back almost effortlessly by Polly.
Gallo continued; “But it’s all right with me if you come here. Other landowners around here aren’t as generous, but I believe in letting everyone enjoy the land ...... as long as they come in peace.”
The duo again didn’t have any response handy as they didn’t want to thank him for his false generosity, perhaps thereby making him think that he was owed something. They wished he would leave and really let them enjoy the land again.
Gallo reached toward Prince saying; “All dogs like me; dogs and kids.”
Prince snapped at his hand which was adeptly withdrawn, demonstrating the present dog vote, while the kids skipped this election.
Gallo lit a Camel, eyed Polly with irritation and said;
“Mean dog?”
Wanting this pesty and God knows what else guy to know that she had protection said; “Can be. Used to be a fighting dog.
But he listens to me ...... most of the time.” She petted
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Prince’s head and he ducked under her hand to keep his alert eyes on Gallo.
Leo looked to Princess and added; “And it’s better not to try touching her as she takes a while to warm up to new people.”
Gallo laughed and said; “That’s all right. I’m here every day. I live right over there.” He vaguely pointed to somewhere back toward the levee and briefly turned to it, thereby missing the instinctive winces on two small faces.
“Yeah, my wife’s family has owned this land since the pioneer days.” He laughed, solo again and added; “Of course I own it now.” He grinned at them mirthfully and they felt obliged to make a tight lipped grimace-smile. They saw that the Western Virgins bower nearest Gallo seemed to shrink from him, probably due to his breath, reminding them of the original German version of “Nosferatu.”
“Do you know that this place was once a refuge for hobos?”
Polly and Leo couldn’t help making a small, quick, spasmodic smile which they cut short as possible.
Incorrectly encouraged, Gallo amplified on the subject;
“Back in the forties and fifties they used to come from all over the place for the good weather.” He demonstrated his solo amusement and added; “The fact that there were no cops to bother them probably had something to do with it too.” He waited for some response, but getting none, undauntedly he continued;
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“Albuquerque’s the big city and always had police, but Corrales had a population of less than five thousand, not counting the bums. Criminals, too. Nobody could find them here. Nobody even looked most of the time.” More solitary chuckles were provided.
Prince and Princess kept their eyes on blabbermouth out of a protective instinct. Polly and Leo gazed across the river, still too young to realize that decades of ignored hints had built up an immunity in this man.
Sensing that he might need a new tactic, Gallo formulated a question, requiring a response. “What made you move here?”
Without turning to him Polly deadpanned; “The quiet.” Leo pursed his lips and briefly nodded.
“It hasn’t been quiet here since all the development started.”
Polly said; “Can’t trust anything you get on the internet.”
Leo gave her a playful arm punch and said; “Good one.”
Gallo poked Polly’s arm, then rolled up the sleeve of his puke infested shirt and says; “Feel that muscle.”
Polly reached her limit and screams; “I will not feel your muscle, you creep. Get out of here!! Get out of here!!
Jesus!!”
Gallo actually looked surprised and insulted despite having been in the same situation countless times previously. He
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considered making another point about his ownership of the land, but after Polly shouted the dogs were on the alert and ready to go whenever the leashes were loosened. He slowly walked away in the direction of the last known whereabouts of the skunk, looking as if his feelings were hurt.
Exasperated, Polly turned to Leo and says; “Why is it that every time you’re enjoying yourself some jerk has to stick themselves in the middle and ruin it?”
“Maybe because it’s precisely that’s what they live to do.”
“That’s a life?”
Leo bulged his eyes and raised both hands above his head, wiggling the fingers. He croaked; “In Zombieland,” and in slow motion he descended toward Polly, who jumped back and giggled.
Prince was too young to understand adolescent humor, growled and was befuddled. He didn’t know whether to keep his eyes on Leo or Gallo, whose scent was still in his snout.
With the crowned heads on guard duty, the commoners relaxed. Their hands on the ground behind them for support, they tilted their heads back and absently squinted at the bright, warming, unblocked sun almost directly overhead. All they heard was the river’s pre-historic insistence on flowing south. No matter what obstacles appear, the “managed,” but vital Rio Grande joyously bubbled to announce victory as it overcame each.
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Polly woke up to see that Leo, Prince and Princess were still slumbering in the tranquility. She thought that they all looked cute, but there was a small problem. The sun passed over them and its position told her that three o’clock was approaching. Yesterday, she was mildly chastised by her mother for coming home earlier than this. She shook Leo and when she thought she had his attention excitedly said; “Come on. I’ve got to go home now.”
Leo roused slowly, smiling and stretching, intending full cooperation, but not understanding the necessity of rushing things. Prince and Princess got on their hind legs, yawned at each other and seemed to be saying; “What’s the fuss?”
Polly said; “Let’s get on the levee path. It’s straighter and faster.”
Leo rubbed his eyes. He remembered that this would be the last time he’d be seeing Polly until school resumed and he was not in any rush. He groaned as he stretched himself out, with his thumbs pressing against his lower back as if he were Gallo’s age and condition. Polly and a reluctant Prince were already thirty feet away by the time he was in full gear. He and Princess trotted to catch up, meeting them at the levee.
Polly moved quickly, most of the time at the head of the pack, with Prince behind at chain’s length. As he had never
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before been on the easy road, a number of things got his attention and he wanted to investigate each. At every attempted spot he was gently, but with resolve pulled ahead and he made many entreaty-like growls and wished he could say; “Slow, slow,”
unaware that it would be irrelevant. He didn’t mind that the roles had been reversed, but wished the process was a more leisurely and playful tennis-type of outing, disliking the elongated version of a fifty yard dash. Leo was unsettled, sporadically viewing the long, thin shadows in front of them and got the feeling that he was being unnecessarily hurried into the gloom. As Polly, he remained stoically silent as his perception was not translatable into any words that he wished to use.
Polly’s thoughts were simpler. She was thinking about what her parents might say and dreading many of the possibilities.
Prince and Princess came to top the uncomplicated chart and resumed their head-of-the-pack positions, as they suddenly realized they were hungry, not having eaten since about 7AM.
Prince and Princess recognized the civilization-development re-entry passage and led the way, soon recalling the
“socializing” feel of hot asphalt on well-used puffy footpads.
They passed the front-border-chamisa-fascinated Rulestones; Polly waving like a pin-wheel and briskly saying; “Hi. Hi.
Bye. Bye. Late for a very important date.” The rude bushwhackers did not deign to retort, but broke away from their
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clipping “work” to mutely scrutinize the improperly ordered band of wanderers from behind, slowly shaking their “concerned”
traditional heads sideways, Mrs. Rulestone looking as if something had just flown up her nose.
They paused briefly at the end of Polly’s driveway. The non-canines both opened their mouths to say something, but thoughts merely raced through heads, going too quickly to find the passageway to the young mouths. They looked into each other’s eyes, made a brief, almost undetectable sigh and each turned to their own direction. Then Leo turned back, ran to Polly and kissed her cheek, at the same time causing a profound forehead collision. They looked at each other and nervously smiled. Prince and Princess wondered what kind of stupidity they were now being shown by the inconsistent, ridiculous little clowns they were united to by chain and pulled toward their respective homes.
Leo called back; “See ya in school.”
Polly massaged her forehead and murmured; “Yeah, see ya.”
“Be careful.”
Polly got a few sideways glimpses of Leo heading down the road, who also was looking back, as Prince pulled her toward the house. He wasn’t tugging particularly hard, but it was sufficiently powerful to move her in her current “Strawberry Fields” state.
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They went through the garage and triangular room into the back yard. Polly unhooked Prince’s leash and went in the back door. She thought; “Oh, no,” when she was instantaneously confronted with two faces that made the Rulestones look like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston ...... Well, almost ...... If it was very dark. Anyway, she knew that what was coming wasn’t going to be the least bit pleasant, so to defer the misery scene, she held up her right hand and said; “Prince is famished.
May I feed him before you start?”
Receiving no objection and no approval either she went to the refrigerator and slowly prepared the meal, the back of her neck burning from the eyes riveted on her; or maybe it was from being out in the sun all day, but that didn’t seem a logical possibility under the circumstances. She brought out a double load to an anxiously jumping Prince, petted his head and reluctantly walked back in, eyes on her sneakers.
The three took seats at the kitchen table; hands folded in front of them trying to exhibit composure and produced the exact opposite with fingers white from the tourniquet effect. No one had a planned entrée and all wished that someone else would break the ice. Mom got bored watching the digital time display on the microwave remain stationary and office efficiently passed the buck and said; “What do you have to say for yourself, little girl?”
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Polly thought that the “woman” correction would be more appropriate some other time and said; “Nothing.” She unfolded her hands and admired the tiny blue shelf with the inlaid white earthenware ducks which presided over the double sink.
Mom and Dad started to speak concurrently and concurrently stopped, each offering the floor to the other. Polly’s belief in preparation was enhanced. She watched them feebly wave their hands and say things like; “No, no,” “It’s quite alright,”
“Please,” “You first,” and “Sorry,” until she found the whole thing mildly amusing. She looked to her mother and said;
“Alphonse?” then to her father and said; “Gaston?” She made the slightest of smirks.
Dad blurted out; “You’ve been out too long again and two of the neighbors stopped here to report that you were with a boy.”
Polly’s anxiety over being scrutinized by strangers reached a new high and she envisioned bright red drumbeats with a faceless body holding the insistent sticks. She didn’t want to advertise her phobia and risk a visit to a characterless psychologist, so she “went on neutral” and said; “Sorry you were worried. That’s true and it won’t happen again. ....... At least as far as being out too long.” Silence greeted her, so Polly stood up, saying; “Okay?”
Mom said; “No, it’s not okay. Sit back down.”
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Polly openly sighed and obeyed. She waited for the next assault, but someone must have forgotten the ammo. As darling as the ducks were, Polly didn’t want to gawk at them any longer, respectful of their privacy. She tried to get to the point, if any and offered; “What’s so upsetting? That I was with a boy?
He’s ten years old, goes to my school, will be in my class next year and lives right on the next street over.” She blinked her eyes and rapidly shrugged her shoulders as if to say; “So what?”
Mom considered this her area of expertise and said; “You’re too young for a boyfriend.”
“He’s a boy and he’s a friend, but he’s not a boyfriend.”
Polly hoped that the tiny kiss was not yet posted on the internet.
Mom said; “Well, okay, but I don’t need neighbors coming to the door giving me reports about you.”
Polly was incredulous. She said; “I would have expected that more from Dad.” She saw Dad’s eyes pop wide open and said;
“No offense, Dad, but you know how you are about other people’s opinions.” He grimaced and bobbed his head from side to side.
Polly looked at Mom and added; “And you don’t have to answer the door.”
Mom wondered what side of the discussion she was on, so took another route, saying; “Your walks don’t have to be so lengthy. We love you and we worry ...... I think.”
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Polly said; “You’re right and I promise I won’t stay out longer than three hours ...... or so. And as far as my boyfriend, Leo goes, his family is leaving for some stupid lake today or tomorrow and he won’t be back until school starts. So, if any friendly helpful neighbors provide you with any further reports, they’re lying.” She was shown silence, not disapproving, but not particularly approving either. She stood up and again said; “Okay?”
Mom and Dad made low grumbling sounds, a bit like Prince, waved their hands dismissively and came close to nodding “Yes.”
Polly went to her room, showered and put on clean clothes. Mom and Dad looked at each other, each wondering if they had just participated in a meaningful parent-child discussion. Dad went to the wine cabinet, withdrew a bottle and two glasses. He held out one to Mom and she bobbed her head up and down.
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