Another Kind Of Hurricane Part 28

HENRY.

Henry made Jake drop him off at the bottom of the driveway, and Brae bounded toward him before he had gotten all the way up. Brae knocked him to the ground, his long body wiggling over Henrys.

"Hi, boy," said Henry. He buried his face in Braes thick fur, breathed in the dog and dirt and pine that he had missed so much.

Mom was in the garden. She ran to Henry and gathered him into her arms.

"Oh, Henry-" she said. "I missed you-"

Henry collapsed onto Moms shoulder. Brae ran in circles around them. Henry rested his chin on Moms shoulder and squinted up at Mount Mansfield.

Im back, he mouthed at the hulking mountain.

Mom squeezed him hard. "What an adventure you must have had...." She trailed off. She pulled him upright and stared into his eyes. "Are you okay? Whats wrong? Do you want to tell me about what happened?"

He did. He really did. But he couldnt remember any of it. Standing under the mountain, its long peaks golden with fall leaves, blindingly bright against the clear blue sky, its base brown and solid and never-ending, its rocks and dirt and the roots of its trees tumbling down and out, extending all the way to Moms garden, made Henrys head feel empty. He looked down at his hand. Ospreys leash was wrapped around his wrist, like a reminder, like a string tied on a finger.

"Why dont you come help me weed?" Mom said. "Some Vermont dirt should make you feel better." She walked toward the garden. "And you can tell me about your trip when youre ready."

Brae took off, running in circles around the house, stopping to sniff a few trees and rocks, and then settled at Moms side. He licked her bare feet, between her toes. Then he shot a glance at Henry and barked.

"Okay, Im coming," said Henry.

Mom pulled a wilted flower out of the ground. "These poor marigolds," she said. "They look awful."

Henry knelt down. She was right. The whole garden was a mess. Weeds and gra.s.s sprouted up between the flowers everywhere.

"Ive all but abandoned them this fall, havent I?" said Mom. She tucked her nightgown into her sweatpants. She yanked on a weed. Brae pawed at the ground, like he was urging Henry to help, so Henry yanked on the weeds too. "Oh, Henry-" Mom stopped weeding. "Watch this." She pulled a piece of paper towel out of her pocket. Then she pulled a marigold from the garden and wrapped it in the paper towel, like a present. She put it on the ground next to Brae.

No! No, no, no, no, no- Mom squeezed one hand into a fist.

No! That wasnt how Henry did the trick!

Mom held her fist out toward Brae and slowly uncurled her fingers until her hand was flat.

Noooooooooooooooo!

Henry felt himself ignite.

Brae opened the present with his paws and nose. When he was finished, the marigold lay on the ground, not a leaf or a petal destroyed.

The flames in Henrys belly were so high they licked the back of his throat. They rose from his throat and up into his nose and eyes.

"Henry-" He heard Moms voice through the roar inside him, but he couldnt stop it. He couldnt stop the heat and he couldnt stop the memory- - "Hey, you wanna see what Im teaching Brae?" said Henry.

"Another trick?" said Wayne.

"Uh-huh."

"This dog could join the circus." Wayne sat up on his sleeping bag. "Okay, lets see it."

Henry tore a piece of cheese from the remaining chunk and grabbed a bandanna from the top pocket of his backpack. He wrapped the cheese inside the bandanna. Brae sniffed at it.

"Youre teaching him to eat fabric? That cant be good for his guts."

"No." Henry shoved Wayne. "Watch, all right?" He stood up. "Sit," he said. Brae sat. "Good boy." He glanced at Wayne. "Good boy to you too."

"Shut up." Wayne swiped at Henrys leg.

"Okay, okay, I gotta concentrate," said Henry.

- "Henry?" Moms voice came back into focus.

Henry dug in the dirt with his fingers. He wanted to dig a hole so deep he could lay his burning body in it and smother the flames. He dug some more and hit a rock. Brae whimpered behind him. Henry had to get away.

He grabbed the rock and scrambled to his feet.

"Wayne!" he yelled, running toward the house.

Brae whimpered again.

chapter 71.

ZAVION.

It was time for Jake to go to bed. "We have a big hike to do later, right?" he said. "And the beginning of a painting project? Then I gotta get some sleep."

Jake began to leave, but then turned back to Zavion.

"This is yours, I think," he said.

He opened his hand. The marble sat in his palm. Zavion took it.

And with that, Jake disappeared into his room for a midmorning nap. Annie led Zavion down the hall, past a closed door, to what looked like an office.

"I hope this will do," said Annie.

"Thank you," said Zavion. He stood in the middle of the room, taking it all in.

Annie opened the window just a crack. The cold air pushed its way into the room like a dog at the door.

"It smells-exactly like I thought Vermont would smell," said Zavion, breathing deeply. He coughed.

"Cold in your lungs, right?" said Annie. "Theres nothing purer. Sweeps your body clean."

Zavion thought about the smell of bread baking. He already missed Ms. Cyn. He wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck.

"This is beautiful." Annie tucked in the end of the scarf. "Its good to meet you, Zavion. Real good," she said.

chapter 72.

HENRY.

"Stupid, stupid rock!"

Henry hurled the rock he had grabbed from the garden at the kitchen wall. A gla.s.s on the counter got caught in its path and crashed to the floor. Brae jumped at the sound and knocked into Henrys legs. Henry smashed his hip into the edge of the table.

"Stupid, stupid dog!"

Brae dropped his head and tail and slunk to the corner of the kitchen. He lay down. Henry felt a cold draft as Mom opened the door. Wind whipped the sky like cream. Henry glanced at Brae, who tucked his tail under his chin, trying to get his huge, lanky body as small as possible. Henry sank to the floor and put his head on his knees. He tried to breathe deeply, but the air vibrated in his chest and felt ragged like a broken fan.

He had let his best friend down. Henry took another broken breath. He thought he had left this in New Orleans, but he was never going to be able to let it go.

"Look at you two. Youre both shaking," said Mom.

"I am not," said Henry.

"Well, Braes shaking," said Mom. She got on her knees to pet him.

"No, hes not either," said Henry.

"He is." She buried her face in his neck and began to hum. And all of a sudden, Henry wanted her to come over and hum to him. Without lifting her head from Braes fur, Mom said, "You want some hot chocolate?"

"Dogs are allergic to chocolate," Henry said. "Are you trying to kill him?" It just slipped out, the words all jagged from the blades of his broken fan breath.

Mom stood up and put her hands over her eyes. "I missed you so much, Henry," she said without looking at him. She clasped her hands in front of her face. "I wasnt talking to Brae, I was talking to you. You want some hot chocolate? And maybe some eggs?"

Outside, the wind continued to blow hard. It blew in small sideways bursts so it hit the windowpanes. Bang, bang, bang. Bang, bang, bang. Loud, little fists rapping on the gla.s.s. Let me in, let me in, let me in. Henry buried his head deeper into his knees. He didnt want to hear the wind.

"Henry-" Mom sat next to Henry. He felt her hand on the top of his head.

"I thought you were going to make eggs," he said to the floor.

"It isnt your fault."

He took a deep breath. "What isnt?"

"Look at me," she said. Henry lifted his head. Mom pushed on his chin so he was staring at her. "It isnt your fault Wayne died." She had tears in her eyes.

Henry tried to keep his head still, but his own eyes twitched and his neck felt like it was on a spring, ready to snap back from Mom. He swallowed back his tears. "Mom-" he said.

He was afraid to tell her. But he needed to.

"Yes?" she said.

"I was winning the race. I never won a race against Wayne. I ran past him. I ran way ahead of him." The words came out of Henry fast.

"Henry." Mom held the sides of his face with both of her hands, like she knew he was about to snap.

"I wasnt holding the marble-Wayne was-I messed up the balance-Wayne should have won-" Now Henry took a loud, gulping breath. "I shouldnt have run ahead of him."

"Oh, Henry." Mom brought her hands around Henrys cheeks, so that they were like blinders. Henry couldnt see anything except her face. She stared straight at him. "I dont know why Wayne died that day on the mountain. I dont. But I do know-with every bone in my body, Henry-that you didnt cause him to die. It didnt happen because you ran ahead. It didnt happen because of you at all. It isnt your fault."

He had wanted this, hadnt he? For Mom to come over and be with him like this? To say this? But Henry couldnt do it. He couldnt look her in the eyes for this long. He couldnt stay here. Stay still.

He snapped his head back and slipped out of Moms hands. He scrambled to his feet. "I have to go," he mumbled. "I have to get out of here-"

"You cant keep running away-" Mom reached out to Henry as she got to her feet.

But Henry barreled out the kitchen door. Brae followed him. The wind pounded on his back as he ran. You cant keep running away. You cant keep running away. You cant keep running away. Henry still didnt want to hear the wind.

Or Mom.

chapter 73.