Read Online A Gray Life: a novel by Red Harvey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Red Harvey
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him.
Louise didn't come out. She stayed in the bathroom for a couple of hours, until Erin knocked to ask if she was all right.
When the door opened, Louise tried to down-play her puffy cry-eyes by smiling at us, but we all knew.
* * * *
9
September 2nd
Don’t feel neglected, ‘o journal of mine. I know it’s been a few weeks since I’ve written anything. Life feels gray. My dad used to say that when things got depressing. Life feels gray.
I put too much of my hope in Michael and Louise. The happiness I felt was borrowed, and now it’s gone.
They haven’t spoken to one another in awhile. What’s worse is Louise isn’t really speakin’ to anybody. Erin and I have tried to say hello, but she stares through us like our mama and daddy were glass-makers.
Michael and Erin are talking every day. Sure, they’ve always been friends, but they’re actin’ funny . While he speaks to her, Erin’s twiddles her hair and smiles like an idiot. Michael smiles like an idiot too.
They’re acting like there’s two teenagers down here instead of one. But there’s more to it than that.
The whole thing makes my stomach squirm. Must make Louise just as sick, ‘cause she hasn’t been eating. Gruel doesn’t motivate much of an appetite, but it does when there’s nothin’ else to eat.
I think Louise has reached what my mom used to call a dangerous place. When I was in trouble, or I couldn’t seem to get my ish straight, my mom would tell me, Son, you’re in a dangerous place. You better see yourself out . Louise doesn’t wanna see herself outta anywhere. To her, there’s no point.
Over by the bathroom, Michael and Erin are talking to each other quietly. He just tucked her hair behind her ear.
Dad used to tease Mom, and then tuck her hair behind her ear. I’ve seen guys do it to girls in movies. Why did Michael touch my sister like that?
* * * *
The place wasn’t what Ashley had been expecting. Then again, most of her pre-pubescent expectations of life had been decimated over the course of half a day.
I have no one. My grandparents are dead. My father is dead. She even felt sort of bad about losing Gloria. Sort of.
Grace had driven to the suburbs south of the city. The rich suburbs, as in million dollar homes. A billboard by the entrance read, New homes being constructed from $500’s and more. Come join our community! Even without the sign, the homes were not for paupers. They were sprawling estates made of brick. Two houses down sat a fountain big enough to swim in. The house they stopped at was modest compared to the others. Not in size, but in outdoor ornamentation. The lawn was well maintained, but the mailbox wasn’t customized into the shape of a mosaic mermaid or dolphin. There were no statues or fountains.
They walked to the front door.
Before Grace knocked, Ashley wanted to know: “Is this your…friend’s…house?”
She hesitated on the word friend because she meant to say Leemo, but decided against it. From the sound of him, Leemo wouldn’t live in a nice place.
“Who else’s house would it be?”A smile teased the woman’s face.
She knew what Ashley had meant to ask. She found it funny and chuckled to herself. Four knocks later, and she hollered, “Can you let us in already? It’s freezing out here!”
“I’m coming!” A man answered. When he opened the door, Ashley thought, Oh .
He looked about Grace’s age, similarly attractive. No gold chain or white powder dotting his nose, though. Rectangular-shaped glasses served as his one accessory.
“Juniper, next time be nicer or I won’t open the door.” To Ashley, he said, “Hello.”
“That was me being nice.” Grace/Juniper said.
“Juniper?” Ashley mumbled.
She thought back to the three wallets in the truck. Did one of them read Juniper-something-or-other? Probably not.
The man stepped back, allowing them room to walk into his not-so-humble abode. Like his lawn, the indoor décor was sparse.
Louise didn't come out. She stayed in the bathroom for a couple of hours, until Erin knocked to ask if she was all right.
When the door opened, Louise tried to down-play her puffy cry-eyes by smiling at us, but we all knew.
* * * *
9
September 2nd
Don’t feel neglected, ‘o journal of mine. I know it’s been a few weeks since I’ve written anything. Life feels gray. My dad used to say that when things got depressing. Life feels gray.
I put too much of my hope in Michael and Louise. The happiness I felt was borrowed, and now it’s gone.
They haven’t spoken to one another in awhile. What’s worse is Louise isn’t really speakin’ to anybody. Erin and I have tried to say hello, but she stares through us like our mama and daddy were glass-makers.
Michael and Erin are talking every day. Sure, they’ve always been friends, but they’re actin’ funny . While he speaks to her, Erin’s twiddles her hair and smiles like an idiot. Michael smiles like an idiot too.
They’re acting like there’s two teenagers down here instead of one. But there’s more to it than that.
The whole thing makes my stomach squirm. Must make Louise just as sick, ‘cause she hasn’t been eating. Gruel doesn’t motivate much of an appetite, but it does when there’s nothin’ else to eat.
I think Louise has reached what my mom used to call a dangerous place. When I was in trouble, or I couldn’t seem to get my ish straight, my mom would tell me, Son, you’re in a dangerous place. You better see yourself out . Louise doesn’t wanna see herself outta anywhere. To her, there’s no point.
Over by the bathroom, Michael and Erin are talking to each other quietly. He just tucked her hair behind her ear.
Dad used to tease Mom, and then tuck her hair behind her ear. I’ve seen guys do it to girls in movies. Why did Michael touch my sister like that?
* * * *
The place wasn’t what Ashley had been expecting. Then again, most of her pre-pubescent expectations of life had been decimated over the course of half a day.
I have no one. My grandparents are dead. My father is dead. She even felt sort of bad about losing Gloria. Sort of.
Grace had driven to the suburbs south of the city. The rich suburbs, as in million dollar homes. A billboard by the entrance read, New homes being constructed from $500’s and more. Come join our community! Even without the sign, the homes were not for paupers. They were sprawling estates made of brick. Two houses down sat a fountain big enough to swim in. The house they stopped at was modest compared to the others. Not in size, but in outdoor ornamentation. The lawn was well maintained, but the mailbox wasn’t customized into the shape of a mosaic mermaid or dolphin. There were no statues or fountains.
They walked to the front door.
Before Grace knocked, Ashley wanted to know: “Is this your…friend’s…house?”
She hesitated on the word friend because she meant to say Leemo, but decided against it. From the sound of him, Leemo wouldn’t live in a nice place.
“Who else’s house would it be?”A smile teased the woman’s face.
She knew what Ashley had meant to ask. She found it funny and chuckled to herself. Four knocks later, and she hollered, “Can you let us in already? It’s freezing out here!”
“I’m coming!” A man answered. When he opened the door, Ashley thought, Oh .
He looked about Grace’s age, similarly attractive. No gold chain or white powder dotting his nose, though. Rectangular-shaped glasses served as his one accessory.
“Juniper, next time be nicer or I won’t open the door.” To Ashley, he said, “Hello.”
“That was me being nice.” Grace/Juniper said.
“Juniper?” Ashley mumbled.
She thought back to the three wallets in the truck. Did one of them read Juniper-something-or-other? Probably not.
The man stepped back, allowing them room to walk into his not-so-humble abode. Like his lawn, the indoor décor was sparse.
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