The Gallery of Lost Species by Nina Berkhout Page A

to shove over, sinking into the couch. She’d interrupted Heathcliff on the moors, chasing after Catherine’s ghost.
    Sometimes I’d catch her sorting through pictures of herself down in that dark space, where boxes of her old belongings were stored. Or I’d find her hiding out there, absorbed in films—on our second, outdated TV set that Henry and I had found Dumpster picking—as entire sunny days passed her by.
    The period pieces were her favourite. The ones where a heroine tumbled off a horse and a hunt took place with foxes and hounds. There were bosoms and misconceptions, the most critical conversations taking place in snippets during quadrilles.
    Constance adored dance scenes. Waltzes couldn’t leave concrete regret behind, she once told me. It was just the moment and then it was gone.
    When I watched her watch these movies, I could almost feel her chest tightening at any sign of affection between the actors, as if the main hero was whispering kissss me straight to her. Filled with ennui, my mother wanted to place herself inside those screen sets. And I wondered if this was hardening her against us.
    My father called to her in a gentle voice from the top of the stairs. She stood, composing herself and smoothing her hair and skirt, but before leaving, she turned to me. “Édith, there are no acts more selfish than those of a lonely person.”
    â€œYou mean a person in love, ” I corrected her, not looking up from my book.
    â€œNon,” she replied. “It’s loneliness that makes us terrible and hurtful human beings.”
    *   *   *
    N OW THAT MY loveless mother had driven my father away and turned Viv into a delinquent by pushing her in those abhorrent pageants until she rebelled, I’d have to resolve Viv’s mess myself. Then I could depart with a clear conscience, knowing I had done what I could to help my screwed-up sister get back on track.
    Nick Angel was at the Cineplex arcade like I knew he would be. I approached him and said, “Leave my sister alone.” I was dripping wet from the rain.
    He sniggered and didn’t stop his game of Robo Redux. “Whaaa?”
    â€œI’ll pay you to break up with Viv.”
    Nick studied me. His face was like Apollo’s coin face and it was hard for me to be menacing.
    â€œDon’t talk to her again.”
    â€œYour mom put you up to this?”
    â€œShe has a bright future and you’re destroying it.” I focused on his throat.
    â€œShe did put you up to this.”
    â€œMy mom doesn’t care.”
    â€œSo I hear.” He crossed his arms. “How much?”
    â€œThree hundred.” I didn’t know what Omar would get for the coin, but he’d spot me if I needed a loan.
    â€œDeal.” Nick’s muscular hand shook mine.
    â€œMeet me here Saturday morning.”
    â€œOkay,” he said, returning to his game and sliding a play card into the machine.
    I went back to the Coin Shoppe for my shift. Serena reeked of patchouli. I couldn’t make eye contact. She offered me tea and I refused it even though I was numb from the cold.
    When she went upstairs, I circulated around the cabinets until I found the Constantine coin. I switched off the alarm, coughing each time I pressed the button that made a beeping sound. Grabbing the coin, I replaced it with the one Omar had thrown down to me.
    When my shift was over, I climbed the fire escape to Omar’s room.
    â€œWhen do I get my money?”
    â€œChill. Meetings are Wednesdays.”
    â€œHow much?”
    â€œDunno. Maybe a thousand for that one. So four hundred for Grigg and three hundred each for you and me.”
    â€œI need more.”
    â€œYou strike a deal with your sister’s dopehead boyfriend?”
    â€œNone of your business.”
    â€œTell you what. Have my cut this once. For a taste of the mahhhnaaaaaayyy …”
    â€œDon’t be