at the exhaust pipe and then at Theo. The towel says Welcome to Myrtle Beach, with a big seahorse on it. Colin also has on the goggles he wears when he rides, and a blue swimming snorkel strapped to his head. He holds a thumb up to Theo and spits out the snorkel and yells: what is up, white man.
Theo walks over with his hands on his ears, as Colin stops twisting the grip throttle and the engine settles into a crackling and popping idle.
There was a fax for you, but I lost it.
Colin stares, his eyebrows angle down under the goggles: What did it say.
I’m sorry: Theo takes his hands from his ears. Something about an old-timey ship.
What. Sorry mate, what.
Something about a sail.
A main sail.
I think.
Did it say something about reefing the main sail.
I think. I’m sorry, Colin – I’ll try to find it. What does that mean.
Holy suffering nails of Jesus.
Colin guns the bike and skitters off down a hall toward the other side of the house, legs splayed on either side for balance as the bike totters. The noise splits Theo’s head and he ducks, then isn’t sure what to do. Is it something he can help with. He follows Colin, feeling bad. How could he know what it meant. But he could have made sure to deliver it. Theo’s face feels hot.
Crows land in a noisy knot somewhere outside, sounding like angry babies, demanding and raw. Theo’s been around babies and didn’t like them much.
He hears loud voices ahead, agitated, but can’t tell what is being said, the bike revving in the background, then the engine revs and grows a little fainter – Colin must have be riding around to the front hall. Then the bike noise dies.
Theo follows the sound, coming into the seraglio and seeing his mother and the others up and rummaging through clothesand digging in pockets, collecting things lying around, yelling about where to put them. Theo’s mother sweeps around angry and impatient; she snaps at the others, including the Marthe woman: my god, you act like children. Use the bathrooms or eat it. Seeing Theo walk toward her, she glides at him. My love, go outside and play.
What is going on. Why is Colin upset.
It’s nothing, love. Go outside. We’ll go down to the beach and spend the day. No, let’s go into town and have luncheon. What time is it, Mark.
Eleven.
A.m.
Yes.
Good. Lunch would be good, no. We are going out for a while.
Frieda puts her hand on Theo’s head and walks through the hall, gliding, in the direction of the front hall. She wears white fur, and a very short skirt.
Mom, do you want to put on your shoes.
No, my darling, not necessary. Mark, Julio, find Richard and Gina and Alan and see if they’d like to come with. You too, for that matter, of course.
They’re on the terrace, Theo says, to help.
The band is, Theo’s mother asks.
Well, that lady named Gina is there with two men.
Let’s get out of this place before I suffocate.
Theo watches the adults, unsure what to do. He puts his hands over his ears again, an ache returning.
What’s wrong, love.
My head hurts.
What’s wrong.
He looks at her closely, kneeling now in front of him. I hit my head on the floor.
Oh, no. Are you alright, my darling. She peers into his face, but seems not quite focused, and Theo figures maybe she forgot why she was looking.
It’s okay, mom, Theo says.
She smiles slowly, like the sun rising over the ocean: I love you, my love.
Others disappear through doors. Theo’s mother still kneels in front of him, sniffing and smiling. She’s just looking at him, and eventually she just sits down on the floor.
What are you doing.
Looking at you. You’re beautiful.
Stop mom. He turns, angry and blushing.
Can’t I look at my beautiful son.
I thought you said we were going to lunch.
Ah, so I did. When the others get here, we’ll go. Would you like a hamburger. Yes, seafood, she says. She lies back on the floor.
Mom.
Mmm hmm.
What are you doing. Are you okay, mom.
Mmm hmm.
Do you want me to sit with
Theo walks over with his hands on his ears, as Colin stops twisting the grip throttle and the engine settles into a crackling and popping idle.
There was a fax for you, but I lost it.
Colin stares, his eyebrows angle down under the goggles: What did it say.
I’m sorry: Theo takes his hands from his ears. Something about an old-timey ship.
What. Sorry mate, what.
Something about a sail.
A main sail.
I think.
Did it say something about reefing the main sail.
I think. I’m sorry, Colin – I’ll try to find it. What does that mean.
Holy suffering nails of Jesus.
Colin guns the bike and skitters off down a hall toward the other side of the house, legs splayed on either side for balance as the bike totters. The noise splits Theo’s head and he ducks, then isn’t sure what to do. Is it something he can help with. He follows Colin, feeling bad. How could he know what it meant. But he could have made sure to deliver it. Theo’s face feels hot.
Crows land in a noisy knot somewhere outside, sounding like angry babies, demanding and raw. Theo’s been around babies and didn’t like them much.
He hears loud voices ahead, agitated, but can’t tell what is being said, the bike revving in the background, then the engine revs and grows a little fainter – Colin must have be riding around to the front hall. Then the bike noise dies.
Theo follows the sound, coming into the seraglio and seeing his mother and the others up and rummaging through clothesand digging in pockets, collecting things lying around, yelling about where to put them. Theo’s mother sweeps around angry and impatient; she snaps at the others, including the Marthe woman: my god, you act like children. Use the bathrooms or eat it. Seeing Theo walk toward her, she glides at him. My love, go outside and play.
What is going on. Why is Colin upset.
It’s nothing, love. Go outside. We’ll go down to the beach and spend the day. No, let’s go into town and have luncheon. What time is it, Mark.
Eleven.
A.m.
Yes.
Good. Lunch would be good, no. We are going out for a while.
Frieda puts her hand on Theo’s head and walks through the hall, gliding, in the direction of the front hall. She wears white fur, and a very short skirt.
Mom, do you want to put on your shoes.
No, my darling, not necessary. Mark, Julio, find Richard and Gina and Alan and see if they’d like to come with. You too, for that matter, of course.
They’re on the terrace, Theo says, to help.
The band is, Theo’s mother asks.
Well, that lady named Gina is there with two men.
Let’s get out of this place before I suffocate.
Theo watches the adults, unsure what to do. He puts his hands over his ears again, an ache returning.
What’s wrong, love.
My head hurts.
What’s wrong.
He looks at her closely, kneeling now in front of him. I hit my head on the floor.
Oh, no. Are you alright, my darling. She peers into his face, but seems not quite focused, and Theo figures maybe she forgot why she was looking.
It’s okay, mom, Theo says.
She smiles slowly, like the sun rising over the ocean: I love you, my love.
Others disappear through doors. Theo’s mother still kneels in front of him, sniffing and smiling. She’s just looking at him, and eventually she just sits down on the floor.
What are you doing.
Looking at you. You’re beautiful.
Stop mom. He turns, angry and blushing.
Can’t I look at my beautiful son.
I thought you said we were going to lunch.
Ah, so I did. When the others get here, we’ll go. Would you like a hamburger. Yes, seafood, she says. She lies back on the floor.
Mom.
Mmm hmm.
What are you doing. Are you okay, mom.
Mmm hmm.
Do you want me to sit with
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