rosettes, and a full skirt embroidered with a dazzling bird of paradise.
Red Mabel followed closely behind, and there was an audible gasp from the church as she stepped forward. Red Mabel wore a black tuxedo with tails, a black shirt and a white bow tie, a cummerbund the same material as Athena’s scarf. She wore a shiny top hat, which she removed and tipped at Rachel and Bucky. Red Mabel stopped, waiting for the woman she was escorting.
Laverna revealed herself, making a late and grand entrance as always.
Rachel burst into tears again, but for all the right reasons.
Her mother had been saved for last.
Laverna’s gown glittered and sparkled, and it threw off light all around the bare walls of the church. The bodice was tight, and Rachel was surprised at her mother’s curves. It clung to her, cap-sleeved, every inch covered in silver rhinestones and black bugle beads. Her skirt was Western style, complete with a black crinoline that grazed the floor. It swelled out and around her, the skirts layers of black ruffles, each peaked with a dusting of rhinestones, every layer roped with black pearls. Her hair was a wig, a giant blond beehive that was Victorian in style, ropes of the same black pearls orbiting it, a giant black butterfly with jeweled wings perched at the very top. Following behind was Frank, unleashed, wearing a little black sweater, rhinestones glued to his collar.
At this point, Laverna could not fit in the pew with the rest of the Flood Girls, so she sat down next to Rachel, lowered herself with her hands, her legs stuck out in the aisle, the crinolines and hoops too large to fit. Frank jumped up on her lap, and made a nest in all of the bustles.
After Laverna had wedged herself in, Reverend Foote cleared his throat.
The parishioners ignored him, still turned around in their seats, mouths open. Rachel could see Bert’s face, scarlet with rage.
The walls of the church were cast with flickering lights, the reflection from all the rhinestones.
Rachel knew that Athena and Buley had organized all this. The dresses had come from the thrift store, had been rented in Missoula, or stolen outright. Buley might have sewn some herself. Rachel nodded at her former sponsor. Athena clutched at her scarf made of rainbow colors and smiled sadly in return.
The reverend clapped his hands together, to regain the attention of his congregation, and resumed the service. Rachel didn’t mind, because she was surrounded by her team, surrounded by the Flood Girls.
She held Bucky’s hand, and she held her mother’s hand, and things seemed the way Jake would have wanted, and she was content.
The reverend began speaking again, and then Frank let out a sharp bark and jumped down from Laverna’s lap. They had never heard him bark before, and watched as he marched up the aisle. The front rows murmured as he made his way to the front of the church. He turned around when he reached the platform, and sat in front of the coffin, staring defiantly at the entire congregation.
Frank guarded the boy who was going to be buried. The reverend called for the owner, but Laverna ignored him.
This time, Frank wasn’t going anywhere.
Fireman’s Ball, 1992
The Fireman’s Ball, 1992, and the fire hall was stifling hot, as usual, but Rachel stood by the barrels of fire, reluctant to leave the side of Red Mabel, who was telling some story about a grizzly bear. Red Mabel did not like it when people abandoned her in the middle of a story.
Rachel was in the corner with Laverna, Red Mabel, and Martha. They were drinking beers, while Rachel sipped on her soda. Conversation turned to Rocky Bailey, who had been made an honorary volunteer fireman.
The jitterbuggers made asses of themselves in the back, tripping on hoses, but dancing on, carelessly, recklessly, happily. Rachel admired them for this.
Martha’s daughter, Misty, was hiding in the corner, sucking face with one of the volunteer firemen. Martha was too drunk to notice her, and Rachel didn’t feel like warning Misty about what her future held.
Across the hall, the Chief was in deep conversation with Bucky. Bucky held the coffee can with the ticket stubs. He had apparently been promoted.
During the last four months, Red Mabel had been preoccupied, plans spinning behind her eyes. She was a huntress, and Rachel hoped the assassination would be messy, but remain covert. Bert had it coming.
Jake was buried behind New Life Evangelical, and there wasn’t anything the Flood Girls could