“I am through with this bad luck,” said Laverna, to no one in particular.
Through the screen door, she could hear the pops and snaps of mason jars rattling in their cages.
“No more volunteers,” said Laverna, and fired again. The gunshot echoed across the river, and then there was silence, save for the sound of applesauce righting itself, lids sealing themselves shut, the sound of settling.
Feathers
Jake dressed with purpose that morning, had to root through the storage shed to find certain pieces. He decided upon boot-cut black slacks, a crisp white shirt, a black vest with a barely perceptible white pinstripe, black boots, and a black beret. Finally, he was satisfied. This is what a designer would wear.
Misty’s bike still leaned against Martha’s trailer, and Jake borrowed it for his mission today. He was going to need speed as he went looking for Bucky. It was a Friday morning, and he had almost finished Rachel’s house, so Bucky could be anywhere.
Jake cruised around the streets of Quinn, past the sprinklers, a Kool-Aid stand, trucks still parked at the bars from the night before.
He found Bucky drinking coffee outside of the hardware store with Della Dempsey. She rolled her eyes at his outfit, stomped out her cigarette.
“I need to talk to you,” he said to Bucky.
“You’re freaking me out,” said Della. “Are you supposed to be dressed like a French person?”
“This involves both of you, actually,” said Jake. He got off his bike and stood in front of Bucky, digging in his pocket for the envelope.
He passed it to Bucky, who whistled when he removed the five hundred dollars.
“We’re building a float,” said Jake. “Or rather, you’re building the float, and I’m decorating it.”
“Sounds about right,” said Della.
“You get to keep whatever we don’t spend on materials.” He pointed at the hardware store. “That’s where you come in,” he said to Della. “Laverna expects a discount.”
“She always does,” said Della.
In the hardware store, Jake started pointing at things: rolls of chicken wire, two-by-fours, wire coat hangers, ten white bedsheets.
“Does Laverna want us to dress like the Klan?” asked Della.
“No,” said Jake. “This is my vision. And we already have a white supremacist float.”
Jake conferred with Bucky about nails and screws. He filled his basket with cans of baby-blue and gold spray paint.
Della was at the cash register, chewing her gum, which seemed to be a job on its own.
The total was under one hundred dollars, and Bucky loaded the purchases. Jake demanded they drive to Ellis. He threw Misty’s bike in the back of Bucky’s truck.
On the drive, Bucky wanted to talk about Rachel. “Is she done making her amends yet?”
“You’re not supposed to know about that,” said Jake.
“I’m just trying to be supportive,” said Bucky. “Is she leaving soon?”
“Do you know any harpists?”
“No,” said Bucky. “What does that have to do with Rachel?”
“Nothing,” said Jake.
“She’s really something,” continued Bucky. “Does she ever talk about me?”
“Out of your league,” said Jake, not caring if he sounded cruel. “Don’t even think about it.”
At the Ben Franklin, Jake filled shopping carts with rolls of fiberglass and eighty packages of white napkins; even though it was picnic season, the manager had to bring more from the storehouse.
At the fabric store, Jake bought feathers, fifteen yards of gauzy netting, five yards of white chiffon, a case of silver glitter, and cotton batting for pillows. Bucky seemed slightly embarrassed when Jake emerged from the aisle with armfuls of white feathers.
After Jake paid, there was still two hundred and fifty dollars left.
“That’s for you,” said Jake.
“Sweet,” said Bucky.
“But you have to do exactly what I tell you.”
“You’re enjoying this too much, kid.”
Laverna had cashed in yet another debt, and an old flatbed truck from the lumber mill was parked in Diane’s garage. It was a huge space, large enough to park three cars, and Bucky could not stop wondering aloud why a single woman needed such a large industrial space.
“Sex dungeon,” said Red Mabel, who was waiting for them, along with Ginger, Shyanne, Rachel, Della, and Martha Man Hands. Ronda was cooking lunch at the Dirty Shame, and Diane was teaching summer school. The Sinclairs were tending to the gas station. Ginger told Rachel that she had to pay the Sinclairs each twenty dollars to ride on the float. Apparently, their new congregation did not celebrate Independence Day.
Jake unveiled his sketches and his design plan. The Flood Girls agreed unanimously that this was a secret worth keeping.
Bucky framed out the flatbed with two-by-fours. As each section went up,