At JCPenney, he used the gift certificate and spent twenty-nine dollars on new white T-shirts, packages of socks, and a collection of boxer shorts in every color. He spent the remaining twenty-one dollars on a pair of white sneakers, a purchase that Rachel balked at. Jake insisted that she trust him, and he promised that he would never, ever use them for sports.
They drove back to Quinn, Rachel slightly speeding. The trip to Boyce Falls and back had taken the whole day, and it was six o’clock when they arrived in Rachel’s driveway. They carried his bags of purchases into his house, and he was thankful that Bert was still gone, on yet another long drive with Reverend Foote. He would be home within an hour, because somebody had to watch the baby. Jake would not. It was his birthday.
They ate yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and Krystal gave Jake presents: Bert gave Jake a bag of deeply discounted birdseed. Krystal gave Jake a new Walkman and new headphones. As they ate the cake, Krystal began telling tales from her nursing career about teenagers with tinnitus. She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Krystal came into the kitchen with Laverna, who was holding a black bandana. Knowing Laverna, Jake did not think this was particularly strange.
“We’ve got a date,” announced Laverna. She approached Jake with the bandana and tied it around his eyes.
“Okay,” Jake said, and he trusted all of them, so he said nothing as he was led out of the house. Rachel held his hands, and he could hear a car door opening, and then he was sinking down, and he knew they were in Laverna’s car. Jake remained silent as the motor roared to life, and listened as Laverna gunned it once they hit smoother streets, revved it to make a spectacular noise.
“We just passed Bert,” explained Rachel. “Don’t worry. We made sure to wave.”
They slowed, the car making angry sounds as Laverna slid to a stop. Rachel helped Jake out of the bucket seat. She led him into a building that smelled familiar, and then she was assisting him down a slight slope. Rachel maneuvered him into a cushioned chair.
He was confused when the blindfold was removed, because he was in a dark place. He could sense Rachel on his left and Laverna on his right.
Then he smelled the popcorn.
Just then, the movie screen flickered to life, and in the bluish light, Jake turned around in his seat in the front row and realized the entire theater was empty. It was just the three of them.
Rachel presented Jake with popcorn and a soda.
“Laverna arranged all of this,” she said.
“Ron owes me a favor,” said Laverna.
“Thank you,” said Jake. “It must have cost you a fortune.”
“Just wait, kid. It’s gonna be worth it.” Laverna popped a handful of Junior Mints into her mouth, and she squeezed Jake’s shoulder with the other hand.
The movie began, and Jake shivered.
Somehow, Laverna had performed a miracle.
It was the new Madonna documentary, Truth or Dare. It had been out in the big city theaters for only a few weeks, but Jake knew that it would never, ever come to Quinn.
Tonight, it had. Jake was certain it was a one-night engagement.
* * *
The movie was amazing. It seemed that Ron even turned up the volume. The concert footage was thunderous.
After the credits rolled, and the screen flickered out, Jake could talk again.
As they entered the lobby, there was Ron, who sighed as he stood beside the popcorn machine.
Laverna stopped Jake with one hand. “Ron has something for you.”
Ron grumbled and reached below the counter, and handed Jake a rolled-up poster. Jake pulled off the rubber bands, revealing the movie poster for Truth or Dare. Madonna was lying in the foreground, one hand disappearing into her crotch, wearing a black dress and surrounded by silky bedsheets. She looked out at them expectantly. Above the title, the tagline read: THE ULTIMATE DARE IS TO TELL THE TRUTH.
Jake swooned and hugged Laverna fiercely. He hugged Rachel, too, as Ron crossed his arms and stared at the three of them.
“Not really my cup of tea,” said Ron.
Jake knew exactly where the poster would go—behind the clothes hanging in his closet. Bert would never see it, but Jake would know it was there, always there, and that was enough.
He knew it was an unlucky number, but thirteen might just be his best year yet.
The Tournament
Before Laverna booked all their rooms, she called Rachel.
They went to Jake’s house together, waited for a time they knew Krystal would be home. They hoped both Floods together would be enough of a persuasion.
“He’s part of the team,” Laverna explained.
“He’s really the heart of our team,” Rachel said. “He’s like our good-luck charm.”
Bert, like a wall, shielded their view of the living room, rising up, his face scarlet, upper lip slick with perspiration.
“No,” he said. “Absolutely not.” He reached his arms up and supported himself on the doorframe. “Our debts have been paid in full.”
“Krystal paid her debts,” pointed out Laverna. “You still have a bar tab.”