Rachel wrapped an arm around Laverna’s neck, and agreed with Red Mabel. “You have flair,” said Rachel. “You should never be ashamed of it.”
“Thank you,” said Red Mabel. A year ago, the bullets were meant for someone else. Rachel laughed at the memory, leaned close to her mother, whispered in her ear.
Laverna sighed and threw her cigarette into the barrel. Jim Number Three beamed when she approached. Rachel and Red Mabel made plans for Laverna’s birthday, to be celebrated for the first time in years.
Rachel checked on the rest of the Flood Girls, made sure they all had rides home. She stopped to gossip with Tabby about the newest volunteer in town. Thankfully, his name was not Jim. Rachel crossed the cement floor to join the Chief, who stood next to her favorite volunteer fireman.
She stood on her tiptoes to kiss Bucky on the lips. After all these months, he still blushed.
She grabbed the can from Bucky’s hands and searched all over until she found a young fireman with bad skin and a crooked nose. Rachel handed him the tickets, and told him that he was in charge, and warned him not to screw it up.
She walked back over to Bucky and yanked at his arm until he followed her outside into the cold and clean air of another February night.
He did not want to miss the raffle, but she promised she had a better prize, waiting for him at home.
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the love and support of my family—my sisters, Lisa Cooper, Launa Baas, and Dana Wallace; my awesome stepfather, Gary Jones; my nieces, Mykah and Britt Cooper; and my superstar of a nephew, Brian O’Neill. I thank all the rest of my relatives for putting up with me.
My friends are everything to me. Amber Boyce, Laura Kamura, and John Runkle kindly offered me the space and time to write. My recovery family in Missoula have offered me hope and faith—I am honored to travel the road of sobriety with you. A special shout-out to my kids at Young Guns—keep on trudging, and never wear socks with sandals! I must thank my readers and editors, for helping to make this book sing: Kris Frieswick, John Myers, Haili Jones Graff, Mari Passananti, Jenn Grunigen, Lorna Doone Brewer, Kori Erickson, Mike Paulus, Charles Garabedian, Sharma Shields, Queen Jackie Collins, Laura Moriarty, and most of all, the miracle that is Deirdre McNamer. I would also like to thank Erinn Ackley, Sara Trotter, Sandra Maggi, Sydney Lytle, Diane More, Stacey Walker Oldham, Rhian Ellis, Robert Gerber, Jeff Ferderer, Greg Shanks, Dana Fiengo Pruner, Lar K. Autio, Gregory Gourdet, Erin Giefer, Lisa Hunt, Janelle Jones, Lucy Hansen, Lesley Lotto, Patrick Ryan, Kelly Faciana, Julie Hergenrather, Jennifer Hendrickson, Robin O’Day, Kenzie Kovick, all of my former coworkers at 2675 Palmer, the Creative Writing Department at the University of Montana, and the Zootown Arts Community Center. This book took root in a workshop with the truly incomparable Jenna Blum.
My team is flawless and ferocious: Lucy Stille, Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency, and Alison Callahan Kilkelly at Simon & Schuster. Thanks for taking a chance on me!
Finally, this book was inspired by the good people of my hometown, Troy, Montana, and especially all the beautiful women who played softball. They taught me about grace, strength, and self-acceptance. I thank you all!
XOXO, Richard
THE FLOOD GIRLS by Richard Fifield
Readers Group Guide
Introduction
In the tiny, isolated town of Quinn, Montana, Laverna Flood owns and operates The Dirty Shame, a local watering hole patronized by day-drinking lesbian silver miners and a variety of alcoholics, and moonlights as the coach of the Flood Girls, an all-women’s softball team that has never had a winning season. When her prodigal daughter Rachel returns after a nine-year absence, newly sober and hoping to redeem herself after sleeping with most of Quinn’s male population (including her mother’s boyfriend), Laverna plans on maintaining the silent treatment—until her right fielder suddenly quits, forcing her to put Rachel on the Flood Girls’ roster.
As Rachel reacquaints herself with Quinn and does her best to get past that stubborn Step 9 (it’s difficult to make amends when your entire hometown refuses to read your apology letters), she forms an unlikely friendship with Jake, a flamboyant twelve-year-old with exquisite taste, a vast second-hand wardrobe, and a long list of persecutors. Over the course of the Flood Girls’ first-ever winning season, Rachel finds comfort, self-acceptance, and a support system that gets her through the hardest of losses, both on and off the field.
Topics and Questions for Discussion
1. Laverna is a commanding—and often feared—presence in Quinn. Discuss Fifield’s depiction of Laverna. Would you describe her as an anti-hero? How does she act as both a divisive and a unifying force?