“Jesus,” said Bucky. “She doesn’t like me like that.”
“How do you know that?” asked Ginger.
“Because she flat out told me so,” said Bucky. “The first five minutes I ever met her.”
“Sounds about right,” said Martha. “She really does take after her mother.”
“Quiet,” said Laverna. “Are you sure she still feels that way?”
“Yep,” said Bucky. “I spend a lot of time at her house. She would’ve jumped me by now.”
“Because you’re so irresistible?” said Ginger, who chortled and drained the rest of her wine cooler.
Bucky blushed. “I’m young and single and I’m a volunteer fireman. I’m a catch. Everybody says so.”
“I’m thankful you have such high self-esteem,” said Laverna. “You just keep thinking that way.”
“Thanks,” said Bucky. “I will.”
Tabby brought him the Diet Coke, and he began to drink it greedily.
“Does she ever talk about any man?” Laverna leaned in close. “Is there anybody she’s interested in?”
“Nope,” said Bucky. “She only hangs out with Jake and the Chief.”
“The Chief?” Red Mabel was incredulous. “She’s already fucking a married man!”
“No,” said Bucky. “They’re buddies. He gives her advice about life.”
“I was not aware of this,” said Laverna. She felt her blood pressure begin to spike, and lifted up her arm to smash her fist on the table. This is what she usually did to accentuate her point, to let people know she had enough. Unfortunately, she still had her casts, and her arms barely budged. Angrily, she kicked at Bucky’s leg, missed.
“You’re not supposed to,” he said, frightened.
“Oh,” said Laverna, instantly calming. “This is some sort of sober-people thing.”
“Not telling,” Bucky said, and finished his soda.
“So she listens to him?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Bucky, do you think you could get the Chief to teach her to not be afraid of the ball?”
“No guarantees,” said Bucky. “But it won’t hurt to ask.”
* * *
Laverna wanted to keep drinking, but Red Mabel insisted that she take her home first, to change back into a sweat suit. Red Mabel was going on a mission, and as usual, it was top secret. She would not let Laverna sit at the bar by herself in clothing that could restrict her movement. There could be another assassination attempt.
When Red Mabel returned her to the Dirty Shame, Tabby helped Laverna take a few more pain pills. Laverna sipped at a shot of tequila, bending like a bird each time, using the embarrassing pink straws.
Jim Number Three came in, just as the silver miners were gathering up their coats and their wild animal. He sat down next to Laverna and watched their procession as they paraded out the door.
“Don’t ask,” said Laverna. “Can you light me a cigarette?”
Jim Number Three obliged. Laverna was fond of him—he continued to stop by the house most days and read to her. They were up to the chapter in Roots where Chicken George was gambling on chicken fights while courting Mathilda. Laverna remarked that this was everyday behavior among the men of Quinn.
Jim Number Three had been ice fishing all day, and was already drunk. He described the fish at length. He told Laverna that he was born in Alaska, and then his family relocated to Chinook, where the weather was pretty much the same. He told Laverna that he grew up hoping to become a seismologist but settled for being an electrician instead.
“Seismology is not really a science,” said Jim Number Three. “Earthquakes are an art.” He whispered, “Earthquakes make my heart beat fast.”
“They do that,” Laverna said, and leaned forward so he could remove the cigarette from her mouth.
“Chinook’s main industry is sugar beets,” continued Jim Number Three. “The high school football team is called the Sugarbeeters.”
“That’s pathetic.”
“I really like you,” said Jim Number Three. “I’d like to get to know you better.”
“Don’t say that,” said Laverna.
“Why?” Jim Number Three ordered another round, ashed Laverna’s cigarette.
“Because I’m a miserable person,” she said.
“It’s this town,” said Jim Number Three, as Tabby slid another shot of tequila in front of Laverna and a pint of beer in front of him. “I think you all have vitamin deficiencies, or maybe the water is poisoned.” He raised his glass to her. “Cheers!”
Laverna stared at him. Apparently, he forgot she did not have use of her arms.
The pills and the booze made her feel brazen. “Take me to your house.”
Jim Number Three grabbed his keys without a word, and then he was helping her off the barstool and out the door.
* * *