Even after the car is gone Paulette remains in the middle of the street for a moment, hands on hips as if she'd singlehandedly vanquished the villain. Actually that's exactly what she's done and Gerri can already feel the safety net of Paulette and her home.
Paulette returns to her house, broom in hand, climbs the steps and as she enters the house she’s audibly gasping for breath, the result of her angry, victorious sprint.
“Oh, dear. I need a Lucky,” and she goes straight to the coffee table and picks up her cigarettes.
Gerri doesn’t say anything at first. She watches the ritual of Paulette methodically shaking one cigarette from the pack, nonchalantly packing it on her thumbnail and placing the cigarette on the edge of her lips. It must take practice because the cigarette seems to magically stick to her bottom lip right where Paulette places it. The cigarette is ceremoniously lit and the first inhale of smoke seems to be extra-long. It’s followed by an equally long exhale of more smoke than Gerri can imagine being in Paulette's junior-sized lungs. Paulette pinches what must have been a bit of tobacco on her lip and makes a little quiet spitting sound before finally speaking.
“Okay. It’s gonna… take… me a… minute to… catch my breath… but it’s not me who needs to be talkin, so… you go ahead and start. What the hell is going on, Gerri? Was that the teacher? What’s he doin chasin you?”
Gerri’s mouth is opening to tell the frightening tale when Paulette steps right in front of her.
“Hold it a second. First things first. Are you hurt? Tell me if you are. You’ve got to tell me if you’ve been hurt.”
“No, I’m just scared out of my mind. I was…well…he…”
“C’mon with me. I’m getting a cuppa joe and I'll just bet you could use one, too. Cream and sugar. Right?”
“Yeah. Sure. Okay.”
Gerri follows Paulette into the kitchen watching her in amazement. Paulette is still struggling to catch her breath but putting out volumes of smoke clouds in rapid succession. Gerri can’t tell if she’s angry, just struggling for a breath or maybe she’s scared, too.
“Sit right here while I'm getting the coffee and tell me everything. The last few minutes went way too fast for me to make any sense. I just happened to hear my name and there you were looking like it was life or death. I guess as it turns out it was a 'Lucky Strike' I was close by.”
Paulette holds up her cigarette pack as she makes her little joke and her raspy little laugh would normally make Gerri smile but today a smile isn’t anywhere on the horizon.
“I had no idea at first that anything was wrong. I never noticed any car when you first came up. But as I said a second ago I’m guessing that was that teacher's car facing this way up by that hedge. Right?”
“Yeah. Dan Penn...Dan Penn's car.”
“Listen to you. Dan Penn. He's a teacher for God sakes! He's probably old enough to be your father. Well anyhow this isn't a lecture so I'm going to shut my trap. I want you to tell me what happened. And listen to me, little one, please don't leave anything out of your story this time. I think it’s high time we hear it all and put all this to rest…whatever it takes. Somehow I thought we were past this guy but obviously not. You look scared and I don’t want you to gloss over anything ‘cause I need to know exactly with all the little accurate details… so, let’s hear it. What's going on?”
Coffee in hand, Paulette sits down at one end of the kitchen table and Gerri sits up a little straighter in her chair, holding her coffee cup with both hands. The warm coffee mug feels good and Gerri takes a small sip of the hot coffee. It tastes good.
“I really messed up, Paulette. I made a horrible mistake! Everything just got so out of control and he was so awful! He got them killed. He planned it. They’re dead. Jake Waltrip and the cop Len Ferguson. Dead!”
Gerri drops her gaze after blurting out the recent events and Paulette’s mouth drops open. She stands up, steps forward, puts her cigarette in the ashtray, lays both her hands over Gerri’s and gently presses.
“Whoa! People are dead and somehow you’re mixed up in it? This can’t be possible. You just take your time. Okay? Start at the beginning. I’m already lost. People are dead? I have no idea how you’re involved in all this but take a deep breath and look at me. This will be okay, little one.”
Paulette’s face is drawn, her eyes squinting in concentration so Gerri begins, trying carefully to remember exactly what happened starting with agreeing to meet Dan in his room again after school.
“I knew I shouldn’t but he was so sweet giving me this necklace this morning and so then I agreed to meet him.”
“So you saw him earlier today and he gave you a necklace?”
“Yeah, this one.” Gerri pulls the elongated cross from inside her blouse and holds it between her fingers.
Gerri goes on to tell of her arrival at Dan’s classroom and being shoved to the side by a hysterical Connie Waltrip. She describes Dan’s shocking news about Jake being killed. And how Dan insisted Gerri was the only girl for him and demanded she promise to be loyal to him. Gerri tells Paulette she thought Dan’s insistence on her commitment sounded strange but probably the results of the confrontation with Connie and the news about Jake’s death.
Gerri also thought it was strange that Dan never mentioned specifically that the policeman killed by Jake was none other than Len Ferguson until he sort of worked the name into another strange statement that implied the two deaths were a good result for Gerri and Dan. Finally, Dan never did directly answer the question to about why Connie would confront him about her brother’s death.
Gerri relates how she left school heading for home, very confused and trying to reconcile all the loose ends from her talk with Dan. It was along the walk home she met up with Connie and Rog. What Connie told Gerri filled in a lot of the missing pieces around Dan’s vague details if they are all to be believed.
Connie accused Dan of basically trying to rekindle the fling that Connie says she and Dan had last year. Once he convinced Connie to go out with him he threatened and coerced Connie until she set up a middle of the night meeting between Jake and Dan. Dan told her he just wanted to make things right with Jake. But according to Connie, Jake didn’t trust Dan so he got to the meeting point early and hid out of sight. A while before the meeting was to take place Jake saw Dan and Len together close by and figured Dan was setting Jake up for a takedown by Len.
Apparently Len hid within just a few feet of Jake and never realized Jake was right beside him. When it was time for the appointment and Dan was knocking on the back door of Brentwood’s, Jake surprised Len and in the confrontation Jake shot and killed Len.
Jake went by Connie’s as he was escaping from town and told her all this. Then before Jake could make good on his escape he got shot by police. Gerri tells Paulette about how Connie and Miss Stinson had previously been Dan’s girlfriends so Gerri thinks maybe some of Connie’s story may be tinted with jealousy.
“It’s just all so complicated and confusing, Paulette. I don’t know who to believe and I’ve gotten to where I really don’t trust anybody one-hundred percent…except you of course.”
“Holy jumpin shit! You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. And of course it warms my heart that somehow I just feel I’m jumpin right in the middle of a deep cesspool with no life preserver. No more edited and sanitized versions of what’s happening. It’s no game and we have to do something. Have to. We’ll try to sort it all out.”
Gerri continues her story that soon after Gerri got out of Rog and Connie’s car there was Dan waiting for her. Since it was nearly dark she didn’t resist going across to the woods but very quickly Dan had become a totally different person. He scared her with his demands, referring to her as a good girl and then he tried to force her to have oral sex. Gerri was correct when she said to Paulette it wasn’t anything about love or passion. He looked evil and was simply demanding she do it almost like he wanted to prove to her he owned her, and that’s when she ran from his car.
“Paulette, I didn’t imagine what he was doing when he first began pulling my head toward him. I guess I thought he was going to kiss me but when I realized what he was doing I was scared and it was sickening. For a second I thought it was too late and I just wanted out of that car and away from him. Oh, God Paulette. I didn’t even see when he opened his pants. Maybe he was already like that when I got in the car. That’s so sick. He’s sick.”
Paulette sits back, takes a deep breath and lights another cigarette, attending to all the little packing and lighting rituals.
“So you're sure hon, he kissed you, touched your hand and the back of your neck? He never tried to touch you anywhere else? Up here...Or down here?” Paulette's hand gestures toward her own body are plenty descriptive.
“No… Well, that’s not quite true…he did take hold of the necklace as if he was admiring it …but …well…he ended up trying to unbutton my blouse but I put my hand up and said no and I think that’s what triggered the next thing. I think he was going to make me do it just to show me he could make me do anything.”
“I believe you and understand how you were not in the mood for any of the smoochie stuff tonight but he certainly didn’t care about you at that point. I think you’re right. He was going to make you do something to show you how powerful and in control he is and that's what makes creeps like him so dangerous to a young girl like you. He catches you off guard, unsuspecting and before you know it you're being hurt...badly. I just want to be sure about the touching thing. That was it? Right?”
“Yeah, cross my heart. That was it. But that was scary, Paulette. That’s awful!”
“I know it is, honey but I've gotta tell you I was worried when you came in here that it may have been way more than that. Yes, it’s bad enough but Gerri, my dear, it could have been a whole lot worse. Believe me. The first thing that crossed my mind is that you’d been forced to have sex. Ya know, raped. I was so scared and what little mind I have was racing trying to figure the next hundred things to do starting with your dad, the police, the hospital and all of the horrible after effects. I know it’s bad but again, Gerri, it could have gone a lot worse. Well, let’s see. We have killings, we have a pervert teacher tryin to lure a girl and then chasin her up and down the street. Whew!”
Paulette grinds out her cigarette in the half-full ashtray. She pushes and twists the mixture of tobacco and paper between her fingers into the ashtray until it’s unrecognizable bits of tobacco shreds and scraps of lipstick covered shards of paper. It’s obvious to Gerri that her cigarette just paid the price of her anger.
“So, I guess the next thing to figure out is where we go from here. Today, tomorrow, day after, next week.”
“Well, I can’t go to school Monday. That’s for sure. I’m afraid to go anywhere right now. Please can I just stay with you?”
“Of course you can stay here for now. You just need to stay right here with me until you’re feelin better and your dad comes home.”
“Oh, don't tell my dad, Paulette. Please don't tell him. I don't know what he'll do.”
“Well, that's part of what we'll figure out. And remember I said we. But this has to stop once and for all.”
“Just don't tell my dad.”
“Now stop giving me a hard time already. We haven't even had time to unravel all of this.”
Paulette folds her arms and gives a poster-child look of determination.
“I don’t think there’s anything more that’s gonna complicate things tonight or even over the weekend. I suspect your Mr. Dan is by now in a dark little hole somewhere with wet pants trying to figure out how he's going to get out of all this without getting in trouble with the school and maybe the law, too. Hey, anything else you forgot to tell me?”
“No. I'm pretty sure that’s all.
“One day at a time. I don't think I've ever told you but when I was just a kid in Oklahoma my daddy used to take me out to shoot guns. He wasn't much of a hunter but liked to target shoot. The one thing he would shoot was coyotes. He hated them because he said they weren't like the rest of animals. He said other animals hunt to eat and survive or defend themselves or their homes but coyotes sneak around whether they’re hungry or not, looking for smaller animals that are hurt or defenseless. He said some folks are like coyotes, just harder to recognize. But I think we saw one today, didn't we?”
“You're not going to shoot him are you, Paulette?” Gerri’s half standing from her seat.
“Oh, heavens. We haven’t even figured all this out just yet. C’mon for heaven's’ sakes. Maybe what he deserves but no, dear, no shootin today. I just meant there are other Dan Penn's in this world, the coyote types and you need to get better at spotting them. I'm not an I-told-you-so kind of person but I seem to recall my warnings were pretty clear. So I never really expected anything like this to happen...and for sure not just one day after we talked.”
“Paulette, I swear I was on my way to school thinking how proud I was that I was going to put him in his place and be done with it. Honestly I was thinking it all was my fault for telling you things about him and maybe you were wrong and maybe he was okay and then, Paulette he was parked right there. He was so nice and I just knew everything was okay. Boy, I sure messed up. He seemed so nice and I thought you misunderstood. I'm so sorry. If I’d have listened to you and not doubted a bit of what you said, none of this would have happened. I’m so sorry.”
“You don't need to apologize to me. You’re innocent and pretty darn defenseless after just one Paulette talk. We'll get better at this. And by the way, not every time you're around a boy will it be bad. You just have to be able to choose the good ones from the critters. And I guess I’d say the older the critter the worse cause they’ve had more practice and escaped a few times.”
“Paulette, would you mind if I just lay down on your sofa for a few minutes?”
“Oh, honey. What’s wrong? Don't you feel well?”
“No. I'm okay, just a little tired from all this and worrying about what's yet to come. I just need a few minutes to recoup.”
“Sure. That's fine and in fact it will give me a chance to think. You just take your time. You don't need to worry. Everything's gonna be just fine.”
Gerri lies down on the sofa and closes her eyes. She can already feel her heart isn't pounding quite as hard but she’s still frightened out of her wits. She cannot imagine how she’ll be able to go back to school with Dan being there. If only she never had to see Dan Penn again. But even Paulette can't fix that.
“It feels good just to lie down for a minute, Paulette. Must be the stress.”
“That’s good. You just relax as best you can. I know you’ve heard and seen a lot today. While you’re resting here's what I’m thinking. If I...er... or we go to the police they'll have to question everybody including your dad, the school folks, you and Dan Penn. Of course he'll deny everything. It could get complicated. I don’t know how much to trust those school people or the police. They all seem like a bunch of politicians sometimes and ya know, try to take care of their own. It would not serve any purpose if the results turn into sort of a he-said, she-said argument. And I also have to tell you, while I love your dad and I certainly loved your mom I've always been surprised at how your folks dealt with problems.
I don't know if you even remember when your dad parked on the street a while back and somebody came along and sideswiped his car. Luckily the guy stopped but it was almost as if Stephen felt like his parked car had jumped out and hit the other car. He was so nervous and I kept thinking why are you so nervous cause it was the other guy who hit your car. He kept laughing and apologizing for his car being on the street. I know the guy who hit your car was bumfuzzled by Stephen’s display and he wanted to make it right with money but I listened to your dad tell him the damage wasn't bad and just forget it. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So I'm just telling you this because I don't want to get the hornets’ nest stirred up and find out your dad’s going to laugh it off or act like he’s afraid to wade into this with both feet. 'Cause, Gerri, this isn't okay and whatever we decide to do I am gonna be sure this stops real quick… once and for all. I’m steppin way over my bounds here but I’m in this till it’s done.”
“So what can be done?”
“I think maybe Monday I need to personally pay Mr. Danny Boy a visit and explain things like Paulette knows how. Just maybe I can nip this in the bud and take care of it. If it goes the way I think, then you won't ever have to worry about meeting Penn in the hallway or anywhere else. By the way, gimme that necklace and cross. I’m gonna return it to him. You okay with me doing this?”
Gerri unfastens the necklace and hands it to Paulette. “Well, how can talking to him solve anything? He’ll just deny everything. What can you possibly say to him?”
“Gerri, a good magician never shows how the tricks are done. I just need to know you trust me to take care of it. If it doesn't work then we can go to the school, your dad or even the police. But the more I think about it the more I’m feelin fired up about this and see no reason why I can’t get it resolved. What do you say? Shall I try?” She strikes a strongman pose and flexes her biceps as if to make big muscles.
Paulette says she’ll call the school first thing Monday and ask for a conference with Mr. Penn. She’ll make no hint of anything wrong, more like a thank you session. Gerri knows his free period and he doesn't have a second period class from nine-fifty until ten-fifty in the mornings so if Paulette’s lucky she’ll suggest perhaps she can meet Mr. Penn at ten o'clock. Paulette knows enough about the school procedure that she’ll check in at the office and ask if she can meet Mr. Penn privately in the teachers’ lounge since she smokes. If it all comes together like Paulette thinks, she and Dan Penn will be face-to face Monday morning.
Gerri finds herself feeling uneasy and beginning to squirm as Paulette repeats her vague plan.
“Maybe we should forget this and maybe if I just make up an excuse for my dad and stay home next week and then go back week after next and maybe everything will have blown over. I can just avoid going near his classroom and...”
Paulette jumps straight up from her sitting position.
“Gerri! You’ve got to stop this! This is exactly what I’m talking about when dealing with a predator. You stay away from school to avoid him and he’s the one who’s done wrong. You sneak around your own school. You run to school because you're afraid of seeing him. You remain the injured, defenseless one and the critter feels more powerful because nobody's gonna call his hand on it.”
“I guess you’re right but I don’t see how you can…”
Gerri, after I divorced my husband I dated another guy and it looked like we might get married but there was something I just didn’t trust. Down deep I figured he just wanted the money from my dad's farm and when I stood eye to eye and confronted him with that, he didn't even argue. I told him he had no balls or maybe they'd just shrunk to peanut size from lack of use. He didn't like that a whole lot but he left rather than even argue. No balls, Gerri. Here's the interesting part. Sometimes us gals gotta have balls, too. Well geez… I hope ya know what I mean. You have to stand up and show your fangs and be ready to fight for what's right. Not everything turns out rosy, but ya have to try. And right now, little girl, you're the most important thing in Paulette's life and I’m takin some big balls to the playground Monday.”
As she talks Paulette waves both arms and with her legs spread apart sways her hips as if she’s dangling something. The more she talks, the more she means serious business.
Gerri’s laughing through tears at Paulette’s tirade, still frightened but safe and feeling like she has a true champion in her corner.
“Okay, Paulette. I trust you. Just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it. I won’t let my end of it down.”
“Young lady, that's a girl. That's balls! Big brass bowling balls.”
Once again, Paulette has an entertaining way of getting Gerri to a confident state of mind. Maybe part of it’s from the stress or nervous energy but Gerri can’t remember when she’s laughed this hard. Why is it so easy to find things to laugh about with Paulette even when things have been so unhappy? She recalls laughing with her mom and dad but that seems like a distant memory. So very much has happened. Gerri wonders if her life will ever be where she can laugh like this every day. Many times every day.