CHAPTER 22

Agnes got home from work to find the kitchen a mess. Three teenagers, and not one could put a single thing in the dishwasher. She cursed their laziness then set about cleaning up and making dinner.

After about an hour, her husband, Hank, came home, the screen door banging behind him. “Hey, hon, how’s dinner coming?”

“Hank, you’ve got to talk to those children of ours. I got home to disaster zone. As a result, dinner won’t be ready for at least half an hour.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll talk to them. They’re just kids.”

“They’re not just kids anymore. Bobby’s going to be eighteen soon. It’s high time they took on some responsibilities around here.”

He paused from hanging his coat to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Alright, I said I’d talk to them. But later, okay? I’ve got bowling tonight. In the meantime, anything I can do to help?”

She let out a huff of air. “No, I’ll manage. Just stay out of my way.”

“Suit yourself.” He sat down at the dinette table and picked up the paper. He rustled through the pages.

The noise irritated her. “Do you have to do that now?”

“Do what?”

“Crumple the pages like that.”

He put the paper down. “What’s the matter, hon? Bad day at work?”

“No, not really. Nothing I want to talk about.”

Hank got up and stopped her from dicing the salad vegetables by putting his hand on top of her forearm. “Hey, we had a deal. No secrets. I can’t help if you don’t tell me.”

She pulled away and resumed chopping the celery. “No, it’s nothing like that. I’m under orders, that’s all. I’m not supposed to talk about it to anyone.”

“And anyone includes me? What do they think down there at NASA, that you’re married to some international spy? Come on, spill it.”

She scraped the chopped veggies into the salad bowl, wiped her hands, and sat down. “You know that astronaut, Brooke Jones? The one who went to Mars?”

Hank returned to his seat at the table. “Yeah, what about her?”

“Well, she works in our department and she’s charted out the genome of those methanogens that were brought back from Mars.”

“So? That’s good, isn’t it? Doesn’t that make your job a lot easier? So what are you telling me, you’re jealous?” He picked up the paper once more .

“Hank, don’t you remember? Drumdat Corporation took all the methanogens and all the data files some months ago. She did it from memory. We’re talking thousands of variables. It’s inconceivable.”

He dropped the paper. “You’re kidding.”

“I am not kidding. And what’s more, it’s all hush hush. I’m feeling like an idiot working beside her.”

Hank reached out and took her hands in his. “Listen, it’s probably all some hoax, just to make her look good. You know, news propaganda. Girl goes to Mars and is top bioscientist. Don’t let it get to you. The truth will come out sooner or later. They’re feeding her the data. There can’t be any other explanation. You’ll see.”

Hank gave her another kiss on the cheek, then got up. “Listen, I’ll grab a dog at the lanes. You feed the kids. I’ll talk to them when I get back. Everything will be fine. I’ll see you later.”

“Have fun.”

As the screen door banged again, she got up and set the table. A small doubt nagged at her. I hope Hank’s smart enough not to talk to the guys about it.

***

Suzie ran across the playground to where Timmy played with the other boys. The news she was about to tell him gave her a sense of pending satisfaction. “Hey Timmy, I talked to my mom last night and you’re wrong.”

He came over, the other boys falling in behind. “Wrong about what?”

“You’re wrong about Superman.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My mom says that there is no Superman. He’s only make-believe.”

“Shucks. I knew that.”

“Yeah, well, that makes Wonder Woman the best superhero of them all.”

“Aw, you’re just a dumb girl. Wonder Woman is make-believe, too.”

“No she isn’t. I know because my mom knows her.”

“Your mom knows Wonder Woman? I think you got rocks in your head.”

She stomped her foot. “It’s true! My mom says she’s one of those astronauts. She knows because she works in the hospital at the base. She says this lady is super. She has like super powers or something, like Wonder Woman.”

“Sheesh, Suzie, you’re nuts. Wait until I talk to my dad. He’s an in-ves-ti-ga-tive reporter. He knows everything. He’ll find out the truth. He’s a lot smarter than your stupid mom.”

“My mom is not stupid. And you’re just jealous because Wonder Woman is a girl and you can’t stand it that a girl is the best.”

“You just wait until tomorrow, Suzie. I’m going to prove you wrong.”

She stuck her tongue out at him then turned away to go back to the girl side of the playground. Just wait until his dad finds out my mom is right.

***

Mark plopped down in his seat. “It’s your shot, Jesse.”

Jesse hefted his cue stick, and took aim at the cue ball. “Seven ball in the corner.” He took the shot and the seven rattled in and out of the pocket. “Damn!”

Mark got up to take his turn. “You’re not on your game tonight. Something bothering you?”

“Nah, I just suck, that’s all.”

He went to the table where their drinks were and signaled the waitress for another beer. From the pool table, the sound of balls clashing and the distinctive noise made when one entered a pocket had him turning his head to look. “What’ve you got left?”

“Only the eight.”

He watched as Mark lined up his shot and sank the ball.

Mark reached for the ball rack. “That’s game. Play another?”

“Nah, come sit down. I ordered us another round.”

“Sounds fine, you lost so you’re buying.” Mark plopped down in the chair opposite and took a swig of the beer in front of him. “Just in time, too. Looks like this one is about done.”

Ever since he had lunch with Robert the other day, things had been gnawing at Jesse. “How are you feeling, Mark? A hundred percent yet?”

“Yeah, right as rain. I’ll feel a whole lot better after you buy a few more rounds. Why do you ask? You still not there yet? After that last pool game, I was starting to wonder.”

“No, I’m fine. I was only curious.” He took the last sip of the beer in front of him, scanned about for the waitress, and then returned his focus to Mark. “I‘m wondering whether you had any side effects like…Brooke.”

Mark laughed. “I wish! She was up and about in days. I wonder what her secret is. If it’s a girl thing, then I might just think about a sex change if it means getting well so fast.”

“So you haven’t heard then.”

“Heard? Heard what? Oh no, let me guess. She’s pregnant? Whatever anyone says, it wasn’t me, man.”

The waitress finally arrived with their beers and placed them on the table. “I wonder if you can be serious for more than five minutes. I’m talking about her extra…. Oh, what’s the word I’m looking for? Powers, special skills, mystic talents… Oh, whatever, she can do things. Stuff like you only see in the movies.”

The waitress had removed the empties but still stood there. “You mean psychic abilities.”

He turned to look up at the girl. “Pardon?”

“Psychic abilities. I’m leaning all about them in class. I only work here to get through school. I’m taking psychology as a major. There are all kinds of psychic abilities, but the ones most people know about are ESP, telepathy, psycho kinesis….”

“Psycho what?”

“Psycho kinesis. Mind over matter. You know…levitation and stuff like that. Magicians claim to have that ability all the time.”

Mark, after having a drink from his new beer, shuffled his chair in closer. “Are you saying Brooke has these skills now?”

Jesse held a hand in front of Mark’s face. “Shh! I’m not saying anything.”

The waitress looked from Jesse to Mark and then back again. “Well, I’ve got other tables to tend to. I wouldn’t worry about it. In almost every case, they’re proved to be frauds.”

Jesse waited until she left. Once he was sure she was out of earshot, he turned back to Mark. “Blast it, you’ve got to watch what you say around people. They might get the wrong impression.”

Mark scratched at his chin. “What do you think they might think—witchcraft? Hey, with a figure like hers, I’m sure she puts a lot of spells on guys.”

“Pff! Don’t be silly. But apparently she can do those things the waitress mentioned. Robert swears he saw her levitate a salt shaker. And he thinks she can read his mind.”

Mark laughed. “No shit. If she can do that, he’ll never get away with fooling around on her.”

“Oh, never mind. Let’s drink up and go. I want to get out of here.”

“Okay with me, but you still owe me two rounds from pool.”

Jesse signaled to the waitress to bring the bill. “We’ll get them at the next bar. I just don’t want to stay at this one anymore.”

They finished their beers, Jesse paid the tab, and they headed for the door. As he left, he could see from the corner of his eye the waitress watching them all the way out.