looting in lubbock-- an excerpt from Rise

Lubbock, Texas November 1999 

As the cuckoo clock announced six o’clock, they headed out the screen door, which slammed behind them.

            In Kate’s little red Honda, they arrived quickly at Jazz, where David’s sister Tanya ruled from behind the bar.

            All the walls were covered in deco-pauged sheet music from Jazz classics. Saxophones hung from the ceiling and all the seats were covered in purple vinyl. Meg had never been to New Orleans, but she imagined it was a lot like the restaurant David’s sister owned. Somewhere between old world manners and the schmaltz of Las Vegas.

            Meg looked at the menu from the front of the restaurant while David hugged and sweet talked his sister, trying to persuade her to give them rum and cokes.

            Even from the other side of the room, Meg could tell Tanya was amused by, and also used to this kind of manipulation from him. And while she did not appear to be acquiescing to him, she did seem to enjoy the process… the careful effort he put into getting what he wanted.

            Both Tanya and Tex looked over at Meg at the same time.

            --Meg, Sweetheart, come over here and defend your honor, said Tanya. David is trying to corrupt you with alcohol. But I told him a good little girl like you wouldn’t be interested in anything illegal like that.

            Meg couldn’t tell whether Tanya was being complimentary or condescending.

            --You are right, Ma’am. I do not drink alcohol. And I most certainly would not put you in a sticky spot with the law…seeing as I just met you.

            --Actually, you haven’t even met me, yet. I’ll fix that.

            She wiped off her hands on a towel and offered the hand up to Meg.

            --Nice to make your acquaintance, Ms. Evans, I’m Tanya Bullock, David’s older and, might I add, wiser sister. How do you do?

            --Nice to meet you, as well, Tanya. You have a great restaurant here.

            --Yeah, it’s alright, said David. They aren’t serving Bourbon chicken today though, and Tan won’t make me a stiff one, so there’s really no point in staying. I feel like barbecue anyhow.

            Tanya threw a shelled peanut at Kate.

            --Hey Katie, aren’t you even going to come out from behind the menu stand and say hello to your neighbor?

            Kate poked her head around the corner and waved,

            --Wanna go to J&M, then David? For barbecue? Kate asked.

            --Sounds like a plan to me. I bet you’ve never had real Texas B-B-Q, have you, Meg?

            --The Georgia stuff is about as close as I’ve come, so you’ll have to school me.

            David pushed Meg’s shoulders towards the car, walking her all the way out from behind.

            --Alright, Boss, he said. Prepare to be schooled. Tawny, see you at the house. Meg’s giving a concert later tonight, so put your hearing aid in all right?

            --I’m not that old, Brother, she called across the restaurant.

            Outside, the sun was setting through the multi-colored trees. Meg felt like she really could live here if that was what he wanted. She imagined singing in church choir on Sundays with him and going home and chanting afterwards. She imagined their Buddhist-Christian tots piling into their hip yet sensible family vehicle and going to the family restaurant or even a cute barbecue place like J & M.

            Once they sat down, Meg noticed that anything that could be shaped like Texas, was shaped like Texas. The waitresses ordering pads, the art on the wall, the tables, even the paper towel holders had bases made of pine wood in the shape of his great state. Meg tried to imagine Florida thinking so much of themselves.

            Together at their Texas shaped table, they were able to have the kind of zany laughs Meg required from the group. She wondered if it would be possible for them to keep laughing at the same jokes until they were geriatric.

            Meg performed the role they needed her to perform as well.

            She put on her tap shoes and did the slow motion dance of the girl without a care in the world. The girl who didn’t need to know and if she did know wouldn’t care whether the man she loved had left her for his ex.

Meg made all the necessary Texas first-timer comments. Kate made sure to laugh at everything. Meg got the required amount of barbecue sauce all over her face and her clothing.  David did the obligatory removal of the sauce with a wet nap. And Meg made sure to faux threaten David with the same messy fate by proudly inching her maroon hands his way.

            --I’ll get your hair! I will, she said.

            --No you won’t, he paused. Isn’t this the greatest place?

            And what could she tell him but the answer he silently demanded?

            --Yes it is, Tex.

            And while she didn’t really devote much time to assessing whether it really was the greatest restaurant, she didn’t much need to. Because they were there together…and because he needed her approval, it was the greatest. The best. The most fun restaurant, with the most fun décor, in the best city in the best state in the best country in the world. With the best boy.

In the hard wood alcove where they sat that night, it was the truth for Meg.

She required nothing else than what she had with her at that moment. Her full belly, her friend, and her love. Except maybe she would need a memento.

            -- I really do like that paper towel holder. It would be a great souvenir, Meg said mostly to herself through the laughter from the previous joke that was fading out.

            --You should steal it, said Tex.

            -- Oh, no. No way. I didn’t come to Texas to get arrested.

            His laughter was even better in person because his eyes watered.

--I knew you were a baby about getting trouble, but I would personally give you a thousand dollars if you got arrested for that. I would pay that much…for your trouble and as payment for the amount of entertainment that would provide me.

            --Hey, this is a small town. The police might not have anything better to do besides prosecute small blonde Buddhist girls for stealing important state paraphernalia.

            --It’s true, said Kate with a wink. I heard a story once about a kid who got arrested in Lubbock for doodling on an image of Texas on a bus ad. It’s illegal. It’s like flag burning.

            --Rrrright. Well I still think you should steal it, he said.

            The door chime rang, and in walked a wise looking, spectacled little man with sparse hair and a sharply pointed nose.

            --Oh, my, it’s Pastor Wheeler, said Kate. You don’t expect Meg to steal something in the presence of our pastor, do you?

            --Yes, I do! That just makes it more perfect. He provides the perfect alibi. I’ll go over there and ‘entertain’ him and the waitress. You two swipe the wooden Texas and make for the getaway vehicle. Pull up in front and I’ll run out just in time to make a clean break and should avoid the po-pos no problem.

            He ambled over to the counter with his hands in his pockets until the pastor saw him, and then Tex threw his hands up in air.

            --Pastor! What brings you out on an evening like this?

            Meg couldn’t tell what David was saying to distract them, but when she saw him hug Pastor Wheeler, a big bear hug, she knew that was the moment. Kate tucked the Texas into the back of her jeans, covered (laughably) by her sweatshirt. Meg walked super close behind her in an attempt to disguise the obvious bulge in her back.

            --Was that Kate Willard? Meg heard Pastor Wheeler say as they jetted out the chiming door.

            It had rained while they were in the restaurant and the pavement was glisteny from the lights in that part of Lubbock. Once back in Kate’s red bullet getaway car, Meg learned that Kate had no skills under pressure. She fumbled to put the keys in the ignition. She couldn’t put the stick shift into reverse. Her hands shook.

            --No panicking! Yelled Meg.

            By the time they made it to the curb in front of the restaurant, David was already standing outside jumping up and down. Kate screeched the car to stop and both the girls’ heads flew forward. David tried to get into the car smoothly, but the car was a two-door and he ended up stepping on Meg’s thigh; his crotch right in her face. And then, just when it seemed like she might be relieved and he might actually make it through the middle of the seats to the backseat, he slipped on Kate’s Hawaiian seat covers and fell directly on top of Meg; his face actually knocking hers.

            --I think your tooth just chipped mine, said Meg.

            --Just drive! said David.

            And Kate jerked the car forward in first gear for what seemed like a whole minute—start stop start stop—until they were finally out of the parking lot.

            Finally, Tex managed to somersault his way to the back, and rose up from the seat laughing his uncontrollable laugh.

            --Oh, sister Kate, if I ever rob a bank, remind me not to call you as my getaway driver.

            Kate laughed so hard, she started the jerking again.

            --I take it back, I take it back! He said. Just keep us moving forward.

Later that night, in the white linened twin beds in Kate’s room, the two girls laughed about their robbery.

            --I think you should try to steal something Texas-y everyday while you are here.

            -- I’ll be sure to make petty theft my goal. I think I will try to avoid stealing from Lubbock high school tomorrow though. My god, I can’t believe I am going to High School with ya’ll tomorrow. Are Libbi’s friends going to eat me alive? Tell me everything I need to know.

            There was just enough light in the bedroom to see the outline of Kate’s face as she sat up in bed and sat Indian style towards Meg’s bed.

            --Okay, so it’s crazy because people know you’re coming. I’ve been telling everyone and so has David. And there is definitely an anti-Libbi camp at school, so whether those two are back together or not, you have some supporters. But the cheerleaders are vicious and have been mobilizing against you for sure.

            --My god. And tomorrow is only Wednesday. I’m going to have three days of this? Wouldn’t ANYONE know if they were actually together?

            -- Well, I do know that she is still making out with that swimmer she was hooking up with all summer. But I can’t believe he hasn’t told you the deal. To me, that means they must not be together. He would have had to tell you.

            --One would think…. How many cheerleaders are there?

            Kate reached to turn on the nightlight on the white wicker night stand in between the two twin beds. In the small glow, Kate’s room felt very much like the children’s play room she had grown up in at her grandparents’ house in Georgia—with it’s white chenille bedding and spots of primary colors, yellow and red and blue, and a little bit of lime green.

            -- There are a lot of them. But don’t worry. I won’t leave you alone for a minute.

            As a child, Meg would stay up almost all night in the children’s playroom. She would arrange the pillows underneath the bedspread in the shape of a person. She had always wished for a more mild-mannered twin sister: a Melanie to her Scarlett. Meg always bossed the good twin around and the good twin always went to sleep at bedtime. And fell asleep right away. Unless they stayed up together to do hair or tell secrets in their twin language.

Forgetting the gauntlet of cheerleaders that awaited her the next day, Meg wandered off to that lamp-lit childhood time and imagined that Kate could be the twin she had wanted. Except Meg would never boss Kate around.

--Just don’t leave me with Libbi.

--Not for a minute.

--And if I see anything in a pleated skirt, I am running. 

Please also see this beginning chapters excerpt