Chapter Four

Death Watch

As usual, Brian comes over that Saturday night to eat pizza and watch MTV, then an HBO movie. Andy used to join them, but tonight Bender comes instead. He lights up on his way over and is in a hilarious mood when he arrives, and vacuums up half a pizza. Allison has to admit, he is more fun than Andy ever was. He does great impersonations and has comical observations about the music videos. Tonight Allison has to wake him when the movie is over. His face, softened by sleep, looks younger. Then he orients himself and puts on his Bender face, looking tough and sarcastic once more. Allison feels like she's touched some deeper part of him, seeing him unguarded and vulnerable like that. It makes something inside her turn over.


She can hardly sleep Sunday night and frets all day Monday about her clothing choice for the gallery, how they are going to get there, wondering if she could possibly win. Brian and Bender are both accompanying her, for which she is glad; taking the bus at night makes her nervous. Finally school is over, dinner consumed, clothing donned, and she is on her way to the bus stop, to meet Bender and Brian. The jolting bus ride gives her time to realize exactly how wound up she is. Bender and Brian are talking about sports, something she knows nothing about, so she sits silently.

When they enter the brightly lit gallery, Allison at least feels okay about her clothes. She chose a plain black dress and fits right in. There is wine and cheese, as promised. She and Bender pour themselves glasses of white wine, but Brian, disapproving of underage drinking, gets a coke for himself. They start a circuit of the room containing the competition pieces. Some are obviously high school student products, but many are quite professional. Her own work is up, hanging between an oil painting of a vase of peonies and a charcoal sketch of a pair of ballet shoes.

"This is yours?" Bender wants to know.

"Yes, it's a death watch beetle."

"You're a strange girl, Al."

"It's really well executed, Allison," Brian says, obviously impressed. "And the play on words is clever."

As they move on, Bender observes,"This wine is okay, once you get used to it," They view several more pieces, then hear someone calling the room to order. Allison crowds into the main space, eager to hear them announce the winners. A small man stands up on an impromptu wooden box. He's saying stuff she can't hear over the murmuring of the crowd. Then the crowd finally falls silent as he holds up a sheet of paper.

"Our third prize goes to Thomas Deal, for his entry 'Dark Rooms.' Thomas, come up here." The crowd parts to allow a young man approach the gallery owner. Mr. Navet hands him an envelope and shakes his hand. The crowd applauds politely.

"Our second prize goes to Jerri Kern, for her entry 'Looking Glass Falls.' Miss Kern, please come up." Another envelope and another handshake, more polite applause.

"Finally, our first prize award goes to a young lady, a Shermer High junior, Miss Allison Reynolds. Her pen and ink drawing, 'Death Watch,' can be seen here at Gallery Navet for the next week, along with those of the other prize winners. Miss Reynolds, congratulations." Bender has propelled her up to the front of the crowd and gives her a little shove into the clear area around Mr. Navet. In a daze, she accepts her envelope and handshake.

Bender leads her back into the crowd, which is dispersing. Brian tries to shake her hand, but the envelope is in the way. Bender takes it and tucks it into his jean jacket inner pocket. A good thing too. Many people want to shake her hand. Then she is being steered toward her drawing so that a photo can be taken for the newspaper. As she stands up straight and smiles for the camera, she sees Henry Mays and Mr. Purdue. She smiles even more.