Freeing the Bird
Two weeks passed. Vince was still nowhere to be seen. It was like he'd stepped off the face of the earth. Vanished. None of the guys had seen him. We tried visiting his mother to see if she knew anything, but she wouldn't open the door.
And then… I found a note in my mailbox.
It wasn't a letter and it wasn't a postcard. It was a simple handwritten scribble on a piece of scrap paper, and I had no idea how it got there or how long it had been in there.
You see, I hadn't been to my house in nearly a fortnight. I kept meaning to check on the place, but we'd been far too busy. Not only did Ace and I have to pick up Vince's slack, but some of Eyeball's as well. He only came in when he felt like it. Eyeball and Vince used to be solid and reliable help for Ace on the mechanics side of things, but now Ace only had one part-timer. And me to some degree. Sometimes I had to help him with lifting stuff and holding things in place, and I cleaned the cars out for him. But other than that, I wasn't much use.
The note had a phone number on it and was signed 'V'. At first, I was going to give the number to Ace to ring, but then I wondered why Vince had put it in my mailbox instead of his.
I had to call it several times before I got an answer, and that wasn't until early evening.
"Vince?" I said, exasperated. "Where the hell are you? Ace needs you!"
"I'm not comin' back, Cass."
Five little words, and I felt like the world had just tipped upside down.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because where I am now, I got it too good. I got a new job, place to stay, and the girl next door is real, real sweet. And I think she likes me. Best thing of all is, Eyeball ain't here to fuck things up for me this time."
I sighed and rubbed my eyes with my fingers. "I wanna be happy for you, but Ace has been finding it real hard without you here. Eyeball drifts in and out again, and we're ticking along but, I think Ace feels like you've let him down. I don't know how else to say it."
Vince went quiet for a minute, and I had to check if he was still on the other end. "Vince?"
"Is Ace there?"
"No."
"Look, don't give him this number, OK? Just tell him I'm out."
"I'll tell him, but if he wants your number, I'll give it to him."
"Why?"
"Because there's no secrets between us. We tell each other everything."
"Fuck…" Vince sighed. "OK – whatever."
"I suppose you won't tell me where you are."
"Might as well now – Ace'll know anyway once he sees the number. I'm right on the beach, north of the state. Got a cousin who lives out here and he offered me to stay. This place is fucking great. And Ace might be pissed off and all, but what Eyeball did… I can't be around him no more. This ain't the first time he's done it – you get that, right?"
"I get it, but… I get it."
"And it didn't help when Ace backed him up. Look, don't worry, Cass - Ace'll work things out. He always does. I gotta go. My cousin's going out for a surf and he's teaching me."
"Vince… the surfer?" I couldn't help a chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"Are you kidding? I just got a vision of you ditching the black jeans for a pair of plaid surf trunks that show off your skinny white legs."
"Funny, Cass…"
"Well, I'm sure the salt water will help keep your feet clean and hopefully smelling fresh."
He laughed. "I would say I'm gonna miss you, but I already replaced you. There's a kid across the street I can harass and taunt, so I don't need you anymore."
"Oh Vince," I laughed. "You will miss me. You know you will."
I heard him smile. "Maybe. I really gotta go now. Be good."
"Cass, open up!"
I woke with a shock and then cursed myself when I realized I'd fallen asleep. I was supposed to be on a boost. I went to the front door and opened it to see a high-strung looking Eyeball. He had a madness in his eyes that I'd never seen before and he was sucking down that stress relief cigarette again like his temper depended on it.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Those assholes, Nat folks, they got her locked in a cupboard for fucks sake. And we gotta break her out."
"In a cupboard? Are you sure?"
"You think I'm joking about this? You know the shit they'd do to her just as well as I do!"
"I just meant… how do you know she's in a cupboard?"
I heard footsteps coming up the front steps and a familiar face came into view.
"Nathan?!"
He didn't say anything, avoided eye contact and timidly peered into the house as if he were searching for something.
"Ace isn't here if that's what you're worried about," I said.
"She's been in there for three fucking days," Eyeball said. "We gotta get her out."
"Of course. What do you need me to do?"
"You're gonna distract the olds while I go round the back, smash her window, get up into her room and break her free."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Then she'll be out and she can come live with you."
"Erm…"
"She said you said she could!"
"And she can. But, Eyeball, this is a terrible plan. How are you going to break her window without them hearing? And the wardrobe must have a key lock – is that right Nathan?"
"Yes," he said and cleared his throat. "And her bedroom door. But I don't know where they're keeping the keys."
"Can you just – for a minute – explain what the hell you are doing here? I thought you and Nat were sworn enemies."
"I just thought I should… say something?"
"Don't listen to this pussy," Eyeball cut in. "He tried to cover it up last night. We coulda broken in there, there and then, and she wouldn't have had to spend another night in the fucking-"
"Why are you blaming me, asshole? You were too careless, and they found out about you! They don't want her running off, that's all. But they do let her out to… you know… and she gets food and water every day…"
"Oh, so that makes it OK?!"
"Eyeball," I cut in. "Calm down. He might be the best help we've got. We need a better plan. Nathan – are you parents going anywhere tonight?"
He shook his head.
"Then we need something to draw them out of the house. Any ideas?"
Eyeball smirked rather evilly. "Yeah, I got one."
I'm sure there were other, better ideas we could have picked, but our arguing about it was wasting time so I let him have his way.
By the time we got organized and rounded up the rest of the gang, it was nearly dark, which was for the best. The boys were jazzed – Jack, Fuzzy, Billy and Charlie that is. We didn't ask Ace to help. He was still working, I didn't want to disturb him, I didn't think he'd be on board with this, and he couldn't be around if the cops showed up.
Eyeball and I had dropped Nathan home earlier that evening after assigning him three very important jobs. One – leaving his bedroom window ajar so Eyeball and I had an entry point, two – luring his folks out to the front yard and even handing them rubbish bags to start cleaning it up the boys 'decorations', and three – keeping his mouth shut.
We were in Eyeball's rust-bucket, him driving and the rest of us squashed in together. We parked at the end of the street for a little meeting before it was time to get to work.
"OK – has everyone got their rolls?" I asked, and the group fired yeps and nods at me. Fuzzy thought it would be funny to throw a roll at me as if to prove that yes he had his too, and the soft thing hit me on the forehead. Everyone chuckled except for me.
"Not funny," I said, throwing it at him much harder than he did. "You've got three minutes to dispense every last sheet and then you leave. You don't run and you don't go in the same direction. You don't then all meet up at Irby's and discuss what a blast you had tossing ass wipes all over the neighbor's front lawn. Is everyone clear on that?"
More nods.
"Go."
As the four boys got into position, Eyeball and I snuck into the shadows at the side of the Natalie's house to wait for our cue to move. Eyeball checked if Nathan had left his window open, and he had which was a sign of good faith. We watched as the boys went to work, scampering across the yard and tossing streams upon streams up, down, everywhere and high in the air. Three minutes and they were done. Jack crept up to the front door and knocked on it hard before sprinting away and disappearing into the night.
Eyeball and I heard the front door open followed by an audible cry from the mother discovering her precious rose bushes, amaryllis flowers and the big maple tree out front caught in an entanglement of toilet paper.
"Mr. Preston!" she called, and she was soon joined by Nathan and a tall, skinny man who I assumed was the father. "Oh, this is simply horrid! Who would do such a thing? Call the police! Call the POLICE!"
"Oh shit…" I whispered to Eyeball. But he wasn't behind me like I thought he was. I went to the back of the house to see the last of his shoes disappear through Nathan's bedroom window. "You were supposed to wait for me!"
I grabbed the windowsill and hoisted myself up and through into Nathan's room. The house was a very small, one-level cottage, and the commotion going on the kitchen was just a couple of rooms away. Eyeball was still in Nathan's room too, peering out the door and waiting to make a break for Natalie's room next door. We could hear Nathan trying to do his bit by telling his folks they should forget about the cops and go out there to clean up the mess, but the mother wasn't having any of it.
"Maybe the cops coming isn't a bad thing, as long as they all go outside to chat about what happened," I said. "This might take a while longer – that's all."
"She's been in there long enough. I ain't waiting another minute."
We heard the mother fighting Nathan for the phone. They were right by us in the hallway. I didn't think he could hold out much longer.
"When their backs are turned, you get her outta here – you hear me?" Eyeball said.
I nodded. Eyeball walked out the door and into the hallway. The mother didn't see him at first but, boy, when she did, she nearly brought the house down. It was a sound like I've never heard. A high-pitched, terror-stricken shriek that made my ears ring.
"You're gonna let Nat out right now, or I'm calling the police!" Eyeball said. I felt a moment of proudness.
"Who in the devil's name are you?" asked a deep voice, which I assumed was the father's.
"I know she's in there," Eyeball continued, "and I ain't lettin' you treat her this way no more."
"My daughter is not your concern, whoever you are. Now, rid yourself from my abode! Out!"
I peered around the doorframe to see Eyeball willingly walking into the middle of the house, which was the entryway, but he just hung around there and wouldn't leave.
"You wanna know who I am? I'll tell ya. The name's Eyeball Chambers, and Ima take care of Natalie from now on. She ain't your concern no more. She's my girl, and Ima do more right by her than you ever did!"
"How dare you talk to us like that!"
The arguing continued, and by that time I had already darted out of Nathans room, got to Natalie's door and picked the lock open. I closed the door behind me and looked to the free-standing closet in the corner. It looked so small, and the thought that Natalie could be in there almost brought tears to my eyes.
"Natalie? It's Cassie."
I heard a small sob. "Cassie? Can you help me?"
"Of course. I just need to get this done." It was darker in there than the hallway and so I had to feel for the lock. I stuck my finger in to feel its shape. It was old, vintage, but not a standard lever lock. I poked around in there with a wire and felt something lift. "Oh, it's one of those!" I used one pick to push up the spring-loaded lever to get that clear of the bolt, and then used my right-angled little tool to pull the bolt back.
I pulled the door open and saw nothing but a small heap in the corner. I bent down and tried to help her up, but she couldn't move. She seemed lethargic and weak. Frail. I wondered if they really had been feeding her.
"My legs…" she said. "I can't feel them."
"You just need to get the blood flowing again. Come on, we need to get you out of here."
"For good?"
"Yes, for good. It's now or never."
She let out a whimper of exhausted relief. I picked her up and she limped as I led her to the window. "No, not out there."
"Natalie, you have to! You can't keep living like this! Eyeball is out there fighting for you!"
"I meant, I'm going out the front door. Like a decent person."
"Oh. Are you sure you're feeling up to it?"
"As you said, it's now or never."
I gave her a proud smirk and then took a deep breath and braced myself for whatever was coming. "Out we go then."
We opened Natalie's bedroom door and stepped into the bright hallway. It had been dark in her room, but now I could see how pale she looked, and her beautiful green eyes looked black with big bags under them, probably from some sleepless nights.
It had taken me a good five minutes to get Natalie out, but Eyeball was still going strong in his argument with the parents.
"Fuck, I thought my old man was an asshole," Eyeball said. "I'd take a blow to the head over being locked in a fucking cupboard any day!"
"You have the devil's mouth. And you were the reason we were forced to put her in there!" the mother argued. "She can't be trusted!"
Nat and I entered the entrance way, coming into full view of everyone. The mother gasped in horror, the father got this mean look in his eyes and Eyeball ran to Natalie's aid.
"Baby – are you OK?" he asked her, and he took her weight from me and kissed her on the forehead.
"You!" the mother pointed a bony finger at me. "I remember you! I'm sure this is all your doing! I knew from the moment I saw you that you were a scamp. A liar! A… trouble-maker! Release my daughter this instant!"
"Please!" Natalie spoke up. "Stop arguing! Mother! Cassie is far from any of those accusations. She is a beautiful person and a wonderful friend. And Eyeball – he's given me such strength. The exact strength that I will need to walk out of that door tonight. For good!"
"You are not leaving this house, child," the father stepped in. "I forbid it!"
Natalie's eyes went wide, and I saw an acute hate in them that I didn't think was possible for this gentle young lady. "I'm not a child. I'm eighteen years old!"
"We have done nothing but good for you since you were born. We were trying to protect you!"
"You were trying to protect yourselves. All you want is appear perfect, and yet you are so far from it. You never taught me love - all you did was fill my head with anger and confusion! You made me feel like I was never good enough, like I was worthless! No more. I'm leaving."
Natalie's legs were able to hold her properly now, and she began to hobble towards the door with Eyeball and I sticking close, right behind her.
"Let's see what the police have to say about this!" the mother said, right to Natalie's face as we got to her. "That rascal vandalized our property, broke into our home uninvited! That ought to see him locked up."
"If you do that, Mother, I will expose you and your wicked ways to the entire congregation. I am sure they will not agree that locking your daughter in a cupboard indefinitely with no food is the best method of 'protection'. I will make them see you for what you really are. And they will shun you. You will no longer appear perfect to anyone except maybe to yourselves. You are so blind Mother. You are mad."
The rage in the Mother's eyes was wild, and she slapped Natalie hard across the face. Natalie let out a quiet cry as it happened, but she took it and stared her mother right back in the eyes again. Eyeball squared his shoulders and looked down on the mother like he was ready to slap her back, but Natalie put a hand on his chest to calm him.
"Never return here," the mother growled.
"Why would I?"
I looked at the father and he had turned his back on us. He'd turned his back on his daughter. Nathan stared at us anxiously and was restless on his feet. He took a step forward but then stopped as if he thought better of it. I was going to ask him if he wanted to come with us – I assumed that's what it was. But I decided to keep it zipped.
The three of us stepped outside, Natalie's first step of freedom.
"Why is there toilet paper everywhere?" she asked.
