9781988256184-epub2 Read online

  16

  Rotten Unveiled

  “RUBY—COME HE-AH!”

  Sophie is in her most dramatic outfit: a long velvet skirt with bare patches here and there, a gypsy shawl, and a Billie Holiday gardenia behind her ear. “Look at you!” She kisses me on both cheeks like they do in French movies and then holds my arms, peering at me like a duchess.

  The more I try to get away the tighter she clutches me. “Soph,” I whisper. “You’re squeezing me to pieces.”

  Sophie relaxes her grip and then, just when I think it’s over, I’m surrounded. Blu rushes out, followed by Gordy and Sky, who is holding a small silver box.

  “Happy birthday, Ruby.” Sky hands me the box and picks up my suitcase. Then Elena and Mr. Sorocco are coming toward me, and I draw in my breath. “Happy birthday, honey,” Mr. Sorocco says, holding out his hand. When I take it, he circles my wrist with his thumb and forefinger. “Look what they did to her. Skin and bone. You see that?” He shakes his head at Sky and Blu.

  I try to look as pathetic as I can, fluttering my eyes so I seem frail and weak. But when Mr. Sorocco turns away, Sophie whispers, “He’s not going to make you pay for anything. Don’t worry.”

  “Really?” I ask.

  Sophie cups her hands around my ear and whispers into it. “Elena ran into your mom, who told her what happened to you. When Elena told her parents, they felt really bad and said if you do come back, they wouldn’t charge you for the bottle.”

  “Does my mom know?”

  “Not sure,” Sophie whispers, and I think, “Why shouldn’t Nell-mom know? Everyone else does.” That makes me feel almost as woozy as I did the first day of my hunger strike.

  “She’s really pale,” Blu says. “Let’s get her inside.”

  I’m not sure what happened next, or how I got into the restaurant. I think they carried me, because I don’t remember walking, but pretty soon there’s a bowl of soup in front of me and Nell-mom is at the table, lifting the spoon to my mouth and feeding me like a baby. The soup is some kind of minestrone and I suck up all of it, barely pausing to breathe. As soon as I finish, Elena pours me some more and Mrs. Sorocco comes out of the freezer to ask if “I like.”

  “Of course she likes it, Ma,” Elena tells her. Mrs. Sorocco seems like she’s about to go back into the freezer again, but her husband tells her it’s time to eat. “Why’s she in the freezer so much?” I whisper to Sophie. She tries to ask her mom but all we get is “You’ll understand when you’re older.” Then Blu smiles and mumbles something about “the change” women go through, how it makes them hotter than Hades. I’m about to ask what that means when Ray walks in with Les and Bo. And even though I barely look at my brother most of the time, for some reason I can’t stop looking at him and he can’t stop looking at me.

  He leans over the table and Nell gets up to let him sit down, but I jump all over him instead. I don’t even care that everyone’s watching us. When he finally does talk, he says the same thing as Nell-mom: “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” I say. “Hungry.”

  This seems to make everybody laugh until Ray looks over at Mr. Sorocco, and says, “Not funny.” Then everyone gets quiet again. It’s just that way with me and Ray. I get mad at him when he’s not around because he always seems to avoid the cruddy stuff, while I seem to run right smack into it. But when we’re together he always does something that makes me like him again—like knowing that a hunger strike’s no joke.

  “Where’s Jo-Jo?” Nell-mom asks, changing the subject like she always does when she thinks something might be upsetting my brother. I have to give it to her—she’s always been cross-eyed crazy about Ray. I don’t really care because I think that’s how Gary Daddy-o is about me. But it’s funny to see how protective Nell-mom can be with the Ray-boy.

  “Jo-Jo’s out with friends tonight,” he says. Jo-Jo is Ray’s girlfriend and does her best to make sure we all know it. She’s Chinese and can recite the Pledge of Allegiance backward. For some reason, everyone thinks this is a big deal.

  “Okay,” Nell-mom says as my brother shrugs. “Did you have a fight?”

  “No,” Ray says, and I have to stop myself from turning to Sophie and rolling my eyes.

  “Well, it’s odd she wouldn’t come for Ruby’s birthday dinner. Don’t you think?” Nell-mom asks. What is wrong with her? What do I care whether Jo-Jo’s here or not?

  “Where is Gary Daddy-o?” I ask. Isn’t that more important?

  Nell-mom looks at Ray but he’s looking at Sky, who’s looking at me until I catch him at it. I turn to Ray again.

  “When’s he coming?” I say.

  “HERE VE GO!” Mrs. Sorocco sweeps into the room with a huge tray of lasagna. “You eat now, see Daddy later.” She sets it down right in front of me and if I wasn’t in a roomful of people I’d want to dive into it headfirst, like you do in a swimming pool. There’s garlic bread, sausage, fancy mashed potatoes, and something called antipasto, which is a sort of appetizer with olives, pepperoni, and cheese. I haven’t seen this much food in—have I ever seen this much? Just for me?

  “It doesn’t get any better than this,” Bo says, but I’m chowing down too fast to answer and it seems like everyone else is, too. Then Gordy shoots his napkin at me in the shape of an airplane. “Come up for air!”

  We all laugh, including me.

  “Hey,” Gordy says. “You know that test you’re supposed to take?”

  “Shhh. You want to ruin her birthday?” Sophie scowls.

  “Well, we have to take it, too,” Gordy says.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, that social worker says so.”

  “I was hoping she wouldn’t find out about you.”

  “Well, she did,” says Sophie. “And I don’t think I’m going to pass.”

  “You can probably do the English part,” I say, but Sophie shakes her head.

  “I can maybe do the math,” Gordy says.

  I’ve never seen a number Gordy doesn’t like, so it’s weird to hear him say maybe.

  “You guys do what you can,” Sky tells him. “Worst that can happen is you go to school.”

  Gordy nods and in a minute, the table starts moving. I know it’s because he’s shaking his knee up and down, which is what he does whenever he’s nervous. Sophie once said she was glad we weren’t in a real school because Gordy’s so thin and smart, he’d get a lot of teasing. He’s also short, which can’t be good in a schoolyard full of bullies.

  I look down at my plate, pushing some lasagna onto the bread. I’m starting to feel guilty all over again, since no one would be taking this test if I hadn’t messed up at the fruit store.

  “Hey, Ruby,” says Sophie. “Open your presents.” She picks up the silver box from Sky.

  I peel back the wrapping slowly and when I open the box, Nell-mom gasps and I nearly fall over. Two gold hoopy earrings, as big as the moon, lie on the white cotton inside the box.

  “Put them on, Ruby!” Sophie calls out, and Nell-mom pushes back my hair and helps me fit them into my ears. Then Ray gives me a new notebook, and Sophie and Gordy give me their present, which is almost as good as the earrings—a new leotard, and it’s red. Not bright red, more like a burgundy, which isn’t the one I was saving for. But now that I see it up close, I like it better—and Nell-mom says it will really set off my hair.

  “Can I try it on?” I ask her.

  “Why don’t you wait till we finish with the presents?” she says. I get a jar of candy from Elena and then I open Nell-mom’s present. It’s three kinds of nail polish—black, orange, and a burgundy that matches the leotard.

  “Hey, thank you,” I say, and she smiles. I think maybe she’s getting over whatever bugged her in the cab. I look straight at her, smiling back.

  “From me you get a free ride,” says Mr. Sorocco while his wife says, “Shush!” and frowns.


  “What?” he says. “That’s a good present. She don’t have to work.”

  “Angelo!” says Mrs. Sorocco, shooing him into the kitchen while Elena tries not to laugh.

  “I can polish your nails if you want,” Elena says.

  “Okay.” I push away my plate. It seems like the perfect birthday but Gary Daddy-o’s still not here.

  “Are you sure he got back from Philly?” I ask Nell-mom.

  “Who?”

  “What do you mean who? Gary Daddy-o.”

  Nell-mom starts combing her hair with her hands, and I can see little beads of sweat on her forehead and neck. The room goes quiet except for Sky, who is clearing his throat.

  “Nell-mom?”

  She looks so weird I turn to Sophie. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m not . . . sure,” she says, and then I get that butterfly feeling in my stomach—again.

  “Where’s my dad?” I say. “Where is he?”

  Nell-mom finally looks at me. “Ruby. Listen.”

  I wait, but she doesn’t say any more.

  “What’s going on?”

  “He was in Philadelphia—”

  “Is he okay? WHERE IS HE?”

  “I just—” Nell-mom stops, looking at Sophie’s mother.

  “Will someone TELL me what’s going on?”

  “Come outside with me, Ruby—”

  “I don’t want to come outside.”

  “Come out and I’ll tell you—”

  “I thought you’re getting married.”

  “I am.”

  “So what are you waiting for, the moon?”

  “Ruby. Don’t be fresh with me.” I look around the room, bewildered. Everyone’s staring straight ahead or at the floor.

  “Where is Gary Daddy-o? Why isn’t he here?” I try to keep my voice from shaking but I can’t.

  “He’s at home.”

  “Is he mad at me?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Then—”

  “I have to get married, Ruby,” says Nell-mom.

  “I know,” I say. “But I don’t understand.” Are we both going crazy?

  Nell-mom starts twisting her hair and then stops.

  “So,” she says.

  “So, you are getting married. Right?”

  “Right,” Nell-mom says. “Just not to . . . well . . . your dad.”

  17

  Daddy-o’s Here

  OUT OF SOROCCO’S, past the laundry, past all the cafés and bars and stores and guys in black T-shirts trying to get girls to look at them; past an accordion player on a unicycle, three jugglers with tennis balls, and the music store with the tenor saxophone in the window Ray would kill for. I don’t stop running until I see the awning at 96 Perry and hit the door. It’s locked and I left my key here when Levitt took me to the children’s home.

  I ring the bell for what seems like forever. When no one answers, I start ringing all the bells until someone buzzes me inside. Our apartment is on the first floor behind the stairwell and I have to push away three empty boxes to get to the door.

  “GARY DADDY-O,” I call.

  I hit the door as hard as I can but he won’t open it. Is he even home? There are no lights on inside. I sink down, leaning against the door as I lower myself to the floor. I’ll sit here until doomsday if I have to. I’m about to start banging again when the door opens. I turn to look up but Gary Daddy-o is already moving backward into the apartment. He doesn’t even say hello.

  “Dad—Gary Daddy-o?” I walk into the dark hall, which feels hot and stuffy. “Daddy, I’m sorry. Where are you?”

  He doesn’t answer me. Someone else is coming inside the apartment; it’s Ray, who must have followed me. He almost tiptoes, like he’s walking on eggs. It’s very quiet in here. In fact, it’s the quietest I’ve ever heard. Gary Daddy-o is standing at the living room window, looking out at the street. He hasn’t shaved in days and it doesn’t seem like he’s sleeping much. We stand there for a minute, watching each other.

  “Gary Daddy-o?” I say. “It’s my birthday tomorrow.”

  He doesn’t answer so I try again.

  “Do you hear me? I’ll be twelve. On April twelfth. Know what that means?”

  “Happy birthday.” His voice sounds old.

  There’s a bottle of Jim Beam on the windowsill.

  “When did you get back from Philly?”

  “Yes-day.”

  “What?”

  “Day ago.”

  He picks up the bottle of Jim Beam and drinks. It’s a long drink, more of a chug, really. Then he finally puts it down.

  “Nell-mom says she called you—”

  “She did.”

  “So didn’t you ask—”

  “Ruby.” Ray is tugging at my arm. “He’s not gonna talk.”

  “Not to you maybe. He’ll talk to me.”

  “I’ve been trying—” says Ray.

  “Gary Daddy-o!” I take his hand but the fingers are cold and damp. He reaches for the bottle again but I grab it first.

  “Ruby—”

  “No.”

  “Gimme that—”

  “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

  “Nothin’.”

  “What?”

  “I just said, there is nothin’ goin’ on.” Gary Daddy-o moves away from the window to sit on the couch. The cream-colored shawl falls onto his shoulder, but he doesn’t touch it or even seem to notice.

  “She called me in Philly,” Gary Daddy-o says.

  “Said we had to get married right away. I asked if we could talk about it when I got home. Couldn’t hear in the hotel room.”

  “That’s not exactly right,” says Nell-mom. We must have left the door open because I didn’t hear her come in.

  “Why don’t you tell them what really happened?” she says.

  He shakes his head. “Babe—”

  “He was in a hotel room with some chippie,” Nell-mom says. “He could barely talk—”

  “Hey.” Gary Daddy-o looks up.

  “Says, ‘Babe, can’t you take care of it?’ And I said we have to get married right away. But he hung up on me. Or someone else did.”

  “I wasn’t with anyone—” Gary Daddy-o says.

  “Oh, please.”

  “You’re WRONG.” His voice rises.

  “You are wrong!” I repeat. “You shouldn’t be saying that.”

  “It’s none of your business, Ruby!” Nell-mom yells. “It’s just not.”

  “It is too—”

  “Ruby,” says Ray. “Can you let her talk?”

  I wheel around to face him. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You got off scot-free.”

  “Look,” says Ray. “Nell-mom found me at Blue Skies and said to stay at Les and Bo’s for a while. She told Levitt I was touring with my dad.”

  “I know, I heard,” I say, setting the bottle of Jim Beam on the coffee table. “But if Nell-mom isn’t getting married to Gary Daddy-o, then who?”

  “Chaz,” says Gary Daddy-o.

  I look at Nell-mom. “You mean the guy who owns the gallery on Charles Street? The one you were painting when I came over with the social worker?”

  As soon as I say this, Gary Daddy-o fixes his eyes on Nell-mom. That’s how I know it’s true.

  I glare at her. “That guy is old. Stupid. And disgusting.”

  “Ruby—”

  “Don’t tell me you want to be with Chaz. You love Gary Daddy-o!”

  “He’s the one who’s married,” says Nell-mom. “Not me.”

  “What? What are you talking about?”

  “You want to tell her?” says Nell-mom. Gary Daddy-o picks up the bottle again and chu
gs.

  “Tell me what?”

  No one says anything.

  “WHAT?” I say again.

  “Your dad was married a long time ago,” says Nell-mom. “He got someone pregnant in high school and had to marry her.”

  I look at Ray, who is looking at the floor. “What’s going on?” I say. “Did you know this?”

  “They lost the baby and split up but never divorced,” Nell-mom says. “Your dad said he never wanted to do that again—”

  “I said I never wanted to make that mistake again,” Gary Daddy-o says.

  “I’m NOT a mistake,” says Nell-mom. “And neither are your children.”

  “I didn’t say that—”

  “Now you know, Ruby. Okay?” Nell-mom’s face is getting blotchy like it usually does when she’s angry. Watching her now makes me think of the day Levitt came to our apartment.

  This is your father’s fault. All of it!

  So she’s been angry for a while.

  “Wait—” I say. But Nell-mom is already walking out the door.

  I turn to Gary Daddy-o. “You can’t let her go like that.”

  “We have no choice,” says Ray.

  “Are you kidding?”

  “Ruby—”

  “WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOU?” I know I’m screaming but can’t help it.

  Ray gets up and walks into the kitchen. He hates fighting as much as Gary Daddy-o, but I’m not letting him off the hook.

  “You’re just going to let her do this to us?”

  “She’s doing it for us, not to us,” Ray says. He leans over the sink with his back to me and turns on the water.

  “Is that what you think?”

  Ray puts his finger in the water, not answering. I look down at the sink and realize it’s the cleanest I’ve ever seen it—no dishes, cups, forks, or saucers. In fact the whole apartment is clean, or at least, the clutter’s gone. But where is it?

  I dash into the living room again and reach for a lamp, but it’s not there. Neither is the table it sits on, or the clock or bookshelf. I turn on the closet light to see what’s left in here. All I see are the couch and coffee table and a few cockroaches scurrying under the wall.

  I go back to the kitchen. At least the breakfast table and chairs are still here. Ray is still playing with the tap water with his back to me. I go back to my room, pushing the door open. The bed and dresser are gone! I jump into Ray’s room and see his bed. What gives?