Read Online Rock Springs by Richard Ford - Free Book Online Page B

tight and her nose and mouth pinched up together. She was moving her head back and forth.
    â€œWho are you?” Bobby said and smiled.
    â€œI’m the bumblebee.”
    â€œCan’t you fly?” Arlene said.
    â€œNo. My wings are much too short and I’m too fat.” Cherry opened her eyes at us suddenly.
    â€œWell, you’re in big trouble then,” Arlene said.
    â€œA turkey can go forty-five miles an hour,” Cherry said and looked shocked.
    â€œGo change your clothes,” I said.
    â€œGo ahead now, sweetheart.” Arlene smiled at her. “I’ll come help you.”
    Cherry squinted at Bobby, then went back to her room. When she opened her door I could see her aquarium in the dark against the wall, a pale green light with pink rocks and tiny dots of fish.
    Bobby ran his hands back through his hair and stared up at the ceiling. “Okay,” he said, “here’s the awful criminal now, ready for jail.” He looked at us then, and he looked wild, as wild and desperate as I have ever seen a man look. And it was not for no reason.
    â€œThat’s off the wall,” Arlene said. “That’s just completely boring. I’d never be married to a man who was a fucking criminal.” She looked at me, but Bobby looked at me too.
    â€œSomebody ought to come take her away,” Bobby said. “You know that, Russell? Just put her in a truck and take her away. She always has such a wonderful fucking outlook. Youwonder how she got in this fix here.” He looked around the little kitchen, which was shabby and white. At one time Arlene’s house had been a jewelry store, and there was a black security camera above the kitchen door, though it wasn’t connected now.
    â€œJust try to be nice, Bobby,” Arlene said.
    â€œI just oughta slap you,” Bobby said, and I could see his jaw muscles tighten, and I thought he might slap her then. In the bedroom I saw Cherry standing naked in the dark, sprinkling food in her aquarium. The light made her skin look the color of water.
    â€œTry to calm down, Bob,” I said and stayed put in my chair. “We’re all your friends.”
    â€œI don’t know why people came out here,” Bobby said. “The West is fucked up. It’s ruined. I wish somebody would take me away from here.”
    â€œSomebody’s going to, I guess,” Arlene said, and I knew she was mad at him and I didn’t blame her, though I wished she hadn’t said that.
    Bobby’s blue eyes got small, and he smiled at her in a hateful way. I could see Cherry looking in at us. She had not heard this kind of talk yet. Jail talk. Mean talk. The kind you don’t forget. “Do you think I’m jealous of you two?” Bobby said. “Is that it?”
    â€œI don’t know what you are,” Arlene said.
    â€œWell, I’m not. I’m not jealous of you two. I don’t want a kid. I don’t want a house. I don’t want anything you got. I’d rather go to Deer Lodge.” His eyes flashed out at us.
    â€œThat’s lucky, then,” Arlene said. She stubbed out her cigarette on her plate, blew smoke, then stood up to go help Cherry. “Here I am now, hon,” she said and closed the bedroom door.
    Bobby sat at the kitchen table for a while and did not say anything. I knew he was mad but that he was not mad atme. Probably, in fact, he couldn’t even think why I was the one here with him now—some manlie hardly knew, who slept with a woman he had loved all his life and, at that moment, thought he still loved, but who—among his other troubles—didn’t love him anymore. I knew he wanted to say that and a hundred things more then. But words can seem weak. And I felt sorry for him, and wanted to be as sympathetic as I could be.
    â€œI don’t like to tell people I’m divorced, Russell,” Bobby said very clearly and blinked his eyes. “Does