Polkacide Read Free

when he planned this polka party nonsense. For not
thinking of any of us who just needed to grieve without being part
of a spectacle. As usual, he hadn't been able to resist playing the
showman.
    It was something he had in
common with Eddie Kubiak, Sr. As Peg and I drew up to the edge of
the stage, Eddie Sr. cranked out a blistering accordion riff,
rocking back and forth with furious intensity. When he'd finished,
he flung his arms in the air and shouted over the roaring crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Panie i
panowie ! Let's hear it for the one and only
Polish Peg Bohachik and Lottie Kachowski!"
    Eddie Sr. took Peg's hand and pulled
her up onto the stage. Eddie Jr. did the same for me, which was the
first time we'd touched in twelve years. He let go and looked away
as soon as both of my feet were on the stage.
    "And now the moment you've all been
waiting for!" Eddie Sr. threw his arm around Peg's shoulders and
pumped his fist in the air. "It's time to experience the last big
secret surprise of the late, great Polish Lou!"

Chapter 4
     
    As I looked out over the
crowd in the banquet hall, the Furies glared back at me in disgust.
There were three of them, all dressed in black, all with raven
black hair, and they were my sisters.
    Bonnie, the oldest and
tallest, stood in the middle. Her brown eyes framed a big, angular
nose that gave her the look of a hawk. Her hair was long, draped
over her shoulders, but not nearly as long as mine.
    Charlie stood at her side.
She was shorter and rounder than any of us, with plump cheeks and
dark blue eyes. Her hair was cut in a kind of dowdy helmet 'do that
made her look older than she was, older than any of us.
    Then there was Ellie, the
youngest. She looked like an anorexic teen, all skin and bones and
giant blue eyes so pale they were almost white. Those eyes peering
out from her shag haircut with the spiky bangs looked perpetually
challenging, always ready to go off.
    Which, actually, described her personality.
All three of the
Furies' personalities.
    Boy did they have capital
"T" tempers. They were always, always fighting with each other,
shifting alliances, holding grudges on top of grudges.
    But today, for once, they
were united against a common object of resentment. Me , in other words. I had
the honor of having brought them together in harmony. I could see
it in their body language as they all clustered together and stared
up at me through slitted eyes. I could feel it in the air, and I
could guess what had brought it on.
    They were mad that I was the
only sister called up on stage. It didn't matter that I
didn't want to be
there; I knew my sisters, and I knew this was eating them
alive.
    It was just the latest in a
series of injustices. First, I'd gone off to Los Angeles while
they'd all stayed in town and given birth to the ADHD Dozen. Then,
I'd gotten engaged, while the best they'd been able to manage was a
string of deadbeat baby daddies. Now this.
    I knew I'd pay for it later,
but I chose to ignore them for now. Basil Sloveski was waving a
number ten white business envelope over his giant silver
pompadour.
    "All right, folks!" The
corners of Basil's eyes crinkled as he grinned. Up close, I could
see his whole overtanned face was a web of fine lines. "Without
further ado!"
    The crowd roared (except for
the Furies, who just rolled their eyes) and pumped beers in the
air. The ADHD Dozen squirmed their way up front and lined up along
the stage, screeching and dancing like idiots.
    "How about a drum roll,
guys?" When Basil said it, Eddie Sr.'s ancient drummer hopped up on
the stage, raised his bony arms in a weight-lifter's pose with
fists curled toward his shaggy white head, and dropped down on the
squeaky red stool behind his drum kit.
    As the drum roll started,
Basil slid a fingernail under the corner of the envelope flap, then
dragged his nail along the length of the flap, tearing it open with
a ripping sound.
    My heart pounded, and I held
my breath. As badly as I didn't want to be