Strangely Normal Read Free Page B

arm harder and sniffled again. Janie twisted around in her lap and pressed her tiny finger against Mom’s red nose.
    “Mommy is Rudolph.”
    We burst out laughing and a tickle fight ensued. As usual, the Saxon family luck had gone sour. My college dreams had been temporarily washed away by the morning’s tsunami of shitty events, and I was going to miss out on my high school graduation. We had a yellow-stained apartment, bare cupboards, and a family car that was ready for the junkyard, but we had each other and that was all we needed.
     

 
    Chapter 3
    “Are you shitting me? Nicky King. Nicky fucking King,” Dad said for the thousandth time as he paced around our small front room.
    Mom and I watched in total amusement as he walked into the bedroom and returned with his small CD player and a Black Thunder CD in his hand.
    “Not too loud, Jack. The girls are sleeping.” Mom reached across the table and took hold of my hand. “But you’ll be living with strangers all summer.” While Dad was ready to ship me off tomorrow, Mom had not yet come to grips with the idea.
    “Nicky King is not a stranger.” Dad pushed play and his favorite song fired up. He turned down the volume and joined us at the table. “He’s Nicky King, one of the greatest rock singers of all time.”
    “Do you know him personally?” Mom asked.
    Dad pressed his hand to his chest dramatically. “Yes, Woman, I do. Right here in my heart and soul.”
    “I’m surprised you don’t have his name tattooed on your ass,” I said.
    “How do you know I don’t? Have you ever seen my ass?”
    “Yes, unfortunately there was the dropped towel incident four years ago that I still haven’t recuperated from.”
    “Oh yeah, sorry about that.” He leaned back in the chair and dragged his fingers through his hair. “Nicky King,” he muttered again.
    Mom looked at him disgustedly. “You don’t even say my name with that much admiration.”
    Dad leaned forward, took hold of her chin, and kissed her. “Rebecca.” He pronounced her name with deliberate slowness.
    “Please, Dad, we eat on this table. And I haven’t actually decided to do it yet. I mean, Mom’s right. I’d be in a strange house with people I don’t know.”
    “Where exactly do they live?” Mom asked.
    “Beverly Hills, of course,” Dad said. “I’ve driven by his estate. It’s outrageous.”
    Mom and I looked at him with raised brows.
    “What?” he said. “So I’ve driven by a few times. I was just curious.”
    I sat forward with wide eyes. “Oh my God, you’ve been stalking Nicky King.”
    “Driving by is not stalking.”
    “Yes, Jack, it sort of is.”
    “I remember the time when he settled down to marry . . . a few times. And I know he had kids.” Dad rubbed the stubble on his chin in thought. “I think there was a tragedy too. One of his kids died really young. Can’t remember the details.” Dad bounced back to the present. “So what do you think, Edie? Are you going to take the job?”
    “I guess Beverly Hills isn’t too far. I could take the bus home on the weekends. I think I’ll call Mrs. Vickers tomorrow and find out a few more details.”
    Dad slammed his hand on the table enthusiastically. “Good idea.”
    ***
    “Hello, Mrs. Vickers, it’s Eden Saxon.”
    Dad pulled up a chair at the table to listen in on the conversation but I waved him away.
    “Eden, I’m so glad you called. I was hoping you would.” Silent pause. “How are you feeling?” she asked sympathetically as if I’d left the school in an ambulance rather than on suspension.
    “I’m fine. I was wondering about that job working for your cousin.”
    “Yes, of course. I think it would be a great situation for both you and my niece. A month ago, my cousin, Nicky, asked if I knew of a girl who might be a fitting summer companion for his daughter, Finley. I drew up a list of names, and I must say, you were on the top of that list. The job pays three thousand a month plus all expenses