Tabbs

Chapter 5

Tabbs pulled up to eighty-seven Riverside Drive. A modest, two-story, powder blue house with a trellis layered in creeping vines and budding roses along one side, and a sprawling garden out front overflowing with a strikingly blue flower Tabbs didn't recognize. The picturesque view, however, was sullied by the gathering cloud of black smoke billowing from her car's repeated backfiring. The old reliable Saturn Ion choked and trembled as Tabbs willed the car to roll up the moderately steep driveway to join the other car in the drive, but after a flurry of cursing and spitting from both driver and car, Tabbs decided parking street side was good enough and got out of the car. Slamming the door in her wake, she fumbled with her car key to lock the door behind her when she caught sight of the neighborhood. The long, humble road of Riverside Drive was cracked and split in places by the strong roots of the old oaks lining either side. Beyond were similarly aged houses and none were identical to another. Some were tall and narrow with vibrant, colorful siding, while others were stout and comprised of bright red brick. The house next door was an impressive two-story with tall, old-fashioned windows that had a wrap-around porch littered with children's toys and bikes. In its front yard Tabbs spotted a kid playing fetch with a huge dog, and the faint smell of barbecue tickled her nose. Tabbs found herself looking a moment too long when the kid caught her eye, smiled and waved, just before being tackled by the massive golden retriever. She felt the corner of her mouth twitch before clipping the heavy set of keys to a belt loop and walking up the steep path.

She laid one foot on the wooden stairs leading up to the porch and felt every muscle in her leg and back cry with pain. She suddenly felt completely exhausted and was ready to sit down and give up, right then and there. She clutched the wooden side rail of the shallow stairs and glanced at the white Honda Civic that sat in the driveway, her sister's. She drew in a deep breath, clapped off the chipping white paint that stuck to her hand from the rail and willed one popping leg after another in front of her till she was facing the front door.

Before she gave herself the chance to think a way out of it, she balled a fist and pounded on the glass screen door. After a moment, Tabbs heard the slide of a well oiled deadbolt and was greeted by her sister's haggard face. Her hair in its usual tight bun, her cracked unpainted lips and eyes were drawn to straight, accusatory lines.

"You're late." Gen shoved open the door, nearly cracking Tabbs' jaw, and didn't wait for her before walking back inside.

"Slept past my alarm. Sorry." Tabb's let the glass door slam behind her before gently pressing the front door closed.

"Be sure to lock the front door. And try not to slam that screen door anymore would you? If it breaks we have to pay for it."

"Lock it? Aren't we going to be going in and out?"

"Just do it." Her sister paused. "Please." Tabbs nodded softly and ran the deadbolt home.

Tabbs turned to face her grandmother's brightly lit living room. It had been almost a year since she had last visited, yet not a thing seemed out of place. Above a humble fireplace sat a framed painting of a harbor filled with tall ships. All the sails in the forest of masts were drawn shut with the exception of one small ship. Its funny-looking, tilted, crisp white sail was lowered and filled with blowing wind. A rising sun illuminated the sail, making it look almost like a holy relic. A single man in an blue pea-coat stood on the front of the ship. His booted leg was propped up on the rail, his chest puffed out in a heroic pose with a tiny, silvery spy-glass curled in one fist. He looked a little like her dad if he replaced the pea-coat with an olive jacket and a set of military fatigues.

Surrounding the painting on either side were at least a couple dozen photos of family throughout the years. A couple of her cousins that she had maybe only ever met once or twice, several of her and Gramps, and the rest were of herself and her sister growing up. Tabbs spotted several old school photos of herself back in elementary school hung on the wall. One particularly cringey one featuring a bowl cut, long, frilly, pink dress, and a bright, giggling smile with two missing front teeth. She remembered how embarrassed she had been that particular day. She had lost the baby teeth only the night before and Helen had forced her into the dumb dress. She was so embarrassed that she had tried to fake sick and stay home that day, but her mom wouldn't have it. When it was finally her turn for her photo, she remembered standing rigid, face looking as if chiseled from rock, trying to really drive home her disdain by not giving her mother the satisfaction of a happy photo. But then Grammy unexpectedly showed up. Popping up without explanation behind the camera guy, she had brought two handmade puppets with her and put on a little show that made her giggle to no end.