Victor LaValle - Ecstatic

— Samarra Kroon you stop that screaming!

Sam ate a handful of the purple candy then opened her mouth to show the science fomenting.

— You put all that in your mouth at once? Nabisase asked. She knelt between the girl and me, but the kid could not be mesmerized by kindness. It was with me that Sam spoke. — You know which finger this is?

— Do you? I asked back.

She shyly peeked at her mother then turned to Nabisase, who was tapping a turtle tank to get the conversation away from me.

— That’s the longest finger, I answered for her.

Sam grinned widely. — Nah-uh. That’s not the word.

— You tell me what it is then, I dared.

— It’s the fuck-you finger, she whispered.

— You saying that to me? I asked.

Sam laughed.

Nabisase did not. — Let’s go. Anthony.

— No, I said to Samarra Kroon loudly. Fuck you.

Then here the girl’s mother came. A blue flame surrounded her.

— You get back! she screamed. I don’t give a damn, you get back from my daughter!

Little Samarra began to cry. The store owner reached under the counter while her husband came out from a closed office door. My sister could have helped by explaining that I always joke around with kids, but the only thing my sister did was step away. I had to run outside by myself and wait for her around the corner.

Outside the movies I fumed. I also panted. We walked fast from the lizard store to here. I was afraid Sam’s mother would be looking for me.

— I really thought you’d help me, I said again.

Nabisase wouldn’t discuss this anymore. I stood behind her, in line to enter Sunrise Cinemas Multiplex, pressing my thumb into her back. Either I’d annoy her or she’d answer me, but I wouldn’t be ignored. Getting into the movies was a slow process ever since they’d put up metal detectors. My sister wouldn’t look at me like I wanted her to.

— Which movie do you want to see? I asked.

She was distracted, holding a small cork to her nose. I was too annoyed to take notice.

— Why did you come with me if you’re not going to talk!

When she heard my voice raise she turned to me. — Whatever you want to see.

Then she looked around or through me again, sniffing the little stopper with her back to me.

— What is it? I asked while the ticket line stalled ahead of us.

— Uncle Allen sent it to me, she said. It was in my award envelope, but I don’t know why. It has a funny smell.

She gave it to me. A move so casual that she must have really wanted an answer and hoped I could provide it. If she hadn’t wanted my help she wouldn’t have explained anything to me.

Even after holding it under my nose a full minute I didn’t recognize the scent, so I put the top in my mouth.

— Oh Anthony, my sister said.

— It’s spicy and sweet at the same time. Paprika and peppermint.

— You’ve had it before? She seemed encouraged.

— Never have, I lied.

It was a soggy cork now. I held it out to her. — Can I keep it?

She shrugged — You act like it’s a Christmas card.

The film was being shown in the smallest theater to the far, far left. I walked behind my sister. I passed the concession stand so easily that everyone at Halfway House would have applauded. The only sign that I noticed the snacks was a sheen of sweat on my upper lip as we went by.

I had trouble with the chair. They’re only cut to accommodate so much. My body was pinched. I strained to get myself in. I yelped a few times in the process.

— Please, Nabisase said quietly. Can’t you just try to relax.

— The seat’s too small and I’m too big, but forget that. I want to talk about what a girl like you should know.

But she was easily distracted, by couples, a family, a strong breeze, anything that came through those doors. Anyone besides me. Faint tunes played through the room’s speakers and the lights were up.

— Do you know about Toxic Shock Syndrome? I asked.

The previews began so the room was only half as bright as before. We were still visible. I saw her rub her forehead. — Anthony, please.

— Toxic Shock Syndrome, I said loud. No one hushed us; we were in the right theater for conversations. There were other couples talking nearby.

— I found this when I was cleaning out Mom’s room.

It was the instructions from a box of Playtex tampons. Along with TSS, it described how to insert one.

To her credit, my sister acted maturely. She stood up. She walked away.

She sat a few rows down and on the opposite side of the aisle. I saw her slip into an empty seat. I sank lower in my own, feeling defeated. I took the cork out and tasted that night in Miser’s Wend, Virginia. Uncle Arms, we’re even.

Behind me. The theater doors opened. Both of them. Letting in light so I looked back. Annoyed enough right then that I might even pick a fight. And it was him. Ledric Mayo. Standing at the door.

He started to walk along, leading with his strawberry-shaped nose. As if he was sniffing out my sister.

I’d thought he was going to be discharged tomorrow, but he was at the movies with us on Saturday afternoon. He hadn’t even dressed well. The guy was in his hospital gown. His front was covered, but it couldn’t be tied, so the back was open to discovery.

He walked slowly because there was an IV in his arm and no one else in the movies noticed him. The IV was on a drip so Ledric was dragging it along beside him. A dirigible of a man pulling a long thin silver pole down the middle of a movie theater.

Ledric passed me and sat next to her. Nabisase acted so happy that it was like she’d expected him. He stuck one fat foot into the walkway.

The screen blew on, kindling our faces. A bonfire.

I leaned far back enough in my chair that I felt like I was falling. This made a terrible creaking noise in the theater. When I popped back up I tried to find my sister and him again.

There they were.

No.

There.

His arm already over her, her right hand on his lap.

She squeezed his thigh.

I wished I’d sat farther back.

I tried to leave, but had wedged so hard into the seat that I’d need a little help to get up.

So I stayed.

I tried to watch the film.

When I looked at my sister again she had less of her left hand out. It was in his pants. Through the zipper. Rummaging as though untangling a wire.

He dipped his head to try and kiss her, but her face was still down, watching to make sure she didn’t fumble. Also his stomach made it hard for him to move around.

The screen seemed brighter because the music soundtrack was so loud.

Oh, what was that?

Was it out?

Why did my sister stroke it?

She bent his penis like a plastic straw and lucky for him it was still soft enough to twist.

Nabisase tried more. She did better. The screen lit them like I wished it wouldn’t.

He leaned back.

There’s never a good day to see your sister suck a dick.

I leaned forward less to vomit than to breathe. I couldn’t look away. The dark silhouette of Nabisase’s head moved slowly. Then Ledric pushed his toes forward and backward like he was pedaling a bicycle.

The more his leg kicked, the bigger his belly became. It grew to the size of a weather balloon, but neither of them floated. I couldn’t see much of my sister’s head after a point, just his inflatable belly swaying.

I wanted to tell her don’t be like that. Don’t be so nasty. Goodness Girl.

It was Saturday, November 25th, 5:00 PM. That’s the first time I was ever thrown out of a movie. Because I wanted my sister to stop slurping I raised a ruckus, nearly broke the noisy chair.

Leaning forward and back, once and again, hoping the squeaks would distract my sister, but it didn’t. She kept going. Ledric too. They were the only ones in the room not mad at me.