Chapter 2: Alliance

I'm not sure what sparked this conversation with Magda. I mean, we weren't close, not really. At that age a couple of years is like a lifetime, or more. Middle school, even late middle school, and high school? Worlds apart. Later it doesn't matter much, I know that now, but what kid thinks about "later"?

I'm lying. I know exactly what prompted this. I was hoping to provoke something. It started when I let slip that I knew about her and Nancy. Knew something. Magda was pissed at that, you betcha. She didn't speak to me for a week. I'd like to say I was pleased as punch with myself at getting one up on my big sister, but I wasn't. I felt more miserable than ever.

I guess that's something else that comes from being a middle child. I know I talked about how middle kids are natural watchers. They are. Middle kids are also natural peacemakers. It's not any special virtue or anything. It's fear. Fear of being caught in the middle. That's all. For me and Magda, it meant I had to do something, anything, to get things between us back to where they had been. So I ate some crow.

I found Magda in the back garden that afternoon, alone with a book she wasn't reading open in her lap.

"Magda?"

Her face was blank.

"Magda, can I talk to you?"

No answer.

"Please?"

She stared at her book for a long minute. Looked up at me. Shrugged.

"OK."

I sat down on the bench beside her. Opened my mouth to speak. Shut it. This was going to be harder than I thought. Better start simple.

"Magda, I'm sorry."

She shrugged again.

"I mean that."

I touched her shoulder and she shrugged my hand off.

"I really am sorry. I know it was wrong to watch you and Nancy."

But it was so hot.

"But it was so hot."

So hot I came twice. Oops, probably better to skip that part. Or maybe not. I needed to break this logjam somehow.

"I came twice. I know, that's probably even worse. Spying and beating off while I'm spying on you?"

Still no response from Magda, but at least she was looking at me now, even if she still had no expression.

Pathetic.

"Pathetic, right?"

Faintest twitch of Magda's lips, so quick and so small I almost missed it. Progress, of a sort.

"Magda, I don't know what else I can say. I really am sorry, and I'd like to go back to the things were, really."

I stopped for a second.

"I mean, I know we aren't best friends or anything like that, but can't we at least be friends, sort of?"

Pause. Maybe groveling would help.

"Please?"

Nothing from Magda. Crap. This wasn't going well.

"Magda, --"

I stopped when she put her hand on my shoulder. She didn't blink, but I thought I saw the beginnings of a grin. Maybe.

"Magda?"

"Shut up."

Uh oh. OK.

Magda kept up her stare as she turned slightly and leaned closer. What the hell? Is she really... ? I moistened my lips, getting ready for what I hoped was coming.

Magda slapped my face. Hard. Not as hard as she could have, perhaps, but hard enough. I started to put my hand up to my cheek and she slapped me again.

"What the f --?"

"Ssh."

Magda put her finger against my lips. In a moment she leaned closer and kissed my cheek. Put her lips to my ear.

"You deserved that."

I nodded.

Magda drew back, her serious face on, but I could see a grin trying to get through.

"David, you're a real creep."

I nodded again. It seemed the safe thing to do. Magda kissed my cheek once more.

"But you're still my brother, my little brother, even if you are a creep as well as pathetic, and I love you."

Now her grin was a mile wide. I figured I was in the clear and I started to relax.

"You like to parade around with your little weenie in the air, don't you, David?"

What the hell? I froze. Magda's grin got broader, if that was possible.

"What, you thought you were the only one who watches?"

Crap. What's this about? And what's with the weenie stuff, anyway?

Magda touched my shoulder. I was almost too shaken to see that her grin had turned a little affectionate. A little.

"It was a year or so ago. Mom and Dad were gone that afternoon and I was supposed to be over at Nancy's house."

Her grin turned a little evil. She was enjoying this.

"I was still pissed at you from that time you were spying on me and Nancy when we were camping that year. So, I thought, the kid's a horny little creep, let's go see what he does when he thinks he's alone. You didn't know that Nancy had told me to come over later than I'd told you and Mom and Dad before I left."

Magda patted my shoulder.

"I did what I knew you would have done in my place. I snuck back into the house. And what do you think I saw when I looked out the back window?"

Christ, was Magda ever milking this.

"Well, none other than my baby brother, the pathetic creep, stark naked, marching around the back yard saying something about 'the nude businessman' over and over."

Jesus. Oh god. I couldn't believe this. Even I was embarrassed to remember that, and I'd thought I was alone that afternoon. Kill me now, I thought. Just let me disappear.

"Oh, and little brother, your weenie was sticking right straight out and up. Proudly, I might even say."