Although female hummingbirds are one of the few species where the female is as colorful as the male, this does little to affect predation; Their swift, zigzagging flight and relatively small size works as their main defense against their showy plumage and the noise cause by their wing movement.
+++++++++++++
Sunday brought the first of May. It also brought the familiar whirring sound of hummingbirds outside Portia’s window. She tiptoed to the window and carefully opened the sash.
The hummingbirds flitted back and forth as Portia checked the water levels on the feeder. The birds were used to Portia’s constant attention and fond of the mix of honeyed water and fruit juice Portia supplied for them.
“Close the shade,” grumbled Phoebe, “you’re letting in all the light.”
“It’s almost noon.”
“I’m tired.”
“You’re hung over,” snapped Portia, “When did you get home?”
“Does it matter? Close the shades.”
“Just get up,”
“Come on already, I gotta sleep.”
Portia closed the sash and pulled down the shade before going downstairs. Her father was watching television.
“Hey, how are you doing?”
“Not that good,” said Phoebe.
Portia continued to the kitchen and fixed a bowl of oatmeal. She took it downstairs. Alex watched television while Penny slept. Portia sat next to him.
“How you feeling?”
Portia sighed.
“What?”
“It’s all anyone can say to me.”
“We’re just worried about you.”
“I know.”
Alex hugged her gently while she ate. She glanced at him, smiled, and returned to her oatmeal. They spent the entire afternoon together, watching a replay of Saturday night’s boxing match. Alex watched it the night before while he was at the bar with friends. He always did that – watched boxing matches he’d already seen. Sometimes he’d watch one boxing match a few dozen times. Portia didn’t like boxing and although it was the last thing she wanted to do, It didn’t matter. At least she was with her brother.
“Can you do me a favor, sis?”
“You name it.”
“Can you go with me to the medical clinic tomorrow when they remove my cast?”
“I work after school.”
“This is in the afternoon.”
“I have school.”
“You’ve skipped so much school lately, what’s one more day?”
“Alright, but just because it’s you.”
Portia finished her oatmeal and took the empty bowl upstairs. Mrs. Gatteau joined Mr. Gatteau on the couch. Phoebe was curled in the recliner. Before Portia could return to the safety of the basement, her mother stopped her.
“So,” said Mrs. Gatteau, “Second place.”
“Yes…second place.”
“When was the last time your choir finished second?”
Portia clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Then, she quietly proceeded downstairs. She flopped on the couch next to Alex, gritting her teeth and clenching her hands.
“Mom?”
“Of course.”
“Be a duck and just let it roll off your back.”
“Argh, she knows just how to push my buttons.”
“Let it roll on down.”
Alex swooped his hand in a curling wave motion. It made Portia laugh. She copied him mockingly.
“Let it roll on down? Like this?”
“More like this.” He swooped his hand lower and slower.
And…whenever mom or Phoebe got on Portia’s nerves, she knew she could always rely on Alex to pull her out of it. She stayed downstairs until the next morning, when Alex took her to school.
“Have a good day, alright?”
Portia nodded. She swooped her hand, slow and low. Alex nodded and Portia kissed him on the cheek and went to class.
Portia heard every whisper from every corner of every mouth. She was the one who lost the states. She went to Chorus and sat near her spot on the bleachers. The kids in Chorus didn’t whisper, they just glanced at Portia as if she was the cat who ate the canary.
The first bell rang, Mr. Tanner’s office door opened, and the ensemble rose to their feet.
“Sit down. Everyone sit down.”
Mr. Tanner scooted a chair across the floor and placed it where Portia, Phoebe, and Sophie had taken turns standing since the school year began. He straggled the back of the chair, like some teenage boy talking to the girl behind him in class. It should’ve looked funny – a grown man in a beige polyester suit, talking to his students while leaning on the back of a school chair. In this case, it was the perfect place to be.
“Listen, we hit a rough spot over the weekend, but we cannot let it get us down. These things happen.”
“I thought we were perfect,” said Sophie.
One of Phoebe’s friends imitated a choking sound. Phoebe and her friends snickered. Mr. Tanner ignored them.
“I thought so, too,” said Mr. Tanner, “but the whole thing was my fault. I got a copy of the score sheet before we left. Every judge but one gave us perfect marks.”
“What did the other judge say?” asked Phoebe.
“He said that our musical pieces were too light, especially ‘I Am What I Am’ and that ‘this is a state competition, not a lounge act.’”
The students booed and muttered. Of course, Phoebe spoke out.
“That’s not a lounge song. It’s a jazz standard. I heard all kinds of groups singing all kinds of songs.”
“Judges can be like that, Phoebe.”
“That’s complete bullshit..”
A collective gasp came from the group.
“Phoebe, in my office! Now!”
Mr. Tanner walked across the floor in long, quick strides as Phoebe casually tagged along behind. He closed the door behind her and drew the curtain shut.
“Phoebe, you are absolutely driving me nuts.”
“You know it’s bullshit, Mr. Tanner.”
“Oh, come on, Phoebe. If you really want to go to Altoona this summer, I can’t have these kinds of outbursts. I can’t have them at school events. I can’t have them on school grounds, and I certainly can’t have them in my class. First off, you’re right. The judging was complete cow nuggets. I agree with you…”
“It’s unfair,” said Phoebe.
“But…there is a time and place for everything and that wasn’t the time nor the place. There has to be a filter on your conversations.”
“Okay, Mr. Tanner.”
“Not one more peep. You have to be a straight arrow. Graduation is only thirty days away and a good part of that is exams and graduations.”
“Okay…”
“I’m not going to tell Mr. Coffman or Ms. Palmer about this – I don’t even want you gossiping about our deal, okay? I do want to hear you sing in Altoona, but it’s a two-way street.”
Phoebe remained perfectly quiet as they returned to the classroom. Mr. Tanner decided to change gears, so he got behind the piano and led the Chorus in a laundry list of songs – just enough to get him through to the class bell.
Although Phoebe’s lips were sealed, the rest of the class gossiped. Portia was glad for that. It took the focus off her. Now, all she had to do was make it to lunch. Mr. Coffman caught her in the hallway just before lunch.
“Portia, can I see you in my office?”
“I’m going home to watch over Alex’s baby.”
“This will just take a second. Come into my office.”
Portia reluctantly followed. It was yet another closed-door meeting between a Gatteau girl and an administrator.
“How have things been between you and Phoebe?”
“Fine…”
“She’s been gossiping about this weekend.”
“It’s not a big deal. Everybody’s been talking about it.”
“She’s been telling students and teachers how the silver medal was all your fault.”
Portia shrugged. “Phoebe is Phoebe.”
“Yes, she is, but I also heard about her outburst in Chorus this morning.”
“It was nothing.”
“Maybe it’s nothing for Phoebe, but for me, I have to deal with parents who ask questions about her. All of the parents in the Chorus class know about Phoebe. They also know about her field trip this summer.”
“Mr Coffman, you simply cannot take that away from Phoebe.”
“My hands are nearly tied.”
“I’ll talk to her,” pleaded Portia.
“I don’t know if I can put my neck on the line for her.”
“Just one more chance.”
“One more – and that is it.”
Portia hurried to the parking lot where Alex was already waiting.
“What took so long?”
“I was talking to Mr. Coffman about Phoebe. She threw another tantrum today. She shouted ‘bullshit’ in Chorus class this morning.”
“And you had to talk to Mr. Coffman about it?”
“I guess,” sighed Portia, “I don’t know.”
They went to the hospital and waited until it was time for the doctor to remove Alex’s cast. It was a quick procedure. The nurse came in and used a rotary saw, cutting the cast into two halves. She cracked the cast open and he was free.
A small bone spur flared from Alex’s right hand. The nurse grabed pliers and carefully pulled out the small, steel pin. When she did, the pin left a large, gaping hole. Fluid oozed out as she pinched it between her fingers.
“Here’s a pack of bandages. You’ll need to change the dressing every few days until the wound closes, then just place a sturdy fabric bandage on it and you should be as good as new.”
Alex went to the billing area and waited until his name was called.
“How were you going to take care of this?”
“Well, I don’t have a job,” replied Alex
“Hold on one second,” said the nurse, “Fill out this paperwork and we’ll claim you as an impoverished indigent – unable to pay the bill.”
“I’ll find a way to pay for it,” said Alex. “Can’t you just bill me?”
“Hospitals don’t like being collection agencies. It’s usually easier to take the loss and get the tax write-off.”
“Corporate welfare,” muttered Portia.
“Just fill out this paperwork and our insurance company wll take care of the rest. That’s what we do.”
Alex filled out several sheets of paper, checking off the boxes stating he had no income, no insurance, and no health plan. He handed the clipboard back to the nurse and she checked it over.
“That’s it. You’re on your way.”
After that, Alex dropped Portia off at the pet store before heading home with Penny. Portia quickly involved herself in work, restocking the pet food aisle and cleaning the cages.
“Hey, slow down,” said Bill.
“I’m just trying to keep my mind off things at home.”
“What’s the matter?”
‘Just about everything...I don’t want to bore you with it.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m just glad to get away from home.”
“You know, if you ever want to pick up extra hours or just get away from home, you’re always free to work here.”
“Good to know.”
Portia’s thoughts sped around in her mind like bumper cars. Just as her own stress seemed manageable, outside forces collided with each other, determined to jar Portia’s teeth loose.
“Bill, what do you think about this? My sister, who drinks and does drugs, is supposed to sing the National Anthem at a baseball game in Altoona this summer.”
“What does the drinking and drugs have to do with it?”
“She’s out of control. The principal had a talk with me today and he’s asking me about her personal life. He wants to take the Altoona trip away from her.”
“And you think she shouldn’t be rewarded when she’s not responsible like you?”
“I guess so.”
“That’s a tough situation. I think you should let the principal do his job and you do yours.”
“What’s my job?”
“Being a sister.”
Portia’s thoughts weighed heavy as she worked at the store. When she got off the crosstown bus, she walked home. Phoebe wasn’t there. Portia sprayed her flowers and refilled the hummingbird feeder. She rechecked her Biology homework and read her Audubon Book of Birds.
Phoebe did not arrive home until just after midnight, her breath smelling of stale cigarettes and alcohol. Portia could not tell if she was drunk or not.
“Can we talk?”
“I’m tired,” grumbled Phoebe as she collapsed in bed.
“It’s important.”
“Then talk.”
“I talked to Mr. Coffman today.”
“What did he want?”
“He wants to take away your Altoona trip.”
Phoebe immediately sat up in bed.
“He can’t do that.”
“I bet he can.”
“I made an agreement with Mr. Tanner today.”
“What kind of agreement?”
“If I don’t make any more trouble, he’s still taking me to Altoona.”
“Sounds like he might have a choice.”
“I’ll fix this,” said Phoebe.
“You’d better talk to Mr. Coffman first thing tomorrow.”
Portia turned out the light and went to bed, but was restless in her sleep. Still, she was the first out of bed. She prepared breakfast for both her and Phoebe and got in the shower. When she returned, Phoebe was still in bed.
“Get up, lazybones.”
“Mmphh.”
“You have to talk to Mr. Tanner this morning or you’re going to blow it for Alttona.”
Phoebe pulled herself out of bed and showered, Portia urging her all the way. Portia even drove Phoebe to school while Phoebe reclined in the passenger seat.
“Come on come on come on. We gotta get going.”
They went to Mr. Tanner’s office together, Portia giving all the details. Mr. Tanner excused them so they could speak with Mr. Coffman. They waited a very short time in his office before he arrived. Portia reached over and pulled Phoebe’s sunglasses off her face. She squinted against the sunlight shone through the window behind him.
“What do I owe the pleasure of seeing the Gatteau girls this morning?”
“It’s about yesterday,” said Portia.
“I know. I spoke with Mr. Tanner yesterday. He’s made an agreement with you, right Phoebe?”
Phoebe nodded drowsily.
“Okay, as long as that’s the deal, I’m keeping you to it. But like I told your sister yesterday and Mr. Tanner today, your actions will not only affect you, but those people around you, too. Do you understand?”
Phoebe nodded.
“I couldn’t hear you.”
“Yes, sir,” she said. Her voice was raspy and dry.
“As long as we’re clear on this, I can only assume I will not be seeing either one of you in my office on or before June 3rd.”
“What’s that?”
“Barring any great calamities, that’s the day I figure the two of you will graduate from high school.”
Portia overflowed with thank-yous and reassurances for Mr. Coffman. Phoebe just tried to survive the next few minutes so she could get to Mr. Tanner’s class and make it through that, too.
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