The Immortals by Mary Hallberg (chrysanthemum read aloud txt) 📗

they were all but obsolete everywhere but The Necropolis.

I would have been home even later but mom insisted I go with her and grandpa to Christmas Eve mass. Luke was exempted because he had work to do — or so he said. I hadn’t been to church since I left Rochester but still remembered every word to every Christmas carol, and even what angle to hold the candle at so the wax wouldn’t drip down your hand after it was lit.

The pastor led us in an a cappella rendition of Silent Night that gave me chills, even though I never would have admitted it to mom or grandpa. Still, I wasn’t used to thinking about religion; once I'd moved out of the house, it had been conveniently forgotten.  Mom and grandpa never tired of telling stories of the old days when they got into all sorts of trouble that would make our pastor cringe, but they eventually went back to the faith. Maybe one day I would start believing in what they did again. But it seemed so far away, especially now that I might never have to worry about death. So why worry about what I did in my life?

In all her scurrying around and preparing Christmas dinner, mom forgot to get a few seasonings for the turkey. She sent Luke and me to the grocery store right after we opened presents so we could pick them up for her. I wasn’t much of a cook and neither was Luke, but I didn’t think turkey needed that much seasoning, at least not seasonings that we didn’t already have in the house. Then again, the turkey she'd gotten was ridiculously cheap. She said she hadn’t thought to save up enough to spring for a bigger one, but when I offered to buy her one, she got this look in her eyes that reminded me of grandpa’s old phrase ‘if looks could kill...’

“No McKenzie, we do not need a bigger turkey,” she insisted.

“Mom, I was just offering. I know you wanted one. Maybe we could just get a second one anyway, just in case. You know how Luke eats.”

She stabbed a knife into the cutting board. “Go, McKenzie!”

“Don’t worry about mom,” Luke said we pulled up to the supermarket. “She’s just stressed out. I think she’s been planning this dinner since last year.”

“Did I do something wrong?” I said. “I was just trying to help. I didn’t mean to imply that her turkey wasn’t good enough.”

“No Kenzie, you didn’t do anything wrong. Mom’s just a little on edge right now. Maybe it’s that...well, whatever it is that you women go through.”

“PMS?” I offered.

He grunted and walked ahead of me.

I had been to this grocery store tons of times growing up, but it was strange to be back. In The Necropolis, grocery stores were not only much bigger but neat and clean, with the floors swept and buffered regularly. Signs for candy, cake mixes and gourmet foods like lobster were also prevalent. Here it was mostly canned goods that lined the shelves in disorganized rows. There weren’t many people in the store, but we were briefly greeted as we walked in by a visibly pregnant young woman. She was polite but looked like she would have rather been anywhere else. Can’t say I blamed her.

“I went to high school with her,” Luke whispered to me as soon as we reached the spice aisle. “The cashier. I heard she got married, but I didn’t know she was pregnant. She just got married a couple of months ago. Now I think I know why.”

My head was spinning as I meandered down the aisle. “I forgot how much canned food was here,” I said, my fingers running down the endless rows of carrots, spinach, peas, corn, and dozens of other foods I had almost forgotten even existed.

“Dammit, I don’t have that much cash,” Luke said. “Think you can get me some extra eggnog? I have a feeling I’ll need it today. I’ll pay you back, promise.”

“Can’t. I’m not legal here, remember?”

“They won’t let you buy alcohol anywhere else, even if you’re Immortal?”

“Nope. Well maybe, depending on how strictly it’s enforced here. But I don’t want to risk it.”

“Why not?”

“Because if I get caught they’ll arrest me. I love you Luke, but I’m not going to jail just so you can get eggnog.”

“Damn. Guess I’ll stick with vodka. I think I still have some in the cabinet.” He picked up a clear plastic container with a red label. “Hope this works for mom. Need anything else while we’re here?”

I shook my head, glancing at the frozen meat aisles but quickly turning back. “No, let’s go.”

Later that evening, after most of my extended family had gone through the turkey (and the eggnog we actually did have), I sprawled in front of the fire, half asleep, wondering when I would be able to get away and back to the apartment. I should probably wait until after New Year’s, I figured; the roads would be clear by then. But then I wouldn’t make it to any of the New Year’s parties, and there were dozens in The Necropolis, including the big one at the mansion of Dr. Cooper, the scientist who invented TNV.

I had nearly dozed off when I heard shuffling feet behind me. I opened my eyes slightly. Grandpa was standing in front of the chair beside me.

“Is the eggnog getting to you?” He laughed and adjusted his pants. Slowly he lowered himself into the chair, his joints creaking in a way I had never heard them creak before.

I rubbed my eyes. “I’ve been so busy lately.”

“School getting to you?”

“And friends. I’ve been spending so much time with my friends.”

Grandpa coughed for several seconds. At one point it seemed like he couldn’t catch his breath, but then he sat up and smiled like nothing had happened. “How’s that boyfriend of yours? What’s his name...Gage? Such a strange name. How’s he treating you?”

“He’s a great guy, grandpa.”