Opportunity

The solar panel project on the roof of the Campions’ small bungalow was nearing completion. Aaron, who had taken a day off to recover from fear poisoning--due to his near-arrest--was now on a roll, double-securing all panels on the roof (they’d only lost one to Feenie’s hammer blows); while Ted was setting up an inverter and a new “smart” electrical panel in the guest room closet.

When he didn’t have to be at the store, Orville had been shadowing Ted, trying to grasp the essence of his new role as “sun god”— that was what Ben had called him the other day. But it was Ted who had dealt with the utility company. “When our cup runs over, as it were, we send the electricity directly to YOU,” he had explained. “For credit. We’re not going off the grid entirely! This is a good thing!”

Kendall Huggins had stayed with the Campions the night after his grandmother’s accident. Edwina had gone to look for him just as the ambulance was leaving. She couldn’t find him outside the Huggins’s house (or inside--the doors hadn’t been locked). It wasn’t until two hours later that the kid showed up at the end of the block, merrily pushing the mower. He’d made himself some money.

Edwina ran up to him and stopped. Kendall was listening to music and almost didn’t see her. Edwina motioned for him to take his earbuds out.

“Your grandmother had an accident this morning. She’s in the hospital.”

“What kinda accident? She don’t drive.”

“She was on our roof early this morning with a hammer, trying to break those solar panels. She fell off. I can’t believe you didn’t hear anything. There were sirens!”

“I wasn’t home last night. Granny was cursing in front of the computer starting right after dinner. She does that sometimes, all night. I left and went to my friend’s house. I took the mower. She’s gonna be pissed.”

“Where’s your mother?”

“Don’t know.”

“Oh.” Edwina started to cry.

“I gotta put the mower away.”

“You come over to see us after that. Right after that, please! And lock your house!” She was trying to be practical in the midst of this horror.

When Kendall came over they all (except Aaron) went to the Pantheon Medical Center hospital, where someone told them in a no-nonsense way that Josephine “Feenie” Huggins was deceased. Kendall didn’t get to see her. Then they went to Popeyes; there was nothing else to do.

And now the thing that Feenie had railed against was glittering on the roof in spite. "Mrs. Huggins is gonna be hangin' out in the Bardo for a long, long time," said Aaron. No one knew what he meant except Ted.

“Very funny, Aaron. Seriously, though, we should have a ceremony when this setup starts producing electricity.”

“A ceremony or a party?” Orville had had enough solemnity, and he wasn’t sure what sort of “ceremony” Ted had in mind.

“A gathering,” said Edwina. “Where we tell the neighbors what these things on our roof are, and what they do.” Orville looked at her, surprised. She had not cared much for neighbors in general or seemed interested in the solar panels until now. “People will be curious because of Mrs. Huggins. We could even get the TV station to come. It’s an educational opportunity.” Edwina was now feeling the excitement she’d once had preparing for her nature shows back in Knoxville. “Ted can help me write a speech.” She would definitely need the help, Ted thought.

But Orville understood, because he’d met Edwina at the height of her “stardom” six years ago at that promotional event at WKOP. She had been glamorous, poised, even brilliant. He’d felt like a plodding, slow-talking ox. But he hadn’t had to talk; she had wanted a listener. When the event ended, they’d continued the interaction, strolling through a nearby ballpark, sitting on the empty bleachers. When her star faded, that’s when they married, and Edwina moved to this small city where he had his business, and where she had, he now realized—-not much.

— Macoff