Traplines
Short Stories by Eden Robinson

TRAPLINES (Metropolitan Books; $23.00; 0-8050-4446-9) is extraordinary fiction that presents the menacing underside of family life. In crackling prose, Eden Robinson, describes homes ruled by bullies, psychopaths, and delinquents; families whose conflict resolution techniques range from grand theft to homicide; and kids who just can't get a break.

"Eden Robinson's a first-timer who can truly command attention." -- Kirkus Reviews

Told with icy clarity in the blackest of humors, TRAPLINES offers an unsettling look at an urban landscape where the bizarre and twisted coexist naturally with the dull and normal.

The following is an excerpt from one of the stories from TRAPLINES, called Contact Sports. All rights reserved by Metropolitan Books.

...Jeremy held up Tom's medical bills. Tom flinched. Jeremy opened his wallet. Then he covered the bills in fifties. Jeremy spread out the last electric bill, the phone bill, the notice of back rent due, his mom's Mastercard and did the same thing. When Jeremy had finished, he looked at Tom. "Do I have your attention?"
     Tom swallowed, unable to take his eyes off the money. How much money was on the table? Two, three thousand dollars? God, where did he get that kind of cash?
     "Earth to Tommy. Do I have your attention?"
     "Yes," Tom said quietly.
     "Then let's make a deal," Jeremy said, suddenly cheerful.
     Tom felt alarm creep along his spine. It had to be a fucking sick joke.
     "What kind of deal?"
     Jeremy smiled. "Remember what you said before you left? How you don't need my help?"
     Tom said nothing but he knew his face was flushed.
     "Oh, I don't hold grudges." Jeremy winked. "Don't get mad, get even, that's my motto. Look, it's really very simple. I'll pay off your bills, one bill a week, and I'll help with rent and food, and all you have to do is one itty bitty little thing."
     Tom said cautiously, "What?"
     "Oh, it's simple. All I want you to do is be good."
     Tom stared at him suspiciously. "When you say 'good,' what do you mean?"
     "No more sneaky wandering around at night alone. No staying overnight anywhere without phoning. You ask me if you can stay somewhere. You ask me if you can go to parties. You listen to me when I tell you what to do."
     Tom had to suppress his annoyance. "But --"
     "No buts." Jeremy leaned forward. "Do we have a deal?"
     It was tempting. A little freedom lost. A little financial security gained. just long enough to finish classes without worrying about rent. If his cousin wanted to play Mother Teresa, who was he to say no?
     "I guess."
Jeremy got up and clapped him on the back. "Good choice. You won't regret it. Now get to bed. See? Is that so bad?"
     Tom pushed back his chair and stood, feeling lightheaded. He went to the bathroom, locked the door to make sure he had a few minutes to be alone, to think. He brushed his teeth absently, staring at himself in the mirror. How bad could it be?

That Saturday, Tom lay in bed reading. His arms hurt. Shoulders ached. Five hours of washing Jeremy's stupid car, scrubbing the goddamn apartment floors, and being Jeremy's fucking maid. Jeremy could take his money and shove it. There was no way he was going to spend another day like this.

     Jeremy knocked. Tom knew it was Jeremy because his mom never knocked before entering a room. Frowning, he hunched down and stared at the book, no longer seeing the words.
     "Still sore at me?" Jeremy said cheerfully.
     Tom flipped the page.
     " 'Yes, Jeremy'," Jeremy said in a high, squeaky voice. " 'I still hate your guts.' " Jeremy sat on the bed. In his normal voice he continued, "What if I asked you if you wanted to go for a ride?" He stood up. " 'Well, I don't know. I'd have to ask my mom.' "
     "Go away," Tom said, turning so Jeremy wouldn't see his face.
     "It speaks!"
     Tom clenched his mouth shut.
     " 'I've finished all my homework and I don't have a thing to do, Jeremy.' " Jeremy punched Tom's leg. "Well, let's go then."
     Tom put his fingers in his ears.
     "It's been a whole hour since you talked to me," Jeremy said sadly. "If you don't say something soon, I'm going to just die."
     "Get lost," Tom said.
     "Well. Happy birthday, kid." Then, casually, "I got you a present. Curious?"
     "No." Tom flipped a page.
     "It's bigger than a bread box."
     Tom slammed the book shut. He glared at Jeremy and moved to get off the bed. Jeremy, laughing, grabbed his arms and pushed him down.
     "Let go!" Tom said, struggling.
     "Hah! It speaks again!" Jeremy straddled Tom's chest, pinning him to the bed. "And if it knows what's good for it, it will keep speaking!"
     "Get off me!"
     Jeremy hummed and pretended to clean his nails.
     Tom bucked, kicked, even tried to bite. Jeremy yawned.
"Ready to talk?"
     "If you don't get off me now--"
     "You'll do what?" Jeremy said, not moving. "Run and tell Mommy?" Jeremy reached over and picked up the book. "Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Mania, Schizophrenia, and the Limbic System. Some light reading, huh? Jesus, don't you ever read anything normal? Ever heard of Stephen King?"
     Tom stopped struggling. "What do you want?"
     Jeremy smiled. "That's more like it. Let's see. Well, first, do you want to go for a ride?"
     "No."
     "Meep. Wrong answer," Jeremy reached down and pulled Tom's shirt up.
     "What're you doing?"
     "Let's try that again. Do you want to go for a ride?"
     "No!"
     "Meep. Wrong again. Last chance." Jeremy poked Tom hard in the side. Tom wriggled. Jeremy rubbed his hands together, chuckling. "Oh goody. Ticklish. Perfect. Now, are we going for a ride?"
     Tom wrenched an arm free. He hit Jeremy, who grunted and fell back. Tom rolled, twisting loose only to be caught and pushed back onto the bed again, this time on his stomach. Jeremy leaned close and whispered, "Meep. Wrong again. You lose, bozo."
     No one had ever tickled Tom before. Jeremy was ruthless. When Jeremy finished with him, his ribs felt bruised and he was panting heavily, almost crying.
     "Let's try that one more time," Jeremy said brightly. "Does Tommy want to go for a ride?"
     Tom rested, trying to catch his breath.
     Jeremy lightly touched Tom's side.
     "Yes!" he said quickly. "Yes!
     "That's more like it! Now, does Tommy forgive Jeremy for everything? Hmmm?"
     "Yes."
     "Tommy's not going to sulk anymore, is he?"
     "No."
     "Is Tommy sure? "Jeremy squeezed Tom's ribs.
     "Yes. Don't, Jeremy. Please."
     "Pretty please?"
     Tom gritted his teeth. "Pretty please."
     "I get the feeling that you aren't being sincere," Jeremy said gravely. "If you are really, sincerely sorry for being such a pain in the butt, I think you'll want to prove it, won't you, Tommy?"

Traplines by Eden Robinson (Metropolitan Books - Henry Holt and Company; 0-8050-4446-9; $23).
Robinson was born in 1968 on the Haisla Nation Kitamaat reserve in British Columbia. A former mail clerk, dry cleaner, and receptionist, she is now working full-time on her first novel. At twnety-eight, she has already won many literary awards, including the Prism International Magazine Short Fiction Prize. She lives in Vancouver.