The Season of Styx Malone

When Styx arrives to collect the boys, he is smooth and charming to Mom, but she does not look impressed. On the way to an undisclosed location where Styx is certain they can trade the fireworks, he suggests keeping some for their own fun, but Bobby Gene insists they get rid of all of them. Caleb is perturbed that Styx is now calling his brother “B.G.” and wishes for a Styx-given nickname of his own. After cutting through the woods, they come to a dirt road with an old pick-up truck and riding lawn mower parked nearby; both have “for sale” signs. Further on, they approach what Styx calls a “kind of a junk yard” (77)—a fenced-in collection of scraps, tires, filled garbage bags, and old car parts. Styx scales the fence, Caleb follows, and after hesitating, Bobby Gene climbs too.

Caleb loves feeling like a spy while climbing over the fence. Styx leads them to a trailer obscured by the junkpiles. A man named Robo (Robert) agrees to trade the fireworks for $150 in cash and spare parts that Styx picks out from the junk piles. Styx plans to trade the spare parts for the mower for sale. Styx also plans to pay Cory his $50 right away but keep the mower and plans for the moped a secret. The brothers agree they should make the deal.

The owner of the riding mower is not home, so the boys return through the woods. Styx gives Caleb $50 for Cory, then gives Bobby Gene the remaining share of cash for Bobby Gene and Caleb. They keep the wagon of parts at the Franklin house. Styx shows them his iPod for which he says he traded an old harmonica he found. Caleb is excited to see if the Escalator Trade works. Mom calls for the boys to come in for dinner.

The next day Caleb and Bobby Gene attend to chores at Cory’s house. They give Cory his money; Cory is happy with the money and glad that Styx is staying away.

Styx comes over that afternoon to the Franklins’ and fixes the wagon’s crooked wheel by borrowing a few of Dad’s tools. Bobby Gene doubts Styx’s ability to fix the wagon. Caleb asks if Styx can really fix anything, and Styx notes that Caleb’s life seems in undamaged shape already. Caleb tells Styx he does not want to be ordinary, and Styx helps Caleb to redefine what this means when he asks if Caleb is actually “dissatisfied” (91). Styx says that feelings that way is very motivating and will prompt Caleb to great things including the ability to “change the world” (92). Caleb is thrilled with the sense of power this assessment gives him, especially coming from Styx. Styx plans for them to trade the parts to someone on Saturday, and separates out a rusty metal lunch box from the stash of parts.

Styx comes over to the Franklins’ for dinner. They eat Mom’s style rice, which everyone loves. Mom grills Styx with questions about school and his goals; he is evasive, yet charming. Caleb mentions Styx’s trips to the Children’s Museum and tries to bring up going into Indianapolis, whining when Dad says no. Styx saves the mood of the dinner by signaling to Caleb to cool his whining and chatting up Dad about his football days at Indiana University. Styx tells Caleb on his way out they can make the museum trip happen some way. Caleb is appeased, assuming the moped is the way to get there.

Caleb and Bobby Gene head to the house they think is Styx’s to see if he wants to go fishing at the pond in the woods with them, but they are confused when a young white girl answers the door. She says she is not dressed for company so they will have to wait. When she goes off, they wait awkwardly, thinking they must have the wrong house. When Styx comes down the stairs, though, he simply says the girl, Penny, is his sister. She wants to be called Pixie. She changes into a ballet tutu and feathered shirt and wants to come along until she hears it’s a fishing outing: “I can’t go fishing […] I have a prior appointment. Invite me again sometime” (106). Styx is evasive when Bobby Gene asks how Styx got a sister, saying only “you pick up a few things” over time (106).

Caleb and Bobby Gene find the pond, which Styx did not know was there. They proceed to not fish at all but sit with feet in the water and talk. Styx mentions swimming next time and Caleb worries how he and Bobby Gene might handle that, as they are not allowed to swim there without a grown-up. Caleb shares a discussion topic he and Bobby Gene usually cover: “Who would win in a fight? […] Wolverine or Batman?” (109) They debate and discuss similar topics until Styx “[ups] the game like a boss” (111) by suggesting characters shapeshifted to look like other characters with specific weapons. Caleb is thrilled, but Bobby Gene complains that Styx made the easy game too complex.

Saturday arrives and the three boys go to a farmhouse. Styx introduces Caleb and Bobby Gene as his “associates” to Mr. Maddox, the farmer with the riding mower for sale. Mr. Maddox recognizes the brothers as “Bobby Franklin’s boys” (113). Styx wants to trade for the riding mower but explains Mr. Maddox would have to allow the mower to sit there until Styx can fix the motor. They shake on the deal. After the farmer goes off, Styx pauses to enjoy the good trade, saying they are “one step closer to [their] happy ending” (116). On the way home Caleb asks Styx if he personally had any happy endings, but Styx says no.

Bobby Gene and Caleb find Styx in his “office” in the woods with Pixie. She hangs in a tree wearing a mouse-ears headband, “communing” with the leaves. The three boys start for the hardware store. The plan is to check on the moped, then buy rust remover to clean up the metal lunch box they got from Robo’s junkyard. Styx wants to trade it for a motor for the mower. The brothers are very doubtful about the value of the old lunch box, but Styx reassures them. They see many cars parked for a funeral in town including an impressive limo. Caleb asks Styx if he was ever in a limo, expecting a story. All Styx says is “Once.”

At the hardware store, Styx talks with the owner, Mr. Davis, about the moped. Mr. Davis gave the moped to his son for graduation, but says his son always wanted a Harley Davidson motorcycle instead of the moped and has one now. Styx makes commiserating comments about “fathers and sons” and tells a joke (126). Mr. Davis tells them they can make an offer for the moped. Styx tells Mr. Davis that within the week they will be back to trade something Mr. Davis “[wants] most” (126). Mr. Davis looks doubtful.

The boys go to a diner for chicken strips, fries, and milkshakes. Bobby Gene tries to ask Styx about living in a foster home, which surprises Caleb. Caleb can see Styx’s mood darken, and he gestures for Bobby Gene to be quiet. Caleb tells Styx, “We like you […] That’s why he wants to know. He didn’t mean anything by it” (129). Styx is not angry and returns to his food.