Opting Out

And Other Stimulating 10 Minute Reads

A Collection of Short Stories

by Nicholas Antinozzi

P !"#S$%& !' Nicholas Antinozzi Copyright (c) *010 by Nicholas Antinozzi %dited by Coleta +right Co,er &esign by Ste,e Peterson

SMAS$+OR&S %&#-#ON

Smash.ords %dition "icense Notes

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-he characters and e,ents in this boo/ are fictitious0 Any similarity to real persons1 li,ing or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author0

Opting Out
Connie !a/er gingerly remo,ed the last t.enty dollar bill from her .allet and said a little prayer0 She then fed it into the slot machine0 -.o minutes and thirteen seconds later it .as gone0 She got up and stretched1 chec/ed her .atch and .ent off in search of her brother0 She found 4eorge .andering around by the /eno machines0 4eorge had ne,er been much of a gambler1 but they5d had some time to /ill and it hadn5t been too difficult for Connie to tal/ him into ma/ing the t.enty minute dri,e0 4eorge had e,en offered to buy Connie lunch at the casino5s buffet0 4eorge .as seldom generous and Connie .as al.ays hungry0 -hey found the restaurant and en3oyed a good meal together0 6So17 Connie said1 pic/ing at a piece of cheese ca/e .ith her for/0 6&o you really thin/ they5ll pay fi,e hundred thousand8 -hat seems li/e an a.ful lot to hope for07 4eorge nodded his head as he finished che.ing a bite of apple pie0 6-hey might e,en go as high as se,en hundred fifty1 #5,e seen it before0 +e5,e 3ust got to play the game0 "et me do the tal/ing1 you5,e got to trust me on that07 -he for/ trembled in Connie5s fingers as she did the math0 She didn5t /no. .hat that meant to her after a four2.ay split1 she only /ne. that it .as a lot of money0 She smiled0 6#f .e do get the money17 she as/ed1 setting the for/ do.n1 6.hat are you going to do .ith your share87 4eorge sat bac/ from the table and rubbed his large stomach0 6#5,e al.ays .anted to go to Costa Rica0 #5,e got three .ee/s ,acation coming and # thin/ #5,e earned it07 6+hat about Alice and the /ids87 6Are you /idding8 -hey5d hate it do.n there0 -hey .ant to go to &isney +orld0 # don5t ha,e a problem .ith that07 6+hat about Mom87 6+hat about her8 She can pay off the house and retire0 -hey had a little money sa,ed1 not a lot1 but enough so she can get by pretty good if she .atches .hat she spends0 &on5t .orry about her1 she5ll be fine0 +hat about you8 $a,e you thought about .hat you5re going to do .ith your cut87 Connie had1 in fact she5d thought of little else that day0 She lic/ed her lips0 6#5m going to get some ne. boobs07 4eorge grimaced1 loo/ing o,er his shoulder0 6Connie17 he hissed0

69uit being a prude17 Connie said1 smiling0 6# read about this clinic in Me:ico .here # can ha,e them done for three thousand dollars0 # can also get a tummy tuc/ and some lypo done for another se,en thousand0 'ou should thin/ about it1 4eorge0 'ou5re getting a little chun/y1 yourself07 4eorge rolled his eyes and too/ another bite of his pie0 -hey sat there for another half an hour1 discussing their plans as the electronic machines played their hypnotic tunes out on the casino floor0 No. and then1 a .hoop .ould escape from the cro.d and Connie .ould feel a chill run do.n her spine0 -he dri,e bac/ to the hospital .as ;uiet0 Connie smo/ed t.o cigarettes as she thought about .hat she5d do .ith the rest of the money0 -here .ere so many possibilities0 Connie decided to ma/e up a list the minute she got home0 4eorge par/ed the <ord in the cro.ded ramp and got out of the car0 $e .al/ed around to the bac/ and leaned against the trun/0 -he afternoon .as o,ercast and .arm0 $e lit up a cigarette and .aited for his sister0 6+ell87 Connie as/ed0 6Shouldn5t .e go in87 6#n a minute1 # 3ust .ant to go o,er this .ith you0 Remember1 let me do the tal/ing0 #5,e done this before1 it5s a game0 -hey5re going to lo.2ball us1 they al.ays do that0 "et me handle it07 6+hat if Mom doesn5t .ant to sign the papers8 +hat if &ad doesn5t .ant to go87 6&ad5s almost si:ty= of course he5ll .ant to go0 Are you /idding87 4eorge as/ed1 flic/ing his cigarette to the concrete0 6Mom .ill do .hate,er &ad tells her to do0 'ou /no. that0 $e5s got cancer1 he5s dying0 $e /no.s the score0 #f he decides to try and fight it1 he and Mom .ill be flat bro/e in si: months0 %,en if he beats the odds1 .hat are they supposed to do then8 Are you going to in,ite them into your home87 6Are you /idding me8 $ell no07 6Me either0 Susan might1 but she5s li,ing in that little trailer0 Can you see the three of them li,ing there8 -hey5d dri,e each other crazy in a .ee/0 No1 &ad isn5t going to .ant to fight this0 -rust me0 $e5ll ta/e the buy2out and they5ll gi,e him a shot and .e5ll ha,e the funeral0 #t5ll be o,er by <riday0 +e5ll ha,e the chec/ by Monday0 -hat5s the la.0 6Se,en hundred fifty87 as/ed Connie1 clenching her fists and holding them up to her double2 chin0 6-hat sounds li/e a lot for a la.n mo.er mechanic0 &o you really thin/ they5ll go that high87 6-he treatment .ould cost t.ice that0 # already chec/ed0 -hat doesn5t include after2care and follo. ups0 &ad .on5t actually turn si:ty for another t.o months1 .hich ma/es a huge difference0 -he insurance company isn5t going to .ant to go that high1 but .e5re in the dri,er5s seat0 %,ery minute &ad5s in that bed they5re losing money0 -hey5ll pay= 3ust let me do the tal/ing07

Connie nodded and they started to .al/ to the ele,ator0 64eorge87 she as/ed0 6'eah07 6+hat if it5s not cancer87 6-hen it isn5t0 "et5s not thin/ about that07 6O/ay07 -he ele,ator .as slo. and the .al/ across the s/y.ay into the hospital seemed to ta/e an eternity0 -he hospital .as brightly lit and their footsteps echoed do.n the tiled hall.ay0 -hey found their mother and Susan in the same .aiting room .here they5d left them0 -hey .ere alone and had ob,iously been crying0 +ithout so much as a hello1 Connie too/ a seat ne:t to 4eorge0 Connie and 4eorge .ere outsiders and they blamed Susan for that0 She .as the youngest of the three siblings and had al.ays been closer to their parents0 Connie hated Susan1 hadn5t spo/en to her in fi,e years and .asn5t about to start no.0 6+e5,e got to tal/ about this17 said 4eorge0 Susan glared at 4eorge .ith red2rimmed eyes and their mother began to sob0 6&on5t loo/ at him li/e that17 snapped Connie1 unable to ;uell her anger0 6+e only .ant .hat5s best for Mom07 6'ou fat co.17 spat Susan0 6+here the hell ha,e you been8 &addy5s been in there for four hours07 6Shut up you little bitch17 countered Connie1 feeling that familiar hatred .elling up from deep inside her chest0 6&on5t ma/e me come o,er there07 6"adies17 said 4eorge0 6Stop it> <ighting about this isn5t going to ma/e things any easier0 Mom1 .e really do need to tal/ about this0 +hen the agent sho.s up1 you5,e got to let me handle this0 O/ay8 +e5re only going to get one shot at the big money07 Susan stood up and raised her fists at her brother0 Mother began to .ail1 and she reached out and grabbed her daughter by the .aist1 holding on .ith considerable strength0 Connie had heard enough0 She stood up and strode across the .aiting room to Susan1 stopping bare inches in front of her0 She could feel her heart racing inside her chest0 She coc/ed her fist0 6+hat the hell is going on87 shouted &ad from the door.ay0 Connie5s head snapped bac/ as if she5d been slapped0

6&addy>7 e:claimed Susan1 and she and her mother rushed into his .aiting arms0 6# as/ed a ;uestion17 said -om !a/er1 hugging the t.o of them0 6+hat the hell is going on87 -here .as no chance to reply as the doctor entered the room0 -he man .as holding a chart and the smile on his face ga,e the prognosis a.ay0 6$e5s going to be fine17 he said1 loo/ing pleased .ith himself0 6-here5s no cancer1 .e can all rela:07 Connie e:changed a loo/ .ith 4eorge .ho had gro.n as pale as a sheet0 She then felt light2 headed and fell into one of the padded chairs0 Pain shot do.n her left arm and she tasted copper0 She clutched at her chest before spilling to the floor0 Connie a.o/e to the sound of bings and beeps0 Something had been rammed do.n her throat and it too/ her a moment to realize that it .as a breathing tube0 She felt as if she5d been hit by a truc/0 6Of course17 someone .as saying0 6+e could settle this right here0 'ou5re the ne:t of /in and #5,e got to be honest .ith you1 it doesn5t loo/ good0 -he doctor doesn5t thin/ she5d sur,i,e the surgery07 Connie tried to spea/0 Who were they talking about? 6# don5t /no.17 said 4eorge0 6Connie5s pretty tough and she5s a fighter0 # .ouldn5t be too sure about that07 6+hat are you saying87 as/ed Susan0 Connie cringed and the bings and beeps increased in intensity0 6+e5re offering to buy you out0 #5,e been instructed to offer you one hundred thousand07 6'ou5re /idding17 said 4eorge0 6-hat5s an insult0 'ou5re going to ha,e to do a lot better than that07 6Ne,er>7 shrie/ed Susan0 6#5ll ne,er sign a.ay Connie5s life0 4et the hell out of here1 you miserable piece of shit>7 6Susan17 pleaded 4eorge0 6"et5s be reasonable07 6-.o hundred thousand17 offered the ,oice0 Connie .ished she could lift her head0 She tried1 but it .as no use0 She desperately .anted someone to notice her1 but it .as as if she .asn5t e,en there0 6'ou5re getting .arm17 said 4eorge0

-here .as the sharp1 unmista/able sound of a slap0 6'ou do that again and #5ll /noc/ your teeth out17 said 4eorge0 6-hree hundred thousand17 the ,oice retorted0 6Stop>7 .ailed Susan0 6-hat5s my sister> 'ou5re a monster0 !oth of you are monsters1 oh my 4od0 #5m going to find Mom and &ad0 #5ll ne,er sign that paper1 do you hear me8 Ne,er>7 Connie could hear the patter of footsteps and again1 she tried to raise her head from the pillo.0 She strained1 .illing herself to mo,e under the enormous pressure that .as holding her do.n0 She .anted to /ill 4eorge0 And then thunder e:ploded inside her chest0 -he machines began to s;ueal in one long1 deafening tone0 Connie could feel herself slipping a.ay0 Suddenly1 4eorge5s face .as close to hers0 6Connie17 he begged0 6$ang on0 <or the lo,e of 4od1 you5,e got to hang on07 -he unseen man appeared from behind 4eorge0 $e .as smiling0 And Connie died /no.ing a lot more about her siblings than she had the pre,ious day0 -he important thing .as that Minnesota Mutual sa,ed itself half a million dollars0 -he true amount the agent had been authorized to offer the family0

-he Cold Shoulder

$igh.ay 1? bet.een Al,ine and Spar/s .as a ;uiet1 scenic stretch of road during the daylight hours0 After dar/1 this road in south.estern Minnesota .as merely a lonely passage that separated miles of cornfields0 #n the dead of .inter at t.o O5cloc/ in the morning1 the high.ay .as as desolate as if it5d been car,ed upon the face of the moon0 Al Merit had been the Sheriff in Al,ine for nearly a year0 $e .as .ell2li/ed in to.n and en3oyed his .or/0 $e .as heading home after spending an interesting e,ening .ith a female ac;uaintance and he .as dri,ing the cruiser0 -his1 in itself1 .as not a problem0 $e5d been told that he .as free to use the car1 that it .as a per/ of the 3ob0 $e 3ust didn5t feel right about it tonight0 $e5d been ner,ous about his first date .ith Cathy "ane and had consumed more than his customary t.o beers0 $e .asn5t drun/1 but he .as buzzed and he /ne. it0 $e no. deeply regretted his lapse in 3udgment0 Al could see the flashing red light up ahead1 miles a.ay1 signaling the intersection at $igh.ay @*0 -he blood2red light loo/ed out of place in the passing countryside1 .here e,erything .as blac/ and .hite at this time of night0 -he sno.2co,ered farms had been put to bed hours ago and

he hadn5t passed a car since he5d left Spar/s0 -he last Al had heard1 the temperature .as 21A degrees and a nasty .ind had /ic/ed up1 .hich made it feel much colder than that0 -he flashing light mar/ed the half.ay point0 $e s.itched on the radio and found a station playing 4len Campbell5s ne. song1 Rhinestone Co.boy1 Al found himself singing along0 $e noticed the figure nearly a mile from the intersection0 Al strained his eyes1 but /ne. in an instant that he .as seeing a man .al/ing on the shoulder of the road0 Al shut off the radio and cursed his luc/0 -he last thing he needed .as for someone to smell beer on his breath0 $e fumbled for a stic/ of che.ing gum1 .ondering .hat the man .as doing out in this .eather at this time of night0 6Son of a bitch17 he muttered to himself as he dre. closer0 -he figure .as definitely a man and a giant of one1 at that0 Al slo.ed the cruiser to forty1 then to thirty1 le,eling off at a slo. t.enty2 fi,e MP$0 -he man had 3ust passed through the intersection and .as bathed in intermittent flashes of red light0 $e .as heading to.ards Al1 hands thrust deep in the poc/ets of a fatigue 3ac/et0 Oh shit, thought Al0 -he country had been flooded .ith the return of soldiers from Biet Nam and many of them had come bac/ damaged from their years of fighting0 $e5d seen it first hand and it al.ays put him on high alert0 -his time .as no e:ception0 A chill ran do.n Al5s spine as the car crept nearer0 -he man .ore no hat and his hair .as long and .ild1 trailing behind him in the stiff Canuary breeze0 $e .ore a long beard and it loo/ed matted and tangled0 Al shuddered .hen the man stopped .al/ing and turned to face the road0 $e .as e:pecting him to stop= to offer assistance1 .hich is e:actly .hat he should ha,e done0 Al .as suddenly afraid0 -he man loo/ed to be close to se,en feet tall and he appeared to be ;uite solid under his oli,e2green 3ac/et0 Al .as dressed in his Saturday night go2to2to.n clothes and he .asn5t carrying his gun0 -he shotgun .as loc/ed securely in the trun/0 Al fought the fear= it .asn5t the first time he5d felt it0 -he fear came .ith the 3ob and any cop .ho told you different .as a liar0 At t.enty feet a.ay he .as loo/ing directly into the man5s ,acant1 dar/ eyes and Al felt as if he .ere loo/ing straight into the face of death0 -his type of fear was ne. to him0 $e couldn5t come to terms .ith it1 couldn5t coa: his right foot into stepping on the bra/e pedal of the <ord "-&0 Al felt his body roc/ed by a spasm of shi,ers0 Al couldn5t ma/e himself stop the car0 $e managed a .ea/ .a,e as he passed the figure and he eased do.n on the accelerator1 brea/ing the la. as he dro,e through the intersection0 $e dro,e nearly one hundred feet before he chec/ed his rear,ie. mirror0 -he man .as .a,ing his arms1 .hich only made him appear to be taller and seem much more menacing0 Al continued to dri,e1 stepping do.n on the gas pedal until the cruiser hit eighty0 $e didn5t slo. do.n until he sa. the glo.ing lights of sleepy little Al,ine0 $e had ne,er felt such shame0 $e5d contemplated turning bac/ many times o,er the last ten miles1 but simply couldn5t bring himself to do it0 $e couldn5t ha,e called for assistance= they5d smell the beer on him a mile a.ay0 $e .as a by the boo/ guy1 and he didn5t .ant to set a bad e:ample0 #t didn5t matter that one cop .ould probably ne,er arrest another on suspicion of &+#1 it 3ust .asn5t right0

-he tall man had frightened him1 but why? Al didn5t /no.1 but .hat he did /no.1 buzzed or not1 .as that his days of drin/ing and dri,ing .ere o,er= and perhaps more importantly1 that his days as Sheriff .ere numbered0 $e5d lost his ner,e0 %,en if the man had been high on PCP or "S&1 he should5,e been able to handle the situation0 $e5d trained for that sort of thing1 many times0 -he guilt .as smothering him0 Al par/ed the cruiser in the dri,e.ay and .al/ed into his .arm little home and cra.led into bed0 Sleep e,aded him for a long1 long time0 -he ne:t morning .as Sunday and the shrill ring of the telephone .o/e him at 3ust after eight0 Al ans.ered on the fifth ring1 still groggy .ith sleep0 6$ello87 6Al8 # didn5t .a/e you up1 did #87 as/ed Marge <rapp1 the Moon "a/e County &ispatcher1 .ho .or/ed out of an office in Meacham0 6No1 #5,e been up for hours17 Al lied0 6+hat can # do for you this morning87 6'ou5re a terrible liar17 replied Marge0 6"isten1 # hate to spoil your day off1 but .e5,e got a dead body to deal .ith= frozen solid1 by the sound of it07 6+hat about the County boys1 or the State -roopers1 can5t they handle this87 6Afraid not1 there5s been an accident o,er in 4lendi,e0 A bad one= you5re on your o.n .ith this one0 Sorry Al1 that5s life as a big city sheriff07 Al .as still .iping the sleep out of his eyes .hen it hit him0 -he force of the thought caused him to nearly double o,er on his single bed0 6-he body87 he as/ed in a .ea/ ,oice0 6+here is it87 6!et.een you and Spar/s on $igh.ay 1?1 3ust past the intersection of $igh.ay @*= .hite male1 dead as a doornail on the shoulder of the road07 6#5,e got it17 stammered Al0 6-han/s1 Marge07 6Sorry1 3ust doing my 3ob0 #5,e got Cim $agen on the .ay to assist you .ith the body0 $e5s bringing the hearse07 Al hung up the phone and held a pillo. to his face as the tears began to flo.0 $e /ne. that he5d /illed that man1 as surely as if he5d ta/en his ser,ice re,ol,er and shot him in the forehead .ith it0 $is body .as .rac/ed .ith sobs and he ga,e into them0 $e had ne,er had a suicidal thought in his life1 ne,er e,en understood them until that ,ery moment0 $e .anted to die0 <i,e minutes .ould pass before he .as able to stand up and head to the bathroom0 -en minutes later he .as heading out of to.n in the cruiser0

-here .ere four cars at the side of the road1 including $agen5s hearse1 .hich Al .as than/ful to see0 $e5d composed himself1 not 3ustifying his inaction of the early morning1 but coming to terms .ith it0 $e5d made a huge mista/e1 one that he alone .ould ha,e to li,e .ith for the rest of his life0 $e stepped out of the car and began to ta/e statements from the farmers .ho had disco,ered the body0 $e a,oided loo/ing at the dead man1 .ho appeared to ha,e stretched out on the side of the road and simply .ent to sleep1 fore,er0 $e ;uic/ly than/ed the people and ushered them a.ay1 .anting to get this o,er .ith0 Cim $agen .as inside the .arm hearse .aiting for Al to finish his in,estigation0 Al fished out the camera from the glo,e bo: and mechanically .ent about ta/ing pictures of the crime scene0 $e fought the emotions that .ere screaming from deep .ithin0 A tear dripped do.n the bridge of his nose as he .a,ed $agen from the car0 Al ;uic/ly .iped the tear a.ay .ith his glo,ed hand0 6$oly smo/es1 he5s a big one0 $e loo/s peaceful1 doesn5t he87 as/ed $agen0 $e .as a thin man in his early fifties0 $e .asn5t as sharp as his old man .ho ran the family mortuary1 but he .as a .hole lot stronger0 6#5ll bet he5s frozen to the blac/top17 he added0 6-his isn5t going to be easy07 6Cust get the gurney17 said Al0 6"et5s get this o,er .ith0 $agen did as he .as told1 opening up the bac/ of the blac/ hearse and pulling out a si:2.heeled gurney0 Al began to lift one of the dead man5s legs1 disco,ering that $agen had been correct0 -he body .as as stiff as a board and frozen to the pa,ement0 Al groaned0 -he name on the dead man5s 3ac/et readD Kline0 -hey .or/ed the body bac/ and forth1 gradually ripping it free from the ice .ith a loud th.ac/0 Al a,oided loo/ing at the pasty blue face and the frosted beard0 $e .as on auto2pilot and .anted nothing more than to finish this grizzly tas/0 -he ice too/ a shoc/ of Eline5s matted hair1 .here it .ould stay until the tha. in March0 Al did a ;uic/ search of the body and found Eline5s .allet0 -here .as nothing else of any significance0 $e opened it up and counted t.enty t.o buc/s0 $e ;uic/ly tuc/ed the .allet into his coat poc/et0 -hen1 .ith considerable effort1 the men rolled the body onto the gurney and strapped him in for the ride0 -hey then .heeled him up to the bac/ of the .aiting hearse and hea,ed him inside0 $agen e:pertly loc/ed the gurney into place0 6$o. do you .ant to play this87 $agen as/ed1 lighting up a smo/e1 offering one to Al0 Al too/ it1 gratefully0 6#5d say he froze to death0 -here are no signs of foul play and my guess is that he .as on something0 +e5ll ha,e to send him to +orthington for an autopsy0 &o you ha,e time to do another transport for us87 -he hearse .as cheaper than an ambulance and the Coroner5s office .ouldn5t reimburse the Sheriff5s &epartment= typical red tape and politics0 $agen5s Mortuary turned a ;uic/ eighty

buc/s for the transport0 -his1 in their business1 .as about all they could do to pic/ up some e:tra cash0 6Not today17 said $agen1 e:haling a long plume of smo/e into the calm morning air0 6#5,e got a .a/e for !en Miller this afternoon1 funeral5s tomorro. morning0 # suppose # could run him do.n there after .e close up tomorro. afternoon07 6-hat5ll .or/1 there5s no rush0 #5ll get on the horn and see .ho this guy .as0 #5ll let &oc "inder5s office /no. to e:pect you07 -hey spo/e for another fi,e minutes1 commenting on the .eather and speculating on .hy Eline had been out there0 Al casually mentioned that he5d dri,en this stretch of road the night before and lied that he hadn5t seen anything1 3ust in case it came out some.here do.n the line0 $e didn5t thin/ it .ould1 but he .anted to co,er himself1 3ust in case0 $e called in the information from Eline5s .allet to Marge1 instructing her to chec/ up on the guy0 $e then dro,e home and cra.led bac/ into bed0 $e .ould not attend Mass today1 perhaps1 ne,er again0 $e .ept long and hard and didn5t get up again until .ell after noon0 -he day passed by in a blur0 Al .atched tele,ision and ate canned ra,ioli0 -ry as he might1 he couldn5t get Eline out of his head0 $e .ondered if he5d be inside there fore,er1 and supposed that he .ould0 Al .as no stranger to death1 but this .as different0 $e /ne. the man5s name and .as directly responsible for .hat had happened0 Al .atched the e,ening ne.s0 -he good ne.s .as that the temperature .as going to rise steadily throughout the night1 reaching the teens by tomorro. afternoon0 -he bad ne.s .as that a huge sno.storm .as approaching from the Roc/ies and by tomorro. afternoon they might .ell e:perience an all2out blizzard0 Al shut off the lights at nine O5cloc/ and .ent bac/ to bed0 $e .as mentally e:hausted and he surprised himself by sleeping straight through until si: the follo.ing morning0 $e got up and sho.ered= made himself some eggs and bacon1 dressed1 and .as out the door at a ;uarter past se,en0 $e dro,e do.n to City $all .here he occupied a fe. rooms in the basement0 !esides his office and !etty5s lobby1 there .ere t.o cells in the bac/ and a small bathroom0 #t .asn5t much1 but Al had called it home for nearly a year and he hoped to retire from that ,ery office0 Al opened the door1 noticing the lights .ere on0 !etty !orgstrom .as already seated at her des/ and Al could immediately smell the coffee bre.ing0 64ood morning1 Al17 greeted !etty1 a /ind1 but frumpish .oman in her late fifties0 She .ore a lime2green pants2suit .ith a ruffled .hite blouse0 $er platinum blonde hair .as scre.ed into a fresh beehi,e0 6Morning1 !etty17 replied Al1 .ho made his .ay to the steel coffee pot0 6$o. are you today87

6!usy1 the phone has been ringing off the hoo/0 'ou5,e got a stac/ of messages on your des/07 6'ou5,e got to be /idding0 +hat the hec/ is going on87 6+ell1 they appro,ed your re;uest for that truc/ you as/ed for07 6-he !ronco87 as/ed Al1 suddenly cheering up0 $e5d as/ed for the four2.heel dri,e ,ehicle si: months ago after losing a suspect in a chase1 the man had dri,en his pic/up cross2country into a cornfield0 Al had been embarrassed o,er the incident and had nearly demanded the city council appro,e his re;uest0 6'ep1 Mar/ S.enson says they5,e ordered it from the <ord dealership in +orthington and that you can pic/ it up on <riday0 'ou5,e got to trade in the "-&07 6-hey can ha,e it17 replied Al1 sipping his coffee0 6Oh1 and a Miss Cathy "ane1 telephoned0 She said she .as e:pecting a call from you yesterday8 And1 that you didn5t call? She as/ed if you .ere all right07 6Shit17 muttered Al0 6Anything you5d care to share .ith me87 Al loo/ed at !etty and smiled for the first time that day0 6Not really17 he said0 6-he other thing is that body you pic/ed up yesterday0 Captain "yle Eline87 Captain? -hought Al1 the smile gone as ;uic/ly as it5d appeared0 6+hat about him87 6-urns out he5s a .ar hero= Congressional Medal of $onor1 t.o Purple $earts1 !ronze Star1 the .or/s0 $e .as a pretty big deal0 $olly.ood .as e,en considering a mo,ie about the guy0 +e5,e got to get him to +orthington0 # .as on the phone .ith the Secretary 4eneral this morning07 6+hat did you say1 the Secretary General8 +hat are you tal/ing about87 6Sorry1 # meant the 4eneral5s secretary0 Oops0 Still1 they5re sending some of their o.n men up here to do an in,estigation0 Apparently1 this guy .asn5t into drugs or booze07 Al felt his face drop0 $e couldn5t help it1 and the coffee cup shoo/ in his hand0 6+hat .as he doing there87 he managed0 6$as anyone figured that out87 6 h2huh1 his grandmother li,es o,er in Spar/s1 loo/s li/e he .anted to surprise her0 $an/ 4reen found his car last night1 loo/s li/e the motor hatched0 -hey say he5d .al/ed nearly t.enty miles in that cold0 -he poor guy1 .hat a .ay to goF Al87 Al had already closed the door to his inner office0

-he storm arri,ed ahead of schedule0 Sno. began to fall at 3ust after ten1 an hour later the .ind s.ept in0 Al spent the morning on the telephone0 $agen promised to be on the road by three1 four at the latest1 e:plaining that you couldn5t rush the berea,ed0 &oc "inder .as .aiting for the body and promised to do the autopsy as soon as $agen arri,ed0 "inder also reminded Al that he .as a family man and that family men .ere supposed to at be home .ith their families after dar/0 Al assured "inder that he understood that1 .hich he certainly did not0 $e5d ne,er li/ed "inder1 .ho had a sic/ sense of humor for a man in his position0 $e returned his attention to the .indo. and the dri,ing sno.0 Al dismissed !etty at 3ust after one0 She li,ed outside of to.n .ith her mother and hated dri,ing in the sno.0 Al follo.ed her home1 happy to be out of the office0 -he roads .ere indeed getting bad1 and more than once he thought !etty .as going to dri,e her Ma,eric/ straight into the ditch0 She ris/ed a ;uic/ too2da2loo .a,e as she turned into her long dri,e.ay0 Al turned around1 .atching to be sure !etty could ma/e it up her dri,e.ay1 and then he began to patrol0 -here .as nothing more he could do and he needed to /eep his mind off of Eline0 -he deepest pangs of hurt had subsided and he .as 3ust starting to thin/ that he could cope .ith it0 $e stopped and used the payphone to call $agen0 Old Mrs0 $agen ans.ered .ith the /indest telephone ,oice that Al had e,er heard0 She informed Al that Cimmy hadn5t left yet0 She thought he5d be on the road .ithin the hour0 And1 no1 Cimmy .asn5t .orried about the .eather0 -hat old hearse could go through 3ust about anything the good "ord could thro. their .ay0 She then in,ited him out to dinner1 .hich she al.ays did0 She had a fifty year2old .allflo.er and ne,er missed a chance to marry her off0 Al declined= he5d met Alice $agen1 .ho .or/ed alongside her father and brother in the family business0 $e definitely .asn5t interested0 $e continued .ith his patrol1 helping his first stranded motorist at 3ust before three0 -he storm .as pic/ing up strength0 A .oman had dri,en her Bol/s.agen !eetle off the shoulder and the little car had ended up nearly on its side in the steep irrigation ditch0 Al didn5t recognize her1 but he recognized her last name and he brought her bac/ into to.n0 $er brother .ould pic/ her up at the Clar/ Station0 !et.een four and fi,e he pic/ed up three more stranded motorists0 $e dro,e them all home0 Night arri,ed at a ;uarter after fi,e and Al cursed the blac/ness0 -he sno. .as falling in .a,es and at times1 Al could barely see the road0 $e thought si: inches might ha,e fallen1 but there .as no .ay to be sure .ith the s.irling .ind0 -he hea,y "-& barreled do.n the road1 crashing through drifts that stretched out across the road li/e thic/ tentacles0 $e .as out on Cemetery Road1 si: miles from to.n1 .hen he noticed his fuel gauge read 3ust o,er an eighth of a tan/0 -he <ord dran/ gasoline li/e it .as going out of style0 $e turned around and headed to to.n to fill up0 -he dri,e too/ fifteen minutes0 +hen he arri,ed in to.n1 Al disco,ered that both the Clar/ Station and the Co2op had shut do.n for the night0 $e pounded the dash .ith his fist1 .ondering .hat to do0 -he storm .as ho.ling outside the car1 lashing against it .ith a rene.ed fury0 No one .ould thin/ t.ice if he called it a

day= no one1 e:cept himself that is0 $e didn5t .ant another "yle Eline1 not on his .atch0 $e pic/ed up his radio and called County &ispatch0 $o.ard Spi/es ans.ered0 64o ahead1 Sheriff17 said $o.ard1 a burly man in his late thirties0 6$ey1 could you do me a fa,or8 #5m here in Al,ine and #5m running lo. on fuel0 Could you call o,er to Spar/s for me and see if the Conoco is still open87 6Are you sure you can ma/e it there1 Al8 +e5,e called our guys off the road07 6'eah1 #5ll be o/ay0 Cust tell them # could be there in a half hour1 in case they .ere planning on shutting do.n early07 6Copy that1 Al0 #5ll get right bac/ to you07 Al spied a co/e machine and fished a ;uarter out of his pants poc/et0 $e par/ed the cruiser in the middle of the road and ran up to the machine0 $e s;uinted his eyes against the dri,ing sno.1 the .ind shrie/ing across the steel outbuildings of the deserted Co2op0 !y the time he got bac/ inside the .arm cruiser1 he .as freezing cold and $o.ard .as calling on the radio0 64o ahead1 $o.ard07 6-hey5re still there1 said they5ll .ait for you07 6-en2four1 than/s a lot1 $o.ard07 6No problem0 Al1 #5m supposed to as/0 $as $agen left .ith that body1 yet8 +e got a call from some 4eneral5s office1 .ondering about that07 6'es1 he did17 spat Al into the microphone0 6&on5t bite my head off17 replied $o.ard0 6Cust doing my 3ob= be careful out there1 Sheriff0 -his is &ispatch1 o,er and out07 6Copy that1 $o.ard0 #5m sorry= it5s been a long day0 nit One1 o,er and out07 Al dropped the shift le,er into dri,e and slo.ly crept out of to.n0 Al dro,e slo.ly1 holding the handle of the spotlight .ith his left hand as he steered .ith his right0 $e found himself alone on the road1 .hich .as good0 $e5d already decided to call it a night after filling up the tan/0 -he car .ould be ready in case he got a call1 .hich he undoubtedly .ould0 -hat5s the life of a small2 to.n sheriff0 -he <orce of One1 as Al li/ed to call himself0 -he road .as straight and flat as a panca/e0 Al dro,e the cruiser at thirty MP$ and continued to .or/ the spotlight0 -han/fully1 the ditches .ere as empty as the road0 -he red light of the intersection snuc/ up on him1 hiding behind the sheets of sno. that fell from the s/y0 +ith the flashing red light came the memories0 $e tried not to thin/ about it and concentrated on the

spotlight beam1 almost hoping to disco,er a stranded car in the ditch0 -ry as he might1 he couldn5t get his mind off of Captain "yle Eline0 A tear fell0 -he intersection loomed ahead and Al noticed something odd about the sno. there0 $e studied it for a moment1 slo.ing the car to a cra.l0 #t loo/ed as if a plo. had run across $igh.ay @* and had left the intersection plugged .ith sno.0 $e cursed his luc/ and .ondered .hat he should do0 $e stopped the car 3ust outside the intersection1 set his can of Co/e on the dash and opened his door0 $e trudged up to the intersection1 e:amining the t.in piles of sno. that the inconsiderate plo. dri,er had left behind0 -hey .ere /nee2high and compacted0 Al cursed again and returned to his car0 -he needle on his fuel gauge stood at 3ust abo,e empty0 -he red light flailed in the .ind1 the intermittent flashing bec/oning him to try and pass through0 $e /ne. he should turn around1 yet1 Al couldn5t bring himself to do it0 $e carefully bac/ed up the "-& and said a ;uic/ prayer0 Al gathered speed and hit the first pile of sno. at nearly thirty miles per hour0 -he <ord buc/ed ,iolently and e:ploded into the intersection0 Al cheered0 -he crash had caused the car to lose ,aluable speed and Al pressed hard on the gas pedal0 -he rear tires bro/e loose and the cruiser began to fishtail0 Al fought the .heel1 /no.ing he .as past the point of no return0 -he cruiser .as nearly straightened out .hen it hit the second pile of sno.0 -here .as a fleeting second .here Al thought he5d actually ma/e it0 -he hea,y car lurched up and o,er the sno.2ban/1 bac/ tires spitting rooster tails of .hite po.der1 before it settled do.n half.ay across the obstruction0 Al screamed as he shifted into re,erse0 -he car mo,ed a fe. feet and san/0 Al sat there for a long moment0 $is body shoo/ .ith a futile anger and he .anted to lash out at someone0 $e s.ore a long string of curses and then reached for the microphone0 #t .as .et and stic/y0 Al loo/ed at the radio1 noticing that the indicator lights .ere not .or/ing0 $e ;uic/ly found the dome light and s.itched it on0 -he nearly full can of soda had dumped its contents on his radio0 $e5d forgotten it on the dash before he5d plo.ed into the sno.0 $e tried the microphone1 there .as no response0 $e clic/ed thru the channels1 nothing0 Al screamed in anger1 his face flush .ith a .ild rage0 $e then began slamming the transmission into gear= trying to roc/ the hea,y car= /no.ing it .as useless1 but trying1 3ust the same0 <i,e long minutes passed0 Al had ne,er felt so helpless0 -here .as a sho,el in the trun/ and he pulled on his hea,y 3ac/et and leather glo,es1 /no.ing it .as his only hope0 $e attac/ed the sno. .ith a ,engeance0 $e sho,eled for nearly ten minutes before getting bac/ behind the .heel and gi,ing it another try0 -he car mo,ed0 Al roc/ed the car bac/ and forth1 being patient0 $e had about t.o feet of play and he bac/ed up and put the cruiser into par/0 $e could do this0 $e got out again and continued to sho,el0 Satisfied1 he sto.ed the sho,el in the trun/ and returned to the car0 -his time there .as no ;uestion0 -he cruiser hesitated for only a second before lurching out of the intersection0 Al let out a .hoop0

And that5s .hen the engine began to sputter0 6Shit>7 Al feathered the pedal1 coa:ing the <ord another fifty feet before the engine died0 -he car .as out of gas0 $e calmly shifted the transmission into par/ and s.itched off the lights1 then the ignition0 $e then began to scream0 !lood2red light filtered inside the car from the intersection0 -he light seemed to be moc/ing him1 someho.0 Eline had caused this to happen1 Al .as certain of that0 $e .as par/ed 3ust a fe. feet a.ay from .here the man had died and Al could feel his presence0 Al tried to compose himself1 .ondering .hat he should do0 $e /ne. the best plan .as to stay .ith the car0 Someone .ould come along1 more than li/ely it5d be the plo. dri,er .ho5d caused this mess0 Al thought about ho. good it5d feel to gi,e him a piece of his mind0 -o .rite the man a fe. tic/ets1 expensive tic/ets0 !ut1 Al couldn5t stay .ith the car0 Eline .as there1 he /ne. it li/e he /ne. his o.n name0 -he blue face .as there e,ery time he closed his eyes0 -he fear .as bac/0 Al got out of the car and began to .al/0 Spar/s .as ten miles ahead0 $e could ma/e it0 $e5d .al/ed about t.o hundred yards .hen he began to hear something0 -he sound began to build li/e a gro.ling dog that .as rapidly approaching in the dar/ness0 Al froze in his trac/s= shi,ers ran up and do.n his spine0 -he sound continued to build and Al finally understood .hat it .as0 -he plo. .as heading bac/ do.n $igh.ay @*0 Al began to run bac/ to.ards the intersection0 -he flashing light .as merely a red spec/ in the distance1 the sno. obscuring the cursed glo.0 Al fought to retrace his footsteps in the sno.0 +ind lashed at his e:posed face1 ho.ling in his ears0 $e ran1 his heart racing inside his chest0 $e could see the dar/ silhouette of the cruiser1 sno. already frozen to the .arm .indshield0 $e trudged on1 careful not to slip and fall0 $e could hear the plo. clearly no.1 its yello. lights becoming ,isible in the dar/ storm0 Al screamed for him to stop0 -he blade of the plo. roaring across the icy blac/top1 blotting out his screams0 -he plo. dri,er .as supposed to stop at the four2.ay intersection1 but he didn5t0 Al stared in disbelief as it shot across the intersection .ithout e,en slo.ing do.n0 -he sound of the plo. ;uic/ly diminished1 the roaring of the blade carried a.ay .ith the .ind0 Al continued to run1 hoping someho. that the plo. dri,er .ould realize that he5d 3ust left someone stranded at the intersection0 $e stood under the flashing light for a long time0 Cim $agen dro,e the hearse under the %mergency Room canopy and slammed the transmission into par/0 $e ;uic/ly e:ited the car and ran inside the double2doors0

6'ou can5t par/ that there1 Mr0 $agen17 said the Charge Nurse0 6!esides1 "inder is .aiting for you in the basement0 $e5s mad as hell07 64et a doctor17 ordered an ashen2faced $agen0 6&o it no.> #5,e got Sheriff Merit in the car07 6&ear 4od07 -.enty minutes later1 $agen .as bac/ing the hearse into the garage under the bac/ of the hospital0 "inder .as .aiting there along .ith t.o strong2loo/ing men0 -hey opened the door and stood bac/1 loo/ing inside .ith a confused stare0 6+here the hell is your gurney87 snapped "inder0 6# had to lea,e it alongside the road0 +e had an emergency07 "inder shoo/ his head0 6Couldn5t you ha,e at least bagged him8 My 4od1 man07 $agen shoo/ his head0 6$e5s too big0 +e don5t ha,e bags that size07 "inder loo/ed at the body .ith a furro.ed bro.0 6+ell17 he said to his help0 6&on5t 3ust stand there1 go find a gurney>7 $e then returned his attention to $agen0 6+hat the hell happened out there8 # damn near came loo/ing for you1 myself0 'our mom is .orried sic/07 $agen rubbed his pasty face .ith both hands before spea/ing0 $is hands .ere still sha/ing0 6# got a late start1 it couldn5t be helped0 -he roads .ere terrible1 # almost turned bac/0 +hen # got to the intersection of 1? and @*1 # found Sheriff Merit5s cruiser abandoned at the side of the road0 #t .as co,ered in sno.1 must5,e been there a fe. hours07 6Merit1 eh87 as/ed "inder0 6# found him lying do.n on the side of the road1 in the e:act same spot .e5d found this guy on Sunday morning0 $e .ouldn5t respond1 shoc/1 # thin/0 # don5t /no.= #5m not a doctor0 # did e,erything # could to get him to snap out of it0 # tried getting him into the passenger seat1 but # couldn5t do it by myself0 $e .as as limp as a sac/ of potatoes0 <inally1 # 3ust rolled your stiff there1 off the gurney and pulled the Sheriff in alongside him07 6'ou5,e got to be /idding me07 6# .ish # .as0 # didn5t /no. .hat else to do0 # couldn5t 3ust lea,e him there0 Anyho.1 about half.ay here1 Merit .o/e upF7 6And found himself in the bac/ of a hearse .ith a dead body87 6%:actly>7 "inder5s face gre. pale0 6Oh shit17 he muttered0 6+hat happened then87

6+ell17 said $agen0 6$e started to scream0 # thin/ he5s still screaming upstairs in the %mergency Room0 # don5t /no. &oc= # thin/ he5s lost it07 $agan5s diagnosis pro,ed to be right on the money0 Al5s days of patrolling the countryside .ere o,er0 $is mind had retreated to a far a.ay place1 ne,er to return0 Captain "yle Eline .ould be buried .ith full military honors at Arlington Cemetery0 -he ser,ice .as attended by President Carter and se,eral high ran/ing military officials0 -hey all agreed it had been a terrible1 senseless tragedy0 And1 had he been able to spea/1 no one .ould5,e agreed more than Sheriff Al Merit0

Mc4innis Ste.
-here .ere thirteen of them li,ing under one roof and they .ere named Mc4innis0 %,ery Sunday at 10D00 a0m0 they occupied the front pe. off to the side of the altar at Saint Mar/5s Catholic Church0 # sat .ith my parents and little sister across the aisle0 # .atched them gro. up .ithout e,er /no.ing a single one of them0 -hey defined being poor in the early 1?G05s= the Mc4innis children5s Sunday outfits being handed do.n1 many times o,er1 their haircuts deli,ered in the family /itchen0 -hey all loo/ed to ha,e been stamped from a single mold1 li/e the same model car .ith slightly different options0 -he children .ore a sour e:pression .ith their Sunday clothes1 li/e an anger boiling 3ust underneath the s/in0 -om and Maggie Mc4innis had been old school Catholics1 and it loo/ed li/e their se,en boys and four girls .ould ne,er forgi,e them for it0 'et1 each .ee/ they .ere here0 "i/e us1 they ne,er missed Sunday Mass0 -om hauled the family around in an ancient school bus that he5d painted army green .ith a brush0 -hey li,ed 3ust outside of to.n in a ramshac/le farmhouse that loo/ed li/e something lefto,er from the dustbo.l era0 -here .as al.ays plenty of laundry hanging on the ma/eshift clothes lines and animals ran free in the farmyard0 # guess they made a li,ing .or/ing that old place1 although # ne,er understood ho. they did it0 -he mere sight of it made me grateful for our comfortable home in to.n0 # .as the same age as the t.o oldest boys1 identical t.ins1 named Matt and Mi/e0 +e .ere sophomores at Spar/s $igh School and had ne,er e:changed more than a nod to each other in recognition0 -hey .ere as close as t.o brothers #5d e,er /no.n and they didn5t seem to .ant1 or need1 any friends of their o.n0 -he other /ids made fun of them behind their bac/s1 as /ids .ill often do .hen they don5t understand something0 # ne,er too/ part= perhaps because .e attended the same church or more li/ely because # .as afraid of them0 +e5d li,ed in Spar/s for nearly my entire life0 Still1 .e .ere considered outsiders in the small farming community0 +e had no relati,es there and people only let you get so close1 .ithout an

area pedigree0 <rom .hat # could tell1 you needed at least three or four generations of family li,ing there to recei,e one of those0 # ne,er understood that0 My parents only .anted to be accepted and that ne,er really happened0 My &ad .or/ed in a small machine shop in Canyon1 about half an hour dri,e from .here .e li,ed0 At the time he suffered his accident1 # thought that it .as the .orst thing that could possibly happen0 # .as .rong0 &ad lost both arms up to the elbo.s in a press bra/e0 -here .as no attempt to sa,e them0 -.o years passed0 &ad ne,er complained as he did .hat he could .ith his artificial limbs0 nfortunately1 he couldn5t find gainful employment0 Mom .ent to .or/ part2time at !ud5s Red O.l and money became scarce0 # gre. three inches that year and gained .eight1 despite us being poor0 -here .as ,ery little money for clothes1 .hat there .as1 Mom .ould ta/e on her out2of2to.n rummage sale e:cursions0 Much of our food came to us ,ia donation from Saint Mar/s5s0 # thought .e5d hit roc/ bottom0 # could hear the other /ids .hispering about me in school0 +hat friends # did ha,e ,anished1 as if being poor .as a communicable disease0 -his .as .hen # began to ma/e eye contact .ith the Mc4innis /ids0 -hey .ere staring at me e,ery Sunday morning0 # stared right bac/ at them0 # didn5t care .hat they thought of me0 # didn5t care much about anything e:cept getting out of that to.n0 One Sunday in late April1 <ather Malley announced that he needed to spea/ directly to the parents regarding some financial matters of the church0 -he children .ere e:cused to the playground by the rectory0 Sister %lizabeth emerged .ith the Radio <lyer .agon that contained four bas/etballs1 t.o red /ic/2balls1 and one bloated football0 -he .agon .as empty in ten seconds0 She returned to her post at the top of the steps0 %,eryone /ne. to be on their best beha,ior1 .oe be to any minor .ho stepped out of line0 Sister %lizabeth loo/ed li/e a sea lion in her habit1 but she .as as /ind as she .as strict0 My sister1 Penny1 hadn5t been ostracized as of yet1 and she .ent to 3oin her friends o,er by the 3ungle2gym0 -he morning .as .arm and cloud free1 the type of morning that made you .ish you could be anyplace else0 # found a bench and stretched out in the sun0 #t5d been a long .inter and the sunshine felt good0 # closed my eyes and sat there for a full fi,e minutes before # felt them sit to each side of me0 Someho.1 # /ne. .ho they .ere before # opened my eyes0 #t .as Matt and Mi/e Mc4innis0 # sat up1 defensi,ely0 6Charlie17 said Matt0 6Matt17 # ans.ered0 6Mom .ants us to in,ite your family to dinner17 said Mi/e1 after a brief pause0 6'our mom87 # as/ed1 trying to digest this0

6+e all do17 ;uic/ly added Matt0 6Mom and &ad made a big /ettle of ste. and .e5re going to play /ic/2ball after .e eat0 +e got up early and did our chores07 # .as speechless0 # loo/ed bac/ and forth at the same face1 .aiting for the other shoe to drop0 #t ne,er did0 6O/ay17 # said1 not /no.ing .hat else to say0 Mi/e clapped me on the bac/ and .e .ere suddenly tal/ing about Sister %lizabeth0 -hirty minutes later # felt li/e #5d /no.n them my entire life0 # had1 of course1 but ne,er in any personal sense of the term0 -he bell sounded and .e all stood to attention1 e,en Matt and Mi/e1 the tough Mc4innis boys0 +e .ere ushered bac/ to 3oin our families0 After church # immediately began to .or/ on my parents0 -hey seemed to be 3ust as shoc/ed about the in,itation as # had been0 # continued my argument1 going on about the big /ettle of ste. and the game of /ic/2ball to follo.0 &ad5s eyes lit up at the mention of /ic/2ball0 +e had ta/en to playing it oursel,es in the bac/ yard0 Cust the four of us1 because it .as something &ad could still do0 $e may ha,e lost his arms1 but he .as still in his prime at forty0 # .as e:cused from the con,ersation0 Mom and &ad .ere going to discuss it0 # sat bac/1 trying to bloc/ out the con,ersation0 nless you ha,e heard your proud parents discuss accepting charity1 at any le,el1 you5,e ne,er e:perienced true heartache0 -he offers come fe. and far bet.een these days1 as if &ad should5,e /no.n ho. to .or/ .ith his t.o prosthetic hoo/s by no.0 "i/e any teenager1 # /ne. .hat there .as to eat in the house0 -here .asn5t much0 Mom didn5t .ant to go0 &ad did and &ad .on0 -he /ic/ball had done it for him and someho. # /ne. that the Mc4innis5 /ne. this .ould seal the deal0 &inner .as at one O5cloc/ and .hen .e got home # heard Mom dialing the phone for &ad to call -om Mc4innis to accept their offer0 #t .as hard to .atch &ad on the phone1 .orse to listen to him accept a meal .ith people he didn5t /no.0 # .as e:cited1 more e:cited than #5d been t.o Christmas5s ago .hen the tree .as heaped .ith presents donated in the .ee/s follo.ing &ad5s accident0 -he ride from to.n out to the Mc4innis farm seemed to last fore,er0 -he -.ins .ere playing a double header and &ad had the game on .hile Mom dro,e0 Not a .ord .as e:changed until .e pulled do.n their dri,e.ay0 -hat .as .hen # .anted to turn bac/0 6# .ant you /ids to be on your Sunday2best beha,ior17 said &ad0 # hardly heard him0 # .as loo/ing at the house and the cluttered farm2yard0 -he s/eleton2li/e house loomed before us li/e an old ghost0 -he house itself had al.ays di,erted my eyes from the yard and the old saddle2bac/ed barn behind it0 April .eeds sprouted from e,ery possible surface0 Rusted machinery littered the yard and chic/ens roamed free0 # too/ a deep breath1 suddenly .anting to turn around and return home0 # couldn5t understand ho. anyone could li,e here0 +hat happened ne:t .as a blur0 -he entire Mc4innis family came out to the car to greet us0 -om e,en shoo/ my &ad5s hoo/ as if it .ere the most natural thing in the .orld0 +e .ere en,eloped by them1 all of them1 and .e ;uic/ly found oursel,es being sho.n around the farm0 # /ne.

nothing about farming bac/ then= # .as from to.n and .as pri,ately ,ery proud of that fact0 !ut1 # found the tour interesting in spite of that0 -he Mc4innis family .as ,ery fond of their farm and # found that # respected that0 &inner .as ser,ed promptly at one0 # remember thin/ing ho. odd it .as that Matt had said both of his parents had helped prepare dinner0 # ;uic/ly understood .hy0 -here .as so much of it0 -he family dining2room table .as really three tables pushed together0 None of the chairs matched as far as # could tell0 #t .as a tight fit1 but the room didn5t feel cramped li/e it should ha,e0 -he table .as set .ith an assortment of bo.ls and sil,er.are0 -he /ettle of ste. .as placed ne:t to -om and the children settled in around the table0 -he parents .ould eat on -B trays in the li,ing2 room0 -om ser,ed us all .ith great s/ill and .ith ,ery fe. .ords0 Most of his ;uestions .ere silent and made .ith his eyes0 More8 # .atched the bo.ls being passed around the table1 steaming .ith a ste. that made my mouth .ater0 Again1 # .as astounded by the manners of the Mc4innis family as # listened to the ladling from the large iron /ettle0 -here .as anticipation there and # /ne. it .asn5t 3ust my stomach tal/ing0 +hen -om finished .e all bo.ed our heads and he said grace0 Our parents left the room .ith their bo.ls and Penny and # .ere left alone .ith the ele,en siblings0 -he e:perience .as o,er.helming0 -he food .as .onderful0 +e ate seconds and had hardly put a dent in the pot0 "oa,es of freshly ba/ed bread .ere consumed0 <or desert1 .e had the best rhubarb pie #5d e,er tasted0 -he day .ent by in a flash0 %,eryone chipped in to help .ith the dishes and .e soon had e,erything cleaned up0 -he /itchen floor sagged and groaned underneath us0 # remember .ondering if it .as safe0 -he house .as so old0 Still1 the ,ie. .as much better from the inside0 -hey5d painted and .allpapered and the place had that mismatched1 homey feel0 -he boys all shared a large room in the basement .here four sets of .ooden bun/2beds lined the .alls0 +e di,ided into groups1 .ith our mother5s modestly e:cusing themsel,es0 +e played /ic/ball for hours0 # remember .atching my father ha,ing the time of his life on the crude diamond behind the barn0 $e5d /ic/ that ball a mile and # could hear him laughing as he 3ogged around the bases0 -om finally had to beg him to stop playing0 Mr0 Mc4innis had something he .anted to discuss .ith him0 # remember listening and .ondering .hat he .anted to say to my dad0 !ut1 .e played on and # ;uic/ly forgot about it0 # didn5t .ant to lea,e1 but the time came and .e all said our goodbyes0 # don5t thin/ any of us .anted to go0 +e dro,e home listening to the last inning of the double header0 -he -.ins s.ept as $armon Eillabre. blasted three home runs bet.een both games0 # .ill ne,er forget that day0 My .orld .as about to change0 My father called a family meeting after .e finished .atching +alt &isney0 +hat he said at the meeting caused my mind to shut do.n0 #t must5,e been shoc/0 -om Mc4innis had offered .or/ to the both of us and he .anted us to start immediately0 # s.allo.ed this part all right1 thin/ing # .as up to the challenge0

-he ne:t part .as .hat too/ my breath a.ay0 -hey .anted us to mo,e to the farm and to e:change houses .ith us0 Someho.1 they had /no.n that .e .ere behind on our mortgage1 e,en if # didn5t0 -he farm .as paid for and they needed a larger home for their family0 Our house .as t.ice the size of theirs0 &ad laid all of the cards on the table= he didn5t e,en hold a pair of deuces0 # hadn5t /no.n .e .ere in such bad shape0 -he family discussion .as cut short by our o.n tears0 &ad e:plained that .e didn5t ha,e any options0 # remember reading the shame in his face and the pain in my mother5s eyes0 +e e:changed homes the follo.ing .ee/0 -om Mc4innis dro,e o,er to pic/ up &ad in the green bus= the t.o of them .ent into to.n to complete the deal at the ban/0 #t all happened so fast0 # remember trying to corner &ad during that .ee/ to try and tal/ him out of the mo,e0 # .as prepared to ;uit school and 3oin the army1 if need be0 # could send my pay home to /eep the mortgage paid0 &ad must5,e sensed this and he a,oided being alone .ith me as .e pac/ed up our belongings0 +hen mo,ing day arri,ed .e .ere 3oined by the Mc4innis family and .e loaded our belongings in their hay .agon1 .hich -om .as pulling behind the bus0 Our normally ;uiet street became ;uite busy that day1 .ith seemingly e,eryone in to.n finding an e:cuse to dri,e by0 None offered to help0 &ays passed and the .or/ /ept our minds off the ob,ious0 -he beautiful spring .eather on the farm helped cushion the blo.0 After ma/ing some modifications to the steering .heel1 &ad dro,e the tractor as .e planted the fields0 Mr0 Mc4innis had .anted to plant corn1 but my dad someho.1 ine:plicably1 tal/ed him into planting sugar beets0 +e spent our e,enings together in the li,ing2room1 our furniture loo/ing ;uite different in the .ell2.orn room0 Summer couldn5t get here ;uic/ enough0 # cried myself to sleep for the first .ee/0 -he home e:change .as big ne.s around to.n and the /ids at school had been ,ery cruel to me0 Some things .ere said to me that #5ll ne,er repeat0 # became an honorary Mc4innis that spring and Matt e,en bloodied the nose of one of my tormenters after school0 +e continued to .or/ the farm and # found myself in the middle of an e,ol,ing miracle0 &ad too/ to the life li/e a duc/ to .ater0 +hat he couldn5t do1 he figured out a .ay to accomplish0 !y summer the shame had .orn off as # follo.ed his lead0 # could do this0 # actually found myself en3oying the .or/1 and .hen our crop sprouted from the earth # .as filled .ith an enormous amount of pride0 # loo/ed for.ard to our trips to the Co2op so # could rub elbo.s .ith the other farmers0 +e ne,er spo/e much1 but # began to loo/ at them as brothers0 # had calluses on my hands and # li/ed ho. they felt0 -he Mc4innis clan .ould arri,e e,ery morning after brea/fast and .e .or/ed those hundred acres by hand0 Mom and Mrs0 Mc4innis became as close as sisters0 -hey prepared enormous meals that .e ;uic/ly de,oured0 &ad and -om had ;uic/ly become the best of friends0 # learned

each of the /ids by name and found that they .ere as uni;ue as any children from a smaller family0 Mi/e and Matt /ne. e,ery inch of that farm and they had a story to go .ith each part of it0 # also disco,ered "isa Mc4innis that summer and # a./.ardly follo.ed her around li/e a lost puppy0 She .as a year older than # and # fell asleep each night .ith her on my mind0 After the e,ening chores and the Mc4innis family had left .e .ould .or/ on the yard0 Penny and Mom 3oined in0 Soon1 # lo,ed that old farm more than # had e,er cared about our big house in to.n0 # /no. .e all shared that same emotion0 -hat summer ;uic/ly faded to fall and # remember ho. much # hated the thought of going bac/ to school0 Still1 there .as a sudden optimism about the crop0 -he price for sugar beets shot up as the price of corn began to plummet0 After the har,est .e had enough money to purchase ne. siding and .indo.s for the farm0 -om Mc4innis bought a ne. ,an from the <ord dealership1 an e:tended model .ith enough seating for the entire family0 -here .as enough money left o,er to buy the ad3oining farm and .e successfully e:panded our operation0 Mom and &ad are grandparents no.0 $all and Mc4innis <arms employ thirty people each spring and fall0 # married "isa Mc4innis and .e no. ha,e se,en children of our o.n0 +e li,e in the old farmhouse1 .hich has been reno,ated t.ice since the day # mo,ed there0 # .ill ne,er lea,e it0 +e attend the same church1 although <ather Malley has been gone for years0 Our clan ta/es up an entire .ing of the small church0 "ife has been good1 better than #5d e,er dreamed possible0 # learned more about myself that summer than at any other time of my life0 -hings are ne,er really ho. they seem0 Not really0 And it all began .ith a little faith and a bo.l of Mc4innis ste.0

!ennie
6%:plain to me again ho. this .or/s1 3ust to be sure # understand you0 +ho .rites the paychec/s for !ennie87 Mrs0 !ro.n fro.ned and turned to face her client0 6!ennie1 .ould you lea,e us alone for a fe. minutes87 She rummaged in her purse and found a dime0 6+hy don5t you go do.n to the lunchroom and buy yourself a nice Coca2cola8 #5ll be do.n there before you can say Cac/ Robinson07 6Cac/ Robinson17 said !ennie thic/ly0 6Such a sense of humor1 please !ennie1 run along0 -here are a fe. things # need to discuss .ith Mr0 !ee/sma07 !ennie too/ the dime and than/ed Mrs0 !ro.n ;uietly before pausing at the door0 $e scratched his head0

6&o.n the hall to the right1 you can5t miss it17 said !ee/sma0 !ennie loo/ed at Mrs0 !ro.n1 .ho .as ma/ing a subtle hand gesture to indicate .hich .ay .as right0 !ennie nodded and slo.ly left the office0 !ennie "ynch .asn5t used to being on his o.n and he .al/ed the hall.ay .ith a sense of trepidation0 $e .as short and thin and although he .as middle2aged1 he appeared to be much younger0 -here .as something not ;uite right about his face and his e:pression .as best described as perpetually confused0 $e .ore his best s.eater and a ne. pair of O:ford loafers for their trip to the city and his hair had been trimmed neatly that morning in the /itchen0 $e held the dime in his right hand1 clutching it tightly0 $e .asn5t used to ha,ing money and he .as afraid he5d lose it0 $e remembered seeing the large soda machine on their tour0 $e5d .atched a tall man put some money in it and he5d listened as the glass bottle of Coca2Cola had clink !e clinke! as the man e:tracted it from the top of the machine0 !ennie .as e:cited to try it for himself0 $e nearly passed the lunchroom1 did in fact1 but he bac/ed up .hen he heard the machine5s unmista/able sound as it dispensed a soda0 $e peered inside and sa. that the large room .as nearly empty1 e:cept for three men .ho .ere gathered around one of the tables0 !ennie gathered his courage and .al/ed inside1 as if he belonged0 $e held his right hand up to his chest1 still clutching his dime1 and he .al/ed directly to the bright red soda machine0 !ennie smiled1 suddenly feeling independent and ;uite gro.n up0 $e studied the selections0 6+ill ya get a load of that87 as/ed one of the men at the table0 6$ey1 Oscar1 loo/ o,er there0 # thin/ it5s our ne. lead man>7 !ennie cautiously loo/ed o,er at the men and then he turned around1 e:pecting to see someone standing behind him0 -here .as no one there0 Was a "anitor calle! a lea! man? !ennie didn5t /no.0 $e .a,ed at the men and smiled and returned his attention to the machine0 6# thin/ he li/es you17 said one of the ,oices0 6# li/e that s.eater17 commented another0 6&o you suppose it5s a real cardigan8 #5ll bet his mommy pic/ed it out for him07 !ennie loo/ed do.n at his s.eater0 $e li/ed it1 too0 !ut1 his mommy hadn5t pic/ed it out for him= he5d ne,er met his mother0 Mrs0 !ro.n had bought it for him and he .ondered if he should tell the men that0 $e decided against it and lifted his right hand to put the dime into the slot of the humming soda machine0 $e .ould try a Coca2Cola0 6# thin/ he5s going to ta/e your bottle of Co/e1 Oscar17 said one of the men0 6Are you going to let him get a.ay .ith that87 6$ec/ no>7 replied Oscar0

!ennie heard the men and his hand began to tremble0 $e .as suddenly unsure of himself and .ished Mrs0 !ro.n .ould hurry up and find him0 -hen1 much to his horror1 the dime slipped from bet.een his finger and thumb and !ennie let out a gasp as he .atched the dime roll under the machine0 $e immediately fell to his hands and /nees and began searching for the dime0 Mrs0 !ro.n .ould be so disappointed in him0 $e had to find that dime1 he 3ust had to0 -here .as a roar of laughter from the table and !ennie ignored it0 $e continued loo/ing for the dime1 reaching his hand under the Coca2Cola machine and s.eeping it bac/ and forth across the stic/y tiles underneath it0 $e felt something1 it .as 3ust at his fingertips and he strained to reach it0 <inally1 .ith his arm all the .ay under the machine1 he .as able to slide .hate,er it .as out from under the machine0 !ennie sighed1 it .as his dime0 -here .as a cheer from the table0 !ennie smiled1 holding the dime in front of himself to sho. the men that he5d found it0 #t .as co,ered in lint and stic/y from .hate,er had been on the floor0 $e prayed that it .ould still .or/ in the machine0 $e dropped it into the slot and then he opened the door and chose the coldest loo/ing Coca2Cola in the machine0 Clink !e clink, and !ennie .as suddenly in possession of the bottle0 $e held it in both hands1 li/ing ho. the cool glass made his s.eaty palms feel0 $e carefully slid the bottle nec/ into the opener and popped the top0 -he bottle made that funny sound as the bubbles rose to the top0 !ennie smiled0 $e raised the bottle to his lips and he too/ a long1 satisfying drin/0 6# guess the retard didn5t hear you1 "arry0 #5m sure he 3ust too/ Oscar5s Co/e0 #5ll bet Oscar5s going to be pretty mad about that>7 64ee1 you5re right1 Oscar doesn5t li/e anyone ta/ing his Coca2Cola0 # .ouldn5t .ant to be in his shoesF7 6+hat did you guys say8 &id you say that somebo!y too/ my bottle of soda87 !ennie turned a.ay from the men0 $e didn5t li/e .hat they .ere saying and he5d been called a retard enough to /no. that they .ere tal/ing about him0 $e hadn5t ta/en Oscar5s bottle of Coca2 Cola= there .ere a .hole lot more .here this one had come from0 -he men 3ust .anted to gi,e him a hard time0 -hey .ere being mean0 $e didn5t li/e that= he didn5t li/e that at all0 6$ey retard>7 6+hat did you say87 ;uestioned the unmista/able ,oice of Mrs0 !ro.n0 !ennie .as ,ery happy to hear her stern ,oice0 6# didn5t say anything1 did # "arry87 6Not a .ord1 Oscar07 replied "arry0 6Must ha,e been her imagination1 # thin/ it5s going around07

Mrs0 !ro.n= dressed in her Sunday hat and her long .ool coat descended upon the table li/e a tiger0 !ennie .atched her and too/ another drin/ of his soda0 She didn5t appro,e of name2calling and she .as going to ba.l these men out1 he 3ust /ne. it0 6&on5t you boys get smart .ith me17 she said1 sha/ing her finger at them in disgust0 6'ou1 of all people17 she said1 pointing directly at one of the men0 6Me87 as/ed the tall man in the green .or/ uniform0 6# recognize you1 # ne,er forget a face0 'ou go to Saint Matthe.5s o,er on Cohnson Street0 #5,e seen you before0 +hat .ould <ather Callahan thin/ of you right no.87 6Oh cripes1 lady1 you made your point17 said the man1 running one hand across his cre.2cut hair0 6'ou ain5t got to say nothing to the <ather1 #5m sorry0 +e all are1 right boys87 6+hat87 as/ed the one that !ennie had assumed .as Oscar0 6Sorry8 +hy the hec/ .ould any of us be sorry8 +hat5s .rong .ith you1 "arry87 6Cust let it go17 said "arry0 6'ou goin5 soft on us1 "arry87 as/ed the other man1 .ho hadn5t yet been named0 $e .as fat1 li/e a loaf of bread that had risen too high1 thought !ennie0 6#5,e been going to Saint Matt5s all my life0 My /ids are in school o,er there0 'ou guys /no. that0 "i/e # said1 .ill you please 3ust let it go8 # don5t need any trouble07 6'eah17 said Oscar0 $e .as a tough2loo/ing man .ith greasy 3et2blac/ hair that .as combed bac/ li/e %l,is Presley5s0 $e .ore a short2slee,ed shirt that .as cuffed to e:pose his muscles0 6+ell1 # don5t go to church and # don5t gi,e a plug nic/el .hat this old broad thin/s of me1 see8 # say her friend o,er there is a retar!#7 !ennie .atched in horror as Mrs0 !ro.n s.atted at the man .ith her hand bag0 6+hat the de,il is going on do.n here87 e:claimed a loud ,oice from the door to the lunchroom0 #t .as Mr0 !ee/sma and !ennie .as ,ery happy to see him0 6Oscar1 "arry1 +alter1 # .ant to see the three of you in my office1 right no.>7 6'ou5d better lea,e him alone17 Mrs0 !ro.n .arned Oscar as he began to get to his feet0 $e .as red2faced and his eyes ne,er left Mrs0 !ro.n5s as he rose0 She returned the glare0 !ennie turned a.ay from the men as they approached1 pretending that he had another dime and might decide to ha,e another bottle of soda0 6#5ll meet you do.n there17 said !ee/sma in a stern ,oice0 $e .aited for a long moment as the sound of the men5s sullen footsteps retreated do.n the hall.ay0 6+hat .as that all about87

6Nothing17 Mrs0 !ro.n said ;uic/ly0 6+e .ere 3ust ha,ing a little discussion1 isn5t that right1 !ennie87 6-hey called me a retard17 said !ennie0 6&id they87 as/ed Mr0 !ee/sma0 6+ell1 !ennie1 don5t you .orry about a thing0 -hat certainly .on5t happen again07 6-han/ you17 said Mrs0 !ro.n0 6-han/ you17 repeated !ennie0 !ennie loo/ed in the long mirror= he could see himself and Mrs0 !ro.n in the reflection0 She .as standing behind him and beaming .ith pride0 !ennie .ished she .ere his mother0 6Oh1 !ennie1 .e5re all so proud of you17 she said0 6'our first day on the 3ob1 isn5t that e:citing87 !ennie .as indeed e:cited1 in fact1 he5d had a lot of trouble getting to sleep the night before0 6# am e:cited17 he said in his usual monotone ,oice0 6# really am07 6'ou loo/ pretty sharp in your .or/ uniform1 doesn5t he e,eryone87 -he big room in the $ome .as full of smiling faces and they .ere all nodding in appro,al0 !ennie blushed1 a little embarrassed by all the attention0 -here .ere fifteen of them li,ing there and they .ere all counting on !ennie ma/ing a good impression at his ne. 3ob0 #f things .ent .ell for him1 there .as a good chance that Mrs0 !ro.n .ould be able to secure 3obs for some of the others0 Of course1 some .ould ne,er find 3obs0 -hey .ould continue to ta/e their pills and .atch the blac/ and .hite tele,ision to pass the time0 Still1 they .ere all ,ery proud of their friend0 6Mrs0 Shipman made you a special lunch1 !ennie0 #sn5t that nice8 -here are t.o sand.iches in your lunch2pail and a banana and a big slice of chocolate ca/e0 'ou should than/ her for doing that for you= don5t you thin/ so1 !ennie87 6-han/ you1 Mrs0 Shipman07 6Oh1 it .as no trouble17 said Mrs0 Shipman1 .al/ing o,er to !ennie and gi,ing him a ;uic/ hug0 6No trouble at all0 #5m proud of you1 !ennie0 'ou5re ,ery bra,e07 6#ndeed he is17 said Mrs0 !ro.n0 6No.1 you5re sure you .ant to .al/ all the .ay to the plant by yourself8 #5d be happy to .al/ .ith you07 6# .ant to do it by myself17 ans.ered !ennie0 6#5m a man1 not a baby07 6# ne,er said you .ere a baby0 'ou remember the .ay87

6'es07 6Oh dear1 all right then1 it5s time to send you off0 $ere5s your lunch2pail0 !e careful crossing the street1 o/ay8 "isten to me1 oh dear1 #5m 3ust so happy right no.07 !ennie too/ the lunch2pail and .al/ed to.ards the door0 %,eryone .as saying good2bye at the same time and he 3ust .anted to start his 3ourney0 $e .as uncomfortable being fussed o,er and .as e:cited to start his ne. 3ob= his first real 3ob0 Mrs0 !ro.n .al/ed him to the door0 6!ennie1 don5t you listen to those men if they start ma/ing trouble for you1 all right8 Mr0 !ee/sma assured me that they .ouldn5t1 but 3ust in case1 # .ant you to ignore them07 6'es1 Mrs0 !ro.n07 64ood17 she ga,e him a ;uic/ hug and !ennie could see that her eyes .ere moist .ith tears0 !ennie .ondered about that as he .al/ed out the door into the morning sunshine0 -he .al/ .as ten bloc/s and !ennie .as confident that he .ould ha,e no trouble finding the plant0 $e .as to go directly to Mr0 !ee/sma5s office and he hoped he could remember .here it .as0 $e closed the gate behind himself and replaced the .ooden latch0 $e turned the corner and began to .al/ do.n the side.al/0 $e felt a sudden s.ell of pride1 he .as out in the .orld and lo,ing e,ery minute of it0 $e .al/ed do.n <illmore Street and crossed at 10th A,enue0 $e thought about his lunch1 .hat .ould he do .ith it .hen he arri,ed at .or/8 +ould they e:pect him to carry it around .ith him8 $e didn5t /no.1 nobody had said anything about that0 Mr0 !ee/sma .ould tell him0 Maybe he could lea,e it in his office0 $e seemed li/e a nice man0 $e crossed ?th Street and turned left1 passing a bar/ing dog in the front yard of a blue house .ith flo.ers lining the side.al/0 !ennie could smell lilacs and he li/ed the smell of them because they reminded him of Mrs0 !ro.n0 $e ignored the dog and /ept .al/ing0 $e .ould need to pay attention to .hat he .as doing so he .ouldn5t get lost0 -hat .as .hy he failed to notice Oscar .al/ing behind him0 !ennie .aited for a truc/ at the intersection of ?th A,enue and Pierce Street0 $e crossed carefully1 entering the commercial district .ith all of its shops and businesses0 !ennie loo/ed in the .indo.s1 .atching the men and .omen go about their 3obs0 $is stomach began to fill .ith butterflies= he .ould soon be 3ust li/e them0 $e .ould earn a paychec/ and ha,e his o.n money and he5d be able to buy a Coca2Cola .hene,er he pleased0 $e nearly forgot to turn do.n the alley0 $e didn5t li/e this long stretch of dar/ cobblestones0 -he buildings here .ere dar/ and imposing0 -ruc/s lined the alley.ay1 ma/ing their deli,eries of .ho /ne. .hat0 !ennie certainly didn5t1 he clutched the handle of his lunch2pail and tried to loo/ li/e he belonged0

6$ey retard17 called a some.hat familiar ,oice from behind him0 !ennie froze1 recognizing the ,oice0 6+here do you thin/ you5re goin587 !ennie5s heart s/ipped a beat0 $e .as suddenly running as fast as his legs .ould carry him0 $e held his lunch2pail .ith both hands as he ran do.n the greasy old alley2.ay that stan/ of rotten fruit and e:haust fumes0 $e had to get to the plant0 Mr0 !ee/sma .as .aiting for him0 $e could hear the clopping of footsteps behind him1 gaining .ith each passing second0 A group of four men .ere gathered ahead of him1 smo/ing and tal/ing in the gloomy light0 !ennie hoped that they might someho. help him0 Surely1 they could see that he didn5t .ant any trouble0 $e only .anted to get to his ne. 3ob0 $e only .anted Mrs0 !ro.n and the others to be proud of him0 $e suddenly found that he5d been .rong about the men0 One of them stuc/ a long leg out into his path and !ennie tripped and .as suddenly flying through the air li/e a bird .ith a bro/en .ing0 $e landed in a heap1 his lunch2pail spilling its contents all o,er the dirty pa,ement0 !ennie loo/ed at his scuffed and bleeding hands and his ruined lunch and began to cry0 -he four men in the group pointed at him and laughed li/e a pac/ of 3ac/als0 Mrs0 !ro.n .as .aiting at the door .hen !ennie arri,ed bac/ at the $ome0 She5d been .aiting there for the better part of an hour1 /no.ing it .as foolish0 !ennie .ould be fine1 she5d prayed for that and no. it .as in 4od5s hands0 She gasped .hen she sa. him at the gate and she literally ran out to meet him0 6!ennie17 she e:claimed0 6"oo/ at you1 you5re a mess0 Oh dear1 are you hurt8 'ou did this to him> 'ou5re a monster>7 She .as pointing at Oscar1 .ho .as standing behind !ennie at the gate0 6No he5s not17 said !ennie0 6Oscar5s my friend0 $e beat up four guys .ho .ere pic/ing on me this morning0 $e really did0 $e5s tough li/e Cames &ean0 -hen1 he too/ me to .or/ and he sho.ed me the ropes1 didn5t you0 Oscar87 6# guess # did17 said the man called Oscar0 6No.1 you run along and let me tal/ to Mrs0 !ro.n1 o/ay8 #5ll be by in the morning to .al/ to .or/ .ith you1 if you5d li/e that87 6Oh1 # .ould17 said !ennie1 .ho .as absolutely beaming at him0 6#5ll be right in1 !ennie0 4o change out of your .or/ clothes and #5ll find a needle and thread and .ill try to mend your trousers07 6O/ay0 4ood2bye Oscar0 &on5t forget about me tomorro.1 o/ay87

6# .on5t1 buddy0 #5ll be here1 3ust remember .e can5t be late for .or/07 6#5ll be ready17 ans.ered !ennie1 .ith a smile that stretched across his face0 $e then .al/ed to.ard the $ome1 turning his head three times before going inside1 as if he .ere chec/ing to see if this .asn5t all a dream0 $e .a,ed from the door.ay and didn5t go inside until Oscar returned the .a,e0 6'ou beat up four men87 as/ed Mrs0 !ro.n1 her ;uestioning eyes sho.ing shoc/ and disbelief0 6Ah1 it .as nothin50 !esides1 one of them tripped !ennie0 -hat5s .hy he5s scratched up and his pants are ripped0 # had to teach those thugs a lesson0 Nobody messes .ith !ennie1 not .hile #5m around07 6+e5,e got that in common17 ans.ered Mrs0 !ro.n0 6Can # as/ you something8 +hy the change of heart8 'ou called !ennie a retar! the last time # sa. you07 6'eah1 #5m really ashamed of that0 # 3ust ne,er been around anybody li/e him before0 -he guy 3ust gets under your s/in1 in a good .ay0 'ou /no. .hat # mean07 6# do17 said Mrs0 !ro.n .ith an understanding smile0 6# certainly do07 6-his thing .e got going on do.n at .or/1 for people li/e !ennie1 # mean0 -hat5s a good thing0 # mean1 people need to see people li/e that and .or/ .ith them and stuff0 -hat .ay they can see that they5re not all that different from the rest of us07 6# couldn5t agree more1 Oscar07 6'eah1 he5s all right in my boo/ and he thin/s the .orld of you0 $e sure does0 #5ll be around in the morning0 &on5t you .orry about a thing= #5ll beat the snot out of anyone .ho e,en loo/s at him funny0 'ou can count on me1 Mrs0 !ro.n0 'ep1 #5ll loo/ out for him1 don5t you .orry about a thing07 Mrs0 !ro.n smiled and .atched as Oscar .al/ed a.ay= his head held high1 challenging the .orld1 hands thrust deep in the poc/ets of his na,y2blue .indbrea/er0 She then than/ed 4od and .al/ed inside the $ome to find her needle and thread1 brushing the tears a.ay from her chee/s0 !ennie retired from the plant in 1?G*= he and Oscar remained lifelong friends0

&aryl and the Amazing -echnicolor &reampants

A great ma3ority of the days in our li,es are of the forgettable ,ariety0 -hey come and go .ithout fanfare1 un.orthy of loo/ing bac/ upon0 -hey are the mundane1 e,eryday days1 .here the

routines and the faces seldom change0 'et1 change is happening all around us1 .e 3ust don5t notice it because it usually happens in tiny increments0 Sometimes these changes are for the goodD li/e .eight loss during a diet or serious practice at something one en3oys doing0 And sometimes these changes are for the .orse0 -hey begin li/e a mild case of arthritis in the little finger1 before slo.ly spreading out into the other e:tremities0 &aryl !litz had 3ust finished dressing .hen the commotion started0 $e5d chosen the blac/ tie to go .ith the blac/ suit and shoes0 -he funeral .as still an hour and ten minutes a.ay0 6$as anyone seen my blac/ sandals87 as/ed +endy !litz1 &aryl5s .ife of fifteen years0 &aryl hadn5t1 so he continued to loo/ for his sil,er .atch= the one that didn5t /eep the time1 but loo/ed better than his other one0 6Are you listening to me87 bec/oned +endy5s ,oice1 much closer this time0 #n fact1 +endy had been close enough for &aryl to feel her breath on his ear as she spo/e0 6# don5t /no. .here your blac/ sandals are1 dear17 replied &aryl0 6# ha,en5t .orn them07 6And .hat is that supposed to mean87 6#t means you5ll ha,e to as/ someone else1 or /eep loo/ing07 -here .as a moment of silence as +endy processed this information0 &aryl /ne. .hat this meant and ;uic/ly prepared himself for the .orst0 +endy .as dangerous .hen she ga,e herself the time to thin/0 6Maybe if # had more than one stupid pair of blac/ sandals1 # .ouldn5t ha,e to bother you>7 $here%s some soun! logic, thought &aryl0 6!ut can # go out and buy myself a pair .ithout feeling guilty about it8 No0 "oo/ at you1 Mr0 Sharp2&ressed2Man1 .ho are you trying to impress87 &aryl had yet to turn to face his attac/er and he ;uic/ly loo/ed himself o,er in the mirror0 -he suit had been his dad5s1 the tie he5d gotten for Christmas many years ago1 and his shoes .ere the ones he5d .orn .ith his tu:edo on their .edding day0 Sharp &resse! 'an, eh? .ondered &aryl0 6'ou5re 3ust a piece of shit1 you /no. that1 right8 A big hun/ of .hale shit stuc/ to the bottom of my shoe0 # .ish # could 3ust scrape you off07 6#5m sorry dear17 said &aryl0 6!ut1 you5d need to be .earing shoes to do that0 +hy don5t you find another pair so .e can get on the road8 -hey .on5t hold Mom5s funeral for me07 6-here you go again1 &aryl17 spat +endy as she began stomping her .ay out of the bedroom0 6'ou al.ays find a .ay to ma/e it about you0 #t5s al.ays about poor &aryl07

&aryl bit his lip and felt the familiar sting of tears in his eyes0 -here had been so many o,er the past fe. months0 Mom had gone suddenly1 car accident1 massi,e trauma0 -he cancer had eaten &ad ali,e1 but had ta/en t.o years to do so0 $e5d been gone 3ust o,er three months0 -hings .ere 3ust starting to return to normal1 or as normal as they .ould e,er be again= and no.1 this had to happen0 +endy had become a tic/ing time bomb o,er these past t.o years0 &aryl had understood the se,erity of his father5s condition and had spent a good deal of time at his parent5s home0 !eing the good son1 he also understood that his mother .ould need company in the .ee/s and months that follo.ed his death0 +endy didn5t seem to understand any of it0 She ne,er let it pass that he had a family of his o.n to spend time .ith1 adding that he did ha,e t.o sisters .ho should be spending time .ith his parents0 Abo,e all1 &aryl didn5t .ant there to be a fight0 Not no.0 $e felt utterly drained by the chain of e,ents that had deli,ered this day to him0 $e turned and left the bedroom in search of a blac/ pair of sandals0 +al/ing do.n the short staircase in their three2le,el home1 &aryl could see $anna and Cameron0 -hey .ere seated on the couch and dressed in their best outfits0 $anna .as fourteen1 and .as already blossoming into a beautiful young .oman0 She .as ,ery popular at school and she thought her popularity there should transfer into the home2place0 She had gotten into the habit of ,ocalizing .hat she thought to be fair0 Sadly1 she didn5t thin/ there .as much fairness around0 Cameron .as 3ust o,er a year younger than his sister0 $e .as a tall1 gangly youth .ho spent e,ery minute of his spare time loc/ed in his bedroom1 playing online ,ideo games0 Neither of his children had e:pressed much grief o,er their grandmother5s une:pected passing0 &aryl hoped that .as because they .ere still dealing .ith 4randpa5s death0 6$anna> &id you .ear my blac/ sandals87 +endy shrie/ed from the lo.er le,el of the home0 6No>7 returned $anna from the couch1 ma/ing eye contact .ith her father .hile pointing the remote control at the tele,ision set until the ,olume .as on high0 Sponge !ob .as on0 6+ill you help her find her damn shoes87 shouted $anna0 6+hat did # tell you about using that language in this house87 as/ed &aryl as he s.ept do.n the stairs1 continuing do.n to the first floor0 6+hate,er17 ans.ered $anna0 6Can # go play my game87 bello.ed Cameron0 Cameron5s ,oice had recently changed and he5d gro.n ;uite fond of using it0 6No1 .e5re lea,ing the minute .e find your mother5s shoes0 Cust stay .here you are or .ait out in the car07 6-han/s1 &ad17 responded Cameron .ith moc/ enthusiasm0 6Can #1 please87

6# /no. they .ere here17 spat +endy1 pointing to the Closet from $ell0 6Somebody too/ them0 No.1 if # only had another pair to .ear1 .e .ouldn5t be ha,ing this con,ersation0 +ould .e87 &aryl spotted the sandals in ;uestion before he could come up .ith a come2bac/0 6-here17 he said1 pointing to the mount of his t.el,e2point .hitetail0 -he sandals .ere hanging from the antlers0 +anting to put an end to the episode1 &aryl turned around and .al/ed bac/ up the stairs0 -here .as no reply from +endy0 $e .aited outside in the $onda0 -he morning .as .arm and the car5s air conditioner had passed on the year before0 -he digital cloc/ hadn5t1 and fi,e minutes passed into ten0 &aryl .as s.eating as his blood pressure began to s/yroc/et0 Cust as he .as about to fly into a rage and charge into the house1 the three of them e:ited the front door0 Again1 &aryl bit his lip1 nearly dra.ing blood this time0 6+ere you going to let Cameron .ear those snea/ers to his grandmother5s funeral8 +endy as/ed as she maneu,ered her t.o hundred2t.enty pounds into the passenger seat0 6+hat .as .rong .ith them87 as/ed Cameron in his deepest ,oice0 6-hey .ere un2appropriate1 that5s .hat17 replied +endy0 6O/ay1 .e5re ready0 "et5s get this day o,er .ith17 she added sarcastically0 6&ad1 Cameron farted17 complained $anna as they turned onto Pine Street0 Cameron chuc/led0 -he ne:t part of the dri,e .as made in relati,e silence0 +endy had found her fa,orite country station on the radio and .as singing along to an old &olly Parton song0 &aryl .ondered at this1 .atching her croon to him .ith her bright2red lips parted in a huge smile0 -here .as lipstic/ on her teeth and &aryl hoped she5d notice it before he had to point it out to her0 -he /ids sat in the bac/seat1 as far apart as possible1 each sat .ith their arms crossed and loo/ed as glum as any pair of teenagers e,er had0 And this .as the precise moment of &aryl5s epiphany0 &aryl .ould loo/ bac/ on it and al.ays remember it as being the time .hen he finally realized that his little family had someho. lost their minds0 -he change had 3ust been so gradual0 -he re,elation caused his bo.els to churn0 Saint "u/e5s .as three miles and si: traffic lights a.ay0 &aryl hoped he5d ma/e it0 6Slo. do.n17 ordered +endy after a commercial brea/ had changed her bac/ into the +endy that &aryl understood0 6&o you .ant to /ill us all87 &aryl gritted his teeth to another t.ist of intestine0 $e slo.ed 3ust a little1 .atching the green traffic light that loomed in the distance0 6# told you to slo. do.n>7

&aryl bac/ed further off the accelerator1 .atching the needle drop to the posted speed limit of forty2fi,e0 -he light .as still green0 6&addy1 Cameron .on5t ;uit farting>7 6Cameron>7 shouted &aryl0 -he light changed 3ust as they .ere approaching the intersection0 &aryl hit the bra/es and loo/ed .ith dismay at the long line of traffic on Second Street that .as .aiting to cross Maple0 $e .ondered .here they had all came from= it .as .ell past nine on a -hursday0 $is upset stomach .as rapidly reaching o,erload status1 .hich caused &aryl to ;uic/ly search for a gas station0 -here .ere none on the horizon0 &aryl did spot a daycare center and he .ondered if he dared to go inside and beg for mercy1 considering his dire predicament0 -he pain subsided1 3ust barely1 and &aryl thought better of it0 $e .ould ha,e to ma/e it to the church0 No. that the car had stopped and the air had ;uit mo,ing1 &aryl understood the cause for $anna5s concern0 $e ga,e Cameron an icy glare in the rear2,ie. mirror and .atched his son hang his o.n head out of the car0 6Oh my 4od1 Cameron1 .hat did you eat for brea/fast87 shrie/ed +endy0 6-hat5s disgusting>7 Cameron responded .ith ho.ling laughter0 6&ad>7 pleaded $anna from her side of the car0 -he light changed and &aryl pressed hard on the accelerator0 -he $onda lurched out into the intersection and ;uic/ly outpaced the other cars0 -his time +endy didn5t complain0 -he passing breeze dispersed the passing gas and Reba .as playing on the radio0 A Minneapolis cop passed going the other .ay0 Much to &aryl5s horror1 a glance in the side mirror told him that the cop had his foot planted on the bra/e of the cruiser0 &aryl5s stomach did a double2clutch1 as the first .a,e subsided into a tsunami of pain and nausea0 -he cop .as trying to turn around0 -he flashers came on1 .hich .ere follo.ed by the .ailing of the siren0 -he church .as 3ust a bloc/ ahead0 &aryl could ma/e out the dar/ forms of his t.o brother in2 la.s1 .ho .ere standing on the side.al/1 smo/ing0 &aryl signaled his turn1 .atching the traffic behind him pull to the shoulder0 &aryl .anted to scream0 -he $onda darted across traffic and &aryl ;uic/ly found a place to par/0 -he siren suddenly stopped0 $e didn5t /no. .here the cop had gone1 didn5t care0 $is stomach .as on the ,erge of e:ploding1 he had to get to the bathroom and he had to do it no.0 -he cop .as at his door before he could get it open0 6# told you to slo. do.n1 but you .ouldn5t listen to me1 .ould you87 as/ed +endy0

6Cool1 &ad5s getting a tic/et17 remar/ed Cameron0 6"icense and registration1 sir17 demanded the young police officer0 6&o .e ha,e to .ait in the car for this87 as/ed $anna0 6#5m not17 replied +endy0 6%,eryone1 please stay inside the car17 instructed the cop0 6"icense and registration1 sir>7 6# can5t1 not no.0 Oh 4od17 said &aryl0 64i,e him your damn license>7 blurted +endy0 &aryl began to realize that he .as going to lose this battle0 -he cop .asn5t going to let him e:it the car and find the bathroom and his family .as going to e:perience firsthand1 his most humiliating e:perience0 -he icing on the ca/e .as that a cro.d of mourners had ;uic/ly gathered around the $onda0 &aryl heard his name0 6Please1 #5,e got to use the bathroom17 &aryl said .ea/ly1 turning his tortured face to the cop5s0 -he man .as .earing sunglasses and he remained impassi,e0 6"icense and registration= #5m not going to as/ you again>7 -hese .ould be the last moments that &aryl .ould remember for a ,ery long time0 &aryl loo/ed at the cop5s stone face and simply ga,e up0 As fate .ould ha,e it1 the sound that rattled the dri,er5s seat .as .et and horrific0 Once it had started1 &aryl grimly realized that there .as no stopping the landslide hurtling do.n his bo.els0 -he e,acuation drained him of e,ery ounce of .hat remained of his dignity0 %,en the cop bac/ed a.ay to gi,e him some room0 6Oh my 4od17 screamed +endy0 &aryl barely heard her0 -here .as a collecti,e gasp from the cro.d as the smell seeped out of the open .indo.s0 $anna began to ,omit in the bac/seat0 +endy continued to scream .ords that held no meaning to him0 &aryl smiled0 $e felt much better no. that he5d lost his sanity0 $e e,en laughed as he .as loaded into the bac/ of the ambulance0 -he room .as bright and cheery and the food .as surprisingly good0 &aryl learned to .ea,e bas/ets and ho. to cut sno.fla/es from construction paper .ith plastic scissors0 &aryl e,en li/ed his medicine1 .hich made him feel loopy and caused him to forget things0 Bisiting hours .ere spent .ith his family and despite e,erything= &aryl loo/ed for.ard to seeing them0 Cameron5s face had bro/en out .ith a painful case of acne= .hile $anna hid behind a pair of primiti,e2loo/ing steel braces1 .hich amused &aryl0 +endy had a lot of gained .eight1 almost a hundred pounds by the loo/ of it0 -hey5d come and go and he .as finally treated .ith a strange sort of re,erence0 -his .as the part that &aryl li/ed the most about his ne. life0

"ost
&eath arri,ed in the middle of the night and it literally too/ !ob Crumgaard5s breath a.ay0 !ob1 li/e so many others before him1 .as totally unprepared to die0 $e .as neither a good man1 nor .as he a bad man1 he .as simply !ob0 &eath1 unable to decide ;uite .hat to do .ith a guy li/e !ob1 simply deposited him into Plot H*1?II1 in the middle of Oa/ "a.n Cemetery0 !y the third night !ob became bored .ith his ne. digs and he decided to go up and ta/e a loo/ around0 !ob stood abo,e his fresh gra,e and he .as surprised to not feel much of anything at all0 $e .as there1 sort of1 in a ghostly sort of .ay0 Not ha,ing any close friends or family1 he found that he .asn5t missing anyone1 not really0 Still1 he found that he .as missing contact .ith others0 A crescent moon cast pale light across the endless ro.s of tombstones and a late October breeze rattled the bare branches of the to.ering oa/s0 Again1 !ob felt restless and he decided to ,enture around in his ne. neighborhood0 $e slid along the dead grass1 a mere mist of his former self= .ith his entire death in front of him1 !ob decided that this .asn5t such a bad life0 6'ou must be the ne. guy17 a man5s ,oice called from behind !ob0 -he ,oice sounded li/e the rustling of September corn and it frightened !ob0 !ob spun around and came face to face .ith the most repulsi,e being he had e,er met0 +orms and slugs hung from the rotted chee/s and a fat beetle cra.led out of a bare eye soc/et0 6#5m !ob17 !ob said1 .anting to get a.ay from this creature0 6Not ,ery pretty1 is it87 as/ed the man0 64et used to it= you5ll end up this .ay soon enough0 #5m Cim1 nice to meet you07 !ob loo/ed at Cim5s moldy hands and decided to 3ust gi,e him a ;uic/ .a,e0 -here .as a moment of silence as !ob realized this gra,e ne. truth0 $e .as going to rot1 sometime= li/e it or not1 it .as .hat dead people did0 6'ou can5t lea,e the cemetery1 you /no. that1 right87 as/ed Cim0 6Sure17 lied !ob0 6And you ha,e to be bac/ in your gra,e by first light0 -hey told you that, didn5t they87 $hey hadn5t told him a thing0 !ob didn5t e,en /no. .ho they .ere0 Again1 !ob nodded0 6+ell then17 said !ob0 6Bery nice to meet you1 Cim1 #5ll be seeing you07 !ob found that Cim ga,e him the creeps and he .anted to get as far a.ay from him as he could1 and ;uic/ly0 $e continued sliding a.ay0

6'ou5ll go to $ell if you aren5t bac/ home by da.n17 .arned Cim as !ob slun/ a.ay0 6#5d turn bac/ if # .ere you07 !ob1 both ignorant and apathetic to his o.n plight1 continued his ,enture out into the ,ast sea of tombstones0 !ob found that he .as able to slide ;uite fast1 .hich he found to be oddly e:hilarating1 but soon he .as hopelessly lost0 -he sudden sound of a rooster5s cro. sent !ob into a frenzy0 !ob .as going to $ell1 he .as sure of it0 6$elp me>7 cried !ob1 .ho .as no. in a full panic1 as he cruised at top speed up and do.n the endless ro.s of cemetery plots0 Why coul!n%t ( have been burie! in a smaller cemetery? -hought !ob= an:iously scanning the grounds for freshly turned earth0 -he rooster cro.ed again0 !ob .as no. frea/ing out0 $e fle. up and do.n the ro.s as fast as he could fly1 .hich he found .asn5t nearly fast enough0 $ell haunted his e,ery thought1 !ob had ne,er been more afraid0 #f he .ould ha,e had a beating heart1 it may .ell ha,e e:ploded0 -he s/y turned from blac/ to a purplish color0 -he rooster cro.ed and !ob screamed in terror0 Nothing loo/ed familiar1 nothing at all0 An orange glo. appeared on the horizon0 !ob .ept0 Sunlight0 Still1 !ob continued to search0 &oomed fore,er1 according to Cim1 !ob finally stumbled upon his o.n gra,e0 $e fell to his /nees and begged for forgi,eness0 6'ou /ne. the conse;uences1 yet you stayed out after first light17 thundered a dry ,oice0 6#5m so sorry>7 6Prepare to spend eternity in $ell>7 6No1 please> #5ll ne,er do it again>7 6-here is nothing # can do1 you ha,e bro/en the rules>7 !ob suddenly turned to face his tormenter0 $e found himself loo/ing at Cim0 64otcha>7 e:claimed Cim0 #t .ould be t.enty years before !ob forga,e Cim0 !ob had ne,er had much in the .ay of a sense of humor0 -hey e,entually became good friends and they continue to e:ist in Purgatory at Oa/ "a.n to this ,ery day0

<lomp and the Sea "ion

Cybil Sealane loo/ed at herself in the mirror and e:haled a long sigh0 She5d lost t.enty pounds1 but it only sho.ed in the t.o .orst places possible0 )ife isn%t fair, she thought as she studied her face1 straining her s;uinty eyes to find beauty0 #f it .as there1 anywhere, Cybil didn5t see it0 Cybil sa. a great buffalo2head staring bac/ at her1 mounted on a thic/ slab of flesh that started at her clea,age and ended at her bottom lip0 $er unruly hair .as thic/ and blac/1 despite her age1 and her hairline still began almost half.ay do.n her forehead0 -he little blemishes that erupted in her teens had turned into plump moles that sprouted unsightly hairs0 -a/ing a t.eezers off the shelf1 she pluc/ed at one of these0 Satisfied1 Cybil shrugged her shoulders and ga,e herself a .ide smile1 despite herself0 She .ouldn5t let it get her do.n= e,er0 Cybil Sealane .as part of that tiny fraction of the population that doesn5t yet embrace a chance to complain0 $er battle armor .as her positi,e attitude and she .ore it for the entire .orld to see0 At the same time1 she .as a ,ery solitary .oman and had fe. opportunities to e:press herself0 Cybil finished readying herself for .or/1 grabbed her bag lunch and a .ater bottle1 and .al/ed out into the sunshine0 May had arri,ed in all its glory and Cybil breathed in the fresh smells of cut grass and budding flo.ers0 She nearly s/ipped do.n the side.al/1 a considerable feat for a si:ty year2old .oman .ho .as .ell o,er t.o hundred pounds0 She felt li/e .histling= it .as a glorious morning and she felt goo!# 6$i1 Miss Sea )ion,* called t.o boys in s.eet ,oices from across the street0 Cybil Sealane turned and loo/ed at the boys1 against her better 3udgment0 -he young boys1 .ho loo/ed to be a fe. years shy of their teenage years1 began to point at each other and laugh hysterically0 Cybil tried to ignore the a.ful boys= she5d been gi,en the nic/name in Middle School and it5d stuc/1 3ust li/e the tail on a don/ey0 <ifty years later and it hurt 3ust as much as it had .hen she5d heard it for the first time0 Sticks an! stones will break my bones+Cybil chanted to herself1 3ust as she did each time she heard the ugly reference0 -he chanting .as done inside her head and it continued until she crossed !luebird Street0 !y the time she reached &affodil "ane1 Cybil had put the entire incident behind her and refused to let herself thin/ about it again0 Many people ignored Cybil and she had no idea .hy that .as0 She thought it .as because of her sense of humor1 or1 lac/ thereof0 She .ished she .as .itty1 cle,er1 and capable of crac/ing a rambunctious bon mot1 from time to time0 -his 3ust .asn5t the case .ith Cybil0 She .ould thin/ of something funny to say hours after the con,ersation had ended0 Sometimes these thoughts made Cybil laugh1 long and hard1 and she dreamed of a day .hen those .ords .ould come to her at .ill0 $er hopes had faded considerably upon reaching si:ty0

p ahead .as the concrete building that housed the macaroni factory0 Noodlez #ncorporated employed one hundred and thirty people in the small to.n of 4looten1 +isconsin1 a little community tuc/ed a.ay in the middle of the state0 <or nineteen years Cybil had .or/ed in the refuse department1 pushing a cart .ith a broom0 She .as ,ery than/ful for her 3ob1 and she .or/ed as hard as any three men in her position0 She too/ pride in her .or/ and ne,er paused to ,isit .hile she made her rounds0 She smiled at her co2.or/ers as she .al/ed up to the double doors that led to the time2cloc/0 She continued to smile1 happy to be ali,e1 to ha,e a 3ob1 to ha,e her health0 "ife .as ,ery good1 in Cybil5s opinion1 anyho.0 -hat .as about to change0 6Cybil8 Miss Sealane87 bec/oned $ugh <lomp1 the first shift super,isor0 6# need to see you in my office0 &o you mind8 Right no.1 please87 Cybil stopped dead in her trac/s0 -his .as different0 Mr0 <lomp had been there longer than anyone she /ne.1 and this .as the first time that he5d said a .ord to her since the day he5d hired her0 Cybil shoo/ her head in the cro.ded hall.ay1 no1 she didn5t mind0 Mr0 <lomp5s eyes became ,ery dar/ and he sco.led0 Cybil had seen Mr0 <lomp sco.l before and she became ,ery afraid0 6Right no.>7 he said1 gesturing to.ard his office0 6<lomp and the Sea "ion17 muttered someone loudly0 6Sounds li/e a !2mo,ie07 -he hall.ay echoed .ith laughter and Cybil began chanting to herself as she parted the cro.d to 3oin Mr0 <lomp at his office door0 $is face .as crimson and the ,eins .ere bulging in his nec/0 Oh !ear, thought Cybil0 Sticks an! stones will+ Cybil /ne. better than to stare0 She .al/ed past Mr0 <lomp and sat in the same faded chair that she had nineteen years ago .hen she5d applied for the 3ob0 %,en so1 it hadn5t stopped Cybil from ha,ing a secret crush on the man0 $ugh <lomp snapped the door shut1 3ust a fe. MP$ under a slam0 $e .as a plump little man .ith sno.2.hite hair and a thin moustache0 As al.ays1 he .as dressed in a suit that .as neat and clean0 $is face .as shaped li/e a football and it .as the /ind of face that made Cybil feel good about her o.n0 6+hat do you mean1 sha/ing your head at me in the hall.ay li/e that87 Cybil tried to thin/ of something to say1 but all that escaped her .as a silent stammer0 Why ha! she shaken her hea!? She couldn5t remember0 6"isten1 .e5re ma/ing some cuts0 !usiness is slo.1 you /no. ho. it is0 Anyho.1 that5s it then0 'ou can finish the .ee/ and pic/ up your chec/ at %mily5s des/ on <riday0 4ood day07

Cybil shoo/ her head slo.ly0 ,o, that isn%t it# ,o sir# 6+2.2.hat did # do87 she as/ed1 feeling her entire soul crash into a thousand splintered pieces0 6&o87 as/ed <lomp .ith a confused loo/0 6Nothing1 you did nothing0 Nothing that upper management thin/s is necessary any.ay0 Actually1 .e5,e eliminated your entire department0 Nothing personal1 you understand87 Cybil didn5t understand1 but <lomp1 the fat1 greasy1 o,erpaid1 pompous 3er/ that she no. thought of him= .as already sho.ing her to the door1 3ust li/e he .as ta/ing out the trash0 Cybil snapped0 6'ou5re a bad man>7 she shouted at <lomp1 .ho held his arms up in defense0 6#5m sorry1 Cybil1 its only business and it .asn5t my idea0 Please understandF7 Cybil pic/ed up her bag lunch and her .ater bottle and .al/ed out of <lomp5s office li/e an old zombie0 -here .as no .ay she could .or/1 not today1 she .as far too upset0 Cybil needed e,ery tric/ in the boo/ to get out of the building and o,er to the par/1 .hich sat si: bloc/s from the factory1 high up on Enob $ill0 Cybil climbed the many stairs and then .andered around the par/1 too angry to sit0 <inally1 all .andered out1 she too/ a seat at a par/ bench that o,erloo/ed the factory0 Cybil needed to thin/ and this .as .here she came .hen she felt li/e doing so0 -he par/ .as nearly al.ays deserted during the morning hours1 especially .hen the schools .ere in session0 Cybil .as 3ust as determined to turn the other chee/ as e,er0 She 3ust couldn5t get her mind off that .ater2melon headed1 sco.l2faced1 dirt2bag1 <ran/lin <lomp0 She gritted her teeth and it felt won!erful# Cybil turned her head to the blue s/y1 closed her eyes and soa/ed in the moment0 <ifty2some years of pain and humiliation began to flood thru her ,eins li/e molten la,a0 Cybil opened her eyes and stared at the s/y .ith a loo/ that .ould5,e sent Arnold Sch.arzenegger running bac/ home to his mother0 -he morning air .as still1 and a lo. drone sounded1 o,erhead0 A lone plane .as up in the s/y1 a .hite one .ith a single propeller0 Cybil concentrated on the plane and then ;uic/ly loo/ed do.n at the macaroni plant0 -hen1 bac/ at the airplane and ;uic/ly bac/ at the plant0 -he airplane sputtered0 Cybil stared at the airplane and could practically feel the .ires snapping and the pistons not doing .hate,er it .as that they did0 -he plane dipped and became suddenly silent in the bright sunshine0 Cybil .atched .ith amazement as the plane stalled and someone leapt from the coc/pit0 A moment later a parachute opened0 Scant seconds later1 the airplane crashed into the Noodlez Macaroni <actory1 3ust beyond the main employee entrance0 Cust .here Cybil Sealane imagined <lomp5s office .ould be0 She stared into the flames and .atched as the .or/ers1 dressed in their hair nets and .hite booties1 ran from the building in ob,ious terror0 -hey huddled out on the street as the sounds of sirens filled the air0

<rom her ,antage point abo,e the factory1 Cybil could see the scene unfolding as if it had all been staged0 She stared dumbfounded at the parachute gently floating bac/ to earth and the fire engines careening around corners and the police cars racing to the factory0 $er heart .as pounding in her chest0 -he plane crash had a calming effect and she felt the anger .hooshing a.ay li/e so much hot air0 A sense of a.e and .onderment replaced the anger1 but that .as soon offset by an o,er.helming sense of guilt and grief0 What have ( !one? Cybil thought to herself0 Cybil thought about that as she opened her lunch and che.ed on a bologna sand.ich0 She hadn5t really done anything1 had she8 -he airplane dri,er .as responsible for his plane1 .asn5t he8 $e should5,e tried to land it in the ri,er li/e that guy had done in Ne. 'or/ City0 After she5d finished her sand.ich1 Cybil remo,ed an apple and began to gna. on it0 She .atched as the fire spread and the factory burned1 e,en as the fire2truc/s spat long streams of .ater into the blaze0 She didn5t lea,e the bench until late that afternoon1 after all the emergency ,ehicles had left and Noodlez #ncorporated .as nothing more than a smoldering heap0 She descended the long flight of stairs slo.ly1 her heart hea,y and her stomach gro.ling all the .ay home0 -he smell of coo/ed noodles and scorched steel hung hea,y in the air0 Cybil continued to .al/1 pushing herself on0 She li,ed on the outs/irts of to.n in a small trailer that her father had left her .hen he5d passed a.ay0 -he .al/ seemed to ta/e fore,er= the spring in her step .as gone and she .ondered if she could e,er find it again0 -ry as she might1 she couldn5t spin anything positi,e out of this terrible day0 One bloc/ from home she spotted the car in her dri,e.ay0 She stopped .al/ing and held a hand to her mouth0 &i! they know? -ow coul! they? She stood there for a long1 agonizing minute1 .ondering .hat to do0 4athering up her courage1 Cybil forged ahead0 +hate,er came of this1 she certainly .ouldn5t lie about it0 She didn5t thin/ she5d bro/en any rules that could be pro,en in a court of la.0 She studied the car1 the first that had ,isited her dri,e.ay in ;uite some time0 -he little car .as bro.n and .as missing a hubcap0 She didn5t recognize it0 At first1 Cybil had thought the car .as empty1 but as she dre. closer she could see the top of a head behind the steering .heel0 -he head turned in her direction and suddenly the door .as flung open0 Cybil nearly screamed .hen she sa. .ho it .as0 -he man standing before her .as none other than <ran/lin <lomp0 6Cybil>7 he e:claimed1 thro.ing his arms .ide and rushing to.ard her0 6#5m so happy to see you1 oh dear1 you ha,e no idea>7 <lomp said1 as he thre. his arms around her and hugged her as tight as she5d e,er been hugged in her entire life0

6Mr0 <lompF7 Cybil said1 not /no.ing .hat else to say0 6Please1 call me <ran/17 <lomp said0 6Oh "ord1 .e thought you5d been /illed in the fire0 'ou5re the only employee unaccounted for0 # am so happy to see you>7 6&id anyone get hurt87 Cybil managed to say1 3ust barely1 as Mr0 <lomp continued to hold her tight0 $e smelled of Old Spice and noodle smo/e0 Mr0 <lomp stepped a.ay and Cybil .as shoc/ed to see that he .as crying0 $e didn5t seem to care and he did nothing to hide his tears0 6No17 he said0 6#t .as a miracle1 an absolute miracle0 # .as 3ust loo/ing for you .hen the plane crashed0 # ;uit this morning1 honest1 # really did0 <iring you .as the hardest thing # e,er had to do0 # 3ust couldn5t face myself in the mirror1 # 3ust couldn5t0 Cybil1 #5m going to go out on a limb here0 !y 4od1 #5,e been .aiting nineteen years to as/ you this= .ould you mind accompanying me to dinner8 #t5s o/ay no.= #5m not your super,isor anymore0 -here5s no impropriety07 Cybil felt her /nees gro. .ea/ and she steadied herself against a nearby oa/0 She stared at Mr0 <lomp1 dumbfounded0 -he tears .ere cascading do.n his chee/s and he .as smiling in an odd1 hopeful sort of .ay0 ,o, she .ouldn5t mind accompanying him to dinner and she shoo/ her head0 ,o, she .ouldn5t mind that at all0 Mr0 <lomp5s face fell li/e a ca/e gone bad and Cybil immediately realized her mista/e0 6'es17 she said1 nodding her head0 6#5d lo,e to go to dinner .ith you>7 <ran/1 as he .ould be /no.n to her from this moment for.ard1 rushed into her arms and he openly .ept in her bosom0 A passing car slo.ed1 and finally ground to a halt ne:t to the t.o0 -here .ere t.o men in the car that Cybil recognized from the factory0 -he .indo. .as do.n0 6"oo/>7 shouted one of the men0 6#t5s <lomp and the Sea "ion>7 -he familiar ,oice .as unmista/able0 #t .as the man .ho5d said the ,ery same thing this morning0 Cybil felt the terrible rage again1 far .orse than she e,er had1 and she stared bac/ at the man in the passenger seat of the car .ith a million .atts of hatred0 -he car suddenly lurched a.ay1 its tires s;uealing on the blac/ asphalt0 -he car began to fishtail1 and then it began to spin in uncontrollable loops0 Cybil continued to stare at it1 her face scrunched into a mas/ of fury0 -he men .ere screaming no. and the sound .as ,ery satisfying to her ears0 <ran/ pulled himself a.ay and .atched the spectacle .ith an open mouth0 -he car seemed to ha,e a mind of its o.n and it continued to build speed1 until one of the tires ble. out and it crashed across the street into the trun/ of a fat elm tree0 Cybil smiled as she .atched the t.o men scramble from the car and flee from the scene0 -he anger .as gone no.1 replaced by a deep serenity and a feeling of incredible po.er0 She .ould ne,er be the same .oman1 not after today0

6$o. do you suppose that happened87 <ran/ as/ed1 running his hands through his hair and .iping the tears from his face0 6# ha,e no idea17 lied Cybil0 6No idea1 .hatsoe,er07

-he Scream
-he crash could be heard for miles1 e,en if there .as no one around to hear it0 #t had left him lying face do.n in a ra,ine1 his limbs t.isted at odd angles1 some .ere surely bro/en0 -he pain .as nearly too much for him1 but there .as nothing he could do for that0 $e tried to thin/ about anything else to help /eep his mind off of that terrible pain0 $e thought about his childhood1 the happiest years of his life0 -he thoughts made him smile on the inside1 for those .ere some glorious years1 full of .onder and hope0 $e couldn5t help to thin/ of ho. e,erything had gone so .rong0 $e had .anted to ma/e a !ifference# $e had .anted to ma/e his mar/ in this .orld and lea,e something behind for his children0 Surely1 the odds of that .ere gro.ing slimmer by the minute= so much pain0 !ut those glory years had sure been something1 hadn5t they8 -he old days before his grandparents had passed a.ay1 .hen they .ere a large family and one to be rec/oned .ith0 $e5d learned so much from them and he missed them all1 dearly0 -here .as something about a grandparent5s lo,e that .as so special1 at times almost surpassing that of a parent0 +here had the years gone8 $e as/ed himself this1 lying there in so much pain and found that he honestly couldn5t ans.er that ;uestion0 !ut1 they .ere gone1 there .as no doubting that0 $is grandparents had taught him things that he ne,er .ould5,e learned from anyone else0 -hey taught him the ,alues of li,ing a good life1 ho. to rise to the occasion .hen necessary1 or .hen it .as time to let it all go and li,e and let li,e0 $e5d absorbed those .ordless lessons as if they5d been taught in a classroom1 for obser,ation is truly the best teacher in life0 &.elling on that1 bet.een the sharp1 radiating pains1 he began to feel some.hat guilty for not thin/ing about his parents= in these1 .hat .ere possibly the last moments of his life0 -hey .ere both gone and he still had a hard time thin/ing about them0 -hey had stood by him in those dar/est hours .hen it seemed as if all .as lost0 -hey had brought him up to stand tall and proud and to follo. his dreams1 .here,er they too/ him0 -hey died one at a time and each too/ a big piece of him .ith them .hen they left0 $e5d ne,er felt such pain1 far .orse than the pain he .as feeling no.0 $e5d gladly e:perience one thousand times this agony for the chance to spend another hour .ith either of them0 Sadly1 he /ne. that .ould ne,er be0 $e .ondered if he5d been a good son and he thought that he had0 Not perfect1 hea,ens no1 but good enough in the grand scheme of things0 $e5d been there for them in their t.ilight years0 $e5d tended to their needs as the years too/ their terrible toll on them0 +hat more

.as there8 Nothing could5,e pre,ented him from being there= he /ne. that and .as secretly ;uite proud of that fact0 -hey had taught him the true meaning of family= that families stic/ together through thic/ and thin1 no matter .hat0 -hey taught him about commitment and trust and lo,e0 -hey set e:amples in their daily li,es that had made him proud1 that he .ould try to emulate for the rest of his life= .hich no. that he thought about it1 seemed to be 3ust about o,er0 $e could feel the pain subsiding1 and he /ne. that these .ere his last moments in this .orld0 -he thought .as sobering and for a long time he could feel nothing but an o,er.helming sense of loss0 4radually1 his thoughts turned to his children0 $ad he done a good 3ob raising them8 $e certainly hoped so0 &id he understand a little more about parenting1 no. that his life .as flashing before him and the end .as near= most definitely0 Still1 he had raised his children li/e his parents had raised him= to stand tall and proud1 to lead by e:ample1 to face .hat needed to be done .ith courage and resilience0 $e /ne. that1 and he dre. some comfort in those thoughts0 $e had passed on the concept of follo.ing one5s dreams1 for .hat else .as there8 $e5d drilled into them that failure .as a lac/ of effort1 plain and simple0 $e hoped that he5d been a good father1 one that they could loo/ up to e,en after he .as gone0 -hat .as important to him1 for he5d had that lu:ury0 &eath .as creeping in= he could feel its cla.s digging into him as if it .ere the talons of an eagle0 -here .asn5t much time no.0 $e used these last moments to thin/ about his .ife0 -hey5d had their differences o,er the years1 4od /ne. that .as true0 Still1 she5d stuc/ by him throughout the lean years1 .hen it seemed li/e e,erything .as stac/ed against them0 &eep do.n he /ne. he hadn5t been easy to li,e .ith and he hoped she .ould forgi,e him for that0 $e also hoped that she5d loo/ after the children1 no. that his life .as dra.ing to a close0 #n the end he thought of .hat he5d left undone0 $e5d had big dreams of ho. he5d change the .orld0 #f someone .ould5,e ha,e only listened to him1 he could5,e done that0 $e 3ust couldn5t communicate on that le,el1 no matter ho. hard he tried to do so0 +ait1 he heard ,oices0 Maybe there .as still hope8 $e didn5t /no.1 but he .ould try his best to share his dying message .ith the .orld0 -hey .ere dra.ing closer1 so close1 that he could hear their footfalls in the brush0 +ith a great effort1 he began to spea/0 6$ey1 did you hear that1 Chuc/87 as/ed one of the men0 69uit goofing around1 # /no. that .as you0 +hat do you ta/e me for1 a fool87 6No1 #5m serious# # heard something0 9uietFthere it is again0 +hat do you ma/e of it87 6$o. the hell should # /no.8 #5,e ne,er heard anything li/e that before0 #t sorta creeps me out0 "et5s hurry up and get this o,er .ith07

6+ait> $ang on a minute1 .hat5s your rush8 +e both heard it1 you /no. .e did0 +here do you suppose it came from87 6# don5t /no. and # really don5t care0 +e5,e got a 3ob to do1 let5s get it o,er .ith07 6<ine1 ha,e it your .ay0 Still1 # thin/ .e5re ma/ing a big mista/e07 6Mista/e1 .hat the hell do you mean87 6$a,en5t you e,er heard the e:pression1 screaming trees?7 Chuc/ merely grunted as he fired up his chainsa.1 dro.ning out the screams of the dying oa/0

About the authorD Nicholas Antinozzi is a lifelong resident of Minnesota and currently resides in St0 Paul0 &isco,er other titles by Nicholas Antinozzi at Smash.ords0com