Walter The Homeless Man

by Tekoa Manning

  He showered and dressed, then grabbed a cup of coffee. He walked outside and looked at the beginning signs of spring and thought that nature had never looked so glowing. Once he arrived at the office, he went straight to work at uncovering his past. After several hours and several trips past Desiree’s desk to catch a smile and a glimpse of her, he had a name, Larry Stewart. He had to be at court at nine a.m. for a hearing and another at one p.m., but after that he was free to take a ride to a part of town he hadn’t expected to uncover in his search, but he was still anxious. Would Desiree consider going with him, he hoped so? He shot her an e-mail and she sent one back.

  Desiree, Good morning beautiful! I was wondering if you would like to take a late lunch and go with me to meet the man who raised my son. I have a sinking feeling just from the bad area of town he lives in and I could really use your support. Whatta say?”

  Love, Bradford

  Dear Bradford,

  After all, you have done for me in the past few days I hate to refuse, but I can’t today. I have a paper to write and it’s a final. Please forgive me? I really want to meet your son Bradford and I can meet up with you after class, but I have missed so much school already and it’s almost break.

  I will say a prayer for you.

  Love, Desiree

  This relationship at work may be easier than he’d thought. Bradford grabbed his briefcase and headed to the parking garage. As he passed Desiree’s mini-van, he thought about what kind of car she would look good in. He hoped that his journey would lead him to a place of peace finally and a rest knowing his son who he gave up was okay.

  Future Unclear

  Chapter 34

  Walter was shocked. The last thing he thought Buddy would do would be to leave him at the truck stop. Walter felt better after eating and having slept a good four hours. He ran his hand over his head and marveled at the strangeness he felt from the absence of hair. He started walking down the parking lot and realized it had been a full day since he’d left the hospital. It was a strange town and he didn’t know a soul. He wondered what the next chapter in his life would hold, imprisonment, reconciliation with his family, or a life traveling from town to town as a vagabond. When he had reached the expressway, he saw a sign that read “165 miles to Barkley.” About the time he decided to stick out his thumb, an eighteen wheeler blew his horn and pulled over. It was Buddy.

  “You’re faster than lightening Walt,” he smiled and motioned him over. Walter didn’t know what to expect. Were the cops on their way? Had Buddy gone to the police station? He guessed it was a chance he’d have to take. He trotted up to the truck with the familiar flames, climbed up, and stuck his head through the open window.

  “I ran down to the K-Mart to get you some jeans and sneakers, but by the time I got back you were gone Ole Timer. And talk about looking different. If it wasn’t for that blue sweatshirt I bought you, I wouldn’t have recognized you!” Walter sighed and climbed inside the truck.

  “Now here’s my offer,” he said looking at Walter seriously and running his fingers through his beard. “I got a load I have to get to Georgia by tomorrow, but I will be going through Barkley if you want me to drop you off there. But if I were you, Walter, I’d think hard about that one. They’ll be looking for you there for sure.”

  Walter knew he was right, but he was so tired of running away from his problems. He was so tired of running away from his life, and he just wanted to reconcile his relationships with his children and see his grandchildren. But more than anything he just wanted to see Ruthie. He was going to the cemetery and he was going to talk to her about this. He had already talked to God. Now he wanted to listen to her voice. She would know what to do; she always did steer him in the right direction.

  “I guess I’ll be going back to Barkley. I don’t have anywhere else to turn, and I don’t want to cause you any trouble, Buddy.” Walter picked up the bag from K-Mart and looked at Buddy, smiling in disbelief at God’s grace. “I owe you so much already, my friend.”

  “Walter, don’t you worry about it. You have helped me more than you know. I haven’t had my head this clear in a long time. I’m finally prepared to put my priorities in order and make time for my children and the people I love, instead of worrying about money and how fast I can get the shipment to the next city.” He turned and looked at Walter with sincerity. “I have you to thank for that, Walter.”

  Walter had a little over three hours before he would be home. He wished it could be different, but life had a way of bringing chaos and serenity, calmness and storms. Walter was ready to face his past head on, and he was ready to work on his future. He had made things right with his maker, and he was determined to make things right with his family if it was the last thing he did before he died. He looked at Buddy and back on the road and thought about little Josh and his mother and all the other people he owed. He wondered why he had ever entered her house and why he had ever met her son. Everything happens for a reason, but this time he was at a loss. The future for him was full of uncertainty. What could he offer anyone? He wasn’t sure but he would die trying. He planned on making things right with the people he loved if it were the last thing he did. Walter thought about Jackie, he had brought her with him, and he should be bringing her back. Of course, he knew she was only a bird, but he had grown to love that bird like a best friend and he sure hoped she was faring well. Life had a funny way of coming full circle, and he had a feeling he would end up exactly where he was supposed to be. But for now, he was just thankful that a God he had been so angry with in the past had heard a man like him pray in a truck stop restroom. Not only did He hear, but He was swift to answer him. Walter knew he could have been picked up by any old trucker going down the road but he hadn’t. He had been picked up by someone who had taken care of him and even felt like a friend. As the road ran underneath him, Walter knew that there was something way bigger guiding him.

  The Eyes of the

  Wicked and the Good

  Chapter 35

  Bradford walked down the sidewalk on Shelton Street. It was filled with cigarette butts and trash littered yards. There were broken beer bottles, and shotgun houses lined the street. He finally approached a yellow home with a screen door trimmed in green, chipped paint. There was a window air unit in the front window dripping condensation on the porch. Adorning the porch was a plastic lawn chair and a small table. A straw broom propped against the door frame seemed to hold the image together. Bradford opened the screen door and knocked several times on the door. A voice echoed from the inside, “Give me a second, for Christ’s sake!” A short man with tiny eyes and a red nose looked him over quizzically. He smelled of liquor and cigar smoke.

  “What is this? Are you a detective?” But before Bradford could answer him, he began again. “If you’re looking for that no good son of mine, I haven’t seen him since he screwed his life up royally. So if he’s done something illegal again, it’s not any of my damn business.” He eyed Bradford and looked him over. Then he smirked at him, revealing teeth that were tobacco stained with several just missing. He took a puff of the cigar he was holding and began to cough.

  Bradford took a step back and felt sick at his stomach. This was the man who had raised his son? He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and he couldn’t believe how heartless and utterly disgusting this man was. “You are Larry Stewart, correct?”

  “Yes, and what the hell do you want with the likes of me?”

  Bradford turned back to the repulsive little man named Larry and asked him if he knew where his son was living or where he worked.

  “Last thing I heard was Ben had a year of volunteer work at that school for blind children.” Larry cleared his sinuses and spit a large chunk of phlegm over into the bushes. “What’s he done now? Hell, there’s no tellin with Ben. That piece of crap was always getting into trouble.”

  “Larry, is your wife home, maybe I could speak to her for a minute?” Bradford was hoping that there was someone who had been in his so
n’s life that was caring and loving. He just couldn’t imagine what life had been like for him and had never pictured a family like this wanting to adopt. Things had changed now and to adopt these days would cost quite a bit of money and require background checks. Maybe Larry had been different before? He always pictured his son growing up in a nice modest home with a dog or cat and a basketball hoop. He never once thought in a million years that he would be staring into the bloodshot eyes of Larry Stewart, or that someone like this was the only role model his son had for a father. “Maybe your wife could help me, sir,” he asked again.

  “She’s dead, asshole,” and with that Larry tried to shut the door, but Bradford stuck his foot in the way. Bradford felt like he was in some kind of movie and this wasn’t really happening.

  “What are you trying to make me for, a fool?”

  Bradford thought he’d nailed it on the head when he said fool. He looked at Larry’s thin white T-shirt and his scrawny, little arms and legs. He had a cheap scotch on his breath and yellow stained fingers. “Larry, I’m your son’s real father. I just . . . just wanted to try to meet him.” Bradford was speaking through clenched teeth now.

  Larry looked Bradford over and wondered if he could possibly get any money out of him. He noticed his nice clothes and saw money written all over this character. “Who would have thought my Benjamin would have a father like you? Well, well what do we have here, a real professional, ah? So, what do you want to know exactly? I mean if there was something in it for me, maybe we could work something out.” Larry smirked again and studied Bradford.

  Bradford was shocked that he had allowed his own flesh and blood to be brought up with such filth. He felt sick at his stomach as if someone had punched him in the gut so hard they’d taken his breath. Before Bradford could think straight, he had doubled up his fist and knocked the hell out of Larry Stewart. It had all happened so fast, his adrenaline was pumping, and he was shaking all over. He had never hit a man before. “Are you okay?” he said before thinking how insane that sounded.

  “I think you broke my nose,” Larry said, as blood ran out of his nostrils and over his lips. He gripped the door frame and wobbled back and forth coughing up blood.

  Bradford was stunned. He had completely lost control and this was unfamiliar territory. He tried to shake it off and began to walk down the sidewalk, hearing Larry Stewart moaning and cussing with every step he took. His heart was pounding in his ear drums, and he knew if he didn’t turn around and leave right then, he’d be in danger of going to jail. He opened the Jeep door and hopped in and spun the tires leaving. All the way back to the office he replayed the whole scenario. He pulled into the parking garage and began to sob, he threw his fist in the air, and he cursed God. “Why did you allow my son to be raised by such a sorry son of a bitch? Why God? Why? How could you let this happen?”

  He thought about all the times he was out eating filet and lobster, impressing clients and all the vacations he’d taken and his luxury home that could house ten people and all the while his own flesh and blood was living in trash. His own son was being verbally and no doubt physically abused, and he was sitting back and enjoying his life, without a care in the world. How could he? He wiped his nose on his jacket and tried to steady his breathing. What would he tell Desiree? What would he tell his parents?

  He banged on the steering wheel, and he swore that if it was the last thing he did, he was going to make up for all the hell his son had been through. Knowing he was in no shape to work now, he drove out of the parking garage and headed towards the school for the blind. His mind was filled with Larry, and he kept replaying the scene over and over again, his fist smashing into Larry’s face. He looked at his knuckles and they were red and swollen. Was it from him beating the steering wheel, or was it from Larry’s face? He didn’t know, but his whole entire body felt numb.

  He wondered what his son could have done to be in such trouble with the law. He had tried to do a background check, but apparently he was a juvenile at the time, and those files were sealed unless a judge ordered them to be opened.

  He pulled into the parking lot and walked up the steps into the school for the blind. The receptionist had a pleasant appearance and golden blonde hair. She looked to be pushing fifty, and she smiled up at Bradford with teeth that looked a little too white, porcelain Bradford thought.

  “Hello, I’m Bradford Stiltz and I was wondering if you could help me? I’m looking for a young man who is doing community service here at your school. His name is Stewart, Benjamin Stewart.”

  “Let’s see,” she said placing her bifocals up to the bridge of her nose, she thumbed through the clipboard in front of her. “Well, it looks like Mr. Stewart is no longer with us. He’s completed his service here.”

  “Do you happen to know where I might be able to find him?”

  “Sir, that’s confidential,” she said smiling at him. “But I do know that he was employed at Frank’s Steak House on 4th Street while he was here.” She winked and her eyes seemed to twinkle.

  “Thank you, Miss?’ He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to tell him her name.

  “Mrs. Green, Alma’s my first name, and you are most welcome.”

  Bradford smiled, thinking about how some women get lovelier with age. Alma’s champagne colored hair and polished teeth, perfectly matched the fine lines that adorned her eyes. He thought about Desiree and how beautiful he thought she would look at fifty. He hurried down the steps and typed in the address on his GPS for directions.

  The Truth Shall Set You Free

  Chapter 36

  Daniel decided he was taking Sandra and the twins to her mother’s house for the evening. He felt like it was time to explain to Brenda his circumstances and the reason for his lack of support during their mother’s slow, yet deadly decline. After talking to her on the phone, he knew it was hurting their relationship and that communication was the only way to get past the family difficulties. He was sure that had been the main problem between him and his father, and he knew if he stayed home tonight he would just pace the floors and look out the window at the patrol car circling the subdivision. “Good ole Dad,” he thought, “I wonder what you’ve got yourself into, Pops.” He sure missed him and Mom. Life had radically changed in a little over a year. He missed Brenda and he needed her right now more than he ever had.

  This was just what he needed to do to restore respect from Burt and explain things to his sister. Burt had been giving him the cold shoulder too long. He was aware that they all thought she wore the pants in the family and had him on a short rope.

  He pulled in Brenda’s driveway and spotted the patrol car that had followed him there, as well as the one circling Brenda’s street. Knocking on the door, he was greeted by Sam with a hearty bark.

  “Well, look who it is,” Brenda said while motioning for the dog to get back. “Come on in bro,” she said smiling.

  Daniel hugged his sister, anxious for the truth to come out. “You’re lookin good, Brenda.” He smiled and looked into her eyes searching for any trace of bitterness. “Is Burt still home, or has he already left for work?”

  “Oh, he’s here, called in too, it gave him an excuse to keep me company.” She winked, knowing full well he was her rock. “The better question is where my darling niece and nephew are this evening?”

  “Sandra had to stop by her mother’s for something,” he said half lying. They walked into the kitchen and sat down, making small talk for several minutes. Burt had never even come in to greet him. “Brenda the reason I came over isn’t really about Dad. There is something that has been eating away at me, and I really need to get this off my chest. Do you think you could get Burt to come in here? I need to tell him too.” His eyes were pleading and Brenda’s mind was already in overdrive.

  Was he getting a divorce, had she been cheating on him? Or maybe he had been having an affair? Well, it would serve Sandra right the way she’s controlled him. What if he knows where Dad is? Yes, that’s it, she thoug
ht, he’s been hiding him the whole time. Her mind continued to churn until Burt walked in the kitchen, eyed Daniel curtly, and joined them at the table.

  Daniel knew Burt was disappointed in him, if not angered. He could feel the vibes of uneasiness when he walked into the room. “Hey Burt, how’s it goin man,” he said, trying to lighten up the mood. Before Daniel knew it he had two faces staring at him. “Okay, well, I don’t know exactly where to start. So, I guess I’ll start with Mom and my lack of support and help when you both needed me the most.” He cleared his throat searching for the right words and picked up a salt shaker with a large red S on it and began to play with it nervously. “It all seemed to happen so swiftly and yet so slowly I didn’t notice it at first. It steamed in full force, like a train you couldn’t stop. Sandra, well, Sandra.”