by Bialois, CP
As was his usual place, Lucius Foster sat in the chair nearest the door. His wrinkled face and salt-and-pepper hair combined with the soft yellow light from the lamp to make him resemble a painting. He heard his son’s car, it was hard to miss a ‘77 Pinto that barely worked, and muted the television after Horace closed the front door.
“Afternoon, Son. You look like you’ve had a hard day.” He set down the remote and leaned forward. “It’s not women trouble, is it? Cause I sure do like Janice.”
Horace smiled, more at his father’s apparent mobility than the joke they shared. “Nope, so far it looks like we’re stuck with her.” He sat in his chair; the soft cushion felt good after being on his feet all day. “How’s your back feeling?” His heart warmed at seeing his father nod and smile.
“Good. I can’t complain. Those new pills the doctor gave me did the trick.”
Horace nodded. “You see? I told you the doctor wasn’t a quack out to take your money.”
“I never said that.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No.” Lucius pointed toward his son, waving his finger in the air. “What I said was, Doctor Francis is a quack and after my money. Doctor Williams is a kind, generous soul.”
“The fact she’s forty-one and is named Beth Ann has nothing to do with it.” Naomi Foster, Horace’s mother, entered the room and converged before either of them noticed. She was carrying a cup of coffee for Lucius, and a cup of tea for herself. “I’m sorry, I forgot what time you were working to today. Let me set this down and I’ll get you something.” Naomi leaned over to set her cup down, but Horace stopped her.
“It’s alright, Mom, I have to get ready to go out in a bit.”
Her eyes widened as she sat in her chair. “Oh? Another date with Janice? I really like her, Horace. You should bring her by here.”
Lucius, who hadn’t yet forgiven his wife for sneaking into the room and siding against him a moment before, glared at her out of the corner of his eyes. “He doesn’t want to bring her here to eat your cooking. He may as well poison her himself in that case.”
Naomi rolled her eyes and her plus-sized frame shook with laughter. “If it ain’t killed you yet, it won’t do her a bit of harm.”
Horace did everything he could to keep from laughing. After all those years, their half-hearted bickering never grew old. While he didn’t want to interrupt the entertainment, he felt the timing was right before they really got rolling. “Maybe this weekend; Janice wants to take her dad out to cheer him up some.” Horace still remembered her call after she left the hospital and the worry in her voice. For her, he’d happily deal with his insecurities with her father for the evening.
“That’s right! He’s a doctor, isn’t he?” When Horace nodded, Naomi shook her head. “What’s gotten into you and your father? I could never understand why you don’t like doctors.”
“I don’t have any trouble with doctors,” Lucius spoke up, defending his honor.
His wife looked at him with a comical expression. “No, not so long as they look as good as Doctor Beth Ann Williams.”
As much as he hated to do it, Horace excused himself to grab a quick snack and a shower. He knew they’d be at it for a little longer before they settled in to watch the news and the nightly run of game shows.
*****
As Horace predicted, both of his parents were watching the local news by the time he finished cleaning himself up. Dressed in his best pair of jeans and a cream-colored turtleneck, he knew there was some time to kill until Janice picked him up, so he sat in his chair to watch the TV. An hour later, a knock at the door caught Horace’s attention. In a matter of seconds, he was out of his chair and opening the door.
His expectant smile widened at the sight greeting him. Janice stood and smiled back at him. She wore a blue sweater and matching jeans. A simple glance at the two would be proof enough that the nights were beginning to grow cold.
No sooner was the door open then Naomi’s voice floated through the opening. “Is that Janice?” Naomi appeared behind her son, her face framed by his shoulder and nape of his neck. “Oh, come in, honey! Come in!”
Horace shrugged, stepping aside to let her into the house. Janice followed his lead, knowing that turning Naomi down was a useless gesture. Once inside, Naomi took her in a bone-breaking embrace.
“Oh, honey, you need to come around more often.”
“I know, Mrs. Foster, I’m sorry for that.”
Naomi released her with a twinkle in her eyes. “I know, honey, it’s hard to resist the charms of these men, am I right?” Her smile was genuine and caused Horace to groan.
Janice couldn’t help laughing. “They are horrible.”
From his seat, Lucius scoffed. “Better look out, Son. When they get to cackling like this, there ain’t a peace anywhere for us men.”
“You hush.” Naomi turned to face Lucius, then with her task complete, she turned back to Janice with a warm smile. “How’s your father doing? Horace said you hoped to cheer him up tonight.”
Janice’s smile faltered somewhat as her mind went to her father and how stressed and tired he looked a few hours earlier. “He’s doing good. It’s been a rough couple of days at the hospital for him.”
Naomi nodded. “I won’t keep you, then. Take care of my baby; he won’t admit it, but he needs mothering.”
Janice’s smile returned. “I won’t let him get into trouble. I promise.
Naomi nodded, letting her go while locking her eyes on Horace. “You’d better treat her right, or you’ll have me to answer to.”
Horace nodded while doing his best to hide his embarrassment. “I will, Mom.”
“Love you, baby.” She hugged and kissed him on the cheek.
“I love you too, Mom.”
“Be careful you two.” Lucius pointed at Janice. “Give your father our best.”
“I will. Thank you.” The pair closed the door behind them and paused on the porch. The sun wasn’t yet ready to set as it struggled to remain in sight above the horizon. Janice walked down the three steps to the sidewalk, forcing Horace to catch up.
“You okay?” He put his arm around her once they were even and matched her pace as they walked toward the driveway.
Janice shrugged. “Yeah, it’s just a weird day.”
He nodded as they separated when they reached her car. “Nothing’s been the same. I guess it’s like that after days like yesterday.”
“I suppose.” Once they were in the car, Janice sat in her seat for a minute with the keys in her right hand. Fidgeting with whatever she had in her hands had become one of her habits over the years. “How well do you know him?”
The sound of the jangling keys gave Horace a warning regarding her protective nature. He thought he knew who she meant, but he wasn’t sure. “Your father? Pretty well, I think.”
“No, I mean that Franklin.”
A silence fell between them as Horace looked at her. What the hell is this about? “I don’t. Yesterday was the first time I ever saw him. Why?”
The keys continued jingling until she answered and shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I think he upset my dad.”
He reached over and quieted the jingling keys by taking hold of her hand. “Hey, it’ll be alright. He’s been under a lot of stress. You said he had an embolism then told your dad he was fine. That’s enough to upset anyone.”
Horace’s logic had the desired effect as she stopped fidgeting and smiled at him. It was a look he understood better than most of her other ones. Janice only wanted to be reassured that everything was fine, something any of them could need after what happened over the last day and a half. Hell, Horace wanted the same thing at times and still felt the accident was a dream of some sort. His concerns about Janice dwindled when she squeezed his hand back and started the car. It was then that he realized what time it was.
“Doesn’t your dad get off in an hour?”
“Two hours.” She confided as she pulled out of the driveway and s
tarted down the road. “There’s something I need your help with first.” Her sly smile betrayed her and Horace could only shake his head in anticipation and wonder.
Chapter 14
Steve collapsed into the small plastic chair inside the entrance to the National Guard Headquarters meant for visitors or Guardsmen to wait for loved ones to pick them up when their monthly duty was over. Over the last few years, more people than Steve probably knew sat in those same chairs. Such a thought may or may not have bothered him had he contemplated it, but as things were, history was the farthest thing from his mind. Steve did everything that was asked of him with an air of servitude rather than gusto. That fact wasn’t lost on his coworker and “mentor”, Zach Wahl.
Thirty-one years old, Zach worked as a maintenance man at the National Guard Headquarters in Tarken Heights for almost fourteen years. Ever since he found out he couldn’t serve in the military because of his clubfoot, he chose this avenue to serve his country in any way possible. He believed it was a small price for him to pay. Zach had been working with the new kid for most of the day and he had to admit, he was impressed. Zach liked to lean on the rookies to see what they were made of. Too many times someone came in looking and talking like they could do the work without a second thought and had to quit after a few days. If he had to evaluate Steve, Zach would definitely give him a thumbs up. He wore the kid out, there was no doubt about that, but not once did Steve cry or complain. Even when he was told the lunch break would be later, Steve nodded and continued on. Before telling him about lunch being delayed, Zach was chuckling at the look of horror he expected to see. Instead, he was surprised and very pleased with the reaction he got. In most cases, the rookie would quit right there, or at least cry a river’s worth of tears.
Once Zach finished filing the paperwork for the day and placed it in the proper box within the catacomb in the wall, he picked up his jacket from the chair and paused. “Need a ride, buddy?” Who said he didn’t have a heart for hard-luck cases?
Steve looked out the door then turned toward Zach. “Probably. I thought my dad would come for me.” While the subject hadn’t been discussed between Steve and his father, it did seem reasonable to him. Guess it’s all part of my lesson.
Zach shook his head, another spoiled rich kid that didn’t act like he was rich. Oh well, he’d seen stranger things in his life. Zach motioned for Steve to follow him. “Come on.” Without waiting to see if Steve took the hint, Zach stepped outside and walked toward his car. Hearing the door remain open for a beat longer than it should’ve caused Zach to smile. Kid’s not stupid. As maintenance men, they were required to lock the headquarters up when they were leaving for the night unless someone was on duty. The kid understood the rules and his role perfectly.
He turned back and watched with his hands in his pockets. Steve’s back was turned while he worked to turn the deadbolt. Once the loud click sounded, Zach could hear the keys being pulled from the lock. He was liking this kid more and more. Steve listened and picked up on things quicker than Zack thought he would.
When Steve turned away from the door, he paused at seeing the smile on Zach’s face. “What?” At first he thought he was the butt of some joke. What a perfect way to end the day.
Zach shook his head. “Nothing. C’mon, let’s get out of here.”
Steve nodded with his own smile, followed him to his car, and climbed in. The red vinyl seats were covered with cheap purple covers. Seconds after both doors were closed, the mustang’s engine roared to life and Zach pulled out of its parking space.
As they turned onto the road and headed toward town, Zach glanced over at him. “So where are we going?”
Steve paused for a second, realizing he never told Zach his address. “145 Potts Avenue.”
Zach let out a low whistle. “You live up there? Shit, I‘m surprised you didn’t have your sweater vest on today.”
Steve chuckled, though he didn’t feel like it. One, the joke wasn’t funny, and two, it was the same old shit. He knew he was just being kidded with and not being picked on, but it still hurt. It was something he began experiencing when he was younger, but over the last few years being a “rich” kid had worn him out. “Yeah, I left it at our summer house.” God, it hurt to play along.
Zach burst into laughter. “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.”
After being a bundle of nerves for most of the day, Steve was surprised that he felt more at ease and relaxed than he had at any point since his dad dropped him off.
“Do you mind if I ask you something?”
Steve was sure another joke was coming so he smiled before answering, “Sure.”
Zach paused in thought. He knew how hard these things could be to talk about, given his own history. In the end, he decided against asking what he wanted to. “Need a ride in tomorrow?”
Steve paused and looked at him for a brief moment, unsure what to say. Until then he had the thought the guy was going to ask him on a date, but as it turned out, he was only being nice. He was the first one to treat Steve decently, aside from Horace. Knowing he didn’t have much of a choice about going to work, he nodded. “Sure do. I’m not sure how long until I get my truck back.”
Zach nodded, glad he changed his mind about what to ask. “Done deal. Where’s your truck now?”
Steve motioned with his thumb. “At Jimmy’s garage; he and my dad go way back. They grew up together and he does good work.”
Zach nodded his agreement. “That he does. Any time I have trouble with this old girl, he fixes her right up.” He paused at a stop sign before continuing to the left. “You getting it a tune up?”
Steve shook his head. “No, I wish that was all. I got into an accident yesterday out on Old Sixty-Six.”
“I heard about that. A guy was hurt in it, wasn’t he?”
“Yeah… well, sort of. He fell and hurt his head in the field. He wasn’t in the car when I hit it because was he trying to find that meteor.” The more he thought about it over the day, the more that reason made sense than chucking a tire iron into a field.
“What meteor?” Zach’s face screwed up into a scowl. He was sure he would’ve heard about them and it made him curious.
Steve’s face brightened even more in the failing light. “There was a silver streak yesterday afternoon. I say it was a meteor, but Horace, my buddy, didn’t believe me. No one else noticed it either.”
“Shit! If I hadn’t been working, I probably would’ve been there right with you.” Zach’s priorities were correct and in order, for him at any rate. First came America, there was no discussion about that. Second, third, and fourth were UFOs. In his heart, Zach believed the government wasn’t lying about the weather balloons, but he could understand why such measures were necessary if UFOs did exist.
“Want to check it out before it gets dark? We have time.” Steve suddenly forgot about his fatigue and need to rest.
Zach thought it over for a few seconds before nodding. “Fuck yeah, that’d be awesome.” In seconds, the rust-stained mustang changed direction as a budding friendship took root.
*****
Horace stood on top of one of the cafeteria tables and loosened the final light bulb. He knew when he saw Janice’s look in the car that he was in for an interesting time. Out of all of the possibilities, he never thought he’d be fixing the lights in the small hospital cafeteria.
This was the second, no third, time he ever set foot in the hospital, and the second time in the last day. It wasn’t that he hated hospitals, he understood the good that came with them, but he hated the smell. Born and raised around the smells of baking, fresh laundry, and living gave him a natural reaction to the sterile-smelling facility and doctors in general. Maybe his mom was right and he inherited those feelings from his father, but he didn’t think he was so strange. No one liked to be sick, and being there to see a doctor for another’s well-being would make it natural to think of the two as being related. It was human nature and a logical deduction. Such an advent
didn’t often occur since nature and logic don’t mix well.
With that in mind, Horace was sure he came across a means of defending himself from the onslaught of his mother and girlfriend. Besides, he was helping Janice set the cafeteria up on a whim to help her father. He just wished he knew what the whim was. Janice could be counted on for a great many things, but if she didn’t want to tell you something she wouldn’t. Horace could guess what she was up to when he looked around at the scene he helped her create.
Being a small hospital, the cafeteria had to be equally small. Its four tables had red-and-white checkered table cloths, paper plates and cups decorating the surfaces. To him, it looked like a private dinning room dressed for a party with medium lighting instead of the harsh white light of the phosphorescent. Not bad, but did she really plan on cheering Doug up in the same building that caused his distress? He didn’t think it’d work, but who was he to say so? She knew her own father better than he did.
Horace wasn’t upset, rather he was clueless about her plan until she pushed open the swinging double doors and nearly gave him a heart attack. She carried six boxes of pizza that reached the bottom of her chin. He moved to help her, but Janice shook her head.
“There’s more in the car.”
More? Afraid of what he had gotten himself into, Horace left her with the pizza and went out to her car. She parked toward the far side of the parking lot so it’d be tougher for her father to recognize it in the dark. Horace was still amazed she’d been able to keep this secret from him for the last hour and a half. Of course, she enlisted the help of the head nurse, Phyllis, to try to keep him busy and away until everything was set up.