The Light In the Dark
Page 22
“I’m done talking with you now pig,” David says as he tries to roll over on his side. He doesn’t like that Flanigan isn’t falling for the bait, so he turns his attention to back to Drake.
“Hey boy,” David says to Drake. Drake doesn’t say a word as he stares off into the distance. “What aren’t you gonna look at me? What are you a tough guy?” David laughs as he sees that Drake is becoming agitated. “You’re probably a little pissed at me aren’t you? I can’t say that I blame you though. I am sorry about the number I did on that cute little thing of yours though. I probably didn’t even give you enough time to even get you a taste of that did I?” Drake drops his cigarette and walks over to his father, looking down directly into his eyes. He does nothing but smile, which begins to intimidate David.
“What’s he doing Flanigan?” David asks.
“Whatever he wants to do,” Flanigan says, “I’m looking the other way right now and I can’t see a thing.
Drake lights another cigarette and continues to stand above David.
“You wanna whip my ass boy?” David taunts. “You’d better do it now while you got the chance. Go ahead… kick me.”
Drake looks down at him, realizing the irony of what he would become if he truly followed his impulses. “What’s the point?” he asks, taking a deep draw off of his cigarette.
“What do you mean?” David asks, confused.
“I kick you and then what?” Drake says. “That won’t bring them back. I’ve been doing nothing but kicking my whole life and where has it got me? Kicking you would be pointless… if you don’t die here tonight; you will die later for what you’ve done. I won’t be happy, but I sure as hell won’t be sad either.” Drake turns around and calmly strolls over to the picnic table and sits down.
“COME BACK HERE!” David tries to scream as Drake walks away, his voice becoming hoarser. “Damn it, COME BACK HERE I SAID!”
“I don’t think he’s coming back,” Flanigan says with a jovial smile as he stands above him.
“Why in the hell are you standing there staring at me with that stupid look on your face for, pig?” David asks.
“I’m glad that you asked,” Flanigan says, “because I’ve been waiting to tell you one thing for the last thirty years and I think that now is the best time to say it, because based on my experience I’d say you have maybe two or three more minutes left in you.”
“Well don’t stand there looking at me like an idiot, say it then,” David says.
“God put you here,” Flanigan says with a smile.
“Flanigan, you stupid son of a bitch, there is no God,” David says as he wheezes and gasps for air and begins to fade away. Flanigan shakes his head as he walks back toward the house, knowing that the ambulance is still at least five minutes away.
“I believe you sir,” Kris yells at Flanigan, startling him and making him turn around. Kris feels a strange sense of calmness come over him, a feeling which he had never felt in his fourteen years of life, “I’ve never believed in anything before tonight sir, but I do now.”
“That is good son,” Flanigan says with a gentle smile, “because faith is a hard thing to find and an easier thing to lose… hold on to it for as long as you can.”
THE END