Touching Cottonwood

by Randall Simpson

  It was Rebecca who finally broke the silence. “So, Matthew,” she said, “suppose we were willing, at least for the moment, to accept the notion that somehow Old Blind Carl isn’t blind anymore. Despite questioning how such a wonderful thing could have happened, an even more practical question might be—where is he right now?”

  Matthew looked directly at Rebecca and then glanced across the table to Chelsea, who was looking at him, but Amanda kept her head down, slowly working on her plate of food.

  “Isn’t Carl a human being with a free will?” Matthew asked Rebecca. “What would you do if you suddenly gained your eyesight? For those of us who have had vision all our lives, it’s hard to answer that question. So you see, I don’t know for certain where Carl is, but I would suspect he is doing some things that he always wanted to do, if he could only see.”

  After a few moments of thought, Rebecca replied, “Well, that would make sense, I suppose.”

  With a loud “clink,” Amanda dropped her knife on her plate. She glanced at Rebecca but then glared at Matthew. “Well,” she began, “I think none of this makes sense! If Old Blind Carl got his eyesight back, I think the first thing he would do is leap for joy and come and show all of Cottonwood his miraculous change! But he hasn’t done that, so what I do think makes sense is for someone to stop by his house and check up on him. We need to check there, and if he’s not there, we need to scour the whole town and then check along the river, if necessary.”

  Matthew smiled at her. “I think your view is the logical one,” he replied, “but this may not be a matter of logic. You’ve assumed that Cottonwood was the first thing on Carl’s mind. Who knows what might be more important for him to see?”

  Matthew then looked directly at Chelsea who’d been silent since their meals came. “And what do you think, Chelsea?” Matthew asked her. “Where would you go and what would you do if suddenly you could see after living your whole life blind?”

  Chelsea appeared ready to give some sort of answer, but before she could get the first word out, Amanda said, “Don’t answer his ridiculous question, Chelse.” She then wiped her mouth with her napkin, reached into her purse, and pulled out twenty dollars. She placed it on the table and looked at Rebecca. “This should cover things.”

  Amanda then stood up from the table. “Well,” she said, “this has certainly been an interesting meal and an interesting day, to say the least.” She looked at Chelsea. “Time to go.”

  Chelsea was not quite finished with her meal. “Oh…” she said, taking a quick spoonful of chili, “all right, I guess…whatever you say.” Chelsea smiled at Rebecca and then Matthew as she stood up.

  Matthew also stood up and extended his hand out to Chelsea. “It was nice to meet you, Chelsea,” he said. “I mean…formally meet you.”

  Chelsea slowly extended her hand in return. “Nice to meet you as well,” she said.

  Matthew looked at Amanda. She only stared down at the floor. “And nice to meet you too, Amanda,” said Matthew.

  “Right,” murmured Amanda, barely audible and without looking up.

  Matthew then looked back at Chelsea and held Old Blind Carl’s cane out to her. “Chelsea, I want you to have this. I can tell how much you care about Old Blind Carl, and while it was a wonderful gift to me, I want to now pass that gift on to you.”

  Chelsea glanced at her mother who was not looking at her but staring at the cane. Hesitantly, the young woman reached up and took the cane from Matthew’s hand. “Wow, well, thank you,” she said quietly, not looking at Matthew but at the cane.

  “Just one last thing,” said Matthew, causing Chelsea to look up at him. “Think of it as more than just a cane. If you look closely at all the little cracks and chips in it, you can almost start to see and feel the story of Carl’s life in it—you can read the story of his life in that cane. Every little crack, chip, and bit of wear and tear is a part of his life. Everything you’d want to know about people is in their possessions, if you know how to read the messages hidden there.”

  Chelsea continued to hold the cane in both hands. “I’ll look at it—closely,” she said, looking down at it and then up to Matthew. “Thanks, again.”

  Amanda prodded Chelsea a bit and then glanced at Rebecca. “Good night, Rebecca,” she said, holding her stare at Rebecca a bit longer than normal. Amanda didn’t look at Matthew as she and Chelsea left the table and headed for the door.

  Matthew sat back down and smiled at Rebecca.

  “That was nice of you to give her that,” said Rebecca. “Are you sure Old Blind Carl won’t be needing it back?”

  Matthew continued to smile at her but said nothing.

  “Wait, how silly of me!” she said with sarcasm. “Carl can see now and won’t need it, right?”

  “You don’t believe me yet,” Matthew replied, “and that’s all right. I know it’s a lot to swallow all at once.” He picked up his nearly empty glass of milk and looked right into her eyes. “Miracles seem to be everywhere in Cottonwood tonight, so you’re bound to find one you can believe in. To miracles…” He made a toasting motion with the glass, smiled, and finished the milk.

  At the lunch counter, Sparky had just been served his steak and eggs when Amanda Reese tapped him on his shoulder. “I need to speak with you—right now,” she hissed in a low voice.

  “What’s going on?” he asked, glancing over at the table where now only Rebecca and Matthew were seated and then at Chelsea who stood right next to her mother.

  “Can we talk outside, please?” insisted Amanda.

  Sparky looked over at Ellen who was a distance away down the counter. “I’m not done here…don’t give my seat up,” he said loudly to her, pointing down at his plate of food.

  Sparky stood up and made his way with Amanda and Chelsea through the now dwindling crowd waiting by the front door. They stepped outside the diner to the front sidewalk.

  “All right, Amanda, tell me what’s going on,” said Sparky.

  Amanda pointed at the cane in Chelsea’s hands. “That’s Old Blind Carl’s cane,” she said.

  Sparky looked at it for a moment, then finally said, “Yes, and so?”

  “So?!” blurted Amanda. “Why would she have it?”

  “Dunno. Did Old Blind Carl give it to her?”

  Amanda grabbed the cane from Chelsea and held it up near Sparky’s face. “This is a blind man’s cane, without a blind man attached to it!”

  Sparky stared at the cane for a moment and then looked back at Amanda. “I don’t have a car, so the two of you are just as able as I am to walk over to his house and take it to him. He’s probably asleep though…it is getting late, you know.”

  “I think you’re the one who’s asleep, Deputy!” said Amanda, loud enough to get the attention of several customers who were stepping outside from the diner. She then lowered her voice. “Let me tell you how we came into possession of this cane….”

  Back inside the diner, their table had been cleared of all the dishes, and Rebecca and Matthew now sat next to each other, with Matthew turned to the side and looking at her but Rebecca looking down as though studying the random patterns in the table.

  Rebecca finally turned and looked up at Matthew. “Why did you give the cane to Chelsea?” she asked.

  “Chelsea’s a young girl who I think can appreciate that particular gift,” replied Matthew. “It’s just that simple.”

  “None of this is simple. Since I saw you walking down the street this morning—things stopped being simple. Just seeing you again after all these years…the traffic all stalling…you walking in here with that cane…and then the whole reason you gave for having it—it’s not simple at all. It’s anything but simple! I’m very confused right now.”

  Matthew reached over and held her hand. She looked down at his hand around hers. She had thought about his touch all day long, but the confusion of the evening clouded those feelings. His warm touch felt good and seemed to dissolve some of those clouds. She didn’t pull back.


  “I’m sorry for causing you any confusion,” he said to her.

  Rebecca looked into his eyes. They were a calm and comforting ocean. Not a ripple or doubt could she find there. They were the eyes she’d looked into so many times, and she recognized their familiar honesty.

  “I appreciate your being sorry,” she said. “It’s not all your fault. This has been a confusing day…strange and confusing.”

  “Perhaps,” Matthew replied, “but I’ve looked so forward to this day and coming back here to be with you. Does it feel strange for us to be together again, sitting here in Ernie’s?”

  “A little…yes,” replied Rebecca, still enjoying the touch of his hand on hers. “But some things are stranger than others. I think you must be aware that Amanda left here thinking something bad may have happened to Old Blind Carl…and that you might have had something to do with it.”

  “I’m aware of her reaction, yes,” replied Matthew.

  “And that doesn’t concern you?”

  “I think it’s to be expected. When people are tossed into an ocean of the unknown, they always swim to the nearest island of the known.”

  Rebecca paused for a moment and then looking into Matthew’s eyes, she said, “Look, if I didn’t know you so well, I might even think something’s happened to Old Blind Carl and that you had something to do with it. But I think I do know you, and I remember all the time you used to spend with him listening to his stories. You and he had a special friendship. It makes sense that he would give you his cane if he really didn’t need it anymore. Somehow though, I think you’re not telling me everything you know about this whole thing.”

  Matthew met Rebecca’s stare. “I am so glad you say you know me and trust me. That’s important.” He gently squeezed her hand. “I promise you this,” Matthew continued, “someday you will know exactly what happened to Old Blind Carl. I don’t know where he is at this moment, but I do know he’s no longer blind. I suspect he’s done exactly what I would have done—gone to see the one thing in his life he loves the most.”

  “Is that what you would have done?”

  “That’s exactly what I have done…and am doing at this moment,” Matthew replied, reaching over and giving Rebecca a small kiss on the lips.

  His lips tasted smooth and electric, easy and delicious to her. It felt right, like the last piece of a puzzle fitting into place. She wanted more and pulled him closer, taking her fill. It had been twelve years since Rebecca D’Arcy had kissed a man so deeply while sitting in Ernie’s Diner. Remarkably, it had been the same man, and this kiss brought with it the same sweet and familiar fire she remembered.

  Outside of Ernie’s Diner, Sparky had taken hold of Old Blind Carl’s cane and was studying it closely. “So, you say that Matthew Duncan gave this to Chelsea?” he asked Amanda.

  “Only a few minutes ago,” Amanda replied, “right at the table you were watching.”

  “Was I that obvious?” asked Sparky with a frown.

  “Let’s just say you need practice on your covert surveillance techniques there, Sparky,” said Amanda. “Once I saw him with the cane, I figured you were already on to him, and that’s why you were watching us—but apparently I was wrong.”

  “Shit,” he said. “I was watching him because the sheriff told me to. He didn’t mention anything about this cane.”

  “That doesn’t matter now,” said Amanda. “You’re holding Old Blind Carl’s cane right now…so aren’t you just the least bit curious as to where Old Blind Carl is?”

  “I suppose we could check his house,” replied Sparky.

  “That would be a good start, but let me tell you what else we know. Earlier today, Chelse and I were out for a bike ride, and we found this cane sitting by itself next to the bench down at McCann Park. Then we saw Matthew Duncan with it tonight.”

  “But,” Chelsea added, breaking in, “Matthew told us that Old Blind Carl gave it to him, so he didn’t steal it or anything.”

  “Why would Old Blind Carl give Matthew Duncan his cane?” asked Sparky.

  “Exactly,” said Amanda. “Why would he?”

  “I mean,” said Sparky, “he’s blind, and blind people need their canes, right?”

  Sparky was moving much too slow for Amanda. Her fuel tank of patience with him was just about on empty. “Look, Sparky,” began Amanda, “I think that Matthew Duncan may have done something to Old Blind Carl. I’m not saying I know that for certain, but in my mind, all the evidence is sure pointing to that. What we do know right now is that we don’t know the whereabouts of Old Blind Carl, and you’re holding his cane right in your hands.”

  “Mom, I think you’re—” Chelsea attempted to interject, but Amanda cut her off.

  “Not now,” said Amanda firmly, without looking at her daughter. “And there’s something else you should know, Deputy. Earlier today, Chelsea and I were riding our bikes up the trail above McCann Park, and we came across our very same Mr. Duncan washing himself in the river—and he was totally naked. I didn’t really appreciate my daughter being subjected to that.”

  Chelsea rolled her eyes, and Sparky looked at Amanda with eyes that had only started putting together the pieces of the simple puzzle that she was laying out for him.

  “Hmmm,” said Sparky, once more studying the cane. “I suppose there is something worth looking into here. I’ll need to talk with the sheriff though, and of course, we’ll first need to find out if we can locate Old Blind Carl. I’ll do a welfare check on him tonight.”

  “I think at the very least that’s what you should do,” insisted Amanda.

  Sparky frowned at Amanda. “Thanks for your advice, but I think I know how to do my job. I think I’ll go back inside now and finish up my dinner—and keep an eye on Matthew Duncan.”

  Sparky looked at Chelsea. “You mind if I keep this?”

  “Why?” Chelsea asked.

  “Well, it’s sort of potential evidence,” he said.

  Chelsea looked at the cane. “I’d prefer to keep it for now,” she said, reaching out for the cane.

  “Well,” began Sparky, “I suppose that as of right now we don’t exactly know that a crime has been committed.” He handed the cane back to Chelsea. “But keep that cane handy, because if we don’t locate Old Blind Carl somewhere in town, that cane becomes evidence.”

  “Thanks,” said Chelsea. The two ladies turned and walked toward home as Sparky turned and headed back inside the diner.

  When Sparky was well inside, Amanda asked, “Why did you want to keep that old cane?”

  Chelsea rolled it in her hand and rubbed the top of it. “I don’t know,” she said. “It just feels good, I guess…and it was a gift to me, after all.”

  “Well, don’t get too attached to it. I don’t imagine you’ll be keeping it very long.”

  The two continued toward home in silence, with Chelsea enjoying the well-worn and comfortable smoothness of Old Blind Carl’s cane and Amanda anxious to share the excitement of the evening with the first set of ears that would care to listen.

  Inside Ernie’s Diner, Sparky slid back onto his swivel stool at the lunch counter, glancing down at his now cold steak and eggs. They were not nearly as appetizing as they’d been several minutes before. He quickly glanced over to the table where Matthew and Rebecca had been seated. Had been seated! They were gone. He quickly scanned the restaurant. They were nowhere to be seen.

  He began to panic. This was impossible! He had been standing right in front of the diner talking with Amanda and Chelsea, and that was the only way out. Wasn’t it? Where could they have gone?!

  “Ellen!” he called out, causing her to look away from helping another customer. In a few moments, she was standing behind the counter in front of him.

  “Whatcha need, Spark? You want me to warm your plate in the microwave?” she asked, reaching for the plate.

  He shook his head and pointed over at the table where Matthew and Rebecca had been. It was being set for the next customers. “I was watching,
uh…there were a couple of people over at that table, and now they’re gone, and I know they didn’t go out the front. Do you know where they could have gone?”

  “I wouldn’t know anything about that. I’ve got the counter tonight. I think that’s Jenny’s section. Do you want to talk to her?”

  “Please,” Sparky said.

  Ellen stepped back into the kitchen, and after a minute or so, Jenny Aaronson came out to where Sparky was sitting.

  “Ellen said you were asking about the table where Chelsea and Mrs. Reese were seated?” asked Jenny.

  “Yes,” said Sparky. “I’m wondering where the other two went. I stepped outside for a minute with the Reeses, and when I came back in, the other two were gone.”

  “Oh, Rebecca and that guy? I don’t know who he was, but they left a few minutes ago. I took them to the kitchen and showed them the miracle fridge, and then they went out the back door.”

  Sparky stood up and moved around the counter. “Take me to the door they went out,” he said excitedly.

  “Sure, follow me,” she said.

  Sparky followed Jenny through the kitchen and then to the back door. He opened it, took a few steps outside to the corner of the building and looked out into the dark quiet night that had eased in to fill the streets of Cottonwood. He scanned Main Street in both directions and saw no one. He turned around and looked at Jenny who was holding the door open.

  “Damn,” he said as he walked back inside.

  “Sorry,” said Jenny.

  Sparky shook his head. “It’s not your fault.”

  As they headed back through the kitchen, Jenny pointed at a big stainless steel walk-in refrigerator. “That’s the miracle fridge, by the way,” she said as they kept walking.

  Sparky glanced at the refrigerator without paying much attention. He hadn’t heard Jenny all that well in the noisy kitchen, but thought her reference might have been to the brand name or type of refrigerator. Either way, his bigger concern was the fact that he’d lost Matthew Duncan.