by Lass Small
Tyler smiled at the waitress and said in Spanish, “Not now, maybe not at all. Bring us two enchiladas each—and say the beer will be along. You can say right away. Please.”
And she replied smoothly in Spanish the equivalent of, “You got it.”
Since the restaurant was ready for the lunch crowd, the silent two did not have to wait long for their lunch. It was delivered within ten minutes.
In the silence between them, John continued to glare around for the waitress as Tyler began to eat. John jerked his head around as he watched for and finally spotted her. She was clear across the room. He tried to nab another, but they had all been tipped off and each smiled, held up one finger and replied in Spanish, “one minute” and vanished.
Tyler decided that just being with John was enough for that time. He would simply be there. Ignored company. In the silence, Tyler ate the enchilada with hungry relish. He used the crisp pieces of tortillas to scoop up the chili gravy that was laced with melted cheese. He made appreciating sounds.
Now who can resist that sort of cleverness?
So John had a bite. He had another. He used the tortilla scoops also. He watched for a waiter.
A man in a white apron came to the table with two bottles and glasses. He said with smiling distress, “We have no actual beer. This is a substitute and better for the businessman. It tastes—ah. There is no lingering breath. Try it. It’s on the house.”
With interest, Tyler poured his fake beer into a glass. Silently, he tasted it. His head nodded as he licked his lips thoughtfully. He smiled and had another sip. He never once looked at John. He went back to eating.
John still searched for a waiter but those who zipped by smiled and said, “one minute” in Spanish and disappeared. By then John had eaten one of the enchiladas and he’d had a glass of the fake beer. He looked at it thoughtfully. He still did not speak to Tyler.
Patiently, looking casually around, Tyler waited until John was finished with his lunch. Tyler was relaxed and silent. He noted other people. He lifted a hand now and again to greet someone he knew. An old friend stopped by and Tyler greeted him. And he introduced John to the man.
John brusquely acknowledged the introduction and went on eating. And the visitor ignored the rudeness, chatted cheerily with Tyler and then moved on.
During all that silent while, Tyler decided this would be the last time he’d ever see John. But then he considered that John could be suffering. Tyler realized that he was needed just for the companionship. He couldn’t allow an old acquaintance to suffer alone. He was committed to this abusive silence. John suffered. He was a human. Tyler was committed.
When John had finished eating, he was still looking for a waiter for real beer. No one came. He was disgruntled, and he continued silent.
Tyler moved his chair back a little and looked at John. If John didn’t go back to his office, Tyler realized he’d stay with him. This apparently was a crucial day of some kind.
It was Tyler who paid the bill and he wrote: Thank you! on the bottom. They went out of the restaurant door and stood in the sun. Tyler said, “Let’s go down to the river walk and go that way back?”
John stood there.
Tyler moved a little in that direction. Then he looked back, and John sighed with such irritation but he followed. So Tyler set his pace to match John’s slow one.
The San Antonio river walk is the product originally of the Work Projects Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s. Each stair up to the street is different.
The river walk has been such a pleasure for everyone that more man-made river loops have been added. There are riverboats and sidewalks along the river loops. There are all sorts of shops, an open-air theater and places to dine, or snack. There are a great many hotels built along the river loops.
It was a pleasant place to be. Tyler knew the walks well, and he ambled along not appearing to guide John. He talked into his fold-up cellular phone. He called in to his office and told Jamie he’d be delayed. He was with John. Jamie said, “You’re a smart man. Good luck.”
And Tyler called in to John’s office.
John’s secretary said very seriously, “Good for you.”
Tyler and John walked silently. Tyler took off his tie and slid it into his pocket. He opened his shirt a couple of buttons. He breathed the sweet TEXAS air.
John was silent.
So was Tyler.
They found a bench in the shade and sat down. Tyler was still silent. He was simply—there. However, it was fascinating and riveting to Tyler that so was John...there! Would he talk? Could he get the bile of bitterness out of himself?
And would Tyler have the brain to be silent enough or if needed, would he know what to say?
The TEXAS wind was gentle. It stirred their hair. It touched their faces and it was alive. The fragrance of clean air is special. Was the clean air from the filtering of all the trees? Or was it that the smog had been eliminated?
Tyler watched the patterns of the leaves shading the sun’s light. The day was another perfect day in San Antonio. It was accepted that was so. When it rained, it was a gift of change.
John said, “It was two years ago today.”
Uh-oh. It wasn’t John’s temper, it was his grief? Should he ask John what had happened? It wasn’t the divorce. That was only about five months ago. What had happened two years ago?
The only encouragement was that Tyler turned his head slowly and looked at John.
There were tears on John’s cheeks. That about ruined Tyler, right there. He watched, his compassion growing.
“We lost a baby who was so new. And they said Connie shouldn’t try again. I saw the baby. It was a little embryo. A tiny beginning baby. It didn’t have a chance.”
Without any notice, Tyler’s mouth asked, “Is that why you two divorced?”
“No. She wanted a baby, and I wouldn’t do it. She got mad at me. I was stubborn. I love her. But she cried because she wanted to try for one, and I wouldn’t let her.”
“You ought to go to our doctor.”
“Your family doctor?”
“Kayla’s and mine.”
“You two getting back together?”
“Well, no.”
“Dumb.”
“Now, John. How can you say something like that about us?”
John’s eyes were bloodshot from his tears. “You don’t understand. But you two ought to be together. You were dumb to try the divorce trick. She let you go through with it.”
“So you knew I didn’t want a divorce. I was just trying to get her attention for—”
“It was stupid.”
“Yeah.” Then Tyler asked, “You ever see Connie?”
“Not very often. I can’t get her phone number.”
“I’ll ask Kayla.”
John looked at Tyler with his tear red eyes. “Would she give it to you?”
Very gently, Tyler told his friend, “I’ll be subtle.”
John frowned. “In what way?”
“I’ll just say I need to contact her.”
John flopped back and spread his knees wide in disgust. “That’s about the dumbest thing I can think of for you to do. You’ll just make Kayla so curious that she’ll call Connie and ask what’s going on.”
Tyler frowned at the perfect sky and said, “That’s true. Women do that.”
And after a time of silence, John said, “When God gave us women, why did He have to make them like they are?”
And Tyler sighed before he replied, “Hell, how do I know? He thought they’d stimulate us? They’re more annoying than stimulating. How could God have fouled up like that?”
“He hadn’t made any women before then,” John explained, “It was probably just an experiment. Or He wanted to distract us?”
“Women are a serious puzzle. I filed for divorce from Kayla, and she didn’t do one thing about it!”
“I know.”
Tyler poured it out. “All I wanted was her atte
ntion. Her concern. And she let me go!”
John shook his head. “I don’t understand women. I couldn’t believe Connie would divorce me just because I wouldn’t let her have a baby.” He looked at Tyler with his red, leaking eyes. “I only wanted her.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“Well, hell, I told her she wasn’t going to have any kids at all!”
“Maybe she thought you were being critical of her not having kids.”
“I told her I loved her more than any kid.”
Tyler’s eyes began to redden. “Women are so strange.”
“Yeah. Let’s go get a drink.”
Tyler sighed hugely. “Naw. That’s no solution. We have to think and discuss and figure out women. Then we’ll decide how to cope with Connie. After we solve that, maybe you two can help me with Kayla. Women are such a nuisance! But we don’t have any other choice.”
“I know.”
Tyler looked around. It was such a beautiful day. The breeze was so gentle and kind. Why couldn’t a woman be like that?
The two disgruntled men sat silently and considered all the people in the world and all the problems. It was depressing to consider. Nobody really got anything solved. The whole world population just proliferated, still quarreling, still breeding and still fighting each other.
Out of the silence, Tyler asked, “Why don’t you invite her to lunch tomorrow?”
“You inviting Kayla?”
“Kayla?” Tyler was startled. “Okay. I’ll ask her.”
“You get her nailed down and—”
“She’ll resist that.”
“I mean you get her committed, and then I’ll tackle Connie.”
“That’s fair.”
There was another silence. Then John asked, “You ready to go back to work? I really don’t have all this time to give to you.”
Tyler was startled. John had been concerned for him? Tyler couldn’t think of any response at all. So he said, “Okay.”
And John stood up. “Try Kayla again. She might be ready to forgive you the divorce.”
“Well, that was just a warning thing and not serious.”
And the sage said kindly, “It was a hell of a shock to her. Ease up and let her talk to you and help you figure out what the hell you’re doing.”
So with inner shock, Tyler said, “Thank you for your time today.”
“I’m a good friend. If you ever need somebody again, wait a while. I can’t give this much time just off the cuff this way. Take care of yourself. Call me anytime. I mean that. I’m always available to an old friend.”
And the shocked Tyler soberly nodded his head.
The two climbed to the street and lifted their hands to each other as they separated and strode off to their offices.
Back at his desk, Tyler exclaimed to Jamie, “John thought he was baby-sitting me!”
Jamie actually looked up blankly. “How’s that?”
And Tyler said, “I thought I was giving him time to open his pus-filled soul and clear it off, and he thought I needed him!”
Jamie grinned. “I’m glad he thought that. He might then think about himself. It’s good for a man who has problems to understand there are other people who have problems.”
“It’ll be a while before I get over the amazement of this afternoon.”
“It’ll clean your soul, and you’ll call Kayla and straighten out your lives.”
Vulnerable, Tyler said, “She’s very leery of me. I don’t think she’d try again. But we are going on a picnic this weekend.”
“Oh? Want Barbara and me along?”
Tyler pulled his rolling desk chair up into place as he said a positive, “No.”
And Jamie chided, “I’ll bet your mother ground it into you to say, No, thank you.’”
Tyler lifted his head and looked at the picture of one of the early partners on the wall. He squinted his eyes and said, “That has a familiar sound to it.”
Back to looking at his papers, Jamie advised, “Practice.”
Tyler exclaimed, “She said that, too. It was the piano.”
Jamie exclaimed, “You play the piano?”
“Brilliantly. It’s what switched me to the computer when I was fourteen. Mother was so amazed by the new personal Apple computers that she bought me one, and she encouraged me to use it. We didn’t even have a printer until the Gorilla Banana came along with the matrix print.”
“I remember those days.”
“Look at the computers we have now.”
Jamie was distracted by his papers, but he did say, “Incredible.”
Like Jamie, Tyler was sucked in by the papers on his desk. He put what he needed into his computer and lost track of time.
Jamie never did.
But immersed in law, Tyler didn’t have Jamie’s particular mental touch with current things. When Tyler became involved, he lost touch with everything else.
He considered that. Maybe that was why Kayla had left him. He hadn’t remembered to check in with her and listen. Hmmm. But the papers and interviews did intrude, and Tyler became embedded in law and was again lost to reality.
A deposition is like a cross-examination in Court in which the plaintiff or plaintiffs are sworn in. They are quizzed on allegations stated in a complaint that the Will should be set aside. Or it can be that the plaintiffs are not included in the Will or think they should have more than what was allotted in the Will.
People are fascinating.
But Tyler had set a time buzzer so that when it went off, he surfaced and understood it was Thursday and baseball was to be played. The reason he realized that was because he’d put a note beside the buzzer and that’s what he saw as he stopped the damned intrusive buzzer.
If Tyler had a commitment of any kind, he used the buzzer to catch his attention. Tyler had to have an irritating, relentless buzzer because he could ignore anything else like a kinder, gentler one.
When Jamie was there in the office, he insisted on taking the part of the buzzer. He couldn’t stand the blasted buzzer.
So that evening, about seven o’clock, the buzzer did go off. Tyler surfaced and saw there was a plate and salad bowl. Jamie must have done that. And Tyler had eaten it. Then he remembered he was supposed to play ball at eight.
He again saved the work he’d done on the computer and started the printer to print it all. He looked at his desk with regret but he was committed to playing baseball. Even he understood that it was best to get out and be with people. He could live, isolated, with his nose in law books.
A man can do that. So can a woman. They can be so engrossed in some distraction that they forget to know people. To see the sun set. To watch kids play. To see there are other people and there is a wide, wide world out there.
If they just look up to the horizon, that isn’t bad
At the baseball part of the park, Tyler looked at all the people in the stands and thought of their seeing the horizon. They were doing that. They’d come out to the park to visit and exchange ideas and call to others and watch the game and observe others kindly or with gossip. People need other people around.
And they need to look beyond their area to other peoples and to other horizons.
With the rest of the team, Tyler took to the field. He trotted out to second base and he looked up into the stands. He immediately saw Kayla and he waved.
She laughed and waved back.
He almost couldn’t wipe the smile off his face during that game. He hit another home run! And his heart floated above him as he trotted around the bases and was sure his foot tromped on each and every base. He stood on home plate and laughed with his laughing, bunched up team crowding around him, shaking his hand, high living with hands, and bragging on him in the rough way of friends.
Exuberant, they said, “I’ve never seen a hit ball bounce on air thataway to get over a fence!” They said, “You can hit a ball!” “I had to see it to believe it!” And Tyler just laughed.
The people in the
bleachers hollered and yelled so that Tyler had barely sat on the bench when the coach said he ought to give them a bow... forward. He was a humorist of a kind. So Tyler got up, bowed, took off his hat and waved it at Kayla. The cheering went on and Tyler had to laugh. How lucky he was. Not the run... just that Kayla was there.
With both hands high in the air so that he was sure to see her, Kayla laughed back at him.
Of course, most of his friends had both hands high in the air. But Tyler did see Kayla. If she’d actually been in the stands all those times she said she had, how had he missed her?
She hadn’t waved? He hadn’t seen her. It was probably because he hadn’t believed she was actually there so he hadn’t expected to see her.
He and the Wimp would see her that weekend. Yes. They’d go out into the countryside, they’d be together...and alone. Kayla. Was there any other woman in the world? No. Just Kayla.
If she turned him aside again, he’d probably become a recluse. A legal recluse. It wasn’t all that unusual.
But there were others who chose that single life. Artists, musicians, scientists, writers, too many people who lived their lives in what they did and not ever looking up.
Later, sitting on the “dugout” bench, Tyler looked up into the stands. He didn’t see all the others. Not even his family laughing down at him. He just saw Kayla. He smiled up at her. It took someone on his team to mention, “Uhhh, the inning’s over, let’s go. Hey, Tyler?”
And Tyler got up and trotted out to second base.
Ten
One thing about men. They know everything that’s going on. They say that women gossip. They shake their heads over such loose tongues. But when men are caught gossiping, they say adamantly that it is not gossip! They’re just exchanging information!
While they were in the baseball “dugout,” on the bench alongside the wire fence to first base, one of the guys said to Tyler, “I heard Tom Keeper’s after your woman.”
“Naw.”
But another said slowly, moving carefully, “I heard it, too. You watch your back trail.”