Going Home
Monday August 10th @ 6:15 AM - On the Road to Kansas City
Sandi and Gary are driving back to Kansas City. The two, normally
talkative, have driven in silence since Gary picked Sandi up at the King
house, maybe a half hour ago. Sandi finally breaks the silence, "Did you
see Bill and TK on the front porch swing this morning?" "Eh, no I missed
it." "They looked so cute. ... Bill and TK were asleep in each other's
arms. ... Ah, young love."
Gary says, "I guess they should enjoy it while they can.
Bill has
to head back today too. ... Shit. Didja ever notice that doing the right
thing generally sucks?" Sandi looks at one of her best friends sadly.
She feels like shaking him and screaming at him but quietly responds,
"You fucked up idiot. At least you can still talk to each other, see
each other, feel each other. ... This is just temporary. .... Quit
wallowing in self pity. ... It could be a hell of alot worse. Christ,
what's a few days now and then. ... Try forever on for size, try to
imagine Ted in a car accident. Ted dying in a hospital room they wont
let you in. Ted dead. Burying Ted. .. Tell me about weeks, I'll tell
you about the rest of your life."
Almost an hour has passed before Gary says, "Look Sandi, I'm
sorry.
... You're right. ... You know I miss her too." "Yeah, I know, and I'm
sorry too. Talk about wallowing in self-pity, I should listen to myself.
... Are you all right?" Gary answers, "Yeah. Thanks."
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@ 11:05 AM - Cheyenne Memorial Hospital
The short spasm of pain from getting in the wheel chair could not
diminish the joy Angie felt now. She was going home. Her home. Her home
with her children. The nurse wheeled her to the exit where Ted was
waiting with the car. Jenny was on one side of her carrying the
remaining flowers, while Will and Bart followed. Will had a collection
of hospital paraphernalia. And Bart carried the two plants that Virginia
had brought for her.
She was going home. But she wasn't. The home she remembered
leaving was a home where her husband was. Her husband has spent three
weeks in the county jail, still occasionally ranting about God visiting
his infinite wrath on sinners and fornicators. Every once and awhile,
she still sees the young man she married. So bashful and timid, calling
on her with a bouquet of daisies. It was a different time and a
different man.
Angie was going home. Sometimes. she wished she wasn't. Always
one
who took care of herself, she was going to be a burden on her kids. No
one had said anything, but they all knew that was not going to be easy
for her family. A much bigger family than she had when she was brought
to the emergency room. She had her Ted back, and she had two new sons.
She also had Evan, Sheri, Betty, and Virginia. Tears came to her eyes,
because they were there for her and her children no questions asked. A
family is as a family does. Blood doesn't matter, actions do.
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@ 5:20 PM - On The Road to Topeka
CJ was letting Jim drive. They were about almost back home. Bill
sat in the back seat only speaking when CJ or Jim tried to engage him in
a conversation. CJ was looking forward to being home. He and Jim had
decided to spend a couple days there before heading back to KC. Every
now and then, CJ would glance at Bill wondering what he was thinking. CJ
liked Todd and could see he and Bill were good for one another.
For years after his sister Gina was born, CJ pestered his parents
to have a baby boy. He told them he needed a little brother, not a
little sister. Today, He couldn't imagine not having Gina there. But a
five year old back then thought little sisters were yucky. His mom had
always said someday who knows. Well, he's got a little brother now. A
big fucking little brother, a little brother taller and bigger than he
was. But his mom was right after all these years.
Jim was pulling up to the house, honking the horn. CJ's mom
looked
out the window and saw who it was. She hurried to the door and outside.
There were hugs and kisses for all three boys. Then she turned to Bill,
"Seems an old friend of yours is here. Why don't you go round back."
"Who's here?" "He said he wants to surprise you. Just go round back."
Bill heads to the back yard. Once he turns the corner, he sees
Gina
talking to some guy with his back to Bill. When Gina sees Bill, she
obviously tells who she's talking to because he turns around. Bill
excitedly says "Wes! Wes, what are you doing here?" Wes was/is his best
friend. They grew up together. They had shared everything, told each
other all their secrets. But there was one secret Bill never told Wes
about. Bill feels guilty seeing him, because he hadn't even talked to
him since his parents threw him out, and it was on purpose. He didn't
want to tell Wes why he was here now.
"Bill, you pigfucker, where have you been?" Bill
knows that he
wouldn't even try lying to Wes, Wes always knew when Bill lied. "Wes,
ol' buddy, I was visiting a friend. ... A close friend back near Russell
and Cheyenne Falls. ... The friend, his name is Todd, and ... and ..."
"Gina and her ma, told me. man. The dude's your boyfriend." Bill nods,
but Wes continues, "Always knew when you came out of the closet, you'd
do it with a bang." Bill looks at him, but doesn't get a word out,
before Wes keeps going, "Yeah, yeah, I knew, well I was pretty sure. ...
So, what's this guy like, get lucky?"
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back to "stray e-mail, part two"