End of the Road Read online

  Chapter 6

  Nowheresville

  By Donna B. McNicol

  Stepping off the bus, Gary slung the battered duffel bag over his shoulder and moved to the sidewalk. A cloud of dust swirled around his feet as the bus departed. Another Nowheresville town. Looks just like the last one, and the one before that, and the one.... He laughed at himself and took a moment to survey his surroundings. Dusty sidewalks ran down both sides of the main street. Down one side he noted a hardware store, a small pharmacy, a bank and a brightly decorated fabric shop. Continuing to the other side he saw a combination beauty salon - barber shop, a laundromat with several folding chairs set outside and a diner. He swiped his ragged sleeve over his face and he headed for the diner.

  A bell tinkled overhead as he paused in the doorway to savor the mixed aroma of fresh coffee, fried foods and fresh baked goods. Cracked, peeling black and white tiles covered the floor with booths lining one wall and traditional counter seating along the other. The kitchen was behind swinging doors that had seen better days; one half was permanently open, the other needed a new coat of paint. The only table was under the large display window at the front where two elderly men barely glanced his way, both engrossed in their card game.

  A motion in the corner of his eye caught his attention. A waitress juggling an arm full of dishes smiled over her shoulder and shouted, "Grab a seat anywhere. Someone will getcha' in a minute." The swinging door closed behind her as he walked to the back. Tossing the duffel bag under the booth, he slid in and opened the greasy menu. "Feels just like home," he mumbled as he perused his choices.

  He was interrupted by a younger and prettier version of the first waitress. "Did ya' see the specials on the board?" She inclined her head toward the chalkboard on the wall. "We're outa' everything but the beef stew. We're never out of that." She leaned closer and he could smell her unique aroma, reminding him of days and women past. "That's cause it ain't no good. Get the apple pie or if you've a real hunger, go for the cheeseburger first." She straightened, patted a stray blond curl and smiled. "Can I getcha some coffee while ya' decide?"

  He nodded and as she walked off, he let the if onlys roam briefly through his mind. If only he were ten years younger; if only he had something to offer; if only he were staying here longer. He quickly stopped the thoughts. He knew the if onlys weren't worth the lint in his wallet but like always, he managed to roam through them anyway. Silly, sad and pointless mind game. don't know why I always do it.

  A clatter from the kitchen startled him out of his thoughts. The older waitress, the one who had greeted him, stuck her head out the swinging door. "Sallie Mae? You got that handsome customer? He's mighty cute, I might have to take care of him if you don't." A raucous laugh emanated from further back in the kitchen.

  "Ma, you just hush up. Go take care of stuff in the kitchen. I got things out here handled just fine." Sallie Mae returned to his table with the coffee. She smiled and told him, "You just pay no attention to Mama. She's not used to fine folk coming in here, just the local riff-raff." She giggled and managed to plump her breasts higher in her low-cut uniform.

  Gary surveyed her enticing figure as she filled his coffee cup. "Thanks. I needed that." He wasn't sure if he meant the coffee or the view but she seemed to appreciate the thanks.

  "So, can I get you anything else?" She licked her pencil and held it poised above her order pad.

  Gary returned the menu to its hiding spot behind the napkin holder. "Just the apple pie, I think. Heated maybe?"

  "Sure thing. Wanna scoop of vanilla ice cream on that?"

  "Sounds good to me. And please, keep the coffee coming. I'll be here for a bit."

  Reaching into his back pocket, he found his battered pack of cigarettes with the matches securely tucked into the cellophane. He sighed, realizing he'd need to buy another pack soon. "Should quit," he muttered.

  "Yup, you should." The waitress cautioned him with a waggling finger. "No smoking in here though." She motioned to a side door. "Out there's fine. I'll watch your stuff, not that anyone would bother it."

  He glanced down at the weathered gray duffel bag sitting at his feet as he stood and stretched his lanky frame. He drawled a thank you, shuffled outside and lit his cigarette as he surveyed the town again. Not much to write home about. He snorted derisively. Not that I have a home to write to. Only half smoked, he tossed the cigarette down and ground it out with the scuffed toe of his boot.

  He inhaled deeply, letting the smells from the local farms invade his senses. He closed his eyes and relaxed against the side of the diner, one boot propped behind him. He tried to clear his mind but even envisioning cute little Sallie Mae in a state of undress failed. He was quickly brought back to his reason for being here.

  He patted his pockets until he found it; an envelope that looked as tattered as he felt. He carefully traced the lettering on the front. It had been addressed to him care of the only person he'd stayed in touch with from his past. Gingerly he pulled out the letter and photograph, both looking as though they would crumble if he wasn't careful. It had been written months earlier but only gotten to him a few weeks ago.

  Dear Gary,

  I don't know if this letter will find its way to you but I had to try. I wonder if you even realize I exist. I'm your brother Edward, or Eddy as most folks call me. I've spent years trying to find you, even when they told me you weren't alive. In my heart I knew that wasn't true.

  I finally got some of your old addresses from the foster care office in Belmott and I wrote to all of them. This is the only one that wrote back. She told me she heard from you once or twice a year. So I'm taking a chance that this will eventually get to you and I'm enclosing the only photo I have of both of us.

  I put my phone number on the back. Please call me, even collect if necessary. I'd really like to meet you and I hope you will want to meet me. It's been too long and you're all the family I have.

  Your brother,

  Eddy

  Gary refolded the letter and studied the picture. It had seen better days, looked as though Eddy had carried it in his wallet for years. An old black and white photo showing two young children in an almost empty room. One boy was facing the camera, the other had his back turned. It was hard to determine the ages but he recognized the boy in front - it was him. He guessed he it was taken when he was around two.

  He stared at the picture until his vision grew grainy. He carefully put everything into the envelope and stuffed it back into his jacket. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out another cigarette to calm his nerves. Changing his mind, he put the pack away and walked back into the diner.

  Sliding into the booth he realized he was the only patron left in the diner. He waved to Sallie Mae and she brought him a fresh cup. "You gonna be here long?" she queried as she poured.

  "Coupla' hours maybe. Depends. I'm waiting to meet someone." He blew into the cup and took a tentative sip.

  "Well, have to say, this place is as good as any for that. I'll get your pie 'n ice cream now." She winked and he watched her hips twitching as she sashayed off. He shook his head before he went back down the if only road again.

  Drinking carefully from the steaming cup, he leaned back into the corner of the booth as he stretched his legs out on the seat. His scuffed boots hung well off the end but since the place was empty, he didn't worry about them being in the way. While he waited for his order, he finally let his mind wander backward through the years.

  Eddy was right, he hadn't known he had a brother. In fact, he still wasn't sure he did. Could just be a scam, although what anyone stands to gain from me, I have no idea. Tossed into foster care before he was three, he had no real memories of life before school age. He had been small for his age, shy and slow to make friends. When he finally made some friends, he inevitably got moved to a different foster home in another area. That meant a new school and no friends again. At some point he discovered that pulling pranks brought attention and quasi-friends. By the time he hit junior high,
he'd been labeled as a troublemaker with low intelligence.

  Thank goodness for Auntie Tee, he thought, picturing the woman who had been the only real mother he'd ever known. She'd always been old, at least to him. Short and round with her hair braided and wrapped around the back She'd taken him in, set the rules and boundaries, then proved to him that breaking them wasn't going to make her send him away. He'd stuck it out, improved his grades, eventually graduated and then enrolled in the Army. Six years and four inches later, he'd been discharged due to an injury.

  From then on he had drifted, from town to town and job to job. His injury had improved and he tried his hand at a variety of jobs. No one thing had ever really stuck, he wasn't sure why. He'd loved some of it; like working the range as a cowhand or as a roughneck on an oil rig. He tended to be a loner, having retreated into himself over the years. He always felt like he was searching for something but he had no idea what that something was. With a loud sigh he drank the last few sips of coffee and signaled for a refill as Sallie Mae headed towards him with his order.

  After setting the pie down in front of him, she returned with the coffee pot and filled his cup. She sat on the other side of the booth and stared at him for a minute. "You look like someone's got aholda' your gut and won't let go. Wanna' talk about it?" A warm smile accompanied the question and he was tempted.

  "It's kind of personal. Haven't really talked to anyone about it." Well, except for Auntie Tee and she had told him to go for it. Told him he had nothing to lose and lots to gain if Eddy really was his brother. For some reason he was having a hard time taking her advice.

  Sallie Mae patted his arm. "That's okay but sometimes it's good to talk to someone that doesn't know anyone involved." She beamed. "Like me! I'm a good listener and I just went on break." She leaned back and crossed her arms. "Try me," she challenged him.

  Gary sighed and considered the situation. Why not tell her about Eddy? He'd leave later today and never see her and Eddy again. Well, maybe he wouldn't. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. "This is why I'm here. I may have a brother." He sat back and watched her face as she read the letter and looked over the photograph.

  Sallie Mae smiled slowly as she spread it all out on the table between them. "So, who's the cutie-patootie in front?"

  "Um, that'd be me." Gary took several swallows of water and waited.

  "I thought so. I can see the resemblance. Hang on. I'll be right back." As good as her word she returned with an empty mug and poured herself some coffee. Taking a sip she continued, "And I take it that's the missing brother in the background?"

  "Yup. Leastwise he says so." A worry line creased Gary's forehead.

  "So you never knew you had a brother? No one ever mentioned him?" Gary shook his head. "How in the heck-"

  "I know, it's weird. My, well our, parents died when we were little. I really don't remember much until I started school. I'm thinking Eddy is a year or two older so he remembers more."

  "You called him?"

  "Yeah, finally. Took a bit before I figured out I had nothing to lose. My foster mom, Auntie Tee, chewed me out for not calling him as soon as I got the letter." Gary sipped his coffee. "We didn't talk for long, I had to call him collect and didn't want to cost him a fortune. I agreed to meet him here since it was on my bus ride to my next job."

  Sallie Mae raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you do?"

  Gary laughed. "Just about anything legal that pays." He leaned towards her and whispered, "In my younger days it didn't even have to be all that legal sometimes."

  Sallie Mae didn't appear to be bothered by the statement. "Where are you headed now?"

  "Up to North Dakota to work in the oil fields. There's a boom going on up there and I've heard there's lots of work available. I worked on the rigs in Louisiana so figure that should count for something."

  "Say, you gonna eat that pie or not? Your ice cream's getting all soupy." Sallie Mae chuckled. "Guess maybe I should talk and let you eat, then you can finish your story." She waved her hand at the plate, "Go on! Eat up. I'll do the yammering for a bit."

  Gary returned the chuckle and took a big bite of the dessert. He let the flavors meld a bit before he swallowed. Crisp apples, sweetened with cinnamon and cooled slightly by the creamy, rich ice cream, all wrapped up with a pie crust that melted on the tongue. "Wow, this is really good. Been a long time since I had a really good homemade tasting pie. You make them here?" He stabbed another mouthful, not waiting for a reply.

  "Sure do. Ma makes the best pies in the tri-county area, even won some ribbons for them when she was younger." She looked over her shoulder at the kitchen. "She won't give the recipes to anyone, not even me. Says her secret ingredient is gonna' stay a secret."

  "Well, can't hardly blame her for that. But I have to admit that I hope she does give it to someone before it's too late. It'd be criminal for this to disappear." Gary swirled his fork around the plate, being sure to get every last crumb. "I might just have to hang around long enough for supper, just so I can get more dessert."

  Sallie Mae's head swiveled as she heard the kitchen door open. "I'm on break, Ma. Ten more minutes 'cause I never got my morning one." Her mother nodded as she wiped down the counter and filled the sugar containers. Turning back to Gary she asked, "So tell me more about your family or your growing up. I can't imagine not knowing your ma or brother or nothin'."

  Gary wiped his mouth and picked up the coffee pot, refilling both their cups. "Not much to tell. I was maybe two when my mother died and my dad died before I was born. At least that's what I was told at one foster home when I asked."

  Sallie Mae interjected, "Didn't they have any family?"

  Gary shook his head. "I really don't know. For some reason, no one would ever talk about them so I quit asking. Just never felt the need to push the issue."

  "What a shame. I fuss at Ma but I love her to death. Can't imagine growing up without her."

  Gary smiled, "You got any brothers or sisters?"

  "Sure do, but I'm the baby. They all moved off to bigger cities. Me? I'm happy here helping Ma with the diner. Someday I'll run it." Sallie Mae beamed with pride. "You said you had a foster ma?"

  "Well, there were a lot of foster homes but only one stuck. That was with Auntie Tee. She showed me that no matter how bad I was, she wasn't gonna send me away. We still talk or write a couple times a year. She's been my only family..." Gary pointed to the photograph in front of them, "at least till now."

  "Why don't you think he's really your brother?"

  "I dunno, just suspicious, I guess."

  "Well gee, can you think of any reason someone would want to pretend to be your brother?" Sallie Mae made a silly face and tapped her fingers on the table, making Gary laugh.

  "Naw, I guess not. I've got no home, no car, no money, no girl friend. Heck, no real friends. Guess I've been a wanderer too long." He shook his head and sipped his coffee.

  "Maybe you were looking for something that you didn't even know you were missing?"

  Gary sat silent for a few minutes, then nodded. "Sallie Mae, you may be right. If Eddy is my brother, he might be the only member of my family left." He exhaled slowly. "Now I'm getting nervous, dang it."

  "Naw, nothing to be nervous about. You appear to be a smart man, you'll know if he's your brother or not. If he is, great. If he isn't, maybe you'll make a friend." She smiled and stood. "Think my break's over. You let me know if you want anything else." She picked up the now cool coffee pot and walked towards the counter. "I'll make a fresh pot."

  Gary nodded absently, already lost in his thoughts. Could he really be getting ready to meet his long lost brother? Up until now he hadn't thought so but had agreed to meet anyway. After talking to Sallie Mae, he felt different. Optimistic but also like he now had something to lose. Quit it, you can't lose something you never had. He looked at the clock on the wall. Less than thirty minutes and he'd get some answers - maybe.

  Sallie
Mae handed him a copy of the local paper. "Something to keep your mind busy," she'd said. He'd read the comics and was perusing the classifieds when the bell over the door tinkled. Putting the paper down in anticipation, he refused to glance over to see who had entered. He listened as Sallie Mae and her mother chatted with the newcomer, then he heard the approaching footsteps.

  A deep voice asked, "Gary?" and he glanced up. The newspaper slid to the floor as he stared at the man in front of him. The face seemed very familiar. He stood to shake hands and as Eddy smiled Gary realized why. It was true, he and Eddy were brothers. In fact, they were twins.

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  Photo copyright Kate Ramsey

  Donna B. McNicol retired after 30+ years in the IT industry. In 1996 she started moonlighting in freelance writing; she spent the next ten years writing for such online sites as The Mining Company, Suite101, BellaOnline and About.com.

  In January 2012 she started dabbling with flash fiction and before the year was out had published several compilations, two short stories and was included in an anthology. In early 2013 she published her first two novels, Home Again - a contemporary romance, and Not a Whisper - the first in the Klondike Mystery Series.

  Donna currently lives and travels full-time with her husband, Stu, and their pup, Sadie, along with their two Harley-Davidson motorcycles in a 41' fifth wheel toy hauler trailer pulled by their medium duty Freightliner.

  http://donnamcnicol.com ~ http://facebook.com/mywritespot ~ Twitter: @dbmcnicol

  Chapter 7

  One More Mile

  By Dale Roberts

  It’s funny, the things that go through a person’s mind at a time like this. As I lie here on my bed, I have little else to do but think… and remember.

  Right now, it’s lyrics from an old Bee Gees song

  The preacher talked to me and he smiled

  Said, come walk with me, come and walk one more mile

  I don’t have a clock, but I can tell what time it is by the height of the tall, narrow light as it makes its slow accent up the wall as the afternoon sun, ever falling toward the horizon, shines through a narrow westward window… my only window. It’s close to the top. The sun is about to set. It will be my final one. In two hours they will come for me.