The house was a dilapidated thing. The center two-story section was easily ninety years old, with later additions tacked on either side that looked as if they’d fall into piles of tinder if a decent breeze hit them from the right angle. Red, peeling, shingles were on the roof, and the bare wooden siding held vestiges of white paint in nooks and corners that suggested that at one time, a very long time ago, someone had actually taken the trouble to paint the eyesore.
It was hot and humid as the Impala pulled up in front of the house. Gary looked up at the brick chimney sticking up from the center of the structure as he got out of the car. Smoke rose into a cloudless blue sky. The sun was climbing to its zenith and he shaded his eyes with his hand as he watched the smoke slowly drift into the trees and shook his head. “Crap,” he said to himself, “Thirty degrees out here and she’s got the stove cranked.”
“Hey Boss, how’re ya now?”
Gary looked up to see his brother-in-law sitting in a Salvation Army reject recliner, poised on an array of lumber that only slightly resembled a porch. Although Gary was forty feet away, he could smell the combination of stale beer, sweat, and urine from where he stood. He guessed, rightly, that it had been at least a week since Kevin had showered or changed his clothes. Kevin’s eyes were glazed and bloodshot.
“I’m fine Kev,” Gary responded, “How’s Ethel doing?”
“She’s got the fockin’ stove goin’, y’ can’t stay in ‘ere f’r long,” Kevin said. He smiled stupidly, giggling to himself.
Gary stepped over the hole in the ramp that led up to the porch and went inside. He’d expected a blast of heat as he opened the front door, but it didn’t come. Fortunately, some window had been left open in the back and most of the heat was escaping. The heat got worse as he walked towards the kitchen. Ethel was sitting at the table in her best church clothes, watching Family Feud on an old, 24 inch black and white Panasonic that was sitting on the counter. “Not a drop of sweat on her,” Gary noticed. He was perspiring already and hadn’t been in the room more than fifteen seconds.
“Ethel, what’re you doing? It’s forty degrees in here, “ He said, jokingly.
“Oh, hello Gary,” she said, looking up at him, smiling, “you know how damp it gets in here in the mornings. Good fire always gets the dampness out.”
“Yeah, I know,” he sighed. He had given up trying to change her behaviour years ago. “You ready to go?” The government had been offering direct deposit for years now, but like most people of her generation, Ethel liked the feel of the pension check in her hands, the small talk with the tellers and cashiers in town, and going out to eat at a small diner, where she always insisted on paying. She also liked to give Gary gas money. He didn’t need the cash, but it made her feel like she was contributing to the family, so he had gotten into the habit of just thanking her politely and pocketing it.
“Do you mind if I finish my stories first? It’ll only be a few more minutes.” Ethel said smiling sheepishly again.
She had her teeth in, he noticed. “Gotta look your best on shopping days,” Gary thought to himself. It was the only time she got out of the house nowadays, except for the infrequent doctor visits. Kevin had lost his license two years ago after his fourth drunk driving conviction. Six months later, the engine quit in the Reliant – not that Kevin drove Ethel anywhere -- most of his trips were to the Beer Store when he had the funds, license or no license.
“Sure, I’m in no hurry, but I’m not waiting in here.” Gary said. He went back into the living room, which had not been cleaned in years. It was dark, with the kind of wood panelling used in mobile homes. His shoes made a “skrrik, skrrik” sound, slightly sticking to the linoleum as he walked across the room. There was another wood stove in the living room, mercifully cold. Gary sat on the couch and eyed the Victrola. It sat in an armoire across from him, along with a large collection of seventy-eights. He had gone through them once – mostly country and classical. He guessed that if it hadn’t been for the mold, they might have been worth a few thousand dollars. Gary picked up an old hunting magazine and thumbed through it. He looked up as Kevin walked in.
“Hey Boss, what’s goin’ on whit’ m’ tractor?” Kevin asked.
“Oh. Yeah, about that, sorry Kev, I know I said I’d get it back today, but when I was splitting the wood, I saw the oil was in pretty bad shape. I wanted to pick some fresh stuff up when I take Ethel to town today and change it. I can have it back tomorrow.”
Kevin grunted and stood in the doorway, kicking the jamb repeatedly with a steel-toed work boot.
“Kevin, if you don’t change the oil in the tractor, the engine’s gonna seize up.”
“Don’ care ‘bout no oil,” Kevin said.
“You don’t have to pay for it, OK? I don’t mind helping out and fixing it up a bit, I use it, too,” Gary said.
The tractor was an old, grey Ford 9N, and was in as bad a shape as anything else around the farm. It did, however, have the advantage of actually being able to run. Gary had fixed a hydraulic leak the previous month after he’d had to replace two liters of hydraulic fluid while splitting only three cords of wood. He had no illusions about restoring the tractor to its former glory. His current goal was to just keep the environmental damage to a minimum. Gary tried to keep his tractor usage as infrequent as possible. Whenever he borrowed it, he was happy if he wasn’t covered in grime and sludge when the day’s work was finished. And he was careful to never use the tractor near the wellhead. They’d all be screwed without water. “Not that Kevin actually uses any water,” Gary thought to himself.
“ ‘S my fokin’ tractor. Wan’ it back,” Kevin replied.
“I’m taking Ethel to town right now, Kev. If you want it now, you can walk over to my place to get it,” Gary said, “It’s in the laneway. You have the spare key, right?” There was no way Gary was letting him in the Impala.
“You cn’ gimme ride, Boss, ‘s only ten minutes.”
“Kevin, Alexandria’s in the other direction and I’m not doubling back. You’ll just have to wait.”
“ ’S my tractor,” Kevin mumbled under his breath.
“ ‘S my FOKIN’ tractor.” Kevin said, boldly now, his chin jabbing at Gary. “Yer tryin’ t’ steal it, arn’ you?”
“What?” Gary was shocked. The wild accusation came out of nowhere. He stared at Kevin incredulously.
“Stealin’ my tractor, thass it, init?” Kevin repeated.
Gary put his head in his hands, shaking his head. “The shit I have to put up with,” he thought.
“Kevin, I’m not trying to steal your ‘foookin’’ tractor,” Gary said, imitating Kevin’s slurred voice sarcastically as he sat back up. “Jesus Christ, man, if it weren’t for me helping out, it probably wouldn’t be running at all.”
“Jus’ doin’ it so’s y’ c’n say it’s fokin’ yers. ‘S MY tractor. Do’n need no help from you.”
Gary shot to his feet. “Listen, you drunken, fucking, ASSHOLE.” Gary spat the words at Kevin. “If it weren’t for MY help, Ethel’d be DEAD right now. You know that, don’t you? TWO FUCKING HOURS she laid on that floor half naked and you were HERE THE WHOLE TIME!” Gary was screaming now. “You couldn’t even think to bring her a BLANKET?!? Help her up? Get her some clothes, maybe? And you think you can look after a fucking tractor?”
Kevin staggered back against the freezer in the corner, terrified. Gary had never raised his voice in his or Ethel’s presence, ever. Now Gary was coming at Kevin with his eyes on fire. Kevin held his hands up in front of his head, feebly attempting to ward off imaginary blows. A black stain quickly grew on the front of his pants as he began pissing himself.
Gary strode up next to Kevin and violently tore open the door to the living room refrigerator. The one Kevin had bought second hand. The one Kevin had reserved for his beer. He saw instantly why Kevin needed the tractor.
“Jesus FUCKING Christ, don’t you have ANY self control at all?” Gary said as he slammed the fridge door. “It’s July third, Kevin,” Gary shouted. “Jooly Fookin’ third,” he yelled, sarcastically, imitating Kevin again. “And you’re already out? What’s that, a two-four a day? Are you just trying to see how fast you can burn through your pogey? You know there’s twenty eight more days to go, right? You know it’s only ELEVEN O’CLOCK IN THE FOOKIN’ MORNING, RIGHT?”
By now Kevin had slid down in the corner, his legs giving out from under him. Gary looked down at the terrified heap in the corner and saw that Kevin’s eyes were watering. He realized suddenly that it wasn’t from the drink; Kevin was about to start crying. Kevin’s hands were still in front of his face, expecting any second now to be beaten to a pulp.
There was a silence then, it hung there, seemingly for an eternity. Gary stopped and stared down at Kevin. His fiance’s words came to him, “You can’t blame him, Gary, you have no idea what he’s been through.” The realization came on him that this was like kicking a puppy. A giant, filthy, obese, drunken puppy sitting in a puddle of piss, but a puppy just the same. There was no glory to be had here. Gary lost all heart and the anger drained out of him as quickly as it had overwhelmed him only a minute earlier. “Stupid, fucking, compassionate bitch,” Gary thought to himself, “You’d better be worth this.”
“Kev, get up,” he said. Gary turned away from Kevin and walked towards the kitchen. “Ethel, you ready to go? It’s time to get a move on.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned towards Kevin again, who was still snivelling in the corner, looking dazed.
“Look Kev, I know it’s your tractor, and if you don’t want me to, I won’t change the oil, OK?” Gary said. “But I’m still taking Ethel to town and there’s no way in hell I’m gonna let you in my car in the shape you’re in right now. Sorry, but that ain’t gonna happen.” Gary paused, making sure of his next words, trying to keep his voice calm.
“Now, I don’t have to change the oil and I can bring your tractor home tonight after I bring Ethel home, and yes, I know it’s your tractor, Kev, I’m not trying to steal it,” he said.
Kevin remained sitting in the corner, lowering his hands slowly, saying nothing. Ethel slowly shuffled into the room, giving a welcome distraction for the two of them. Gary saw that she’d left her walker in the kitchen.
“No walker?” he asked.
“Well, I don’t need it,” she replied. She’d used the chairs and walls to steady herself as she made her way to the living room. “And I have a big, strapping, young man to help me to the car.” She smiled again as she reached out. Gary moved towards her and offered his forearm. She took his arm and they began slowly shuffling towards the door.
“Yer a stubborn old coot, you know that?” Gary said.
Ethel stopped and looked up at him. Gary, if I was a horse, they would have shot me by now and put me out of my misery. She laughed and they continued towards the door. Gary helped her over the doorjamb and slowly down the ramp.
Lovely day, isn`t it, Ethel remarked.
Yep, it sure is, Grandma, it sure is, he replied.
Gary opened the passenger door to the Impala and helped her in. As he made his way around to the driver`s side of the car, Kevin appeared in the doorway. The black stain of piss was clearly visible from his crotch down his left pant leg. Gary stopped and looked up at him, saying nothing.
Don` need no tractor today, Kevin mumbled, barely audible.
Gary shoke his head. OK Kev, he replied, You mind if I go ahead and change the oil, then? I mean, as long as you don`t need it, I might as well.
They stood, looking at each other. Gary raised his eyebrows and shrugged, waiting for a reply. Kevin grunted and waved his hand dismissively at Gary. He shambled back into the house and closed the door.
I`ll take that as a yes, then, Gary said opening the car door. He started the Impala and slowly backed out of the lane.
`So, wherere we off to today, Grandma?” Gary asked.
Oh, you know me, I`m not one to argue, anywhere you`d like would be fine with me, Ethel replied. After a pause she added, But the Five Star would be nice.
Five Star it is, then, Gary said. He put the car into drive and pulled away from the house, watching the smoke rise from the chimney in the rear view mirror.
Submitted October 22, 2014 at 07:11PM by InternetBlackHole http://ift.tt/1teDYsP shutupandwrite
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