WILTED FLOWERS CHAPTER ONE THE STAGE Jason pulled up in his driveway and let the engine idle for a minute. He loved the sound of his car. He loved the style of his car. He loved everything about his car. It was worth every penny he had paid his brother Willie for it. All three hundred dollars. What a deal. There wasn't another car like it in the entire city, county maybe. Who else had a '59 MG coupe with a 283 Corvette engine in it? Yeah it was a little beat up, had a ding on every fender, but it could blow the doors off anything on the road. Jason shut the motor off and got out carrying his school books. He stopped up the driveway and looked back at his car. My brother's a sap, he thought, letting a car like that go for three hundred bucks. Jason's house was pleasant two-story home on a semi-quite street near the middle of town. It was in need of a little paint and had had a broken around the back for years. But on the average it was just a little nicer than the other houses on the block. Jason had lived here with his parents, two older brothers, older sister, and younger brother since he was two. He knew every corner of every yard for blocks around. In fact Jason knew just about every street in the city and the quickest way to get there. Jason's room was upstairs in the front. It had been his room since his older brother Willie had left to go to college two years ago. Jason just sort of took it over the next day. He had always liked Willie's room. It was the only room in the house that had a view of anything. It had two large widows, one overlooking the front and one over the driveway. From the window in the front you could see up and down the whole block and straight out to the college's football field almost half a mile away. Jason would often sit in front of the window and watch a football game when he was supposed to be doing his homework. The window over the driveway didn't have a view but had something that Jason found he liked even better. The slope of the roof right outside the window came within four feet of the driveway and with little effort Jason could sneak in or out of the house at any time. Jason went in the back door and threw his books on the kitchen table. "I,m Home!" He called through the doorway leading into the den. Jason went to the refrigerator to get a can of cola. On the refrigerator door was a note in big red letters. "Jason, Don't go anywhere until I get home. I need to talk to you. Dad" Jason spoke outloud as he read the note. "What have I done wrong this time? Jeese, every time I turn around I'm in trouble for something!" Jason got a cola out of the refrigerator and grabbed the note as he shut the door. "Hey Mom, do you know anything about Dad's note?" He called as he went into the den. He saw his mom was asleep in the big leather chair. The TV was on with some old movie playing. Jason smiled and shook his head. "Sleeping again, eh Mom." Jason whispered. He turned the channel to cartoons and sat down on the couch to drink his cola. Elmer Fudd was about to get clobbered with a twenty pound carrot when the phone rang. "Hello" Jason said, "Hey, what's going on Larry?... Yeah I know I said I come over and shoot pool.... My old man left me another one of his notes. ... Nah, I don't know what's up. It just says to wait here until he gets home from work. ... I probably forgot to do something again. You know how my old man is. ... Oh yeah? So who told you that she liked me? ... She going to be at your place tonight? ...Listen, I got to work at Better Burger from 6:30 to 9:30 tonight so I'll... Yeah I know its Friday, but its money. ... Are you kidding? The last time I got any money out of my old man I was fourteen, and that was to go get a haircut. ... Anyway, I'll swing by after work and we can shoot a couple of games and you can tell me all about her. ... OK, we'll see you later." Jason hung up the phone. He looked at his watch, it was five thirty. Jason walked over to his mom and shook her gently by the arm. "Mom, Mom." He whispered. Her head rolled from side to side and her eyes began to twitch. "Mom." Jason called again. "What the!" Jason's mom called out as she jerked upright in the chair. " Oh Jason, you scared me." Her voice was parched and dry and her short dark hair was all out of place. "What time is it ?" She continued. "Its just after five-thirty." Jason said. "I've got to go get ready for work. Do you know what Dad wants?" "Wants? No, what do you mean?" Jason's mom asked as she rubbed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair. "He left this note for me on the frig. I just thought you might know something about it." Jason pulled the crumpled note out and showed it to her. "Sorry, I guess I didn't see it all day." She got her glass from the coffee table and started to go to the kitchen. She leaned up against the doorway and said, "But I think it has something to do with your report card." "Oh." Jason said with a smile. He had gotten all B's and one A. He thought his dad was probably going to say something nice to him for a change. "Oh by the way, Stinky isn't home yet and..." "Don't call your little brother Stinky!" His mom snapped. "Stevey went to a birthday party and won't be home till after seven." "OK, OK." Jason answered. "I'm gonna go get ready for work." Jason went upstairs to his room and changed his clothes. He put on his favorite jeans, the ones with the frayed hem, and a dark blue tee shirt. He went to the mirror and rub his chin. A few bandit hairs brisselled between his fingers. 'I'm gonna have to shave again.' He thought. 'That will make twice this month. Way to go bud, you're getting there.' Jason smiled at himself in the mirror, took the razor off his dresser, and mowed the bandits down in one swift stroke. A car door slammed out front, Jason's dad was home. It was six o'clock, his dad was right on schedule. Jason put his shoes on and went downstairs to get some well deserved praise. He got to the kitchen just as his dad was putting his lunch box on the kitchen table. Jason's dad looked tired, but then Jason's dad always looked tired. Jason knew his dad worked hard everyday at the tire factory and didn't like a minute of it. He couldn't remember his dad seeing his dad smile since he had lost his job as manager of the steel plant last year. His dad wasn't smiling now either. "Yeah Dad, what do you want?" Jason said trying to sound like he didn't know what his dad was about to say. Jason's dad gave him a long cold look. His dark brown eyes didn't flinch and his stare was not pleasant. Jason suddenly realized that this was not going to be what he thought it was. "Go to the living room and wait," his dad's voice was as cold and harsh as his stare, "I'll be there in a minute." Jason plodded off to the living room and sat on the sofa. This felt all too familiar. Him waiting there for his dad to come in and blast him for something that wasn't that big of a deal to begin with. Jason tried to think of what it might be that his dad was mad at now but it was no use, he never could figure it out until he got blasted for it. His dad came in holding a small glass filled with ice and an olive. He sat in the chair across from the sofa and lit a cigarette. His face was strong and stern and his look was cold. Jason had seen this picture a thousand times and it never had a happy ending. "Yes Dad." Jason said very politely. He nervously glanced at his watch trying not to take his eyes off his dad. It was six 0'five. "About your report card..." Jason's dad pulled the report card out of his shirt pocket as he spoke. "Yeah, pretty good, huh." Jason interrupted, "Almost straight A's. I bet Willie's grades weren't that good When he was in twelfth grade." "As a matter of fact your brother Will's grades were better, and don't interrupt me again Jason!" His dad's voice always got louder as he got angrier and his cold stare never left Jason's eyes. "Sorry." Jason replied as he sank deep into the sofa and waited for the rest of what his dad had to complain about. "This isn't about your your grades anyway, Jason." His dad said exhaling a large cloud of smoke. Jason sat quietly but put on his curious look. "It says here," his dad continued, "That you were absent eleven days from six period, seven times from fifth period, three from fourth and third, none from second period, and twice from first period. Now school only been in session for one quarter now and you haven't been sick one day of it! You've got one chance to explain what's going on Jason, and it better be the truth!" His dad took a drink and waited for a response. Jason thought of all the excuses he could come up with. Some how he knew that none of them would fly with his dad. The only option he could get away with was to tell him as little as possible. His dad didn't need to know everything, just enough to cover the report card. "Well," Jason started out shaky and avoided looking directly into his dad's eyes, "a couple of times the guys and I took off from school a couple of periods early and drove to the beach." "You went to the beach!" Jason's dad erupted. Jason could tell that that answer didn't go over well. But it was the truth. "What, you think you can just leave school any 'ol time you feel like it!" Jason's dad got louder. "Just take off for the beach and forget about an education! And how did you get back into school after ditching the last couple periods?" "Mom would write me a note." Jason said. "And what did you tell her?" His dad's eyes got narrow as he inspected Jason for signs of nervous lying. Jason knew that stare and he knew that he couldn't get around it. "I waited till late at night when she tired and then told her I left school early because I wasn't feeling well and that I had just gone upstairs to bed after I had gotten home and forgot to tell her." Jason blurted out the absolute truth. He surprised himself, but it was too late now. Jason's dad sat quite for a moment and took another drink. "What about the rest of these absences? Were you at the beach those times too?" "No." Jason put his hands in his lap and looked at the carpet between his shoes. "I was late to school a couple of times and I guess the others I just thought I needed a break so I'd hang out with the guys, y'know" "And what the hell are you taking that so rough that you need to ditch school anyway! Let's see. You've got three art classes, P.E., film appreciation, and print shop." Jason's dad said in a sarcastic tone. "Boy that must be really tough!" "Listen!" Jason stood up and began to shout defiantly. "I finished all my required credits last year! All my grades are good! I work twenty hours a week and I haven't asked you for an allowance in three years! In fact I haven't asked you for shit! And all you ever do is complain about any stinking little thing you can pick at! I don't care...." "You listen up buster! And you listen up good!" Jason's dad shouted so loud that the windows seemed to shake. He threw his cigarette into the ashtray and stood up waving his finger at Jason. Jason fell back down on the sofa thinking he just made a big mistake. "You ever raise your voice to me again I'll knock your ass from here to the Siam. And don't think you're to big now that I can't whip your butt! I've done it before and I'll do it again if I have to! You're on restriction for a month! No T.V.! No car! No dates! No nothing! Do you understand me! Nothing but homework and chores for a month! You got that buster!" "Yes sir." Jason responded meekly. "But Dad," Jason continued, "I've got to be at work in twenty minutes. How am I supposed to get there without my car?" "How late you got to work?" His dad snapped. "I got to work till ten and close." Jason told his dad. "Then I've got to mop up and hose down the parking lot 'cause the janitor's out sick. So I won't get home till about eleven thirty." "That's pretty late for a boy your age. Are you sure you got those hours right?" His dad asked in obvious disbelief. "Listen, if you don't believe me call Better Burger and ask my boss. I'm sure that'll go over real big with him." Jason spoke sincerely. "Remember what happen the last time you told him what you thought about my hours. I didn't get any work for three days." "OK, but you walk!" His dad said as he started towards the den. "And leave your keys on the kitchen table!" His dad disappeared down the hallway. What a sap, Jason thought, he bought that whole line. "OK, But I won't be home until even later!" Jason called the the hallway; no reply. He glanced at his watch, six-ten. Five minutes of hell. He had gotten off cheap, sometimes his dad yelled at him for thirty. Jason went into the kitchen and threw his keys on the kitchen table. He looked towards the den then stole a pack of his mom's cigarettes from the cabinet. Jason went out the front door and walked two blocks to the boulevard. He lit one of his mom's cigarettes and stuck out his thumb.CHAPTER 2 THE SCENE Jason stood at the curb smoking his mom's cigarette. The cars passed by. Jason thought about his dad. If I am late for work it'll his fault. He doesn't care how difficult he makes my life, as long as he makes it difficult. Nothing's ever good enough for him. He picks every thing I do apart and blasts me of anything he finds wrong. Now I can't even get good grades without getting yelled at. Jason threw his cigarette in the gutter and stuck his thumb out a little farther. A pretty blond all alone in a blue Camero slowed down to look at Jason. She turned her head, smiled, then shook her head no and sped off. "Owooh, Baby!" Jason howled after the car, "I am too the one you're looking for!" Jason stood in the street and motioned for the car to come back. The blue Camero disappeared around a corner never to be seen again. Oh well, Jason thought, I got to get to work anyway. He went back to the curb and stuck out his thumb. A moment later a bright yellow and green Volkswagon van pulled up. It was covered with dozens of hand painted signs and slogans. There was sticker in the rear window that read , The Grateful Dead Will Never Die with a picture of a skull underneath it. "Hey man, were are you headed?" The driver called out the window. He was a young man with long hair and about a three day stubble on his face. "Straight down the road about three miles." Jason said "Sure man, I can handle that." The man laughed. "I can handle that," he repeated, "climb on in, man." "Cool van." Jason said as he got inside and shut the door. There was an odd smell in the van that Jason couldn't place. "Take you very long to paint it?" Jason asked rubbing his nose. "Nah man. Some frat mates of mine did it in one night." The man grinned from ear and started down the street. "They were kind of spaced, y'know what I mean." "Yeah, I know." Jason said he knew but he really didn't. "My name's Rick, dude. So, you headed to see your girl or what?" Rick tapped his fingers on the steering wheel like he was playing the drums. "Nah, just down the street to Better Burger." Jason pointed out the windshield. He didn't feel like telling Rick his name so he didn't. "Got the munchies, eh man?" Rick continued without pausing, "Yeah, me too. You like Jagger?" Rick put a tape in the tape player and a really old Rolling Stones tune started basting through the speakers. Rick began shaking his head and drumming the steering wheel with the palms of his hands. "I can't get no....." Rick started singing with the song. The tape player was so loud that Jason couldn't hear either one of them. Just as well, Jason thought, this guy's a little nuts. Jason looked around the van. Rick had obviously been living out of his van for some time. In back was a mattress with a sleeping bag on it. There were boxes, beer cans, and trash scattered all over, and a large pile of dirty clothes just behind the front seat. Jason thought that must be where that odd smell was coming from. He looked up and saw Better Burger coming up on the left. "Just let me out right here." Jason said. Rick kept on singing and drumming. "Rick. Rick!" Jason shouted over the music, "My stop!" He pointed at Better Burger through the windshield as they were just about to pass it. "Oh yeah man!" Rick cranked the wheel hard to the left. The van careened acrossed two lanes and into the parking lot of Better Burger. "I almost forgot! Eats!" Rick laughed as he slammed on the brakes and skidded into a parking space. Jason could see his boss, Tom, looking at them from behind the counter. Jason glanced at his watch, six-thirtyfive. "Thanks for the ride!" Jason said jumping out of the van. "Hey man!" Rick yelled from the van. "Aren't you going to eat!" "I work here!" Jason called back. "Oh." Rick said thoughtfully. Jason could almost see the light turn on in Rick's mind. Jason rushed in the door and headed for the back room to wash his hands. Tom followed him. Tom was a good man and Jason liked him. For as long as Jason could remember, Tom had been working at Better Burger. He had to be over fifty years old by now. He was a little bald and a lot gray and more that a little over weight. Tom did enjoy eating his own food. He was always in a good mood and he really cared about the people that worked him. That's what Jason liked about him the most, was that he cared. "Sorry I'm late Tom." Jason said as he washed his hands. "Don't worry about it." Tom said. "It's only five minutes and we're not busy anyway." "Thanks Tom, but I'll make it up." Jason put on his apron and went to the counter. Rick was standing outside at the order window staring at the menu. He finally made up his mind and ordered. Jason made it and gave it to him. "Thanks again for the ride," Jason said, "Dinner's on me." "Wow, great! You're alright man!" Rick took his order and left. Jason put some money in the register. "You don't have to do that you know." Tom said. "I know I don't." Jason replied. "But I want too. We've got to do some business tonight." Tom laughed but Jason was serious. The night passed by quickly. Tom and Jason talked in between customers. Jason told Tom about his fight with his dad and about losing his car for a month. Tom was a sympathetic listener, he always was. At nine o'clock Tom went to the ice bin and pulled out beer. Every Friday night at nine o'clock, without fail, he'd drink one or two in the back room before closing up. Gave him a better perspective on live he'd always say. "If you'd like one Jason, help yourself." Tom said. "I'll be in the back." Jason was amazed. He had worked for Tom for almost a year and Tom had never seen Tom offer anyone a beer before. Let alone him. "Are you sure Tom? I mean what about..." Jason studdered. "We haven't done any business in the last half hour. No one else is going to come by tonight." Tom motioned towards the back room. "Just drink it in the back. It'll be OK." "No, I meant I'm not old enough to drink." Jason laughed. "That's OK." Tom said. "You're plenty responsible enough." "Thanks Tom." Jason was more amazed that ever. He couldn't remember an adult saying anything like that to him before. "I think I would like to have a beer." Jason dug deep into the ice bin. There in the left hand corner he found what he was after. He got a can of beer and followed Tom into the back room. Jason opened the can and nodded towards Tom. Jason winced just a little bit on his first swallow just to make it look good.. It wasn't the first time Jason had had beer, but he wanted Tom to think it was. "Is it good?" Tom laughed. Jason nodded and took another drink. "Good." Tom took a long drink and said, "Because it is sort of traditional around here to offer an employee a beer just before I give him a raise!" Jason choked. He slapped his hand over his mouth to keep from spitting and beer came flowing out of his nose. He just managed to get to the sink before spitting the rest out. The top of Tom's head had turn beet red as he roared with laughter. "I can't remember anyone taking the news quite like that before!". Tom threw Jason a towel, "Here clean yourself up before someone comes to the window!" Tom shook his head with a deep laugh muffled under his breath and took another drink. "God , I'm sorry Tom! I just wasn't expecting anything like that." Jason apologized as he grabbed a towel and wiped up the floor. "Like what," Tom looked surprised, "a raise! Jason since the day you started here you've worked harder that anyone I've ever had in this grease pit. You're fast, dependable, and unlike the rest of the world; trust-worthy. Hell, I should of given you a raise six months ago. " Tom downed the last of his beer and went to get another. Jason rubbed his nose then his ears. He wasn't too sure if he should believe what Tom was saying. His dad didn't think he was good for anything and his mom didn't seem to care about much more than the T.V., so why should Tom take any interest? "No, I take that back." Tom said as he came back. "You should of demanded a raise six month's ago. If there's one thing you better learn, Jason, is that there ain't no free lunch. You've got to learn to recognize your worth and your potential worth to a company. When you're doing the job and doing it right then you deserve to get paid for it. And they're not going to just hand it to you. You've got to prove you deserve it and demand it. Now there's a limit to anything so you ...." Jason shrugged. This was beginning to sound an awful lot like one of his dad's lectures. He didn't want to sit through two of them in one day if he could help it. Jason wondered if lecturing was a required class for anyone over thirty, they all seem to know how to do it. "Tom," Jason interrupted, "it's not like I'm not interested or anything. But it is just after nine and I've got to walk home." Jason started to pause, this wasn't coming out right. "I mean thanks for the raise Tom. I really mean it, but I..." "I was starting to ramble on, wasn't I." Tom said with a small grin. Jason nodded. "Sorry, us older types tend to do that sometimes." "So I've noticed." Jason said with a smile. "Go on, get out of here. We'll see you Sunday at two o'clock." Tom laughed as he finished another can of beer. Jason put up his apron and cleaned out his cash drawer while Tom sat in the back room. "Seventeen dollars and thirteen cents!" Jason called to the back. That's only three dollars over my wages, Jason thought, how can a guy like Tom make a living if I only bring in three bucks? "I'll see you Sunday, Tom!" Jason shouted into the back room. The sound of a can opening was the only reply. Jason was half way down the next block before he realized he hadn't asked Tom how much the raise was. "Dumb-shit!", he thought to himself, "The man gives you a raise and all you can do is blow beer out your nose! " Jason stared at the tips of his shoes as he plodded down the street. He tried to drown his thoughts out with the sound of his shoes, but he couldn't. He was tired of trying to figure adults out. The ones like his dad were always ragging on him and the ones like Tom at least let him know when he was doing OK. What was it all suppose to mean? That he was a great employee but a lousy son? Jason saw himself dressed in a sparkling white apron and a tall white hat. Thousands of people were lined up behind the window and were begging him to make them one of his fabulous cheeseburger combos. Newspaper reporters were trying to break down the door for an interview but Tom was holding them back shouting, "He makes thirteen million a year! He's almost eighteen and he doesn't have a girl friend......." Thousands of beautiful girls began to storm the order window screaming ," Jason! Jason!" Jason served combo after combo with lighting speed and the crowd cheered as each one passed through the window. People stood in amazement as he masterfully flipped burgers into the air and landed on the buns without disturbing a pickle. He handed a combo out the window and a deep strong voice shouted back, "I ordered this without onions!" Jason turned to see his dad standing at the window and a crowd of thousands shaking their heads in silent disappointment. Jason stopped walking and let out a deep sigh. "I can't escape." He said out loud to himself,"it's just not fricking fair!" Jason lit a cigarette, shoved his thumbs into his front pockets, and continued walking....... (Still expanding .......)(Unfinished story #98)S.S.Powell 97/04/15
As Always - your comments and feed back are welcome. My thoughts to your thoughts. May the Palintar leave them undistorted. May I see you as you see me. Contact the AUTHOR
Return to The Palintar Return to Worlds Index Return to Perspectives Index
This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page
