Wrongful Kiss

September 10 2011

 It was years later, or so he felt like it was, but it was really only a few hours, before Thomas was awake enough to know what was going on.

He was lying in his bed, and there was a strange light shining into his eyes. Daylight, he thought, some damn fool had opened his curtains. Who the hell would do something like that to him? He never hurt anyone.

But wait. There was someone with him. He tried to set up, but they pushed him back down. The first thought was that the punks had taken him to his house to rob him. He wondered where Dog was and why he had not eaten these punks.

He opened his eyes. There stood Eddie beside the bed. A nice kid, he thought. I’ve always liked this kid. He has problems, but he is a nice kid; I wonder why Eddie is helping these punks?

“Let me up Eddie.” He said. But Eddie only looked around. Thomas did also.

“Let Mr. Thomas up Eddie.” Ben Said. He stood up from his chair and took Thomas by the arm and helped him to set up.

“Are you okay Mr. Thomas?” he asked. “We were mighty worried about you.” Thomas looked at Ben. He had a look of concern in his eye.

“Eddie wanted to call an ambulance, but Mr. Dick would not let him.”

Thomas would have laughed if he could have. Eddie could not speak. At lease not that he knew of. He had never heard Eddie speak a word. And he never heard anyone say they had heard Eddie speak a word. So it was hard for him to imagine Dick trying to get Eddie not to call for an ambulance.

“I bet you had a hard time talking Eddie out of calling for an ambulance Ben.” said Thomas with a painful laugh.

Both Ben and Eddie looked at Thomas, not sure what he meant.

Thomas was setting on the side of his bed now. Yes he thought, he was in his trailer. But the punks were not around.  

“Where am I?” He said. He already knew.

“You are home.” Ben said. “Me, and Eddie, and Mr. Dick brought you here after the fight you had in the alley.”

Thomas looked at Ben. He remembered most of what happen.

“What happen?” he asked.

“Those boys tried to beat you up Mr. Thomas. But you beat them up instead.” Thomas thought Ben must be pulling his leg.

“What time is it Ben?” he asked.

Eddie was setting at Thomas’s desk. He picked up an old fashion alarm clock and pointed it at Thomas. Thomas could see the time, 1:32 was flashing. Was that am or pm, he did not know. No wait, it had to be pm. There was daylight outside.

It was about 8:30 last night when he had left to go to the liquor store. It must be the next day.

“Damn.” Thomas said. “I’ve been asleep for over twelve hours.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Thomas,” Ben said. “You have been asleep all night.”

”Ben stepped back, and set down in the chair again. “We’ve been mighty worried about you.”

“All night, you have been here all night?” Thomas tried to stand but his legs were not strong enough to hold him. Ben jumped up and grabbed Thomas and set him back down on the bed. Damn he thought. The dog’s, I got to feed them.

“I need to feed sooner.” He said.

“Don’t worry Mr. Thomas, Eddie has fed them dog’s, and the cat’s for ya.”

Thomas looked over at Eddie who was still setting at the desk and saw that he was holding one of mama’s kittens.

Then he seen that mama and the other kittens were there, setting on the desk. As he looked down he saw that sooner was lying at his feet. She looked up at him.

“The Shepard dog is right out side the door Mr. Thomas. He wouldn’t come in. I think he was scared of the cats.”

“You might be right about that Ben.” Thomas said. “Hand me that box in back of you, there on the shelf, the brown box with the gold trim.”

Ben did so, and Thomas asked, “Is there anything to drink around here?”

“Yes sir.” Ben Said.

Eddie jumped up and pulled a cold Bud Ice out of a cooler setting in the floor at the end of the bed. He handed it to Ben.

“Mr. Dick said we should stay here and watch over you.” Ben said, watching Thomas for approval as he open the beer and handed it to him. “He gave us some food and beer to drink.”

Ben was wondering if Thomas was going to be mad. “Thomas had been good to Ben and Eddie over the years. He had taken care of those boys and made sure they had food to eat and something to drink most of the time. In return both Ben and Eddie had been there every time Thomas had needed a little work done around the place.

No one really knew much about Eddie. He was thought to be about twenty six years old: a white man who some said had been off in a war and come home a little short of a full bag of marbles. He never said a word to anyone that anyone had ever spoken of. People said he could make sounds because he had been heard screaming in his sleep, but not one word was ever heard coming out of his mouth that anyone could call a word.

Eddie did not like to sleep. He would never sleep till he could not hold his eyes open any more, then, when he did sleep, he always had night mares. He was not a big eater, and the only thing he really eat too much of was potatoes-chips. He loved potatoes Chips.

Eddie was a bit of a mystery around the lucky tree area. His last name was unknown, but rumor was that he was a member of one of the farming families found around this area back when Brownsville was a real town. The Johnson’s or something, but no one knew for sure.

There was a Johnson family here twenty or so years ago but they had died off. Eddie was supposed to be the last living members of the family.

Still others said Eddie was a member of the old Brown family that had formed the town of Brownsville at the start of the century. The old town had all but dried up sense the serial killer that was living there was found with all those dead girls and it was learned he had been a Brown family member.

        Ben Rothschild was older than Eddie. He was thirty-three years old on his last birthday. He was a black man and stood at six feet four inch’s tall. Ben was built like a rock and not many people would say anything out of the way to him. No one knew if this was his real name, because he was not from this area. He had been driving through one day and his car stopped running. Sense he had no money to fix the car with he ended up selling it and he never left. Not long after that Ben and Eddie had met up and become friends.

That had been about five years ago, and they were still friends. Some people said that friendship was more than a friend ship and that they were lovers. But no one called them gay, at lease not to Bens face.

Thomas opened the box and took out two goodie powers.

‘What happened last night Ben?’ Thomas asked setting the box on the bed. Ben was not sure what to say. Dick had told them not to tell Thomas anything about what happened last night. But Ben was not good at lying.

“Well Mr. Thomas,” Ben was hunting words, ‘You beat those boys up pretty bad.’

Ben started the story but before he could really get into it Eddie had come out of his chair and was standing beside him, placing his hand over Ben’s mouth. Ben stopped talking. He raised his head to look at Eddie.

‘What’s going on boys?’ Thomas said. ‘Ben, tell me what happen!’

‘You want me to tell him the truth Eddie?’ Ben said as he looked up at Eddie’s eyes. He didn’t try to remove Eddie’s hand, but Eddie dropped his hands after Ben asked him the questing.

“Eddie says I should tell ya the truth Mr. Thomas.’ Ben said. He had thought about changing some of the detail. Eddie shook his head yes.

‘Okay. Good job Eddie.’ said Thomas.

Ben looked at Thomas. Thomas put the goodies on his tongue and then washed it down with a beer.

‘Eddie I want a drink of liquor.’ He said.

Eddie turn to Ben then walked out of the room only to return a few seconds later with a bottle of Canadian Mist, a bottle of Johnny Walker, and a fifth of MD 2020 grape wine.

‘Now that’s what I am talking about boys. Thomas said.

Eddie handed the Johnny Walker to Ben, set the Canadian Mist down on the wooden desk and then opened the wine.

Ben opened the bottle of Johnny Walker and then handed it to Thomas.

“You are my guest Ben, you go first.” Thomas said. He waited as Ben took a large drink: the first drink known as taking the poison off the bottle.

Then after Ben handed the bottle to Thomas he turned it up and took a small slip. He lowered the bottle, waited for a few seconds to breath, and then raised it again and matched Ben’s drink drop for drop.

When he finished he put the lid back on the bottle and said,

‘That was good.’ Then turning to Ben he said ‘Now Ben, I want you to tell me what happen last night and I want the truth.’

Eddie had gone to set down in the desk chair again. He had opened the wine bottle and took a slip when Thomas took his first slip, then handed the wine bottle to Ben who had taken a drink of wine also.

Ben was setting there now holding the wine bottle and looking at Thomas, trying to think how to say the words. He took another larger drink of wine and then put the lid back on the bottle and handed it back to Eddie.

“Well MR. Thomas you hurt that boy pretty good.”

Eddie started clapping his hand together in praise.

Ben told the story of what he seen and what happened. Ben was a pretty good story teller, and Thomas could see the entire fight in his mind as Ben talked. Thomas thought to himself that those punks were real Winnies to have hit him and left him standing there, and not only that but to let him then whip their ass.

Thomas remembered he had been falling but had fallen into the white kid which caused him to catch his balance. But as he fell into the white kid, the white kid started to fall, and Thomas regain his footing which confused the other two punks.

He remembered saying to the black kid something about is that all you got pussy. But a fear had come over him as he saw the look on the boys face. He was looking at Thomas and then down to the white boy and back to Thomas’s hand. Thomas remembered looking down at his hands and seeing the knife there. It was red and dripping.

It was then that Ben had showed up and had bitched slapped the black kid so hard that he had flew across the drive and crashed into the building.

The third kid turn and ran but was tackled by three of Dicks employees as he tried to escape.

Ben had run to the aide of Thomas, and Eddie had run and got Dick who had brought some of his boys with him.

From that moment on, Thomas could not remember anything.

‘So you see Mr. Thomas, you took a pretty good hit to the head, but I think you are going to be okay.’ Ben finished up.

‘What about the kid I cut Ben. What happen to him?’

‘I don’t know Mr. Thomas. After Mr. Dick showed up, Eddie and I kind of stood back. One of Mr. Dick’s boys is going to school to be a doctor and he looked at the boy and said he would be okay.’

‘How bad was he bleeding Ben?’ Thomas asked.

‘It was bad Mr. Thomas, but they got him setting up. Mr. Dick said he would be okay.’

‘What did the police say?’ Thomas asked.

“They didn’t call the police Mr. Thomas. Mr. Dick had me and Eddie bring you home and said not to worry about this he was going to take care of it.’ Ben looked a little shaken as he took another slip of the wine, and then lit a cigarette. ‘I was a little worried what Mr. Dick was going to do but he come over here after the store was closed. He said they took the kid to the hospital. They had to also take the one I hit because he had a cracked skull.”

‘How hard did you hit him Ben?’

‘I hit him as hard as I could Mr. Thomas, but I think he cracked his head when he hit the wall.’ There was a sign of a small smile on Ben’s face.

Thomas laughed out loud.

        “I think Mr. Dick gave them all three some money so they would say that someone attacked them and they didn’t know who.’ Ben was looking down at the floor.

‘And Dick didn’t want you to tell me this right Ben?’ Thomas asked.

‘No sir. He didn’t want you to worry.’

‘Worry hell, I’m worried now because I didn’t kill the bastard. Now he may want to come back for some more money.’ Thomas managed to stand. So did Ben.

“I need some air Ben. Let’s go out side.’ Thomas walked to the door and opened it. He turned back and looked at Eddie.

‘Bring the beer Eddie.’ He said

Thomas set at the table, the picnic table in his yard. He had some beans in a bowl. And some corn bread. There was also some mash potatoes, and some country fried steak.

It was getting late in the afternoon. Eddie had been put to work cooking and had come up with a great meal.

‘I did not know you could cook like this Eddie.’ Thomas said.

‘I didn’t either.’ Ben said.

Eddie just smiled.

The bottle of Canadian Mist set opened on the picnic table, beside it was a double duce bud ice. Ben had made another beer call while Eddie was cooking and Thomas was visiting with the dogs.

It was between four and five in the afternoon, on a Saturday. But Dick was setting there with Thomas. He was not eating. And he was not drinking.

His friend was sick, and so he had to be there for him.

Big Ben, the nick name most people called Ben, was setting on a chair over beside the van. He was eating. A free meal did not come everyday. He was not about to turn it down, and this was his second plate.

Eddie had taken only a few bites, and then gave the rest to Ben. Eddie did not eat much. Not unless it was potatoes chips.

The dogs were there, and so where the cats. Eddie was playing with the cats. He did not make a sound as one of the kittens ran up his shirt, and did not stop when the shirt ran out, and its claw going into Eddie’s skin.

Eddie jump up and with tears in his eyes. He had the kitten in his hands but he did not hurt the cat. Instead, he set the cat down on the ground and then walked over to where Ben was and set down next to him. He then picked up the second bottle of wine setting there and took a big drink.

Ben was smiling, but did not say anything.

Thomas looked over at Eddie, and asked if he was okay. Eddies head just went up and down.

“He’s okay. But you are not.” Dick said. “You are dieing.” Dick had the letter from the doctor in his hands. “The doctor says you have cancer Thomas.” Ben and Eddie both looked at Dick, then at Thomas.

“We all got to go sometimes Dick. And I’m tired anyway. So I go a little earlier than I expected. I only have one more thing to do anyway.”

“What, the money or the girl” Dick Said. He was not sure which Thomas was talking about but thought it was the girl.

“That’s all I hear from you lately. That damn girl, what about your daughter? What about her? Don’t you care about her?”

He stood up. Throwing the letter from the Doctor on the table, he turned his back to Thomas. Dick was mad. He did not like the ideal of his friend dieing.

Turning back around and looking at Thomas he said “Damn it man, I don’t know what this damn girl has on you, but you should think about your self.”

“She is not a damn girl Dick. And if you value our friendship, I hope you will remember that.” Thomas never took his eyes off the liquor bottle.

Dick didn’t say anything. He could see fire in Thomas’s eyes. The man was ready to fight. Thomas looked up then he looked at Eddie, then back to Dick.

“Eddie, there is a metal lock box in the second drawer on the left, beside the bed. Would you get it for me please?”

Thomas did not take his eyes off of Dick.

“My daughter has been taken care of. I have given her three hundred dollars a week for the past fifteen years.” Thomas took a drink.

Dick set down then saw the letter from Thomas’s daughter lying on the table. It had been in the same envelope as the doctor’s letter and the cash, and it had not yet been open.

“Are you going to read that?” Dick asked.

Thomas looked up from his bottle, “No” he said then took another drink. When he finished he said “It’s better if I don’t. I don’t need to read it. I don’t need to talk to her. I don’t need to see her. It’s better if I don’t have anything to do with her. That way I cannot hurt her.”

Dick picked up the letter and tore it open. Thomas looked at him but didn’t say anything. Eddie came back with the box. A big smile on his face saying I got it Mr. Thomas.

“Thank you Eddie.” Thomas said. “Will you open it for me?”

Eddie looked at Thomas, then at Dick. Then he opened the box.

The box was not a very big box. But it was big enough. Inside it were two smaller Jewelry boxes, one which looked to be for a little girl, the name Kelly engraved on it. Eddie set box boxes on the table.

Under them was a third box. It was the kind of box that computer programs and games came in. he also set that box on the table.

Under that was an over flowing file folder. That was laid on the table also. Eddie did not pull out what he seen next. You could almost hear a gasp come out of his mouth. He had never seen that much money before.

“Reach in and get a stack Eddie.” Thomas Said. “Get two, and give one to Ben.”

Eddie did not move. He did not reach in. Dick put the letter down and looked into the box. “Damn.” He said. “How much?” he asked. Big Ben got up and came over.

“There is about fifty thousand in this box.” Thomas said between bites.

        “I have three more boxes with about two hundred thousand each in them.” Thomas picked the bottle up, “I won the lottery.” he said. He took another drink.

“You got to slow up on that.” Dick said, talking about the liquor.

Setting the bottle down Thomas reached into the box. He took out a stack of bills, and handed it to Eddie. “There is a thousand dollars in every stack.” He said as he handed one to Ben. Ben would not take it, and Eddie tried to hand his back. “I can’t take your money Mr. Thomas.” Ben said.

“Take it. The damn fool is going to die anyway.” Dick Said.

Both Eddie and Ben looked at Dick.

Laughing, Thomas took Ben’s hands, and placed the stack of money into his hand. “Take it boys.” He said. “Dick is right. I am dieing. And I don’t need it. Beside, I have work for you.”

Before Thomas could tell them what kind of work he had for them Dick said “Your daughter is coming to see you.” He handed the letter over to Thomas. “She will be here Monday.”

“What.” Thomas said. He almost fell out of his chair as he grabbed the letter. He read it. “She can’t do that. She can’t do that.”

“Well she is. And she will be here Monday. She said not to worry about meeting her, the Marla’s have agreed to meet her and bring her right to the door of the trailer.” Dick was smiling.

“You got to help me Dick. I need your help.”

“Oh I will.” Dick said. He reached over and took the bottle from Thomas. He took a drink, capped the bottle, and handed it to Ben. “Put this away” he told him. I’ll make sure some of my boys come over here tomorrow and we will get this place cleaned up before she gets here.’

“Dick, you can’t do this. You got to help me. I can’t let her see me like this. I can’t let her see me at all.”

Thomas was reaching for the bottle, but Ben walked away. He was not going to let Thomas have another drink. Not unless Mr. Dick said so.

“Dick I don’t want to see her damn it. I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Then you will have to see her. Do you want to die, and deny that girl the right to ever get to see her daddy alive again? What kind of man are you Thomas. I have always had respect for you. But you are slowing wasting away every bit of respect I have for you.“

Dick looked his friend in the eye. He did not know what it was that he saw. But he knew his friend was scared. Something he had never seen in his friend before.

“What’s wrong with you Thomas? Why are you feeling so sorry for your self?”

No one said any thing. No one moved but Eddie. He went back over to set and count the money he had been given.

“I am a monster.” Thomas Said. He reached over and picked up one of the small jewelry boxes. Opening it, he took out a small necklace for a young girl.

“I gave her this for her thirteenth birthday.”

Dick took the necklace and looked at it. It was 24 Carrot gold. The letter K and T were joined by a gold heart.

“This cost a few bucks.” Dick said.

Thomas then pulled out a diamond ring.

“Now that did cost some money” Dick said.

“About three grand” Thomas said. “14 K gold with a 2.34 count TDW.” Thomas handed the ring to Dick.

“That was to be her wedding ring when she reached the age of eighteen. I would sometime let her wear it just for fun around the house.”

“I am not sure I understand where this is going?” Dick said. “And I am not sure I want to.”

“We were going to be married.” Thomas took the necklace back from Dick and placed it into the box. “These are hers, and I want to give them back to her.”

“How old was she when this happened?” Dick said.

Thomas did not say anything. A few minutes later he said “I hurt someone a long time ago. And I hate myself for it.”

Dick reached into his pocket. He pulled out the pictures of Kelly and Tasha. He laid the pictures of them down on the table. “Was she the one you hurt?”

Thomas Started crying.

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