Cecilia sat on the porch drinking iced tea and watching the wash that she had hung on the line blowing in the wind. She noticed that wind had picked up in the last few minutes. This concerned her only because she also knew that her wash was not dry yet. She would have to get it off or wash it all again because of the dust. There would be a dust storm this afternoon. She would not have to wait much longer.
She stood up quickly and grabbed her basket. In her haste she had knocked her glass down and it shattered across the porch. She had to move fast to get the wash, the glass would have to wait. She looked out into the field and saw Wendell stand up. He began to walk toward the house. Cecilia hoped that he would remember that she had put the wash out this morning because it would take her a long time to get it all in the basket.
She had been in the mood to wash their clothes, the sheets, and the kitchen curtains. She had planned to wash the sitting room curtains this afternoon, but if the storm was long that would not happen. She began to pull the clothes off the line quickly hoping to beat the storm, but could feel the wind picking up faster now. The storm was coming and quickly. That usually meant that it would be followed by a thunderstorm and possible a tornado. They had never had a tornado touchdown on their property, but the people down the road had. So she and Wendell had been able to watch the funnel cloud close-up.
Just as she started on the sheets, Wendell came running up. "Cec, I think this is going to be a big one. I could see it off in the distance when I got up to come in. We better hurry and get in the house."
Cecilia and Wendell began pulling the sheets and curtains off the line. Cecilia was cursing the dirt. Now she would have to rewash everything. All her morning work was spoiled. She would have to do it all over again. She had been hoping to get finished early today and sit down and read while Wendell played the piano in the sitting room. Now her work would go on into the night and she would not have time to read before dark.
While Cecilia was lost in angry thoughts Wendell got everything else off the line. As if he had been reading her mind he turned to her and said, "Cec, I will help you with the wash so you can read this afternoon."
"Thanks, Wendell. I really wanted to read that new book you brought me from town the other day."
" I know, let's hurry and get inside." Wendell said quickly.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Muse
Cecilia had always wondered why it was necessary for human beings to have five fingers on each hand when they could so easily survive with only four. She picked up her iced tea and wiped the sweat off the glass with her good hand. Cecilia knew that when she went into town everyone was staring at her “bad” hand. She was born with only four fingers on her right hand. This never really bothered her because she didn’t see the need for five fingers, unless she happened to be around people who did not understand. Everyone always looked at her with such pity in their eyes. But, Cecilia didn’t need their pity. You never use all of them anyway, she thought.
She took a long drink of her tea. The sweetness of the liquid filled her mouth and she held it there for just a moment to savor it. There really was nothing like iced tea. Her mama used to make the best sun tea in the summertime. She would fill up a pickle jar with water and place her homemade tea bags in the top of the jar with the pieces of thread hanging out of the lip and place the lid on the top. She said that the secret to good sun tea was to leave the lid unscrewed so that the air could get into the jar. Cecilia didn’t know if she quite believed this because she always closed the lid. Always. If she didn’t close the lid she was afraid that the gnats would fly in and she would accidentally swallow one.
Swallowing a gnat had to be Cecilia’s greatest fear. Along with stepping on the cracks in the porch, going up into the attic at night, down in the basement any time of the day or night, and losing Wendell. She sat and thought for a moment, no losing Wendell had to be her greatest fear. Gnats, cracks, basements, and attics aside it had to be Wendell. He had always been there. Ever since she could remember he had held her hand as she fell asleep at night, and greeted her every morning in his special way. He loved to sing her songs when there was a thunderstorm, and when the wind picked up and started blowing across the plain he would always sweep her up in his arms and carry her to the sitting room so she could watch the dust cloud come in from the south.
Why did it always come in from the south, she wondered? Even now she could feel the air getting dryer and dryer. They hadn’t had any rain in months. If it didn’t rain soon they would surely have a dust storm. Oh how she loved to watch the power in those things. The cloud would build and build until it seemed it would burst with pure dust. One time she was making sun tea out on the porch and saw the cloud coming in from the south like it always did and made it out to the porch just in time to rescue her favorite pickle jar. She knew that she wouldn’t have any tea that night, but being able to watch the storm from beginning to end was reward enough for her.
Wendell had come running in from the fields. He was so worried that she would walk out and try to get in the middle of the cloud. Cecilia had always wanted to be swept up. She remembered the look on Wendell’s face when she had told him. They were just kids sitting at mama’s feet in the sitting room and they heard the rumble that always comes before the dust and knew it was coming. Wendell was worried that she was afraid of the storm, but she had told him no, she was not afraid. She loved the dust storms. She imagined that her house would be swallowed up in the dust cloud and she would drift on the prairies forever with her mama and Wendell there by her side. No more bad hand, no more work for mama, and Wendell would be with her forever.
She took a long drink of her tea. The sweetness of the liquid filled her mouth and she held it there for just a moment to savor it. There really was nothing like iced tea. Her mama used to make the best sun tea in the summertime. She would fill up a pickle jar with water and place her homemade tea bags in the top of the jar with the pieces of thread hanging out of the lip and place the lid on the top. She said that the secret to good sun tea was to leave the lid unscrewed so that the air could get into the jar. Cecilia didn’t know if she quite believed this because she always closed the lid. Always. If she didn’t close the lid she was afraid that the gnats would fly in and she would accidentally swallow one.
Swallowing a gnat had to be Cecilia’s greatest fear. Along with stepping on the cracks in the porch, going up into the attic at night, down in the basement any time of the day or night, and losing Wendell. She sat and thought for a moment, no losing Wendell had to be her greatest fear. Gnats, cracks, basements, and attics aside it had to be Wendell. He had always been there. Ever since she could remember he had held her hand as she fell asleep at night, and greeted her every morning in his special way. He loved to sing her songs when there was a thunderstorm, and when the wind picked up and started blowing across the plain he would always sweep her up in his arms and carry her to the sitting room so she could watch the dust cloud come in from the south.
Why did it always come in from the south, she wondered? Even now she could feel the air getting dryer and dryer. They hadn’t had any rain in months. If it didn’t rain soon they would surely have a dust storm. Oh how she loved to watch the power in those things. The cloud would build and build until it seemed it would burst with pure dust. One time she was making sun tea out on the porch and saw the cloud coming in from the south like it always did and made it out to the porch just in time to rescue her favorite pickle jar. She knew that she wouldn’t have any tea that night, but being able to watch the storm from beginning to end was reward enough for her.
Wendell had come running in from the fields. He was so worried that she would walk out and try to get in the middle of the cloud. Cecilia had always wanted to be swept up. She remembered the look on Wendell’s face when she had told him. They were just kids sitting at mama’s feet in the sitting room and they heard the rumble that always comes before the dust and knew it was coming. Wendell was worried that she was afraid of the storm, but she had told him no, she was not afraid. She loved the dust storms. She imagined that her house would be swallowed up in the dust cloud and she would drift on the prairies forever with her mama and Wendell there by her side. No more bad hand, no more work for mama, and Wendell would be with her forever.
That's the end...
That is as far as I can go with The Heist right now. I will try to write more later, but the ending is just not working for me. I have started a couple of other stories. I have the first part for a new one to publish. This is really my problem. Things seem to go and on for me and I can't wrap them up and bring good closure. UGH! Probably because I don't make an outline and I don't know how the story is going to develop until I actually write that part. I hope you enjoy this next story.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The Heist
Frank started walking toward the group. He has known that Smalls would be here since he sent him an anonymous tip about Les walking. Smalls didn't care if Les walked, but he did care if he walked with his share of the money. When Frank mentioned that, Smalls had almost choked on the food he was eating while they were on the phone. Frank thought he was going to have to call 911 for the big man.
He had also known that this would be the best way to get Les out of the tunnels. To make sure he knew where he would be. Frank still needed to go down into the tunnels and figure out the next move. He wasn't ready to totally walk away yet, he just wanted everyone to think that he was.
"Les, Indigo, what is Smalls doing here? I thought that you were out of the country until the job was over?" Frank said.
Les dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it to ground it into the pavement. He waited to answer Frank. He knew that waiting would cause Frank to grow impatient. Impatience and anger were the only things Les had on his side right now.
Les took a deep breath and looked from Indigo to Smalls and then to Frank. He paused again and began to speak. "Frank, I think it is time to walk away. I called Smalls and got him on a plane early this morning. We always said that we would know when to walk away. I think that this is the job we need to pass on to someone else."
"I think that would be a mistake..." Indigo interrupted.
"A big mistake. Especially since we have others waiting to be paid," Smalls said.
"The other guys will be fine with walking away. They trust me and won't..."Les said.
Frank cleared his throat to interrupt. "We are not walking away. We are going to do this job and follow it through, but we are going to do it my way. I am in charge of this crew and the jobs that we take. Les you need to take a walk. We all appreciate everything that you have done, but I will take it from here. You will get your share, just after the job is over. We will meet at our usual place to do the split."
"How can I trust you? If we go through with this job I will be a part of it from beginning to end. I will not walk away without everyone."
"Then you will let me take the lead and take a step down. I am in charge now, and the two of you are just along for the ride. I make all the decisions, or I walk away with my crew."
He had also known that this would be the best way to get Les out of the tunnels. To make sure he knew where he would be. Frank still needed to go down into the tunnels and figure out the next move. He wasn't ready to totally walk away yet, he just wanted everyone to think that he was.
"Les, Indigo, what is Smalls doing here? I thought that you were out of the country until the job was over?" Frank said.
Les dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and stepped on it to ground it into the pavement. He waited to answer Frank. He knew that waiting would cause Frank to grow impatient. Impatience and anger were the only things Les had on his side right now.
Les took a deep breath and looked from Indigo to Smalls and then to Frank. He paused again and began to speak. "Frank, I think it is time to walk away. I called Smalls and got him on a plane early this morning. We always said that we would know when to walk away. I think that this is the job we need to pass on to someone else."
"I think that would be a mistake..." Indigo interrupted.
"A big mistake. Especially since we have others waiting to be paid," Smalls said.
"The other guys will be fine with walking away. They trust me and won't..."Les said.
Frank cleared his throat to interrupt. "We are not walking away. We are going to do this job and follow it through, but we are going to do it my way. I am in charge of this crew and the jobs that we take. Les you need to take a walk. We all appreciate everything that you have done, but I will take it from here. You will get your share, just after the job is over. We will meet at our usual place to do the split."
"How can I trust you? If we go through with this job I will be a part of it from beginning to end. I will not walk away without everyone."
"Then you will let me take the lead and take a step down. I am in charge now, and the two of you are just along for the ride. I make all the decisions, or I walk away with my crew."
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Heist
"Where is he?" demanded Les as he got out of his car.
"I don't know. He said he was on his way!" Indigo yelled over the noise in the warehouse parking lot.
"Damn it. I have wasted a whole day waiting on people. He better show up. He didn't tell you what he wanted to talk about on the phone?" Les demanded again.
Indigo was more than irritated. People just didn't demand things from her, and especially not Les. She was in charge of this job. She had brought him in on it.
"Look, you need to get yourself under control. It is not doing anyone any good for you to lose your temper. If he doesn't show I will send someone to track him down and eliminate him. We don't need him anymore and you were planning on doing at the end of the job anyway. This will just expedite the process," Indigo said.
"No, you look. You will not eliminate him. That would only bring suspicion from everyone else working the job. He has got to show back up or the plan is ruined," said Les, a little calmer than before.
The longer Les stood there, the more he thought that it was time to walk away. There were too many things going wrong and he still couldn't shake that uncomfortable feeling. Now they were waiting on Smalls to show up and he had some kind of problem with what was going on.
Just then Smalls' car pulled into the warehouse parking lot. He skidded to a stop right in front of them. He got out and and slammed the door.
"I demand to know what is going on," Smalls said.
"I don't know what you are talking about! We are getting ready to pull the job. Either you are in or you are out. If you're in then you need to go along with the plan that we all agreed to."
Just then Les looked up and could see Frank turning down the road leading to the warehouse. What the hell was going on? Frank was supposed to be down in the tunnels today. The last thing that he needed was to deal with Frank and Smalls. How was he going to explain why Smalls was there at the warehouse.
"You have to get out of here. Right now." Les said as he started shoving Smalls back into his car.
"I am not going anywhere. I brought this job to you and I want my share, and I want to know what is going on." Smalls insisted.
"What do you mean?" Indigo asked.
"I got a call this morning saying the job was off. The guy was "anonymous" party with some kind of stake in the job." Smalls said.
Just then, Frank pulled into the parking lot of the warehouse. All three looked up and saw Frank get out of his car and start walking toward them. Len knew it was time to walk away.
"I don't know. He said he was on his way!" Indigo yelled over the noise in the warehouse parking lot.
"Damn it. I have wasted a whole day waiting on people. He better show up. He didn't tell you what he wanted to talk about on the phone?" Les demanded again.
Indigo was more than irritated. People just didn't demand things from her, and especially not Les. She was in charge of this job. She had brought him in on it.
"Look, you need to get yourself under control. It is not doing anyone any good for you to lose your temper. If he doesn't show I will send someone to track him down and eliminate him. We don't need him anymore and you were planning on doing at the end of the job anyway. This will just expedite the process," Indigo said.
"No, you look. You will not eliminate him. That would only bring suspicion from everyone else working the job. He has got to show back up or the plan is ruined," said Les, a little calmer than before.
The longer Les stood there, the more he thought that it was time to walk away. There were too many things going wrong and he still couldn't shake that uncomfortable feeling. Now they were waiting on Smalls to show up and he had some kind of problem with what was going on.
Just then Smalls' car pulled into the warehouse parking lot. He skidded to a stop right in front of them. He got out and and slammed the door.
"I demand to know what is going on," Smalls said.
"I don't know what you are talking about! We are getting ready to pull the job. Either you are in or you are out. If you're in then you need to go along with the plan that we all agreed to."
Just then Les looked up and could see Frank turning down the road leading to the warehouse. What the hell was going on? Frank was supposed to be down in the tunnels today. The last thing that he needed was to deal with Frank and Smalls. How was he going to explain why Smalls was there at the warehouse.
"You have to get out of here. Right now." Les said as he started shoving Smalls back into his car.
"I am not going anywhere. I brought this job to you and I want my share, and I want to know what is going on." Smalls insisted.
"What do you mean?" Indigo asked.
"I got a call this morning saying the job was off. The guy was "anonymous" party with some kind of stake in the job." Smalls said.
Just then, Frank pulled into the parking lot of the warehouse. All three looked up and saw Frank get out of his car and start walking toward them. Len knew it was time to walk away.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Heist
Les walked all the tunnels in about an hour and twenty minutes. He was able to find where the bank was located. He also found a good hiding place to wait for Frank. He had been waiting now for about an hour. He was starting to wonder if Frank was actually going to come down today. He had managed to keep his anxiety under control, but if he didn't get out of here he was going to lose it.
Just then his phone lit up the tunnel he had been waiting in. He looked to see who it was. Damn, Indigo. He was hoping to avoid her until the meeting tonight. She was always able to mess with his head.
"Yeah," he answered.
"Where are you?" she asked insistently.
"Why?"
"We have a problem here at the warehouse," she answered.
"What...a problem?" He asked
"Yes, Smalls is on his way here."
"He is supposed to be on a vacation." Les said.
"I know...that's the problem. What do you want me to do?" she asked.
"Who is there with you?"
"Carlos is the only one. He came by this morning to do some work." Indigo answered.
"Okay, I will be there shortly. If he shows up before I get there stall him outside. The last thing I want is for Carlos to know he is there. Keep him outside, do you hear me, outside," Les yelled into the phone.
"Calm down...I will keep him outside. I had already planned to do that anyway. Get here as soon as you can."
Why was Smalls changing the plan. They had made this plan months ago. That feeling of dread was coming back. He was starting wonder if they should walk away from this job altogether.
Just then his phone lit up the tunnel he had been waiting in. He looked to see who it was. Damn, Indigo. He was hoping to avoid her until the meeting tonight. She was always able to mess with his head.
"Yeah," he answered.
"Where are you?" she asked insistently.
"Why?"
"We have a problem here at the warehouse," she answered.
"What...a problem?" He asked
"Yes, Smalls is on his way here."
"He is supposed to be on a vacation." Les said.
"I know...that's the problem. What do you want me to do?" she asked.
"Who is there with you?"
"Carlos is the only one. He came by this morning to do some work." Indigo answered.
"Okay, I will be there shortly. If he shows up before I get there stall him outside. The last thing I want is for Carlos to know he is there. Keep him outside, do you hear me, outside," Les yelled into the phone.
"Calm down...I will keep him outside. I had already planned to do that anyway. Get here as soon as you can."
Why was Smalls changing the plan. They had made this plan months ago. That feeling of dread was coming back. He was starting wonder if they should walk away from this job altogether.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Heist
Parker looked down and saw that Frank was calling back. He sat and thought about what he was getting ready to do. He wasn't sure this was the right thing to do or not. He knew he was going to have to decide quick. His phone got to the fourth ring and he picked it up.
"Parker here."
"Parker, Frank. What's going on? I got your message...is there something wrong that we need to discuss? I have a very busy day ahead of me."
"Frank, I don't want to talk about this over the phone. I need to meet with you now, before you go down into the tunnels," Parker explained.
"OK, where are you right now?" Frank asked.
"I am at my apartment downtown. Can you come here?" Parker asked.
"Yes, I am only a few blocks away. I will be there in about ten minutes."
Frank hung up and his mind started to run wild. Why did Parker need to meet with him? And why must it be before he went down in the tunnels? He walked the five blocks to Parker's apartment building in record time.
He stood across the street at the coffee shop an watched for a few minutes. He wanted to make sure that this was not a trap. He didn't see any sign of anyone else at Parker's or staking out his apartment. He also had not caught a glimpse of his tail all morning.
He climbed the 16 flights of stairs just in case he had missed his tail. He glanced down at his watch and realized that it had taken him 15 minutes to get to Parker's apartment. He was still wondering what this was all about when he tapped on the door. He was anxious and wanted to get out of the hallway. Parker answered the door and ushered him inside quickly.
"Hey, Frank. What some coffee?" Parker asked as he stepped in the door.
"Nah, I'm good. What's up? I need to get to the tunnels. I have a lot to do today before we meet this evening."
"Sit down. This will take a few minutes," Parker said as he gestured toward the nearest chair.
Frank sat and began to listen to the story that Parker was telling. Most of it he already knew. Parker told him about how Indigo, Smalls, and Les had been meeting before the job. Then he told him about their plan to eliminate everyone but him before the job was over. This only confirmed what Frank had feared. Then Parker told him that Les was down in the tunnels right now waiting for him. He was going to hide out and confront him down there today.
That last piece of information took Frank by surprise. He knew the big man was irrationally afraid of closed in spaces. He found it difficult that he would be able to wait for him to show up down there. However, he also knew that if Les wanted him gone bad enough he would do anything.
When Parker finished speaking he waited for Frank to speak. He could tell he was taking it all in and deciding on his course of action. He was afraid that maybe Frank did not believe him.
"Well, that is an interesting story," Frank finally said. "I am especially entertained by the part that Les is down there in those tunnels right now waiting for me. I think I will make the big man wait."
Parker looked at Frank and tried to figure out what he thought about his involvement. He had once been very close with Frank, but it had been a long time since they had really spoken about anything but the weather.
"Parker, why are you telling me all this?" Frank asked.
"Well...I started thinking about what was going on and I had a crisis of conscience."
"I don't believe that is it. I think you know that they are not going to let you walk away from this job either. In fact, I think you know that Les is planning to be the only one to walk away from this job. Where do you think Bones stands on all this? Do you think they have spoken to him as well?"
"I am not sure, but I don't really think so. The only reason they pulled me in was because they all needed clean papers to leave the country. What are you planning to do?"
"Well, I need to talk to Carlos and Bones. I am also not going back down into the tunnels today. I walked all of them yesterday anyway so I know the ins and outs. I am not going to give Les his shot today. He is going to have to be a little more creative. We have a meeting with everyone tonight at 7:00pm. I will contact you later about a meeting later tonight. I will caution you that I have had a tail since the job started. Be aware that you probably have one too. Stay here as much as you can. I will see you at seven." Frank said and turned and walked out the door.
Frank descended the stairs at a good clip. He needed to get somewhere that he could think. Parker hadn't ask him about the manila envelope he was carrying. Maybe he was not going to need its contents after all.
"Parker here."
"Parker, Frank. What's going on? I got your message...is there something wrong that we need to discuss? I have a very busy day ahead of me."
"Frank, I don't want to talk about this over the phone. I need to meet with you now, before you go down into the tunnels," Parker explained.
"OK, where are you right now?" Frank asked.
"I am at my apartment downtown. Can you come here?" Parker asked.
"Yes, I am only a few blocks away. I will be there in about ten minutes."
Frank hung up and his mind started to run wild. Why did Parker need to meet with him? And why must it be before he went down in the tunnels? He walked the five blocks to Parker's apartment building in record time.
He stood across the street at the coffee shop an watched for a few minutes. He wanted to make sure that this was not a trap. He didn't see any sign of anyone else at Parker's or staking out his apartment. He also had not caught a glimpse of his tail all morning.
He climbed the 16 flights of stairs just in case he had missed his tail. He glanced down at his watch and realized that it had taken him 15 minutes to get to Parker's apartment. He was still wondering what this was all about when he tapped on the door. He was anxious and wanted to get out of the hallway. Parker answered the door and ushered him inside quickly.
"Hey, Frank. What some coffee?" Parker asked as he stepped in the door.
"Nah, I'm good. What's up? I need to get to the tunnels. I have a lot to do today before we meet this evening."
"Sit down. This will take a few minutes," Parker said as he gestured toward the nearest chair.
Frank sat and began to listen to the story that Parker was telling. Most of it he already knew. Parker told him about how Indigo, Smalls, and Les had been meeting before the job. Then he told him about their plan to eliminate everyone but him before the job was over. This only confirmed what Frank had feared. Then Parker told him that Les was down in the tunnels right now waiting for him. He was going to hide out and confront him down there today.
That last piece of information took Frank by surprise. He knew the big man was irrationally afraid of closed in spaces. He found it difficult that he would be able to wait for him to show up down there. However, he also knew that if Les wanted him gone bad enough he would do anything.
When Parker finished speaking he waited for Frank to speak. He could tell he was taking it all in and deciding on his course of action. He was afraid that maybe Frank did not believe him.
"Well, that is an interesting story," Frank finally said. "I am especially entertained by the part that Les is down there in those tunnels right now waiting for me. I think I will make the big man wait."
Parker looked at Frank and tried to figure out what he thought about his involvement. He had once been very close with Frank, but it had been a long time since they had really spoken about anything but the weather.
"Parker, why are you telling me all this?" Frank asked.
"Well...I started thinking about what was going on and I had a crisis of conscience."
"I don't believe that is it. I think you know that they are not going to let you walk away from this job either. In fact, I think you know that Les is planning to be the only one to walk away from this job. Where do you think Bones stands on all this? Do you think they have spoken to him as well?"
"I am not sure, but I don't really think so. The only reason they pulled me in was because they all needed clean papers to leave the country. What are you planning to do?"
"Well, I need to talk to Carlos and Bones. I am also not going back down into the tunnels today. I walked all of them yesterday anyway so I know the ins and outs. I am not going to give Les his shot today. He is going to have to be a little more creative. We have a meeting with everyone tonight at 7:00pm. I will contact you later about a meeting later tonight. I will caution you that I have had a tail since the job started. Be aware that you probably have one too. Stay here as much as you can. I will see you at seven." Frank said and turned and walked out the door.
Frank descended the stairs at a good clip. He needed to get somewhere that he could think. Parker hadn't ask him about the manila envelope he was carrying. Maybe he was not going to need its contents after all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
