Walter The Homeless Man

by Tekoa Manning

  “I don’t care, you pick the place.” He hung his head down and wondered what he was getting himself into.

  “Do you want to drive?” asked Marcie, thinking that would get him in a better mood. She wondered why he didn’t drive, maybe he just couldn’t afford a car. She knew he’d been in trouble with the law, drugs she thought. Her niche was thievery, and it had stumped her parents, considering she could have whatever she wanted. But stealing had been a thrill for her ever since she’d watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

  “No, I hate driving. I get sick and dizzy, the road seems to buckle under me, and I feel as if I can’t breathe.”

  “Really,” Marcie was shocked. Most guys loved to drive; most guys loved cars. “What happened, were you in a really bad wreck?”

  Benjamin’s thoughts flashed to the man he’d killed, his mangled body, and the sirens flashing. Oh, how could he tell her? “My fiancé died in a car wreck.” He seemed to blurt the words out from nowhere.

  “I’m so sorry, Ben. I didn’t know. What happened?”

  “Some guy ran a stop sign, hit her head on. I was driving.”

  “Oh my God, Ben! I’m so, so sorry!”

  “Yeah well, that’s why I walk everywhere, plus I drink too much now to drive anyway.”

  Marcie pulled into the pizzeria overwhelmed. She wanted to hold Ben and comfort him. She couldn’t imagine how terrible that night must have been. “So how long ago did this happen?”

  “Over a year ago. I just moved here to get away from it all. Been in trouble ever since. My parents had this big wedding planned. She was Jewish, like me. They were so happy for us.” He pulled a strand of hair out of his eyes and cleared his throat. “So what are we having, pizza or calzones?” He was out of lies and wanted to talk about something else.

  Marcie’s mind was running a thousand miles a minute. She was starting to understand all the answers to the many questions she had. So that’s why he walks everywhere and drinks so heavily. They entered the restaurant and ordered a veggie pizza to go. There was a silence between them as they headed back to Ben’s place. All Marcie wanted to do was console him, make him feel better. They entered the apartment, and Ben grabbed some plates and a couple more beers. He took off his coat and took a baggy out of his side pocket. He pulled out some rolling papers and went to work at twisting up a joint. Marcie was relieved; they needed to break their sullen moods. She hit the joint, inhaled deeply, and then laid her head on his shoulder. Benjamin rubbed Marcie’s thigh through her cords, thinking what a great story, this might just actually work. It had been a long time since he’d seen any action. He looked at her eyes, her pale creamy skin and said, “Gorgeous.”

  “What?” Marcie’s nose crinkled up as Ben placed his hands on her face.

  “I said, you’re gorgeous, absolutely breathtaking!”

  Discoveries

  Chapter 10

  Walter lifted the rock and retrieved the key, then walked through the hallway and flopped down on the leather sofa. Not feeling as well as usual, Walter picked up the remote and strummed through the channels. He’d noticed his hands were swollen that morning, along with his feet. He felt dizzy and decided to get some orange juice out of the fridge. There were a good five hours before he had to head to the soup kitchen, and he needed a nap.

  Along the mantle, he noticed a picture of Josh. There was a studio portrait of both the children with their parents. Walter peered into the eyes of Josh’s father. What a sad situation, thought Walter, to be so young and lose your father. The man looked friendly and he had a kindness in his eyes. Since the startle of Josh’s first visit, Walter had twice now seen the boy. It was after he came home from school in the evenings. On one of his visits, Josh brought him a snack and they sat and chatted about heaven and what John and Ruthie were doing. Walter remembered his little hand reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out two very smashed fig cookie bars. Walter didn’t hesitate to shove them in his mouth and thank the little guy. Walter’s thoughts travelled back to that day and the conversation.

  “Hey Walter, whatcha doing?” He had said as he held out the cookies.

  “Thinking too much Josh, what are you doing?”

  “I wanted to come see you and Jackie.” His hair was a rumpled mess and his face was rosy from the wind.

  Walter chewed the fig bar and looked at the small boy’s excited face. “Well, come on, you can talk to her.”

  Josh sat by Jackie’s cage and peered in, “Hello Jackie, it’s me, Josh, remember me?” The bird cooed and did a faithful hop around the cage as Josh giggled.

  “Where’s your mom, Josh? Does she know where you are?” Walter wanted to make sure Josh had not talked about their previous meeting.

  “She’s studying. But she can always look out the back kitchen doors and keep an eye on me. That’s what she does, plus she’s always got homework and anyways she lets me ride my bike back here all the time cause I’m bigger now. See?” He stood up as tall as he could and mustered up a look of adulthood.

  “I see, you are getting big.” Walter chuckled at the boy’s personality.

  “I can count to a hundred! Do you want to hear?”

  “Not right now Josh, I have to get going.”

  “When are you going?”

  “Soon Josh. I will be going home to see my grandchildren and you sure have made me miss them.”

  “Oh,” Josh crinkled his nose and thought about how he had just met Walter and Jackie and how he really wanted him to stay. “Will you come back sometime?” Josh asked.

  Walter didn’t know how to respond and felt it best to change the topic. ”I have to go into town now Josh. You run along home and back to your yard. It will be very dark soon. Your mom will be looking for you.”

  “Okay,” Josh hung his head and told the bird bye, then waved at Walter as he made his way back down the trail. He had such great spunk considering all he’d been through thought Walter.

  He knew he was asking for trouble, but truth was the kid had lifted his spirits a bit. After conversing with Josh, Walter missed his grandchildren something terrible and wanted more than anything to be home again. He snapped out of his daydreaming and sat the picture frame back on the mantle and eyed the telephone. He wondered if Brenda still had the same number. He picked up the phone and dialed the operator. “Yes, I’d like to make a collect call to a Brenda King.”

  “City and state?” The operator took his information and said, in her pleasant phone voice. “One moment, please.”

  Walter heard the rings and then his daughter’s voice, “Hello.”

  “Collect call from Walter Kendal, will you accept the charges?” Walter heard the phone click and then the friendly operator’s voice, “I’m sorry did you want to try your call again? We seem to have been disconnected.”

  “No, that’s okay.” Walter laid the phone in its cradle, “disconnected?” He flicked through the TV channels once more.

  “Sonja Smith, come on down. You are the next contestant on the Price Is Right!” Bob Barker smiled cheekily, “Welcome Sonja.” Two models in bikinis stood next to two Jet Ski’s, their manicured fingernails and slender hands, brushed across the bright blue items. Walter shifted on the sofa, oblivious to the models that smiled at him from the television set. All he saw was a picture of his daughter and a far off voice saying, “Hello. Hello.” Walter couldn’t take it anymore; he needed to get home. Maybe his son would forgive him, treat him differently.

  He walked to Desiree’s bedroom, opened the closet, and picked out a pair of navy blue dress slacks size 34 waist. A little loose now thought Walter, but that had been his size before he’d left. He chose a black pair of dress shoes, a pinstriped oxford shirt, dress tie and a matching belt. Walter peered inside the shoes. It looked like a 10 and a half, a little big for Walter, but nothing a couple pair of socks wouldn’t fix. He ran the shower and looked through the medicine cabinet for some shaving cream. He was in luck. It looked as if this lady had kept everything he thought, as he la
thered up his full beard. Walter showered and combed his hair back then put it in a rubber band behind his neck. At first, glance it looked as if he’d just had it freshly trimmed. He splashed on some after-shave lotion and wadded his old belongings in a trash bag. Thirty minutes later, Walter peered into the mirror at his reflection and saw a man who’d been hiding for way too long . . .

  *****

  Desiree picked up the phone in mid-ring, “Bailsman, Friedman, and Stiltz, how may I direct your call?”

  “Ms. Desiree Levite, please.”

  “This is she speaking. How can I assist you?”

  “Yes, this is Mrs. Platt, Josh’s teacher. We’ve got him down in the office. He’s complaining about his stomach and he feels a little warm. I had the nurse take a look at him.”

  “Oh, I see, well thank you, Mrs. Platt, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She made a quick call to her grandmother to let her know she was leaving early and then headed for the school.

  All that bike riding in the cold air, thought Desiree, and I have class tonight, besides my hair appointment. She shoveled through the mass of children lined up for recess and made her way to the sick room. Josh was doubled over moaning, his hands holding his stomach. This better not be one of your pranks, she thought.

  “Hey Josh, what’s the matter?”

  “Oh, my tummy hurts so bad!”

  Desiree smoothed his hair back and placed her hand on his forehead. “You do feel clammy. Come on baby, let’s go home and put you to bed.”

  The nurse smiled then patted Josh on the head while Desiree signed the check-out sheet. She guessed she’d have to miss class. By the time she picked up Tabitha from her grandmother’s and called the pediatrician, her evening would be full. She arrived home ready to get Josh in bed and make her phone calls. Tabitha was carrying her bags and Desiree had Josh’s heavy little body slung over her shoulder. It took her a minute to get the door unlocked, balancing Josh and her purse.

  Desiree hadn’t noticed Walter until he sprang upward, his face contorted with disbelief. Desiree let out a heart-wrenching scream that sent both children in a run, blaring as well, then Josh heard the man’s voice.

  “It’s okay it’s me, Walter. Don’t be frightened, Josh.”

  Josh looked confused -- he had Walter’s voice, but he didn’t appear anything like the Santa Claus looking man Josh had befriended and he was wearing his father’s clothes. Josh looked at the man, studying his eyes trying to make sure it was Walter, but Josh’s skin was bumpy and chills were running over him. He felt a wave flutter in his stomach. Josh felt saliva rising, filling his mouth, and then the vomit spewing all over the living room rug. Desiree stood motionlessly; she felt like she was in a state of shock. She didn’t know whether to help Josh or run to the phone and call the police, plus she couldn’t figure out how this man knew her son’s name.

  “Mom, it’s okay, it’s my friend Walter,” Josh stated as he spit and gagged over the puddle in the rug. At this point, Walter was already scrambling to the back door running. His hands and feet were still swollen and he was out of breath. He was halfway into the wooded area behind Desiree’s house when he fell, hitting his head on a large rock. The next thing Walter remembered was the ambulance driver putting him on the stretcher and raising him into the back of the van. There were police cars lined down the street, and Desiree was holding Tabitha, crying and screaming, “What has this pervert done to my son? I need my little boy checked out. This man knew his name for God sakes! He could be some kind of child molester!”

  Awakenings

  Chapter 11

  Walter awoke with a stabbing pain behind his eyes and a throbbing in his head that he hadn’t felt since his younger days. Not that he drank much, but it reminded him of a bad hangover. He blinked several times and tried to focus on his surroundings. There was a beeping sound and several electrodes stuck to his chest. He could faintly make out a figure sitting opposite the room. It was a large police officer.

  His eyes were widening now, and it was all coming back in pieces, like a slideshow. Clips of Josh and Desiree, then of him running through the kitchen and out the back door. I must have fallen, thought Walter. He moved his hand over his chest and up to the place on his head and touched something that felt like a giant mushy plum.

  The police officer looked up from his Field and Stream magazine; he had a crew cut and black shades propped on top his head. Although it was winter, he looked as if he had just come from the tropics. He walked rather stiffly and unnaturally, almost robotic and then in a cocky tone he looked at Walter and said, “Are you alert?” Walter shook his head as to nod yes and wished he hadn’t.

  “I asked you a question old man, do you understand me?”

  “Yes, sir,” Walter said with a sinking feeling in his chest that had nothing to do with the EKG machine he was hooked up to. And then Walter heard words he had only heard watching crime shows. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right . . .” his words became barely audible, then floated off into the distance.

  The police officer then turned around and walked robotically back to his chair, picked up his jacket from the chair next to him and removed a can of Copenhagen. He snapped the can between his fingers three times, pinched a wad between his bottom lip and gum, picked up his Field and Stream magazine and proceeded to act as if Walter weren’t there.

  Walter’s mind began to catapult backward remembering more and more. He touched his smooth-shaven face, so close to new beginnings he thought. Then he wondered what would become of Jackie. Funny how that bird had become a part of him. Jackie knew every secret he had and all his inner fears. Walter had confided in her every trepidation, worry, and loss he’d felt since the death of his beloved wife.

  Walter knew now he had far bigger troubles to overcome than his bird. The police officer was reason enough for him to wonder what would happen now. He knew he was guilty of breaking and entering, but other than that he wasn’t sure. He wondered if Josh had retrieved Jackie or if the police had taken her. Poor Josh, what a great little guy. Walter thought Josh must have missed his father about as bad as he missed Ruthie.

  The officer picked up a Styrofoam cup, spit twice, and walked to the door of the corridor, “Excuse me miss.” The nurse, a young girl extremely plain with an almost Rapunzel rope of hair braided down her back, turned towards the officer. “I’m Officer O’Connell, and I was wondering since he is alert now, Mr. Kendall that is. I need an approximate release date, as close as you can get. I mean, besides his head, he’s alright?” He leaned in closer to the woman and whispered, “That there is probably one of the worst child molesters I’ve seen; can’t wait to get him in a cell if you know what I mean.”

  Walter heard the words “child molester” and felt nauseated. A sharp pain jolted through his temple. Oh no, he certainly hoped they didn’t think he could ever hurt Josh! Walter remembered the last words he’d spoken, it’s okay Josh, it’s me Walter. What a foolish thing for me to do, he thought and now his mother is probably worried sick.

  “O’Connell was it? “

  “Yes, ma’am”

  “Well no, officer, his heart is fine but his blood sugar levels are off the charts and we’re still waiting for the CAT scan results of his head, not to mention the vitamin deficiencies.”

  O’Connell picked up his cup, spit twice, reached his fingers in between his cheek and gum and with a flinging motion plopped it into his cup. Some of the excess prune looking juice slid down the side of the cup. The nurse looked repulsed and thought about the police man, “You are probably the biggest child molester this side of Jackson County.” She walked to Walter and asked him if he needed something for pain.

  Before Walter could reply the officer interrupted sharply, “I need an ETA,” he said sternly looking at her with a controlling stare.

  “Excuse me,” she glared back, her eyes lifted with disgust.

  “I gotta call the captain a
nd give him an ETA, estimated time of his arrival. “

  “As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know first,” She spoke to him as if she was speaking to a three-year-old and wondered how he managed to remember letters and codes like ETA.

  Janice walked to the cart inspecting the bags of glucose, potassium, and B12 that were feeding through Walter’s veins. She grabbed a cup and filled it with water from the pitcher on the stand next to his bed and after helping him wash down a pain pill, she tucked him in gently and patted his hand. “I bet your noggin is killing you.” He was so thin and so pale, he reminded her of the homeless she saw in the winter months. If he hadn’t been dressed so nicely, she’d have bet on it. Janice eyed the officer coldly and left the room.

  Jackie’s New Home

  Chapter 12

  Josh felt better after he’d thrown up, at least his stomach did. His mom kept asking him questions about Walter; she kept acting like Walter was a bad man. Josh was still confused to how Walter found his house and how he had looked so different from the night before. Josh had been jumbled up at the voice; it was Walter’s but it didn’t match the face. But then he had peered into his eyes intently and he knew it was Walter. Walters’s eyes had a twinkle in them that made Josh feel warm and safe.

  He had been a little upset that Walter was wearing his father’s suit. Josh remembered his father getting dressed in it for church. It was Easter Sunday and Josh’s mother had bought him a matching suit. It was a nice, blue one. Josh wore a black bow tie with his. His father had on the special tie he and mommy had picked out for him. It had sailboats drifting on the water. Walter had the same tie on, tucked neatly in a Windsor knot. But deep down in Josh’s heart, he knew Walter was probably just borrowing it, after all, he had snuck into Walter’s campground? He was probably just waiting for him to see if it was okay to borrow it. Josh remembered that his children were mad at him, and he probably just wanted to look nice. Then his thoughts flashed to Jackie. Who would take care of her now that Walter was gone? Josh could picture the bird all alone cooing in the darkness. He would have to ask his mother. Josh pulled back the covers and crept through the hallway. He could hear voices coming from the kitchen. As he tiptoed, peering around the corner wall there were three police officers sitting at the kitchen table.