by Michael Dunn
Chapter Twenty-Five: JP Makes a Deal
May 24, 1971
After school, JP hung out at his usual marked spot under the bleachers behind the football field, smoking a cigarette, leaning against one of the metal support beams. He waited, but he usually didn’t have to wait long. It was a good job – paid well, short hours, flexible schedule, and demand always outweighed supply. Somebody almost always wanted what JP had, and he always had the good stuff, but waiting was the hardest part, because he couldn’t exactly advertise.
In a few short weeks he would graduate high school, and before summer’s end, he would be going to the army and would leave Bestiavir forever. He hoped Tony was wrong about the around the clock surveillance of the recruits, because the military was the right choice for him. Although, he was almost certain he was going to Vietnam, he wasn’t going to be a grunt like Larry. JP was too smart for that. Since he had no hang ups about killing, and history showed every military needed men like him, JP was sure the military would make better use of him and his talents. He might even be considered a hero, and that thought made JP smile. The only way he would ever return is to rub it in their (wet) noses.
There would be a few things JP would miss about this place. He would miss hanging out with Tony, and he already missed riding in Tony’s deceased car. He would miss Suzie too, and he was thankful he didn’t have to put her down.
JP understood why it was given to him to put down Suzie if she couldn’t handle her new life, and not some other man like Rene Naschy. It wasn’t because JP was growing in Bordeaux’s heart. It was because JP was the most emotionally vested in seeing Tony and Suzie succeed. Suzie’s training was coming along remarkably well, thanks to Tony’s extra tutelage, proving the young mechanic was a much better teacher than anyone realized. For that, JP took a mental sigh of relief, because that would mean the community would survive while he was away, and Suzie would make a fine addition to their people.
JP loved his community and would do whatever he could do to protect it. When he led the attack on the VFW, it was to protect community. When he and Tony beat up the football players who were picking on Robbie Thompson, it was to protect the relations with the neighboring Indians.
What bothered him the most was his help went unnoticed. They had forgotten it was he who donated the cash when Jenny Roulet needed braces when her family couldn’t afford it. It was he who made sure the parents of the little kids had enough money for vaccinations, and if anyone dared to threaten or intimidate anyone from the community, it was he who struck in kind. When Benny and Larry heard Albert Mullins talking to his best friend about his father’s impending hunting trip, JP came up with a plan of attack, but JP wasn’t thanked for his defense of the community. Instead, he was beaten and scorned.
Two hairy boys, who looked and dressed liked they belonged in Haight-Ashbury instead of rural New Mexico, approached with caution toward JP. It was no secret he disliked hippies and even joked sometimes he ate their kind, but these boys didn’t care about his beliefs or politics. They wanted what JP had to offer and to walk away unhurt. However, despite all the rumors of JP’s willingness to crack skulls, when it came to business, JP was the most amiable of professionals.
JP nodded with a large, merchant smile, “Hey.”
“Hey,” they said as they came closer, slowly, and ready to run away if anything went wrong. “What do ya got?”
“What do you need?” JP’s smile was devilish.
“The same as before.” The boys didn’t trust JP’s wide friendly grin, but he did have the best stuff.
JP nodded and handed the boys a baggie, and they handed him some cash. JP made a quick count, nodded, and said, “Thank you. Please come again.”
The hippie boys exhaled a sigh of relief, then walked away as fast as they could, almost running, but they were in no real danger. JP liked selling to hippies, because he believed most of them were useless and were looking at a short life anyway.
After a couple more quick sales, JP walked toward the Tastee Freeze where two boys from the Reservation were sitting outside on a picnic table. When JP came by, they came to attention, ready to flee. JP put a hand up motioning them to remain calm. He wasn’t there to cause trouble.
The boys were sophomores, Chris Runningfoot and James Whitefeather, and were scared to death of JP, even more scared than the hippie boys, because they knew what JP was underneath, and even though they knew they were protected from him and his kind, these boys were nonetheless afraid. Because it was part of the boys’ heritage and traditions, and because they weren’t technically part of the United States, those boys grew marijuana and mescaline on their land openly. Although this helped strengthen relations between the two communities, neither the Navajo community leaders, nor Robert Bordeaux, would be too happy if they knew about this arrangement.
“Hey guys,” JP said with a wide smile, lighting up a cigarette, and sitting next to them.
The Navajo boys said nothing, only stared at him, trying not to tremble.
JP took out a wad of cash and gave each of them a ten.
“What’s this for?” James asked. “You already paid.”
“You guys do good work,” JP said, exhaling smoke. “I want to keep you guys happy to ensure the stuff keeps coming. If that’s not enough, here.” He dropped two five dollar bills on the table.
“You guys keep me happy, I’ll keep you rich.” JP turned to leave, because he couldn’t be seen talking to them for too long.
“Promise?” James asked at his own risk.
JP stopped and tossed away his cigarette. “We’ve been doing this for almost four years now, and unlike other people of my color, when have I ever lied to you, huh? When have I ever made a deal with you and came up short? I’m doing well, and I wanted to share the wealth with you. If you guys are having a problem with me paying you too much for your services, just let me know.”
Both boys vigorously shook their heads, and snagged the cash before JP changed his mind. “That’s okay. Thank you, JP.” James Whitefeather said.
JP nodded. “Cool. Just get me more of what I need as soon as possible. Those hippie kids like tripping their balls off almost daily.” Then JP got up from the table, and headed toward home.
“Hey, JP,” Chris Runningfoot said as the older boy started to walk away. “I got my tribal name last week. Wanna know what it is?”
“No,” JP said, then kept walking.
As JP passed Picardo’s Diner, he didn’t look toward it, just kept walking, because he never wanted to go in there ever again. He hadn’t stepped in that diner since he was ten-years-old, when he thought he might have met his uncle.
2
JP remembered sitting at the counter while his mother worked her shift. It was early afternoon and it was “the dead spot” as his mother called that time of day, the hours after lunch, but before the dinner crowd arrived.
“Honey, I’m going to be in the back. Just yell if you need anything.” Roxanne said.
The boy nodded.
There was only JP and an older man at the other end of the counter. JP was doing his homework when he noticed the older man staring at him.
The older man got up and sat on the stool next to JP. The boy wasn’t scared, just curious, because this older man, in his late forties with thinning, white blond hair, looked a little bit like him.
“I’m sorry for staring, little man, but when I saw you, I thought I saw a ghost.”
JP said nothing and stared at the man’s light blue eyes.
“I thought you were my nephew. Who, who is your father?”
JP shrugged. “I don’t have one.” He wasn’t ashamed when he said it. He was stating a fact.
The man nodded. “How old are you?”
“Ten.”
“Was that your mother?” The man pointed toward the back.
JP nodded.
“What’s your name, son?”
“My mom says I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”
The man nodded. “Good advice. My name is Edward Naughton. I used to live around here up until a few years ago. My whole family did. When my nephew, Johnny, went to Korea about ten years ago, well, he wasn’t there long before… he wasn’t ever coming back. Y’see, Johnny was the shining star of our family. He almost took the Bestiavir football team to the championship. We were all so proud of him when he went into the Marines. When he… when we heard he wasn’t coming back, the family fell apart. We had to get out of here. I came back today, because I went to my friend’s funeral. When I came in here, I thought you were my nephew, Johnny.” Edward Naughton paused and studied the boy. “What’s your name?”
“John-Paul Grenier, but everyone calls me JP.”
“I like John-Paul better,” Edward said. “Do you know who your father is?”
“No.”
“Have you ever met him?”
JP shook his head.
“Have you ever heard of him?”
JP shook his head.
“Can I help you?”
Both Edward and JP whipped their heads around to see Roxanne Grenier standing behind the counter.
“I didn’t hear you come in you. You were as quiet as a mouse.”
“I wouldn’t say mouse,” Roxanne said, looking stern and protective.
“I meant no harm, ma’am. I was just telling this boy he looks like my nephew.” Then revelation washed over his face and Edward looked at Roxanne. “I remembered Johnny saying there was a waitress who had a crush on him before he left.”
Edward looked at JP and then Roxanne.
“Were you the woman in the bathroom stall?”
Roxanne’s eyes flashed yellow, and she said in barely human growling voice, “You should go.”
Edward Naughton nodded, backed off the stool slowly, and ran out of the restaurant, and left town, never to return.
Roxanne stared sheepishly at her son, and then disappeared into the back.
It wasn’t long before the story got around how JP was conceived by a former teen football hero in the women’s bathroom in the diner. The kids laughed at JP behind his back. Even at that age, JP and Tony were already noticing other kids didn’t like them very much, and this story only made things worse.
One kid who thought the story was hilarious was uncouth enough to ask JP about it.
“Hey JP, I heard your mother was on the menu at Picardo’s.”
“Leave us alone,” Ten-year-old Tony Brandner said. “We didn’t do anything to you.”
The kid was fourteen-year-old Richard Gray, who liked to pick on JP and Tony on the way to school. Because Richard’s dad beat him regularly, Richard felt the need to pass down the love to the younger kids, especially the ones from the trailer park. It was okay to torture them, because there was no consequence for harassing the trailer park kids.
“Hey, you little freak,” Richard said, pushing the little white-blond kid. “I heard your mom was on the menu at Picardo’s. I wonder if your mother will serve me in the bathroom instead of at the counter.”
That was when JP snapped, turned around, and slugged Richard in the nose. Everyone was stunned by that action, including JP. At fourteen, Richard was already six-feet-tall and played defensive end on the junior varsity football team. JP looked surprised that he hit Richard as well, but he knew if he didn’t continue and follow through, Richard would beat the shit out of him.
Richard cupped his nose and blood ran between his fingers. “Oh God, my nose!” Richard screamed. “You little shit! I’m gonna…”
JP punched Richard in the groin and the large football player doubled over on the side of the dusty highway. As Richard screamed and began crying, JP kicked him in the chest and then got on top of Richard and started pummeling Richard’s face with his fists, crying as he beat the older boy. JP had none of his abilities yet, but he was as strong as any healthy ten-year-old boy.
“Laughing now, asshole? Still think it’s funny?” JP asked Richard.
“Enough!” Tony shouted as he, Benny, Larry, and a couple of Richard’s friends pulled JP off Richard.
“JP, settle down.” Tony said, his arms placed on JP’s upper arms.
JP seethed for a bit, but calmed down.
“C’mon, let’s get to school,” Tony said.
Benny walked passed Richard. “He looks like he needs an ambulance.”
“One of his friends will call,” Tony said, keeping his eyes on JP. “Come on, let’s get to class.”
The boys never had a problem with Richard again. The bloody teen didn’t need an ambulance, since Richard suffered only scrapes and bruises. Richard’s family didn’t press charges, because they didn’t want to admit their son was beaten up by a ten-year-old.
3
JP sang the new Black Sabbath song, “Paranoid,” to himself as counted his cash. The extra money helped pay for the gas in Tony’s new car and pay for Kirsten’s love. Ed Tallfeather had sold Tony an abandoned pickup truck from his garage when Tony’s insurance check arrived. With that, he was content for the time being, but he was too enterprising to be content for long. He was thinking of expanding his operation, but he knew he didn’t want to be a dealer for much longer. It was too risky and often came with a jail sentence, especially for someone from a lower social class. A blemish on his record for dealing could cause obstacles for his future plans, including joining the army.
Although, he could die just like everyone else in Vietnam, he wasn’t too afraid of that, and barely thought of that as a possibility. He believed there were several opportunities for profit in an army during war. Maybe someday he would come back to the trailer park and make sure his people were still alive and well, but there had to be more than this type of living, if you could call it living. Surviving, sure, but he would hardly call it living. There had to be a better way to make sure his people thrived while not living in the appearance of poverty. The anonymity of the impoverished may have been necessary in the previous decades, but the world was changing, as he remembered the old riddle of where was the best place to hide a book – in a library. Simple and obvious, because those are often overlooked.
Then JP passed a new subdivision and would have never noticed it if he had not almost tripped on the new uneven cement. Looking up, he understood. In front of him were the new subdivisions popping up not just in Bestiavir, but everywhere else as he had heard. He gasped at the marvel in front of him. They were nice houses in a secluded community and in plain sight, where they would still be respectable and still hidden. Bordeaux would never go for it, even if he knew, because he was too old, too set in his ways. His way worked very well for his time, but it would not be long before his time had passed and that their people, like every creature, had to adapt or die.
JP could see this was where the future of his people was going, and saw it as clearly as Tony saw how much fun that wreck of the ’57 Chevy would be in Lammy’s junkyard years ago.
When JP got back to the trailer park, he wandered into the woods to bury the rest of his stash. He buried it in case his mother ever decided to look under his bed, which never happened, but he couldn’t take that chance.
After his stash was good and buried, he had to take a leak. As he was relieving himself on a nearby tree, JP smelled something in the woods, something putrid, smelling of decay and disease. He turned around when he heard a loud roar behind him, and although startled at first, he wanted to zip up and attack the monster in the woods, but instead had a better idea.
The monster in the woods saw him and starting running toward him. JP laughed and gave chase, running out of the woods before the beast could get near him. The beast stayed in the woods as JP ran out back to his trailer.
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Monster in the Woods
May 27, 1971
Tony was waiting for Suzie once her daily exercises were over late Saturday afternoon when dusk was not far off. When she saw him, she ran out and embraced him, but Tony had a troubled smile on his face. He had just gotten off work. She could smell
the fresh grease still on him no matter how hard he tried to wash it off.
“What’s wrong?” Suzie asked.
“We have a special… test for you,” Tony said. He was holding a plastic gallon jug of water.
Those words made Suzie’s heart stop beating for a second. “Oh?”
“You brought the extra clothes like I suggested?”
Suzie nodded, trying not to shake. She had the idea whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be fun nor easy. “They’re in the car.”
“You should get them.”
Suzie walked to her car and brought out the brown paper sack. She was terrified and wanted to cry.
“Where are we going?”
Tony pointed a finger to the woods behind the trailer park, and Suzie gasped, dropping the paper sack.
“In there?” Suzie asked, nearly trembling. Her childhood fear realized.
Like everyone in Bestiavir, Suzie had grown up afraid of those woods, because that was where the Beast of Bestiavir lived. She peered toward the woods that seemed to go on forever and even though it was late-afternoon in late May, the deeper Suzie looked into the woods, the darker it became. Local fairy tales recounted this was where children were taken and then eaten. This was where the Beast of Bestiavir lived and this was where Suzie’s imagined version of hell was located.
“What’s in there?”
“You have to find the monster in the woods.”
“The what?”
“Then…” Tony sighed as he said it. “You have to bring it out to me. Come on, let’s go.” They walked hand-in-hand stopping at the edge of the woods. Tony let go of her hand and said, “I can’t go in there with you. You have to go alone.”
Cautiously, Suzie took three steps in the woods and turned around to see Tony standing there, not moving. Suzie looked at him curiously.
“Do I… do I have to?”
Tony nodded. “Yes.”
Suzie took a deep breath and headed into the woods. The woods were thick, dark as the tall trees nearly blocked out the sun.
