The Many and the One

by Donald Wells

  “I have something to tell you that you might not want to hear, it’s just that, well, I’m hungry. Could we eat first and then bed?”

  “No problem honey, I snuck up here two days ago and stocked the place with goodies.”

  “I’ll make it up to you later Boomer.”

  “Actually I’m pretty hungry myself, c’mon.”

  * * *

  After raiding the kitchen they sit on the living room floor and eat in front of the fire. Lindsay runs her hands through brown fur.

  “Is this a real bearskin rug?”

  “Yeah, who needs a bed?”

  Lindsay giggles. “You mean right here? Oh how sexy, let’s eat faster.”

  They spend the night atop the rug, not lost amongst the sensual tangling of each other, but lost in conversation. They talk about the future, about what life would be like after high school.

  “If I do well this year I think I might get a scholarship.” Jason says. “But what are your plans? I think you should try and be a writer. That short story you wrote about the little girl’s dog getting hit by a car had people crying. Oh God, I just thought of something, that wasn’t about you was it? You weren’t that little girl were you?”

  Lindsay lies down and rests her head in Jason’s lap. “No, I’ve never had a dog. Sometimes ideas just come to me. Writing is almost like acting, you get to be other people and do things you could never do, except on paper.”

  “You’re a great writer. You shouldn’t waste a gift like that.”

  “My dad says he’ll pay for community college, but you know, at one time Emily and I were going to go to New York City together and try to get famous.”

  “As an actress?”

  “Yeah, I like it, but it’s just a dream.”

  “I had a dream come true once.”

  “You did Boomer, what was it?”

  “You honey, it was you.”

  * * *

  They talk for hours about trivial things and troubling things. She tells him about her fear for her parents’ marriage, of her father’s affair, revealing to Jason that this was why Derek’s infidelity hurt so much. Derek knew how she hated such behavior, but risked losing her anyway.

  He tells her he worries about his father’s health. Adam recently suffered what the doctors termed, “A minor cardiac event,” and had cut back his work schedule at the family’s construction business. Jason tells her though, that he has seen his father wince in pain at times while exerting himself, and it worries him.

  Afterward, they speak of happier things, such as his mother’s belief that Angie and her boyfriend David might soon be engaged.

  They talk and laugh and touch all through the night, and their bond grows stronger.

  During a rare moment of silence, Lindsay glances out a window and is shocked to see a hint of sunlight brightening the pane.

  She points to the window. “It can’t be morning already, can it?”

  Jason looks up at the clock sitting on the mantel.

  “It’s 6:51.”

  “Wow, we talked all night. I’m sorry Boomer, I promised you fun in bed and all you got was to hear me whine about my family and things.”

  “Honey you know we’re not just about sex. All I need is to be with you.”

  “I love you Jason.” Lindsay says, quietly, saying in words for the first time what she has felt in her heart for weeks.

  “I love you too Lindsay, I always have.”

  Jason looks into her startlingly blue eyes, and for a moment, for the briefest of moments, the purpose of his life is undeniably clear to him—He is her love.

  They rise from the rug, and after taking a blanket from the hall closet, they venture outside into a bracing chill.

  Jason guides Lindsay to a granite bench that looks out over the sea.

  They snuggle together inside the protection of the blanket and watch the sun ascend over the ocean, amid hungry bouts of kissing.

  As sunlight warms the frost-covered grass, a fog rises up to surround them. They look down into the mist with the ocean below and it’s as if they’re floating on a cloud above the Atlantic.

  “Jason it’s so beautiful.” Lindsay whispers, filled with wonder. He kisses her and once more they profess their love.

  They will remember these moments for the rest of their lives. The morning they floated above the ocean on a cloud, encased, in a true and perfect love.

  * * *

  After giving Jason as big a kiss as anyone could ever possibly receive, Lindsay sneaks back into her house.

  Jason waits in front and looks up at the second floor’s hallway window.

  When Lindsay appears and gives him an okay signal, he waves goodbye and pulls away from the curb. It’s 8:02 a.m. and he’s going to be caught sneaking in if he doesn’t get home soon.

  * * *

  As he arrives home, Jason lets the car coast into the driveway. His mother is preparing breakfast in the kitchen by now and so the only way to slip in is the front door. As he reaches the steps the door opens and there in bathrobe and slippers stands his father.

  I am so screwed. Jason thinks, as his father glowers at him.

  The car keys, along with the keys to the cabin hang from Jason’s hand, daggers in the heart of any proclamation of innocence he might have offered.

  From behind his father comes the voice of his mother.

  “Honey, why are you standing in the door like that? You’re letting all the heat out.”

  Adam glares at Jason for a full five seconds before answering his wife.

  “I’m waiting for Jason to bring in the paper.” He says, and points out the location of the newspaper against a tree.

  Jason sighs with relief and, after snatching up the paper, heads inside.

  While he’s on his way to the kitchen, to discreetly re-hang the keys, Adam whispers to him. “We’ll talk later.”

  Jason grins. “Thanks dad.”

  Adam laughs to himself while shaking his head. “That boy,”

  * * *

  Derek is reading the newspaper when Charlotte appears and smiles radiantly at him, while taking her place at the breakfast table.

  Derek flashes a weak smile and buries his head back in the paper.

  A large man with receding brown hair and deep-set eyes enters and grabs the Sports section off the table; he wears a chauffeur’s uniform.

  Derek scowls at him. “Buy your own damn paper McGee.”

  “Sure kid, Charlotte I’ll be outside in the limo whenever you’re ready to go shopping.”

  “That will be fine McGee.” Charlotte says.

  A moment later, Marta the maid enters the room carrying a silver carafe of coffee; as she’s leaving, she sends McGee a shy smile.

  “Another new maid Charlotte?” McGee asks. “What’s that, like the fifth one this year?”

  Charlotte sighs. “Competency in a maid is hard to find, but Marta seems adequate so far.”

  “Marta, eh? Charlotte I’ve changed my mind, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  Charlotte watches McGee leave. “Derek, are you still dating Emily Howard?”

  “Yes mother.” Not that it’s any of your business bitch.

  “I’m pleased; she’s so much nicer than that Lindsay girl you were dating. I told you she wasn’t right for you, too much mouth on that one. At any rate, you can do better than white trash from The Squares.”

  “Why do you hate Lindsay so much mother?”

  “She reminds me of someone I knew long ago.”

  “Who?”

  “Someone dead and buried,” Charlotte says, and gazes at her reflection in the carafe, for a brief moment she feels the oppressive heat of a cramped trailer and the constant ache of want.

  Derek says, “Lindsay’s not trash mother.” and Charlotte hears the anger in his voice.

  “Stay away from her Derek, do you understand me?”

  Derek answers through clenched teeth. “Yes mother,”

  Charlotte smiles, “That’s a good boy,�
��

  4

  The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas was a busy period for Jason. There were the usual demands of school, a part-time job, and of course, there was a woman to love, Lindsay Parker.

  Lindsay had been busy herself, juggling a hectic schedule of schoolwork, baby-sitting and rehearsals for the school play.

  She had gotten the lead again, this time playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Lindsay confessed to Jason that the singing made her nervous.

  Christmas Eve arrives, and with the holiday comes a break from the responsibilities of school and a chance to relax.

  They lie across her bed eating pizza, while discussing the movie they’re watching, a murder mystery that takes place at a snowbound ski lodge.

  Lindsay’s mouth widens into a knowing grin. “The husband is the murderer.”

  “He can’t be, the killer’s windbreaker was yellow and his is black.”

  “He’s wearing a reversible jacket, just now when the husband took cigarettes out of his inside pocket the lining was bright yellow, like the jacket the killer was wearing.”

  “You’re right, it was yellow. You know I saw it, but I didn’t notice.”

  “I read a lot of mysteries; I usually figure them out before the end too.”

  The doorbell rings. Lindsay gives Jason a peck on the cheek and heads downstairs.

  “That must be the package mom was expecting. I’ll sign for it and be right back.”

  Lindsay opens the front door and discovers Derek’s smiling face.

  “Hi baby, it’s been a long time.”

  Derek wears an Italian silk suit, dark blue, and a matching pair of handmade loafers. He is resplendent.

  Lindsay is taken aback and simply stands there speechless. In her left hand she clutches the two one-dollar bills her mother left for the deliveryman as a tip.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in? I’ve got something for you; it’s a Christmas present.”

  Lindsay is shaken awake by these words.

  “Derek, you’ve never bought anyone anything in your life; that would take away from you.”

  Derek sighs with a smile on his lips as he enters and closes the door.

  “Well, as a matter of fact, the gift I bring is knowledge, so we can both enjoy it at the same time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I thought you should know I saw Jason with another girl.”

  “You’re lying. You’re just jealous of Jason.”

  Derek steps closer to Lindsay; she’s leaning with her back against the wall, near the stairs. “I care about you Lindsay; I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  Lindsay gives him a disbelieving look. “Who was this girl you saw Jason with?”

  Derek hesitates for a moment, while thinking, Most guys cheat with the opposite of what they’ve got at home.

  “I don’t know who she was, but she was shorter than you, with dark hair, and sort of petite.”

  “Nice try Derek, but I don’t believe you, anything else?”

  “There is something else.”

  Lindsay folds her arms across her chest while sighing noisily. “What is it?”

  Derek places his arms on either side of Lindsay, trapping her against the wall.

  “I want you back.”

  “That’s never going to happen. I’m with Jason now and we’re in love.”

  “Jason’s cheating on you.”

  “No, you cheated on me, and with my best friend.”

  “Emily’s nothing. I fucked her, that’s all; she wasn’t going to replace you. Lindsay we’ve got a history, a future, baby don’t you remember what we were like together?”

  As Derek moves in to kiss her, Lindsay bends down lithely and escapes under his arms. “Jason!” She calls.

  A moment later, Jason arrives.

  “Derek? What the hell are you doing here?”

  “He came by to spread lies about you.” Lindsay says. “He also tried to kiss me.”

  Jason stands before Derek. “If you’re looking for pain you came to the right place.”

  Derek stares at Jason, disconcerted by the fact that the boy he used to call “squirt” is now as tall as he is. He points to a sprig of mistletoe hanging by the front door.

  “Whoa Reynolds, calm down, I was only trying to respect a holiday tradition.”

  Jason makes a face. “I don’t think you respect anyone or anything Stern.”

  “Well, a Merry Christmas to both of you,” Derek says. He opens the door to leave and then turns around. “Oh Jason, a word alone, please?”

  Jason joins him at the door and Derek leans in, whispering so Lindsay can’t hear.

  “Enjoy it while you can, Lindsay is mine and I’ll get her back, before long you’ll be just a memory.”

  “You’re already a memory, one Lindsay wants to forget.”

  Derek laughs. “Speaking of memories, remember Katie? Soon it’ll be déjà vu all over again.”

  Before Derek can react, Jason grabs him by the silk jacket and shoves him outside, slamming the door in his face, but through the door, Derek’s laughter can still be heard.

  Lindsay walks over and strokes Jason’s back. “What did he say that made you so angry?”

  “Just some crack about Katie,” Jason fumes.

  “Who, Katie McCall? Your old girlfriend?” She doesn’t have dark hair. Lindsay muses, as Derek’s poisonous words begin their work.

  “She dumped me for him years ago and he’s still rubbing it in.”

  Lindsay lays her head on his shoulder and looks up into his eyes.

  “You’ve still got me.”

  Jason kisses her, and after bending down, he throws her over his shoulder and carries her squealing with delight up to her bedroom.

  Christmas comes early at the Parker house.

  * * *

  Back on the last Saturday night of November, Jason and Lindsay were wandering the mall when Lindsay abruptly pulled him toward a display window. “Oh my God, Jason look at this!”

  The shop is a new toy store. Standing in the middle of the storefront’s glass window is the biggest teddy bear Jason has ever seen. The bear stands with a honey pot between its legs, all brown fur with smiling glass eyes and a bright gold T-shirt. Emblazoned across the shirt in red letters is one word: BOOMER.

  As he stands next to it in the store, Jason guesses the bear to be at least eight-feet high and as big around as a good-sized desk.

  Lindsay’s eyes fill with delight at the monstrous toy. “It’s huge and its name is Boomer, oh God, how much must something like this cost?”

  “It’s actually not for sale.” Says a voice from behind,

  They turn to find a tall, skinny man with thinning brown hair. He’s wearing a blue vest with a nametag proclaiming him to be Assistant Manager Dave Riggins.

  “Why isn’t it for sale?” Jason asks.

  “Well ya see ‘Boomer the Bear’ is our mascot, kinda like the giraffe the other guys use.” Says Riggins. “Besides, this two hundred pound brute would cost over a thousand dollars, who could afford it? Sorry,”

  Lindsay caresses Boomer’s giant button nose. “Darn Jason, I’d love to have this bear, you know how much I love stuffed animals.”

  “Love them? Lindsay I think you’re addicted to them.”

  “This would be an overdose. My father would have a fit seeing this huge thing come into the house. Let’s go. If I can’t have it I don’t want to look at it, it only makes me sad.”

  * * *

  After seeing how much Lindsay wanted that bear, Jason knew he had to get it for her. The next day he returned to the store on a mission. There was no sign of Assistant Manager Dave Riggins. There was another man there now. This one didn’t wear a blue vest, but wore a three-piece-suit and had an air of authority. He was on the phone and he was upset.

  “What the hell do you mean he charges fifteen hundred, for one lousy mural? That’s ridiculous. Why does it cost so much for this Picasso to paint a few
kids playing with toys? All right, I’ll get back to you, yeah, goodbye.”

  The man hangs up, he then notices Jason. “Hi, can I help you?”

  Jason smiles and offers him his hand. “Maybe we can help each other.”

  The man’s name is Mr. Spencer, the Regional Manager for all eleven Playtime Toy Stores. Jason demonstrates his talent by drawing a little girl playing with a doll in ballpoint pen on the blank wall.

  Spencer nods his head approvingly. “Kid you’re unbelievable, I can barely sign my name with a pen and you draw a masterpiece with one, the job’s yours.”

  The deal they strike is this: One giant Boomer the Bear for one giant forty-foot long mural. The mural has to be completed before Christmas and can only be done after store hours because of the customer traffic.

  “Think you can do it kid?” Spencer asks.

  “Just get that bear ready.” Jason says.

  Spencer shrugs. “Hell, I’ll be glad to get rid of it. We’ve got nine more taking up storage space in our warehouse.”

  * * *

  Jason and his friend Paul had taken jobs loading trucks after school, to earn money for Christmas. Following this, Jason would work on the mural until midnight, after that he would jog home and collapse into bed.

  He completes it, shortly before Christmas. The mural is a wonder of brilliant colors and multiple images portraying children at play, and is virtually hypnotic in its attraction. Jason had never worked on this grand a scale before, but once involved, he discovered he possessed an aptitude for working as a muralist and became engrossed in the work.

  With the mural finished, Jason again talked with the Regional Manager.

  “Damn kid, you’re a regular Rembrandt. It’s a masterpiece!” Spencer hands him an envelope. “Here, you deserve this.”

  “A hundred dollars? What’s this for?”

  “It’s a bonus, the mural looks great and it brings in foot traffic like nothing else I’ve seen. People stare at it for minutes at a time, there are so many little details in it; it’s fantastic.”

  “Thanks Mr. Spencer, if you need any more murals, keep me in mind.”

  “I will Jason.”

  A chunk of the bonus was eaten up just getting the bear out of the mall on Christmas Eve. Jason rented a truck and Paul agreed to keep it at his house, with the bear safely locked inside.