"Here ye go," Billy said in a Scots accent. "Emergency tool kit; dinna leave home without it."
Plop, plop, scoot and the non-automatic adjustable seat was modified to fit the mountain-sized man.
Billy noticed the raggedy shoes Benji was wearing, held together with duct tape that looked like it was ready to lose its hold. Benji noticed his observation but didn't respond to it. After all, it wasn't as if he could do anything about his shabby attire. And, he knew Billy wasn't judging him, just being a detective, taking in the physical aspects of his new acquaintance.
"Here we are," Billy said as he pulled up behind the red '64 Dodge pickup. He exhaled sharply. "Just where they said it'd be."
Benji extricated himself from the front seat, stood beside the car, and arched his back, a pop pop emanating from his lumbar region. He looked over and saw Billy glance back to make sure everything was all right. "Jest a bit stiff and sore. It's been a long week." He snorted and amended his statement. "It's been a long decade!" then mumbled, "at least!"
Benji walked over and stood beside Billy. He pointed with his chin toward the trees. "That's where they went through, aye?"
Billy nodded but didn't speak. The tears were quickly filling up behind his lower eyelids and he knew that his voice would betray him. "Do ye think it hurt them?" Benji asked.
"God, I hope not!" Billy replied in shock. He had never thought about that. But, now he remembered what Benji had said when they first met: they could travel without pain.
"Ach, I'm sure that's the case or someone surely woulda mentioned it. It isna somethin' ye keep to yerself." Benji saw the confused look on Billy's face. "I think we need to talk. I'd say yer place or mine but since I dinna have a place, I suppose we'll have to go wherever ye want. I'm still a bit new to this town."
"Come on; we’ll go to my apartment. Here, I'll draw a map of how to get there." Billy bent over and picked up a stick, and used it to sketch a rough map. "Just follow me but if you get lost or held up by a light, my place is easy to find," he said, tapping the big X he had drawn for their final destination. He turned and walked the few paces back to the truck and reached under it with his writing stick. He dug behind the right rear wheel, excavating a pair of keys on a circle of twisted wire. "Here, you drive 'the Beast,'” he said, offering the metallic behemoth to Benji. “It looks to be more your size anyway."
Benji took the keys and unlocked the door. He scooted the bench seat back as far as it would go, adjusted the mirrors, and started the engine. “Sweet,” he commented softly as the engine roared to life at the first turn of the switch. He always did like the sound of the big muscle engines.
He looked up and saw that Billy was already in the Vette and ready to lead the way. “After you!” he called out to Billy, in an American accent.
Billy sighed as he looked in the rear view mirror then waved, putting on a fake smile for his new acquaintance. Now what? How was he going to tell the big guy that he’d have to wait a whole year before he could go back?
3 Benji
B enji enjoyed driving the old Dodge pickup to Billy’s apartment. Even though the day was young, it was already hot but it didn’t bother him today. With the windows down and the breeze blowing through his hair, it felt like oxygen was being pumped directly into his bloodstream through his pores. He could feel the raw power of the 318 engine through his hands on the steering wheel: true carbureted, unrestricted by smog controls or electronic sensors, high torque, spark-ignited, gasoline horsepower.
The drive without any A/C was actually refreshing. Benji didn’t like air conditioning. A Freon modified atmosphere always made him feel like he was trying to breathe through only one nostril. Science might not back him up but his body could sense the reduction in available oxygen in an artificially controlled climate. He’d bide the heat and keep his health.
Billy was one traffic light ahead of Benji. He had already parked and was out of his ride when he saw Benji pull in. He pointed to his assigned covered parking spot, indicating that that was where he wanted the truck parked. It was a tight squeeze in the long bed pickup. He usually had to back up at least once to negotiate the tight corner and the inconveniently placed post that seemed to be in exactly the wrong place. Benji waved back and pulled straight in on the first try. “Ho kay,” Billy mumbled. “Maybe he is an ace equipment operator. At least he seems to have the gift of parking in tight quarters.” Billy started chuckling to himself. “Yeah, but then again, that might be because he’s had to learn how to maneuver that huge frame of his.”
Both men were mute as Billy led the way to his apartment. As he unlocked the door, Billy saw Benji stoop and untie his shoes. “What are you doing?’ he asked, although it was obvious that the man was taking off his shoes.
Benji quickly had both shoes off. He used the toe of one foot to hold down the heel of the sock on the other foot, pulling it off effortlessly then repeated the process on the other side. Both feet were quickly bared, toes wriggling in the fresh air and soft grass. “I’m countin’ my toes to make sure I dinna lose any on the ride over,” he joked then said, “I got in the habit of removin’ my shoes when enterin’ a house. It was more than respect when I was in Alaska. In the winter, it was snow and slush on yer boots and in the summer, both weeks,” he chuckled, “it was mud. Takin’ off the footwear saves on the floor and rug cleanin’ but I like to do it ‘cause takin’ my socks off jest feels so good.”
“Well, if it makes you feel more comfortable, go ahead. Peter will vacuum whether the carpet is dirty or not. Or at least that’s what he says. He’s my, um, roommate. Go ahead and sit down. Mi casa es su casa.”
“Gracias,” Benji replied. “I appreciate the hospitality.” He looked around and chose the long couch to sit on, letting Billy take the overstuffed chair. By the placement of the reading lamp and newspaper, it was either Billy’s or Peter’s favorite chair. He’d take the company couch.
“So, are you ready to talk about this? You look a little beat.”
“Little beat; there’s not much about me that is little,” Benji laughed. “I’m a lot beat. But I need to know how,” he said seriously, “how do, or did, they go back?”
Billy sat back in his chair then realized that he couldn’t be relaxed when he related the story. He scooted to the edge of his seat, elbows on his knees, each hand massaging the other as he began his dissertation on time travel, as he knew it. “Well, as far as we know there are four factors: focus, location, time and um, jewelry.”
“Okay, ye have my attention. I’m sure ye need to elaborate or I could be out of here with a pop-bead necklace.”
Billy chuckled, “Well, actually the jewelry was an ancient Greek drachma coin with a couple of strategically placed holes, threaded on a piece of ribbon. At least I think they were strategically placed. Anyway, rather than chance it, James found two drachmas and had them drilled in identical places at the jewelers. He strung them on a cord so they would be discreet and they’d be able to touch them while they concentrated on their walk through the trees at dawn. Leah had noticed that Evie wore an identical one strung on black ribbon when she went left.”
“Then there are the other three factors. Focus: they focused on Evie, the younger version of Dani, as she was known when she lived in this time. She’s Leah’s mother by the way and that’s very complicated. I’ll show you the video later.”
“Time: James was told by his, our, father, Marty, the man you said you met years ago, to come through on August 17th at daybreak. And, the last essential part is location: through those specific trees. The Trees are markers for a portal, probably magnetic.”
Billy held up his fist and enumerated as he reiterated the factors. “James said they had to,” one finger up, “focus on Evie while,” second finger up, “holding onto their drachmas and,” third finger up, “walking through the trees,” fourth finger, “at that certain date and time.”
“Hmph,” Benji said. “Do ye happen to know where to drill the holes in the wee Greek coin and
do ye think it would be too hard to find one?”
“James got four of them before he left: two for them and one for me and Mom in case Dad didn’t come back. She wanted to be with him at any cost and well, if all my family was back there, I wanted the option to go back, too. Oh, by the way, I just found out they were my family last week. It’s a long story, for another day. But, we know where The Trees are. You were there with me when we picked up the truck.”
“Aye, I recognized them,” Benji said then sighed and sank back into the sofa.
“And I’ll show you the video so you can see who Evie is, so you’ll have a person to focus on, and I’ll let you have one of the coins. But, I think you’re going to have to wait a year.”
“Weel, I’ve waited this long, I suppose I can find somethin’ to fill up the next three hundred and sixty-five days,” Benji said with resignation. “Now where’s the video?” he added with a spark of hope, adjusting his position on the couch.
Billy brought out the smartphone that had been back and forth through time twice. “This is one of those fancy solar powered jobbers. That’s why it worked in the 18th century. Leah took hers with her. This one was her mother’s. She, rather someone else, inadvertently made a video. You can see her as she is now. I guess that’s right since this is how she looked a few months back. She was pregnant in this but had triplets a few months later. At least she’s doesn’t look like the sixty-year old woman who disappeared a year ago.”
Billy shook his head; he was confusing himself and he knew the story of what went on. He didn’t need to make it tougher on Benji. “Here, scoot over. I’ll just shut up and show you the video. That’s what James and Leah did for me and it worked. Words fail when trying to explain this.”
Benji scooted over and Billy sat down next to him, briefly shocked at the man’s body heat; he was a furnace. Focus, Billy! “Can you see it or do you want to hold it? I’ve seen it already but, if you have a question, I want to be here.”
Benji looked down at him and said, “Yer not scarin’ me by sittin’ close if that’s what ye mean,” then laughed. “Nah, get as close as ye need; I’d rather have ye nearby than over there,” and nodded to the overstuffed chair Billy had been in.
Billy snuggled up to Benji and did the taps and slides to open the video file. “Here it is,” he said as if he were announcing an eight-legged dog. “Let me know if you want me to pause it at any time.”
Benji didn’t say a word as he watched the mini movie, but Billy was close enough that he could feel the big man’s shudders. He didn’t look up but knew that Benji was crying. He had to be emotional: he was viewing his grandfather, the man he wanted to go back in time to see. Billy paused the video when Jody’s face came into view full screen. “You look just like him,” Billy said.
Benji laughed and cried at the same time, “Pretty scary, eh?” then the laughter stopped and the tears took over.
Billy pulled away from his big new friend and grabbed the box of tissues from the bathroom. “Here, blow ya big baby,” he ordered then realized that he was crying, too. “Well, at least they’re tears of joy,” he explained as he pulled out a double fistful for himself.
“Aye, they are,” Benji said. “How am I to keep busy fer a year? I thank ye fer showin’ me how it’s done, but now it’s even worse, or rather stronger: the cravin’ to go back to him, to where I belong. I, I dinna feel like I belong here.”
“Well, you were born back there, weren’t you?” Billy grimaced and thought fast. Didn’t Benji say something about it earlier? Hopefully he had, otherwise how would he explain to him that he knew who he was, at least all about his family back in the 18th century?
“Aye, I was,” Benji said, not looking at Billy but staring at the frozen image of his grandfather. “Maybe that’s why I feel the pull, the draw to go back.” He shut his eyes and reached over to give the smartphone back to Billy.
“Well,” Billy said as he accepted the phone and stood up. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat. You can take a shower and wash the clothes you’re wearing. The washer and dryer are in the bathroom. Help yourself to anything you need. I don’t have any clothes that will fit you, but you can use one of those big bath towels for decency until your clothes are dry. Now, don’t leave without tellin’ me, okay?”
“I’ll be here when ye wake,” Benji promised. He wasn’t going to promise any more than that, though. He’d leave when the time felt right— just like he always did.
Ж
Billy awoke from his nap when he heard Peter come in the door. He got up and started a pot of coffee.
“Who’s that!” exclaimed Peter when he saw the pair of men’s very long, bare legs poking out from the end of the couch.
“Oh, him,” Billy said nonchalantly then turned away so Peter couldn’t see the smirk he was hiding. “He’s just a stray I picked up.”
“Uh, didn’t he come with clothes?” he asked, a little uncomfortable at seeing the near naked man asleep on their sofa.
“Yes, he did but I didn’t think he needed them in the shower.” Billy was teasing Peter and beginning to enjoy the little repartee too much. His grin was giving him away.
Peter could see that this was a totally innocent situation that only looked provocative, and that Billy was messing with him. “Well, gee, I just thought the Incredible Hulk had busted out of his pants and you threw him a towel to save him from embarrassing himself in front of the ladies,” Peter drolled then changed to a serious tone. “No, really; who is he?”
“Really, he’s just a stray I picked up. But, he’s sort of a friend of the extended family. He came to see James and Leah. They left this morning and won’t be back for a while,” Billy explained. ‘Quite a while, if ever,’ he wanted to add but didn’t. “So, since he’s broke, needs a place to stay, has great character references, and is skilled, I said he could hang with us and help out around here.” Billy saw the shocked look on Peter’s face and quickly added, “That is, of course, if it’s okay with you,” and put a hand on his shoulder.
Peter patted the hand then picked it up and kissed it. “If you trust him, I trust him. But, he looks familiar. I know I’ve seen that huge body and red hair somewhere before.”
Just then, Benji awoke with a shudder and quickly composed himself as he realized where he was. “Weel, it looks like I have an audience fer my nap takin’. Is this what ye do fer entertainment?” he joked as he adjusted his bath towel and sat up, rubbing his hands through his long hair with a frown. He’d have to wait for a haircut unless Billy had some clippers he could use.
“That’s where I’ve seen you!” Peter exclaimed.
Benji’s face immediately paled and his jovial smile evaporated, a fog of fear replacing it. He wasn’t sure, but he would have bet a million bucks that these two men were a gay couple. They wouldn’t, couldn’t have seen it, could they?
“Didn’t you wrestle as The Flying Scotsman?” Peter asked with a glint in his eye. “I mean, you sure look like him…” he smiled as he teased. He was sure of it now.
Benji breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Aye, I had to do odd jobs to make ends meet.” He shrugged his shoulder. “Some jobs jest werena as ‘respectable’ as others although those were the ones that usually paid the best. At least this was one that people enjoyed watchin’ and no one got hurt, not really. It was fun, but I got tired of bein’ the bad guy. I managed to save a bit of money so moved on. Billy, do ye think the laundry’s done? I dinna hear it thump, thump, thumpin’ in the dryer.” Benji got up, inadvertently flashed his hosts, said, “oops,” then pulled the towel closed as he chased his laundry, closing the combination bathroom laundry room door behind him.
“I thought that those scars on his back were make-up,” Peter said softly to Billy. “Ouch!”
“Yeah, ouch is right. For someone who appears to have had a rough life, he sure has a good outlook,” Billy said. “And a great sense of humor. So, you agree then? He’s decent enough to watch this place and then help take ca
re of me while you’re out of town?” Billy asked as he walked up for his ‘welcome home’ hug from his partner.
Peter gave him a hug and a squeeze, and a quick kiss. “Oh, he’ll be fine. Gee, I’ve got The Flying Scotsman sleeping in my living room. My little brother will be so jealous!” Peter saw the frown on Billy’s face and realized that this was a situation requiring discretion. “Well, I won’t tell him but just knowing how jealous he’d be is good enough for me. Paul isn’t gay, but he had the biggest crush on him when he was fifteen.”
Ж
“So, how long have you been in North Carolina?” Peter asked Benji as the three of them sat at the table, drinking coffee.
“Jest a month or so this time. The last time I was here, hmm, was when I was in my late teens, I expect. The years kinda ran together. Ye see, I had been abducted and shuttled around from place to place, pretty much had my services as a laborer sold to the highest bidder without my say so.”
“You mean you were a slave?” Peter asked.
Benji nodded. “Not much I coulda done about it. I mean, I dinna volunteer fer it!” he added with a laugh. “Ye see, there were a bunch of us…”
“They had slaves here twenty years ago?” Peter asked incredulously. “White slaves? Oops, sorry; I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“I dinna think they cared about the color of our skin, but now that ye mention it, I think we were all a bit on the pale side. Maybe it was jest because we were slower…Nah. We were the ones they couldna get a ransom fer…or not enough ransom. Some of the lads had family who paid and paid, but the thugs still wouldna let them go. At least as long as their folks kept sendin’ the money. We boys kinda became our own family.”
“Like an orphanage without the housemother…” Billy suggested, remembering his youth and the comfort he felt with his unrelated brothers.
Benji shook his head rapidly. “No, we were family, but it wasna like any orphanage I’d ever heard of; in the last century, at least. We had no beds to speak of, no schools or medicine and the whip wasna spared if we spoke our minds or dinna work fast enough. No; nothin’ like an orphanage.”
The Great Big Fairy Page 2
