Finding Will Hennie

by Joy Redmond

  “Ya tryin’ to tell me you thought that girl was purdy? Ain’t no way. She be like ugly on a ape. Almost as homely as Berta.”

  “I said she looked different. Do you want to hear this or not?”

  “Sorry. Go on. What happened next?

  “We got to the park and we were sitting on a bench and I had no idea what to say. I was squirming and wanting to come home and be done with it all. Well, before I saw it coming, she straddled my lap and started kissing me on the lips. I tried to kiss her back, and I was just a fumbling mess since it was my first time, and I really didn’t like it.” Will paused for a moment as if he were toying with his next words. That’s when I got the shock of my life.”

  “Ya started to like it?” Jim Bob asked, his eyes bugging.

  “No!” Will spat on the ground. “When she stopped kissing me, she reared back and I thought she was just trying to catch her breath. She was panting like a dog. Anyway, she pulled her dress off her shoulders, unhooked her brassiere, threw it on the ground and before I knew it, she was grabbing my hands and putting them on her breasts.”

  “Git outta here! She put yer hands on ’er tits? Why that—”

  “Jim Bob. Simmer down. That’s the part I liked. I loved how they were so soft and mushy. I wanted to squeeze them like melons. I can’t be ashamed of my natural feelings, so don’t be scolding me.”

  “Then what made her so confounded mad? Ya done what she wanted ya to.”

  “Well, I was all in another world with her tits in my hands and my pecker was as hard as two jawbreakers.”

  “Ah, nah—”

  “Jim Bob, will you let me finish? Damn, man! Anyway, I didn’t even know she had hiked up her dress. The next thing I knew, she took one of my hands off her breast and stuck it down the top of her underwear.”

  “Say it ain’t so. You done went and done the nasty with ’er.”

  “Jim Bob, if you want to tell the story, then go on. If you want to hear the story, then let me tell it.”

  “I think I done heered enuff. But go on.”

  “The minute my hand touched her patch of hair, I jumped up and she fell off my lap and hit the ground. Then I took off running, and I held onto my pecker, hoping it wouldn’t rot off.”

  Jim Bob chuckled. “It won’t rot off if’n ya don’t do the nasty.” He laughed harder. “That be the funniest thang I ever heered. But ya done the right thang.”

  “It’s funny now, but it sure wasn’t at the time. As I was running, I could hear her yelling, ‘You chicken shit sumbitch. You come back here. Don’t ya just leave me here. You rotten uppity bastard!’”

  “So ya jest left there all sprawled on the ground?”

  “I can’t say I’m proud of that part, but yes, I did. I didn’t stop running until I was on the front porch. That was a long run, I tell you.”

  Jim Bob was laughing so hard, Will started laughing and he forgot how sad he was about Miss Marylee.

  “She shore won’t be tryin’ to lay claim on ya now. She gonna hate ya fer the rest of ya life.”

  “I haven’t seen hide or hair of her since. But I am sorry to hear that she’s still crying. I guess that was the worst insult a girl can get.”

  “It serves’ er right. She oughta knowed better. Well, I better be gittin’ back inside. Thank ya fer the best story I ever heered. You be the closest thang to a son I ever had. Ya brung a lot of cheer to my old days.” Jim Bob stood and Will stood beside him. I had nothin’ till you come along. I love ya, Will Hennie.”

  Will saw Jim Bob’s eyes tearing. He felt another knot in his throat. He couldn’t speak. He just patted Jim Bob on the back, then watched him walk away. I’m glad I brought you a little happiness. I don’t think you’ve seen much. Bless your ol’ heart.

  Will waited a few minutes, then forced himself to go back inside. He gently tapped on Mr. Tom’s door that was always ajar. “Are you awake?”

  “Sure am. Come on in. I was just finishing my second cup of coffee. Berta brought it and she didn’t even gripe. She looked like she was on the verge of tears, but that’s all she does nowadays. I think she’s sad ‘cause Miss Marylee is gone. I am too, but ya don’t see me bawlin’ ‘bout it.”

  Will sat down on Mr. Tom’s bedside. “I miss our times when we played ball and boxed. But I know you’re not in good health. I’ll always remember and cherish our times together.”

  “Yeah. I miss them days, too. Hell, boy, I’m gettin’ to where I barely got strength enough to hold up my pecker when I take a piss. I’ll be glad when my time is up. I’m ready fer the next world. Whatever and wherever it is. I’m just plum tired of livin’, I am.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Tom.” What am I supposed to say to a comment like that? “I guess I need to go check on Berta and see what she needs me to do for her. You rest and I’ll be back later.”

  “I ‘speck I’ll be right here. Come back when you can. We can always talk. I get mighty lonely these days.”

  Will nodded and left the room.

  He walked into the kitchen where he found Berta, sobbing and pulling her hair as if she were a two-year-old. He tried to back up and get out of sight, fast. Just as he took one step backward, Berta turned in her chair.

  “Where ya goin’? You just don’t have time for me anymore. Nobody does! There was a time when you’d eat with me and talk with me and we’d laugh. You done got too big for the likes of me, huh?”

  “Oh, Berta. There was a time when we could talk and laugh. But since you started changing, you’re not the same person I used to know. All you do is bawl and complain and you’re not very pleasant to be around. I’m just speaking the truth.”

  “I know. There’s some days when I can’t stand myself. But you ain’t got the worries and heartache that I do. Miss Marylee always took the time to listen to me. She always said the right words to make me feel better. Now she’s gone and I got nobody. Nobody!” Berta cried harder.

  Will sighed and pulled out a chair across from Berta. “I’ll listen. I’m sorry I don’t have the right words, but I’m a man. We don’t communicate with women. We don’t understand them. I’m lonesome for Miss Marylee, too, but I’m happy for her. Why can’t you be happy for somebody now and then? That might help your misery.”

  “I’m happy for her,” Berta said, and wiped her eyes. “I just don’t know how I’m gonna keep this place goin’. There ain’t enough money comin’ in to make ends meet. Back when I had six or more boarders, I was able to squirrel away some money for my old age. Well, all my boarders up and died and nobody took their places. This old house is falling down around my head and I’m gonna end up in the Poor House, and that’s where I’m gonna die. I don’t think I deserve that kind of endin’ after working like a dog all my life.”

  Will reached across the table and patted Berta’s hand. “No, you don’t deserve it. I’m going to get a job and I’ll be happy to help pay the bills. Now, stop that crying. I won’t let you die in the Poor House.”

  Berta squeezed Will’s hands. “You’re a fine young man, but I don’t think you can save this place. I love ya, Will Hennie. I’ve loved ya since the first day ya come through my back door. I’ll die lovin’ ya. You’ve brought me a lot of joy, even when ya got sassy with me.” Berta laughed and her stomach jiggled. “Thanks for taking a little time to cheer me up this mornin’.”

  “It was my pleasure. Now, dry those tears. I’ll start job hunting tomorrow. I need to put in applications when it’s early morning. I don’t want people to think I can’t get out of bed before noon. I think I’ll get my fishing gear and maybe I’ll bring you back a string of fish. I’ll scale and gut and clean them for you. All you have to do is fry them up.”

  “That’s a good idea. Now get goin’ before I start to bawlin’ again. I feel it comin’ on. There just ain’t no cure for my kind of blues.”

  “I guess not,” Will said, rising from the chair, and heading out of the kitchen.

  Lord have mercy! I’ve gotta get out of here. This place would
give anybody the blues. He ran upstairs and he felt as if he had been punched in the gut when he passed Miss Marylee’s room. I’ve got your room key. I’ll hide it when I get back. He gathered his fishing gear and grabbed a baseball cap from the bed post.

  He ran back downstairs and out the front door. Lord, just let me get to the river before I have to face anybody else. He looked around for Red, but his best friend was nowhere in sight. Crap! I didn’t eat breakfast. I didn’t fix a lunch bag and I’m hungry. He patted his pocket. I’ve got some money. I’ll stop at the corner grocery store and buy some baloney, cheese and bread. Maybe a bag of chips. And two pops. He pulled out the bills and counted them. “Four!” he yelled. I can buy food and still get a haircut. If I get back before the barber shop closes, then I’ll start seeking a job early in the morning.

  He took off running, stopped at the corner grocery and bought what he needed to fix a sandwich. Then he was off and running again, wanting to get to the river as fast as he could. The river always brought him peace, and he loved to fish.

  He sat on the river bank and as he fixed a sandwich, two boats came by and tooted. He waved and wondered if they were the same boat captains after all these years.

  Sitting on the river bank, gazing at the water and eating his favorite sandwich, brought peace to his soul. He drank a pop and hoped the other one didn’t get too warm before he was ready for it. He was thankful for the shade of the trees and the gentle breeze that was blowing off the water.

  He lay back in the grass and put his arms under his head. The sky was beautiful. Fluffy clouds always reminded him of Gram. He was about to doze off when he felt something cold and wet bump against his arm. “Red, you ol’ son of a bitch. You scared the shit outta me. I’m glad to see you, boy. You always manage to find me. I guess you just follow my scent.”

  Will and Red lay down in the cool grass and fell asleep. Will woke up when he felt the urge to pee. “Dang, Red. We better take a piss, get down this river bank and get some fishing done. I promised Berta I’d bring her a string full. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t.”

  By dark, Will had only caught four fish. “Red, I don’t dare go back until I have a string of them. We’ll keep trying, even if it is dark. I’ve got to catch at least eight.”

  Red barked.

  Will had no idea what time it was and he had only caught one more fish. The mosquitoes were biting him with no mercy. “I can’t take any more, Red. Berta will just have to do with what we’ve got. Come on, let’s go home.”

  Will was halfway home when he smelled smoke. “Red, what fool would burn trash with the weather being so dry?” After a few more feet, he started coughing. The air was full of rolling black smoke. “Shit! Maybe we should head back to the river.”

  Red took off running. “Red. Come back. The river’s the other way.”

  Red ran faster. Will ran after him. Suddenly, he saw flames shooting toward the sky. He ran faster.

  He turned the corner onto Lewis Street. Shit! Mr. Reed’s house is on fire. He could see a fire truck and he hoped they were getting the blaze under control. The smoke didn’t seem to be as thick.

  He hurried on. Then he stopped in his tracks, his legs weakening. “No! God, no!” he yelled.

  He finally made his legs move and ran down the block. He pushed his way through the crowd and tried to run into the house, yelling, “Berta! Jim Bob! Mr. Tom! I’ll get you out!”

  Large arms grabbed Will and held him tightly. “You can’t get them. Nobody could get them. They’re gone up in smoke. I’m sorry.”

  Will collapsed.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Will felt strong hands under his armpits, lifting him. “Come on, boy. See if ya can stand up. I gotta get you away from this crowd and get ya some cold water.”

  Will recognized Mr. Reed’s voice. He managed to stand. “I’m fine right where I am. What happened?”

  “You passed out. I grabbed ya before ya hit the ground.”

  “No. I mean how did the fire start? Why couldn’t anybody get my family out? There were only three of them.”

  “Nobody knows fer sure. I was sittin’ on my porch when I heard an explosion and it almost knocked me outta my chair. I jumped up and then’s when I seen the flames shootin’. That old house went up faster than a pile of straw. I never seen anything like it. In less than a minute the whole house was engulfed.”

  “Explosion? There was nothing in that house that could have exploded.”

  Mr. Reed reached out to steady Will as he listed to the side.

  “I’m okay, Mr. Reed. Thanks for breaking my fall.”

  “Yer welcome, boy. But I think ya need to get out of the heat. Ya don’t look too good. Kinda green around the gills, ya are.”

  “I’m fine. Please leave me alone!”

  “I’ll be next door if’n ya need me.”

  For the next two hours, Will watched the firefighters spray the house with water. By the time the fire was out and they were rolling up the hose, the crowd had dispersed and he was alone, standing on the sidewalk. All he could do was stare at the ashes, wondering if any of the people he loved had felt any pain. “Dear God, I hope they went fast and didn’t even realize what was happening.” He sank to the ground and allowed himself to breakdown and sob loudly.

  As he sat, crying, he felt Red rub against him. He reached up to pet his best friend. Red licked his tears.

  “Red, it’s almost like they knew it was their last day on earth. Mr. Tom and Jim Bob had never told me they loved me. But they did this morning.” He hung his head and he could hear Berta’s last words echoing in his ears, ‘I love ya, Will Hennie.’

  Red ran up the street and came back dragging the string of fish in his mouth. “Oh, yeah. I dropped everything when I saw the boarding house was on fire. My mind doesn’t seem to be working right, Red. I guess I need to go find my fishing gear.” He walked in a daze and found his fishing gear a block away. This is all I have to my name. All that’s left from the past ten years. He turned around to say something to Red, but he was gone.

  He walked back to what had once been his home. He looked around. Not a person was in sight. Why had everybody disappeared? Why hadn’t anybody asked he if needed a place to sleep. Suddenly, he felt like that little boy who was out in a strange world, all alone, and homeless. Even Red had left him. He could still see little puffs of smoke coming from the ashes.

  He wiped his brow and peered through the darkness. The old garden shed and outhouse were still standing. He walked around to the back yard. The well and pump! He hurried into the shed and found a five gallon bucket. Water! I need water. He pumped the bucket full. He scooped water into his hands and splashed his face. Then he poured the rest over his head. The memory of Miss Marylee pouring water over him when he had taken his first bath flooded his soul. Through his tears, he pumped the bucket full again and poured it over his body.

  The water cooled him down, but the pain in his heart was so hot he wondered if he would go up in spontaneous combustion. A part of him wished he would explode into flames and go with the people he loved so much. I’ve still got Miss Marylee. She’ll come for me as soon as I can get word to her. The thought of Miss Marylee brought him a little comfort. She’d make everything all right, one more time. He just had to hang on and wait to get a letter from her.

  Suddenly, he felt his legs trembling and he wasn’t sure they were going to hold him up. He ambled into the garden shed, wondering how it could still be standing, thankful that it was. I’ll bed down here. He took two burlap sacks from the hooks and spread them on the floor. He glanced over and saw Jim Bob’s overcoat. I don’t need to use it for cover, but it will make a nice pillow. I’m sure glad it’s still here. At least I have something that belonged to him. Everything else is gone.

  He stretched out on the sacks and bunched the coat under his head. The sacks would keep the splinters from the old floor from sticking him. His wet clothes felt good.

  He knew sleep wouldn’t come but h
e closed his eyes. As he lay in darkness he recalled hearing a male voice, “I’ll leave my back door unlocked. When you’re ready, ya just come on in. I’ve got a cot in the back room and ya can bed down fer the night.” Was it Mr. Reed?

  Then a female voice repeated in his head, “I live right across the street. I’ll be happy to fix you a place to bed down for the night.” Was it Mrs. O’Nan? Everything was a blur.

  He felt better, somewhat. Everybody hadn’t left him in the street without an offer to put a roof over his head as he had thought. He tightly squeezed his eyes and as tears rolled out of the corners, he could plainly see his picture book and every page turned for him as he envisioned the pictures. Gone. His mind’s eye could see Miss Marylee handing him the tablets that contained her short stories. The first page flashed before him.

  Short Stories

  By Marylee Long

  Dedicated to Will Hennie

  He wiped his eyes. I’m glad I read all the stories before I went to sleep. Especially the story about the little boy who slept in the woods with a wolf. Miss Marylee had written it just the way Will had told it, but she dressed it up a bit, making it more exciting. Gone. He felt sick at his stomach when he thought about his college money. Ashes.

  He rolled on his side and cried harder than any time in his life, wondering if he’d ever sleep a night until Miss Marylee came back home.

  Red ran into the shed and lay down beside Will. “There you are, boy. Don’t lay too close. It’s too dang hot tonight. You just keep me company. There’s no way I’m gonna sleep. My heart hurts too badly.”

  He had no idea how long he lay as memories ran through this mind, then he was sure he felt Gram run her fingers through his hair, and he drifted into sleep.

  He awakened the next morning when he heard voices. He stuck his head out of the shed. Two men with big leather bags were poking through the ashes.