by Jason Jauron
I love you Jed Darby.
Patty.
55.
11:00am
The music inside the church caught Jed’s attention. He had been sitting motionless for the last few minutes.
He wiped his eyes, steadied himself.
He folded the letter, put it in the left pocket of his suit.
He hauled ass around to the front of the church.
As he grabbed the handle of the front door, his heart was pounding, yet his face was resolute. It occurred to Jed at that moment that he was feeling what Cortes must have felt before he scuttled his ships.
Inside he was met by a man who told him to sit in one of the reserved pews near the front of the church. He was also told not to worry about when it would be his time to speak. The pastor would introduce him by name.
Jed’s right hand slid inside his pant pocket. His fingers found his speech.
He exhaled slowly.
Without hesitating, he found a seat, spent several minutes looking over the altar of the church.
As he sat back, he glanced over his right shoulder, took in the crowd.
There seems to be an abundance of low-hanging fruit in attendance.
With each passing minute, he became more confident, relaxed. It helped that the casket was closed. But his final goodbye, and its torrent of tears, had already taken place behind the church. That explosion of emotion seemed to have steadied his resolve.
“And our first speaker today will be Jed Darby, a college friend,” said the pastor, whose name now escaped him.
A college friend?
That is what they are calling me?
He counted the steps to the podium as he walked.
As he turned and faced the crowd, he reached into his pant pocket for his speech. In his mind, he imagined reaching down underneath the podium, grabbing the red felt bag and shouting, “It’s time to let the cat outta the bag you worthless motherfuckers!”
Instead, he took a few moments to secure his speech to the podium.
“Roses are red…
“Violets are blue…
“I can’t stop thinking…
“About how much I love you.”
Jed Darby, 1984, first phone message to Patty
“I never had to be anyone else when I was with Patty,” he began – his voice loud, firm. “I know she’s in heaven, and it comforts me. I know where she is tonight. And I know where she’ll be every night. And that comforts me.”
His hands were betraying him. He dug them into his pockets.
“I wish that I could hold her. I wish that I could have just one last long walk with her – tell her everything was going to be okay.”
He paused.
“But she’s gone.”
He stopped, fought his emotions.
“I just want to tell her don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. Just a little more time. Just a little more time. Keep fighting through each day. Love will find its way. Happiness will have its day.
“But she’s gone. And she takes with her our past together, and whatever future we might have had.”
He finally looked up.
“But whatever is left of me has to find a way to go on.”
…
…
“Patty, I want you to know that I realize what I had.”
…
…
…
“I will always have our love to remember.”
Jed took a deep breath.
Grabbed his speech.
Walked down off the altar and straight out of the church.
56.
11:35am
Dave was more than a little pissed off. Not one person had stopped to pick him up – in fact – a Camaro full of teens had flipped him off. He had figured someone would feel sorry for him – guy out walking in the cold – but he was wrong. The cars, vans, and trucks all just drove right on past him – despite his fancy clothes.
What the fuck is wrong with people? Not one person has stopped to ask if I need help. Shit. Didn’t they see my abandoned car a mile back? Where are the Good fucking Samaritans?
Dave just kept walking. Worse case scenario was he would run into Jed as he was leaving the church.
57.
11:40am
Jed felt a surge of adrenaline with each step he took outside the church. He had found closure. He had found peace of mind. But his heart was fucking racing.
It was now time to get the fuck out of Dodge. The sun was shining, and he looked forward to the long, comfortable drive ahead.
Time to fill up the car, grab some fountain pop, and go see an old friend.
He did a fist pump.
“Jed, stop for a moment, I want to talk to you,” shot a rough voice from behind.
Jed turned, immediately irritated. His desire to be on his way had taken hold of him. And he was giddy as a schoolboy.
His giddy bubble burst when he saw the dwarf-like James McGuire panting with each step.
“I just wanted to tell you thanks,” he stammered. He was winded, taking in deep breaths.
He extended his right hand.
Jed didn’t move a muscle. He was pissed the old man had followed him out of the church.
“I really liked your speech Jed.”
The old man reeked of alcohol.
“I wish I could hold Patty again too.”
He wants to hold Patty?
Jed’s right foot slammed into the old man’s groin.
“You shut your fucking mouth!” barked Jed.
McGuire fell to one knee.
Another hard toe-kick to the old man’s privates.
“You dirty fucking bastard!”
The third kick toppled McGuire to the ground. He lay still on the cold gravel.
Jed was panting.
“She was just a little girl,” muttered Jed. “How could you do that to a little girl?”
The old man started moaning.
As he stood there catching his breath, Jed weighed his options.
He then just turned and left.
58.
11:46am
As Jed pulled out of the church parking lot, he noticed someone about a mile away walking beside the road.
Well, the perfect opportunity to do a good deed.
He chuckled.
Because I’m gonna need a good deed. I just got done pretending James McGuire’s nut sack was a piñata.
59.
11:52am
James McGuire used the side mirror of a car to pull himself up.
His eyes were bloodshot, his genitals throbbed.
He stood for a moment, leaned against the car, and tried to catch his breath.
“Daddy I want you to hold me again,” called out a voice from within the car.
McGuire froze, listened.
“Daddy, I want to suck it for you, like a Dum Dum,” cried the voice of a little girl.
“Patty?” groaned the old man.
He took one step back, peered into the car.
There was 10-year-old Patty – wearing her favorite Strawberry Shortcake shirt and skirt.
She smiled at McGuire.
“Patty?” mumbled the old man, shaking his head.
He leaned over the car, took a closer look inside.
Little Patty McGuire launched herself against the inside of the driver’s side window. Her face was now bleeding from hundreds of small cuts. She started rubbing her face against the glass, smearing it with her blood.
“Come join me in Hell father!” she shrieked. “Then I can suck your cock on demand!”
The old man panicked, tried to pivot and turn his body away. He rolled his left ankle, lost his balance.
He fell awkwardly.
No chance to catch his fall.
His left ear struck the driver’s side mirror.
There was a sound – like a small twig snapping.
Then James McGuire slumped to the ground, did not move.
60.
11:54am
Jed parked the car, got out, walked over, and hugged Dave. “I’m sorry I missed the funeral.”
Jed grinned, pointed. “That must be your car way, way back there huh?”
Dave put his hand on Jed’s shoulders.
“Damn straight,” chuckled Dave. “Let’s go find some place to sit down, get some coffee, talk, and then figure out who is going to tow my car.”
Jed nodded.
He missed his friend.
THE END OF PART ONE OF THE DARBY TRILOGY
