Creepers (10 page)

***

Terri stretched her arms up over her head and yawned.  It was a wonderful morning, and she was in a good mood.  She leaned over and looked at the clock on her bedside table.  Surprised at how late she had slept, how late Jesse had let her sleep, she threw back the covers and sat bolt upright.  Terri wiped the sleep from her eyes, grabbed a towel and fresh panties, and headed for the shower.

The water was cool, and Terri let it bounce across her skin and run down the small of her back.  In her mind, she imagined Jack doing the same thing to her with his hands.  Terri smiled at that thought and gently rubbed her breasts with the lather from her body wash.  With her eyes closed, and a picture thoroughly imprinted on her brain, Terri enjoyed the rest of her shower with gusto and a bit of longing.

Terri toweled off then wrapped her hair up in the towel.  The house was eerily silent.  She quickly threw on some clothes and padded softly out to the kitchen to see what was going on.  Jesse was nowhere around.  Terri wondered then if he was out doing some chores.  She walked around to the windows and peered out each one.  There was nothing.  Finally, Terri returned to the kitchen.  This time she saw the note on the refrigerator.

It was held in place by an Elvis magnet that Terri had given to Jesse for no particular reason other than he had always liked the King.  Terri pulled the note down and read it.  Apparently Jesse had received a call early this morning from a parishioner and had to go see them.  He wasn’t sure when he would be back, and told Terri that she was on her own today.  It also said that he would see her for supper.  Dinner for three the note said.

Terri smiled at that last line and then sat the note down on the kitchen table.  She felt the coffee pot, and it was still hot.  So she poured herself a cup and walked into the living room.  Terri crawled up onto the couch and held the coffee cup in both hands, breathing deeply of its pleasant aroma.  She took a sip and thought of Jesse.  Then she took another sip and thought of Jack.  This summer was going to be decidedly better than she first thought.

Terri took another sip of the hot beverage then sat the cup down on the coffee table.  She looked around the room expectantly but didn’t see the cat.  Terri shrugged and picked up the textbook she had been reading, “Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem.”  Terri thumbed to the last page she had been reading then picked up her coffee from the table.  She sat back on the couch and continued to read and enjoy her coffee.

Periodically she would pause and take some notes, but her thoughts kept wandering to Jack.  It was strange; Terri thought.  She’d had lovers, but she had never felt for them like she was feeling for Jack, especially after only a kiss.  Jack was different than the other men she had known.  Not that there were a lot, Terri never had time for that.  She remained focused on her education.  Terri never wanted to take the time to get too close to anyone.  Not until now that was.  The worst part for Terri was that she couldn’t explain it.  It wasn’t logical or rational.

He was an attractive man with an athletic build and olive complexion, but that wasn’t it either.  It helped, but that wasn’t it.  For reasons Terri couldn’t fathom; she was drawn to Jack.  He had a maturity and a presence that she found compelling.  They shared a connection that she never had with anyone at her school.  Maybe it was because they were from the same small town, she wondered.  Perhaps it was the drive they both had to get out?  Terri was uncertain.  She was only sure that she liked Jack more than she thought she should.

Terri thought about that kiss again, and one side of her mouth turned up in a little smile.  She finished the last of her coffee and decided that she just wasn’t going to get any work done today.  Terri walked into the kitchen and rinsed her cup out in the sink.  She peered into the refrigerator and then looked through various cabinets.  Satisfied, she wrote a note for Jesse and hung it on the fridge as he had.  All it said was, “I’m cooking supper.  I’ll see you later.  Love, Terri.”

Terri left the kitchen to continue getting ready.  She put on her face and brushed her hair.  She threw on some shoes and then grabbed her purse.  Terri dug around in her purse and found her car keys.  Smiling, she headed out the front door, locking it behind her as she went.  On the porch, she paused and looked around for the cat.  Still nowhere around, Terri shrugged and moved to her car.  Terri headed into town; all the while whistling the same nonsense tune Jesse had been whistling yesterday.

Not once did Terri think about Ricky.  Not once did she think about Sheila.  Her father, Donald, never entered her mind.  Terri was unusually happy, and none of the gloom of yesterday was going to intrude on today.  None of her fears or concerns could make themselves known.  Terri would have none of that.  Terri focused on something else, something wonderful, and none of the Dixon filth could taint it.

Jesse sat on the edge of the bed and sipped at his tea.  He wiped at his bald head with his handkerchief to sop up some of the perspiration that had beaded there.  Jesse wasn’t sure if the room was unusually warm, or the subject matter was just that uncomfortable for him.  Eventually, he decided on the latter.  It brought back painful memories.  Jesse cleared his throat and rinsed it with another swallow of tea.  He adjusted himself slightly and reached out to place a reassuring hand on Precious’ shoulder.

Precious jerked away from Jesse’s touch, and he pulled his hand back.  He looked down at her ruined face, and his heart melted.  For some time, Precious’ raspy breathing had been the only sound in the room.  It was an uncomfortable silence, brought on by Evvie’s retelling of the previous night’s events.  Precious only lay in bed with her covers pulled up tightly under her chin, doing her best to avoid Jesse’s gaze.  Jesse stood up from the bed and turned to face Evvie.

In a soft voice Jesse said, “Let’s go downstairs Evvie, this child needs to rest.”  Jesse began to usher Evvie towards the bedroom door.  He continued, “We can talk in the living room.”

Evvie stopped at the doorway and turned to look at Precious.  “I love you baby,” she said.  Precious said nothing; she only turned her head to the side.

As they exited the room, Jesse asked, “Are you taking her to the doctor today Evvie?”

“She doesn’t want to go,” Evvie replied, “She doesn’t want to get out of bed.”

Angered, Jesse said, “Damn it Evvie, you need to take that girl to the doctor.  You’re her mother, not her friend.  You make her go to the doctor.”

“I will,” Evvie agreed, “as soon as you leave I will take her.”

Neither Jesse nor Evvie said another word until they had reached the living room.  Jesse sat on one end of the sofa and faced Evvie, who sat at the other end of the couch.  “What about the police?” Jesse finally asked.

“No,” Evvie replied, “she won’t go to the police, and I won’t make her.  She’s been through so much, and we just can’t face the police.”  Evvie paused then added, “Or the town.”

Jesse nodded.  “You know I won’t say anything Evvie,” he reassured her.  “I understand how it is here in Lusaoka,” he continued, “everybody in everybody else’s business.  I do wish you would reconsider talking to someone about this.”

Evvie shook her head and said, “We can’t Jesse.  She’s scared, and so am I.  They said they would come back if we told anyone.  They said they would kill us, and I believe them.  I can’t take that chance.  You know better than anyone that you can’t take this kind of stuff to the police, not here.”

“I understand Evvie, I do,” Jesse said.  He paused for a moment then said, “But it might be okay if you went to Officer Fisher.  He’s a good man Evvie.”

“No,” Evvie replied curtly, “no police.  I’ll take care of this in my way.”

“What do you mean by that Evvie?” Jesse asked.  “Don’t you go and do something foolish,” he warned.

“I’m just gonna look after my own,” Evvie promised, “That’s all.”  Evvie hated lying to Jesse like that so she turned away as she said it.

  Jesse was not altogether convinced of Evvie’s sincerity, but he didn’t pursue it.  Instead, he said, “Trust in the Lord Evvie.  He is our strength in trouble times.”

Evvie glared at Jesse and said, “God?  You want me to trust in a God that would allow this to happen to one of his faithful?  I’m sorry Reverend, but I can’t do that.  God has turned his back on us, on me.  Where was God when those animals did this to my baby?”

“But Evvie,” Jesse interrupted.

“You tell me Reverend,” Evvie continued, “You tell me how a magnanimous God could allow evil to harm his children.”

“Evvie, I don’t know why this happened,” Jesse replied.  “All I know is this was God’s will.  There is a reason these things have happened to Precious, I know that with all of my heart.  His reasons are not for us to understand or question.  We simply have to have faith, faith in God and his plan.”

“I can’t,” Evvie said as tears filled her eyes.  “I can’t forgive Him for allowing this to happen.  I, I’ve lost my faith Reverend.  I can’t bring myself to believe in a God that would do this.”

“God didn’t do this Evvie,” Jesse replied, “Men did this.  We all have free will, regardless of what is in God’s plan.  He only creates the circumstances; it is upon all of us as to how we react to those events.  It is how we respond to this adversity that defines us Evvie, not the adversity itself.”

“I’m angry Reverend,” Evvie blurted out as she began to cry.  “I hate Him.”

Jesse moved closer and allowed Evvie to bury her face in his shoulder.  He held her clutched hands in his own and said, “You can be angry Evvie.  Anger is natural given what’s happened.  You can be mad at God too.  It doesn’t mean He loves you any less.  God forgives all.  You may have lost your faith in God, for the moment, but He hasn’t lost his faith in you.”

“How do you know that?” Evvie asked.

“Because I know God,” Jesse replied, “and so do you.  In your heart, you know God is there for you.  God only gives is much as we can handle, and He is our crutch when we need to lean on Him.”  Jesse paused and allowed Evvie to sit upright again then said, “Be angry Evvie.  Scream at God if you have to.  He will listen, and he will forgive.  God loves you and Precious.”

Evvie’s tears subsided, and she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.  Sniffing, she asked, “Will you go to the hospital with us Reverend?”

“Of course I will Evvie,” Jesse replied, “I will do whatever you need me to do.”

“Will you pray for us?” Evvie asked.

Jesse nodded and said, “And I will pray with you.”

***

Toby awoke with an erection.  Not that that was so fantastic, or unusual, but this morning it was special and it made Toby smile.  He’d been dreaming of that tight little black whore all night.  He decided right then and there that he would need to pay her another visit tonight, without his brother.  There was a lot more that he wanted to do to that piece of ass.  This time, however, he would take his time with her.  As Toby thought about everything he was going to do to Precious, he reached down into his underwear and groped his manhood.

While Toby was jacking off in the next room, Tom lay on his bed staring at the ceiling.  He was struggling with what he had done last night, what they had done.  It was wrong, and Tom knew it, but he was still trying to convince himself that they had done the right thing.  It sure didn’t feel right, but his brother had said it was. Toby had said it was what they needed to do.  Tom knew that you sometimes had to do things you didn’t like, but this seemed different.

Tom kept seeing that poor girl’s face.  It was a face that he had helped to ruin.  She was so small and frail and afraid.  Tom rolled onto his side and stared blankly at the clock on his bedside table, but didn’t see it.  All that Tom could see was that girl’s face as he climbed on top of her.  All he could feel was her trembling body as he penetrated her.  Tom felt nauseated at the memory and swallowed hard to keep it down.  He tried to focus on anything besides that memory to keep from vomiting.  He finally focused on numbers of his alarm clock.

Tom threw back the bed sheet and sat bolt upright.  It was late morning, and he had overslept.  Tom rubbed his eyes and his nausea subsided slightly.  Confused, he got up and poked his head out of his bedroom door.  The house was quiet.  Not entirely silent he decided.  He could hear moaning coming from Toby’s room.  However, there was no sound of his parents.  Usually, they were up and around early and often called Toby and him for breakfast.

Tom wandered out into the living room, still in his underwear.  There was no familiar scent of coffee, no smell of bacon or biscuits either.  Tom continued into the kitchen, and it was as still as a tomb.  He looked around the kitchen expectantly, but there was nothing.  Then Tom saw the note on the kitchen table.  His mom and dad had driven over to his aunt Vi’s house, something about some chickens.  Confused, Tom turned around and headed back to his room.

Tom decided he would take a shower and get dressed.  Then he could work this out with Toby.  Half way down the dark corridor to his room, Tom was startled as Toby stepped out into the hall.  Clad in only his underwear just as Tom was, Toby looked him up and down.  “Oh shit,” Tom said.  “You scared me.”

Toby only grinned.  It was a disarming smile that always put Tom at ease.  Finally, Toby asked, “What’s going on?”

“Mom and Dad are gone,” Tom replied, “They went over to Aunt Vi’s house.”

“What for?” Toby asked, dumbfounded.

“There was a note,” Tom said, “It said something about her chickens gone missing.”

Toby shrugged.  He turned toward the kitchen and asked, “What about breakfast?”

Tom replied, “No coffee, no breakfast, I guess we’re on our own.”

Toby huffed, irritated.  “Damn,” he said, “I need me some coffee.  Go make us a pot while I take a shower.”

“But I was going to take a shower,” Tom protested.  Then he saw the ire on Toby’s face.  He averted his eyes and said, “I guess I can get some coffee going.  Then I’ll take a shower after you’re done.”

Toby grunted and headed to the bathroom while Tom moped along into the kitchen.  Toby smiled inwardly.  Things were as they should be between him and Tom.  He thought about what the day had in store, and more importantly, the night.  Then Toby smiled outwardly.  He was in a good mood, breakfast, or no.  First, he and Tom had to get through a couple of mowers and a bush hog.  That shouldn’t take too long he figured.  Tom was a genius with a motor.

The Unger’s fix-it shop had been around since Toby’s dad had started the business back in the seventies.  Toby never much cared for the work.  It was too menial, and Toby knew that he was meant for greater things.  However, if his Dad wanted to pay him for keeping an eye on Tom, well that was just fine with Toby.  It sure beat the hell out of any other work he could find around Lusaoka.  Besides, Tom enjoyed it and didn’t mind doing it all.  It was a good gig Toby decided.

Toby started the shower and pondered what was next.  They had the rest of the day to get those few motors fixed, and that was it.  Unless something else came into the shop that was urgent, they could be finished a few hours.  Even if it were urgent, Toby could always tell them just to fuck off.  It’s not as if there was another place around here that did as good a job or was as cheap as the Ungers.  Hell, half the folks paid with food or another type of barter.

Once the fix-it shop crap was out of the way, Toby figured they could do some looking around for Ricky.  Then later tonight, Toby had plans of his own.  He licked his lips thinking about it.  Yup, tonight was going to be one special night for Toby Unger.  He could hardly wait, and as the warm water of the shower pelted his bare skin he grew another erection.

By the time, Tom got into the shower the water was only lukewarm.  Tom didn’t care; he needed this shower.  He felt somehow dirty this morning.  All Tom wanted to do was to forget about last night and just get on with business as usual.  He wanted to fix something, anything.  Tom had always found the greatest joy in working on an engine, any engine.  It was pure and deliberate.  Tom could lose himself in the engine.  He liked that, and he couldn’t understand why Toby didn’t feel the same way.

Tom finished his shower, and when he shut the water, he could smell the aroma of the coffee.  Tom breathed it in deeply; he liked coffee.  It was pure and deliberate too.  He only wished he was smelling bacon too.  Tom shrugged and toweled off.  He felt better.  He felt cleaner and more alive.  Things always seemed better after a shower, and Tom always felt better after a shower.  Tom smiled and started dressing, eager to have a cup of Joe.

While Tom was in the shower, Toby was enjoying a cup of coffee and a Pop-tart.  He’d retrieved the paper from the door step and was just settling down to read the sports when the front page caught his eye.  Usually, Toby ignored the regular news.  It always seemed just to piss him off, but this time he couldn’t ignore it.  A bunch of niggers in Missouri were up in arms and rioting because some cop shot and killed a criminal.  For Toby, this was just an excuse for their type to steal and run wild.  “Fucking niggers,” he said under his breath.

What pissed Toby off even more was how they were all making this thug out to be some Saint.  The papers told it like he was just minding his own business, but Toby knew different.  Toby knew those apes couldn’t be anything other than the animals they were, and the rioting just proved it.  They all lied for each other too.  Toby didn’t much like the police either, but he would take their word over a crowd of lying coons.

As Toby read on he became even angrier at the blacks in his own community.  He was so engrossed in the article he barely noticed Tom enter the room.  That shit would never fly in Mississippi; he thought to himself.  If those bastards tried that shit around here, they’d be strung up in short order, or better yet, just taken out into the woods and shot.  Toby threw the paper down in disgust.  Only then did he notice Tom sitting there.

Mildly surprised he asked, “Did you hear about this shit in Missouri?”

“What?” Tom asked both curious and a little afraid of Toby’s ire.

Toby pointed at the picture on the front page of the paper and said, “This shit in Ferguson.  Fucking rioting and protesting.”  Some spittle had come out with his comments and hit Tom in the face, but Toby paid it no attention.  He just hit the paper with the palm of his hand and continued.  “It’s about time the whites took this country back.  It’s about time we showed them just who’s boss.  This country is going down the tubes Tom, and we have to stop it.  We need to get our niggers in line or get rid of them.”