Last of the Summer Tomatoes (25 page)

Within thirty minutes, headlights came down the road. A few moments later, a gray-haired man in jeans and a t-shirt came into the barn.

“What do we have here?” Doc sat a bag down next to the stall.

“Twins, Doc. Second one’s stuck.” Walt gave the cow a reassuring rub on the nose.

“Ah, I see.” Doc squatted down to start his examination. “Doesn’t look good, Walt. You might need to make a decision; the cow or the calf.”

Kyle had never seen such pain now showing in Walt’s eyes. He knew Walt loved these animals, took great care to keep them healthy and comfortable. Walt took his eyes off the cow for a moment. “The cow. She has one to feed that’s healthy.”

Doc nodded. “I’ll try to save both, you know.” He dug in his bag to pull out a large syringe. “Let’s see if we can get her contractions started again. It’s best she push this one out herself, dead or alive.”

The group waited for what seemed like an eternity; within forty minutes, the cow twitched, obviously in some pain as her legs kicked. A huge gush of fluid flowed out, followed by two feet.

“Sam, help me pull. Walt, keep her as calm as you can.” Doc wrapped a rope around the emerging feet. He and Sam started to gently pull. The body came out with no signs of life. Doc went to work to try to save the calf, administering meds while Sam tried to breathe life into it, unfortunately to no avail.

What happened next would stay with Kyle the rest of his life. All three men had tears in their eyes, crying over a lost life, a beautiful animal. Kyle had only just recently allowed himself to feel, to express emotions and still felt guilty when he did. For three grown men to cry, in front of him, to show such vulnerability and all this toward an animal… he finally understood. Hank had been wrong, so wrong about so many things. Men were allowed to feel, to have emotions. Hank was definitely emotionally stunted. He let his own tears fall. A tap on the shoulder made him turn around. Glenda was behind him, her eyes glassy as well.

“I’m sorry, Kyle, but we need to leave soon.”

Kyle looked around, not realizing the sun was up and time had flown by. Walt came over to him first, wiping his eyes as he did.

“Son, it’s been an honor to know you, to work with you. I know I speak for all of us when I say we’d love to have you back, anytime.” Walt enveloped him in a large hug, ending with a kiss to the temple. “You have a safe trip back to the city.”

Kyle nodded. “Thanks, Walt.”

Sam walked up to him next, taking his hand. “This isn’t how I… I don’t want to say good-bye, you know.”

“I know.”

“E-mail? Phone calls?”

Kyle nodded, holding back the tears he wanted to shed for Sam. “Yeah. I’ll send you my address as soon as I get settled. Good luck at State.”

“Thanks.” Sam leaned in to give him a kiss, then a hug. Once he stepped back, all Kyle wanted to do was move right back into that embrace. Glenda’s voice brought him back to the realism of the moment.

“We need to go if we’re going to make the bus.”

Kyle looked away from those vivid green eyes, those eyes that had taught him so much, that showed him love like he’d never known. Walt walked over to Sam.

“Come on, son, we need to bury her. Let’s get the surviving calf back to her mother.”

Sam turned toward his father, breaking their gaze. Kyle thought he saw a subtle sign of regret, or pain, but then they were heading out of the barn with shovels.

Doc Cooper stood up from the cow, encouraging her to stand. “Good to meet you, Kyle. Maybe we’ll cross paths again.” He extended his hand, Kyle shook it.

Glenda put her hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “Let’s go now.”

“Nice to meet you, Doc.” He turned toward Glenda. “Okay, I’m ready. My things are by the front door.”

“I put them in the car already.”

“Thanks.”

Glenda pulled him into a big hug, her hand cradling the back of his head. “I’m going to miss you so much.” She pulled back, handing Kyle a few brochures. “For your mother. I got online and requested some information from shelters in the city. From one survivor to another.”

Kyle took the brochures from her. He devised a plan right there to get help for his mother.

T
HE
ride back to town was quiet, much like the ride he took just a few short months ago. But now it was not apprehension Kyle felt, but loss. Like he was losing part of himself. The bus was waiting when they pulled up, the driver rearranging luggage in the underside stowaway. Kyle handed his off, then turned to Glenda.

“I guess this is it.”

“But it’s never good-bye. I mean it, I want you to come visit or come back next summer.”

“I don’t know… Sam and I….”

“You two will always have a special connection. I would hope that no matter what your lives bring you, whether it’s back to each other or with others, that you could still be friends.”

“I… I love him, you know.”

“I know. He’s easy to love.”

“And I love you and Walt. I don’t know… I don’t think I could have said that a few months ago.”

“Keep holding on to those feelings. Know they are natural and real and… reciprocated.”

“Thanks.” Kyle stepped toward the bus.

“Oh, wait!” Glenda pulled an envelope out of her purse. “Your earnings for the summer. I hope it takes care of some of your tuition.”

Kyle took the envelope, peering at the check. “Wait, Glenda, this is more… a
lot
more than what the agreement was for.”

“You saved Walt so much money, you took good care of the animals, helped create a greenhouse, which will keep us in vegetables and herbs all year long, saving grocery trips… it’s what you earned.”

“But I—”

“You want an itemized list?” Glenda raised an eyebrow, giving him a smirk.

Kyle shook his head. He never thought he’d get used to Glenda’s teasing, but now… he was going to miss it so much. He walked back to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“Be sure to send me your address. Might have to send you a care package or two.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes I do. Figure I’ll make one for you and Sam at the same time. But I expect regular reports back. Can you do that?”

Kyle smiled. “Yeah, I can do that. Might send you a sketch or two.”

“I’d love that.” The bus driver honked the horn. “Looks like you’d better get going.”

Kyle stepped up onto the bus, turning around once more. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re very welcome. Love you.”

Kyle nodded, taking his seat in the back so he could watch Glenda as long as possible. She didn’t move, just stood there waving until the bus rounded the corner and she was out of sight.

Twenty

T
HE
bus ride back to the city was uneventful. Kyle kept looking at his old sketches, his mind replaying the memories they conjured. He felt his heart tightening, his throat burning, to know he wouldn’t know that type of love possibly ever again. All too soon, the familiar skyline of New York filled his vision, the bus making its way to the juvenile correction center where he’d be processed and hopefully, his record expunged. He was processed along with all the other boys that were on the bus, getting his paperwork and signing off on the program. He was now a free… man.

He stepped out into the bright sunshine, the noise of the city assaulting his ears. Cars, people, shops, even a news helicopter overhead… it was culture shock. He saw his mom waving to him from their old beater of a car. He got in, giving her a small hug.

“Glad you’re home, sweetie.”

“Good to be home, Mom.” Kyle noticed the caked makeup over one eye.

“I hope you don’t mind, we boxed up a few of your things to help you move to your college room.”

“That’s fine. Thank you.”

Kyle was left to his thoughts as his mother weaved in and out of traffic the few short blocks back to their apartment. His room was boxed up all right, everything in boxes, nothing personal left anywhere, not even on the dresser, in the drawers, in the closet. It was as if he had never lived there. He wanted his bedroom back, and not this square room he’d lived in for eighteen years. He wanted his room at the farm back. He plopped down on the bed, looking at the four plain walls that made his prison. At least he’d be gone in two days, into a room he could call all his own, where he could hole up and draw or read or whatever he wanted. Two days. He could do it. He just had to stay away from Hank for forty-eight hours.

And he did. Two days later, after ducking into the kitchen for minimal amounts of food while he knew Hank was asleep and taking a shower after Hank when to work, he was on the curb with his boxes, waiting for the van his mother had rented to take him to his new home. He had just dropped an envelope into the mail, addressed to his mother at her work. He hoped she’d take the brochures to heart. He made himself comfortable on the bottom step of the stoop.

“Hey, heard you were back.”

Kyle turned to see Billy walking up the block. “Yeah, back a couple days ago.”

“Why didn’t you call?”

“Hank had my cell disconnected when I left, and he changed the Wi-Fi password so I couldn’t log into my computer. Sorry, I was going to contact you this evening when I got settled in my new place.”

“Hank’s a jerk.” Billy sat down next to him.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I missed ya this summer. Wasn’t the same without you.”

“At least you stayed out of trouble.”

“Guess that’s a blessing. No more beat downs at home.”

“I wish you could get out of that house.”

“Another year, then I can go to trade school.”

“You figured out what you want to do?”

“Auto mechanic. I’m not book smart but good with my hands. And everyone will need a mechanic sooner or later, right?”

“I think that fits you very well.”

“You look… different.”

“I feel different. I told you I met someone. He was… is special.”

“You gonna be able to see him?”

“Nah… he goes to State. But yeah, he helped me deal with a lot of crap, made me realize I could have a relationship with someone.” Kyle nudged Billy. “I see you grew a good inch or so. Finally feeling good in your own skin?”

“Better. I… I asked Melinda out on a date last weekend.”

“That’s cool! She said yes, right?”

Billy looked away, a little blush across his face. “Yeah, she said yes. We went to Jed’s Deli and to a movie. She… she let me kiss her.”

“Aw man, that’s awesome.”

“I’m gonna miss you. I mean, I missed you over the summer, but to know you’re only going to be across town… it’ll be different.”

“We grow up, things change. But we’ll have chat. I’m going to get my cell reconnected in my name. We’ll meet up for a sandwich or coffee.”

“It just won’t be the same….”

“It can’t stay the same. That’s one thing I learned this summer. Things change, and a lot of the time it’s for the good.” Kyle noticed the red rental van coming up the block. “My ride’s here. Look, as soon as I have all the details, I’ll contact you. You can come over, we’ll hang out. I’ll introduce you to some college chicks, that is, unless you’re really serious about Melinda.”

“We’ve had one date!”

“Teasing dude. But enjoy being with her. Although keep it safe, right?”

“I’m not making that mistake.”

“Good.” The van stopped right in front of them. With Billy’s and the driver’s help, his boxes were loaded in a few minutes.

“I’ll contact you tonight. Good luck in school this semester, ’kay?”

“Will do.”

Kyle hesitantly stepped forward, then gave Billy a big hug. He’d never been a fan of hugs until this summer. He was pleasantly surprised to feel Billy hug him back.

“Take care now, keep your nose clean.”

“I swear. No blowing up the chem lab or anything.”

Kyle patted his shoulder. “Good.” He got in the van with the driver and gave Billy a wave as they drove off.

K
YLE
closed the door behind him, finally alone, on his own. Boxes lined the walls, his art supplies already on his desk. The living area was small, but it would suit him. He had a small fridge, a stove that was a little more than a hot plate, and a microwave. His bed was in one corner, a desk in the other, and a small bathroom off to the side that he shared with the next room. This was all his… but it didn’t feel like home, probably never would. Although where his mother and Hank lived was no longer what he considered “home. No, home was the farm, the one place he’d probably never see again. No matter what Glenda said, he didn’t think he could see Sam again without it hurting too much.

He wondered if Sam was back in Albany now, if he was back in his room, surrounded by his friends. He took a deep breath and started to dig into the boxes, finding places for the few things he had. He took special care to hang up his leather jacket and the rest of the clothes Glenda had bought him. Even with his scholarship and the money he made over the summer, it was going to be a long while before he could afford new clothes or new anything. He had already registered for classes online, thus he knew what his free hours would be so he could get a job. His first goal for the next day was doing just that – getting a job He had noticed quite a few restaurants and coffee shops nearby. One of them had to need a resourceful, hardworking kid to do something.