What a Peach - A Southern Story
By Chris James
Chapter 6
Charlie awoke to the smell of coffee on the boil and bacon frying down in his kitchen. It had been years since he had been awakened this way and his first thoughts were of his mother. He knew that Brad had taken over down there, a warm and reassuring thought. The boy was remarkable in so many ways and that made him dear.
Charlie managed to swing his legs off the bed and immediately regretted it. The throbbing in his leg resumed as blood rushed downwards. Better to leave it elevated, he thought. But he had to get up and answer nature's call. He struggled to grip the edge of the bureau and slide his useless leg across the floor.
"And where do you think you're going?" Brad said from the doorway.
"Gotta pee now," Charlie said.
"I thought of that," Brad said pointing to an empty Mason jar on the bureau.
"I'm not that helpless," Charlie said.
"No, you're not but I don't want your leg to start bleeding again," Brad said and he fetched the jar. "Want me to hold it?"
"Don't press your luck," Charlie said. He snagged the jar and fell back against the bed. "Do I get any privacy for this?"
Brad turned his back as Charlie used the jar and then set it on the floor beside the bed. He looked at the clock which said nine-thirty. Probably time he should be calling Doc Bennett's office.
"Brad would you drag the phone over here?"
The boy brought him the phone and then went downstairs to attend to breakfast. Charlie thought a moment and then dialed. The conversation with Bennett was brief and to the point. An accident, Charlie explained, shot himself in the leg like a damn fool. Bennett asked if he wanted an ambulance to the hospital in Statesboro. Charlie said he thought a few stitches would solve the problem and Bennett offered to drive out in a few hours.
Brad and Danny appeared at the door with breakfast on a tray. Maybe this invalid thing was going to be a blessing, Charlie thought as he dove into the eggs and bacon.
"Doc Bennett said he would be out later this morning," Charlie said," But we might be seeing Deputy Lyle out here this afternoon."
"Why's that?" Brad asked.
"Call it a feeling if you want but Lyle is Doc Bennett's nephew and word travels fast in Stony Creek. Not every day that somebody gets himself shot around here. Besides, I'm sure he is still curious about you."
"What will we do with Danny, should he hide?"
"Lyle doesn't know a thing," Charlie said, "But I suppose Danny might raise a few more questions. He can stay upstairs if Lyle shows up. As for you, we just say your brother wasn't there and no one knew when he was coming back. I couldn't leave you there alone so I brought you back with me."
"What's with this guy Lyle," Danny asked.
"He's a closet case with a badge," Brad explained," Just like that guy Shenkie in the City."
"Oh, him. Yeah, I'll hide out until he's gone," Danny said.
"I suggest you think about how to get hold of your Uncle Jessie, Danny. I don't want to rush you out the door but it might be safer for all of us," Charlie suggested.
"Understood," Danny said. "I'm glad that Brad can stay and I won't worry about him if I know he's with you."
After his breakfast the boys helped Charlie hobble down the stairs where they sat him on the couch.
"I feel like a helpless old lady," Charlie laughed.
"You're anything but helpless after what you pulled off yesterday," Danny said.
"Don't suppose there will be anything on the news here," Charlie said.
"I looked at the news an hour ago but didn't see anything," Brad said.
"Maybe the Journal will have something," Charlie said. "I'll send you over to Mrs. Winters later on, she gets the morning newspaper."
"Can I use the phone Charlie?" Danny asked. "I guess I better call Detroit."
"Sure, use the one up in my room if you want some privacy," Charlie said.
Brad and Danny went upstairs so Charlie clicked on the television and ran through the channels. He settled on CNN figuring they would be the only ones to carry any news about Miami. The boys were talking upstairs and he wondered if they had gotten through to Danny's uncle. His eyes followed the news tape running across the bottom of the television screen and caught the words Miami and organized crime, the story was coming up.
"Brad...Danny," he yelled. "Get down here."
The boys tumbled down the stairs as Charlie boosted the volume on the television.
"A new twist to the story out of Miami concerning two men arrested in connection with the attempted robbery of a Walgreen's store in Coral Gables yesterday. A third man charged in connection with the incident has been identified as Alan Lamont from New York City. Lamont has been under investigation by New York police in connection with prostitution and money laundering charges handed down by a Grand Jury this past spring. A reliable source within the department says the FBI has also shown interest in Lamont over what can only be described as illegal sales of child pornography.
"Miami police raided Lamont's Coral Gables condominium within hours of the robbery attempt and hauled away suitcases full of film making equipment, computers and video tapes. Many of the videos confiscated we are told contain pornographic images of minors. The Miami police detective who leads this investigation said that he is meeting with the FBI later today in connection with what they found in the apartment.
"When asked, Detective Bradley refused to comment directly on the case. But he did say that police were busy looking for the two boys that ran from the scene of the robbery and feel that they may have already left the state. He said the crime lab was working on composite pictures of the two boys based upon photographs captured by the security cameras in the store. We'll have further information on this case tomorrow morning at ten o'clock when the Miami police plan to hold a news conference to release new details in the case. That's all from Miami, this is..."
Charlie snapped off the television. "Aw, shit," he said.
"Damn, Charlie, they got our pictures," Danny said.
"I was wearing a hat and there was a lot of smoke," Brad said," Maybe they won't get a clear picture."
"All they need is a clue, Brad and you star in a couple of Lamont's videos, it won't take long to add the two together. I imagine the videos have some pretty clear shots of your faces," Charlie said.
"Yeah, they do," Danny said, "I've seen them."
"You watched the movies?" Brad asked.
"I got bored and Lamont got a kick out of showing them to me," Danny said. "It was us doing it but the movie made it seem so unreal. I didn't realize how close up they showed some of the stuff we did."
Charlie shook his head. "I'm afraid that tomorrow morning we'll see pictures of you two on television and then the whole country will know your faces. I'd be afraid to put Danny on a bus after that, too many people will be looking for you guys."
"We could dye my hair," Danny said.
"Me too," Brad said.
"Lyle has already seen you as you really are Brad. The minute they send out a notice to all the police he'll see it and come right here. And every cop between here and Detroit will have the pictures, Danny."
"But they'll be looking for a boy, won't they? What if I become a girl for a while?" Danny said.
Charlie looked at the boy and raised his eyebrows. "You think you could pull that off?"
Brad laughed. "You should see him, Charlie. His own mother didn't recognize him when he puts on drag."
"And you should go Gothic like you did at Halloween, Brad. It was totally not you in that getup." Danny laughed," He really looked like shit, Charlie."
"Oh, I kind of like him the way he is, but I see your point. Will this work?"
"Leave it to us, but we'll need some things from the drugstore and some clothes I'll bet we can't get around here."
"I need lots of black clothes and some leather too," Brad said. "But Charlie, I'm gonna have to shave my head."
"Oh, all that pretty blonde hair, what a shame. Let's do it," Charlie said. "Make a list of stuff and I'll get it. But wait, I can't even walk into a store."
"You're right," Danny said. "Shit, wish I had a dress to wear."
"Dress?" Charlie said. "What kind?"
"Your sister," Brad yelled, "You have her clothes?"
"There are all kinds of her things up in the attic, why don't you go look?"
The boys started to head for the stairs when Brad froze and looked out the window. "Charlie, there's a car coming up the drive."
"What kind?" Charlie asked.
"An old one, Buick I think."
"That will be Doc Bennett. You and Danny have to disappear for a while. Go check out the attic."
The boys quickly moved up the stairs and Charlie tried to leverage himself up off the couch. His leg hurt but at least he could move a little better today. He managed to hobble over to the front door and open it just as the doctor got out of his car.
"Hey, Doc," Charlie called out, "Come on in."
He hobbled back towards the kitchen as Doc Bennett opened the screen door. Charlie plopped down in a chair at the table.
"Seems like you can move around a bit," Doc said.
"Couldn't hardly move yesterday though," Charlie replied.
Bennett moved another chair around the table and sat down. "Let's take a look at that," he said.
He braced Charlie's foot up on the chair and began to unwrap the bandages around the calf. "You did a good job of first aid."
"It bled a bit and so I packed the holes with antiseptic and gauze."
"So I see. It might take a bit to get that packing out of the wound. Looks like the bleeding stopped real good."
Doc got up and put some water in the teapot and turned on the stove. He opened his medical bag and took out some instruments and several syringes. "I'll give you a shot of antibiotic to fight off the infection. You really should have taken yourself to the hospital, Charlie."
"Couldn't drive and I can't stand ambulances. Word would be all over town what a damn fool I was."
Doc chuckled, "You're right about that."
Doc filled the syringe and gave Charlie a shot in the arm. He examined the upper thigh for traces of blood poisoning but didn't see anything wrong. The kettle on the stove started to boil and Doc turned it off. He took a bowl down from the cupboard and mixed water from the tap with some of the hot water. With another syringe he drew some of the water and flushed the gauze stuck to Charlie's wounds.
"This will hurt a mite," Doc said.
"Won't be as bad as getting shot," Charlie said.
Doc took a forceps and began to work the gauze out of the wound. He applied more water until the crusted blood gave up the packing. Charlie gritted his teeth as Doc lifted away the bloody mess.
"Looks clean, all right. Lucky the bullet went right through. I suppose I could give you a local and stitch you up but I wish you'd let me drive you over to the hospital. It might take half a dozen stitches to close up the wound."
"Just do what you can, Doc. I've been shot before and I healed pretty fast."
"I remember your Daddy telling me you got shot up when you were in the Marines," Doc said.
"Twice," Charlie said and pulled up his shirt to show Doc the scar on his arm and the one on his shoulder. "Guess I just wasn't moving fast enough."
"So how did this happen?" Doc asked as he loaded another syringe with the anesthetic.
"I bought a 9 mm pistol that last time I was in Atlanta. Never fired the damn thing until yesterday and I forgot that there was a shell in the chamber. The slide kicked back and wham. At least it was pointed down at the ground. Dumb mistake, won't do that again."
"I hope not. I remember when you and Brian were little, always fascinated with guns. Just about scared your momma to death as I recall. She was a fine woman, prettiest gal in town, rest her soul."
"I believe you're right," Charlie said. "And I believe I never really thanked you enough for all you did during her last days, Doc. I know you were a great comfort to her during those bad times."
"Well, sometimes people think medicine men like me can cure anything but it just isn't true. I thought about retiring after she died. Her last days were quite a trial for me Charlie, and the only thing that kept me going was her abiding trust in God. I just hope I'm as brave when the Lord calls me up yonder."
"She had a great spirit," Charlie agreed.
"Now look," Doc said, "This will sting a mite so don't go moving around."
He poked the needle in Charlie's calf and injected the milky liquid in the syringe.
Charlie gasped at the pain and then felt his leg go numb. It was the first time in twenty-four hours that he felt no pain from the wound.
Doc slipped on a pair of surgical gloves and opened a bottle of antiseptic wash. He swabbed down the area around the wound, front and back. He plucked a sterile package of surgical thread from his bag and Charlie saw it was already fitted through the eye of a curved needle.
It was interesting to watch the Doc sew up his wounds and not feel a thing. Charlie was no fool; the pain would come back later.
"I brought you some pain pills from the office, probably enough to last you a few days. I want you to stay off the leg until Wednesday and then I want you to get yourself down to the office so I can redress the wound. Keep it dry until then and take a sponge bath if you must bathe. I'll cut the stitches out later next week but you be careful not to pop those wounds open. No running around, you hear?"
"Yes sir," Charlie said.
Doc was chuckling. "I remember the first time I put stitches in you. Guess you were about five or six when you fell out of that peach tree and knocked yourself on the head. Your Daddy held you as I sewed you up. You were pretty brave and promised not to cry if I gave you a piece of candy. I recall you were real disappointed when I didn't have any more but you didn't complain."
Doc reached in his bag and pulled out a red sucker on a stick. "This is for being that good little boy back then, I owe it to you."
Charlie smiled and took the candy. "Thanks Doc. Don't know how this town would do without you."
"Well we're gonna find out pretty soon, I recon. I closing up the office come fall and retiring. Figure by then I'll find some young doctor to take my place. Maybe then you and I can go after some catfish, how's about that?"
"I'd love that," Charlie said," You just let me know when."
"All right boy, I'll see you Wednesday. Any problems you just call me, ok?"
"Sure Doc, I'll let you know."
"I'll see myself out. You stay off that leg, you hear?"
"Yes sir."
Charlie sat at the table with the cherry sucker in his mouth and remembered how close his mother was to the doctor. They had grown up together and Charlie figured that somewhere in the past they might have been sweethearts. He had wondered about that, especially when his momma had become so sick. Poor Doc had been the one to tell her it was cancer. But he never left her side when the illness was at its worst.
Charlie got up from the table and hobbled back into the living room, careful not to place his full weight on the wounded leg. He made it to the door in time to see Doc pulling away. It was because of people like Doc that Charlie stayed in Stony Creek. A better place than most, he thought. And it would be a perfect place if it weren't for Lyle.
He'd have to keep an eye out for the deputy. It had been fourteen years since Charlie had ended their relationship but he knew Lyle still held a grudge. Not that Lyle had done anything about it during all that time but something just didn't feel right after that visit the week before.
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