Chap 9 The Godfather

by Shin

 

 

 

Matt parked the SUV on the street. They crossed the street together to the square.

“I still feel the most horrible person for getting you to do this,” protested Sara.

“ I want to do this,” Matt returned, “ And I'm not just saying that. People all over the country are moving to smaller towns and starting over. Its nice to know what that experience is.”

They stood below the statue of Joseph Willard I, Founder, Willard, Country of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Then she turned around and pointed at the 3-storey house.

“It feels like seeing something in real life where you might have just heard of it before,” Matt commented.

Sara laughed.

“Don't get Wizard of Oz with me,” she warned. “ One godfather is more than I can handle.”

Instinctively, he reached out and hugged her. They stood there for a while oblivious to the flow of traffic and people walking past. She cried.

“ I don't know what to say,” he whispered hoarsely.

They held hands crossing the road and returned to the SUV. Mike's place was west of their location. They took the street roads and got there in a few minutes.

“He was a brilliant scholar, held the position of Dean of the Divinity School, USC for twelve years.” Sara spoke with enthusiasm as if it was related to what Matt thought about her. Matt figured by that, that it was what she wanted him to view her as. He thought he'll give it a fair shot.

Mike was boiling water for tea in the kitchen and as he let them in, the kettle set off.

They went into the living room and made themselves comfortable. He came in carrying a tray and set it on the table. It held a tea set and biscuits.

“ You're not from around here,” he said as he sat down, in a voice that rattled the window panes. His eyes were glassy. Matt realized that Sara didn't prepare him for this. It meant that she thought him up to it."

“Pennsylvania,” Matt responded, then diplomatically offered him more. “ My folks worked at the Baldwin Locomotive Company.”

Mike's manner softened instantly.

“It's the railroads that made this town. No doubt driven on Baldwin locomotives.”

“That would be a safe bet,” Mike replied.

“ With the police force in Jefferson?”

“ Six years,” Matt replied. He was thinking about his father. “ You get enough to do around here?”

“ Some,” he replied.

Matt cut in again, “ How's the game around here?”

 

“Big game? Plenty right here at the Blue Ridge mountains. And the fishing is great."

 

Mike turned to Sara.

 

“Is Florence okay?”

“Not up to having visitors,” that's the official word. “ She's had a relapse but she said we might drop in tomorrow. But how are you doing?”

They had sat on the sofa together.

He adjusted the crease on his pants before replying, “ I'm holding together. “ Then he shot back. “ You two met long?”

“One and a half weeks,” she replied.

“ That's more than one and a half weeks in my case.” He turned to Matt. “ Love at first sight,” he announced.

“That still happens.” Matt experienced a volitional collaboration. He was beginning to like the old coot.

“I hope so,” the old boy said, “ One moment you are Michael Gardener and then you are prince Valiant.”

Matt laughed.

“ Then all you have to do is protect your princess from the dragon,” he continued. Then he turned to look at Sara and back at Matt. “ What's the matter. You don't believe me?”

Matt took a moment to compose himself and then replied,

“ Its a lovely ideal. If we could only defend ourselves from the claws of the dragon.”

“What's this?” Mike responded, “ not the fire or the thorny tail?”

“I think he means the touch in the relationship,” Sara offered.

Her comment caught Matt off balance. He had to continue feeding his fire, and he had little option with regards to fuel.

“Or the lack of it,” he replied. “ Its a two person job.”

“ Well put knight,” he replied, suddenly revealing a sense of the playful.

Matt had to grip something physical. So he turned to Sara to make it real.

“ Eight years fighting a war of which the real fighting was done the first four years. I'm telling myself I can't find my way back to the school gym. Then I meet her and I'm wrestling with things fairly well now. It's been a great break.”

Sara mouthed the words, ' You're sweet!'

Mike was silent for a while. Then suddenly bursts forth with,

“Now I'll have something to tell the Aliens!”

 

Reviews

[Marie]

Now you've introduced Mike, andhe seems a likeable character too.