Second Street// Part Four

A Story by David

Second Street

Part Four

His pace was measured, neither hurried nor slack, just enough to move him through this neighborhood, hopefully without altercation. Passing the discount gas station, Charlie looked in the window and got an uneasy feeling. The clerk behind the counter had his hands in the air. There was a man holding a gun on him and waving it wildly. Charlie kept walking but with greater haste not wishing to be a victim. He was almost past the place when there was a resounding Crack! Crack! He glanced over his shoulder and saw a skinny young black man slam the door open and start running, he was carrying a brown paper sack. Fortunately for Charlie he ran in the opposite direction. Charlie arrived at Bud’s and was never so glad to see an open door in his life.

He quickly found his former seat and sat. Bud came over, Charlie? what’ll it be? Hi Bud, give me a double jack neat. His drink delivered, he went to grab the glass and found his hands shaking so badly he had to use both hands so as not to spill the much needed liquid. He downed the double in one big gulp. Bud, I’ll have another. Again delivered and once more a two handed grasp required. Bud stood in front of him and asked, you ok? You seem a bit rattled? His usually gravely booming voice seemed just a bit different. Bud, I just saw a man get shot! Well to be exact didn’t actually see but was right there as it was happening. Scared the s**t out of me! I was lucky the punk ran the other way. Where did this happen Bud asked? Charlie responded with all the information at his disposal .Son of a b***h Bud almost shouted. I know that kid that was working. He comes in every few days. Really nice quiet kid, always minds his own business. Bud moved to the phone and called the police. He had a somewhat short conversation and hung up the phone. He poured almost a full glass of Jack and slid it in front of Charlie. It’s on me man. The first few shots having had time to kick in had calmed him fairly well and no longer required two hands.

Have you ever seen anyone shot, Charlie asked. Bud responded by pulling a sawed off shotgun from behind the bar and laying it right in front of Charlie. Let’s put it this way. I had some doper try to rob me once. He had a 22 Caliber and was high as a kite. I pretended to give him the money and when he went to grab for it I grabbed the gun and broke his arm. Then I beat the snot out of him with his own gun. The cops came and got what I left for them. These days I just don’t play, as he patted the shotgun. Just as he was returning the gun to its place the door popped open and two men came in. Bud met them, shook hands and pointed at Charlie. The men were local detectives and came to sit next to Charlie. They introduced themselves and asked if he had seen a shooting? He responded just as he had to Bud. He gave them the best description he could and apologized for not being more helpful. He asked them about the victim. Will he be ok? Sorry pal, came the reply. That scanky doper put two in his brain! Goddamned low life scum! We’ll be in touch. You’re at 101 Second Street, right? Yes sir, he said.

The bar was slowly filling up. This was many more people than previously and having people around him was comforting. The juke box played some oldies, picked out by what looked to him to be a Viet Nam veteran. He was pretty sure he was right. The man had a slight limp, was wearing a field jacket that had patches from the 101rst Airborne as well as a patch for marksmanship. He had a grizzled look to him and appeared to be around sixty. The music he played set him in just that era. White Rabbit, Age of Aquarius, Mello Yellow, Yellow Submarine etcetera. Charlie liked the music of that era and stopped the man as he passed. You have good taste in music Charlie said. My name is Charlie. They shook hands and the other man introduced himself as Jeff and was indeed a Viet Nam vet. Jeff seemed to scream everything rather than quietly talk. Charlie wondered if he might be partially deaf due to his volume but refrained from asking. Jeff sat down and Charlie bought him a drink. Jeff reeked of stale tobacco and it was pretty offensive but Charlie was just glad to have someone to talk to. As acquaintances of Jeff’s passed by he would stop them and introduce them to Charlie. There must have been fifty people here today. Jukebox blaring out its secrets and setting the tone of the bar. There were half a dozen folks playing darts and pool games in progress. The quiet tinging of the electronic machines paying out points, lights flashing. There were three large screen televisions mounted at ceiling level around the room and were broadcasting the days college football games. Charlie noticed several large white papers behind the bar and asked Jeff about them. Oh those? Just the weekly football pools, came the reply. You know, squares.

Jeff had gotten several rounds of drinks, others had sent the pair rounds in addition. One of the rounds had come from a Korean fellow named Jack. Jack had a massive pair of guns on him. Charlie asked Jeff about him. Jeff told him that Jack was a nice enough guy when sober but was always one drink away from falling over the cliff. Jeff said when this happens, stay out of the way, go to the toilet or leave, just don’t be near him. He said that jack was heavily into doing pushups and sometimes did over a thousand a day. It was no wonder his arms were so massive. He was sitting directly across from Charlie and was staring directly at him. A kind of intense grin. Charlie did his best to avoid the gaze his mind thinking over what Jeff had told him. Charlie was getting pretty drunk but had no desire to leave and make that trek back through the murder scene. He started to order beer. He had just about had all he could stand when suddenly his eyes were covered from behind. Soft hands. There was a whisper in his ear. Guess who and a quick nibble to his ear lobe. Pam he said excitedly as he turned on the stool almost falling off. Jeff was courteous and moved over so she could sit.

She was wearing those jeans that he adored seeing her in, A tight sweater showing off her curves and a pair of heels that made him wonder how she could walk. She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. She lingered just an extra second before settling back. Bud came by and brought her usual. I was thinking about you all week Charlie stuttered. And what were you thinking, came the reply. Good? Bad? Not bad. No definitely not bad he stammered. His mouth was having a hard time working and this made her smile. Hard day hon, she queried? Charlie responded with all his blurry details of the robbery, murder. Jeff said , Holy S**t, I knew that guy! Pam put her hand to his cheek and looked at him in a manner that made him feel warm. Sympathetic. As he stared back drunkenly he noticed her eyes for the first time. They were a wonderful, hazel with specks of brown here and there. He had a hard time looking elsewhere. He just wanted to hold her. He handed a few dollars and asked her to play some music, believing she would pick out romantic slow songs. He loved the sight of her, the juke box light showing off her body. He was not disappointed with her selections and got up to greet her return. Dance with me Pam, he urged. There were several other couples on the floor but he paid no attention. He just wanted his arms around her and some human contact. As they moved, she laid her head against his chest. He could feel the warmth of her body and was relieved from the happenings of the day. He was kind of unsteady but she propped him up and they danced. She asked, Charlie do have anything to drink at your place? Pam? What do you think? She told him they should leave and go to his place. He said , I would love that but I can’t have you walking back through that scene! Charlie , I have a car, I’ll take you home, ok? They bid Jeff and Bud as well as a few new people goodnight, gathered their coats scarves and handbags and left. As the bar door opened a blast of frigid air hit him in the face and he took a deep breath, turning up his collar. She pointed to a car across the street, A late model BMW 325I. Fancy he said! Shut up and get in she replied playfully. She unlocked his door and made sure he didn’t fall down . If he did she would have trouble picking him up. Finally seated she shut his door and got behind the wheel. Where to? He pointed and she drove. It took a few short minutes by car. As they drove she turned every few seconds. His eyes were closing fast. Charlie, stay awake. I need to know where you live she said. He managed the task but barely. She pulled the car into the drive behind his and parked. She got out and walked to the passenger’s side. He was already asleep or passed out. She opened the door and shook him severely. Charlie ! Wake up! It took a few minutes but she did manage to revive him. He managed to find his legs and with her supporting him made it to the front door. He fumbled for several minutes with the keys and finally beside herself she took the keys and opened the door to the warmth of his new house.

She peeled off his coat and pushed him onto the sofa. Charlie? Where is the liquor? He was groggy and said, kitchen. She found her way , found the liquor , ice and poured a couple drinks. Coming back into the living room she saw he was sleeping again. She sat down next to him and took a big gulp of Jack. Pam proceeded to pull a packet from her purse and a credit card and dollar bill. She laid out several lines of cocaine and chopped at them with the card, finally forming several lines. She rolled up the bill and snorted one of the lines. Charlie woke suddenly as though from a nightmare. Pam? Where are we? Your home Charlie she assured him. Your safe. She picked the glass she had poured for him and handed it to him. He took it from her and took a swig. How long have we been here? Not long she said. What’s that he motioned to the table? Pam said here and handed him the bill. Try this, it will sober you up. He was apprehensive but wished to please her and really needed to get right. What do I do he asked? She told him just suck the powder into your nostril. Believe me you will feel better in no time. He did as he was told. It took a few minutes but he seemed to liven up a bit. Pam laid out two more lines and they each did one. He seemed to become a bit more lucid all the time. They took some sips of their drinks and talked. They talked late into the night. Some jack followed by new lines of coke.