(Meet the Grumps)

YEARS AGO

(Evan)

Three hours ago I was wiping down the counter at a bar. I had chased the last two customers out the door and scooped up the nightly drunk - a guy named Billy - and carried him through the kitchen and plopped him out back on a milk crate. I dug his cell phone out of his pocket and called his sister to come get him. He’d get paid on Friday and piss it all away at the bar by Monday.

I didn’t even bother getting changed. I was going to an interview at a welding shop. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if it was considered an interview. Through research and luck I was able to track down someone in my family. Good old Uncle Davey. I had heard stories about him when I was younger and he was my only chance at finding something that would stick in my life.

Sleeping in my truck, working random jobs, lying about my age so I could work in a bar, it was all catching up to me. I spent my days hungover with regret and my nights staring at the clock, waiting for day to come again. It was my new normal. Since that night in the hospital with Adena. After the accident with Anna.

I chased those thoughts, memories, and the heartache away as I dug around my truck for a few bucks to stop and get a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. I ate the sandwich, drank the coffee, and smoked my last cigarette. Then I drove to the shop.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but when I first pulled into the lot, I reached across the seat for the address and directions scribbled on an empty envelope and wondered if I had written down the wrong information. Because this place was a complete shit hole. There were cars, trucks, motorcycles everywhere, everything in pieces. The building itself had nothing written on the front. No sign. Nothing that suggested that it was a real and functioning business.

I parked my truck anyway and walked to the main door. When I opened it, I was first surprised that the door was unlocked, but I was then surprised even more when I saw two men in the small office, looking at a small TV on the counter.

One looked at me. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Evan,” I said.

“Evan,” the other man said. He wrestled to stand up and reached for a cane. He looked at the other man. “Winston. Go back to work. I’m going to spend some time here with my great-nephew.”

“Family, huh?” Winston asked.

“Family,” I said.

Winston walked to me. He looked like a miserable prick. “If you work here, don’t get in my fucking way.”

Winston walked to another door and was gone.

“How about we go out front and have us a smoke?” the remaining guy - obviously Uncle Davey - said.

“Sure.”

“You’re not some healthy punk that’s going to tell me smokes are bad for me, right?”

“Not a chance.”

I opened the door and held it for him. When he got close enough, he gave me a whack on my leg with his cane.

“What the hell?” I yelled.

“Don’t hold the door for me like I’m some old crippled man. Get outside.”

Outside, Uncle Davey lit up a smoke. He eyed me, waiting for me to do the same.

“I’m out,” I said. “Smoked my last one coming here.”

“Christ,” Uncle Davey muttered.

He tossed me the smokes. I stole one, lit it up, and threw the smokes back to Uncle Davey.

“So you wanna work here?” he asked.

“It’s why I’m here,” I said.

“Didn’t go to college?”

“Seriously?”

Uncle Davey started to laugh. “Born into hell, huh, kid? I know the feeling. Damn shame about your family. Our family.”

“I’m not losing sleep over it.”

“You’re tough on the outside, like me.”

“What choice do we have? You either push forward or die.”

“Well, if you work here, you’re going to hate it. Business is pretty much failing anyway. Probably a hundred things you could do out there on your own.”

“Look,” I said. “I’m getting away from a world of shit right now. You’re the last known family I could find. I’m not going to ask you questions about my mother. About my father. I don’t give a shit. I’m not going to ask you about this place, your past, whatever. I don’t give a shit.”

“Anything else you’d like to get off your chest?”

“I’ve got experience. I know how to work. I’m not going to ask for much money.”

“You’re looking for a place to hide, huh, kid?”

“Exactly.”

“Now, let me ask you something. Cops going to come looking for you here?” Uncle Davey waved his hand. “You know what? Don’t answer that. I don't want to know.” He put the cigarette between his lips and hobbled forward. He plucked the cigarette from his lips. “I’ll pay you what I pay you. You do what I say when I say to do it. You know anyone that needs shit done here, you get them to pay. There’s beer in the fridge. I catch you drinking during work hours and I’ll break your hands. Sound good?”

“Sounds good,” I said.

“You got’a place to live?”

I pointed to my truck. “A little small, but it works.”

“Do you say the same about your dick?”

I laughed. “What?”

“You’re living in your truck, Evan?”

“So what?”

“Jesus Christ,” Uncle Davey said. He took one more big drag on the cigarette and jammed it against the building. He dropped the cigarette. “You’re a fucking project already, aren’t you?”

“So, do I have the job?”

“Winston ain’t what he used to be,” Uncle Davey said. “But he’s been by my side through a lot of shit. So I could use the help. Keep the lights on for another month or two. But I’m telling you, don’t try and save this place. You’re never going to buy this place. I’m never going to die and give it to you.”

“That’s not why I’m here,” I said.

“Good.” He reached into his pocket and took out some money. He slammed it against my chest so hard, it stole my breath for a second. “I’m taking this out of your first pay. You need to eat. You need some smokes. And you need a place to live.”

“Sixty bucks isn’t going to get me far,” I said.

“Smart ass,” Uncle Davey growled. “Follow me.”

I tucked the cash back into my pocket and he led the way back inside the building. He struggled to write down a phone number.

“Call this number,” Uncle Davey said. “Ask for a guy named Barry. He’s a slumlord. Owes me a couple grand. You tell him who you are. He’ll know who I am. You’ll have an apartment by the end of the day.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me for anything. You want to hide here? I don’t care. Hope you someday come to your senses and realize living like a stubborn fool gets you nowhere in life. Now get the fuck out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow. Seven in the morning.”

I walked back to my truck, shaking my head.

Uncle Davey knew I was hiding. I guess that wasn’t such a big surprise though. Who the hell would want to work here? But I needed it. I needed to hide. Uncle Davey was the last of my family. Everything that happened…

I climbed into my truck and sighed.

Winston walked around the side of the building to the front. He wasted no time in throwing me the middle finger. So I threw it back. I wasn’t going to take bullshit from him, or anyone.

I started the truck and backed out of the lot with sixty bucks in my pocket. Truthfully, I could have taken off right then and there. And I thought about doing that. Drive back to where it all started and tell Adena everything. Every possible story, every little truth.

But where was I going to go with sixty bucks in my pocket?

Nowhere.

Adena deserved more. Maybe the accident would smarten Anna up a little. Maybe having me gone would take the tension off everyone.

At least, that’s what I hoped for.

I had never fallen in love before, but I sure as fuck didn’t think it would end up like this.