1969
Tommy watched from the shadows of the hallway. He had woken up thirsty, was going to sneak into the bathroom to drink from the faucet. But the big man was there. He was bringing Karen money again.
He had seen the big man before. He was scary looking. Tommy didn’t know why he gave Karen money. He never got close enough to hear their conversations. But he could hear them tonight.
“Is he okay? Got everything he needs?” the big man asked.
“Yes, of course he has everything he needs. Why wouldn’t he?” Karen took a long draw on her cigarette and tapped her ashes into an open beer can.
The big man walked to the refrigerator and looked inside. “Because there’s nothing but beer in your fridge and this place is a shithole.”
Now the big man was pacing the room, opening cabinets and drawers. Tommy realized he’d never seen him inside the house before. He’d watched from a window as Karen or Nate would meet the big man outside. They could always hear him coming, heard his motorcycle when it rounded the corner a few houses away. But tonight there had been no warning. Guess he didn’t ride it tonight.
“What? Are you saying I don’t feed him?” Karen started to add something, but before she could, the big man grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the kitchen chair. She dropped both her cigarette and her haughty attitude. Tommy had never seen her afraid before tonight.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, bitch? Are you taking care of the kid like you’re supposed to?”
The kid? Tommy’s thoughts kicked into high gear. The big man was there for him! He was giving Karen money to take care of him. Why? Did he care about Tommy? He must have cared a little. But why would he? And why would he give money to people who neglected and abused him?
Tommy was young, but not stupid. If he was ever going to get out of there, now might just be his chance. Even foster care was better than this nightmare. The big man could help him or leave him with Karen and Nate. The way Tommy saw it, the worst that could happen was that Karen would beat him after the man left. Maybe Nate would, too, when he got home from work. Tommy didn’t have to think long. He’d take his chances. Quickly, he tore off his filthy, ripped T-shirt and tossed it on the ground. He moved quietly from the shadows of the hall to the rundown kitchen.
“Karen, I’m thirsty,” Tommy said, rubbing his eyes. “Can I have something to drink?”
He saw instant regret flash in Karen’s eyes and knew he’d been right to make himself known to the big man.
Karen looked at Tommy, then at the big man, who was staring openly at the battered boy.
“I don’t hit on the kid! It’s Nate—Nate does it. Ju-just when he needs discipline.”
“And I suppose Nate, who doesn’t smoke, uses your cigarettes to burn him?” The big man lashed back without taking his eyes off Tommy.
“Uh, yeah,” she stammered. “When he needs it.”
His eyes still fixed on Tommy, the man reached behind him and pulled out a gun. Without a word, the big man turned toward Karen and put a bullet between her eyes. Tommy heard a gasp and saw Nate, frozen in fear by the front door. Nate spun around to flee, but he wasn’t quick enough. The big man nailed Nate in the back of the head.
Then the big man tucked the gun away and looked at Tommy.
“You don’t need to be afraid of me,” the big man said in a gentle voice. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of from now on.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” the little boy replied.
The big man nodded. “Anything here you want to take? Grab it now, because you won’t be coming back.”
Tommy ran to his room. He put on his tattered and stained T-shirt and slipped his feet into sneakers with no laces. He went to his bottom dresser drawer and slowly pulled it out. He reached in and retrieved a small box. It contained his most prized possessions. His only connections to her. He returned the drawer to its place and slowly scanned the room. No, there was nothing else there. He returned to the living room.
“I’m ready.”
Tommy was surprised when the big man took off his jacket and wrapped it around him, then effortlessly scooped him up and walked outside to an old pickup truck. They didn’t speak as they drove off.
After twenty minutes they pulled into a little bar called The Red Crab and parked close to the door, which was propped open. The big man told him to wait in the truck as he went inside. Tommy sat as quietly as possible, strained to hear. He chanced a glance inside the door, saw the man go to the phone by the cash register and dial a number.
“I’m gonna need a dark clean up at a house in San Carlos Estates.” After rattling off an address, he hung up the phone and turned to the bartender. “Mike, call Blue at Sissy’s and tell him to get his ass over here now. Tell him not to bring his bike and to come alone.”
“Sure thing, Grizz.”
“I’m gonna need your truck a little longer.”
“No problem, man,” the bartender said and picked up the phone.
Grizz went outside and climbed back into the old pickup truck. He looked at Tommy.
“They’ve been hurting you.” It was a statement, not a question.
Tommy nodded as he looked at his hands resting in his lap.
“They been feeding you?”
Tommy shook his head.
“You hungry now?”
Tommy looked at the big man. “Yeah, I’m really hungry.” After a brief pause, “Who are you?”
“Are a burger and fries okay?”
“Yes, please. And can I have ketchup and a drink?”
“Yeah. Stay here.”
Grizz went back inside and Tommy could hear him order a burger with fries and a soda. He told Mike he’d be back in ten minutes.
“I’m sitting in your truck. Don’t bring the food out to me. I’ll be back.”
“Yeah, whatever you say, Grizz.”
Grizz went back to the truck. He looked at Tommy while Tommy continued to stare into his lap. He wasn’t sure how much he should tell the little boy. He’d only found out about him a few months ago.
“You can call me Grizz. You don’t tell anybody about what happened tonight. Is that clear?”
Tommy nodded.
Before ten minutes had passed, a shiny light blue Camaro pulled into The Red Crab and parked a few empty spaces away from the truck. Grizz got out and walked to the car. Tommy noticed he held up his hand like he was telling the driver to stay put. The man did just that, rolling down his window. Grizz rested his forearms above the opening, leaned down and spoke. Tommy’s window was up now, so he couldn’t hear them. Eventually, the other man got out of the car, then he and Grizz walked toward Tommy. Grizz opened Tommy’s door.
“I’m going inside to get your food. This here’s your big brother, Blue. You’re gonna live with him now.”
And with that, Grizz walked back into The Red Crab.
Tommy stared at Blue with a look of trepidation. He wasn’t as big as Grizz, but he looked just as scary. Should I have kept my mouth shut and stayed with Karen?
Blue must have been reading his mind.
“Don’t be scared, runt. I won’t hurt you.”