It Falls Gently All Around and Other Stories by Ramona Reeves

Author:Ramona Reeves [Reeves, Ramona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780822989240
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press

On the drive back to work, Donnie collected the plates from the floorboard and rolled down his window. He aimed Florida through the opening. “May I?”

Marti gave him a thumbs-up.

One by one, each plate spun until it hit the pavement behind them. Mississippi gone. Louisiana gone. Texas gone. He’d driven all those states intoxicated at one time or another. With each release, Donnie expected to feel more peace of mind. Instead, he worried about who might see him littering.

Marti’s cell phone rang. Donnie heard Jeff’s voice on the other end. Her tone started out hissing and sharp. His wife had sounded that way each time he screwed up and called to apologize, that is, until the day she walked out.

By the time they reached the Y-Stop, Marti’s voice was soft, as though someone had plastered and sanded her cracks. She didn’t end the call until he climbed from the car.

“Back in paradise,” she said. “And by the way, you never told me about my Mustang.”

“If it’s not stolen, it’ll do. Just stay out of trouble.” He said this knowing she wouldn’t, and neither would he.

Marti turned onto the frontage road and sped away. Clouds dark and holding on to rain gathered in the east ahead of the vanishing car. He recalled that other Mustang from years ago. He’d been lucky to make it back to his rig alive. All the way home, as he drove toward his wife in Mobile, he vowed to give up drinking. One week later, he scrapped his vow, proving he felt no earnest shame, and that slip produced the greatest shame of all.

He traipsed into the Y-Stop and heard the door’s familiar chime. This place wasn’t much, but it was more than he’d hoped for after losing almost everything.

“You’re late,” Fay said. “Finish stocking the beer cases.”

“I need something else to do,” he said. “Please.” The last word slipped out, but he needed help. The beer coolers had become magnets, and he was metal to his core.

“The windows need cleaning.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, even though assistant managers were not supposed to clean windows.

“And get a stepladder so you can reach the top.”

He found the towels and glass cleaner in a cabinet and started on the east side first. His sponsor’s voice grew louder in his mind. Do the small things well and stay out of trouble. He climbed onto the second step of the ladder, sprayed, and wiped.

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