Mercy and Truth by M.R. Hyde

Author:M.R. Hyde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, short stories, mercy, truth, mr hyde
Publisher: M.R. Hyde

Stan, Dorothy and Elaine, were standing anxiously at the door when Althea came to unlock it. They rushed in as if there was some new sale going. “Good morning, Althea,” three rushed voices pealed out as they hurried to grab shopping carts.

“Well, what in the world is going on this morning?”

“Earnest called from the hospital a while ago and he’s bringing that young man to Hope House. We thought we would have more time, but now we’ve got to get those cupboards stocked and we want to get a meal ready before they arrive. Are there any fresh flowers in the refrigerated area?” Dorothy was almost spinning she was so wound up. Stan was trying to help her find the shopping list in her big purse and Elaine, who had picked the loudest cart in the store, could be heard racing up and down the aisles throwing in canned goods and nearly shouting out her frustration in not finding what she wanted for “that all-beat-up man.”

Althea was delighted with their activity and deeply appreciative of their efforts. Everyone who knew about the beating had been talking quietly about it in the store, at the coffee shop and at the post office. It had unnerved the whole town. Sheriff Dandy had yet to find any leads and the mystery deepened by the hour. Stephen had expressed many times how grateful he was that they had been at the store in time to call the sheriff and the ambulance. The idea of someone dying behind the store was completely overwhelming to most everyone.

Althea went to the back of the store to tell the other workers what the Hope House volunteers were doing. They all pitched in a few dollars toward the effort. At least they could help out in this way. Althea found Stan and quietly put the cash into his hand, saying it was from the rest of the grocery store crew. Stan quickly counted the money and grinned, showing his delight that they would be able to give even more care to the young man in the days ahead.

Althea heard the front door open and raced up to the cash register. She knew that Eugene would be back in today and did not want to found abandoning her post. As she rounded the corner of the aisle she was shocked to see Eugene standing there. He was scanning the store with a strange look on his face. It was very unusual for Eugene to come through the front door. In fact, in the time that Althea had worked there she had never seen him come in that way. He was pale and very, very quiet. There were no lurid glances at her thighs or breasts. He was not pacing, he was just standing there. After a few minutes of undecided silence he greeted Althea with a terse smile.

“Everything go alright while I was gone?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered instinctively under pressure. “Well, no sir, actually we had a pretty serious incident a couple of days ago.

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