The Faithful One by Michele Chynoweth

Author:Michele Chynoweth [Michele Chynoweth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

The shiny BMW pulled up to the three-story brownstone where Michael resided.

It was in the middle of a tree-lined street just off the Commons in a high-rent part of Boston, inhabited by upscale yuppies and some wealthy holdout families who didn’t want to give up their love of city life to move to the suburbs.

The early fall sun blazed golden on a group of children playing hopscotch after school. Restless and bored of their game, the dozen or so neighborhood kids welcomed the sight of the car as it pulled up and watched with fascination as a wheelchair and suitcase were lifted out of the trunk by the driver, and an unfamiliar, ghostlike man slowly exited from the passenger’s side.

“Hey, who’s that?” One outspoken twelve-year-old boy, apparently the leader of the group, ventured boldly to approach Michael, whom he had seen before.

Michael ignored him, which spurred the boy to wave the rest of his gang closer to check out the welcome disturbance on their street. The youth got close enough to see Seth’s weary face. “It’s some old bald dude who looks like he’s half dead,” the boy shouted to his rapt followers.

“Probably some old drunk who couldn’t make it home last night,” said another youngster, bravely trying to keep pace with his fearless leader.

“Yeah, some old wino,” a preteen girl chipped in.

“Ewww, and he stinks!” the first boy added, trying to keep his audience enthralled. He had gotten close enough to catch a whiff of the mild yet disturbing aroma of nursing home mixed with the colostomy bag that was affixed to Seth ever since he had to have a partial colonoscopy after the cancer had spread to his colon.

“Stinky, bald old wino!”

“Stinky, bald old wino!” the younger children picked up the phrase and gleefully chanted it in chorus.

“Shut up and leave him alone!” Michael Powers bellowed loudly, hushing the group long enough for him to guide Seth up the steps and through the front door of the rowhouse where he lived. The attorney shut the door behind them, but not before hearing a last parting shot from the gang leader. “Crazy Mister Powers and one of his drunk old friends.”

Often keeping oddly late hours during heavy caseloads and living the life of a bachelor who worked and played hard, Michael wasn’t a favorite of the local children, nor a fan. His introverted lifestyle both piqued their curiosity and disdain, which in turn increased his confidence with each passing day that he would never have children.

“I’m sorry, Seth.” Blinded by his transition from sunlight into the darkness of his foyer, Michael groped for the light switch. “Those urchins don’t know what they’re saying.”

Michael led his new roommate down the hall into a spacious den that adjoined a small kitchen. It would have to do for a patient room, since there was no way he could lug Seth upstairs where the bedrooms were if the need ever arose.

Exhausted, Seth asked Michael if he could rest for a bit. Michael

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