Empty Quiver by Russ Linton

Author:Russ Linton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Fictional Work
Published: 2015-06-01T05:00:00+00:00

***

Bleary, the room came into focus under a damp haze. Momma sat on the couch across from him with a mug in her hand. "Those eggs be cold as stones by now."

He followed her gaze to the tray setup next to the recliner. Eggs and grits, he didn't realize how hungry he was. "I'd eat them on ice, Momma, if you made them."

His mom shivered and half-smiled. "I can warm them."

"No," Reggie said and reached for the plate. "Don't bother yourself." Even room temperature it was better than week-old takeout. Much better. He didn't dare tell her about what he ate at home.

"So where you been?" She asked while she stared into her mug.

"Around." He shoveled in another mouthful.

"Don't you give me that," she took a sip. "You go in the Army, I get a few letters, then nothing."

He shoveled faster to let the food keep his mouth busy. She continued to stare. Keeping his mouthful was a good way to avoid the conversation, even though he knew she'd still cuff him for manners, but the plate was nearly empty. He set it aside and scooted to the edge of the chair. "I went and done something stupid."

Her eyes closed and her head wagged back and forth. When she opened them again, they fell on the mantle. "You get involved with drugs?"

"No, nothing like …" he stopped. "Maybe."

She clasped the mug in both hands and peered into it again. Her head rocked and her lips pursed into a tight knot. If he were younger, this is the point he'd try to run.

She didn't move. Her voice was a hoarse whisper, "Reggie."

He stood and walked across the room so he wouldn't have to see her. He propped his forearm on the mantle and pressed his forehead against it right below the urn. "Nothing like that.

"I ain't putting you on that mantle, Reggie."

Neither of them spoke and the sounds of the outside world drifted through the screen door, through the drafty windows, echoed in the hollow space beneath the house. Cars prowling on the street, the whoop of sirens, angry shouts, all layered above a stereo out there thumping and thumping. Away from the quiet neighborhood where he'd bought a fake house under a fake name, he wasn't sure what exactly he'd been doing for the past five years.

"Did Gramps really die of cancer?"

There was a quiet, as quiet as this place could be and Reggie heard the mug gently settle on the coffee table. "You gone and joined that program."

Reggie didn't answer. He didn't need to.

"Lord, why'd you go and do a thing like that?"

"Did he? Gramps, do you know?" He faced the couch and made eye contact. He wasn't sure why he thought she'd have any more information, but he needed to understand what happened. Was it a natural death? Had the tests done him in? Were they going to come for him? What had that fear been about when he refused to answer the call?

"I never knew him, Reggie. You were born.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.