The Resting Place by M.W. Griffith

Author:M.W. Griffith [Griffith, M.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2019-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

“You know what really bothers me?” Her eyes were as wide as saucers. When she spoke, John glanced around the restaurant in embarrassment.

“I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

Paige leaned forward as though she were about to share an intimate secret, but her voice remained at the same obnoxious height. “Charlie Brown. What’s the deal with that kid? I mean, he’s the only one who doesn’t have any hair. What’s that all about?”

“Well, it isn’t entirely true, right? I mean, he’s got that one curly hair on top of his head.”

“Huh.” She snorted, swirling wine around in her glass. “So, like, you think he had cancer or something?”

John Winters shrugged. “What do you mean, had? The kid’s still around, you know. I think there was a new movie just a few years back.”

She forked a lump of mashed potatoes into her mouth. “Everyone was always so mean to him. Remember? Like he was some kind of freak. Nothing he ever did was good enough.”

“Hey.” He reached across the table and placed a hand on hers. “It ain’t like that, okay? Everyone loves Charlie Brown. If they didn’t, he wouldn’t be around today. I mean, shit, that Christmas Special is always playing around the holidays.”

“Not people people, but like, his friends. They were real assholes to him. I mean, they treated him like he was stupid. So, if there was something wrong with him, don’t you think that it made them horrible people?”

He sat back and folded his arms. “Maybe. But in the end, it always turned out alright. They always came back around because they had a strong bond with him, you know? And don’t get me started on that dog. What was his name? Shmoopy?”

“Snoopy.” She downed the remaining merlot before refilling her glass. “Snoopy was the best part of that show anyway. He was so out there, so devoted, and exemplified all of the outgoing personality traits Charlie didn’t have.”

“So, the dog’s adventures were all in Charlie’s head? You think it was a result of the cancer?”

Paige’s face darkened. “Yeah. Maybe he saw or heard some shit every once in a while that wasn’t there. Maybe he used that to make his dog do all of the things he couldn’t ever do. You know?”

John leaned back and considered her. “Do you…”

“Maybe.”

Across the room, a television cut to a special news break. A blurry black and white photograph of Paige appeared on the screen. He was there too, though his face was turned away from the camera.

“We need to go.”

Several men at the bar glanced from the television to their table.

“What? Come on, I’m just trying to enjoy myself a little. Honestly, I wasn’t trying to make you feel uncomfortable.”

“No.” He pointed to the television behind her. “I mean we need to go right now.”

She turned to face the screen. “Oh no.”

“Quietly.” John tossed a hundred dollar bill onto the table before standing. He slipped between tables like water around stones, Paige following closely behind with her hood up.

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