Winter Season

Supper

Esther hadn’t judged him…..yet.

She moaned waking herself up. Someone had put a blanket around her and a pillow under her head. How sweet. The book she had been reading was at the foot of the bed, which pulled her attention to the fact that he was up.

He was standing in the hallway staring at a picture.

“Who’s that?” she asked.

He looked sad and sick at the same time. “My grandpa. My dad’s dad. Everybody called him Matty. I have no idea if that was his real name. Dad didn’t even know.”

“How could your dad not know his dad’s real name?”

“Didn’t care to know I guess?”

The man in the picture looked remarkably like Oscar. He had the same large nose, and rail thin face.

“What about your dad? Any pictures of him?”

“You’re looking at him.”

Esther raised an eyebrow.

Oscar finally walked away. “Are you hungry?” His voice cracked as he talked.

Before she could answer, the doorbell rang. This didn’t startle Oscar like the noise of his brother being at the door did. She remained in the hallway out of sight.

“Hi,” Esther thought it was the sheriff, Chet.

“Come in.”

“How ya feelin’?”

“Like crap.”

“Is Esther still here?”

“Yeah.”

“I had asked her to ask you to give me a call when you got up.”

“I just got up.” There was a brief pause.

“Oh, well. We got worried about you and fixed you supper.”

“That’s very kind.” Oscar’s voice remained dry.

The other voice cleared his throat. “Look, I’m worried about you. You’re my best friend. We’ve known each other for a very long time.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“You’ve been sayin’ that for the last ten years.”

Esther moved into the shadows so she could see what was going on. Oscar was standing looking out the window. The other person was the sheriff.

“I’m not a doctor and I don’t pretend to be; but this can’t be good for your heart. I’m talkin’ physically. You don’t eat right. What health problems will this lead to in the future?” He walked toward the door, and then stopped. “Just so you know, Esther found you this mornin’. She already had your breathing under control and everything.”

Chet was gone. It seemed as if he took the warmth in the house with him when he left. Esther didn’t know what to do or what to say. Finally, she worked up enough nerve to step out of the shadows. “Do you want me to leave?”

He didn’t move. “Quite to the contrary.”

She thought the least she could do was take the covered dishes into the kitchen. “Your friend took all your papers to school this mornin’.”

“I can’t wait until you get to know him. He is a great person.”

“He seems to care about you.”

“We do.” Oscar followed her into the kitchen and rooted around in the fridge for salad dressing. He left the door open, “pick what you want to drink.”

“Thanks.”

Before they ever sat down, that familiar rattling came to the door knob. Oscar hung his head as he took a deep breath. “I don’t feel like dealing with him.”

“Do you want me to answer it?”

The rattling turned into pounding. Oscar jumped. “No.” He had barely opened the door before Oat was in his face.

“I seed that cara-van this mornin’. How’d you git portin’ ‘nough to block traffic?” Esther stood in the kitchen door watching.

“Sees what happs when you good to,” he pointed out the door. “Chair-a-dee begins at home.”

Oscar stared blankly out the door. She envisioned him reaching out and choking Otis.

“And how would I show you charity?”

“I need new wheels. Pussy’s with child again.”

“And this is my problem how?”

“Give to family. Not city trash.”

“And what have I given her?”

“You got money. I need van. Som’em BIG.” He put great emphasis on the word big.

“I’ve got money?”

“Damn straight.” He waved his arms around, “fan-cy nest. Fan-cy wheels. High-flo-luten ed-u-mcation.”

“Get a job and you will have nice things too.”

“I gots a job. Bein’ a paw.”

“And I’m sure the goberment pays you well for that.”

“Christian my ass.” Otis stormed out of the house.

The sound of squealing tires filled the quiet void. Oscar fell to his knees in the open door. Esther felt so sorry for him. When she touched his shoulder, he jumped.

“Is there anything I can do?”

The sound of her voice was such a comfort. Talk to her, that voice inside of him instructed. Tell her.

“Shall we eat?” He forced a smile.

Winter Season