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Stories from the small town of Whisper Gap where one life, one tale invariably reaches out to touch the next. by Jo Janoski.
Charlie, or 'Bear,' as the children called him, stood on the end of Main Street, hands on hips, a sentimental twinkle in his eye as he pondered his future. Today he would begin his transition back into town from the floppy shack he'd occupied for the last decade. Truth be told, he used to be a man of considerable skill. He and Jim Hale did fine engineering work out at the corporate park, back in the day when he suited up every morning with a dress shirt and tie. But those days were long gone. Now he was a simple man, a wiser man. He'd spent his time in the woods bordering Whisper Gap, communing with nature and learning about himself. He didn't need material wealth now to be happy. Moments later he entered Stein's Grocery, ready to start his new life, inspired by two young children and fueled by memories of a lady named Brenda Hale. "Morning, I saw your sign in the window. You hiring?" Mr. Stein looked up from his check list. The fastidious man twitched his tiny moustache, making it jiggle left, then right in a quick nervous impulse. The big unkempt fellow failed to impress the grocer. He turned his head away, fixing his gaze on a stack of canned baked beans, then looked back. "No...I forgot to take the sign down. I'm not hiring." "I see." Was he lying? Charlie made his way back onto the sun-drenched street, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. He went to each shop in succession. The coffee shop didn't need anyone to bus tables; the druggist already had a delivery man and a stock boy. The girls in the hair salon giggled when he offered to sweep up after hair cuts. He tried the library, the churches, and the school. Everywhere Charlie went, people were less than kind, often surveying him with disdain. He was a big man, a sloppy fellow, not a pretty sight. At sundown, he plopped down on the sidewalk at the end of Main Street and sighed, exhausted. What was he doing anyway? Coming back into town chasing a dream that he wanted and didn't want, all at the same time. He knew he loved Brenda from afar, but he didn't dare go near her or risk spilling the beans about her late husband's affair years ago and the paternity of young Richie. "Excuse me, sir! You should keep moving. Sheriff Weiner will arrest you for vagrancy if he catches you sitting here." Charlie looked up to spy the love of his life, Brenda Hale, staring down at him. "We don't appreciate bums in our little town," she added. Beneath his fuzzy whiskers, his face burned. "I...uh, was just moving on." He lifted himself to his feet and brushed the dust off his pants. "Well, make it snappy, buster! Go on! Git!" He shuffled back away from the angry woman while his heart crushed into a million pieces. He gazed at her. She was still as lovely as ever, the years taking no toll on her fresh pink skin and silky dark hair. Finally, turning on his heel, he headed for the road out of Whisper Gap. Her voice echoed behind him. "And don't come back!" Was he dreaming? The love of his life chasing him out of town? Well, Charlie wasn't one to be defeated easily. He'd go back to his shack, but Brenda hadn't seen the last of him. He'd be back. Yessir. He'd be back. Charlie Hanson was like the Phoenix. Yep, like the Phoenix, he'd rise again. He'd be back. Copyright 2008 JO Janoski
Jo Janoski is a poet, author, and photographer from Pittsburgh, PA. For more from Jo visit her columns: December, then, before; and her poetry: now, December, then and before. Or her online home. |
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