Ollie
Man, between the heat, all the people and the ton of kids running around, not to mention the noise, I need to find a quiet place to just chill. Looking around, I see Joe taking his wife into Pixie’s house, so I wheel my way up to the house but ring the bell. I don’t want to just go right in. Joe comes to the door hesitantly until he sees me, then he throws the door wide open.
“Come on in, boy. It gettin’ to be too much for ya? It’s a lot, got to say that, and folks just keep coming. Gonna be a good turnout for Doc, for sure. Let’s get you comfortable—head to the room off the kitchen—I got Merty situated back there ’cause it’s quieter. Like to introduce ya to my wife.”
I wheel down the hall and enter the room, stopping. Merty is lying on the couch with a cool cloth on her forehead. Turning to Joe to tell him I don’t want to disturb her, he walks around me, lifting her legs and sitting down, before bringing her legs to rest on his thighs. His hands start on massaging her one foot and I hear the moan.
“Momma, you okay to open your eyes for a minute. Someone here I want ya to meet.”
Merty slowly removes the towel, eyes opening even slower. She’s looking at her husband until he does a chin lift in my direction. As Merty turns her head, eyes the blue color of a Montana sky are looking directly at me. She tries to give me a smile, but I can tell something is bothering her.
“Hello, ma’am. Nice to meet you. Didn’t mean to disturb ya both. Joe let me know and I’ll find another room, just needed a break from all that out there.”
She smiles then and gives me the universal sign to enter. Knowing what I know, Merty looks pretty good at the moment. She is wearing some kind of very colorful scarf around her head and she’s on the thin side, but damn, I hope all works out for her. She kind of reminds me of my momma, not sure why, they don’t look alike at all.
“So, son, what’s your name? And before I forget, thank you for your service.”
Before I can get a word out Joe yells out, “Well dang, Momma, I told ya wanted to introduce you to this young fella, so letta me do it proper like. Ollie, this lovely young lady is my wife, Merty. And, Momma, this here is Ollie.”
After we exchange the pleasantries Merty sits up, putting the wet washcloth on the coaster on the end table. She stares at me for so long I get a shiver up my spine. Right when I go to say something, Joe goes first.
“Ollie, don’t ya worry, my woman is a sage, some may call it an empath. She can read folks like no other. Thinkin’ that’s what she’s about right now. Just sit back and relax. Doc’s got the air on and the hounds locked up, so all is good.”
I do exactly what he recommends, even though Merty is still eyeballing me. Nothing I can do about that, so my head goes back, and I close my eyes and just breathe. I’m chilling, minding my own business when I feel ‘it.’ And I don’t even know what ‘it’ is. Something so powerful it has me sitting straight in the chair, eyes alert, trying to figure out what the ever-lovin’ fuck is going on. Then my eyes land on Merty and I get it. Merty is the ‘it’ I’m feeling.
“Son, you’ve been to hell and back, I can see it. Thank the good Lord you’re on the way back. Don’t fight it, Ollie, do whatever they say to do; they do know best. And that lil’ girl you got your eyes on, make sure you know what you want because she ain’t ours by birth but she’s ours anyhow, and we protect what’s ours. In the very near future something’s going to hit you hard, and you’ll have to make a once-in-a-lifetime decision. Include Paisley is all I’m asking. And yes, you’re right, she is the one though neither of you are there just yet. But life won’t wait so just make sure not to let go of the best thing you could ever put your hands on. Ollie, really look at me. What do you see? I know what I’m talking about, son, and this man next to me knows it too.”
I’m stunned because I haven’t said anything and she’s giving me advice or I don’t know, is she seeing into the future? Who the fuck knows? But listening to her that feeling is getting bigger and bigger inside of me. Something is sprouting and taking root. Wow, I mean I’ve known Pixie for what—two weeks or so—since we brought the cats to her clinic? What is gonna happen that I have to include her in it too?
“Ollie, I know it’s hard to believe, since the two of you are so new, but please take my words to heart, that’s all I ask. You will see what I’m talking about real soon, son. Real soon.”
* * *
After my weird as shit interaction with Merty, and once I felt better, I make my way outside again. This time I head to baked goods for sale because I need a sugar high. As I wheel around to get a better look, a little boy looks up at me, mouth wide open, staring between me and the wheelchair. Fuck, here we go again.
“Hey, little buddy, how’s it going? Enjoying the farm with all the animals? Pretty cool, huh?”
He moves a bit closer to me, still with a serious face.
“Yeah, it’s awesome, all the animals are so much fun. Mom and Dad are gonna let Sissy and me find our forever friend. They’re with Miss Paisley filling out some stuff, so I snuck over here to look at the cookies and stuff.”
Damn, he can’t be more than, I don’t know, five or six. Maybe a little older, who knows, but cute as a button. Glancing up, I see two folks scrunched down at Pixie’s table working on a form. They don’t even seem to realize that their boy walked away, but then I see another child in a kid’s wheelchair looking our way. Just looking at her, I can tell she wants to be over here.
“Is your sister in a chair like me?”
He nods intently, still looking at the cookie assortment. I don’t think anything I say right now would capture his attention. So, looking at Natalie, who seems to be manning this table, I point to the individually wrapped cookies.
“Can I get two of each, please? And one of Pixie’s double chocolate chips with nuts.”
She grabs my first order, separating them into two bags. Smart woman. Then she wraps mine in a napkin and gives me my total. Reaching for my wallet, I go to pay her when the little kid shakes his head to reach into his own pocket, pulling out a five-dollar bill.
“Lady, is this enough? His too?”
Natalie looks at the bill then at me. We exchange words without anything being said. She takes the bill, puts it in her money box, and returns with four singles and four quarters. As she hands them back, praying he doesn’t know the value of money yet which, apparently, he doesn’t. Then Natalie gives us our treats.
“Thanks, bud, appreciate it. Are the other cookies for your sissy? If so you’re a nice brother.”
“Yeah, there for Sissy. I owe her ’cause it’s my fault she’s stuck in that funny chair.”
With that he turns and walks away. I’m left feeling like I’ve been hit by a bolt of lightning. Hearing a sniffle, I look that way and see Natalie staring after the boy, tears rolling down her cheeks.
What the fuck does that even mean and why is a little boy so young blaming himself? I follow him toward his family with one thing on my mind. Find out why he’s taking all the blame on himself.