January 1, 2023
I sincerely apologize, this is not in place where I’ve decided to put it, after many weeks of posting. Remember this is an unedited manuscript and decisions about where to place things are part of “writing”. So, consider it just free reading and enjoy. Best regards, Kary:
AFTER a few weeks the guys let her wing it out on her own. Gus began to make friends outside of their nest/crew. Only a select group of men were allowed to talk to her. Her crew was screening them for her. Weren’t they sweet? Then Gus noticed mostly it was older guys they trusted and thought she’d be safe with. That’s O.K. with me. Never told them I like older guys. She was in a candy shop! There’s a saying in the south, it goes like this, “Rather be an old man’s sweat heart than a young man’s slave.” That was the kind of man she wanted and needed.
It’s Saturday morning. Boone and Little Hank were gonna spend the night at Bryan’s house. Boone was going on a “fishing” trip. They were going to put some trot lines out, on the creek. Boone had been packing and planning for days. He’s not a Boy Scout, but he is a true woodsman. Know what I mean? He’s better. He’s Gus’ great white hunter. He’s always been in the woods with his grandfather and uncles, so she trusted him and his two friends to be safe. It was their first time to go without an adult! Zach and Elizabeth watched him with real interest and lots of questions. Zach couldn’t wait until he was old enough to go.
All three boys were tuned up. Rearing to go! Gus didn’t want to say much to them. You know how mothers can be. So, Gus played it cool and didn’t say much to him ‘bout it. Besides, his grandfather, Big Hank and his brother Dwight were gonna drop in on’em. They had two four-wheelers. So, if something happened or someone got hurt they could’ve got outta’ the’ woods pretty fast.
They are good boys, her two boys, she thought. She knew that they’ll be drinking, spitting, cussing and doing what teenage boys do when they are away from adults. But they are good boys. Sounds like a Mafia mother, but I do trust them to be safe. Didn’t say good. Just said safe. They had left for the woods yesterday evening around 5:30. Laughing out loud to herself, she thought, they were all piled up in that little ‘Yoda. They looked like the Jethro Clampet and two of his cousins from back home!
Clover was going to her friend, Grace’s parent’s place at the beach for the weekend. She was Gus’ oldest child. Very quiet, good girl, good grades. But she’s a typical seventeen-year-old girl. Boys, boys & more boys. Gus is a little worried about that, but she had a good head on her shoulders. To Clover’s credit she plans on going to college. It’s a big relief to Gus. Hopefully Clover’s life will be easier than her mother’s.
Sweet Tommy
A couple weeks later, on a Monday morning, Sweet Tommy’s helper, Luther, didn’t make it to work. Seemed he went four wheeling and broke his arm, so Jake had no choice but to ask Manny if he could spare Gus for a couple of days. Gus was walking toward them when she heard Manny ask Jake,
“Sure, but do you wanna do that to her?”
“Do what?” Gus asked.
With a doubtful look Manny answered her, “Work with Sweet Tommy”.
Jake continued, “I’m thinking seriously about it. I don’t think he’ll be an ass around her. He’s a little a worse than most welders, I agree. He just doesn’t like to be around men that are candy- asses or still-wet-behind-the-ears. Gus’s not a man, that’ll be a plus for her.”
“Oh, I’ll be O.K.”, Gus answered back, “He’s never cussed around me like ya’ll say he does. He’s always nice to me.”
“That’s what I’m counting on. She’ll be fine; I gotta good feelin’ bout this.” Jake said. Manny wasn’t as sure as they were, but he let her go for a couple of days on the condition than she “don’t take any ugliness from Sweet Tommy, you hear me?” Gus re-assured him she’d be fine and walked over to Mr. Sunshine’s work bench.
Sweet Tommy and Gus made fast friends and co-workers. He surprised everyone but Gus. She knew he was a sweetie under all that meanness. But he didn’t let up on the rest of the crew.
“What the Hell you lookin’ at?” Tommy would yell if anyone noticed them talking quietly to each other. Toker thought Tommy was smiling a little more “and cursed only half as much as normal lately and Manny said he heard him whistling on the way to the gate one evening after work. Tommy was more than polite. He was nothing but a gentleman to her all three days. Even offered Gus his prize mid-morning snack, a banana.
He held up the banana to Gus and said, “You know, it’s the most complete fruit. It has every vitamin your body needs in it: totally complete.” And then he got another out of his bag for himself. Apparently, Tommy brought an extra one for her. Turned out Sweet Tommy was a health nut, but no one would know that cause of all the hell he raised, no one wanted to eat with him much less cared to pay attention to his eating habits.
Back in the day sweet Tommy lived several hard lives and the mileage was starting to affect his health. The doctor bluntly told him that if he kept up the lifestyle he lived, he wouldn’t’ live another five years. Being the-man he was determined not to let anything beat him. He stopped the drugs, drinking and the smoking. He was healthy and fit now, period.
“That was six years ago.” He said with a smile. Gus was eating her banana and listening to Tommy like her life depended on it. He didn’t talk much about his personal life and this was the most he’d talked to anyone at work in a couple of months. Other people were watching them talk. Gus could tell they seem to watch with amazement. She just smiled back at them.
Later that day she had been thinking about everything Tommy said earlier
“I’m glad you listened to the doctor, ‘cause I’ve enjoyed working with you the last couple of days.”
He smiled back at her and whispered,
“Yeah? Well, don’t tell anyone you enjoyed working with me. ‘Gotta’ a rep to keep up, you know?”
She acknowledged him with a nod and simple smile, then said her normal goodbye to him. “See you in the morning Sweet Tommy. B‘careful driving home.”