RickyRicardo
TB Regular
- Credits
- 0
Have you ever known anyone who blamed all of their problems on everybody else? The type of person that never took a good hard look in the mirror? Well Buddy is one of those folks. Things just seem to be piling up on him and he might just want to accept a little responsibility.
Now an offer of easy money has fallen into his lap. He thinks $10,000 will make all of his problems disappear and is willing to do the wrong thing to get it. He doesn't realize what is truly at stake here and it will be too late before he discovers the reality of his situation. As they say, the Devil is in the details.
This sordid little tale will be spread out in several installments, so be patient, and as always-Enjoy!
0NE
Buddy Hinton eased into a parking space at the old Mountain Top truckstop near Dexter, Tennessee. After spending four hours getting loaded at a nearby distillery he was ready for a decent meal before starting on his trip to Brooklyn, New York, where he was sure some thirsty folks awaited his liquid bounty. And maybe getting out of the truck for a bit would be a distraction for his son who was getting increasingly cranky from the tedium of so much inactivity of sitting and waiting. Hopefully getting the little lad’s belly full would trigger a long nap once the wheels got rolling.
Buddy was beginning to question the wisdom of taking his son along on these extended summer trips. He told himself that the time spent bonding with his seven year old son was an important, if not invaluable, aspect of the child’s development into a well rounded adult. He kept the truth buried in one of the small, dark recesses of his conscience; he only took the boy along to annoy his ex-wife, to exercise his parental rights. She would have him arrested if she knew he wasn’t allowed to have a passenger in the truck under any conditions and he put his job in jeopardy by doing so. To make matters worse, the company wouldn’t be liable for any harm incurred upon her son in the event of an accident.
The driver of the truck parked next to Buddy’s waited patiently for Buddy to exit his truck, climbing down from his own at the same time. He was an odd looking little man. His jeans were neatly pressed, as was his denim shirt which was buttoned at the cuffs, as well as the collar. His black, flat brimmed hat could best be described as one worn by a Quaker. At first glance one would possibly think he was an old country preacher, but one look into his face, his eyes in particular, served to dispel that notion.
The clean shaven face and neatly trimmed hair complemented the almost military attire. His eyebrows were dark and abundant, but like everything else about the man, neat and orderly. He smiled as he spoke to Buddy, revealing gleaming white teeth. Buddy would recall later that the canines were unusually pointed.
As Buddy was helping his son down from the passenger seat of the big rig the small man with the black hat stepped around the hood of Buddy’s truck. “Need some help there, podna?”
Far from being a sociable person, Buddy’s first inclination was to tell the little creep to buzz off and mind his own business, but one look into the man’s hawk like eyes quelled that notion. Having been in his share of bar room brawls, Buddy knew a menacing glare when he saw one, the look that telegraphed imminent danger. This was something else. This was akin to the look of a Marine drill instructor commanding obedience, offering no alternative. There was also the indication of some secret knowledge that would be best left unrevealed.
“I got it, but appreciate the offer,” Buddy said, surprising himself with his own politeness.
“My name is Isaac,” the stranger said with a smile that didn’t extend to his eyes, offering his hand.
Buddy accepted the hand shake, at once surprised at the strength of a hand that small, and frightened by its coldness. “I’m Buddy and this here is my son, Matt.”
“You’re fortunate to be able to spend time with your son. I have children that I’m rarely able to see,” Isaac said. He spoke with an accent Buddy couldn’t place. He thought it was Appalachian, but maybe from another time, which made no sense considering he’d never heard anyone from another time speak except in movies. There was also something refined in the way each syllable was enunciated, as if this truck driver had a formal education.
“Actually, I’m sneaking him along. We’re not allowed to have passengers,” Buddy replied, shocked at his own admission. He would never reveal that sort of information, especially to a total stranger.
“It’s a shame isn’t it?” Isaac responded. “A travesty that these companies work us like dogs and not allow us time with our own kin. I’m sure the Lord frowns upon the practice.”
“You got that right,” Buddy answered, instantly liking the man. “I never thought of it like that, but you hit the nail on the head.”
“I am merely a man making an observation. May I treat you and Matt to dinner? It would be a pleasure to break bread with fellow travelers,” Isaac asked, almost humbly.
Buddy accepted the offer without hesitating, forgetting the icy handshake and evil glare for the moment. Truth be told, he was nearly broke and wondered how he would feed two mouths for the rest of the week, having taken the maximum allowable pay advance for the week already. He conveniently dismissed what he had spent on lottery tickets and cigarettes this week.
***
Now an offer of easy money has fallen into his lap. He thinks $10,000 will make all of his problems disappear and is willing to do the wrong thing to get it. He doesn't realize what is truly at stake here and it will be too late before he discovers the reality of his situation. As they say, the Devil is in the details.
This sordid little tale will be spread out in several installments, so be patient, and as always-Enjoy!
0NE
Buddy Hinton eased into a parking space at the old Mountain Top truckstop near Dexter, Tennessee. After spending four hours getting loaded at a nearby distillery he was ready for a decent meal before starting on his trip to Brooklyn, New York, where he was sure some thirsty folks awaited his liquid bounty. And maybe getting out of the truck for a bit would be a distraction for his son who was getting increasingly cranky from the tedium of so much inactivity of sitting and waiting. Hopefully getting the little lad’s belly full would trigger a long nap once the wheels got rolling.
Buddy was beginning to question the wisdom of taking his son along on these extended summer trips. He told himself that the time spent bonding with his seven year old son was an important, if not invaluable, aspect of the child’s development into a well rounded adult. He kept the truth buried in one of the small, dark recesses of his conscience; he only took the boy along to annoy his ex-wife, to exercise his parental rights. She would have him arrested if she knew he wasn’t allowed to have a passenger in the truck under any conditions and he put his job in jeopardy by doing so. To make matters worse, the company wouldn’t be liable for any harm incurred upon her son in the event of an accident.
The driver of the truck parked next to Buddy’s waited patiently for Buddy to exit his truck, climbing down from his own at the same time. He was an odd looking little man. His jeans were neatly pressed, as was his denim shirt which was buttoned at the cuffs, as well as the collar. His black, flat brimmed hat could best be described as one worn by a Quaker. At first glance one would possibly think he was an old country preacher, but one look into his face, his eyes in particular, served to dispel that notion.
The clean shaven face and neatly trimmed hair complemented the almost military attire. His eyebrows were dark and abundant, but like everything else about the man, neat and orderly. He smiled as he spoke to Buddy, revealing gleaming white teeth. Buddy would recall later that the canines were unusually pointed.
As Buddy was helping his son down from the passenger seat of the big rig the small man with the black hat stepped around the hood of Buddy’s truck. “Need some help there, podna?”
Far from being a sociable person, Buddy’s first inclination was to tell the little creep to buzz off and mind his own business, but one look into the man’s hawk like eyes quelled that notion. Having been in his share of bar room brawls, Buddy knew a menacing glare when he saw one, the look that telegraphed imminent danger. This was something else. This was akin to the look of a Marine drill instructor commanding obedience, offering no alternative. There was also the indication of some secret knowledge that would be best left unrevealed.
“I got it, but appreciate the offer,” Buddy said, surprising himself with his own politeness.
“My name is Isaac,” the stranger said with a smile that didn’t extend to his eyes, offering his hand.
Buddy accepted the hand shake, at once surprised at the strength of a hand that small, and frightened by its coldness. “I’m Buddy and this here is my son, Matt.”
“You’re fortunate to be able to spend time with your son. I have children that I’m rarely able to see,” Isaac said. He spoke with an accent Buddy couldn’t place. He thought it was Appalachian, but maybe from another time, which made no sense considering he’d never heard anyone from another time speak except in movies. There was also something refined in the way each syllable was enunciated, as if this truck driver had a formal education.
“Actually, I’m sneaking him along. We’re not allowed to have passengers,” Buddy replied, shocked at his own admission. He would never reveal that sort of information, especially to a total stranger.
“It’s a shame isn’t it?” Isaac responded. “A travesty that these companies work us like dogs and not allow us time with our own kin. I’m sure the Lord frowns upon the practice.”
“You got that right,” Buddy answered, instantly liking the man. “I never thought of it like that, but you hit the nail on the head.”
“I am merely a man making an observation. May I treat you and Matt to dinner? It would be a pleasure to break bread with fellow travelers,” Isaac asked, almost humbly.
Buddy accepted the offer without hesitating, forgetting the icy handshake and evil glare for the moment. Truth be told, he was nearly broke and wondered how he would feed two mouths for the rest of the week, having taken the maximum allowable pay advance for the week already. He conveniently dismissed what he had spent on lottery tickets and cigarettes this week.
***