I thought of Frank. Back on that day so long ago.”No, I cant explain. Take the box and tell no one. You hear me not one damn person.” His normally calm persona seemed rattled. His light brown hair hung down in his face covering his eyes as he leaned forward. He shoved the bound hatbox into my stomach again. “Trust me. please”
“I don’t want it Frank. Just tell me whats going on and I will help”.
“I cant. And you cant fix this. Please just take the box. Youre my best friend man. Take it. please.”
In the distance, a police siren passed by. Frank started. First time I had ever seen that. Two tours in Desert Storm and I had never seen this man flinch. I opened my hand flat with the palm up. Frank put the box in it and backed away. “You wont regret this. It will all work out. I promise”.
He said as he backed away into a jog. I watched him as he disappeared down the street. That was the last time I saw him. All frantic disappearing into the night. that was 15 years ago. Occassionally I would think about him. But I never did know what happened or why he left that night. Until now.
Washing off the last of the shave cream I checked my face again. A good clean shave had taken 10 years off me. I walked into the bedroom and grabbed my grey suit. In the time that Frank had left I had time to focus. Time to make Gloria’s last words a lie. I wasnt lazy or good for nothing.
I had built a thriving car repair and customization business. We serviced an average of 8 repairs a week and 2 custom rebuilds a month. I had achieved my goal. There was still something missing. You know that feeling you get when you want to get out of the house but don’t know where to go? That feeling. Something was off. Now I knew what.
Grabbing up my bags I took one last look at the letter. Thats what was in the hatbox. Well that and a couple of pictures and a key. I took a deep breath as I read it again and let the emotion wash over me.
“Mike. I know you going to hate me for this but I am going with Gloria. Shes determined to be rid of you. She insists that shes got to raise her son without you and your influence. You know how she gets when she gets an idea in her head. I tried hard as I could, believe me I tried but she has her mind set. Gloria doesn’t want you to know where she and your son are. It took some fast talking and Im sorry for the terrible things I said about you to her, but Im going with her. When you pulled me out of that humvee all those years ago, I swore Id pay you back because I owed you my life. So that’s what Im doing. I will keep close to Gloria and your son. I will tell him about his daddy. If you kept your promise to me and are just now reading this, your boys turning 18 tomorrow. Go to the postbox in Carlton Arizona. The keys in the box. I will leave the address of where I am. Come wish your boy happy birthday.
P.S. I love you man.”
I wiped my eyes and threw the key and photos in my pocket. Flipping off the lights I let the door close ad latch behind me. standing on the porch I could smell the wildflowers. The sun was bright. Time to go see my boy.
