The Drifting Tumbleweed

Chapter V: Tyee and Lawrence and Eddy and Gil

In all of his 61-years on the Earth, Tony Twomoons could probably count on one hand all the times he felt truly surprised by events. This was about to be one of those times.

He just witnessed that both Larry and Eddy were still alive and received what he felt as personal confirmation about both of their innocence. Not only that, he had just shifted his focus to his boss as a leading suspect. His mind couldn’t settle on which to think about first. But then the front door to the bar flew open and several law enforcement came forcefully into the bar. About a half-second latter, another intimidating group came in from the kitchen where they had made their entrance through the back door.

A tall man with slicked black hair and wore a jacket that said FBI flashed a badge quickly. “This place is now considered a crime scene,” his voice boomed even though the bar had grown quiet quickly at their presence. “Please vacate the premises immediately.”

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The Drifting Tumbleweed

Chapter IV: Gil Sanderson

Tony arrived home after his shift to a dark house and his wife in bed. Which told him that yes, Sheila was still mad he chose to go into work every night instead of hiding out at home. He fixed himself a quick bite to eat while mulling over the events of the night.

As he reviewed what he knew, he felt pretty certain Larry or Eddy would be the next victim. Maybe both. While neither one seemed too drunk when they left the bar he couldn’t figure out why they would leave together. Why would a guy like Larry choose to hang out with Eddy – Eddy? That made no sense. No one in town willingly hung out with Eddy.

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The Drifting Tumbleweed

Chapter III: Eddy Edwards

Tony was so focused on Larry that he wasn’t paying attention to Eddy’s incessant chatter. But that was fairly typical. Eddy liked to talk and while he seldom found an audience, in The Drifting Tumbleweed no one made him stop. They just tuned him out. One time on a slow winter night, Tony started closing up a little early. Eddy was the only customer in the bar and started telling a story about his military days which was his favorite topic. Tony went to the back and did his nightly closing routine of closing everything down. It took at least fifteen minutes. When he came back, Eddy was still engaged in his story. Tony didn’t think Eddy even noticed he wasn’t in the room for a good portion of the the story.

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The Drifting Tumbleweed

Chapter II: Larry Dowd

It should probably be mentioned at this point, that Tony Twomoons did not, in fact, wish anyone any harm. Ever. His personal mantra aligned with ‘live and let live’. But that was the problem in the area at the moment. Not all the people were being allowed to live, were they? Someone had taken it upon themselves and started robbing other people of the most precious gift – the gift of life. For whatever reason, the fact that the victims had all been up to this point Native American and not white like the stranger that walked into the bar did not factor into Tony’s quick succession of thoughts. He also couldn’t explain why he naturally assumed the stranger would be another victim and not the killer. All Tony knew is when the stranger walked into the bar, Tony thought the blond-well-coiffed man with the popped up collar would be a victim not a perpetrator.

The stranger didn’t exactly do anything to change Tony’s mind either.

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The Drifting Tumbleweed

Chapter I: Tony Twomoons

            Tyee Twomoons stood behind the bar drying glasses.  His face expression hard as flint.  Newcomers often made the assumption that he didn’t notice anything.  That assumption was generally incorrect but typically lacked tangible proof.  The regular patrons had learned not to underestimate what Tyee observed.  Many a bar fight had been settled by Tyee recounting the events leading up to the brawl.  No one could dispute his word.  Tyee’s version was always accepted as fact and unruly patrons soon found themselves on the other side of the door if they attempted to argue.  In the Drifting Tumbleweed Bar, Tyee’s seldom heard voice was law.

Although when he wasn’t on the reservation and here at the bar he was known as Tony Twomoons. While he grew up in an orphanage on the reservation his school was in town and only hired white teachers. None of his teachers could pronounce his first name. Until one teacher didn’t even try to say it and just called him Tony. Everyone could pronounce Tony so he just accepted it. It saved him the repetition of pronouncing his name at every roll call. Now he was usually surprised when he heard his own name and sometimes forgot to answer to Tyee.

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Story Behind the Post: Two Halves

Last month was a 5-Saturday month. If you have been a reader of this little blog for more than a minute, then you are aware that on 5-Saturday months I attempt to write a 5-part short story. The intent is to practice my writing skills. Lately, I’ve been a bit lazy. So, my effort in this endeavor is waning. a little bit. But last month, I followed through even though May – as you know – is as busy as December. It tends to fill itself up with activities. Still, I managed to give it a go.

Three things came together and provided the spark of the story.

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Two Halves: Chapter V

Chapter V: Two: Fates

            Seaman Pete Romero died December 7, 1941. 

At least, that was what Amy figured. Since she wasn’t his family legally, no official telegram or notice was ever sent to her.  It took her a year to get some sort of confirmation even though when she never heard from him, she knew it had to be true.  She spent months rereading every letter Pete had sent to her and attempted to track down anyone he mentioned.  Finally, from a merciful clerk at Pete’s training base in California, she was able to locate the cook he mentioned in his last letter.  Lewey, or William Lewiston as she discovered, was discharged after he lost one of his legs during the attack.  He lived in Alabama. 

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Two Halves: Chapter IV

Chapter IV: Two Wars

           

Amy shut her bedroom door and sighed.  It was the first Sunday in December and the house was quiet except for the winter storm howling outside.  The house tended to be fairly quiet most days since Ruth hardly was home during the day.  Her dad, however, had tried to be more present ever since their talk in October when Amy had told him she planned to go to California after graduation.  It was as if he was trying to show her how good of a parent he actually was by being more present physically.  All of his attempts were too little, too late for her though.  He might sit at the dinner table more often with her but they sat in silence.  Hardly any conversation beyond politeness passed between them.  She did appreciate the effort he was putting in but she had not changed her mind.  If anything, the increasing absence of Ruth made her want to leave sooner. The house inside was growing as cold in social interaction as the December storm was making it miserable outside.

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Two Halves: Chapter III

Chapter III: Two Plans 

            Amy looked at the last sentence Pete wrote.  Apparently, he had felt so bad in how long it took him to return her first letter that he wrote her almost every day since.  The only days he missed was when he traveled to Hawaii.  Actually, he did manage to write on those travel days, he just mailed them all upon his arrival. But according to that last sentence she read, that was all about to end.  This was her third time reading his latest letter.

            “Amelia,” he wrote. When he called her by her birthname, she knew he was about to tell her something serious.  She had explained to him that she was actually named after her mother Amelia but it was too painful for her father to call her that.  So, she had become Amy. Everyone called her Amy ever since she could remember but she liked the name Amelia. Whenever Pete addressed her as Amelia, it helped her feel connected to her mom who died before she had any real memories of her. But Pete only used it on serious occasions and this occasion was no different.  “It looks like I am being shipped to the Philippines.  I won’t bother telling you what little I know about the place since you probably already know more about it than me.  If you don’t now, I am sure you will head to the library and will gather all the information you need.  Maybe you could send me places I should check out there like you did for here?”

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Two Halves: Chapter II

Chapter II: Two Letters

July 10, 1941

Greetings Private Romero,

Oh, that sounds so formal, doesn’t it?  I’d rather just call you Pete.  It seems rather silly of me to be writing this so soon after we said goodbye on my front step but I want you to be among the first to get mail when you arrive at the base.  So, after we said our farewell, I ran up to my room and grabbed a pen and paper to write this note. 

            I don’t want you to think I am the kind of girl that does this often.  No sir, let me assure you, I will only write to one soldier at a time and that soldier is you.  I’m sure Ruth will have something to say about that but she isn’t home yet anyway.  Besides, considering her behavior lately, I’m not sure I give a flying fig what she thinks.  Sorry if that sounded a little harsh. Sometimes I get a little tired being the buffer between her and dad.  You know what happens to a buffer?  It gets worn out, that’s what!

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