“No, not scared, Dad. Just ashamed. That’s an entirely different thing.”
My father smiled, and that was that. He seemed good with my answer, and it was the honest truth. Whatever they dished out, I could take. I understood the need for payback. I understood the need for revenge.
A cell went off, and my dad reached into his pocket, pulled it out, looked at the display and left the table. This meant it was the club.
They were probably wanting to make sure I didn’t hightail it out of here before they got a chance to beat the hell out of me. As a kid, that would’ve been the outcome. Now as a grown man, hiding would never be an option for me.
My mom reached over and grabbed my hand. “I’m scared for you.”
Inside of me cracked. I never wanted to cause her an ounce of pain, sadness, or fear. Clutching her hand, I stared deep into her eyes. “I’ll be just fine, Ma. Promise.”
“It’s not gonna be pretty, Micah.” Her head shook. “You didn’t see them after you left…”
Reassuring her wasn’t going to be easy. She loved me and had never stopped no matter what I said or did; she’d always been there for me.
“I know, and no I have no clue what’s going to happen. But know this, just like bein’ out in the field, I’ll do my damnedest to come back home.”
A stray tear left my mom’s eye just as my dad returned. I couldn’t get a read on his face.
“Meeting is moved until tonight,” he ordered, looking at me, then to my mom. “Gotta run. Club business.” He leaned down and kissed my mom on the lips and then took off.
Memories of the past crashed into me. My father leaving. My mother crying. Feeling left out of the fold at every turn. But this time, it was different. There was no pain. There was no guilt or anger in my father leaving. There was just my dad going out to take his brothers backs.
I wished I’d have seen this before.
“Sounds good.”
My mother smiled. “We can spend the day together!”
“Sure, but I’ve gotta go get the keys to my place and go to the storage unit.”
Her nose scrunched a bit. “Not liking you not living here.”
“Grown man and need my own space.”
She sighed. “Fine, but we’re spending time together today!”
That was what we did, spending the day together and getting into my new place.
6
Ensley
This place always smelled good. They changed it every time I stepped into the building. Today was a fall scent with some kind of pumpkin apple combination and maybe some kind of marshmallow or something. It was divine.
Some people thought going into an assisted living home, the smell of death and despair was all around. Nope. Not at the Rosewood where my friend Gladys lived. This place was like a ten-star resort that I’d love to come for a vacation. Instead of that, we just visited and enjoyed it from afar.
Remy tugged on my finger, then put her arms up in the air to be picked up. I lifted her and positioned her on my hip as I turned to the woman on duty. “Hi. We’re here to see Gladys Withendal.”
“Hey, Ensley!” Reba, who’d known me since I started coming, came from the back room, wiping her hands with a paper towel and totally ignoring the receptionist.
“Hey, Reba. How are things?”
“Good! And you brought Remy today! Gladys is going to be so happy.” Reba clapped her hands excitedly. She’d worked here for years and absolutely loved her job. Some people just acted like they enjoyed what they did every day, when they really didn’t. Reba did, hands down.
“Geee…” Remy squealed, kicking her legs. It was the closest she'd come to saying Gladys. It was a very hard name for a little one. Therefore, Geee it was. Remy loved her Geee.
“She is too,” I said with a smile.
“Go on in. I’ll get you down.” Reba went to the computer, and the buzzer to the inner door sounded. I hustled to the door, pulling it open just in time. Remy squirmed knowing exactly where she wanted to be.
“Hang on. We need to go see Gladys, and then we can play.”
“No…” Remy whined, and I kneeled to her eye level.
“Yes. We need to see Gladys first or we have to leave. They won’t let us play without Gladys.” This was partially the truth and a little white lie. We wouldn’t have to leave, but that was only because they knew us here. The playground in the courtyard was Remy’s favorite thing to do. It was for all the grandkids who would come to visit.
“Pay!” Remy called out, and several of the men and women turned. Most were used to Remy; she was young. But some didn’t like the noise much. We just went along with our business.
Remy looked at me for long moments, then calmed when she put her head on my shoulder. She had a short fuse, but it burned out quick.
It was one thing I hoped she’d keep through the years, at least the burning out quick part.
We made it to Gladys’ room and knocked softly. There was no answer.
“Are you looking for Gladys?” an older woman asked, moving down the hall.
“Yes. Do you know where she is?”
“It’s so sweet to see grandkids and great grandkids. She’s down in the poker room.”
I should’ve known my Gladys would be where the action was. She was never one to steer away from it, always being the center of it all. Hell, even bringing it. She was a spitfire, and it was why I was so drawn to her in the first place.
“Thank you.”
Knowing exactly where that room was, we took off, Remy coming back into herself by sitting up and then getting down to walk while holding my finger.
As we passed, several of the residents had their hands up for Remy to give high fives too. She always had a smile on her face doing it, and I’d always wondered what she thought about it, having all of these people who loved seeing her when she visited. One day maybe she’d tell me.
The poker room held three tables, one roulette wheel, and several video poker machines. The residents didn’t win money, though. Instead, they were able to choose different things they wanted to do that were the ‘extras’. Gladys liked her massages considering a very young blond man, Nate, gave them to her. She said he was ‘just so precious.’ Right.
Gladys was sitting at a round table with three other women and a dealer. The dealer was actually a worker here, but she wore a uniform to make the place feel as real as possible. Like I said, ten-star resort.
“Hey,” I announced, coming to the table as Remy took off to Gladys.
“There’s my girls!” Gladys cheered as she tossed her cards down, then turned and wrapped Remy in her arms tightly.
When we left our families over two years ago, I never knew we’d have this extended one. The Ravage MC and Gladys.
I met Gladys in the emergency room about a year ago. It was twisted and jacked up, and you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Gladys came in with her friend June who was in her late sixties and apparently very sexually active.
June somehow, someway got a condom stuck up inside of her, and she couldn’t get it out.
Gladys told me, “It was because his dick was so scrawny. Couldn’t hold the damn thing on if he tried.” It was that moment that Gladys and I bonded. It was totally messed up, but a great friendship came out of all the laughter.