that quiet place

THAT QUIET PLACE

BY FREDERICK J. MORALES


" THE ROAD LOOKS WET ABOUT TWO MILES UP THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE HOT

SUMMER SUN IN AUGUST WAS GIVING ME A WIND BURN SUN TAN. THE PITCH OF MY 74

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN SIXTH GEAR SOUNDS JUST RIGHT AT SEVENTY MILES AN HOUR AND MY

RPM IS JUST RIGHT. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE IN THIS US OF A I AM RIGHT NOW AND I

HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT OF WHERE I'M HEADED, AT LEAST NOT YET ANYWAY. AS LONG AS

I KEEP THESE HANDLE BARS STRAIGHT I CAN THINK ON MORE IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE HOW

THAT CLUMP OF TREES DOWN THERE ON MY RIGHT HAND SIDE JUST SEEM TO REACH EVER SO

HIGH INTO THE SKY AS I RIDE PAST THEM. I WONDER IF THE CARS AND TRUCKS GOING IN


THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION KNEW WHERE I WAS GOING, WOULD THEY BE GOING IN THE

OPPOSITE DIRECTION? IF I TOLD THEM, I RECKON I'D BE FOLLOWED, SO THAT WOULD BE A

BAD IDEA. THAT SIGN JUST SAID I-95 SOUTH IS THAT HOW FAST I CAN GO OR WHAT? AND

THAT LAST SIGN SAID SPEED LIMIT 55 SO THE I-95 MUST BE THE NAME OF THE HIGHWAY

I'M ON,I GUESS I'M JUST DAY DREAMING. OKAY NOW I HAVE TO OPEN MY RIGHT HAND AND

LET MY 1200 CUBIC CENTIMETER ENGINE GET ME BACK DOWN TO A DOUBLE NICKEL, I'M

SPEEDING!"

ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN GOING BACK TO THAT OLD STEEL MILL BACK IN

PITTSBURGH;I THOUGHT. I COULDN'T EVEN THINK STRAIGHT HEARING ALL THOSE

MACHINES AROUND ME EVERYDAY. I DECIDED I WANT JUST THIS ONE MACHINE UNDER ME.

BESIDES WHO SAYS I HAVE TO GO TO JUST ONE PLACE.


WHEN IT GETS AS MESSED UP AS PITTSBURGH I CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.I KNOW


MY WAY AROUND MACHINES GOOD ENOUGH. AFTER ALL I'M THIRTY NOW AND I'VE


BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS EIGHTEEN IN THAT MACHINE SHOP. I COULD GET


ODD JOBS FOR GAS MONEY ,FOOD AND A ROOF OVER MY HEAD. JUST LIKE MY DADDY BEFORE

ME WHEN HE LEFT IRELAND, HIS DADDY PROBABLY WONDERED WHERE HE WONDERED OFF TO


I JUST HAVE TO GET MY RPM RIGHT HERE FOR A MINUTE AND SOFTEN THE PITCH OF

THE ENGINE. YOU HAVE TO NURSE THIS ENGINE AND TREAT IT RIGHT SO IT DOES WHAT YOU

WANT IT TO DO WHEN THE TIME COMES, THERE THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT NOW GET OVER TO THE

LEFT HAND LANE AND PASSED THIS BIG OLD MAC TRUCK. GIVE HIM PLENTY OF SPACE IN

YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR THEN BACK TO RIGHT LANE,JUST LIKE THIS, OKAY WE'RE DOING

GREAT. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LET MY MIND WONDER LIKE THIS SINCE ME AND MY HOG

WENT TO CAP COD MASSACHUSETTS,ISN'T THAT GREAT, I THOUGHT.

A HOG IS WHAT THEY NICKNAMED THIS MOTORCYCLE I NEVER REALLY QUITE

FIGURED OUT WHY. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, ITS GRAND DADDY

CHANGED THIS WHOLE WORLD FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. THAT MUST HAVE TAKEN SOME

DOING,JUST CHANGING EVERYBODY'S LIFE THAT EVER RODE A HARLEY DAVIDSON 12 HUNDRED

CUBIC CENTIMETER MOTORCYCLE AND NEVER EVEN CHANGING THEM BACK, I THOUGHT. A

QUICK LOOK AT MY SPEEDOMETER AND IT SAYS 65 MILES AN HOUR SO I MUST BE DOING IT

AGAIN. ONLY THIS TIME A HIGHWAY PATROL CAR IS WAVING ON ME TO PULL OVER TO THE

SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CAN'T OUT RUN IT BECAUSE HE PROBABLY HAS A SUPER CHARGER OR

NITROUS OXIDE OR SOMETHING SO HERE I AM DOWN SHIFTING. I GUESS HE IS GOING TO

THROW ME IN THE WHOSEGOW FOR TAKEN SO LONG TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THE POLICE OFFICER MUST BE UPSET BY NOW, ITS BEEN LONGER THAN HALF AN HOUR

SINCE HE TOLD ME TO PULL OVER AND THE REST OF THE TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE IS

GOING AS FAST AS I WAS. I FIGURE I WAS BEING MORE SAFE THAN SORRY. I DON'T THINK

HE IS GOING TO BELIEVE THAT SO I HAVE TO BE HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, NOT

MOVING AND WAITING ON THE POLICE OFFICER TO WALK ON OVER TO ME.


"GET OFF THE BIKE; LET ME SEE YOUR LICENSE AND REGISTRATION THEN


LAY DOWN ON THE GRASS FACE DOWN WITH YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD; WISE GUY!" THE

POLICE OFFICER YELLED.





IN THE MEAN TIME I CAN STILL HEAR THE SIREN FROM HIS PATROL CAR AS HE IS

CHECKING ME FOR ANY WEAPONS WHEN SUDDENLY THAT MAC TRUCK I PASSED DOES A JACK

KNIFE BECAUSE A PASSENGER CAR PULLS OVER FROM THE LEFT SIDE AS I'M LAYING THERE

WITH MY HEAD TURNED TOWARD THE HIGHWAY WATCHING IT AND HITS THE CAR IN THE REAR

THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT. I THEN STOOD UP LISTENING TO THE

LOUD CLANG OF BANGING METAL ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, TAKE MY LICENSE AND PINK

SLIP FROM THE COPS HAND BEFORE I GET HIS ATTENTION, GET ON MY HOG AND JUST RIDE

OFF HOPING NOBODY WAS REALLY HURT.


"ALL THAT NOISE COULD JUST ABOUT GIVE SOMEBODY AN EAR ACHE.I'D

BETTER BE GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AT THIS HERE EXIT HIS BUDDIES


WILL BE COMING TO FETCH ME ANY MINUTE NOW. START MAKING CAMP TO TURN


IN FOR THE NIGHT AND GET A FRESH START IN THE MORNING.WOW! HERE COMES


AN AMBULANCE AND TWO MORE PATROL CARS ALL BLOWING SIRENS, ONLY THEY

ARE GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE AND HEADED TOWARDS THE SCENE OF THE

ACCIDENT.NOTHING MUCH I CAN DO THERE," I THOUGHT, AS I GOT BACK UP TO

FOURTH GEAR.

NEXT SIGN COMING UP ON MY RIGHT SIDE SAYS "HISTORICAL LANDMARK", NATIONAL

FOREST 50 MILES HEY! I'M A HISTORICAL LANDMARK TOO AND A NATIONAL FOREST IS JUST

WHAT I NEED AND THIS GETTY GAS STATION IS SURE TO GET ME THERE. I PULL INTO THE

GAS STATION A MECHANIC IN THE GARAGE IS REVVING UP THE ENGINE OF AN OLD CHEVY

WHILE I'M TRYING TO TELL THE GUY PUMPING GAS THAT I WANT ABOUT FOUR GALLONS AND

THAT I WOULD PREFER PUTTING IT IN MY GAS TANK MYSELF SO I DON'T SPILL ANY. THE

SOUND OF THE ENGINE DROWNS ME OUT, HE FILLS UP MY TANK AND SPILLS SOME ON MY

CHROME TEAR DROP GAS TANK.I CAN'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE A PHONE CALL TO THE POLICE

WOULD ATTRACT ATTENTION. I PULL OUT A TEN DOLLAR BILL FOR SIX DOLLARS OF GAS

AND YELL "KEEP THE CHANGE" WHEN SUDDENLY THE MECHANIC SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE AND



I'M LEFT YELLING THE WORD "CHANGE" JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO LOUD.

" IS THERE A QUIET PLACE ON THIS EARTH? MAYBE THAT'S WHERE I WANT

TO GO, BUT I'M NOT MUCH FOR MAKING PLANS,MAYBE ITS UP IN THOSE CLOUDS

UP THERE, IF THEY GET BLACK I'M IN TROUBLE AND I HAVE TO CLIMB THIS MOUNTAIN FAR

ENOUGH TO GET THAT HIGH AND FIND SOME COVER IF IT RAINS. I WOULD STILL HEAR THE

WIND IN THE TREES,THE CRICKETS,THE SOUND OF BIRDS CHIRPING AND THE INNER VOICE

OF MY CONSCIENCE KEEPING ME COMPANY. THAT QUIET PLACE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FOR THAT DEER FOR EXAMPLE, IT DEPENDS ON SOUND TO SURVIVE AND IT MIGHT GET ALL

UPTIGHT ABOUT TOTAL SILENCE. AS I GOT UP INTO SECOND GEAR CLIMBING THIS PAVED

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN ROAD NOTHING WAS AS IMPORTANT AS SURVIVAL."

AS I DROPPED TO FIRST GEAR COMING OUT OF A SHARP TURN I COULD

SEE THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN JUST AS GOT BACK INTO SECOND GEAR AND I

NOTICED I WAS ABOUT HALF WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN. THEN SUDDENLY A CAR

LETTING OFF STEAM FROM THE RADIATOR SOUNDED ITS HORN ABOUT EIGHT

TIMES. AND THE YOUNG GIRL SEATED BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE PARKED CAR

WAVED HER LEFT HAND FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. SHE WANTED ME TO STOP BUT I

JUST DIDN'T LIKE ALL THAT NOISE. I RODE ABOUT FIFTY FEET PAST HER AND

SHE JUST KEPT HER HAND ON THE HORN INSTEAD OF MAKING IT SOUND ON AND

OFF AND I SAID TO MYSELF "THAT DOES IT!". I MADE A U-TURN AND AS I GOT

TO THE STALLED CAR SHE TOOK HER HAND OFF THE HORN AND I INTRODUCED

MYSELF.

"HI I'M FRANK." I SAID

THEN SUDDENLY SHE STARTED YELLING AND CRYING.

"I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY IF YOUR THINKING OF ROBBING ME, IF YOU HAVE

ANYTHING ELSE YOUR MIND I'LL LOCK MYSELF IN THIS CAR SO ALL YOU CAN DO IS GO

AWAY!"

WALKING OVER TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND RAISING THE HOOD I YELLED

" YOU HAD BETTER GET OUT OF THE CAR JUST AS FAST YOU CAN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO


UP IN FLAMES"

SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND RAN ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE FEET DOWN THE ROAD AS I SLOWLY

LEANED AGAINST THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SO SHE COULDN'T GET BACK IN AND I

YELLED;

" I WAS ONLY KIDDING ALL YOU NEED IS A NEW HOSE ON YOUR RADIATOR AND SOME WATER!

I'M NOT GOING TO HURT YOU SO CALM DOWN AND STOP CRYING!"

IT TOOK ME THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON TO GET HER TO STOP TELLING ME HOW I COULD

HAVE GIVEN HER A HEART ATTACK AND HOW SHE WAS GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL SORRY FOR

MAKING HER CRY. I TOLD HER WHERE I WAS FROM ASKED FOR SOME DIRECTIONS AND I HAD

TO SHOW HER THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF MY WALLET BEFORE SHE FELT SHE COULD TRUST ME,

THAT IS EVEN WORSE THAN HEARING A BUNCH OF NOISE ALL THE TIME.

"CAN YOU GET ME TO THE GAS STATION TWO MILES UP THE MOUNTAIN? SHE ASKED

"IT'S NOT TOO FAR AND COULD SURE USE THE HELP. SHE SAID,

WIPING EACH EYE WITH HER SLEEVES AT THE WRISTS.

SHE LOOKED GREAT, LONG BROWN HAIR, WITH SKIN AS PURE AS THE DRIVEN

SNOW AND LARGE BROWN EYES AND SLENDER ENOUGH TO HAVE ME DO NOTHING BUT

BLUSH. SHE LOOKED A COUPLE OF YEARS YOUNGER THAN I WAS AND IF I COULD

GET HER ON THE BACK SEAT OF MY HARLEY, I COULD GET HER NAME LATER I

THOUGHT. I TOLD HER HOW TO PUT HER FEET ON THE FOOT PEGS AND HER ARMS

AROUND MY CHEST REAL TIGHT, OH YOU KNOW! JUST SO SHE WOULDN'T FALL OFF

AND WE RODE UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THE GAS STATION ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF

AWAY AND I GOT THE MECHANIC TO TOW THE CAR TO THE GARAGE AND IN EXCHANGE SHE

GOT ME SOMETHING TO EAT AND DRINK FROM THE GENERAL STORE RIGHT NEXT TO THE GAS

STATION.

THEY TOLD ME WHERE I COULD CAMP OUT FOR AS LONG AS I WANTED AND STILL BE

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF FOOD AND GAS AND MAYBE EARN A LITTLE MONEY SWEEPING

UP THE GENERAL STORE. THAT SEEMED LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL. I PARKED MY BIKE



BEHIND THE STORE, PULLED THE BED ROLL OFF MY HANDLE BARS AND HIKED UP TO THE

CAMP

SITE A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY AND TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT.

I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING HAVING HAD A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP, HEARING


THE BIRDS CHIRP, THE SOUND OF THE CRICKETS AND THE WIND GENTLY

BLOWING IN MY EAR AND JUST LAID THERE FOR HOURS THINKING OF THAT

BEAUTIFUL GIRL I HAD MET YESTERDAY RATHER THAN THE PITCH OF A MOTORCYCLE ENGINE.

I HIKED BACK TO THE GENERAL STORE TO CHECK ON MY HOG AND THERE SHE WAS GETTING

HER CAR FIXED.

" THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN." I SAID

JUST THEN A VOICE SAID

"LISA COME IN HERE AND GIVE A HAND."

"YES DADDY." SHE REPLIED


HER FATHER WAS A LITTLE TALLER THAN I WAS AND ABOUT AS OLD AS MY DAD.HE LOOKED

AS THOUGH HE HAD WEATHERED EVERY STORM THESE MOUNTAINS EVER HAD.

HE WALKED OVER TO ME AND SAID

" I'M MIGHTY GREATFUL ABOUT THE WAY YOU GOT LISA TO LET YOU HELP HER. SHE TOLD

ME EVERYTHING LAST NIGHT AND I'M GOING TO HELP LISA KEEP HER PROMISE TO YOU"

"IF YOUR NOT IN A HURRY WE GOT SOME CHORES YOU CAN DO AROUND HERE LIKE CHOPPING

WOOD,PAINTING AND PUMPING GAS."

"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?" HE ASKED


THAT WAS FIFTEEN YEARS AGO TODAY SINCE I ARRIVED HERE AND CAMPED OUT. I CAME

BACK TO THE GENERAL STORE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT AND FOUND OUT LISA'S FOLKS

OWNED THE GAS STATION AND THE GENERAL STORE AND HER CAR HAD OVERHEATED ON HER

WAY BACK FROM PITTSBURGH WHERE SHE WENT TO SCHOOL. NOW WE ARE MARRIED AND HAVE

AN EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY. WE HAD A SMALL HOUSE BUILT USING THE HARLEY AS A DOWN



PAYMENT, WHERE I FIRST CAMPED OUT AND NOW I MANAGE THE PLACE. SHE TAUGHT ME THAT

I JUST TAKE TOO MUCH FOR GRANTED WHEN I WANT THAT QUIET PLACE SO SILENT THAT IT

IS NEVER QUIET ENOUGH.


IT WAS LAST THURSDAY WHEN THE FORGOTTEN ROAR OF A HARLEY DAVIDSON SEEM TO

TAKE FOREVER TO TOP OFF AT THE GAS PUMP. FIRST THERE WAS A CAMPER GETTING GAS

THEN A FEW CARS TRUCKS AND A TRACTOR. WE HEARD AN HOUR OF THE REVVING OF AN

ENGINE WE WISHED WOULD JUST VANISH INTO THIN AIR. EVERY TIME HE MOVED CLOSER TO

THE PUMP THE ROAR OF THE ENGINE MADE LITTLE SAMMY CRY. I GUESS THAT WAS MY SONS

WAY OF TELLING ME HE WAS GETTING BUTTERFLIES OF THE STOMACH, THAT FELLING YOU

GET WHEN SOMETHING IS TO MUCH FOR YOU TO HANDLE? I STEPPED OUT FROM BEHIND THE

COUNTER OF THE STORE TO SEE WHAT IS WAS LISA WAS YELLING ABOUT;

" HAS AN AIRPLANE LANDED?" SHE YELLED
" NO, MY LOVE IT'S ONLY THE STRAIGHT PIPS OF A BIKE AND HE'S CARRYING ON."
" I MEAN A MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT A MUFFLER OR BAFFLES AS WE CALL

THEM, IT'S TRYING TO GET SOME GAS DEAR AND IT'S SLOWLY PULLING UP TO THE GAS

PUMP."


"WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT USING THAT SLANG AROUND ME?"

"DID YOU CHECK THE INVENTORY TO SEE WHAT WE NEEDED?"

"CALL PITTSBURGH AND HAVE THE SUPPLIES WAITING;DEAR."

"DID YOU GO TO THE BACK AND REPLENISH EVERYTHING ON THE SHELVES?"

"IT'S OKAY BABY,IT'S OKAY BABY!" SHE REPEATED PICKING UP OUR

EIGHT YEAR OLD SON AND PACING THE FLOOR.


SUDDENLY THE ROAR OF THE ENGINE CEASED AND THE BIKE WAS PARKED AT THE ONLY

GAS PUMP WE HAD. I WENT OVER TO CHECK IT OUT AND GLANCED AT THE BACK OF A BLUE

JEAN JACKET WITH THE SIGN OF A PENDULUM AND SAYING "LOS DIABLO" JUST BELOW IT. I

KNEW RIGHT THEN AND THERE THAT HE WAS FROM MY DEEP DARK PAST AND I COULDN'T EVEN



BEGIN TO SUGGEST TO PUT SOME WIRE MESH IN HIS EXHAUST PIPES OR TO OFFER TO PUT

THE GAS IN HIS TEAR DROP GAS TANK FOR FEAR OF GETTING INTO A CONVERSATION WITH

HIM. HE TOOK HOLD OF THE PUMP HIMSELF AS IS THE CUSTOM AND SLOWLY GLANCED AROUND

THE ENTIRE TEN ACRES OF MY PLACE,UNTIL I THOUGHT HE FOUND WHAT HE WAS LOOKING

FOR;MY WIFE, STANDING OUT IN FRONT OF THE STORE HOLDING MY SON SAMMY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY A WORD TO HIM AFTER HE FINISHED PUTTING GAS IN HIS TANK

AND HOPED THAT THE BLUE PICKUP BEHIND HIM WOULD GET TIRED OF WAITING AND GET RID

OF HIM FOR US. HE GAVE ME FIVE DOLLARS FOR A SIX DOLLAR GAS CHARGE AND I PUT OUT

MY HAND AFTER HE STARTED HIS ENGINE TO SHOW THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME

THAT HE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, PUT HIS BIKE IN GEAR AND RODE OVER TO THE

FRONT OF THE GENERAL STORE AND SHUT DOWN HIS ENGINE AGAIN.


HE WAS UNSHAVEN AND ALL DUSTY FROM BEING ON THE ROAD SO LONG AND PROBABLY

FELT THE WAY I DID FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. LISA HAD ALREADY GONE TO THE BACK OF THE

STORE WHERE THE TELEPHONE WAS LOCATED AND I PICKED UP THE PHONE IN THE GARAGE

WHILE JIMMY OUR GAS ATTENDANT AND RUFUS OUR MECHANIC WENT OVER TO THE STORE TO

HAVE A CHAT WITH THIS GUY. I CALLED THE MAIN HOUSE WHERE THE STORE WAS LOCATED

AND LISA ANSWERED AS WE HAD PLANED IT IF WE EVER GOT ROBBED AND I COULD CALM HER

DOWN.


WE PLANNED RUFUS WOULD GET A SIX PACK OF BEER TO SEE IF WE WERE GETTING

ROBBED OR NOT,START A CONVERSATION AND SHARE THE BEER.

" HEY MAN WOULD YOU LIKE TO DOWN A COUPLE OF FREE COLD ONES?"

" YOUR RIDE COULD USE SOME WORK. I'M GONNA DO IT FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE IF YOU

DON'T RAISE ANY OBJECTIONS ABOUT THE LITTLE LADY."

"HE JUST DRANK ABOUT FOUR BEERS AND WHEN HE WAS GOOD AND READY JUST SAID "OKAY"


AFTER I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH LISA, WE PLANNED THAT I WOULD CALLED THE

POLICE IF RUFUS DIDN'T WAVE TO ME SAYING THAT HE ACCEPTED THE OFFER WE PLANNED.



WE GO THROUGH THIS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING. I GOT

THE SIGNAL AND THEY CAME BACK OVER TO THE GARAGE AND I WENT BACK TO MIND THE

STORE. JIMMY WENT BACK TO PUMPING GAS AND RUFUS TUNED THE GUYS ENGINE FOR ABOUT

TWO HOURS AND THEN HE LEFT;I SORT OF KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE IT WOULD HAPPEN THAT

WAY.

THE END