The Death of Sherman

I wish it wasn't so hard to remember the exact day that I heard about the death of Sherman, as everything about that day is still somewhat of a blur.

I do remember it was sometime in the early autumn as the leaves on the oaks and maples were just beginning to reach their peak of color. It had rained out the night before and the streets were littered with fallen leaves. I had heard that my Grammy Mondor was not feeling well and had decided to go and visit her.

JoAnna and I had gotten up at about 6AM as it was a long drive from our house to Charleton,Ma.( Since renamed Charleton City,Ma. if you look at an atlas.) We had just traded in my old '73 Dodge Polara for a new Ford Escort GL Wagon and this was the first long road trip.

We left Londonderry,NH around 7:30. Even though it was early autumn, I drove with the window down as the air was fresh with the scent of wet pine needles and the musky smell of rain soaked leaves. JoAnna was a little nervous about meeting my Grammy Mondor and kept asking me all kinds of questions.

After awhile I got tired of answering so I turned on the radio in an effort to get her to shut up. Approaching the Wolfeboro exit the radio announcer came on with the news that a man named Sherman Peterson had been killed in a car accident while driving home from work in the early morning hours. Apparently he had lost control of his car while going around a bend in the road, due to the rain and all the wet leaves that were plastered to the road. At first I didn't quite believe that it could be my friend until they said that the jaws of life had to be used to extract him from the vehicle and that the Ford Fiesta was a total wreck.

When I heard that, I felt I was going to lose control,so I took the next exit and drove to the nearest pay phone. JoAnna kept asking what I was going to do and I just kept yelling at her to shut up, but she wouldn't until I punched the windshield as hard as I could. I realise in hind sight that it was a stupid thing to do, but I had to do it or I would have hit her and I was brought up never, under any circumstances, that you don't hit women.

I got out of the car and called Sherman's ex-wife, as he had moved back in with her, to find out if it was really him or if maybe it was another Sherman they were talking about. She confirmed that it was him and that there was nothing I could do for her at the time. She told me that if I wanted I could stop by later as she had to go through his things.All I could do was hang up.

For a day that had started out so good it was going to hell in a hand basket real fast.

I got to my Grams and she knew right away that something was wrong. I told her all I knew about what had happened including the part about punching the windshield. My Gram,being who she was, lit into JoAnna in no uncertain terms, for not trying to understand what I must have been feeling.

I cut the visit short and started driving back to the Mass Pike to get to No. Andover in the fastest time possible, when I noticed that an Auburn,Ma. cruiser started following me. Half a mile later he pulled me over. Next thing I knew he was putting cuffs on me and telling me that I was under arrest for driving after suspension, no inspection sticker and operating an unsafe vehicle. I thought to myself could this day get any worse.

I spent about two hours confined in a cell, then was escorted to the local courthouse, where I was able to prove that my license had been reinstated, that I had another five days to get the car inspected and that the windshield was cracked due to my punching it that morning. The judge dismissed all charges after asking the arresting officer if he had given me the chance to produce all the pertinent documents before arresting me. The officer replied that he hadn't.

I finally got to Annas' house ( Shermans' ex) at about 7PM. She invited us in and offered me and Joanna some refreshments. JoAnna said she was all set.

" Does Sherman still have some scotch stashed anywhere?" I asked.It still hadn't set in that he was gone from our lives forever.
" Yes, I think there is still some left from the last time you were here." Anna replied as she rose to get it.
" Anna, sit down, I'll get it."

Returning from the kitchen with the bottle and a tumbler I sat down on the couch.

" Have you heard from Shermans' folks yet? "
" Yes, I called them and they said as soon as his body is released they were flying it back to Texas."
" What about his friends here, are they going to at least let us have a memorial service for him? "
" No, in fact they want me to have all his belongings packed and shipped there also, but I do have some of his things packed in a box for you. I know he would rather give them to you then let his family, who treated him like crap when he was alive, have them." she said as she went and fetched a box from the corner of the room.

Joanna just sat there in silence and acted as if all this were an everyday occurence. Even Anna noticed how cold and distant she seemed.
Turning to JoAnna she asked her what she thought.

" I never liked Sherman so I could care less." Joanna said.

When I heard that I snapped. Hurling my glass across the room, I stood up and grabbed Joanna by the arm, telling her that it would be better if she called her friend to come get her and stay there for awhile or I would not be held responsible for my actions. She turned and asked Anna if she could use her phone,and Anna shook her head no.

" Go use the payphone on the corner and don't ever come into my house again, you cold-hearted,selfish bitch!"
In the few times since I met her, I had never heard Anna use foul language, but I did understand it and felt the same way. JoAnna stormed out slamming the door behind her.

" Art you can stay if you like, I'll clean up the glass and get you another if you'ld like." Anna offered with heartfelt sympathy.
" No let me clean this up, Anna, then I think I'll leave, before I really lose it. If there is anything you need me to help with then call me."

That was the last time I saw Anna.

When I got home there was a message on the machine from my mom to call her, but I was in no mood to talk with anyone.

Joanna kept calling but I was screening the calls and refused to answer. I think I would have told her to stay gone for good at that point, if I had talked to her. Maybe I should have, as it would have saved me a lot of heartache and grief a few years later, but that's a whole other story.

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