Jersey Lily

The white and crimson buds of the amaryllis planted alongside the house seem to be bursting with color after the brief shower. It was one of those fast moving cloudbursts that dampen everything and then quickly move on its way. Slowly the sun peaked from the edge of the storm flooding the house, the barn, and the yard with late afternoon warm sunshine.

Lily sat on the porch reading a magazine, disinterested in the passing storm. Occasionally she sipped from a lemonade and switched on and off with a long thin cigarette which at times she ignored. It burned its way down to ash as it lay in an old copper ashtray shaped like a caricature of an oversized cowboy's Stetson. The odors of tobacco mingled with the sweet smells coming from the kitchen.

“Raggity Andy, raggity damn. I just can't believe that this magazine says that we are incompatible. According to this I should be datin' a man with more adventure in his heart, someone who is romantic, a flower bringing and dancing kind of guy who should be willing to take risks.”

“I take risks.”

“Like what?”

“Like robbin' the Safeway. That was a risk.”

“Oh no, that don't count, cuz you knew that the manager was going to just hand you over the deposit. Hell, you robbed your own cousin.”

“Well it ain't like it was his own personal money. He forgave me for the robbin', but he did have to tell the police it was me that did it, on account of maybe losin' his job.”

“How long did you go away?”

Luke sat up from the old rattan couch on the porch rustled his hair and lit a cigarette. “I only got two years because I was still a juvenile and I promised to heed the Lord and take on the straight and narrow.”

“Straight and narrow right to the window of my bedroom when you got out. I do recall you praising god and the lord that night.”

“You know you can be downright mean at times.” He stood up walked to the rail and looked out on the landscape all bursting now with bright colors as the rain cloud made its way across the farm and the emerging sun reflected off of the wet landscape.

“Wasn't there a tire swing on the big oak over there?”

“Yeah, there was. Remember that's where daddy caught you smoking and chased you all over with that strap he had.”

“I must a been about, what twelve?”

“Thirteen. It was my thirteenth birthday party. The first I was allowed to have boys at. We had that pink donkey piñata hanging over there by the picnic tables. It was all filled with silver foil chocolate hearts and peppermint patties. By the end of the day they all melted in to a big minty chocolate silver mess. Over by the barn you all played pitchin' shoes.”

“Yeah, that was a good party. I think I stole my first kiss from you that day.”

“Stole nothin'. I let you kiss me for the first time that day.”

Luke walked of the porch in his bare feet. Letting his toes play in the cool wet grass.
“I dare you to walk over there in the drive, I dare you to walk them little piggly wigglies over in the gravel, Mr. Adventure.”

“You don't think I would that?”

“Dare. Double dare.”

“You! Woman you know I have to go and do it now.” Luke walked over to the stone gravel driveway and gingerly walked among the pink pointed stones. Hopping about, he danced back over to the wet grass. As he did his shirt rode up and the pistol he had stuck in his waistband became visible.

“Ahh. Ahh is all I gotta say,” he let his toes relax in the grass.

“Honey.”

“Yeah?”

“Your gun is showing. I don't think grandma would be too happy to see you carryin' that. Why'd you bring it? It's my grandmother's house for chriss-sakes.”

“Just in case.”

“Just in case, what?”

“I just wanted to protect you and little junior.”

“You liar.”

“Okay, we're short of cash and I figure we can rob one of those gas stations out on the highway on the way home. I'm gonna have to stop for gas.”

“We need milk and bread.”

“How is it we always need milk and bread?”

“Cereal and peanut butter. Your son is always hungry. That gun and those ill eagle thoughts gonna break your parole and you will be gone again.”

“Well then so what? I can't get a real job, no one will hire an ex-jailbird, give a guy a second chance.”

“Second? Luke this would be like your forth or fifth chance. You go away again and I don't know if I can control myself. I gonna have to look for another soul mate.”

“You do that. Maybe that woman's magazine will tell you how to find him. Maybe I will just get up and go.”

“After dinner?”

“Sure, after dinner.”

“Put the gun in the truck, will yah?”

“Okay, in the truck.”

They held hands as they walked around back of the house to the truck. By the barn a bunch of kids, all dressed in their finest for Sunday dinner were running around playing tag. A small blonde boy stopped turned and waved to his parents. Luke and Lilly waved back. The kitchen windows were wide open and you could smell the dinner of roast chicken, beef, potatoes thick with butter and cream, boiling vegetables, fried onions all mingling with the scent of fruit pies.

Luke bent down to pluck a flower, Lily grabbed his arm shook her head and then kissed his cheek. “For the thought,” she said.

The air was filled with talking, laughing, and clinking glasses. A static filled radio station played some old country tune "my heart is filled with sorrow, at the thought of never seein' you again."