This story is by Hannah Custer and was part of our 2018 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Henry listened to his cardiologist while he buttoned up his shirt. “You’re a young man. I understand. However one of these days you’re going to take on the world and your heart will not be able to handle it. ”
Henry teased. “You mean I can’t go skydiving this weekend?”
His doctor crossed himself and sent a prayer upwards while Henry tried not to laugh.
Henry reminded him. “My whole life is stressful. There’s no getting away from it.”
The doctor reminded him. “Walk. Don’t run.”
Henry promised. “I’ll try.”
He left there in good spirits until his phone rang. He answered but tried to cut her off early. “Mom, I can’t talk. I’m on my way to the office-”
Completely ignoring him, his mom replied. “Hi, Sweetie. How is Hank? And your step-mother? I can’t remember her name…” a slight pause. “Oh, it’s not important. I’m sure he’s still a cranky old buzzard like how I left him ages ago.”
Henry replied. “He’s just an old man trying to make amends. He feels bad that Granma and Grandpa raised us after the divorce.”
Ignoring the prickly subject, his mother asked. “How is your pretty girlfriend? I can’t wait to meet her.”
Henry bit his tongue and somehow replied calmly. “Peyton’s spending Easter in Boston.”
His mother pushed on, clearly not wanting to go there. “Have you seen your brother lately?”
All of his pent-up irritation dissolved with a second’s pause. He asked stunned. “What?”
She asked directly. “Have you heard from Terence in the last few days? We’ve tried calling all his old numbers and accidentally contacted his old buddies.”
Henry got into his car and asked. “Do you mean his old dealers? Was it Josh, Walt or Corry?”
“I don’t know their names. They keep telling me that they’re house cats compared to the people he knows now. Last time we thought we might be dead, we found him in jail. So we’ve checked the jail in town and couple of the other counties but we’ve come up empty-handed.”
Henry gripped the wheel a little tighter and asked. “Have you spoken to his parole officer? She called me last week saying that she hadn’t seen him but that’s pretty normal Mom. He doesn’t usually know what day of the week it is.”
His mother retorted. “I’m just terrified we won’t hear anything and they’ll find him in the river after some drug deal gone wrong.”
The words poured over him like a bucket of ice water. He sputtered at the sudden chill and nearly backed up into a car going past. Then he almost hit another car while trying to back out. The urge to curse rose in the back of his throat like fresh bile. He took a few deep breaths and let his heart settle down into its regular rhythm but his mother asked suddenly. “If I should find him, what do you think of him coming out to the house or just helping him somehow?”
Unnerved by almost hitting the other car, Henry let loose undeterred while his heart raced. “It doesn’t do any good. Any money we give him, he buys drugs. We can give him clothes but he leaves them behind whenever he moves on to the next place. New shoes get stolen right off his feet. I’ve given him more sleeping bags and backpacks than I can count.” He paused as his chest throbbed and his lungs burned. “You can’t let him know where you’ve moved to. Last time he came to the house, half of your silver spoons went missing.” He reminded her with pent-up venom. “We still haven’t found Grandma’s engagement ring and I wanted to propose to Peyton with it.”
His free hand instantly went to his chest where he wore his grand’father’s wedding ring on a chain over a long surgical scar. The gold band was beaten up from decades of maintaining a farm but it represented over 60 years of love for his grandmother. The ache didn’t subside even as he reassured himself that it was still there. Henry put his hand back on the wheel and told her firmly. “I have to go. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” They said their brisk farewells and Henry spent the rest of his day trying to forget.
At the end of the day, Daniel Asher, the youngest son of Asher and Sons came up to Henry’s cubicle with a small crowd of people.
As soon as he heard the familiar voice of his supervisor amongst the crowd, Henry got to his feet.
Daniel looked up at him with a false grin and said. “Henry, my man. You made quite the impression on my dad with your presentation to the Board of Directors. It’s about time you made your mark around here. You just need to learn how to be a team player.”
Daniel explained to the group of cronies lapping at his feet. “Henry has been working here as a deputy manager for three years and he’s already gotten my father’s attention but why isn’t he a manager yet?” He caught Henry off guard. “Why don’t I do you a favor, sport? Tonight my dad is throwing a party and you are coming with me. You are going to learn how to schmooze and talk like a manager. Then they’ll see what you’re really made of.”
Henry gulped and Daniel continued. “Quarterly evaluations are coming up and I can put in a good word for you with the old man. It just depends on you tonight.”
Henry told him. “I’ll do my best sir.”
Daniel let his mask slip for a moment and sneered before he walked away. “Excellent. See you at 6 then.”
Six o clock came far too quickly. An uncomfortable car ride to one of the most expensive restaurants in town and then dinner to follow set Henry on edge. He smiled and feigned happiness expertly through the whole dinner. He complimented them nicely and poured drinks for all of the men who had been a part of the company before him. Even if he was caught off guard by the unfamiliar territory, he did well. All of his senses felt fuzzy and his breathing grew more difficult as the night went on.
Henry stepped outside for some cold air when some of the chief executives went out for a smoke, including Daniel and his father. He heard Daniel cry out and saw a trio of young men run by. The stench that came off them was like week old sandwich and cheap marijuana. The last one ran with a limp and wasn’t keeping up. His shorts were nearly falling off and his shirt was too small, even on his skinny torso. He had something shiny in his hands that glinted in the dim streetlamps.
Daniel ran after them and yelled. “Thief!”
The young man’s hood flew back and Henry nearly cursed when he recognized the face. He had the same mismatched blue/brown eyes that he saw in the mirror every morning, though the kid’s pupils were twice as large. The peach fuzz he always teased him about had turned into a scraggly beard. The hollow pockets where there had once been pinchable cheeks and the scabs around his mouth shook Henry. He felt the name rip from his throat before he could stop himself. “Terence?”
The kid whipped his head around at the sound of his name. When he met Henry’s eyes, a dull light went on.
Daniel flailed and knocked the kid off balance. It gave him enough time to grab Terrence by the collar. “You think you can steal from me?”
Terrence sneered at him. “I don’t have it, boss man.”
By this time, all the executives outside gathered to watch. They didn’t notice how Henry desperately pulled at his neck tie for a breath. The ground swam under his feet but Henry stepped up and grabbed Daniel’s arm. Daniel shoved him back but he told his boss. “Let him go.” Daniel wasn’t listening but the crowd was.
“Terrence, show him.” Henry begged under his breath.
The kid yelled as he struggled against Daniel’s grip. “Let me go! You heard my brother.”
Daniel almost lost his grip in surprise. “Your brother?”
Henry said it again, barely keeping his balance. “Show him, Terrence. Show him this one time that you’re innocent.”
Word ripped through the executives like wildfire. At this point they almost didn’t care about the watch anymore. Terrence had their full attention.
Henry fought to keep his feet under him but failed as he watched Terrence rip out of Daniel’s grip.
Terrence watched his older brother’s body fall into the dirt. Terrence screamed. “Here!”
Daniel screamed obscenities at him while he pulled the Rollex out of his pocket and threw it while running.
When Henry woke up, he stared up at his disappointed cardiologist and then at Terrence in handcuffs. Terrence mumbled. “I hate you.”
“I hate you too.”
Henry listened to his cardiologist while he buttoned up his shirt. “You’re a young man. I understand. However one of these days you’re going to take on the world and your heart will not be able to handle it. ”
Henry teased. “You mean I can’t go skydiving this weekend?”
His doctor crossed himself and sent a prayer upwards while Henry tried not to laugh.
Henry reminded him. “My whole life is stressful. There’s no getting away from it.”
The doctor reminded him. “Walk. Don’t run.”
Henry promised. “I’ll try.”
He left there in good spirits until his phone rang. He answered but tried to cut her off early. “Mom, I can’t talk. I’m on my way to the office-”
Completely ignoring him, his mom replied. “Hi, Sweetie. How is Hank? And your step-mother? I can’t remember her name…” a slight pause. “Oh, it’s not important. I’m sure he’s still a cranky old buzzard like how I left him ages ago.”
Henry replied. “He’s just an old man trying to make amends. He feels bad that Granma and Grandpa raised us after the divorce.”
Ignoring the prickly subject, his mother asked. “How is your pretty girlfriend? I can’t wait to meet her.”
Henry bit his tongue and somehow replied calmly. “Peyton’s spending Easter in Boston.”
His mother pushed on, clearly not wanting to go there. “Have you seen your brother lately?”
All of his pent-up irritation dissolved with a second’s pause. He asked stunned. “What?”
She asked directly. “Have you heard from Terence in the last few days? We’ve tried calling all his old numbers and accidentally contacted his old buddies.”
Henry got into his car and asked. “Do you mean his old dealers? Was it Josh, Walt or Corry?”
“I don’t know their names. They keep telling me that they’re house cats compared to the people he knows now. Last time we thought we might be dead, we found him in jail. So we’ve checked the jail in town and couple of the other counties but we’ve come up empty-handed.”
Henry gripped the wheel a little tighter and asked. “Have you spoken to his parole officer? She called me last week saying that she hadn’t seen him but that’s pretty normal Mom. He doesn’t usually know what day of the week it is.”
His mother retorted. “I’m just terrified we won’t hear anything and they’ll find him in the river after some drug deal gone wrong.”
The words poured over him like a bucket of ice water. He sputtered at the sudden chill and nearly backed up into a car going past. Then he almost hit another car while trying to back out. The urge to curse rose in the back of his throat like fresh bile. He took a few deep breaths and let his heart settle down into its regular rhythm but his mother asked suddenly. “If I should find him, what do you think of him coming out to the house or just helping him somehow?”
Unnerved by almost hitting the other car, Henry let loose undeterred while his heart raced. “It doesn’t do any good. Any money we give him, he buys drugs. We can give him clothes but he leaves them behind whenever he moves on to the next place. New shoes get stolen right off his feet. I’ve given him more sleeping bags and backpacks than I can count.” He paused as his chest throbbed and his lungs burned. “You can’t let him know where you’ve moved to. Last time he came to the house, half of your silver spoons went missing.” He reminded her with pent-up venom. “We still haven’t found Grandma’s engagement ring and I wanted to propose to Peyton with it.”
His free hand instantly went to his chest where he wore his grand’father’s wedding ring on a chain over a long surgical scar. The gold band was beaten up from decades of maintaining a farm but it represented over 60 years of love for his grandmother. The ache didn’t subside even as he reassured himself that it was still there. Henry put his hand back on the wheel and told her firmly. “I have to go. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” They said their brisk farewells and Henry spent the rest of his day trying to forget.
At the end of the day, Daniel Asher, the youngest son of Asher and Sons came up to Henry’s cubicle with a small crowd of people.
As soon as he heard the familiar voice of his supervisor amongst the crowd, Henry got to his feet.
Daniel looked up at him with a false grin and said. “Henry, my man. You made quite the impression on my dad with your presentation to the Board of Directors. It’s about time you made your mark around here. You just need to learn how to be a team player.”
Daniel explained to the group of cronies lapping at his feet. “Henry has been working here as a deputy manager for three years and he’s already gotten my father’s attention but why isn’t he a manager yet?” He caught Henry off guard. “Why don’t I do you a favor, sport? Tonight my dad is throwing a party and you are coming with me. You are going to learn how to schmooze and talk like a manager. Then they’ll see what you’re really made of.”
Henry gulped and Daniel continued. “Quarterly evaluations are coming up and I can put in a good word for you with the old man. It just depends on you tonight.”
Henry told him. “I’ll do my best sir.”
Daniel let his mask slip for a moment and sneered before he walked away. “Excellent. See you at 6 then.”
Six o clock came far too quickly. An uncomfortable car ride to one of the most expensive restaurants in town and then dinner to follow set Henry on edge. He smiled and feigned happiness expertly through the whole dinner. He complimented them nicely and poured drinks for all of the men who had been a part of the company before him. Even if he was caught off guard by the unfamiliar territory, he did well. All of his senses felt fuzzy and his breathing grew more difficult as the night went on.
Henry stepped outside for some cold air when some of the chief executives went out for a smoke, including Daniel and his father. He heard Daniel cry out and saw a trio of young men run by. The stench that came off them was like week old sandwich and cheap marijuana. The last one ran with a limp and wasn’t keeping up. His shorts were nearly falling off and his shirt was too small, even on his skinny torso. He had something shiny in his hands that glinted in the dim streetlamps.
Daniel ran after them and yelled. “Thief!”
The young man’s hood flew back and Henry nearly cursed when he recognized the face. He had the same mismatched blue/brown eyes that he saw in the mirror every morning, though the kid’s pupils were twice as large. The peach fuzz he always teased him about had turned into a scraggly beard. The hollow pockets where there had once been pinchable cheeks and the scabs around his mouth shook Henry. He felt the name rip from his throat before he could stop himself. “Terence?”
The kid whipped his head around at the sound of his name. When he met Henry’s eyes, a dull light went on.
Daniel flailed and knocked the kid off balance. It gave him enough time to grab Terrence by the collar. “You think you can steal from me?”
Terrence sneered at him. “I don’t have it, boss man.”
By this time, all the executives outside gathered to watch. They didn’t notice how Henry desperately pulled at his neck tie for a breath. The ground swam under his feet but Henry stepped up and grabbed Daniel’s arm. Daniel shoved him back but he told his boss. “Let him go.” Daniel wasn’t listening but the crowd was.
“Terrence, show him.” Henry begged under his breath.
The kid yelled as he struggled against Daniel’s grip. “Let me go! You heard my brother.”
Daniel almost lost his grip in surprise. “Your brother?”
Henry said it again, barely keeping his balance. “Show him, Terrence. Show him this one time that you’re innocent.”
Word ripped through the executives like wildfire. At this point they almost didn’t care about the watch anymore. Terrence had their full attention.
Henry fought to keep his feet under him but failed as he watched Terrence rip out of Daniel’s grip.
Terrence watched his older brother’s body fall into the dirt. Terrence screamed. “Here!”
Daniel screamed obscenities at him while he pulled the Rollex out of his pocket and threw it while running.
When Henry woke up, he stared up at his disappointed cardiologist and then at Terrence in handcuffs. Terrence mumbled. “I hate you.”
“I hate you too.”
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