The Bum, Roger

School was three miles from Kal’s home. He always woke up at six-thirty when dad would come in, before leaving for work to rip his covers off. If Kal didn’t quickly rise out of bed, then the pillow would be stolen as well. Kal hated mornings and just as soon as Dad left, he’d go right back to bed. Usually he couldn’t fall back asleep, but the mere act of defiance made it worth it. Then, around seven-thirty Kal would eat a bowl of cereal, usually fruit loops, and he’d be off. These winter months were frigid in the mornings, even in California. Today it was well below freezing. Kal put on his winter gloves, the same navy blue ones he’d always wear snowboarding along with a beanie and hoodie. The ride took only fifteen minutes, but that was enough for the cold mornings to turn his cheeks red and make him sweat. The first hour in class was always the worst. His cheeks would be red and he could feel the kids staring at him. At the beginning of this third grade year, Miss McNeil had pulled him aside to ask if he had ridden his bike to school in the rain. The concern was written on her face. Kal lied, the way an embarrassed child does. ‘No, my parents dropped me off with my bike.’ Miss McNeil allowed Kal to save face, but called home that night to inquire. She’d never know, but Kal endured one of his fathers worst yelling bouts that night because of her. After that day Kal began locking his bike at the Walmart opposite his school.

‘How come you’re always sweaty in the morning Kal?’ It was Jessica. She sat next to the right of Kal in the third row. She was kind-hearted but with no filter. Kal had a crush on her.

‘My dad and I workout before school.’ Kal said quickly. ‘What was the homework last night?’

Jessica dropped the subject after that.

The ride home from school was always more peaceful. With the school day over and the afternoon sun high in the sky, Kal was free, warm, and carefree. Riding away from school always felt so uplifting, especially on Fridays. Today he took the long way home so he could stop at 7-eleven to get a cherry Slurpee. It never mattered what time he got back home, so long as it was before dark. Dad didn’t get home until seven and mom had usually started drinking by noon and didn’t care. From three in the afternoon until dark, Kal was free to fly.

Kal walked behind the 7-eleven and found Roger. Roger was a bum, that’s what Dad had told Kal. And, importantly, Dad had instructed Kal not to hang around Roger ever again - ‘or else’. But, Dad wasn’t here and unlike Dad, Roger was nice to Kal. Last time, Roger had taught Kal how to make ‘proper’ paper airplanes. ‘Proper’ paper airplanes, Kal learned, were much harder to fold but flew much farther especially with the ‘wrist flick’ that Roger had demonstrated.

When Roger noticed Kal pushing his bike over towards him he smiled, showing his yellow, rotting teeth. Kal wondered how teeth could ever be in such a bad state. He must drink too much soda, Kal thought to himself.

‘Hey, buddy.’ Roger said warmly. Kal liked how Roger called him Buddy.

‘That bike working good for ya? You know I was a bike mechanic long ago. If that bike is ever giving you grief, you just bring it to me and I’ll be glad to fix it.’ Roger said in a smooth southern accent.

Kal wondered how Roger knew so many things. Last time, Roger had told Kal he used to be a fireman. And long ago Roger had said he’d been a pilot in a place called ‘Korea.’

‘Thank you sir. It’s running okay.’ Kal said.

‘You know tomorrow is my birthday Roger?’

‘Is that so buddy? Now, how old are you gonna be? 20?’

‘Ahhhh c’mon Roger.’ Kal said laughing.

‘No, I’m going to be 10.’

‘Wow! Ten is a good age buddy. What are you going to do for your birthday?’

‘Dad said he’s going to take me mountain biking.’ Kal said.

‘Aw, how great. You know, next time I see you, I’ll have a birthday gift for you. Ten is a special age buddy.’

Kal finished his Slurpee and gave Roger a goodbye quick fist bump, then headed home.

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Most nights Kal hid in his room. There was no lock on the door, but Kal often pretended there was when the yelling was especially loud. Tonight was one of those nights. He wanted to escape, forever. He wondered if other kids also went home to endless screaming. Kal hated when his Dad yelled at his Mom. Tonight he felt he could take no more. Mom was crying an awful pained cry. She said things that Kal wished he’d never heard his Mom say. Kal got his blankets and pillows from his bed and hid inside of his closet with the pillows surrounding his head. This mostly blocked out Dad’s screams but Mom’s crying seemed to penetrate directly into his ears. Eventually, he fell asleep.

Dad’s truck was gone when Kal woke up in the morning. Mom’s door was locked. Kal was ten now.

The morning came and went without Dad returning or Mom showing her face. Eventually, Kal resolved to make his birthday fun, despite the empty house.

Kal went to the kitchen and took out a box of chocolate cake mix. He had never made a cake before, but he was ten now. Nearly grown up. The instructions looked simple enough. Two eggs, oil, water, and then ‘mix until smooth.’ Bake at 450 degrees. Somehow, as Kal waited for the cake to cook, a dark feeling of absolute loneliness enveloped him. This didn’t feel right and as the seconds ticked down on the oven time, Kal couldn’t help but allow the tears to silently roll down his face.

Leaving home, except on cold mornings, felt even better than leaving school. With the chocolate cake hastily shoved into a Ziploc bag and then into Kal’s red backpack, he was off. The long hill, which tortured Kal on frigid mornings, pinned a smile on the birthday boy’s face. He took sweeping ‘s’ turns as he flew down towards the intersection. The light was red when he arrived at it, but Kal had mastered running this red light by now. He knew that if you looked left between the two tall redwood trees that you could spot any cars coming in time to brake. And no cars ever came from the right, it was a small cul de sac.

Behind the 7-eleven, Roger was at his post in his usual position: hunched over taking a drag from a short cigarette scavenged off the ground.

‘Hey! There’s the birthday boy!

‘Hi Roger.’ Kal answered with noticeable anguish.

‘You have a fun bike trip with Dad?’

Kal’s eyes became mesmerized with the pavement and Roger quickly put the pieces together.

‘Hey, Buddy, I have something really special for you. You're ten today and that is no small thing.’ Roger said followed by heavy coughing.

‘Now hold on, let me just find it, I’ve hidden it away deep in my backpack to keep it safe, you see.’

Roger, grinning deeply, began emptying the dirty clothes, small baggies, and loose change from his backpack until finally pulling out a water gun the size of Kal’s arm.

Kal hugged Roger. He couldn't find the right words to say how he felt, a usual occurrence for him. ‘Thank you’ just wouldn’t have been sufficient.

Now smiling fully Roger said with a wink, ‘I’ll show you something real fun we can do with this too.’

‘I brought something for you too.’ Kal said, reaching into his backpack to pull out the Ziploc bag now filled with deformed chocolate mush. ‘I, uh, forgot forks. And candles.’

Without saying anything Roger held up three fingers. ‘This looks as good a fork as any to me. And, I can solve our candle issue Buddy.’ Roger took out a lighter and told Kal to make a wish. Then, they got to work on the cake.

With a mouthful of cake Roger said, ‘You see that ladder there leaning up against that fence?’

‘Ya.’ Kal said, confused.

‘Go ahead and bring it over here.’

Kal did so and Roger helped him open the ladder up. Roger directed Kal to place the ladder methodically near the lowest point of the roof of the 7-eleven.

‘Let’s have some fun, Buddy. It’s your tenth birthday, after all. Oh! Don’t forget your new gun!’

Once on the roof Roger became James Bond. He put his finger to his lips letting Kal know that silence was required from here. Then, he began motioning with his fingers to tip-toe towards the opposite side of the flat roof. There, there was a small hole in the three foot high wooden ledge. Roger took the water gun and placed it in the opening. It fit perfectly. ‘Now, we wait.’ Roger said gleefully.

A few minutes later a woman Roger’s age, dressed in a yellow dress and sunhat, walked below them towards the entrance of the 7-eleven. With impressive timing, Roger pulled the trigger and soaked the lady. Then both Kal and Roger ducked below the edge before the lady had a chance to look up. Roger was wheezing uncontrollably. At first Kal wondered if Roger was dying, but then he saw the childish smile on his face.

‘You try now buddy.’ Roger said, handing Kal the water gun.

After a few misses, Kal finally got a man dressed up like a banker. Roger an Kal high fived as they cackled as quiet as they could.

‘Hey buddy, we’d better climb down and leave the area before they start to catch on. No sense getting ourselves in trouble.’

Once safely out of sight from the 7-eleven on the dirt Creek Trail Roger stopped, knelt down and turned towards Kal.

‘Buddy, uh, you know, life throws us lot’s of different ways. Sometimes we get thrown into something we can’t handle well. I gather your parents have been thrown into something they are struggling to handle. And it ain’t your fault. But, don’t be too hard on them. It don’t help no one, okay?’ Roger said avoiding eye contact.

‘Okay, Roger. Thanks for being my friend.’ Kal said.

‘Let’s go to Target. They’ve got an easy roof to get on top. You in?’ Roger said, looking into Kal’s eyes again.

‘Let’s do it!’

‘