The Distance In This Small Town

A soft morning light drifted gently in through the blinds. The popping sound of hot sizzling grease reverberated off the walls. The welcoming smell of bacon filled the cool air, blessing those nearby.

An elderly man sat at a small square table pushed up against a wall next to the entrance to the kitchen. He looked to be in his mid-seventies, wrinkles and scars adorned his face and arms. He wore an unapproachable expression. He clutched a mug of black coffee, steam tendrils floated into the cool air, kissing the lips of the mug.

A short younger woman stood at the stove. her eyes were filled with kindness and her red hair started showing signs of age with a few grey streaks peeking out under the fading dye. She gracefully flipped the bacon while preparing an omelet.

"Are you sure you don't want any cream or sugar Wayne?" A warm gentle voice drifted from the woman's smile.

"The Lord never blessed me with an appreciation for sweets." Wayne let out a gruff chuckle.

A tall man who looked to be in his early fifties walked in, holding a small toddler at his hip. He had short brown hair and wore Wayne's same stern expression.

"Starting our rebellious teenage phase a little late there, eh pops?" The man gave Wayne a pat on the shoulder as he walked past him to the short woman. "It smells great Dana, but it's not exactly healthy now is it."

"I know Tony, it's just that-" Dana started.

"I ain't going to waste my last bit of life not enjoying my food. I ain't no boy, the only way these old bones will get stronger is through fossilization." Wayne interjected, as he stood up and slowly reached for the child in Tony's arms. "Ain't that right boy, we won't eat broccoli for breakfast unless it's smothered in gravy." Wayne gave the child a loving smile as Tony handed him over.

"Yeah, well I'm sure Georgie would prefer making lasting memories of you for as long as he can, instead of gargling gravy," Tony replied rolling his eyes.

"Well maybe if Daddy didn't wait so long to bring one of God's angels to Earth, and move hundreds of miles from home we'd have more time to start a chicken farm. Isn't that right Georgie boy." the sarcasm dripped from Wayne's lips as he headed out of the kitchen towards the living room.

"Oh, would you two stop? It's important we at least enjoy the time we have now." Dana said sweetly giving them a kind smile while loading up plates with bacon, omelets, and biscuits covered in sausage gravy.

There was an old stand-up piano in the back corner of the room with a red rocking chair next to it and a smaller chair that looked like it may have come from a dining set closer to the kitchen entrance. Dust particles danced in the morning light above a leather lazy boy sitting next to the red chair and in front of a muted T.V which was showing today's weather.

In the red chair sat a short elderly woman with bright blue eyes, skin pale enough to see the roots of her heart, and a dazzling smile. She slowly rocked back and forth knitting like she was conducting an orchestra.

"Looks like we're going to have some more blue skies today Lil." Wayne patted the elderly woman's knee as he walked past her to sit in the lazy boy with Georgie in his lap.

Dana and Tony walked into the room carrying warm plates of food and silverware. Dana sat her plate on a coffee table in the middle of the room and handed Wayne his plate. "One moment and I'll be right back with your coffee," she said caringly as she turned and headed back towards the kitchen.

Wayne started shoveling forkfuls of omelets into Georgie's mouth. Georgie gleefully accepted the food giggling in between forkfuls and opening his mouth wide when he was ready for more.

"You going to see Dr. Ramus today, Dad?" Tony asked as he sat on a couch to Wayne's left that faced towards the coffee table.

Dana came back in carrying three coffee mugs, "You really should eat, and not just give all your food away Wayne." Dana said sweetly as she handed him his mug.

"Ah, Dana have I ever told you how I and Lillian met?" Wayne asked ignoring Tony's question. He gave Lillian a loving smile.

Georgie hopped off Wayne's lap and started bouncing around the living room happily babbling some childish sounds.

"Dad this is serious." Tony stared down Wayne with piercing eyes. "You haven't been looking too great lately and you have really slowed down." as he spoke his piercing gaze shifted to a look of concern.

"I found myself in a bar in New Orleans, I and some of my closest friends had just gotten a few weeks of leave after being stationed in Indonesia for a few years." Wayne brushed off Tony's question again.

Georgie was touching some dusty books on a low shelf of the bookshelf next to the T.V. The bookshelf contained mostly religious books all covered in dust. It also had some military memorabilia including a wooden B52, and several crucifixes and rosaries all kept clean of dust and in good condition.

"Dad!" Tony snapped staring daggers at Wayne.

"Yes, yes I'm going to see Dr. Ramus later calm down. Now where was I." Wayne shook his head toward Tony, "We walked into this quaint little bar, it was loud and there was smoke everywhere I could barely see where the bartender was. When I got up to the front there she was sitting on a stool by herself, the only one not smoking with a little drink in her hand. We talked for hours that night, she was engaged to another man. The next day we flew off to Tacoma, Washington, and got married in a little white church on a hill."

"Oh, that's so sweet," Dana said sitting down next to Tony and grabbing his hand.

"And then you shipped out again for six months and left her in Tacoma by herself, isn't that right?" Tony gave Wayne a snide smile.

"I wasn't always the best husband but we spent the next fifty-eight years together and are going to keep that streak going. Now if you don't mind please tend to the farm while I'm out I have an important appointment in town." Wayne stood up scooping up his keys from the end table next to him and headed toward the door.

Lillian put down her crochet work and stood up following Wayne.

"This place hasn't been a farm for over decades."

"Then you should have no problem taking care of it." Wayne held the door open for Lillian before grabbing his brown cowboy hat from the top peg of the coat rack and locking the door behind him.

A pair of bright red cardinals danced through the cool spring air as if they were performing a ballet. Across the yard, the light breeze whistled through the old barns' crevices. It had started to sag from the weight of time, matching Wayne's shoulders. The hilly lawn had grown unruly and was ready for a fresh cut. The gravel crunched underneath their feet as they made their way down to the carport.

In the driveway stood a cherry red sixty-seven Mustang. It proudly sparkled reflecting the morning light, not a particle of dirt or dust dared touch it. The car looked as pristine and youthful as the day Wayne drove it off the lot. The engine roared to life effortlessly. A light smile came across Wayne's face as memories of summer love in the back seat flooded his mind. All the long drives, dropping children off at school, and sporting events. "We did a good job, didn't we darlin'?" He turned to face Lilian. She smiled and nodded back.

The car roared down the gravel road as Wayne pushed on the accelerator. The sound of the engine and crackling of the ground echoed through the trees, scaring nearby squirrels and birds. They turned down a narrow road barely wide enough to fit two cars going either direction. The bushes were ripe with blackberries. Only the dirt road stood out from the sea of green bushes and trees, confidently leading the way back to the main road. Dirt and dust were whipped up as the car slowly made its way.

The highway leading to the town was desolate, not many stopped through rather choosing to bypass the town entirely on the interstate. It would take around an hour and a half to get to town normally, however, when it was empty like this Wayne could set his speed. As he pushed down on the accelerator his smile widened. The car raced along the straight stretch of road, cutting the drive into town down to an hour.

The town center used to bustle with activity on the weekends. Children running around with melting ice cream. Parents going store to store looking for fresh summer clothes. Most of the small stores lining the road had to close their doors, and the owners had been long uprooted. The arrival of large grocery chains brought ruin to the small mom-and-pop shops that populated the town center. Now it was mostly old abandoned buildings boarded up never to open up again. The sounds of children laughing was replaced with the sound of creaking wood as the wind whistled through the old buildings.

Too many good names have disappeared Wayne thought, remembering all the neighbors he used to know. Everyone would go to Sunday church, all the kids played together. It was a town with no secrets, a town with no strangers.

Dr. Ramus's clinic was the only one in town, it had been there for as long as Wayne can remember. It was started by Albert Ramus, a close friend who passed away some eight years ago. After which his son Samuel took over. Sam grew up in the town and desperately wanted to stay and provide care to the town he loved so much however times have gotten tough. There was no way to sustain the clinic any longer, in a few months it would shut down.

The clinic was brightly lit and as clean as ever. Wayne could see his reflection on the polished tiled floor. Evie Marcell, a young girl who just graduated high school a few years ago smiled brightly at Wayne.

"It's such a wonderful day outside for a drive isn't it Wayne?" her voice was as excitable as ever. Her eyes darted from Wayne to the window, to the mustang in the parking lot, to the clock on the wall, and back to Wayne.

Even as a child Evie had always been a little off. She would bounce all over the place, constantly in trouble at school. Wayne always thought she was just a little too energetic, a little too disorganized. He always thought of her as smart, unlike the rest of the town. He had seen it in some of the airmen he had severed with. Although, he had brought it up with her mother on a few occasions after church, insisting on getting her checked for ADHD so she could get the help she needed. Her mother always insisted that Evie was just a bit slow, what she lacked in the brains department she made up for in looks like a good woman should. Besides, the priest knew a bit of prayer would go a long way.

"It sure is, have you been down sixty-five? It was completely empty coming up. Rolled the windows down and let the airflow through my hair." Wayne always had a soft spot for Evie. He felt bad she was born in a town that would never be able to understand her. Sure, the people here were nice, but they could easily be thoughtless and forget themselves whenever someone is different.

"Nah, I haven't been driving for fun much, on account, some of the ol' ladies got sticks so far up their bum. Officer Rodgers, bless his heart, told me to drive slow and keep my head down a bit. They have been badgering him cause they think I'mma crash into their cows. Like I'd ever hurt the poor creatures, if I run over anything it'll be Miss Miles you know how grumpy she is, it'd bring sunshine to the whole town."

"Is the Doctor in right now?" Wayne inquired cutting her off. He knew if he let her go she'd keep going on and on with no end in sight. He always enjoyed listening to her, but today was a busy day he still had to make a few stops before heading home.

"Oh, yes of course thanks for reminding me, Wayne." She started shuffling through a bunch of papers. She had always struggled with organization but had generally found a systematic mess that worked for her. She pulled out a clipboard and pen and passed it over to Wayne. "Please sign-in for me while I let ol' Sammy know you're here. He'll be glad to hear it. You are welcome to sit in the waiting area." She smiled and signaled to the small reception area with a few chairs and a stack of magazines with one hand, reaching for the beige phone next to her to give Doctor Ramus a call with the other.

Wayne signed his name and swiftly copied the time showing on the clock on the wall to his right. He headed over to the reception area and took a seat next to Lillian who was smiling and shifting through an old Christmas magazine. It was full of recipes and decorations to make the most wondrous Christmas soiree.

Wayne watched out the window as a pair of young skateboarders practiced their tricks. It wasn't long before Miss Miles caught the scent of someone having fun and pulled up next to the boys wagging her finger at them and screaming how they were delinquents. The lord took so many but he never bothered with that old bag of bones. Perhaps he just didn't want to endure her either, or thought that hell was bad enough Wayne thought staring at her with a grimace as she drove off the two boys walked off heads held low.

After what seemed like a lifetime Sam finally made an appearance. "Sorry, for keeping you waiting Wayne. You know how it is trying to get the move prepared and all. It's hard to find a reliable company at a reasonable price. With how expensive all this medical equipment is I might as well eat the buck just to keep it all safe. Come along back this way I've got everything ready for you.

Wayne followed him through the door behind Evie, the hall reeked of cleaner and was filling up with stacks of moving boxes. Wayne started to zone out as Sam proceeded with the usual check-up. He jabbered about the move and how stressed he has been. How he will miss the town and Evie, and Wayne of course.

Wayne never really clicked with Samuel like he had Albert. He always saw him as a boy like he did his son. Even though he had gone on to becoming a doctor and running the clinic better than his dad had he still always saw him as a boy running and laughing with Tony at the farm.

"...It'll be hard to tell your family. I can give Tony, and the others a call for you." Wayne snapped back to the present realizing Sam had finished up.

"Oh no, no I can do it he's my son."

"I hope you can enjoy at least one more Thanksgiving, I know it was always your favorite. You've slowed down and I don't know that'll you make it to Christmas. I wish I could stay here for you until the end but I really need to start making money again and there's just not enough in this town in need of my services. You are always welcome to come out to Saint Louis for a check-up though you can even stay with me I know it's a hard drive."

"Thank you, it's a kind offer but I don't think there is any need for any more checkups. I accepted long ago that the Lord was ready for me to come home to him. I'm sure it'll take Tony a while to come around but it is what it is." Wayne stood up and started back out of the medical room and through the hall towards the reception.

Sam walked beside him without a word opening the reception door for him and giving him a final sad look. "Good luck Wayne, I'll miss you."

"You'll need more luck than me where you're going Sam, take care of yourself. You too Evie stay out of trouble." Wayne gave them both a wave as he walked out the door.

"Of course you too Wayne I'll see you around," Evie exclaimed loudly with a smile.

Wayne and Lillian climbed back into the car, they stopped for lunch at a local drive-in called Dairy Princess. Lillian was never the biggest fan, but much like the rest of the town, Wayne enjoyed their locally famous crumble burger and a refreshing root beer.

After lunch, they stopped by the larger grocery store that had taken over the town. Wayne looked around their massive selection for the perfect red roses and a carton of cigarettes. Lillian hated when he smoked, he hadn't told her what Doctor Ramus had said just yet.

They drove up the northside of town and got on to the hilly country backroads. Most nights were spent at the church that they had gone to since moving in decades ago. It was an hour and a half long drive through twists and rolling hills. Wayne remembered when he had kids in the backseat, he would drive fast so that they would jump in their seats as they went over the hills.

It was starting to get late as they pulled into the gravel parking in front of the quaint white church. The sun hung in the air just above the top of the church where the bell swung often on Sunday, calling the townspeople to it.

They walked down the rocky path, in front of the church. They followed it to the right side of the church where it slowly disappeared into the grass. Wayne walked slowly and carefully, the wind lightly blew around him as the sun started its descent beyond the horizon creating a hue of bright oranges, and vided purples.

Wayne followed his footprints solemnly revisiting the last ten years of his life. Nothing stopped him from making his daily trip, not the rain, sun, or snow. He placed the roses he purchased gently in a clay vase and poured in some water.

As he stood up he carefully unwrapped the carton of cigarettes, putting the plastic in his pocket. He lit a cigarette in his mouth and took a long drag. "Sorry about the smoke Lil, it's just that I have some good news." Wayne's hands had started to tremble as the smoke gracefully billowed from his mouth. "I went to see Doctor Ramus today, you know Samuel, Albert's boy."

Wayne started at the name on the tombstone in front of him. Lillian Wilks, beloved wife, and mother. The brightest ruby in our small town. The small ember in Wayne's right hand was slowly eating the cigarette. He took another long drag, the end of its life was coming closer

"It's such wonderful news, soon we'll be together again. We'll be able to dance across the clouds like we always did. You can show me all the wonderful things you made for the grandkids. Georgie will be so excited he's gotten so big and is growing so well. It'll be a long time before you get to meet him too, but we can watch him grow together. Tony has been doing really well, they have a beautiful house out in Texas now. He showed me a lot of pictures. Joseph and Rosie are both doing really well too. They live nearby still. though they are pretty busy so they don't stop by nearly as much as Tony. The church is still doing really well too, they just gave it a fresh coat of paint I know you would love it. It looks just like the church we wed in." Tears started to fill Wayne's eyes and the biggest smile came across his face. He dropped the cigarette bud as the ember died out and just the ashes remained.