Flesh and Bone Page #5

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I'd wreck my shoulder on a Sunday...

and still give him a smack

on a Monday.

Ain't that right, son?

There's a Texaco station

about ten miles east.

That'll be your last chance

for a while.

I appreciate that.

Truly, l... Except I think

we're gonna head up north there...

around Benson County.

You remember Benson County,

don't you, Junior?

I'm just needlin' him.

Boy always hated it up there.

Them locusts liked to drive him

crazy. You take care, now.

Get yourself packed.

We're leavin'.

It's funny. I'd have never

put it together... him and you.

If I'd met you separate,

I'd never see the tie.

I guess we don't get

much choice in it, do we?

What was all that talk

about Benson County?

Just talk.

I don't remember the locusts at all.

Pass me that bottle again, will ya?

We finished the last we had.

We or you?

What's the difference?

It's gone.

Next place you see, you stop.

You're the boss.

That's strange.

What?

Look at that house up there.

Looks familiar.

Sure, that's the one

in the photograph.

Photograph?

The one that lady had.

I saw it in her suitcase when

I went looking for a nightshirt.

- You're wrong.

- No.

That roof was just the same.

And the trees. And the windmill...

There's dozens of houses

look just like that up here.

I'm positive.

No one has lived in that house

for years.

Well, looks like

it was a nice place once.

I think whoever lived there

would have kept it up.

Not that house.

What do you mean?

Years ago,

they say some Mexican...

shot the man

he was working for...

and then shot the whole family

right after.

Jesus.

I mean, that's the story I heard.

It changes over the years.

Who knows what the truth is anymore?

No matter what the story is,

it all comes back to one thing.

What's that?

Well, the house.

They say it's haunted.

But then,

I don't believe in ghosts.

All right, Darlene. Thanks.

No, I'm glad you told me.

Yeah, you too.

Bye.

I can't believe it.

He filed for divorce, Reese did.

I'm sorry.

Sorry? I'm just amazed he could do

the paperwork by himself.

I wanna celebrate.

Celebrate?

Yeah, I feel free...

for the first time in my life,

I think, and I wanna celebrate.

I wanna put on a pretty dress,

get you out of that damn hat...

and go have a nice big fat steak.

What do you say?

Any suggestions?

Try C-17.

C-17.

How come this place is closed

in the middle of the week?

Pete's boy plays baseball

for the local school.

Anytime Tommy's set to pitch,

Pete throws a lock on the place...

and he rides the bus with the team.

That's how come I got the key.

He must trust you.

I guess he does.

You play this for all the girls,

old C-17?

First time.

You an honest man, Arlis Sweeney?

Yes, ma'am.

You like the dress?

I like the dress.

You like the girl?

I'd say she's the prettiest one

in the room.

Pretty enough to dance with?

Well...

Now, don't tell me you don't.

Well, don't you think

it's about time you learned?

Dancin'...

frees the soul.

Howdy, partner.

That's all I get after last night?

Mornin'.

Good mornin', darlin'.

Why don't you shake on

into the kitchen...

and crack me a beer?

Need some help?

Get me two cases of Milky Ways

by 9:
00 a. M...

'cause that's what my hired man's

gonna be lookin' to take with him...

back to Crockett County.

I haven't even got me one case.

Hell, I ain't got

a Milky Way, period.

Well, I'm sure the good people

of Crockett County...

can do without a Milky Way

for a day or two.

It's my job, all right?

We're a little surly

in the morning, aren't we?

That's okay.

It runs in my family too.

What's that?

The morning bear.

I said it runs in my family too.

What else runs in your family?

Your family.

You never talk about 'em.

Believe me, there's a lot more

interesting things to talk about...

than my family.

I already told you everything

that's worth tellin' anyway.

Besides, I haven't

seen them in years.

Not since I got married.

But when you were a kid growin' up,

what were they like?

What'd your mother do?

What'd your father do?

If I didn't know you better,

I'd say you were crowdin' me.

Maybe you don't know me.

What'd my father do?

Drink mostly. Gamble.

Lost everything we had eventually.

That's how I met Reese.

Went to go collect my father one

night at this place in the woods...

where there was always

an all-night game...

and there they were,

sittin' shoulder-to-shoulder...

two drunks...

Losing money faster than

one sober fool ever could.

Of course, I was a real fool.

Ended up takin' Reese home.

Stayed to make his breakfast.

Never left.

Why the sudden interest?

Nothin'. I'm just...

I happened to see that photograph...

in your suitcase.

Well, that's not me.

It is me, but it isn't.

See, my parents...

The only parents I've ever known...

are really my aunt and uncle

by blood.

I mean...

the people in the photograph

I never knew.

They were lost when I was a baby.

Killed.

Car accident.

Car accident?

When I was old enough to know, I was

given the picture and told about it.

I don't know why I hang onto it.

It's just...

You grow up in an ugly house

the way I did...

sometimes you wonder

how it might have been...

if things hadn't happened

the way they did.

It's funny.

Your father the other day...

mentioned Benson County.

That's where they lived,

I'm pretty sure.

The people in the picture.

My family.

I'm about ready.

Listen.

I think maybe it'd be better

you stay here.

Stay here?

While I run up the road

to tend to Elliot.

There's some money over there.

Get yourself something to eat

while l...

while I'm gone.

Well, they must make

one hell of a Spanish omelette.

All right, I'll wait for ya.

You don't want to be

going anywhere without this.

Earl's Truck Stop

over in Coke County...

run out of Cheez-Its again.

Cheez-Its and truckers.

They sure go together.

And Phil Pritchard wants you

to ring him up...

about puttin' another Coke machine

in his ice rink.

I can't figure why

he waited so long.

- Two years I've been tellin' him.

- You're a little light here.

Yeah, well, I had trouble

with the Mexicans again.

They hurt the machines?

Nothin' I couldn't put right

with a crowbar.

I had to replace the brace on one.

Slung it with...

a three-quarter inch York.

- That should solve your problem.

- Should.

But those boys are strong.

Hell knows I couldn't pop her.

- Without the key?

- Yeah.

Well, that's what I meant...

without the key.

You look like you had

one too many cups of coffee, Elliot.

It's the chill, I guess.

Are you stealin' from me?

You know I did time in Big Spring.

I told you that

right off day we met.

But I did the time.

I'm out now...

and I want to stay that way.

I'm not sure

that answers my question.

You don't know...

'cause you've never been in trouble.

But once you been in trouble...

and people know it...

you feel guilty for things

you never done.

Just because you know...

they think you got it in you.

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