That Evening Sun Page #6

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your way out of it.

You're a mean son

of a b*tch, you

know that?

You were

mean to her.

You were

mean to me.

I just want

my farm back, Paul.

He said if your dad

is gone by morning,

he's willing to

let things lie.

Well, what's it

gonna be, Dad?

Just give

me a second.

You need any help

packing your stuff up?

No.

There are a few things...

I'd like to keep, though,

Take back with me

to the home.

Your mama's things.

I'll go through

it all tonight,

get it all packed up.

I can drive myself back.

Okay.

Okay, but I want you to

get on the road, okay?

I don't want you

driving after dark.

You don't think he'd

burn a man out, do you?

Lonzo?

No, I don't

think so.

I've never

known him

to do anybody

any real harm.

There you go.

Of course, he'd

steal anything

that wasn't

tied down

or on fire,

but, uh, he's a

trifling bit lazy.

He won't do nothing

if it makes any effort.

You wouldn't have

called him lazy

if you'd seen him

beating those girls

with a rubber hose.

Anyway, he said he

was gonna burn

me out,

and I believe

he'll try it.

You ought to get

the law on it, Abner.

Call the high sheriff.

He wouldn't believe me.

Paul's convinced

him I'm crazy.

All I want

you to do...

is to speak up

if anything does happen.

You tell the law

that I told you

ahead of time

that he threatened

to do it.

Would you do that?

I'll do that.

Wouldn't want him

to get clean away

with it.

No, we wouldn't

want that.

Last time I

saw her alive

was on a Saturday.

We were

getting ready

to go into town

for a cattle sale.

I was in a hurry, but

she kept dragging around,

dragging around.

This dress,

that dress.

Something, and I can't...

"I don't know

which one to wear. "

Always frustrated me

when she did that.

I... I never had

very much patience.

I said, "You best be

for wearing one

of them.

I don't care which."

I said, "I'm going

out to the truck...

"and if you ain't there

in five minutes, I'm gone.

"Then you have the

rest of the afternoon

to make up your mind. "

I had said such things

a thousand times.

I got in the truck and...

and I-I laid this...

pocket watch on

the passenger seat.

When the

five minutes was up,

I cranked the truck.

I looked back

at the house,

and I saw her hand

pull aside the

kitchen curtain.

She pressed her face

against the glass...

and I drove away.

When I come back,

she was laying on

the kitchen floor.

Her eyes

were wide open,

staring at the linoleum

like there was some

secret message...

encoded in a tile.

Keep a

good lookout

for me, friend.

Argh!

What you doing?

What? Damn!

Girl, you...

you got some

bad timing.

Sorry.

What are

you doing

with the bag?

Leavin'.

Leavin' what?

Here.

Him.

You stealing

his truck?

Taking that

old Cutlass.

Mama gave me the keys.

Hurt you

pretty good, huh?

It ain't your fault

your dad is a

drunk, Pamela.

That's the first time

you ever called me

by my name.

I'll be all right.

My aunt lives

over in Centerville.

Mama's sister.

I'll stay

there a while.

I can't blame you

for wanting out.

But if you stayed here,

he really would be

nicer to us.

He'd have to be!

I'm sure we

can work it out.

You can keep on

living out here.

No.

I'll help you

fix it up.

No, no. No. That...

that's out of

the question.

Please, Mr. Meecham...

No, now, Pamela,

I just need

for you to get on

the road now, Pamela.

Get in that car...

What's going

on, Mr. Meecham?

Get in the car.

Get on the road.

I don't really feel

like it yet.

Just gol Gol Get I

I've tried

to tell you.

Just go on, Pamela.

Go on I

Dah! Aah!

Nol Oh I

Uhh!

Uhh!

Hmm.

That nurse

lady's hands

were so cold...

she nearly gave me a seizure

when she pulled on my stuff,

when she cleaned me.

But I'd be lying if I said

I didn't like it

just a little.

Well, look at that.

He laughs.

Aahh...

Here, Dad.

Right there, that's...

one of the real

tender spots.

You just take

it easy, Dad.

You got a ways

to go yet.

I could leave to...

- Morrow.

Look, you just do

what the doc says.

She knows

what's best.

But you...

you do look

better, though.

Better... better

than you did.

Hmm.

What the...

what of the house?

I guess...

Choats are

all settled

in there now.

Dad, we don't have to talk

about that right now.

We got time.

All right.

I see your

mother sometimes...

in dreams.

Oh. Well, what does...

what does...

what does she say?

She listens mostly.

She is so forgiving.

Um, well,

Dad, I've, uh...

I've gotta

get on the road.

I've got a, uh,

I've got a big meeting

I gotta get

to this morning,

but, uh, I'll be back

tomorrow to check in

on you, okay?

Um, Dad, l... l...

found a place.

It's, um...

it's a retirement community.

And, uh, you would...

you'd have

your own apartment...

and... and... and

your own backyard.

You know, l... I

thought maybe...

maybe you could

grow some tomatoes.

It's only 20 minutes away

from where I live.

I'd prefer

to grow corn.

Corn.

Sure, Dad.

I'll, um...

I'll see you

tomorrow, okay?

Cornbread and buttermilk

Better clean your plate

He lived

Through the Great War

And came back

To his home state

Married his

Young sweetheart

Never would complain

The world

Keeps on changin'

But he ain't never changed

Depression era

Lived to tell the tale

Depression era

And he don't never fail

The boy

Who called him daddy

Has grown

I n different ways

The things

That made him happy

Have long since gone away

Depression era

Caked in red clay mud

Depression era

Survival's in his blood

Biscuits and gravy

Eggs all the way

Fought in the Navy

And made it back this way

Loved his beautiful wife

Now he's full of hurt

A Methodist all his life

But he didn't go to church

Depression era

Some things never fade

Depression era

I n the modern age

I n the

Modern age

He always rose above it

And nothing's as it seems

Anger has its pitfalls

So does living

I n your dreams

His dreams

They are fading

He'll make a final stand

He'd never hit a lady

But he just

Might kill a man

Depression era

Lived to tell the tale

Depression era

He don't never fail

He don't

Never fail

He don't never fail

He don't

Never fail

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