Undertow Page #2

But the worst taste in art.

I like them boots.

They're pretty cool.

You're cool.

I don't think he's got anyplace else to stay.

He's gonna stay with us for a little while.

We'll see how it goes.

What are you doing?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

Y'all sleep tight. I'm gonna hit it.

It's good to be here.

Good night.

Oh, this here's the boat I've hoped for

Oh, land, please pardon me

That's a song my father used to sing.

I haven't heard that in years.

What's wrong?

I'm just... I'm scared of the way

you make me feel.

- I think I might be too young for my head.

- I didn't touch you.

It's your dad, right?

I don't know what we're doing.

I care about you, Chris, but...

I can't.

Hot enough for you?

It ain't the heat that gets to me.

It's the stupidity.

Goddamn, this is a beautiful land.

I used to take days like this for granted.

We've had a lot of rain.

So it's like...

all this life.

It's like living in a fishbowl.

That's what it's like.

What?

I said it's like living in a fishbowl,

being stuck here like a workhorse.

Must get kind of cramped being a slave.

Me, I gotta get away now and then.

What about you?

God, I love to drive.

Has he changed much?

- From when y'all were kids?

- Old John?

No, he's pretty much the same.

He's got a few silly new fur coats,

kind of queer.

Did you know my mom?

I knew your mom first. She was my girl.

He didn't mention

that little detail, though, huh?

No, I shouldn't think he would.

What did he tell you about me?

He said you were in prison.

- You got a girlfriend?

- Not really.

That's smart, boy.

You gotta live a little first.

Girls mess with your head.

Make you do crazy things.

Did you hurt somebody?

You wanna drive? I'll work the gearshift.

- Nah.

- Somebody better take the wheel.

- Better take the wheel.

- No!

Come on, champ. Take it.

Somebody better take the wheel, kiddo.

Sh*t, yeah!

I forgot what it feels like.

What feels like?

Are you scared?

Here, Tim, try some sweet potatoes.

Tim don't eat much.

What, is he afraid he'll get fat or something?

He's already got a bunch of cellulite.

Look at all that goop.

It's about affinity.

Doctor says his brain ain't ready for it.

- It's an anxiety disorder.

- Freaks out his ulcer.

It's called an anxiety disorder.

Take your hat off at the table.

It ain't Thanksgiving.

When I was a boy,

I used to worry about Pilgrims.

I had this nightmare

that a whole bunch of you bastards...

would bust into my room

with your shirts off...

and you'd tickle me crazy.

You'd make me walk the plank

or eat turkey until I got fat.

You'd force me to just eat and eat.

Till all of a sudden

I realized I was an animal.

An animal eating an animal.

Then I'd wake up with a start...

and find I'd pissed my pajamas.

It is kind of funny now.

It wasn't so funny then.

How much work did you guys

get done today?

Not as much as we hoped.

We had to run into town, get some supplies.

Come on, now. Dish up.

Y'all say grace?

Occasionally. Feel free.

Thank you for this food.

Hope everybody has a nice time. Amen.

- Hallelujah.

- I want a leg.

Supplies in town, huh?

Well, tell you the truth,

Chris wanted to take a ride in my car...

and I could've said no, but I didn't want

to get off on the wrong foot with him.

You went driving?

I get home and nothing's done.

You're sure right about them two.

They ain't exactly fond of work.

I kept having to stop what I was doing

to go and track them down.

Don't put it all on the boys, Deel.

That's not what we agreed on.

You're supposed to look after them.

I'm just trying to give the kids

some elbow room.

We were not exactly angels

when we were their age, John.

That's right.

You don't trust me, do you?

- Lf you want me to leave, just say so.

- No.

For the longest time out here,

just me and the boys, I was sure...

I'd made a wreck of things.

You know what I mean?

I just wanted us to be a family.

Well, anyhow, now you're here.

Maybe I got a second chance.

- Let's not mess it up.

- Okay.

- Are you gonna eat that?

- What?

- That.

- No, go on. Help yourself.

Big old piece of gristle.

Hurry up. Dad wants you.

Hi.

Yeah?

Dad?

Remember when we had

that painting made?

Had to stand still, without sleeping.

It took a night and a day.

What did I do now?

F***.

So I hear you just had a birthday.

How old does that make you?

- Ten years old.

- Ten.

Well, you're a heck of a lot smarter

than most 10-year-olds I know.

That is a sharp-looking jet.

- Chris made it by hand.

- Damn nice.

You're daddy's got

a lot of real nice things, too, don't he?

You know, when I was your age...

my daddy, he had a collection

of old Mexican coins.

He used to let me and John

play with them sometimes.

They were solid gold.

Dad has some like that.

I knew that.

You know, your granddaddy,

he gave them to John and me, his two sons.

Your dad, he probably just forgot

that half are mine.

Where does he keep them at?

Keeps them hid.

Well, where does he hide them at?

It's a secret.

Well, see, I'm family

and I'm pretty good at keeping secrets.

It's a secret from me, too.

You don't say?

You shouldn't do that.

You shouldn't open a can like that.

You'll bust your knife blade.

What are you doing?

I found your stack of nudie books

in a chest under a rock back here.

- You got good taste.

- That stuff ain't mine.

I ain't gonna say nothing.

I ain't got no business

busting in on dirty secrets.

Besides, me and you is friends.

Ain't that right?

- That's right.

- Yeah.

I never had all the advantages like John.

I got the leavings and was told to like it.

I see the way your daddy

looks at your little brother.

You know there's something.

He sees himself.

Like looking in a goddamn mirror.

Then there's you.

You're just one of his little pigs.

A hole in the ground.

I like you, Chris.

You don't play games.

Don't ever let the same dog bite you twice.

You know what I mean?

- Knock-knock.

- Who's there?

- Interrupting cow.

- Interrupting-cow who?

Moo!

It doesn't work.

You've got the wrong tool.

Did you and Uncle Deel fight a lot

when you were kids?

We had our problems...

but our dad didn't put up

with too much nonsense.

He was nice too, right?

He gave you that treasure.

You mean those coins? That's right, he did.

You know those coins ain't ordinary coins?

What do you mean?

- It's a long story.

- It's from pirates?

No, not exactly. Do you know about Charon,

the ferryman of the dead?

According to a legend,

when you pass into the realm of the dead...

your spirit has to pay passage

to cross the river Styx into Hades.

You have to pay Charon.

He's the ferryman. He's this winged demon.

The price, one gold coin per soul.

If you don't have a coin...

then you're condemned to wander

the banks of the river for 100 years.

Like in hell?

No.

Just waiting.

A long time ago,

my father went for a walk to the river.

At the ferry crossing, he sees this old

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