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Date Posted: 16:53:49 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments" on 16:49:22 11/18/02 Mon

From Sue:

Bobby pulled the black pick up truck to a stop behind the back of the St. Jude’s Thrift Shop.
Unable to find the right words during the short ride from the boarding house, he grappled with
his frustration. Tightening his grip around the hard plastic of the steering wheel, he stared ahead
and spoke to the other man in the cab. His voice sounding quietly. “Why...why didn’t you say
something?”

Josh, who had been staring straight ahead also, shifted his line of sight to the left noticing the
unspoken tension in his companion. “I didn’t know...” He began.

“I should have told you, man.” Bobby replied banging his fist down lightly on the wheel before
him.

“It doesn’t matter...”

“Sure it does.” He added with more conviction. “I go dragging you out to help me, and I don’t
even give you a chance to speak your mind.”

Trying to alleviate the situation Josh replied indifferently, “You didn’t drag me, you gave me the
choice, and I agreed to help.”

“Yeah but I could have told you...” Bobby began.

“Look, you didn’t know.” Josh added with more emphasis now turning to stare at the other
minister. “I’m fine, okay, so let’s not talk about it, and get this truck unloaded.”

Bobby looked back at him now. His face full of skepticism before he continued. “Look, you’re
not okay. I was there, man. I saw you.” Noticing the defensiveness beginning to line his
companion’s face, he shot back. “It ain’t nothing to be ashamed of man, so don’t kid me...don’t
kid yourself. You were there....you found her...don’t make nothing of it, you don’t have to pull
any macho crap with me.”

Josh had turned towards the door as Bobby spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the back of St.
Jude’s as his knuckles tightened around the door handle. Swallowing hard, he tried to find some
words as he felt Bobby’s hand upon his shoulder, grasping him lightly. “I’m here for you, man,
if you want to talk.” The priest’s words echoed in his ears, and he felt his body stiffen in
response.

“No I don’t....Look it was a terrible thing and all... but...well I’d like to put it behind me...”

“It ain’t something one can do easily...” countered Bobby contemplatively. “I remember the
first time...the first time I gave last rites... It was this old man... a Mr. Thomas... He had lived a
long life...a good life and all. I think he was about 82 or something.... His wife was there with
him, and his kids...three grown daughters...even some grandchildren...one of them was pregnant
with a great grandchild. He was suffering from congestive heart failure....his old ticker had just
had enough. I went there with the old Father, Father Patrick. He walked me through it...Mr.
Thomas was comatose by then struggling for each breath, but his wife and family remained by
his side. I remember listening for that death rattle they mentioned in seminary, while feeling my
own blood rushing through my veins. Man, I was there to provide them comfort, but it felt like
my knees were giving out from under me as I administered the last rites....I don’t think I could
have done it if it wasn’t for the old Father.... It was hard, man....one of the toughest parts of our
sacred duties that I had to carry out since joining the priesthood. I envied Father Patrick... He
was like a rock...providing comfort to the wife and family and even to me... I remember he even
had us laughing a few times remembering the better days of Hubert Thomas’s life... Look what
I’m trying to say is I went into that situation knowing what I would be facing and you...well for
you that night at the boarding house with Mrs. Eastwood...you didn’t know...”

Josh hunched over towards the car door as he listened to Bobby’s words and felt the pressure of
his friend’s soothing grasp increase upon his shoulder. “There was so much blood...” he finally
uttered. “... I thought I’d never see so much blood again.” Bobby was confused by his words,
but he didn’t interrupt allowing the other man to continue speaking. “And her final breath was
like that rattle you mentioned ...she was staring at me as the life light faded from her.. she felt so
cold and still within my arms.... I didn’t think I could ever go through that again...”

His use of the word “again” echoed in Bobby’s mind. The two had only met recently, becoming
fast friends through their work and fellowship together. Had he experienced this kind of tragedy
before in the line of duty? He tried to contain an involuntary shudder that went through him as
he remembered another time himself. It had been a young teenager...the victim of a gunshot
wound through the head; an apparent suicide. Unable to think of anything else, Bobby
whispered. “I’m sorry, man...”

Slowly turning towards him, Josh answered. “ Look...I’m alright...but thanks...”

Bobby’s dark eyes met this Josh’s briefly until Josh awkwardly turned away, and Bobby
extremely doubted that this was indeed the truth, but Josh’s voice cut in before he had a chance
to utter another word. “Now look, we need to get going. I’m already late. If it’s alright with
you, I’m going to run into the shop and call over to the Pear to let Lena know what’s up?” Not
waiting for a reply from his companion, Josh pushed open the door beside him and headed
towards the shop.

********************************************************************************

The Pear was empty of customers when Josh sprinted through the door a short 20 minutes later.
Slightly out of breath he looked around, his eyes searching for Justin. Finding only unsettling
quiet in the front of the restaurant, he headed towards the metal double doors leading to the
kitchen, and pushing them open, he looked around. It was vacant also save for the light buzz of
noise coming through the open office door to the right. Heading towards it Josh peered in. Lena
sat upon the large office swivel chair her feet up upon the desk in front of her. Hank was beside
her upon a metal stool brought in from the kitchen work area. The two were facing a small 13"
color TV upon the desk before them; both mesmerized by the screen. “Hello...” Josh uttered,
but neither turned their head as if they’d heard him. “Hello” he hazard once again, this time
louder.

“Huh..” Lena began as if reluctant to turn her attention away from the small screen. “Oh,
Josh...” She eventually answered looking towards him as if finally noticing his arrival. “I’m
sorry sweety, you caught us right in the middle.”

“Middle?” He questioned.

“Yeah...right in the middle of “The Guiding Light”.

“Guiding Light?”

“Yeah...Guiding Light.” Lena answered matter of factly as she returned her attentions back
towards the screen before Josh had time to comment again and noting as Lena held up her
finger to him to signal him to wait a moment before speaking again. Impatience beginning to
rise within him, Josh’s eyes moved around the kitchen in search of Justin once again without any
luck. He began to speak up only to have Lena issue a terse “Sssssshhh!”

A dissatisfied frown began working across his features when finally the program moved to
commercial break and Lena turned towards him. “Justin?” He asked. “Did Hope pick him up
already?”


“No.”

“Then where is he?” He asked, trying to suppress the exasperation rising inside him towards
the two grownups before him at their lackadaisical accountability.

“Oh, Justin’s using the little boy’s room. He should be back any minute.”

“You mean you’re letting him watch this...this...meaningless dribble?”

“Meaningless dribble?” Lena shot back in offense. “Why I’ll have you know that “The Guiding
Light” has been on the air for over 50 years... Meaningless dribble, I’ll tell you! Why this is
mighty fine quality programming. Fact is Josh was just about to discover Reva.”

“Josh?” Josh uttered.

“Yes, another Josh... and Reva...possibly the greatest couple ever to grace daytime TV. Reva
has just stepped into a picture...”

“Stepped into a picture?...” Josh repeated as if not believing his ears.

“Yes, a picture leading them into their past lives when they knew one another.”

Josh only shook his head incredulously.

“And if that don’t beat all...” Added Hank, the tall bald headed cook.. “It looks as if Olivia is
going to concede to Alan’s demands .”

“Olivia? Alan’s demands?” Josh echoed.

“Olivia is Josh’s wife.” Lena began.

“But I thought Reva and Josh...”

“Well they would be together if it weren’t for that evil Olivia... and now Alan knows all about
her and if he has his way...”


A knowing light shined in Josh’s eyes before he uttered. “And you’re letting Justin watch this
crap?!” His voice rising in exasperation.

Lena’s eyes and face took on a defensive glare. “Of course I didn’t let him watch that part. I
sent him out to the kitchen to have a little snack during that segment. I know what is okay and
what’s not okay for a little boy to watch! Give me credit for that at least! The parts with Reva
and Josh are okay, so don’t go giving me that holier than thou attitude Joshua Waleski. It ain’t
like I’ve been letting him watch any adulterous affairs or....or.... demon possessions!”

“Demon possessions...” Hank’s voice echoed in interest. “There ain’t been anything as good as
that since Stefano and Marlena on “Days of our Lives”... Oh that was classic, wasn’t it, Lena?”

Lena’s previous irritation was all but forgotten as she began to answer Hank... “Yeah that was
great when her eyes got all green and her voice became all distorted and all....”

Josh threw up his hands in vexation, but was completely ignored by his two companions as they
continued their in depth conversation on the merits of exorcism. Out of the corner of his eyes he
spied Justin coming out of the restroom in the back. The small boy was in the process of wiping
his still damp hands upon the khaki colored shorts he wore. “Josh!” He called out in
excitement running towards his tall friend and catching him in a big hug that the older man
gratefully returned, lingering in the embrace.

Josh buried his face in to the soft blonde mop below his face, whispering lightly. “Thanks...
you don’t know how much I needed that.”

Justin, oblivious to his words, turned delighted eyes towards him. “Are ya ready to sign me up
for T-ball?”

“Sure am.” Josh returned his smile before directing his gaze back towards the room behind him.
He was going to issue a terse goodbye to Lena and Hank, but saw that the commercial break was
now over and both occupants were thoroughly enthralled once again in the program before them,
so shaking his head he turned back towards Justin and said. “Ready sport?” Following the small
boy out towards the front as they headed off.

********************************************************************************
Bobby had stayed behind at St. Jude’s after Josh had left, giving Thelma, one of the thrift shop’s
eldest and most dedicated volunteers, a hand unpacking the goods from the boarding house.
Thelma had just finished directing him towards where to store some of the housewares he had
unearthed. He busily began folding and placing the tea towels and hot pads he had within his
arms along with some others he found on a shelf in the middle of an aisle just as the door chime
upon the front door tinkled, alerting those inside to the arrival of a customer. Bobby remained
behind moving back towards the boxes as he heard Thelma address the new occupant at the front
of the store. After her first initial greeting of hello, he heard the muffled voice of a man in reply.
He didn’t pay much attention to the conversation at hand as both his thoughts and actions
returned to the task he was performing. It wasn’t until Thelma was almost beside him that he
refocused his attentions.

“Father Bobby...” She began almost hesitantly. “I could use your help up front.”

Bobby stared back at her in confusion. Though he aided in delivering goods to St. Jude’s, he
never actively participated in the running of the thrift store, so he just gazed back at Thelma. He
could tell by the harried expression upon her finely wrinkled face and the disquiet in her
normally cheery hazel eyes that there was something up. “What’s the matter, Thelma?” He
asked curiously.

Thelma answered him in hushed response as if she didn’t want her words to be overheard.
“There’s a customer up front, that I would like your help with.” Giving the young priest a
pleading gesture with her eyes and body language.

Though still somewhat confused, Bobby, out of respect, complied to her wishes and headed
towards the front of the shop. Upon reaching it, he was confronted with the sight of a man
perusing through a rack of used clothing. By the looks of him, he was in desperate need of
something more substantial than what he had on. He wore what once might have been a white
T-shirt, now stained and discolored from over use. A baggy pair of denims covered the bottom
part of him, most likely held up only by a belt pulled tightly around his waist, and a ratty old
threadbare faded forest green jacket completed his ensemble; if one could use that word to
describe his clothing; along with a pair of dirt streaked tennis shoes that had also seen better
days. Thelma spoke up in introduction putting an end to the quiet uncomfortableness that filled
the store around them. “This gentleman said he was looking for a job and was wondering if we
could help him?”

The sound of Thelma’s voice precipitated the man before them to turn in their direction. If
Bobby thought the man’s clothes were careworn, the man within them seemed even more so in
comparison. He was met by a gaunt looking face covered with a light razor stubble to match the
disheveled blonde hair upon his head. His eyes examined the other man carefully as he tried to
place an age to the figure while the man extended a hand to him greeting and said, “Hello”.

As Bobby returned the greeting he would have guessed around late 40's early 50's taking note of
the light streaks of gray interspersed among the rest of the dirty blonde mane, but as the man
spoke, and Bobby got a look at the stained, chipped teeth within his mouth or lack of them and
felt the bony, shaky hand within his own, he couldn’t hazard an accurate guess. He had seen all
of this before during his sojourn into the inner city; in the vacant alleys and abandoned
warehouses that housed many a crack or heroin addict.

The man spoke up again returning Bobby’s attentions to the present. “I was hoping to find a
job...”

As Bobby returned his gaze, he noticed the dark blue eyes staring back at him from within the
drawn face. Once they held the promise of being strong and bright, but now they only appeared
tired; the whites bloodshot and yellowed most likely from latter stages of hepatitis, a disease
fairly common among people in this situation. He answered him. “No, I’m sorry...I can’t help
with a job right now.”

The man’s gaze faltered momentarily as he took in the information the young priest relayed to
him and then turned as if to go. Bobby held out a hand to detain him and spoke. “But I do know
a place where you can get a square meal.” The man looked back at him hesitantly as he
continued. There’s a soup kitchen down on Pasadena St. They’re open from 11-2 and then
again from 5-8. You can get a hearty bowl of soup, some hot bread and a strong cup of coffee
there.” The other man looked as if he was about to forego Bobby’s advice when the young man
added “...and there is a man there, a Mr. Pierce, .... he might know of some work about Studs
that I am unaware of.”

The older man turned and smiled in appreciation as he stumbled towards the door while Thelma
called out. “Are you sure you want to leave empty handed...we’re having a two for one sale
today? Two articles of clothing for a dollar donation. Kind of hard to pass up....”

********************************************************************************

Josh stared down at the young boy beside him. Arriving late to registration, they had been
greeted by a large influx of other grown ups and children here on the same purpose. Josh shook
his head in annoyance. “Whomever came up with this lame brain idea of registration, should be
shot...” He muttered to himself as he glanced back down at his watch noting they had been here
almost an hour. Looking back down at he boy by his side, he was astonished and somewhat
humbled by his composure and tolerance to the situation before them. A pang of guilt surged
through him as he noted that he should be the one setting such an example and a scripture from
the gospel of Luke played upon his heart; “For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as
these.” while he admonished himself to exercise more equanimity.

Nearing the sign up desk, Justin reached into his pocket and withdrew an envelope, handing it to
Josh. “Mommy said you would need this.”

Staring down at the envelope Justin held out to him, Josh took it, opening it carefully before
noting it contained both cash and some sort of document. He barely had time to register this
when a voice called out that they were next. Approaching the desk the two took a seat as the
man across from them held out a form for Josh to complete before asking for the registration
fee and a birth certificate. Realizing that was the other article within the envelope, he handed
both to the gentleman. As he set about filling in the information required, he didn’t notice the
look of hesitation the other man directed towards him. He finally looked up as the other man
spoke up. “Son...” He motioned towards Justin. “How about you go over and get one of em
water bottles they’re giving out to each of the players?” Justin smiled in return as he climbed
over the bench he was sitting on and made his way across the room. When he had departed, the
man directed his attentions towards Josh. “Are you the boy’s father?...” He began.

Josh issued a quick no before supplying he was just a friend of the family.

Looking somewhat ill at ease the man proceeded on. “The reason I ask this is...because we need
a parental signature incase of the event of an emergency. I reckoned you were the boy’s uncle or
something because...” he began then stalled before pointing to the birth certificate. Josh
looked down towards the section he was pointing to. It read a male child weighing 6 lbs 10 oz
and 21 inches long was born on the 10th of May 1995 to Hope Edwards at Commonwealth
Medical Center, Houston. The line intended for the father’s name was marked unknown. “I
didn’t want to mention this in front of the little boy...” the man began again. “...just didn’t seem
like the right thing to do.... and all...” Josh could only nod back as his mind played over this first
bit of information made privy to him. “...I’ll need a parental signature before he’s allowed to
play...”

“You mean they won’t let him play?....” Began Josh, knowing the heartbreak that would follow
such a revelation.

“Well if the mother could sign this document and return it to us by tomorrow. We’ll have a
table set up at the field for late registrants.....”

“ I think that can be done.” Josh smiled assuredly, satisfied that Justin would be able to
participate with the others. “Is that all then?” he began

“Well except for yourself...” The other man answered.

“Myself?...” Josh questioned.

“We’re in need of coaches and assistant coaches. All the kids want to participate...unfortunately
most of the grown ups don’t...”

“But I’m not a parent...” Josh began.

“Oh that’s not necessary....” Smiled the man across from him. “.... and besides we wave the
registration fee for all kids who bring a coach along with em...”

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