You’re going to owe me, though.”
“Cozette, anything you need, you’ve got. There’s nothing more important to me than those two, and I can’t tell you what your help means to me. When can I bring them?”
“Bring them by river over to my place later this afternoon. I’ll have my brother drive you back home and we’ll keep the boat. The roads might not be such good place for the kids right now, and you might want to leave through the back door. I don’t want to start lying to Tommy until I have to. Don’t worry about any others sniffing around. I know how to take care of them.” She kept a shotgun under the counter for overly curious types.
Delroy left and went to get the children ready. He knew Meg and Peck would be safe at Cozette’s but dreaded taking them from their mother. Delroy loved them but Anna lived for them. He was in for a day of tears but, if it meant their safety, Anna would finally let them go.
He got to Anna’s and told to her what he wanted to do. She asked him to explain why over and over, not wanting the answers he gave. In the end, though, she trusted him, and gathered the children’s things. Since they were going in the johnboat she only packed one suitcase.
After alternately hugging them, and asking again why they needed to leave, Anna finally let the children go. She smiled and waved to her babies as they left, watching them float away through a thin veil of tears. Finally, as they rounded the first bend in the river, they lost sight of her.
The children were quiet as they drifted away from home. The bird cries and fishtail slaps around them were brought into tempo by the constant croaking of frogs. The boat’s small motor hummed underneath. Delroy looked at his niece and nephew and wondered how the world had brought them here. One night he’s having a drink and debating about which kid to play at shortstop on Peck’s team. Now, this mess.
Life
. He hated how random it kept proving itself. One couldn’t do enough planning to keep it all from falling apart.
Loving is just heartache, nothing more
, he thought.
How do I keep these two from breaking
?
They entered the section of the Bird where it ran a bit faster and the south bank became a bramble opening into the Neck. There the swamp sapped the river. It never regained its full strength before joining another river nearer the coast. Here the Bird reminded him of his clients, those with demons too strong to beat. It reminded him of himself.
Off this broken river Delroy steered the johnboat forward. He pointed it down one of the small branches that broke away and led to Cozette’s. The water, stained dark with tannins, reflected a black sun, and his neck and ears turned red. Delroy kept looking ahead, keeping one eye on the channel and one on his charges.
They drifted down several smaller channels until Delroy caught sight of Cozette’s dock.
Thank God
, he thought, and steered his sad group until the water met the land. Cozette was there to meet him with a pack of at least ten dogs.
“Shut up boys. Leave these folks alone!” She yelled at the pack.
Delroy and the children got out of the boat. “Cozette, these are your newest houseguests. Kids, what do we say to Miss Cozette?”
“Hello Miss Cozette,” they both mumbled. Peck stared at the ground while Meg managed a weak smile.
“Well, hello to y’all. We are going to have so much fun. My brother stays with me, and we’re both glad to have you. Now go on inside and put your things away.”
The two walked up to the house, Peck dragging the suitcase. Delroy started to say thanks but Cozette cut him short.
“Keep your words to yourself. Just hope this thing doesn’t go through the summer. Like you said, you’re gonna owe me. The longer they stay the more it’ll be. You better keep an eye on that, Delroy, because I ain’t cheap.”
With that Cozette turned and walked toward the house. Delroy followed, wondering how much this summer would cost him in the end.
“Cozette, anything you need, you’ve got. There’s nothing more important to me than those two, and I can’t tell you what your help means to me. When can I bring them?”
“Bring them by river over to my place later this afternoon. I’ll have my brother drive you back home and we’ll keep the boat. The roads might not be such good place for the kids right now, and you might want to leave through the back door. I don’t want to start lying to Tommy until I have to. Don’t worry about any others sniffing around. I know how to take care of them.” She kept a shotgun under the counter for overly curious types.
Delroy left and went to get the children ready. He knew Meg and Peck would be safe at Cozette’s but dreaded taking them from their mother. Delroy loved them but Anna lived for them. He was in for a day of tears but, if it meant their safety, Anna would finally let them go.
He got to Anna’s and told to her what he wanted to do. She asked him to explain why over and over, not wanting the answers he gave. In the end, though, she trusted him, and gathered the children’s things. Since they were going in the johnboat she only packed one suitcase.
After alternately hugging them, and asking again why they needed to leave, Anna finally let the children go. She smiled and waved to her babies as they left, watching them float away through a thin veil of tears. Finally, as they rounded the first bend in the river, they lost sight of her.
The children were quiet as they drifted away from home. The bird cries and fishtail slaps around them were brought into tempo by the constant croaking of frogs. The boat’s small motor hummed underneath. Delroy looked at his niece and nephew and wondered how the world had brought them here. One night he’s having a drink and debating about which kid to play at shortstop on Peck’s team. Now, this mess.
Life
. He hated how random it kept proving itself. One couldn’t do enough planning to keep it all from falling apart.
Loving is just heartache, nothing more
, he thought.
How do I keep these two from breaking
?
They entered the section of the Bird where it ran a bit faster and the south bank became a bramble opening into the Neck. There the swamp sapped the river. It never regained its full strength before joining another river nearer the coast. Here the Bird reminded him of his clients, those with demons too strong to beat. It reminded him of himself.
Off this broken river Delroy steered the johnboat forward. He pointed it down one of the small branches that broke away and led to Cozette’s. The water, stained dark with tannins, reflected a black sun, and his neck and ears turned red. Delroy kept looking ahead, keeping one eye on the channel and one on his charges.
They drifted down several smaller channels until Delroy caught sight of Cozette’s dock.
Thank God
, he thought, and steered his sad group until the water met the land. Cozette was there to meet him with a pack of at least ten dogs.
“Shut up boys. Leave these folks alone!” She yelled at the pack.
Delroy and the children got out of the boat. “Cozette, these are your newest houseguests. Kids, what do we say to Miss Cozette?”
“Hello Miss Cozette,” they both mumbled. Peck stared at the ground while Meg managed a weak smile.
“Well, hello to y’all. We are going to have so much fun. My brother stays with me, and we’re both glad to have you. Now go on inside and put your things away.”
The two walked up to the house, Peck dragging the suitcase. Delroy started to say thanks but Cozette cut him short.
“Keep your words to yourself. Just hope this thing doesn’t go through the summer. Like you said, you’re gonna owe me. The longer they stay the more it’ll be. You better keep an eye on that, Delroy, because I ain’t cheap.”
With that Cozette turned and walked toward the house. Delroy followed, wondering how much this summer would cost him in the end.
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