Michael Hunter - Come Get Me

“Wait a minute, you mean he was impaled?” he choked out hoping she would say no.

“Yes that’s exactly what I mean,” she said as tears began trickling over the edges of her eyelids. “I just didn’t want to say it like that. I really don’t like that word and I really don’t like thinking of Tommy in that way. It’s bad enough he’s gone I don’t have to think about how he went.” Jim watched the tears run down her face as he tried to comprehend how something like this could have happened.

“Are you alright?” his mother asked through her sniffles after she’d finished crying. He realized he hadn’t said anything for a few minutes. There was nothing he could think to say.

He heard her ask him something else but he didn’t respond to that either. His mind was lost in other thoughts. Impaled, echoed through his head. Thinking about it he realized he didn’t like the word either. It made Tommy’s death sound dirty. It also made it harder to believe. He almost thought this might be some kind of elaborate joke his friends had used to get him to come home for a visit. They were sure to jump out any minute and yell surprise. He looked up hoping they would but after a few seconds of nothing happening he realized this wasn’t a joke. It was all too real, he couldn’t believe it. Tommy had been an avid hunter from the time he was old enough to go all the way through high school and apparently right up til his death. Tommy used to love going out in the woods early in the morning and waiting for that one perfect moment when a deer walked into his sights. All that was left was to pull the trigger. If anybody ever asked him why he went he would tell them the thrill of the hunt was just as addicting as any drug could ever be and everything else seemed boring compared to it. He seemed to enjoy it so much that Jim had eventually allowed himself to be talked into going along so he could see what it was like. After his first kill he decided it wasn’t the thing for him. He’d gone a few more times just to make Tommy happy but always made sure he aimed a little off each time he took a shot. Tommy always thought something was wrong with Jim’s gun when this happened. Jim didn’t tell him he didn’t like it because he was afraid he would hurt his friend’s feelings, but after this type of thing happening every time, Tommy eventually figured it out on his own. After that he’d quit asking. He never said anything about Jim humoring him he’d just quit asking. It was just one of many examples of how Jim had grown apart from his friends. They liked simple things and Jim didn’t. It wasn’t their fault, if it was anyone’s fault it was his own.

He shook himself from the past and back to the present where his mother was still watching him with a concerned look on her face. He was still thinking about Tommy’s death. He just couldn’t understand how a person who’d been in and out of trees for most of his life could so easily fall out of one and not only hurt himself, but kill himself in the process. It just didn’t make any kind of sense. Tommy was always careful whenever he and Jim had gone out. He had continuously told Jim things that would ensure his safety. That was just how Tommy was. Obviously this time something went wrong he hadn’t planned for. Or something had happened that Tommy couldn’t have planned for.

“Jim? Are you alright?” his mother asked again, concern touching her voice. Judging by the look on her face he must’ve been ignoring her for some time. Instead of answering he buried his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes trying to make his mind accept the manner of his best friend’s death.

“How could something like this have happened?” he asked.

“Like I said,” his mother said as she slowly shook her head, “I only know what I’ve heard, if you want to know more I think you really should try to find Rob. He would know all the details. All I have is rumors. He a policeman plus he’s your friend, talk to him. Other than what I’ve already told you I don’t know anything else. I’m sorry sweetie, I wish I did. I wish there was some way I could make all this better but there isn’t. Rob is your best bet.” She looked at him for a moment then added, “I’m sorry I don’t know more.”

“It’s not your fault Mom,” he quickly said (she already felt bad enough he didn’t need to add to it by making her feel guilty because she didn’t know anymore). “It’s just; well it’s kind of hard to believe. I guess I’m still trying to get used to everything.” He shook his head slightly and ran his hands through his hair, “Impaled! How does something like that happen?” He still couldn’t see how it could’ve happened. He would definitely have to find Rob and see if he could shed any more light on this.

“I think I need some air,” he said getting to his feet. His mother watched him sympathetically as he walked to the door. “I think I’ll just go for a walk or something. Maybe look around a little bit. I just need some time to think about this a little. I might even try to find Rob while I’m out.” Waving goodbye, he walked out with thoughts of Tommy’s death running rampant through his head and how he was ever going to make himself accept that his friend was gone.

At first Jim walked aimlessly through the development not caring where his feet took him but he soon found himself seeking out all the old spots he played at as a kid. Upon arriving at each one he would stand still and let his mind reach back and replay scenes from his childhood. He was so caught up in his memories that he was surprised when he suddenly found himself at Main Street. Looking at his watch he saw that it was still early. Not wanting to go back to his mothers’ house and having nothing else better to do he decided to walk into town. Maybe if he was lucky he would be able to find Rob and get some real information from him. If nothing else it would be a good waste of time. He’d only gotten to see the changes in the town from his car before, now would be a good time to do the walking tour.

He was still finding it hard to believe he was home for a funeral of all things. Especially that of one of his friends. If he’d ever thought of a reason for coming home it sure wasn’t for something like this. He just couldn’t believe that something like this could happen. This was the kind of thing you heard about happening to other people. It wasn’t supposed to happen to him. He’d grown up in this town and for the life of him couldn’t remember anyone ever dieing from anything other than old age or some other natural cause. Something like this happening was just unheard of. After all these years Jim figured the town had gotten off pretty good but as of a couple of days ago things must have decided to catch up with a vengeance.

Being lost in his thoughts he smelled food cooking and looked up to find he was just coming abreast of one of the new fast food places that had settled in since he left. He wasn’t very hungry so decided to pass it by when he heard something.

Someone had called his name. Thinking the person calling had obviously not meant him he ignored them and kept walking. Nobody in town could possibly recognize him after all these years. Surprisingly after only taking a few steps he heard someone call out again. This time he couldn’t resist. Maybe somebody had recognized him as far-fetched as that might be. He’d changed a lot since high school. He wasn’t a scrawny, little teenager carrying a superhero book bag anymore. He was a grown man now.

Still thinking it was just some mother calling for her misbehaving child he stopped and turned around. Studying the parking lot didn’t reveal anything right off the bat except some guy sitting in his good ol’ boy pickup truck by the back of the building. Jim strained his eyes thinking he might know the guy but quickly gave up when he saw the stranger was returning his scrutiny. Quickly looking elsewhere Jim risked a glance and saw that the guy was still looking at him. This didn’t just seem to be mild interest either. He was really taking an interest. Jim almost wanted to walk over and tell the guy to take a picture but knew that would probably cause trouble. You never knew with some people and this guy looked like one of those you didn’t want to mess with.