Роберт Уилсон - Days Since... - Xavier - Day 853

That field in the past had been nothing more than that… a field, overgrown with goldenrods and aster. Through that field, the worn path had led him and his schoolmates up toward the hills, disappearing between two tall oak trees whose branches formed an archway into the woods. From there, they followed the broken twigs of honeysuckle that tussled with the children’s book bags as they ran past.

They continued over the dirt floor of the forest, their shadows blotting out the spotted sunlight that scattered in through the canopy. Their hands and feet gripped the exposed roots jutting from the creek’s bank—acting as a ladder—assisting their way down onto a shelf of rocks and clay. A purposeful array of stones, resting just above the shallow creek’s stagnant water, bridged the approach home. Careful footsteps across would keep most of their feet dry, but occasionally, a soggy shoe made it home.

The children’s way along the trail turned and required a steep hike up a hill to the backyards of the neighborhood. A loud, familiar bark sounded out as they made it back to the street where they lived. They stretched their hands out toward the Kentucky split-rail fence as a sign of peace. Archie, Matt’s brindle greyhound, scanned them with his cold, wet nose. The kids checked out and were free to hop over.

Xavier’s childhood journeys ended there at that old wooden fence. Today, there wouldn’t be any giggling, any smiling, or laughing with his schoolmates. He wouldn’t be on his way home. Not a single footstep would be taken across the grazing field and onto that now, overgrown trail. Instead, he turned away from his childhood and toward downtown—a place as foreign as any in his mind. Nothing would be as it was when he was younger. Xavier hesitated, looking back to the gate with mixed feelings. It’s been awhile, but I’ve been through worse.

“That isn’t going to work,” Simon called back to them. He was already a good distance down the road. “If you’re worried about anyone getting us, they would’ve done it when the gate opened. Let’s go!”

“You ready, boy?” Grant tugged at Xavier’s sleeve.

They squeezed through the bumpers of the automobiles that encircled the wall—some of them burned out frames, but not a single one of them unblemished.

“Remember when that guy tried to drive his truck through the wall?” Xavier asked while pointing to the man’s beat up Ford pickup crashed between a U-Haul and an old muscle car—its front end completely crushed inward. Bloodstains remained within the truck’s cab, visually obscured from multiple spider cracks in the windshield.

Grant chuckled. “That was one of the few fortunate times we could laugh at an attack.”

“Yeah…” I don’t remember laughing at all. “I was up on the roof that day patching a water tank with my dad. All you heard was a loud crash and then some gunshots. Dad hopped right on top of me, but I could still see our guys firing from the towers.”

“That maniac must’ve lost his mind,” Grant said. “Either that or he was tryin’ to get himself killed.”

“That’s a coward’s way out.”

“You never know what’s goin’ through someone’s head. We’re a bit spoiled with this town. The world is harsher than ya know. It was prolly too much for the man.”

“Why do people act like I haven’t experienced all this? Like I didn’t live through the collapse with everyone else.”

“I’m not sayin’ ya didn’t. It’s— You’re comfortable with life again. This gonna be a good taste of the change. We probably won’t see any action, but ya never know.”

“Yea…” Comfortable, huh? I hope something does happen. I’ll show him. Just wait. Xavier looked over at Grant as they walked on. What could he possibly know that I don’t? He’s been in this situation just as long as I have. Whatever… Xavier pointed to his right as they walked. “I remember painting that.”

A beat-up mural of the Cincinnati skyline was fading from the corrugated metal of the town’s wall. It remained barely visible from 50 feet, let alone a football field as it was intended. The only clear portion was just above the painting, the words ‘City of River’s Edge’ bolted to the metal.

Xavier gazed fondly at it. “Karen did most of the work. I’m not much of an artist you know, I actually think I messed it up in a few spots, not that you could tell now.”

“Yeah, ya prolly couldn’t see what ya were doin’.” Grant smiled, but Xavier wasn’t amused by the joke about his new glasses. He gave Xavier a playful push to the back, causing him to stumble forward a bit. “I’m only teasin’ ya.”

“Yeah, Yeah.” He turned to Grant and tried to push him back, but Grant dodged him. “Whatever.” Xavier smiled and laughed. “We should try to—”

“Keep it down!”

They looked to one another and nodded. He’s right.

“You know who did those letters—the words?” Grant asked Xavier.

He shrugged. “Dale, I thought.”

“Nope, he put them up. Come on boy, you know that’s my work. Look how smooth it looks,” Grant kidded.

Xavier eyed Grant with his head cocked slightly. Usually he’s riding me for everything. Now, he’s joking and acting like a kid. “What’s going on with you?”

“What you mean?”

“You seem… well, you seem happier I guess. Usually, you’re tougher on me, and now you’re—”

“Xavier, I gotta be tough on ya.” A fatherly tone. “I promised your dad that I’d watch out for ya. I told him I’d make sure every decision was in your best interest.”

“It’s just… you let Alex get away with everything. It doesn’t seem fair.”

“That’s not your concern. He’s his own man and you’re yours.”

“It just doesn’t seem—”

“Let it go. You’re here and he ain’t. Your hard work pays off. He couldn’t be trusted for somethin’ like this. Bein’ responsible leads to responsibility. It makes ya valuable.”

“Yeah…” Xavier couldn’t keep his eyes from the school. Quick glances. His neck bent further and further around as the school shrank in the distance.

“Up around this left here ya ain’t gonna be able to see her no more. Now’s the time if you’re not comin’.”

“Just looking.” Xavier straightened up, shifting his walk into a march, his chin up and eyes forward.

“Wanna be sure.” Grant took a quick glance back himself. “So,” he said, as he raised his hands up over his head, “what you think about all this?”

“What do you mean?” Xavier looked around.

“Bein’ out here. Seein’ all this. You remember this stuff?”

“It’s only been two years.”

“I know that. Wasn’t sure how much ya got out. Your dad’s pretty protective of ya.”

“I’m sure that has more to do with my mom and sister than anything else. He wasn’t always like that.” Xavier averted his eyes to the ground and began counting his steps, watching the imperfections of the road pass under his feet. The shoelaces bounced along with every strike against the pavement. These shoes are a mess. Please don’t fall apart. “I need some new shoes,” he said—his eyes meandering along the cracks of the asphalt.

“How much longer you got with those?”

“I think it’s maybe a few months.” Xavier whipped his feet forward as he stepped, exaggerating the flapping rubber of his sneakers.

“I wouldn’t even wish those on Simon.”

“I would.” Xavier laughed loudly.

As Grant joined in on the laughter, Simon looked back, staring coldly at the two of them. There’s no way he heard that. Xavier gave a single nod to Simon as they continued on ahead. He tried his best to keep the remaining portion of their conversation to themselves.