Chapter 8 - Horace's Dilemma

Horace stared at Amy. A tear secreted from his eyes and flowed down his cheeks. Another followed, and another until his shirt was soaked. He said, "Why!"

"Because I'm a bad girl. I hurt everyone who cares about me. The objects I touched. My past produced peril. My record reeked with stench."

Amy and Horace's conversation pricked my ears. I ignored it. Then their volume escalated. I interrupted them and said, "Excuse me, I'm no expert on love, but both of you want the best for each other. Life is short. You possess something very special few people experience."

Amy asked, "What is that?"

"You are attracted to each other. You admire Horace, and he cares about you. It may blossom into love. It might not. The only way to discover if you are made for each other is commit to a relationship and see where it leads you. Long distant romance is complex. If it is wrong, you will recognize it. Don't kill it before it has a chance."

Ralph moaned.

"There you go, Ralph agreed."

Amy retrieved a tissue from her purse, and dried Horace's face. She kissed his cheeks and settled on his lips. I hugged Ralph, and he panted.

Horace wrapped his arms around Amy and hugged her tight. They laughed as they snuggled.

Horace and Amy sauntered about fifty yard away from our group. Amy was talking with speed. Her face was twisted. Her lips, eyes and brows scrunched together. Horace flung his arms in the air and walked away from Amy. Thirty seconds later he turn and faced Amy. As he walked towards her, his smile broadened. He squeezed and pulled her tight. She kissed his cheeks a dozen times.

Amy and Horace walked back to the vehicles holding hands. Their grins were broad and both seemed relax. Whatever they shared remained with them. No hint emerged. Hector and Henry quizzed Horace, but he said, "It's not mine to share at this time."

Amy followed us as we returned home in a loaded 1959 Ford Galaxy. It brandished a golden bronze finish. It was the most beautiful car I have seen.

At first I sat next Mom and she said, "You'll make a good marriage counselor. I smiled at her and Ralph waved his tail.

Hector invited me to his truck and opened his mouth. He said, "Would!"

"Let me stop you before you say another word."

"But you went to the dance with me."

"And I regretted it ever since. You pretended to like me. You desired to manipulate me in the same way as your groupies following their football hero. You are a good athlete but a lousy friend. You botched the boyfriend test."

"What is the boyfriend test?"

"You need to care more about your girlfriend than yourself. I like you as a friend but not a boyfriend."

"What I like about you: You are real. Social status is not your thing. Most girls like me because I am a football quarterback, or I am heir to a fortune when I turn twenty-one. I am already successful as a businessman. My three greenhouses and a few investments selling vegetables and fruit year-round to stores and restaurants give me a good income."

"I heard about your clandestine wine and moonshine business."

"Most of that is exaggeration. You saw what use to be my great aunt, your grandmother's prohibition and depression operation. That equipment hasn't been used in years. The sheriff's department and federal revenue agents inspect the equipment several times a year. It is random. I have no idea when they will show. Nevertheless, the rumors continue."

"Regardless, you are known for your recklessness."

"All from when I was thirteen and fourteen."

Hector presented a good explanation. I wanted to believe him, but it proved difficult.

"Girls at school claim you have two babies."

"There was only one, and a DNA test proved she was not mine. The lust for money cause people to lie. She eventually revealed the real father."

"They also claimed you slept with a dozen girls. You ruined their opportunity to have a pure marriage."

"There are many reasons people lie. Others repeat those lies. I made mistakes. Including believing women with devious motives. You are better than them. I portrayed a calm front. Inside girls terrify me. You give me peace. I trust you."

Hector offered a powerful vindication. My trust registered low. I doubted him.

"I don't believe you. I never will."

His smile flipped to a frown. Hector cheeks went pale. His mouth opened as if he intended to speak, but his lower jar quivered. No words emerged from the boy's tongue.

Ultimately Hector said, "Go ride with your mom and dad, let Joey ride with me."

Ralph whined and climbed in the truck with Hector. He nudged his head under Hector's right arm. We stopped on the east side of Poplar Bluff for gas and bathroom breaks. I went over to pet Ralph. He growled, snarled at me and followed Hector.

The Wonderful Surprise (Maybe)

Amy brushed next to me and said, "Will you ride with me? I am tired and I need someone with whom to talk. I've turned the radio up as loud as it will go in order to stay awake. I know we are not friends, but I need you now."

I shrugged my shoulders. I walk over to Mom and Dad and ask if it was OK for me to ride with Amy. They agreed to let me. Amy thank them also. About five minutes later Amy's vehicle eased to the side of Highway 60. She emerged from the car and bent over and spewed her snack onto the shoulder of the road.

Mom sprung from Dad's car and strolled to Amy and hugged her from the side. She asked, "Where are your keys?"

"In the ignition."

Mom pulled a brown paper bag from her purse and ordered Amy to get in the back seat, because she was going to do the driving. Amy took one step and heaved once more. Mom responded to Amy's aid another time. She handed her a couple of tissues and told her to wipe her mouth. Then she handed Amy a bottle of water and said, "Take a gulp, swirl the water in your mouth, and spit it out.? Amy, slide into back seat, open the bag, in case you throw-up. Angelica, keep your eyes on Amy."

I ask, "Mom, what's wrong."

"Nothing Darling! It is what occurs when a girl is carrying a baby."

Amy and I both said, "A baby?"

"Yes, in my expert opinion, Amy is going to be a mom. She is in her first tri-mester."

Horace ran to the car asking, "What's wrong?"

Mom said, A little upset stomach."

He leaned over the back window and rolled his hand in a circle. She touched a button and the window slid open.

The Revelation

Before we returned to the road, Joey told me tears flowed down Hector's cheeks. He informed Joey a piece of lint or a speck of dirt blew into his eye. Joey insisted it was tears and asked me, "What did you do to him?"

I ignored Joey's question and displayed a smile. When we arrived home Hector dropped Joey off at our house. Dad invited him in for a sandwich. Hector insisted he had a meeting to attend.

Hector did not pick up Joey and me for school. Mom drove us since we missed the bus. I went to the corner in the school building where Hector hung out with his friends. No one noticed him this morning.

Trish, Allie and Beth said they heard Hector called in maintaining he was sick. No one noticed him at school all week. The next week he attended school but remained alone. He talked to none of his friends between classes. Joey said, "He was crushing over you, and you stomped on him.

Allie said, "Hector's clothes appeared grimy. He stunk up the hallway. His face seemed pale green. A foam like substance drooled from his mouth. Tuesday, he passed out. An ambulance transported him to the hospital. It is rumored he may die."

A little voice yelled, "You killed him."

Tears spewed from my eyes. My head and shoulders slunk causing my frown to protrude.

I begged Horace and Henry to take me to the hospital. The receptionist acknowledged we could not see Hector until the nurses bathed him. She divulged he seemed healthier.

He was talking to two young nurses. They left the room when I arrived. I remark on his recovery. I said, "I am sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"It was my fault."

"How could that be."

"I turned you down when you asked me to be your girlfriend. I used harsh words. I was insensitive."

"I agreed with you. It is too early in our friendship to make that commitment. You do not know me very well. I am a great guy, and you are a wonderful girl."

"Then why are you sick?"

"It was stupid. I should have known better. It was your grandmother's fault."

"What?..."