Part 364: Cecil's Son
July 11th, 2005
Mia sipped on her coffee inside the massive diner in Alabama. She sat at the bar, waiting for everybody to get ready to make one of their final stops in their long tour of America. The Lakota girl was wary of all the men in dirty baseball caps walking by her and making suggestive glances. Whenever the situation occurred, she just reminded herself of the loving husband she had waiting for her back at home. Shanna came back from browsing from the shop of the Iron Skillet diner. The redhead giggled as she had been making a habit to purchases as many souvenirs as she could get as they traveled from state to state. She was still wearing the black cowgirl hat she bought in Texas. “How is the coffee?” she asked.
“It just keeps getting better as we go farther south.” Mia giggled, “But after this we are heading back up.”
“You bet,” Shanna sighed, “ Back home to Cornelius Pass.”
“I know the loss of your father make not make this trip any easier, Shanna,” the Lakota girl told her, “But it will help you put these in perspective.”
“I know. I just . . .I want it done. I want to get on with my life.”
“And you will,” Mia smiled.
The waitress came over and poured some coffee into Shanna’s cup. The red-head looked at her and smiled. “Excuse me,” she said to the waitress, “We are out of town here.”
“I couldn’t tell,” the waitress giggled.
“I was just curious . . .is it always this hot around here?”
“No,” the waitress laughed, “In August, it gets worse.”
The two young women giggled as the woman walked away. “Yowza.” Shanna sighed.
“Thank God we won’t be here in August.” Mia said, sipping her coffee.
“What is Seth doing?” the redhead pointed.
Mia looked toward her right and saw Seth staring at an old, wooden carved sign on the far wall. He calmly turned around and began to walk toward his friends. He leaned on the counter with a very perplexed look on his face. “Interesting sign, Seth?” Mia asked.
“You know the name of this town?” he asked him.
“Yeah, OP, Alabama.” Shanna said, “I think it’s cute.”
“You know what it’s original name was, according to that sign? It was called Opportunity, Alabama.”
“Really?” Mia said, with a raised eyebrow.
“Why did they change it?” Shanna asked.
“Because they couldn’t spell Opportunity.” Seth scoffed.
“No way. Are you serious?” the Lakota asked.
“Apparently so, “ the young bookstore worker turned to the waitress and cooks, “You people are idiots!”
Mia and Shanna then froze at what their friend just said. The waitress who helped them earlier came over as the cooks were staring at Seth. “What did you just say, boy?” the waitress asked.
“I mean, seriously, this town became OP because you guys couldn’t spell Opportunity?” he coughed, “ Do you morons realize you are fueling every single stereotype about the South? No wonder all movies about the South suck!”
Mia then quickly dropped a ten dollar bill on the counter, grabbed Seth by the wrist and ran for the door. Shanna giggled slightly, waved to them and ran after them. The waitress grunted and took the ten dollar bill which more than paid for the two cups of coffee. She didn’t know much about the Yankee boy but at least the girls he was with where polite.
Seth slowly drove the truck down the suburban street. Kids were playing all around; mixtures of black, white and Mexican. Dogs would occasionally bark from their leashed tags in the middle of yards. Two little girls, one redhead and one blonde were carrying a box that said COOKIES, 50 CENTS. Seth sighed at the serene peacefulness of it. “So this is the South?” he whispered, “It’s not so bad.”
“You still think all of them are idiots, Seth?” Shanna asked.
“Well, show me one and I’ll ask him,” the bookstore worker smiled.
“You know, I half liked you better when you didn’t speak your mind,” Mia giggled.
“Yeah, likewise.” He laughed.
“WHOA!” Mia pointed, “Here is it!”
Seth then stopped the truck. They were about five feet away from a mail box and on the side of the numbers 108, it read WALKER. At the side of the yard, was a grown man playing with two kids and a woman nearby, pregnant. Mia blinked; she never realized Cecil was a grand father. How could he have acted knowing what kind of family he had? “You want us to wait?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, “ she smiled, opening the door, “ I don’t think this will take long.”
Mia closed the door behind her as Shanna and Seth got out of the truck to wait outside of it. The Lakota girl walked over through the sidewalk and over to the front yard. The sound of playful laughter could be heard as she walked closer. She wasn’t sure how she was going to tell this man his father was dead but she made a promise to Cecil and Mia always kept her promises. The woman that was sitting on a nearby stool, watching the children finally noticed her. “Hello.” She said, politely.
“Hello,” Mia smiled back, “James Walker?”
“Jimmy!” the woman called, “There is someone here to see you.”
The man turned around and looked at Mia. The Lakota girl were thrown back for a few seconds, as she saw that this man looked incredibly like a young Cecil. James stopped playing with his kids and walked up to the young woman. “Hello there.” He said, “What can I do for you?”
“I am sorry to bother you, Mr. Walker,” she said, extending her hand, “My name is Mia Riggs. I was wondering, . . .have you heard of the story of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815?”
“Oh, my goodness, I have,” the pregnant woman said, standing up.
“My wife Gloria is a stay home mom,” James smiled, “She’s probably going to know about it more than me. Why? Is this a survey?”
“No, I was just coming to tell you . . well . . .I was on that flight . . . .and . .so was your dad.”
Gloria paused when she heard Mia say those particular words. James’s winced up his cheeks slightly and looked at the ground. He then turned back to Mia. “Cecil . ..was on that flight?” he asked.
“Yes, sir and I regret to say . . .he’s dead.”
“Cecil died in the crash?” Gloria asked.
“Actually, no . . .he died afterward. I had a few weeks to get to know him and he requested I give you this, should he not make it.”
Mia then handed James the wallet. The stout man then took it and opened it up. He immediately saw the picture of him as a baby, posing with his father and mother; a mother he didn’t remember. He smiled briefly, before letting a tear fall down his cheek. “I . . .I promised I wouldn’t cry for that man when he passed,” he slightly chuckled, “ But hear I am crying anyway. Did he . . . .did he tell you this was the only picture of my mother?”
“Yes, he did,” she sighed, “I think that was the reason he wanted you to have it.”
“Well, “ he sighed, wiping his eyes, “At least the old bastard did something good. Mrs. Riggs . . .how did he die? Did he suffer?”
“He was suffering from lung cancer but . . . .in the end . . .he took his own life.”
“Oh, my Goodness.” Gloria gasped.
James then closed both of his eyes, letting the tears flow easily. He covered his eyes shortly, just enough for his kids to see he was weeping. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. “Most people in this situation . . “ he coughed, “Might tell the person that their loved one died a hero or something.”
“Yes, I suppose they would,” Mia sighed.
“Thank you . . .for your honesty.” He said, shaking her hand.
“I hope I haven’t upset you too much,” she smiled slightly, “I know what kind of man your father was but he was respectable enough to request this of me and I wanted to make sure it happened. I wish you all the best. Farewell.”
Mia turned and began to walk back toward her friends. When they saw she was coming back, they proceeded to get into the truck as well. “MRS RIGGS!!” James called to her.
The Lakota girl turned and looked at him. “Yes?” she inquired.
“While he . . .while my father was on that Island with you . .did he do anything good? Anything at all?”
Mia looked at him. When he asked the question, she was reminded of how Cecil wrestled the gun away from Sawyer. He then warned him that he had the chance to turn his life around, before he shot himself. Had he not spared Sawyer, then the redneck never would have been able to help them against the Liberation, and even become fast friends with the majority of the people on the beach. He wouldn’t have had the chance to grow. “Yes, he did do one good thing,” she smiled, “He may have taken his own life . .but before that, he saved someone else’s.”
James then shook his head and proceeded to cry; a silent way of saying thank you. Mia watched him rejoin his wife as she embraced him. Even his kids came over; not knowing what was happening but embracing him nonetheless. The Lakota girl turned around and felt good about their future. Cecil may have been a despicable con man but he had a son who made up for his mistakes by creating a loving family. In the end, it was enough.
Mia got in the truck and Seth drove them away. They had one more stop on their long journey but it would indeed be the last stop.
Mia sipped on her coffee inside the massive diner in Alabama. She sat at the bar, waiting for everybody to get ready to make one of their final stops in their long tour of America. The Lakota girl was wary of all the men in dirty baseball caps walking by her and making suggestive glances. Whenever the situation occurred, she just reminded herself of the loving husband she had waiting for her back at home. Shanna came back from browsing from the shop of the Iron Skillet diner. The redhead giggled as she had been making a habit to purchases as many souvenirs as she could get as they traveled from state to state. She was still wearing the black cowgirl hat she bought in Texas. “How is the coffee?” she asked.
“It just keeps getting better as we go farther south.” Mia giggled, “But after this we are heading back up.”
“You bet,” Shanna sighed, “ Back home to Cornelius Pass.”
“I know the loss of your father make not make this trip any easier, Shanna,” the Lakota girl told her, “But it will help you put these in perspective.”
“I know. I just . . .I want it done. I want to get on with my life.”
“And you will,” Mia smiled.
The waitress came over and poured some coffee into Shanna’s cup. The red-head looked at her and smiled. “Excuse me,” she said to the waitress, “We are out of town here.”
“I couldn’t tell,” the waitress giggled.
“I was just curious . . .is it always this hot around here?”
“No,” the waitress laughed, “In August, it gets worse.”
The two young women giggled as the woman walked away. “Yowza.” Shanna sighed.
“Thank God we won’t be here in August.” Mia said, sipping her coffee.
“What is Seth doing?” the redhead pointed.
Mia looked toward her right and saw Seth staring at an old, wooden carved sign on the far wall. He calmly turned around and began to walk toward his friends. He leaned on the counter with a very perplexed look on his face. “Interesting sign, Seth?” Mia asked.
“You know the name of this town?” he asked him.
“Yeah, OP, Alabama.” Shanna said, “I think it’s cute.”
“You know what it’s original name was, according to that sign? It was called Opportunity, Alabama.”
“Really?” Mia said, with a raised eyebrow.
“Why did they change it?” Shanna asked.
“Because they couldn’t spell Opportunity.” Seth scoffed.
“No way. Are you serious?” the Lakota asked.
“Apparently so, “ the young bookstore worker turned to the waitress and cooks, “You people are idiots!”
Mia and Shanna then froze at what their friend just said. The waitress who helped them earlier came over as the cooks were staring at Seth. “What did you just say, boy?” the waitress asked.
“I mean, seriously, this town became OP because you guys couldn’t spell Opportunity?” he coughed, “ Do you morons realize you are fueling every single stereotype about the South? No wonder all movies about the South suck!”
Mia then quickly dropped a ten dollar bill on the counter, grabbed Seth by the wrist and ran for the door. Shanna giggled slightly, waved to them and ran after them. The waitress grunted and took the ten dollar bill which more than paid for the two cups of coffee. She didn’t know much about the Yankee boy but at least the girls he was with where polite.
Seth slowly drove the truck down the suburban street. Kids were playing all around; mixtures of black, white and Mexican. Dogs would occasionally bark from their leashed tags in the middle of yards. Two little girls, one redhead and one blonde were carrying a box that said COOKIES, 50 CENTS. Seth sighed at the serene peacefulness of it. “So this is the South?” he whispered, “It’s not so bad.”
“You still think all of them are idiots, Seth?” Shanna asked.
“Well, show me one and I’ll ask him,” the bookstore worker smiled.
“You know, I half liked you better when you didn’t speak your mind,” Mia giggled.
“Yeah, likewise.” He laughed.
“WHOA!” Mia pointed, “Here is it!”
Seth then stopped the truck. They were about five feet away from a mail box and on the side of the numbers 108, it read WALKER. At the side of the yard, was a grown man playing with two kids and a woman nearby, pregnant. Mia blinked; she never realized Cecil was a grand father. How could he have acted knowing what kind of family he had? “You want us to wait?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, “ she smiled, opening the door, “ I don’t think this will take long.”
Mia closed the door behind her as Shanna and Seth got out of the truck to wait outside of it. The Lakota girl walked over through the sidewalk and over to the front yard. The sound of playful laughter could be heard as she walked closer. She wasn’t sure how she was going to tell this man his father was dead but she made a promise to Cecil and Mia always kept her promises. The woman that was sitting on a nearby stool, watching the children finally noticed her. “Hello.” She said, politely.
“Hello,” Mia smiled back, “James Walker?”
“Jimmy!” the woman called, “There is someone here to see you.”
The man turned around and looked at Mia. The Lakota girl were thrown back for a few seconds, as she saw that this man looked incredibly like a young Cecil. James stopped playing with his kids and walked up to the young woman. “Hello there.” He said, “What can I do for you?”
“I am sorry to bother you, Mr. Walker,” she said, extending her hand, “My name is Mia Riggs. I was wondering, . . .have you heard of the story of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815?”
“Oh, my goodness, I have,” the pregnant woman said, standing up.
“My wife Gloria is a stay home mom,” James smiled, “She’s probably going to know about it more than me. Why? Is this a survey?”
“No, I was just coming to tell you . . well . . .I was on that flight . . . .and . .so was your dad.”
Gloria paused when she heard Mia say those particular words. James’s winced up his cheeks slightly and looked at the ground. He then turned back to Mia. “Cecil . ..was on that flight?” he asked.
“Yes, sir and I regret to say . . .he’s dead.”
“Cecil died in the crash?” Gloria asked.
“Actually, no . . .he died afterward. I had a few weeks to get to know him and he requested I give you this, should he not make it.”
Mia then handed James the wallet. The stout man then took it and opened it up. He immediately saw the picture of him as a baby, posing with his father and mother; a mother he didn’t remember. He smiled briefly, before letting a tear fall down his cheek. “I . . .I promised I wouldn’t cry for that man when he passed,” he slightly chuckled, “ But hear I am crying anyway. Did he . . . .did he tell you this was the only picture of my mother?”
“Yes, he did,” she sighed, “I think that was the reason he wanted you to have it.”
“Well, “ he sighed, wiping his eyes, “At least the old bastard did something good. Mrs. Riggs . . .how did he die? Did he suffer?”
“He was suffering from lung cancer but . . . .in the end . . .he took his own life.”
“Oh, my Goodness.” Gloria gasped.
James then closed both of his eyes, letting the tears flow easily. He covered his eyes shortly, just enough for his kids to see he was weeping. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. “Most people in this situation . . “ he coughed, “Might tell the person that their loved one died a hero or something.”
“Yes, I suppose they would,” Mia sighed.
“Thank you . . .for your honesty.” He said, shaking her hand.
“I hope I haven’t upset you too much,” she smiled slightly, “I know what kind of man your father was but he was respectable enough to request this of me and I wanted to make sure it happened. I wish you all the best. Farewell.”
Mia turned and began to walk back toward her friends. When they saw she was coming back, they proceeded to get into the truck as well. “MRS RIGGS!!” James called to her.
The Lakota girl turned and looked at him. “Yes?” she inquired.
“While he . . .while my father was on that Island with you . .did he do anything good? Anything at all?”
Mia looked at him. When he asked the question, she was reminded of how Cecil wrestled the gun away from Sawyer. He then warned him that he had the chance to turn his life around, before he shot himself. Had he not spared Sawyer, then the redneck never would have been able to help them against the Liberation, and even become fast friends with the majority of the people on the beach. He wouldn’t have had the chance to grow. “Yes, he did do one good thing,” she smiled, “He may have taken his own life . .but before that, he saved someone else’s.”
James then shook his head and proceeded to cry; a silent way of saying thank you. Mia watched him rejoin his wife as she embraced him. Even his kids came over; not knowing what was happening but embracing him nonetheless. The Lakota girl turned around and felt good about their future. Cecil may have been a despicable con man but he had a son who made up for his mistakes by creating a loving family. In the end, it was enough.
Mia got in the truck and Seth drove them away. They had one more stop on their long journey but it would indeed be the last stop.
posted by Jason | 6:10 AM
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