Over the Tracks
Down Near the Woods
Down Near the Woods
A young boy sees the train go by. It rattles the ground and the red twilight sky paints with great artistry. The train seems endless like his youthful life.
It grips his attention as the throttle of the passing cars shakes his whole body. Then it’s completely gone.
The silence of dusk gives the boy peace. But other sounds come to his ear as he follows shouts and loud grunts. He heads across the tracks looking down and finds three men down a hill. One is waving a gun in the other two’s faces screaming.
“Don’t tell me everything’s good! Where’s the money?”
“Easy, let’s not do anything rash,” the tall one pleads.
“Shut up! I’ll fuckin’ do it! I’ll do it!”
“No, you won’t,” the short fat guy says.
“Where is my money?”
“You’ll get it,” says the tall one.
“I won’t ask again.”
“Then you’ll never get it. Give us two days like I asked.”
“Don’t tell me when I’ll get it! I say when-”
Then the tall guy shoots him quickly. The one with the gun is dead. His brains are strewn across the grassy ground.
“Didn’t have to do that, Rick.”
“You got any better ideas? You ain’t go none, so shut your trap! We’ll make sure his boss gets his money. Come on, Jerry. Help me clean this mess.”
But as the two criminals go over to the body to place in the woods, Rick looks up and sees the boy.
The boy is tense not knowing what to do. Scared for his life and safety.
“Hey, buddy, come here,” Rick says calmly.
“Let’s get outta here,” Jerry whispers.
“Just wait.” He puts the gun in the back of his pants. “We’re not gonna hurt you. Come on. You’re too far away from us. It’s easier if you come down here, bud.”
The boy looks away at his house in the far distance. Smoke comes from the chimney as he looks back down at the man.
“Come on, we just had a little disagreement. Friends hurt each other sometimes.”
The boy runs for it crossing the tracks. The two men chase him running up the hill as they gain. Across the tall grassy plain, the boy is fast and runs with all of his strength but Rick grabs him and pulls him close.
“Hey, Look at me! You didn’t see notin’, alright,” he screams in his face. “Tell me you didn’t see us?”
The boy is shocked as Rick shakes him roughly, “Say it! Say, you didn’t see me!”
The boy shivers and starts to cry.
“Say it, goddammit. What you stupid or somethin’?” the boy continues to cry as Rick is livid.
But Jerry pulls his partner off and throws him to the ground pointing his pistol square in his face. “You let that boy go. You hear? You won’t touch him again.”
Jerry puts away the gun as he helps the boy up.
“Go home now. You hear? Go home.” The boy runs like a dog prancing up to his little kennel.
Jerry helps up Rick but he swats his hand away. “Screw you, man. Let’s get this body.”
The boy runs to the house’s front porch. His Dad comes out.
“Where were you bud,” he crouches down as his son hugs him. He wants to be held as his father notices he is distraught. “What’s wrong?” He sees his tear-painted rosy face. “What happened, Luke?”
But Luke loathing that question answers, “I’m not supposed to tell.”
Aaron Michael Thomas - Medium
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