It had now been nearly eight years since the death of Freeman. By then, he was hardly ever spoken of. Not even Carter mentioned his name often. But of course, he did still remember him and honor him.642Please respect copyright.PENANATj7q93uXfT
Carter and Elliott were having lunch together at Mark’s Café. Before Freeman’s death, Carter had not eaten there for several years. But after him, Elliott, and Jenkins all became good friends, the three of them often spent time eating there. Carter could not help but think of all the great times every time he went there.
Carter and Elliott were now both well into their fifties. There personalities and opinions all remained the same. Carter’s personality had not changed ever since he had met Elliott and Freeman for the very first time.
Carter and Elliott both sat down in the same booth that they always sat at. It was the same booth they had sat at as children.
“What’s Jenkins up to today?” Elliott asked.
“He’s packing up,” Carter answered. “He and Mary are traveling to Wisconsin to visit Johnny. They leave tomorrow.”
“That’s a shame,” Elliott said. “What other mechanic in town is good enough to substitute for him while he’s gone?”
Jenkins had reached the ripe age of eighty, but he had not changed at all, either. He still worked as a mechanic (despite his past claim to have retired by then) and was still very helpful to people.
“Johnny’s leaving for Afghanistan next month. I guess this is the only chance they have to see him before he departs.”
“That makes sense.”
Jenkins’ youngest son, Johnny, was still in the marines. He and his fiancé, Amy, married the year after Freeman died. They now had four children.
Carter took a sip from his glass of tea.
“How’s Dennis been?” Elliott asked.
“He’s been fine. He’s actually graduating from the University in a couple of months. Can’t wait to attend the graduation.”
After Dennis graduated from high school, Carter was happy that he could actually afford to pay for him to go to college. Several years earlier, he had never thought he would be able to do so.
“I should go as well,” Elliott said. “I’m part of the family too, aren’t I?”
“Of course,” Carter said.
Carter had always felt that Elliott was another member of his family. Elliott and Freeman had been like brothers to him.
As Carter thought of Freeman, a question came to his mind. He didn’t know why, but he just had to ask Elliott the question.
“Do you remember the old days when the three of us ate here in this very spot?”
Carter wasn’t sure how Elliott would respond to such a sudden question. But Elliott smiled.
“There will be no days like those days,” he said.
Elliott then stood up. He took one last drink from his tea and sat it back down.
“I have to go,” he said. “I’ve got a meeting to attend.”
“Sure,” Carter said. “Sure.”
“I’ll see you later,” Elliott said. And then he walked out of the café.
But as Carter watched Elliott walk out of the door, his vision began to change. He no longer saw the café as it existed at that point, but it suddenly began to dissolve and take the appearance as it had more than forty years ago.
In Carter’s eyes, he saw himself sitting in that same spot in the cafe. Elliott and Freeman were sitting there as well. They were twelve years old.
“You guys want to hear something cool?” Elliott asked.
“Sure,” Carter and Freeman said together.
“Old Murdock is retiring,” Elliott said. “His brother’s taking over the store.”
“No way!” Freeman said.
“You bet. My old man told me everything. Murdock isn’t going to be yelling at us anymore.” 642Please respect copyright.PENANAFAbFfunx8K
“Awesome,” Carter said. “Now I can buy some beef jerky and not get told off because of my smell.”
“It’s too bad that he couldn’t have waited another ten years,” Freeman said. “By then, I’d have enough muscle to go and bash his face in.”
Carter and Elliott laughed.
“You sure dodged a bullet, Murdock,” Carter said.
“A bullet that doesn’t like his face,” Freeman said.
Carter and Elliott laughed again.
Elliott then suddenly stood up.
“I wish I could stay longer, guys,” he said. “But I have to go help my old man mow the lawn.”
“I thought you helped him yesterday,” Freeman said.
“I was helping my mom with vegetable garden yesterday.”
“Jesus Christ, do you ever have any spare time?”
“Did I not just eat with you guys? Plenty of spare time right there.”
“No kidding,” Carter said.
“I really got to go,” Elliott said. “I’ll catch you guys at school tomorrow.”
And then he walked out of the café.
After he was gone, Freeman said: “I don’t know why, but someday, that dude’s going to be mayor of this town.”
ns 172.69.59.43da2