2121 words (8 minute read)

Chapter 3

Standing outside the Triple Crown Diner Diegert braced against the cold. His Mother’s shift ended at 11:00pm but the single digit temperatures made each minute as long as the icicles hanging from the gutters. Diegert was too excited to wait at home for her and he would rather tell her without his father and brother around. When her five foot eleven inch frame stepped out the diner door David approached while she wrapped her scarf around her neck and pulled a wool hat over her lustrous black hair.

“Hey Mom.”

“David, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to surprise you and walk you home.”

“Alright. I just never expected to see you here.”

“That’s why it’s called a surprise.”

They started to walk down the road.

“How was your shift tonight?”

“Same as always. Everyone talking about how cold it is but they all want ice cream on their pie. I never expected to find you waiting out here for me.”

“I’ve got something to tell you Mom.”

“Something good I hope.”

“I think it is. I’m going to join the Army.”

Denise Diegert looked straight ahead making no reply as she continued striding forward.

“Well, what do you think?”

“I can see why you’d think it’s a good choice, but I hate the thought of you going to war.”

“Just cause I’m joining the Army doesn’t mean I’m going to war.”

“We are at war all over the world. If you’re in the Army you’re going to war.”

“Oh come on Mom.”

They turned the corner onto the dirt road on which they lived.

“I’ve got nothing to keep me here and no chance for a good job. The Army is going to pay me 40 thousand dollars.”

“I know there isn’t much for you here, but I’ll worry about you.”

“There’s just as much for you to worry about if I stay here. I’m going to call the recruiter tomorrow and commit. Then I’ll be shipped out to Georgia for training in two days.”

“Two days?”

“It’s coincidence. A training class begins next week. It’s OK I’m ready to go.”

David stopped walking and held his Mother’s mitten covered hands.

“I’ll worry about you, Mom.”

She sniffed back tears turning her head away.

“I’ll worry about leaving you with Jake and Dad.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she said as she released one hand and held on to the other as they resumed walking. “I have a wife’s way of handling him and even though he and your brother are criminals, I’m not worried about them.”

“They’re both pathetic jerks who don’t deserve to have you in their lives.”

“I love our home David. I’ve put so much work into it and it is the only home I’ve ever really known. When they’re not around it is such a lovely place for me to be. ”

“Yeah, thinking back on what it was and how much you’ve done to it, I can see why you love it. It’s just too bad those two idiots live there too.”

As they approached the small two story house with its snow covered roof Denise said, “This house is where my heart lives.”

Standing outside between the snowbanks of the driveway David said, “I’m not saying anything to either of them. Please don’t tell them about the Army, but will you take me to the bus station when I leave?”

Looking at him with her dark irises bathed in liquid emotion she hugged him tightly saying, “Of course David, besides I have a doctor’s appointment in Bemidji on Thursday so I’m going anyway. Your secret’s safe with me but I’m afraid my heartache may betray me.”

“I trust you Mom and I love only you. What’s with the doctor?”

“Oh just some routine women’s health checks, nothing to worry about.”

David let her go and walked back to the barn as she opened the door and stepped into the kitchen.

The next morning Diegert got very excited when he heard the other end of the line ringing.

“Major Carl Winston speaking.”

“Major Winston? It’s David Diegert.”

“Well hello son, I’m glad to hear back from you. Did you have a talk with your folks?”

“Yes sir.”

“And they’re OK with your decision?”

“Yes sir they are.”

After a brief pause the Major said, “Ok then I will process your application and I’ll have a bus ticket waiting for you at the Bemidji station to take you to Fort Benning day after tomorrow.”

“Excellent sir. Thank you and I’m very much looking forward to getting started.”

“Very well David. Congratulations and I look forward to hearing about your successful career in the U.S. Army.”

“Thank you sir, thank you for giving me this chance.”

“You’re very welcome, but it’s your country that’ll be thanking you for the gift of your service.”

After he hung up, Diegert thought about the gift of his service. He would be serving his country and for the first time he actually considered how he would be helping others, not just doing things for himself. He felt a flash of pride and a smile rose from his lips as he thought of himself as a patriot.

On the morning of his departure Diegert had the car warming up as he waited in the driveway for his Mother. When the kitchen door opened his Father stepped out into the zero degree weather wearing dirty sweatpants, a gray T-shirt and fuzz lined moccasins. His eyes squinted as he descended the steps and moved toward the car. He rotated his fist and arm and David pressed the button to lower the window.

“What the fuck you doin’ in the car?”

“I’m taking Mom to a doctor’s appointment in Bemidji.”

“Get the fuck out. I never said she could use the car.”

“Look Dad, I’m taking her. She asked me to and that’s all there is to it.”

“Fuckin’ bullshit. You can’t just use the car.”

“Dad you’re gonna freeze out here.”

“Fuck you. You sound like your Mother, like a scared little bitch.”

Denise Diegert stepped out of the house and was intercepted by Tom as she attempted to cross the driveway to the car.

David stepped out of the car and stood by the driver’s door.

With his hand squeezing her arm Tom said, “I didn’t hear anything about a doctor’s appointment. What’s wrong? Why are you going to the doctor?”

Standing with stoic resolve without struggling against Tom’s grasp Denise spoke calmly, “I have to see the gynecologist. It’s very typical for women to have examinations from time to time and I would appreciate it if you would let me go.”

“Fuck that you’re not going anywhere. We don’t have health insurance to pay for this and unless you’re really sick you’re not going.”

David grew angry listening to his Father’s foolishness. He crossed the driveway, grabbed his Father’s hand and pulled it off his Mother’s arm. Tom Diegert swung striking David in the jaw with a solid right. David’s head snapped and he stumbled back against the car. Tom took a fighter’s stance while his self-confidence evaporated since he had just picked a fight with the 180 pound State Wrestling Champ of Minnesota. In spite of his misgivings his bravado ruled the moment. “Come on you pussy, let’s see what you’re made of.”

David stepped away from the car and toward his pathetic opponent. With lightning skill David shot low, going to one knee, wrapping up his Father’s legs and putting him on his back in 2 seconds. He flipped his Dad’s legs holding them perpendicular to the ground so that Tom was stuck on his back like a turtle. With an arm lock, David retained control of both legs which allowed him to see the fear and the fury in his Father’s eyes.

“Let him go.”

The command came from Jake. Turning, David looked right into the barrel of a Ruger SR-22 pistol.

“Let him go and stand up.”

David complied, letting the turtle’s legs fall in the snow. He stood up with his hands in the air.

“Dad are you OK?” belched Jake.

Tom Diegert had to roll over onto his stomach, struggle to his hands and knees and pull on Jake’s outstretched arm in order to stand up.

Jake was so pissed he started shouting at David while pointing the pistol. “You fucking bitch, you little fucking bastard how dare you treat him like that? You are such a prick. I can’t believe you have the balls to treat Dad like shit.”

Jake’s movements were as unhinged as his words and he was handling the gun as if it were a toy. He stepped closer and closer continually waving the gun in David’s direction. Backed up against the car, David struck his brother’s arm and pushed him hard in the chest. As Jake awkwardly fell back a shot rang out from the Ruger. The unaimed bullet went wild striking Tom Diegert in the left hip.

Tom fell to the ground, shocked by the pain and the sight of his own blood. Jake stared with horror at the blood splatters in the snow. He looked at the gun in his hand with utter disbelief. Getting up, he shouted at David. “You goddamn, fucking idiot! Look what you’ve done. You fucking shot Dad.”

“You’re holding the gun, genius.”

Jake swung his arm into full extension pointing the gun at David’s head. “Die fucker.”

Denise Diegert stepped in front of the gun putting herself between Jake and David. “Stop it Jake,” turning to David she directed him, “Get in the car.” David stepped around to the driver’s door. Denise lowered Jake’s arm, calmly looking him in the eye, “You need to help your Father. Take him to the fire house and have one of his buddies patch him up. I’m leaving with David and I’ll be back in 2 hours. You need to act now.”

Nodding his head, Jake turned to his Father who was groaning on the driveway clutching his bleeding hip. In spite of his condition he shouted out at David, “You fucking son of a bitch. You’re the son of that bitch!” he said pointing at Denise, as she opened the car door and climbed in. Tom continued to shout at David, “You fucking shot me you shithead.”

David, looking over the roof of the car, shook his head at the stupidity of the two idiots as they struggled to get up and make their way into the house. He opened the car door, got in and backed the car out of the driveway.

Next Chapter: Chapter 4