The Attic

Day in and day out I see the best and worst of mankind. I often wonder why such a position as mine was ever created and then I realize it was out of sheer necessity. No human could withstand this much pain and the disappointment from within the world. I am not suggesting the higher power is incapable; but I am saying the human race was given free will and that’s where a lot of sadness and evil comes from, from humans. It’s what you as a human being would call sad, pathetic, and even tragic at times. Me, I call it today’s assignment. Sometimes I think of myself as the janitor, the clean up man if you will.

Nicolas will ride his bicycle to school just as he has for the last four or five years, only today will be slightly different. But this morning, for now, Nicolas will ride his bike to school with the wind blowing through his dark brown curly hair.

Sally hasn’t been to school in a few days. She’s in the third grade at Nicolas’ school. They were passing friends though they had never spoken to each other. A smile here and there, a giggle and smirk but from what I read was all they’d shared until today.

Traffic was busy from people getting to work or wherever they were going. Kids lined the streets walking on the sidewalks under the overhanging tree limbs and some in groups riding their bikes next to the curb single file, in and out of the driveways into the face of the sun. Sally’s red long hair tied back with a ribbon bounced as she walked and Nicolas, pumped his peddles rode without touching the handlebars. They saw each other every morning so Nicolas thought that perhaps they were away on vacation. After all, how many reasons could there be he thought…he was only ten.

Rudy’s convenience store was about half a block from Meadowbrook Elementary school and it would be my first call of the day. Sometimes I feel like just a witness to things or a private escort to see they get to where they need to go. Today was no exception except for one.

I entered the door at the side and stood in the corner and waited. A short stocky man with grey hair stood by the counter. That would be Rudy. A hard working man with a family of five who will be missed at the end of the day. He busied himself re-stocking shelves and checking off the supplies delivered by the milk truck.

The bell on the front door dinged and Rudy looked up from behind the counter. There stood two men with ski masks.

“Give it to me Rudy. Give it up,” one of them spoke. Rudy just stood there looking at the boy like he knew who he was.

“I give you nothing but shame. I’ll tell your family what a coward you really are. Too lazy to get a job,” then Rudy spit in the boys face and it went directly in his eyes, and then it happened.

 The shot gun went off, first one barrel and then the other. Rudy’s body was blown up and into the wall behind him then fell sliding to the floor.

“What’d you do fool?” The boy turned in disbelief to his friend.

“What you should a done! He made you man,” he continued as he reached over the counter and opened the register. ”He would of told and got us both busted. He leaned over to feel Rudy’s pulse. “Yeah, he ain’t tellin’ nobody nuthin’; he’s dead man. Let’s get out of here.” He grabbed the boy’s arm and headed for the side door. As they passed through me, they fell to the ground.

“Hey, watch it! What’d you do that for?” The tall one yelled.

“Do what? You pushed me ass hole. I didn’t touch you.” The boy responded.

They picked themselves up and stood there for a moment, looked around then they left out the door. They couldn’t see me but they knew something was there.

I walked over to Rudy and inhaled his essence to come stand next to me. He was a mess. It would definitely be what you call a…closed casket ceremony. I explained to him who I was and why I was here while he broke down and sobbed for his family. We stayed with the body until the police came then Rudy went with me to my next appointment.

It was about 11:30 am so I thought we might hang out at the local McDonalds as there was someone there now that we would meet up with later in the day. Now was not the time to take her. I would have to wait.

We sat out by the playground. Rudy went in and out of sobbing. Some are like this when they first leave their world but usually adjust within a few hours. While he cried I sat reading the dossier of my next appointment.

Not far from the playground Nicolas stood talking to a teacher who was purchasing their lunch then headed back to a blue Ford Tarus. A woman screamed from the playground and everyone went running. Nicolas got in the car and they drove away.

“Help me, help me. My baby is gone,” she cried. She was watching her son on the jungle gym and someone took her infant out of the stroller. “Somebody, help me, please!” Her screams could probably be heard for blocks away.

There was quite the crowd. The manager instinctively locked everyone in the playground until the police arrived. Rudy and I went on down the road to the park to sit under the shade trees until time for my next appointment. We lay back looking skyward, sunlight filtering through the trees just enjoying the moment. I wished I would smell the air. Not far from there a worker was mowing the grass. I’ve heard that smells wonderful unless you have…allergies, whatever that is.

“Who are you? I mean what do I call you, Death?” Rudy asked after hours of silence. He lay in a half fetal position turned to one side looking at me.

I turned my head slightly, “Well, you can call me Dillon, Dillon Death. That’s my name today. I like to change my first name around, since I don’t really have one; I make them up as I go along. I am back in the D’s now.” I turned my head back to the sky and closed my eyes.

“I guess I am dead, huh? Like you?”

I turned my head towards him once more. “Yep, you’re dead but not like me. I’m death, not dead. I know it’s confusing. I’ve heard it for many, many years.” There was a peculiar sound not far away, then a man ran off into the street right into on coming traffic. His body must have flown about twenty feet into the air before it landed in the intersection. So far this day sucked.

Rudy and I went over to the collision and the guy just laid there but he wasn’t dead. Blood everywhere and on everything but he would in fact survive. It was amazing even for me. My receptor watch beeped and I was directed to go over by the trees. It was a very bushy area and there she was, the baby, listless and perfectly still. Perfect in every way except without life. Her baby blonde hair curled to her head. Her little neck limp and her little fingers stretched out, reaching. I bent over and drew her close to my chest as Rudy watched on. The look on Rudy’s face was that of entire disbelief then he turned his face away from us.

I cradled her like I would imagine someone would hold their own. I’ve seen it done a million times when they feel I am near. She opened her eyes and I knew she was mine now. The young ones don’t struggle like the older ones do, the adults, they always want to hang on. She was a beautiful specimen of humanity.

So, we waited for the police again before we headed out to Charlie’s Gas & Treats.

“Dillon, may I ask why you have such a sad job?

I thought for a moment then answered, “Why is it so sad to you Rudy? People in pain, mostly going to a better place. Why is that sad to you?’

“I just can’t imagine what you must see every day…the sorrow,” then he made the sign of the cross and bowed his head.

“Perhaps that is why I wasn’t given the feelings of man to be of more help. Perhaps…so that my heart, if I had one, would not break from the sadness. I do not know. It is not for me to question now is it?” I said.

“Perhaps, you are right. Are you Catholic?” He questioned.

“No, I am Death. We need to go to Charlie’s now.”

Carrying the baby, I started across the park and Rudy followed. “I know him. He goes to my Church. Is he going to die too?”

“Come on Rudy, it’s time.” The baby seemed mesmerized by Rudy since he had no face. It amazed me she wasn’t afraid. She just stared at him every time he spoke.

Every afternoon when school got out for the day the kids made a point to stop off at Charlie’s for a pop. Nicolas’ were almost always free. The machine that set outside the front door was goofy and the kids knew it. When Charlie figured out it was broken he left it that way for the kids. Not all of them could afford a drink so when they got a free one most of them would share. He seemed to be a good man about seventy years old and lived with his son. His wife Betty passed a few years ago. It was a shame though his helper wasn’t, a young man drifted in from somewhere needing work or so he said.

Nicolas was alone today when he pulled into the station and Charlie was out on a service call. Ed, a rather disarming character was Charlie’s helper was minding the station. Ed was always looking around like he was expecting something to happen. He had a nervous tick and his hair was greasy and in disarray. He didn’t seem to have any hygiene ritual. His nails were always filthy and missing teeth when he laughed. He never just smiled.

Nicolas tried the pop machine but unknowingly for Nicolas, someone had unplugged it. The front door was open so he stood there for a moment then decided to knock on the open door. No one answered.

He was about to knock again when Ed appeared staring at Nicolas through his dark, almost black eyes. Ed took off his glasses when he spoke to the children. They had tape on the nose piece where he had dropped them a month ago.

“Hey, what can I do for you little man?”

“Ah well the machine’s broke again and I was wondering if Mr. Charlie had any cold pops in the cooler where he keeps the extras,” Nicolas asked shyly.

“Gee I don’t know. I’ll take a look. Wanna come with me and pick out the one you want?” Ed tried to entice Nicolas

Nicolas stood there deciding what he was going to do. “When’s Mr. Charlie coming back?” Nicolas questioned. Something didn’t seem right.

“Why you afraid of me or something?” The Ed make squawking chicken sounds and started flapping his arms like they were wings.

Nicolas got red faced and embarrassed. “No, I’m not afraid of nothin’, besides I’m thirsty.” Nicolas looked back out to the street to see if any kids were in sight but there wasn’t. For the moment he was alone with Ed.

“Okay now, you go look for your drink and I’ll be right back.” He pointed the direction of the back room and Ed went out front. Nicolas had parked his bike by the big bay garage door, leaning up against the wall. Ed raised the bay door and backed the other service truck out into the parking area and in doing so bumped Nicolas’ bike. The bike fell over and in doing so, Ed ran over the bike, he smiled, pulled the truck back in, closed the garage bay door and locked it.

Nicolas was coming out of the storeroom when Ed appeared in the doorway. At first he was startled and Ed was taken back that Nicolas had left the storeroom.

“You leaving already?’ Ed asked blocking the doorway with his arm stretched across it.

“Yeah, here’s my quarter. Give it to Mr. Charlie please, I gotta get home. I’m gonna be late and I’ll get in trouble.” Nicolas flipped Ed the quarter and ducked under his arm and scooted towards the front door.

“Hey, what’s the hurry? I’ll see you later, you hear?” Ed hollered out.

Nicolas ran over to his bike and then saw it had been run over. He’d have to walk it home. He looked back at Ed standing by the pumps now and wondered how he did it. He just knew this was Ed’s work. He gave him the creeps the way he looked at him and some of the other kids. Nicolas headed home.

It was about 4pm now and Nicolas had a good head start on us walking his bike home but we could see him in the distance on the side of the road. The blue Tarus drove past us and turned up ahead. Rudy just looked around like it was the first time he’d ever actually looked at the street he traveled every day and the baby just babbled from time to time but seemed content.

About 4:35pm Rudy noticed the street was clear in front of us. There were trees and deep woods ahead but no sight of Nicolas. About a hundred yards up the road we came up on Nicolas’ bike all tangled and gnarled on the side of the road. Rudy looked around searching for Nicolas but saw him nowhere around. Just a service truck off to the right near the trees...

“This way Rudy unless you and the baby would like to wait here. I’ll be right back.” I pointed off into the woods in the direction I was going. Rudy looked forlorn.

“I’ll wait here if that’s okay.” Rudy looked out at the woods and a shiver went down his spine. “I’ll wait here.”

As I approached the edge of the woods, Ed ran past me and stopped, looked directly at me and stuck his face up against mine. He could see me. He could smell me. He knew I was there. He was pure evil and we both knew it. I turned my head and brushed his cheek with mine then my eyes rolled back into my head, my jaw opened and I inhaled as deeply as I could, watching his features distort in the realm of the edge of imploding and held him there while I walked towards Nicolas.

There was a human stench too strong for a current kill. Nicolas was gone but there was another soul lingering nearby. Then I felt it, more than one, more than two or three. I looked back and Ed was still wide eyed, breathless and hanging in mid air as I proceeded further into the woods.

About fifty yards into the brush was the body of a young girl named Sally, Nicolas’ friend and several others. I was amazed that this new territory had so many unaccounted for souls lying around to be redeemed. We gathered together and went to Nicolas who was just stepping up when we got back to him. All in all there were about seven of them to embark on a journey for home.

Before we approached Ed, I covered the children with my cloak and then turned to Ed. I blew such a force of heat from my nostrils in his face that he imploded and burst into ashes, creating little hot spots in the woods; baby fires if you will. A sense of cleansing, a renewal for the woods and the sadness it held.

When we exited the woods Rudy and the baby were still waiting. Rudy’s eyes swelled with tears looking down the road leaving town. As far as you could see there were lost children of all ages, shapes, and sizes lining the roadsides, waiting to be found. Rudy had no idea how many were lost over time to the woods. We gathered ourselves close together as we collected more and more of the lost and forgotten as we walked down the country road, finally headed for home.