Locomotive to the Past, George Schultz [snow like ashes series txt] 📗

I’m going to take the apartment, on Ohio,” he continued. “For one thing, it’s a step up! Unprecedented . . . for me! I’m scared . . . being honest with you! Scared, as hell! I’ll be, in a strange space! One in which I’ve never been before! If it weren’t for Susie and Eric… the fact of them… I don’t think I’d have moxie enough, to even consider making such a move. Any kind of move… at all!”

“Eric? Susie? The fact of them?”

“Yeah. I’ve been taking advantage… all kinds of advantage… of their generosity! Their kindness! Right from the start!” He caught himself—before saying “git-go”, for the second time. “They… Eric and Susie… have been so good to me! So generous! For all this time! I’ve really been exploiting them… right from the beginning! From the first time… that I ever met them! Either of them! Both of them!”

“Oh, I doubt… that you’re exploiting them! From everything you’ve ever told me… about them… they seem, to love you. To positively love you. Both of them. I don’t believe they think that you’re exploiting them. Far from it!”

“You’re right! You are positively right! But, I feel as though I’m taking all kinds of advantage, of ’em! And… in truth… I am taking all manner of advantage of ’em! And you’ve been right! Been right . . . all along! I’m a big boy now… and it’s about time, that I got off my adolescent fanny! About time I got out… on my own!”

“Well, that part, I approve!”

“Valerie? If you only knew how happy that makes me feel! To hear you say that! To say that you approve!”

“That’s just it! It doesn’t matter . . . whether I approve or not! Shouldn’t matter! Like you say . . . you’re a big boy now! You’re capable… more than capable… of making your own decisions.”

“It matters… to me . . . whether you approve! Matters like hell! Valerie, I love you!”

“Jason! It’s way too soon… for you to be saying that! This may come across as filled… filled to the hilt . . . filled with conceit: But, you may be a little… ah… grateful to me! A little grateful… for merely the few kicks, in the bottom, that I may have applied, to ya, from time to time! More accurately . . . for the many kicks in the bottom, I may have applied, to ya! And not merely… from time to time!”

“No! Every kick… every one of them… I deserved! You are the one… that got me to thinking, in the first place! Thinking . . . in a whole different spectrum! A whole new spectrum! One in which I’ve never dealt before! Ever! Listen, it was you . . . who made me start thinking! Thinking… like a man! Like an adult, for heaven’s sake! Not some sort of namby-pamby… some little… some little kid!”

“Oh… you’d have figured it out, Jason! Sooner or later!”

“I’d like to think that you’re right! That… eventually . . . I’d have grown up! But, part of me… a goodly part of me… has great doubt! I was going along… singing a song… throughout my entire life! Throughout my entire life! And along comes ol’ Valerie . . . dear, sweet, lovable, Valerie… and kicks me, in the soggy old butt! ‘Grow up’, she says! ‘Start thinking,’ she says. ‘Start thinking… like some kind of adult! Become a man, for God’s sakes’!”

“Oh, Jason! It wasn’t like that. Not at all. Well, maybe a little bit… a touch, like that. But, let me tell you: There were times . . . lots of times… when I should’ve just kept my big mouth shut!”

“Not so! Without you, I don’t think I’d ever have grown up! I’d have gone on… for one thing… exploiting Susie and Eric! And that’s why… one of the reasons, anyway… why I love you! I do! I really do!”

“Come on, Jason. I recognize the fact that you may be a little grateful… a little grateful… for the never-ending kicks, in the bottom! I don’t feel as though you should be all that appreciative! But, that’s a subject for another discussion! I do think that you’re, perhaps, mistaking gratefulness . . . for love!”

“Naw! The kicks, in the fanny, aren’t even the half of it! Not nearly half of it! I enjoy being with you… for one thing! Enjoy the hell out of it! You’re a beautiful woman, for one thing! Plus… you’ve got a good-looking fanny!”

“I didn’t think you were paying that much attention to my fanny!”

“You told me… that first night… that your fanny was off limits! Remember? We were standing… there on your front porch… and you told me, that your bottom, and your bust-line, were both verboten!”

“My breasts still are! For the present time, anyway! My behind? Well, you could’ve made an arbitrary decision! But, see? I shouldn’t have to be telling you this! No woman wants to say… to any man . . . what’s available! And what isn’t! Especially… when it comes to fannies, and breasts!”

“Now I’m back to being a little boy! We’re talking about an area… one where I’m completely out of my element! I really am!”

“I don’t think it’s a question of your being out of your element! Given your history . . . or what I imagine is your history… you’re just in uncharted waters! And, despite what you may be thinking… due to my recent comment, about ‘availability’ . . . my waters aren’t nearly as ‘charted’! Not as ‘charted’ . . . as I may have led you to believe!”

He blushed! Not as flagrantly—as had been his recent history! But, the pinkish glow was still there! Still noticeable. Still apparent to his newly-minted “girlfriend”! The latter was smiling—approvingly!

“So,” she broke the obviously-uncomfortable (to him) silence, “you’re gonna take that apartment . . . on Ohio! What other forks-in-the-road are you going to be dealing with?”

The first period, of the now-incidental hockey game had just ended—with the Red Wings leading two-to-nothing! But, the preoccupied occupants, of two of the seats—in the second row, of the balcony—were completely oblivious, of the game’s score!

“Well,” he answered. “I’m going to go with Eric! Going to go… with building, that huge housing project… on Joy Road and Southfield. If I’m living on Ohio,