Pal

Pal

happyhugo

copyright(c) 5/8/09

Romance

16,450 Words 

Readers score  6.73

Two men leave university. One hopes
to never see the other again. But will he?
Doesn't matter for he finds love.

University, you know the place where you go to learn how to face the rest of your life. There is a lot going on there in the four years you attend. Wine, women and song. You make relationships and yes, break some. You try out this and that, find friends and lose them. This is the story about how I should have lost one but didn’t for way too long anyway. I hung on until it got so bad that he wasn’t my friend anymore--but that was his fault, not mine.

Pal (Paladin) Stevens was my roomie for the first year and each one thereafter. He was everything I wasn’t. Good looking, gregarious, made friends easily and made everyone think you were doing yourself a favor by being associated with him. I felt that way. I was the opposite of him. I was small, dark and a loner. Tongue-tied around women, I have to mention that. He played on my weaknesses, I know that now. I did have more money than he did and I think I had more brains. He never applied himself in his studies and never seemed to worry about where his next dollar was coming from. But he was smart enough to use my brain to pass the courses and when he needed a dollar, it usually came out of my pocket.

You wonder why I let him do this? I don’t know. When we went to a party on my dime, he always picked out the best looking girl for his own, but he made sure I had a woman by my side shortly after we reached the festivities. So some of them were skags, but often those that were, I enjoyed being with and sometimes we became friends. After awhile it became a joke around campus. Pal was taking advantage of me, but I laughed it off. I was making good solid friends. His? He claimed to have a million of them, but none seemed to stick with him too long. He was just “good old fun to be around” Pal.

Sheepskin time, he asked me what I was going to do. “I have a position in a large construction firm as a site engineer. Bridges and buildings mostly. I get the site ready and then the construction crews come in and I turn it over to a different engineer. What about you?”

“I’m going to find me the richest girl I can and have some fun with my life. If you need a good word from me, just say so. I’ve made a million connections in the last four years. It should pay off now.”

“That’s alright. I think I’m set. No, I’ll make my own way. We’ve been associated for four years, but this is the end of it. So I’ll see you around. Good luck finding that rich pigeon.”

****************

I was severely challenged when I arrived at my new employers. The old man believed in new hires getting their feet wet immediately. I was given a site to prepare for a seven-story parking garage on the edge of a small sized city where the company was located. I was nervous but had to act confident. I was authorized to do thirty foot test-borings to find out what we would need for the foundation. When we reached that level we had not found any kind of solid footing.

It was early Friday afternoon and the drill rig was pulling out on Saturday. I had the authority to stop drilling, but not to continue beyond that depth. No way was I going to okay a building based on the test-borings that were coming up. We were in the last hole. “Keep going. You have time for another fifteen feet.”

“Okay, but we had better get paid when we send in the invoice for the extra footage.”

“It’s on me. Don’t worry about it.”

Three feet later, a level of sand and mud showed. I was standing right there. The drill chief looked at me. I gave the signal to keep going. He shrugged. The drill went down through eleven feet of the same stuff and at forty-four feet the bit started in on solid granite. The crew chief said to me, “That was shit-ass luck. You get the okay for overtime and we’ll map the rest of the site.”

I tried the company headquarters and found everyone had left for the day. I had never met the owner, although his private phone was listed on the call sheet. With trepidation, I rang. “Mr. Burdock, this is Tim Schwan. I’m the site engineer on the garage project here in Halleckville. I need an okay for some overtime for the drilling crew who are doing the test bores. I hit crap at thirty-three feet and there is eleven feet of it. I need authorization for the drillers to go back into three holes for a more accurate picture of what is down there. We came to granite at forty-four and I want to find out if it holds true for the corners.”

“I thought the specs called for a thirty-foot bore. What are you doing below that?”

I didn’t answer that at first. I got brave. “I’m not putting a building on eleven feet of mud. Look, those three holes are at thirty feet already. It will mean only six hours to reset and finish those holes down to forty-five, and then we’ll know for sure.”

There was silence. I had exceeded my authority, but if this company was responsible and was one I wanted to work for, I was going to get the okay--or walk--or be fired.

“Go ahead. You’ve got my okay. I do want to see you in my office on Monday morning. Bring your report and an explanation of why you went beyond specifications.” He hung up.

I dozed in the company pickup until the drilling rig was buttoning up. The drilling chief came over. “You are one lucky son-of-a-bitch. Just imagine what would have happened if you had stopped at thirty feet and put a garage on what would have turned out to be a virtual sink-hole. What made you give the order for us to go down further? How long have you been at this? You look pretty young.”

“This is my first job. I don’t know why I had you go down further at first. Just a feeling I guess. Now I think about it though, I looked around before it got dark. This is a level valley about five miles across. We have ridges on both sides of the valley. It stands to reason that eons ago the topographical picture was much different than it is now. There had to be bedrock down there. I needed to see if I could find it and this is going to be a big building.”

“Damn good call. If your boss gives you any trouble, have him call me. He may anyway when he gets the bill.” He laughed and swung aboard as his rig went by.

I knew that I was going to have to answer a lot of questions and that most likely this project might even be stopped because of the extra costs for the foundation. I hoped in a way I would be involved when the job was estimated. I had a few ideas that might even cut the cost below what the original projections were.

I didn’t sleep much that night. I was worried about facing the big boss on Monday. I was walking around the lot after a late breakfast. An old beat-up Chevy wagon came dusting onto the site. I could see a man of about fifty driving and a young woman sitting in the passenger’s seat. The man got out and walked over to the nearest hole. He looked at the dirt and the mud and finally, the eighteen-inch core of granite lying beside it. He ignored me. The Chevy was only a few steps away. I went over to the passenger. “Hi, I’m Tim Schwan. Is that Mister Burdock?” She nodded, but didn’t say anything. I stood there until I was uncomfortable with the silence. I walked over to Mr. Burdock.

He acknowledged me with a glance. “I’m Tim Schwan. I talked to you last evening.”

“Yes, I remember. In a way this is a setback for us. I didn’t anticipate the job being held up. It’s going to be more costly to build and the city may trash the project because of it.” He looked as if it was my fault.

“It wouldn’t have to be. Your design engineers would know that.”

“If you’ve got some thoughts on the subject, what would they be? How would you build it knowing the situation here?”

“I’d double the pins in the bedrock to set the foundation on. They will be shorter than if they went to thirty feet as originally planned. Excavate and put two of the seven levels below ground not too far above the mud. The mud in a way is a disadvantage for it is unstable, but then it would act as a buffer and absorb the vibrations coming from the stories above it. This will give a longer life to the building. The ventilation system will have to be well-designed, but that is just some equipment. Selling points would be a lower profile against the skyline and that should please those who oppose an ugly square building. Also this is tornado alley. There would be no safer place for people to go if the warning was long enough.”

“I can see you have thought some about it. All of this since yesterday afternoon?”

“Well, I admit I didn’t sleep much last night. I did exceed what the specs called for. I’m not sorry that I did, but I’d hate to be terminated for it.”

“I guess I can overlook it this time. You did ask for authorization when you discovered the problem. I will see you Monday morning at ten. Have a good day.”

***************

I was new in town and lonely in a single rented room. That evening I dropped into a little country bar and dance hall for a beer. I nursed the first one for an hour and had just ordered a second when a group of five girls came in. The place started jumping then. The band started with several two-steps and then played a waltz. I had my eye on one of the women. Pal wasn’t around and I was going for something first-rate for myself now. I asked the prettiest one of the girls to dance and she came into my arms, saying her name was Pam. Her perfume was somewhat hidden by some of her previous exertions on the dance floor, but it was a scent I would never forget.

Before the set was over, I asked her for a date the following Friday night. She said she already had one, but if I would like to pick her up on Saturday, we might go dancing again. She scribbled her address on a napkin. I asked for her name, giving her mine and where I was working. “Just come to the door and ask for Pam. I’ll be waiting.” I danced some sets with her friends and then they all got up to leave. As she went out she passed near me and thanked me for dancing with her. I left shortly afterward as the club was dull again.

Sunday, I sat in my room and put my thoughts about the garage down on paper, ready for the meeting with the boss tomorrow morning. When I reached the company headquarters, I sat in my cubicle and drafted a diagram to go with the report I was typing up. I took it to the copier and made a couple of copies. My immediate supervisor, Corning, came by my desk and asked how things went at the site on Friday. I handed him my report and he read it as he stood leaning against my desk.

“Good clear report. I understand the old man wants to see you about it. I’ll go up with you. You kind of overstepped a little, but he probably will forgive you this time.” I didn’t tell him I had seen Mr. Burdock on Saturday. Corning left, saying he would return. I got busy drafting on paper what I thought in my own mind the design engineers could do to revise the plans. I had time to make a couple copies of these to put in my folder before Corning was waiting on me.

The conference room seemed full of people when Corning and I entered. Immediately as we closed the door, Mr. Burdock started speaking. “Gentlemen, we have a problem with the proposed parking garage. The drilling shows that we will have to go down further to find a solid base for it. We are going to have to revise our estimates considerably before we present the plans to the city. Tim, do you have your report of what you found?”

“Yes. I didn’t realize I would need more than two copies. Do you have an overhead available?” It took a few minutes for the staff to set it up. While that was taking place I was introduced to the design engineers and the staff that would be doing the estimates and would be writing up the proposals to take to the city. Everyone studied my diagram intently when I flashed it on the overhead.

“Tim, did you suspect that there would be a problem in finding a solid base for the foundation?”

“Not really, it had to be down there somewhere. What I was finding at the level the specs called for wouldn’t support the size and weight of the building the city was asking for. I gave the go ahead for the drill to go down in the last hole and find bedrock. When they hit a strata of sand and clay, I knew something solid had to be near. It was actually deeper then I surmised, but if the city gives us the go ahead, we will know where we need to start from.”

“That’s fine Tim. Explain why that strata of mud is where it is if you can?”

“I wouldn’t know really, but it may have been as recent as the flood spoken of in the Bible about Noah and the ark. I doubt it though, as with thirty feet of subsoil above it, it has to be longer ago than that. I believe it covered a worn-down riverbed. Whether there is a shallower section or not couldn’t be determined without more mapping. Maybe at the foot of the mountain slopes.”

“I think you have read it correctly. Now men, we are faced with how to proceed.” Mr. Burdock asked for suggestions. I think he knew his men very well. When no one came up with the same idea that I had when we talked on Saturday, he turned to me. “Tim, do you have any ideas?”

I put forth my suggestions and backed them up with reasons why the cost wouldn’t be any more and why the building would be as strong and more esthetic. “I admit, I’m not a construction engineer and I’m just out of school, but the theory has been put forth recently that under certain conditions it is cheaper to go down than up. This situation seems to meet that criteria.” I sat down.

“Okay, that seems to be sensible enough and worth exploring. I don’t expect you would have at hand any idea of what the sub foundation would be like?” I walked over and put my diagram on the overhead and answered questions as they flew at me. One more question from Mr. Burdock when I finished. “I suppose you’d like to have the building of this project?”

“God no! That’s not in my area of expertise. I’d have no idea how to go about it. I can try to figure out what to site a building on, but the building project itself, I’m lost.”

“Well, thank you Tim. Your suggestions will be looked at. That concludes today’s meeting. Thank you all.”

I was rung out as Corning and I went down in the elevator. “Tim, you did very well. I’m glad you are working in my section. We probably won’t hear anymore about this project until we see something in the paper about what the city decides to do. Billing will have some questions about the cost overrun on the drilling. When they do, just refer them to me.”

Thursday I was sent out of town on a project where I wouldn’t be able to return for my date with Pam on Saturday. I didn’t have time to go to the address and I didn’t have a phone number. “Corning, I have a problem that I need your help with. I met a woman last Saturday and made a date for this weekend. Would you deliver a note to this address making my excuses? All I know about her is that her first name is Pam and she is quite beautiful. You might wait for an answer to a couple of questions I put in the note.”

Corning looked at the address and smiled. Then he said, “Why don’t I just have her call you here when you return on Wednesday? I’m sure she will if she is interested.”

“Okay, thanks.” This was a taste of what my life was going to be like in the future. When I married, if I ever did, it looked as if I would be away on many occasions.

Wednesday, when I returned, Corning handed me a note from Pam saying she was sorry I missed the date with her. She had reserved this Saturday evening to make up for it and would see me at seven. There was still no last name or phone number. All Corning would say was that he was impressed with my choice of women to date.

I found the city street directory and could see that the address was in a nice section of the city. That seemed right to me for the girls I had seen at the dance appeared to be of some class, although a tad wild. I was busy both Thursday and Friday with reports to write and file. Saturday I could relax and think about my upcoming date. Dinner and dancing. I didn’t want to appear overdressed so I wore much the same as Pam had seen me in the first time. I did wear a coat in case the place we chose to dine called for one.

One of Pam’s friends that I had danced with opened the door and asked me in. I was informed that Pam was just finishing putting on her face. “There are three of us who live here. We haven’t been here long. In fact this is the first time one of us has had a date since we all moved from our parents’ houses.” It was a little awkward and the girl, Shelly, ran out of conversation.

I was never that great at repartee with women and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. “Hey Burdock, your date is waiting. Get a move on or I will take him out myself.” Shelly smiled at me.

Startled I asked, “Is her name Burdock? Her father isn’t Hamilton Burdock is it?”

From across the room. “Yes it is. He is my father.”

“Oh, crap. He isn’t going to like me going out with you. I work for him.”

“I know you do. That is why I haven’t given you my last name. I thought you wouldn’t ask me out if you knew. You have to remember that you aren’t dating my father. If you can forget that, we will have fun. Come on, where are we going?”

“I have reservations at the Nightlite for dinner. You know the city better than I do, so you get the chance to pick where we end up dancing. Would that be agreeable?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Over dinner we talked about our lives. Pam was a year younger than me. We had both been to university. Pam would be teaching grade six at the local school in the fall. We laughed at some of the experiences we both had and even some of the foolish things we had done. I even mentioned Pal Stevens, my roommate of four years.

“Do you miss him?”

I thought a minute before I answered. “Not really. I was always in his shadow. He seemed to twist things around so I did everything he wanted me to. I admit life was full of fun being around him, but now that I look back on it, I don’t think I like him very much. Too much difference in our outlook on life.”

“Such as?”

“I guess I’m more serious. I want to excel in whatever I do--my work especially. I want a woman who loves me and, of course, at least two kids. I want to earn enough money to be comfortable. I don’t have to be rich. Trust, I want my wife to have trust in me and I want her to be trustworthy and faithful herself. That comes from having an aunt whose home broke apart when I was fifteen. Enough about me. What about you?”

“I guess most of the same things. I’m not ready to settle down yet though. Going out and having fun like we are doing tonight and is right up there near the top of my priorities. I like a few beers on occasion and I have been known to get inebriated. Not tonight. Tonight I want to dance and I know just the place. You’ll love it.”

We danced the evening away. We elaborated about our families between sets. The woman I saw with her father was her sister. Pam said she hung out with her father a lot. She had a problem with speech and stuttered unless she was absolutely calm. Her name was Sharon and she was two years older than Pam. She very rarely went out except with her folks. When we ended the evening, I kissed Pam and asked if I could call for another date when my schedule was free.

“Of course. I can even help with your schedule. Daddy will do most anything I ask of him.”

This shocked me. “God no! Don’t do that. If the guys I work with find out I am dating the boss’s daughter, they would make my life hell. Especially because I’m so new here. I have to earn their respect and I couldn’t do it if they knew.”

“Okay then, I won’t interfere. Do call me. One more kiss then I should go in. Goodnight.”

I truly liked Pam, but I had the wish she wasn’t connected to my work the way she was. I guess we averaged a date about once a month. We kissed and did some light petting. After I leased my own apartment, the three girls often spent a Sunday hanging out at my place. Pam dated others and a couple of times I took one of her roommates out for an evening. Pam was a dedicated schoolteacher so I very seldom saw her during the week.

I bought Pam a pair of slippers for Christmas and received a pair of leather gloves in return. The company sprung for a New Year’s bash and I met Pam’s mother and sister. Her mother was an older version of Pam. Sharon was present but kept very far in the background. I had two dances with Pam. I did my duty by asking my hostess to dance a waltz. Mrs. Burdock commented that she knew Pam and I had been out on a date and that she liked me.

Sharon was sitting alone in a darkened corner. I sat down beside her. I turned to face her. “I’d like to have a dance with you. If you’d smile at me, I would take that as a yes.” I tried to convey that I knew of her affliction and didn’t want to embarrass her by requiring her to speak. I received the smile and we were soon dancing. I was only five-ten and Sharon was shorter by three inches. We fit together nicely. When we went by her mother, I saw a surprised look and then a smile come over her face.

I carried on a light conversation doing all of the talking myself. I made a running comment on how much I enjoyed my job and had dated Pam and her friends. I even commented how I thought she, Sharon, was stuck up the first time I had seen her when she didn’t speak. I apologized for thinking that and received a little squeeze indicating it was accepted. When I returned her to her seat, I asked if she would dance the last dance with me. Her smile again was her answer.

Pam came over to my apartment New Year’s late afternoon. “You’re in trouble, you know. You were worried about dating me and how Dad would feel about it and now you have gone and danced with my sister. She has been so sheltered by Daddy, she has fallen in love with the first person that is kind to her. Daddy is about wild. Sharon questioned him and me all day about you. He is overly protective of her and he doesn’t want her hurt. He thinks she is already in love with you. Your job may even be on the line.

“I know you wouldn’t hurt her intentionally, but it could easily happen. What are you going to do about it?”

“I guess I’ll just have to fall in love with her. That ought to even things up, don’t you think?”

Pam stood looking at me. “You’re serious, aren’t you? What do you want with her? You can’t even communicate.”

“I didn’t have any trouble last night did I? Pam, I thought you might be the one I would fall in love with. You are a lot of fun to date, but the spark I am looking for just isn’t there. Besides that, you’re pretty wild for my tastes. Don’t you think I’m good enough for her? Don’t think I feel sorry for her either. I look at her as a beautiful young woman who is old enough to fall in love. She has been sheltered and protected and can’t communicate--your words. You have known me long enough to know I’m a pretty honest person.

“What happens if I fall in love with her and she gets over her little crush on me and doesn’t return my love? Aren’t I taking a chance as much as she is to have my heart broken?”

“You still have to get by Daddy to see her. I know he likes you, but that won’t stop him getting rid of you to protect her.”

“You are my very good friend. I guess you will have to help me then. You know me about as well as anyone. You’re going to have to go to your father and tell him you and I have had about twenty dates since I’ve known you. You’re going to tell him that sometimes you drink too much and I’ve been there to protect you. I’ve put you into my bed and undressed you and you’ve woke up in the morning just as pure as when you went to bed. You’ve got a beautiful body and it has been hard not to take advantage, but I haven’t. I respect you. Can’t you trust me to treat your sister with the same respect and convince your parents to at least give me a chance?”

“Sharon is twenty-five and has never had a date. I’ve offered to find a date for her so we could double. She has always refused.”

“If I ask her out and she refuses, there isn’t any problem then is there? I’ve been turned down before. If I ask her and she says yes then the only thing standing in our way is your father. I’ll just have to play my trump card--you. If that doesn’t work then I’ll play another.”

“What would that be?”

“It would be your mother. I saw her smile when she saw Sharon and I dancing. Tell me your mother doesn’t want Sharon to have a date?”

“Okay, I’ll admit that part, but Daddy is all powerful at home.”

“I can’t believe that. Your mother has the power and I bet she would use it.”

“What power?” It hit her what I was referring to and she went from giggles to outright laughter.

I picked up the phone and as I was about to call Sharon anyway before Pam arrived, I had the number at hand. “Hamilton Burdock residence.”

“Mr. Burdock, this is Tim Schwan. May I speak to Sharon, please?”

“What about?”

“It is a personal question, however if she has trouble speaking, would you stand by to relay her answer?”

There was silence for a period of time. “Just a minute.”

It was three minutes before, “I’m handing the phone to her.”

“Hi Sharon, this is Tim, we danced last night. I enjoyed it very much. So much, I would like to ask you for a date this Friday for dinner and afterwards a dance place that Pam and I go to sometimes. Would you be so kind as to go with me?”

“Yuh-yuh-yuh---es.”

“Fine. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty. Dinner won’t be until seven and it is nearby. That will give me time to come in and say hi to your parents before we leave. Thank you so much for agreeing to go with me. Good evening.”

“Bu-bu-eye.”

I turned to face Pam. “You actually talked to Daddy and told him what to do. How did you dare do that?”

I was laughing. “I have a sister and I figured out how a boy got to go out with her. You think your father is protective? You should meet my Dad.”

“You have a sister? You never mention her. How about other family members?”

“I have the traditional family I guess. You know, father, mother, sister and brother. Dad runs a family-owned hardware store. I even own some shares. They all work in the store including my sister’s husband. We’re pretty close and I get letters all the time from them. I wasn’t interested that much in the store. I chose my line of work in engineering for that is something that is hands on and gets me outdoors a lot.”

“You’re not poor then?”

“I wouldn’t say so. What gave you that idea?”

“You said you worked your way through school.”

“That was by choice, not because I had to. I guess you could say I was pretty introverted and shy. I let my roomie lead me around for four years and I watched him. When I got out here, I was ready to change and I have.”

“I guess you have. You took on my father when I didn’t think you had one chance in ten of him letting Sharon go out with you.”

“I might get a call to go up to his office yet, or he may send me out of town by Friday.”

“He better not. I’ll tell Mom and she has the power.” Pam went into gales of laughter again.

***************

Hamilton Burdock never did speak to me about my dating Sharon. Pam indicated that her mother, Celia, and he had words, but to me he never showed he minded. Sharon blossomed and over time as she became less nervous when I was around, we could carry on a conversation, although haltingly. By our second date, I knew I wanted her to be my wife. I took it slow, just brushing her lips when I took her home after our first date.

Our third date was on a Sunday afternoon and a trip to a museum. As we left there I asked, “Would you like to see the apartment where I live?” Sharon immediately started stuttering so bad I couldn’t understand her. When she gave up trying to form a word I said, “I promise I won’t touch you. I would like to have you see where I live, that is all. Pam hangs out there all the time and some of her friends do too.” She nodded okay.

When we reached there I asked her if she would stay for the evening meal. I had loaded a crockpot with a chicken and knew the cacciatora would be ready. I had garlic bread and noodles. I had a lemon pie for dessert. Sharon helped with dishes and we settled down on the couch with my arm around her. There was a pad and pencil on the coffee table. She picked it up and scribbled an apology for her affliction. “I wish there was a way I could speak. You have to do most of the talking and you must be tired of it by the time you take me home.”

“I don’t mind really. I like being with you. You know a lot of people have overcome it. Look at Clarence Page, the newsman, who is on the talk shows. He stutters. How about Mel Tillis, the country singer/songwriter? He stutters real bad, but when he sings you aren’t aware of it at all. I know kids must have picked on you when you were young, but now at our age people are too polite to be mean. We get along great, don’t we? Don’t drive me away. I’m totally comfortable with you and want to be with you.”

This earned me a kiss and then another and soon we were necking. “I promised I wouldn’t touch you. I think I just broke it.”

Sharon picked up the pad and scribbled, “I didn’t make any such promise.” As soon as I read this she started kissing me again. We knew this was not going any further today, but we knew some day it would.

The winter slipped away. I called my family and told them that I had found the woman I was going to propose marriage to in the not too distant future. I had to describe her. “Sharon is five-seven, reasonably thin although she has a nice shape, meaning she is perfectly proportioned. She has dark brown hair and wears it short so that her ears peek out under it when she moves quickly. I think she will tan easily for I can see some freckles across the bridge of her nose. She has a small nose and full lips and a little dimple in her chin when she smiles, which is often.

“She wears little make-up. She has a nice long stride if she is confident about where she is and what she is doing. I’m hoping to get a few days off next month and I’ll bring her to meet you. I want to show her where I grew up. You’ll love her. One other thing, she doesn’t talk much. She has a problem and stutters some. It doesn’t bother us now, and we get along just fine.”

“That’s what counts, son. No one can be perfect. Lord knows your father has put up with me all of these years and still loves me as much as he ever did.”

Sharon and I had a small blip in our relationship. The old man had come in early one Thursday morning. He had left a note in my cubicle requesting my presence in his office. Corning looked uncomfortable when I passed him on the way to the elevator. I was puzzled and couldn’t think of a single time I had screwed up.

“Tim, I knew when you started going out with Sharon there would be some conflict that would arise. You know we bid on a housing project a few months ago. Well, all the permits are in place and we are ready to get the site prepared for the houses. I planned on Corning bossing the job, but I have another project that needs him. This job is time sensitive and I need someone there on Monday. You are the only one available. I have full confidence in you doing the work. The problem that arises is more personal. You are going to be away from Sharon for the next two months. Sharon was crying when I left this morning after I told her. I really hate to do this to both of you, but I need you out there in Arizona.”

“Mr. Burdock, Sharon and I have already talked about the possibility of this happening to us when we would be pulled apart for some length of time. I can’t see where that will affect our relationship. You know, I’m planning on asking her to marry me. We’ll just savor the time we have before I have to leave.”

“Christ Tim, don’t call me mister when we are alone together. Call me Hamm or Hamilton. Back to business. I have a construction trailer on the grounds and all that you will need is already out there. All you have to do is appear. You may have to hire some pick and shovel men, but you can do that. Don’t scrimp on using what you need to get the job done, money or otherwise.

“Corning has a briefcase of papers outlining everything. Pick that up on your way home this morning. Sharon is already there, I believe. She was packing an overnight bag as I was leaving the house. This would be a good time for that proposal if you are serious about it. Now get out of here.” I didn’t say anything except “thank you” when I shook Hamm’s hand.

I picked up a few items from my desk and shook Corning’s hand. He wished me luck after asking if I was okay with this. I said I was. My girl’s car was parked by my apartment. I opened my door and could hear Sharon in the bedroom. I could even make out the words she was singing. “I love you Tim Schwan, I love you Tim Schwan.” It was a refrain being sung over and over.

I set my papers down and quietly walked to where Sharon was singing. She had showered and was drying her hair. There was a velveteen robe encasing her. I sang, “And I love you too Sharon Burdock. Will you marry me? Will you marry me?”

Sharon turned, startled. When she saw I meant it, she sang, “I love you Tim Schwan and yes I will marry you.” After our first passionate kissing, she sang out the explanation that if Mel Tillis could sing and not stutter, then she could too. She had been practicing ever since I had mentioned it months ago. She sang that she couldn’t do it all the time, but had been practicing those words especially.

A man and a woman could only dream about the wonderful four days we had before I had to leave. We lived them, they didn’t. Friday afternoon we went out to a jewelers and I purchased a diamond for my love. We took time to go over and show Hamm and Celia. We went by Pam’s apartment where there were tears and kisses of happiness bestowed all around. I left for Arizona and Sharon returned home. We carried each others love in our hearts.

***************

My project went well. My phase of it went extremely well and I actually came in under the projected cost of what was budgeted. Hamm had arranged for me to have the next week off and I could take Sharon to meet my family. During the two days before we left, we didn’t see Pam. Her friends said that there was a man in her life and she spent all of her time with him. It was someone that worked for her father. Sharon didn’t even know his name.

As we pulled into my parents’ driveway, I told Sharon that my mother had been crippled in an auto accident eighteen years ago and was tied to a wheelchair. My father took care of her from the time their bedroom door closed in the evening until it opened in the morning. She worked in the office at the store everyday, being transported in a specially equipped van. Everyone still lived a normal life, even with the trouble that had landed on our family.

It was a wonderful week for all of us. My sister and brother-in-law had just had a child. Sharon watched how my father took care of my mother. Mother wasn’t one to play on her disability and was as independent as her body would let her. That didn’t mean that when she needed help, she didn’t ask for it. Sharon forgot and sang something to me. I explained, which embarrassed her. My family listened and for the rest of the visit everyone was singing their conversation--that is when we weren’t laughing about it. Sharon ended up feeling as much at home with my folks as she did with her own.

Sharon and my mother talked about a date that would be best for her and I to get married. It was to be during the Thanksgiving holiday, which I thought appropriate. The last day before we were to leave, Fed-ex stopped at the house. My soon-to-be-wife was all smiles as the driver came to the door. He had a package that was 2x3 feet and almost four inches thick. It was addressed to my mother, Amelia Schwan.

As my mother was peeling away the wrapping, Sharon sang, “I dabble a little in painting. I thought you might like to have a portrait of Tim. He hasn’t seen this so it will be a surprise to him too.” The portrait was of me in a hard hat and had evidently been painted from a photograph. I remembered when Pam snapped it and that was long before Sharon knew me. The portrait was excellent and mother was thrilled to have it hanging on the wall to look at.

We returned home, the vacation over. Plans went forward for our wedding with Celia, Pam and Sharon having their heads together at least twice a week. There was one thing that upset me and it had nothing to do with the wedding. Hamm had hired a new engineer while I was setting up the building site. I met him my first day back at work.

“Tim, I think you will be glad to meet our newest hire. He used you for a reference and said you knew each other very well. He is fitting in extremely well with us here. In fact he met and has been dating Pam.”

“Hey, long time no see. It will be fun being together again just like we used to be.”

I can tell you I was less than thrilled. “Hi Pal. I wondered where you ended up. I know now. How are you doing? Mr. Burdock found a place for you, did he?”

Hamm’s head came up when I used the formal address. Pal answered. “Yes. I haven’t done much yet. Just getting familiar with how things work. Hamm tells me you are almost married. I’d like to meet her. I understand she is Pam’s sister. Who would guess you and I would end up dating sisters.” I passed his comments off and appeared friendly and agreed to have him and Pam over for dinner.

Hamm picked up on the fact that I might not like Pal as much as Pal figured I did. After some general conversation, Pal went back to his desk. Hamm said to me, “Come up to my office Tim and tell me how things went the last couple of months.”

I went up in the elevator with him. We didn’t say much except he asked how I found my folks. When the office door closed Hamm said, “All right, I read that you aren’t very happy with Pal Stevens working here. Tell me about it.”

I hesitated to collect my thoughts. “I lived with Pal all four years that I was in engineering school. He is one of the most likable people you would ever meet. That said, the day we received our diplomas I hoped it was the last time I would see him. We talked about what the future held for us. You had already hired me to work here. He stated he was going out and find a rich woman, marry her, and be set for life. I guess he thinks he has found that person in Pam.

“It makes me sick to think about it. I love Pam as much as I do my own sister, and I wouldn’t let him near her if I could prevent it. If he and Pam get serious she is going to be in for a lot of heartbreak. One other thing, I don’t want a project to work on if he is any way involved, either before or after. You say he used me for a reference? Why in God’s name didn’t you check with me?”

Hamm stood there with his mouth open. I continued, “Also you’d better hire a crew to clean up after his mistakes and hang on to your wallet. You better keep your eye on Celia too. He’ll talk her right out of her panties if he gets a chance. I’ll bet he has been screwing Pam since their second date, if she held out that long.”

Hamm picked up on this last. “You sound jealous of him and Pam. Couldn’t you get anywhere with her? You dated her long enough.”

That hurt. “Mr. Burdock, this is my first day back in the office in more than two months. I have a million things to catch up on. Would you excuse me while I take care of them please?”

“Okay Tim. I can see we can’t discuss this. There is apparently a lot of bad feelings toward Pal. I’m quite taken with him myself and I’m not usually wrong.”

“I just don’t believe Pal can change. I hope so. I know one thing, if he so much as looks at Sharon, I’ll kill him.” I was shaking when I went out the door.

When I got home that night, Sharon and Pam had already talked and Pal and Pam were invited for dinner. I was nice on the outside, but seething on the inside. He had Pam totally in his pocket and before the night was over, Sharon thought the same as her sister. When we crawled into bed together, Sharon kept up a running conversation about her sister’s new boyfriend. I kept my mouth shut although it killed me to be quiet. The wedding was two months away for us and I didn’t want Pal to upset the plans for me and my love.

A month later Pam and Pal were married in a hurry-up wedding. Pam was pregnant. When they came back from the honeymoon, Sharon wanted them to hang out with her and I. I let her talk me into it. I had the feeling that Pam was going to have a rough time being married to my former friend. Besides Sharon asked it of me, never knowing why I was reluctant. I couldn’t deny her anything so made the best of it.

I was best man at Pal and Pam’s wedding. Hamm commented on it. I was a little short when I said, I’m doing this for Pam, not for her husband. After that Hamm and I rarely spoke about Pal. He was waiting to prove me wrong. He did give me the break of never assigning us to work together.

My parents came for Thanksgiving and our wedding. Pal naturally thought that he would be my best man, but I had Dad stand for me. I will say this for Pal, he had been working very hard, more dedicated than I had ever seen him. He spoiled it all in a quiet moment at the wedding reception. “Well Tim, it looks as if you are as well set as I am now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you are married to the boss’s daughter and he can’t fire you now for any reason. Quite some feeling of security, isn’t it?”

I passed it off by saying, “That would be one way of looking at things. Personally I don’t plan on giving Hamm a reason for terminating me.” Sharon and I didn’t plan a honeymoon. I had purchased a small house with three bedrooms in a nice section of the city and wanted to be moved in by Christmas. We had gone out on our own and it was a done deal before Hamm and Celia knew about it.

When questioned by my in-laws on how I had enough money to make such a purchase, Sharon just said, “Tim borrowed on some assets he owns. The house is totally paid for. He is looking out for me in case something ever happens on a job site sometime.” Sharon had informed me that she learned from Pam that she and Pal had to borrow the down payment from her parents and their new house was heavily mortgaged.

At Christmas time Pal and I both received a check from Hamm and Celia equal to the amount that Pam had borrowed for the down payment. I think Hamm expected that Pal wouldn’t accept it and return it if Hamm would mark what he had borrowed paid. Pal put it in his pocket with a thank you. He did give it back later, for Pam made him. This may have been the first argument Pam and Pal had, according to Sharon. I took my check and sent it off to my father to retrieve some of the shares I had put up that I owned in the family business.

Sharon and I had a wonderful winter. She had met a woman at the mall who was signing a children’s book she had written. The author lived in the city. Sharon was interested and on her own bought a copy and thought that it would be much improved if it was illustrated. When she finished she called and invited the author to see what she had done. The author was thrilled and said she had a manuscript about ready to send to a publisher. Would Sharon illustrate it and submit it as a collaboration? So started a career for my wife.

March saw a flurry of work for the company. There were some floods in East Texas and Hamm had made several bids for the reconstruction. Enough were accepted so that Corning and I were both sent to the same area. When Corning informed me how disappointed he was to be missing his twentieth wedding anniversary I said, “Let’s take our wives with us. We’ll rent a small house. The girls can keep each other company and we’ll have someone to sleep with every night.”

“I don’t know, Bertha is heavily into soaps. Sharon will be bored.”

“No she won’t. Sharon has a book to illustrate and will be busy doing that. Evenings we can have them with us. We won’t have to do everything together, but it will be there if we want to. It will be better than living at a motel and they won’t be at home alone.” This worked out great. When we finished in that area, the Missouri river went on a rampage and we were sent there next. I guess Bertha got bored watching the soaps for she was soon driving transportation for our gang at the job site and often Sharon was right in the cab with her. We didn’t get back home until the week before Memorial Day.

Homecoming was a family dinner at Hamm and Celia’s. I was shocked when I saw Pam. She was in the last of her seventh month. That wasn’t the worst of it. She was so sad where before she had always been upbeat and full of fun. She declared she had never missed anyone more than she missed me and Sharon. Pal was the same, joking about everything and bragging about things he had done or was about to do. I hadn’t realized it, but Sharon didn’t stutter nearly as much as she used to. Pam commented on it and Sharon and I went into gales of laughter.

“What’s funny?”

I explained. “Sharon was in the jeep with Bertha and some of the crew were making comments on what they looked like and other things. You know typical stuff you hear on a crew. It made Sharon mad. She bounced out of the jeep and faced those guys. She started stuttering pretty bad. Without thinking she started singing the swear words she had picked up around the construction crew. It took a minute for the guys to realize what was going on. It was pretty comical I guess. When she couldn’t remember anymore, she got back in the jeep and sang, ‘drive on Bertha’ leaving the crew looking after her.

“The story got around and that night about ten there was a knock on the door of our house. One of the men asked if Sharon and Bertha would listen to a song. Two of the men had guitars and two of them could harmonize. Corning and I were treated to the swearing song that Sharon had inadvertently composed that afternoon. When they finished they sang, ‘drive on Bertha’ and wheeled and left us standing there with our mouths open. The last man left a box of candy and two red roses.”

Sharon declared, “I don’t need a honeymoon, I’ve had the best time in the last few months a girl could have. I want to thank Tim for taking me.” She leaned over and kissed me.

***************

Monday morning I was in Hamm’s office. “So things went pretty well for you and Corning did they? Oh I know I read the reports you sent in, but really how was it? I guess I mean by having your women with you?”

“It was great. I think with the right people, it should be an option for us out in the field.”

“I was thinking the same thing. You know, the company has made a lot of money on your work this spring. You and Corning are going to get a sizable bonus for the work you did.” Hamm paced around the room, started to say something and then paced some more.

“What has Pal done or not done?”

“What makes you say that?”

I didn’t answer.

“All right, what you said to me last fall about him was right on the money. Both within the company and with Pam. I had my first rejection of a state inspected job since I started business. I suspect he is taking kickbacks from some of the subcontractors. With Pam, the rumor is he is not being faithful to her. Tim, I apologize for not believing you. The thing is, I don’t know how to go about fixing things. Please tell me what to do? You must have some idea. You’ve known him longer than I have.”

“You know what a teacher does when they have a dumb-ass kid--they pass him along to the next grade. Give Pal a promotion. Give him a high faluting title and stick him in a corner office and take away all the access where he can cause the company any trouble. It might be costly pay-wise, but cheaper in the long run. I predict he will screw up even there, but won’t cause you as much grief.”

Hamm stared at me as he thought out how he could handle it. Then he nodded his head. “I can do that. What about Pam? He is going to break her heart. I can’t interfere even though I want to. She used to be such a happy person. The only smile I’ve seen from her in the last month is when I told her you and Sharon were coming home.”

Now it was my turn to think. Finally I said, “No you can’t interfere, but maybe I can help. That is until the baby is born. After that I think she will bounce back and ditch him if he screws up. And he will again. I’ll make sure Sharon and I are here to support her. You know Pam feels about the same as you did about Pal when he first came here. But I had told her about my college years with Pal right after we started dating. Of course I didn’t expect I would ever see him again so maybe she passed it off. She must remember my words now. So I assume she feels a little foolish in not believing me when he showed up here. He is a charismatic bastard so neither you or she should feel too bad.”

“You’re being generous.”

“Whatever. Hamm, I may use your name when I speak to him sometime. Is that okay?”

“Christ, yes. Tim, there is one other remark I made I am sorry about. That is the one about you being jealous of Pam.”

“I’ll admit that hurt. You probably think your loved ones are perfect. Pam is nearly that, but not quite. She has been wilder than you would imagine. In a way she went after me for what she eventually got from Pal. She probably feels bad about that and needs to forgive herself, not me and not Pal, either.”

“You have me confused. Can you explain?”

“I dated Pam and after several dates we were getting pretty physical. One night Pam had too much to drink and we ended up in my apartment. Now Pam is a beautiful woman and I hadn’t been too long out of school, if you catch my drift. Pam wasn’t out entirely. Here I am with a beautiful body and it was asking me to take it to bed. I took her in and undressed myself and her and crawled into bed.”

Hamm was very uncomfortable. I held up my hand when he started to say something to stop me. “I wanted to make love to her, but I decided when I did I wanted it to mean something, both to her and to me. I held her off until she went to sleep. She was very ashamed in the morning and we talked about it. There were other times when she came home with me knowing she was in safe hands. I’m not going to tell you if we had sex, but I will tell you she has a sister and Pam can’t begin to compare. Pam and I are much like brother and sister and that is perfect for us.”

“That makes me more sorry about what I said.”

“You’ve already apologized. That’s enough. The trouble was, knowing Pal, when Pam thought she was in safe hands with him the same as she was with me--she wasn’t.”

I got my usual big hug when I got home that night. “Did you see Daddy today? Was he happy with what we did on the jobs?”

“Where does this ‘we’ come in?”

“Hey, I kept you happy at night.”

“You did that. Yes, he is very pleased. In fact if some of the guys go out in the field, he is going to suggest they take their wives with them. We talked about Pam and Pal too. He isn’t too happy with Pal. The company had a project and Pal was in charge of it. When it came time for the state to inspect it, it wouldn’t pass. Pal made excuses, but it cost the company a lot of money to fix. Your dad is very proud of his reputation for quality work and this really hurt him.”

“Is he going to terminate Pal?”

“He didn’t say. How can a man fire his son-in-law? That’s a dilemma.”

“Pam was over this afternoon after school let out. She’s not happy.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. She has a whole bunch of problems. She says she is living on her salary and she is behind in the mortgage. She thinks Pal might have another woman or women for he is never at home in the evening. She wants to know if she can come over here sometimes. She said something about her not believing you one time and wants to say she is sorry. What is that about?”

“When we were dating I told her about Pal and how it was living in the same room with him. I never thought he would show up here though.”

“I wish that he hadn’t.”

A week later Pam was at the door before we finished dinner. She drank a glass of milk and had a cookie. “Pal is out tonight. He used to try to think up an excuse. He doesn’t even do that anymore. Sharon said I could come over.”

“Anytime. All the time if you want.”

“God I wish I could.” Tears started streaming down her face.

Just then the phone rang. It was Pal. “Hey Buddy, can you sneak out on the ball and chain? I’ll buy you a beer. We’ll go down to the Little Brown Jug on South Street West. Hell, bring your wallet and we’ll make a night of it. Pick me up at the house, will you? Pam is over visiting her folks.” Same old Pal. He was intending to stick me with the bar tab.

I turned away from the phone. “That was Pal. We are going bar hopping tonight. Pam, why don’t you go home and get enough clothes for the rest of the week. You can stay here and Sharon can tell you all about what we were doing for the last two-three months. Sharon, I deserve a night out don’t I?”

“Sure, have fun. Come home safe. Call me.” To me this was trust after what she found her sister going through.

I drove to Pal’s house and he was coming out the door anxious to get started. I think he’d had a drink or maybe two already. He was unusually loquacious on the drive downtown, bragging about all that he had done in the interest of the company and how well things had turned out for him. Was he bragging or did he really believe this of himself?

Pal started to do some serious drinking, while I nursed a beer. He flirted with the waitress and when some women came in he went over and made himself obnoxious until one of them stood and told him to go away. “Your loss. You could have got lucky tonight.” A look of disgust crossed her face.

By ten-thirty Pal was about out of it and said we might as well pack it in. He hadn’t been able to score with any woman tonight, but he had tried. When we got to his house, I was invited in. I sat on the couch and when he brought my drink and set it down on the stand, I stood up. “Pal.” He looked at me and he took my best shot on the chin. Down he went. He was a much bigger man than me, but I was sure I was stronger. He was a load to carry out to the car.

I drove to one of the buildings we were working in and made some phone calls. That call brought me the help I had previously arranged for. I knew Pal was going to do something like this and I was prepared. We took him inside and down some stairs. I laid Pal on a cot, placing him on his back with a pillow underneath his head. I proceeded to bind him to the bed. I used a new sheet, cut into foot wide strips and when I finished, I surveyed my work.

Pal was trussed like a mummy with only his head visible. I used the bed as a backboard and starting at his feet wound round and round with the sheet and finished just under his chin. He could move his head and talk if he wanted to. He might even want to scream. That was okay, no one would hear him. I went over and sat down in the beat-up recliner that was the only other piece of furniture and went to sleep. I left the stairwell light on, but it was dim in the room.

I would guess it was about a quarter to five when he groaned and then started to struggle. He croaked, “Help, I have to pee. Oh God, what happened?”

I didn’t say anything but I cleared my throat. His head whipped toward me, but couldn’t make out who I was in the near darkness. “Who’s there? Help, I have to pee bad.”

“Go ahead Pal. You might as well. I’m not setting you free. It is going to happen so you might as well go ahead and pee before it gets too painful.” I was talking fast.

“Tim. That’s you isn’t it? Why am I like this?”

“Hate Pal. That’s why you are here. A lot of people hate you. You wouldn’t know that, because you think everything is about you. You never think of other people, just yourself.” I got up and stood by him. Then I slowly reached down and pressed on his lower belly about where his bladder was located. He screamed and then sighed. “Feel better?”

Pal was crying and begging now. “Please Tim, let me go. What have I ever done to make you treat me like this?”

I was fabricating a few untruths. “Oh, I will tell you, but there is no hurry. You and I are going to be here for days. Guess what? Hamm gave us the week off. I told him you and I wanted to get together and renew our college days. Hamm, he is the one who is father to your wife, Pam. You know, your wife. Remember her? You weren’t remembering her much last night. You’ve had many such nights in the past few months out looking for strange pussy. That’s what you did last night. I know, I was there.”

“But she’s pregnant. Women don’t want sex when they are that way.”

“Some do. Others may just want their husbands close by to help them through a difficult and scary time.”

“What’s it to you? You had your chance with her. She’s told me enough about how nice you were to her.”

“You know, it is funny. Pam can be just as wild as you. She may give you some of your own medicine someday. But she’s my friend. You could have all kinds of friends. Everyone starts as your friend and then you see how you can use them. Then you throw them away when you’ve drained all the goodness out of them.”

“I never did that to you. You’ve always been my friend.”

“Let’s see, I paid the tab last night. $63 I think it was. No, I’m not your friend, I’m just a good actor. You didn’t know that, did you? Think back to how many times I paid your tab in the four years we lived in the same room.”

“You never said anything.”

“I did. You would say something like, ‘I’ll catch you next week’ and then next week it would be ‘pay the tab Tim, I’m short.’ Then after awhile you’d forget to even say that. Hey, I was out and having fun, but you had to humiliate. The last week before we graduated, I overheard you saying to some smart-ass how you had gone to school for four years on my tab.

“The only thing that saved you was that I didn’t believe I would ever see your ass again. You had to hunt me up didn’t you? You even had the gall to use me for a reference. Bad mistake Pal. Oh Pal, you must be thirsty by now. Would you like a glass of water? Oops, that makes you pee. You will get thirsty, though. I can wait. I can even stand how bad you smell--for awhile anyway.

“God, it’s breakfast time and I’m hungry. What would you like? There is a diner not too far from here. You tell me what you want and I’ll get it. I’ll even feed you. Friends do that when one of them is helpless.” I didn’t wait for his order, I just opened the door and headed up the stairs. I could still hear him screaming not to leave as I reached the second level. When I got to street level, I couldn’t hear him anymore. I was out of there for two hours.

Pal was glad to see me when I returned. I sat in the recliner and listened to his threats as I ate my breakfast. The aroma deadened the urine smell enough so I enjoyed my meal. It was light outside, but dark in here. I figured he might as well look into my face. I turned a light on. Finally he asked, “May I have some please?” I very carefully fed him with small mouthfuls. I poured some coffee into a squeeze bottle and gave him sips from that. The threats started again.

“When I get free, Hamm will fix you.”

“Pal think about Hamm for a minute. You are his favorite son-in-law, right? You’re the one that trashed his reputation by bossing a job that wouldn’t pass the state inspections. A project that any engineer could have aced. This is the only time in the history of the company that has happened. Oh yes, he had to pay off a woman to keep her quiet about a sexual harassment suit, too.

“And Pam, his favorite daughter. Think how you have treated her. You got her drunk, screwed her and made her pregnant just so you would have a cushy job the rest of your life. Now you whore around on her. The funny thing is he believed in you when you first took up with her. Your credentials were perfect. You used me for a reference. One other thing he doesn’t know. Go ahead and ask me what.”

“What?”

“He doesn’t know that you have been forcing your attentions on your mother-in-law. The only reason you have been able to get away with that so far is because Celia knows Hamm will drop you into the foundation of some building and cover you up with cement. She doesn’t want that on his conscience.”

“You don’t know that. I only bumped into her one time on purpose.” I didn’t say anything. Then, “How did you find that out?”

“How do you think? It doesn’t matter really who told me, but they will back me up.”

“You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?” Pal’s voice was quivering with fear.

I waited a few minutes before answering and finally said, “I haven’t decided yet. I’m trying to decide if I can get away with it. I’m going to sit here and remember all the people you have hurt. Remember Donna? She was the cute little freshman you got drunk and raped during our third year. You made her say it was consensual. She is in an asylum now. You totally destroyed her life and that of her parents, too. You’re a piece of shit, Pal.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“How would you? You had what you wanted. That was it as far as you were concerned. You did the same thing to Pam, didn’t you? Only you did it for a different reason. Got her drunk and knocked her up so she was too ashamed to face her friends and family. She had to marry you. I can’t believe even you could do that.” I waited and then I yelled, “Didn’t you? Answer me!”

“I guess.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Look, I have some business to attend to. I’ll be gone awhile. I want to go home and shower and kiss my wife. Pam is coming over for dinner. I want to laugh and joke with her. She needs cheering up. I may or may not come back. I might come back and spend the evening with you. I haven’t decided about whether I’ll stay all night.” Pal was begging me not to leave as I went up the stairs.

I nodded to the person on the stairs that I had hired to be near in case Pal got into trouble while here by himself. Poor Pal figured he was all alone when in actuality he was being baby-sat. Sharon asked how things were. I replied that Pal thought he was in deep shit, but all that was happening was that he was having some revelations. Sharon was worried for me and the trouble I might be in if things didn’t work out.

Pam knew I was trying to get Pal’s attention, but that was all. I promised nothing physical I did would harm him. Then she said, “I love him you know. I know he is treating me like crap and has probably been unfaithful, but when he is nice to me, you couldn’t ask for a better husband. The baby is going to need him.” If she loved him, then I could never tell her different--she wouldn’t believe me.

I had my shower and a hot meal. I packaged up a meal for Pal and stopped at his house for some sweats and underwear. It was six in the evening when I noisily clumped down the stairs, motioning for the baby-sitter to leave. Pal looked glad to see me. Just being alone with the fears playing in his mind were enough to keep him wanting human contact. “Pal, I’m back. I brought food. The beer is still cold. Do you want to drink it? You know, though, what happens when you drink.” He thought maybe just a taste.

“I had a conversation with Pam. She’s worried about you because you haven’t been home. She says she loves you and is hoping you haven’t left her. She knows you have been messing around, but would welcome you back, both for herself and for the baby’s sake. I personally think she would be better off without you.”

“Tim, please give me a chance. I’ll even quit and go away. I want a chance to see my baby. I’ve been lying here thinking about Pam.”

“I don’t know as I can. Look at the trouble I’m in if you talk about what I’ve done to you. Kidnapping and torture are some of the most serious crimes. I’d be better off to kill you. At least I’d have a chance of never being found out. Pam thinks you have run off because of the way you’ve been acting. The rest of the family believes it too. Hamm will just fold Pam back into the family and we will all support her. Hamm will be glad you’ve disappeared so he can start rebuilding the company’s reputation.”

“Tim, I ...” I knew Pal was trying to find words to convince me he wouldn’t out me.

“Well, it ain’t going to happen tonight. Sharon isn’t too happy about what I’m doing. I promised her I wouldn’t do anything before I talked to her again, so you’re safe for awhile.”

“She knows about this?”

“Yes, but not how far I’m willing to go, so don’t look to her for sympathy. Let me hear you try to match her stuttering as you do sometimes. You know she can’t help it and it hurts when someone makes fun of her.”

“Oh God.”

“Pal, would you like to have me stay here tonight? I mean Pam is staying at the house and I can’t get lucky with her there. I brought a book and thought I’d read for awhile. It’s a western by Louie L’Amour. It tells the story about one of the Sacketts captured by some Apaches, how he got free and how he returned to his family. I could even read it out loud if you wish. Tomorrow morning, I’m going to see Sharon and then decide. It must be torture not to know your fate.”

Tears trickled down Pal’s face and wet the pillow where his head rested. I brought a light in and sat in the recliner and cracked the book. When I turned the first page, Pal asked me to read out loud. I finished the story about midnight. Pal started snoring as soon as I turned out the light.

When Pal awoke in the morning, I wasn’t there. I was around the corner and I listened to him praying. I waited fifteen minutes and then made myself known. I walked silently into the room. I had a large pair of scissors in my hand. Pal cringed as I came near. I started at his feet and cut the strips of cloth off of him. He was watching me, at first with fear and then with hope as his shackle fell away. “Tim?”

“Pal, my hate is all gone. I’m trusting that you have thought about a lot of things that brought me to do this to you. I’m not even asking for any promises from you. You would either keep them or you won’t. Now just as soon as I get this off of you, I’ll help you through that door where there is a shower. I have your clothes here. Throw those you have on in the trash bucket in the hall. Take as long as you want in the shower and get as clean as you can. Pam’s last day of school was yesterday so she will be home when I drop you off. You both are invited for dinner tonight. I hope you will come.”

Pal had been immobilized for thirty hours. He couldn’t walk and I had to help him through the door. Stink, Christ did he ever. He did want that shower and that motivated him. Thank God this was a walk-in shower. I turned the water on and adjusted it and pushed him in, clothes and all. When some of the filth dissipated I took the shears and cut the clothes off from him. I left him standing there under the shower. It was more than a half hour later when he appeared naked back where I had incarcerated him. I pointed to towels and his clothes. There was a big can of talcum powder sitting on the pile.

“My kid is never going to have wet diapers, I know that.” I looked into his face and didn’t see any anger and then he questioned, “Did I deserve all of that?”

“You tell me.”

“I’ll think on it. Please take me home to my wife.” It was a struggle getting him up the three flights of stairs. I had a cleaning crew there to pick up and trash the stuff we had left. I didn’t speak to them, just giving the nod that I was finished here. Pal looked once up into the sky and closed his eyes for a minute. I eased him into my car and took him home.

Pam met him at the door with tears of gladness in her eyes. I left him there clinging to her. I think things will be better for her from now on. I went home and spent almost as much time in my shower as Pal had back at his jail.

Pal and Pam did come for dinner. Pal was very reserved, not his usual loquacious self. When the women were doing dishes he said, “I have a meeting with Hamm in the morning. I’d like to have you there if you would be so kind.” Later, over brandy, he said to me, “Pam is beautiful isn’t she? I’ve known her for a year and I don’t think I’ve ever truly looked at her. Tim, I have to ask. Where did you come up with the idea to treat me like that? This is the only time I’m going to mention it to anyone, but I have to know.”

“I heard about it from my sister. One of her sorority sisters had a boyfriend who was an asshole. He was put through something similar to your experience. Pal, you were never in any real danger. There was someone near enough for you to be helped, if you choked or anything. This was basically a college initiation.”

“You pushed me to the edge and I survived. I honestly thought you were going to kill me. When you talked about how Sharon was thinking, I thought sure I wouldn’t be sitting here tonight. I’m so glad you told me that Pam still loved me and was worried about me. Then you mentioned the baby. That did more to make me repent and change my ways. I wanted a second chance. Thank you for giving it to me.”

The women came in and sat down. Pam’s eyes were glowing. Pal had made some promises to her before they reached our house for dinner.

I don’t think Pam ever knew what went on in those thirty hours or how heavily I was involved. The meeting with Hamm saw Pal tender his resignation. He confessed he was way in over his head as an engineer. He admitted that he had used a friend to pass his courses all through college and would have failed otherwise. Hamm asked him not to be too precipitous as he had a family to support. He found Pal a position in the company that suited him better.

If Pam and Sharon weren’t sisters, I don’t think Pal and I would have socialized very much, As it was we saw each other at family events whenever there was one. We never went out on the town even for dinner together. I think Pal felt I had held his life in my hands and was humbled by the knowledge that he deserved whatever I meted out. Where he had always felt he was the stronger person, he found out that it was me that held the power and he had to beg just to stay alive. That would humble anyone and someone you couldn’t necessarily be friends with.

Life changed in other ways, too. I thought Pam would be thankful for the change in her husband and she was for awhile. The baby came and Pal was a totally devoted husband and father. It was New Year’s and we all were at Hamm and Celia’s. We had all had more than enough to drink and a conversation started about what had happened to our lives in the last year.

Celia started it by announcing, “Pal has changed. He has been the one to change the most in the last year. I miss the old Pal and I don’t know if I like the new one.” I, like a damned fool, asked why. “Because he never chases me anymore. He used to try to cop a feel every chance he could. It was a game we played. Didn’t mean anything, but it was fun.”

I looked at Hamm and he sat there grinning. Pam took up where her mother left off. “I know what you mean, Mom. I know where Pal is every minute of the day. I don’t even have to think about the baby when he is home and now Pal is always home. He checks her diapers every few minutes for pee. Christ, if I had wanted a perfect husband I would have married Tim. Pal is even paying the mortgage now and we have money in the bank.”

I looked at these people. Suddenly I felt as if I was something to be abhorred. I then looked closely at Sharon. She stared back at me. “Well you are pretty damned self-righteous.” She turned to Pal. “Pal, remember that time you caught me with just my robe on a-a-an-an-and-and dared me to flash you? Tim really g-g-guh-guh-got l-uc-ky-lucky that ni-ni---night.”

That was all the revelations for the night until Hamm came out with, “Tim, I guess Pal has found his niche. He has been doing very well lately in the office. I was going to wait until the holidays are over, but I’m going to tell you now. I’m going to make Pal office manager. That will mean a big increase in pay for him. I guess you will have to answer to him on some things. I know you won’t mind.”

I acted as if this was the greatest thing that ever happened. I was seething inside though. I don’t guess I was much fun to be around. Sharon didn’t think I was although I tried to hide my feelings. She started going over to Pal and Pam’s house in the evening to play with the baby. I couldn’t even work up much passion anymore in making love to my wife. Life sucked!

In March, I was given a two week project away from home base. I asked Sharon to go with me like she did last year at this time. “No, I guess not. I won’t have Bertha to pal around with and I don’t have any illustrating to do. I’d just be hanging around. I’ll stay here and miss you. If I get lonely, I can stay at Pal’s.” I noticed she said Pal’s and not Pam’s.

I called three times during the first week. Sharon was never home. I reached her at Pam’s. It was pretty lonely over the weekend. I called both my house and Pam’s house Saturday. No answer at either place. I finally connected on Sunday afternoon. Sharon was bubbling over. She and Pam had gone shopping all day Saturday and Pam had got Celia to watch the baby Saturday night. She, Pam, and Pal had gone dancing and bar hopping and hadn’t got home until three in the morning.

“You know, Pal is more like he used to be. He hasn’t been that much fun since last May. Tim, I wish you were home. I’m horny. You haven’t been taking care of me like you used to. We have to get back on track. I’ll see you next weekend. Oh, don’t try to call me Wednesday. Pam and I are going out on our own. You know, girls night out. I love you lots. Let’s all go out next weekend. We’ve been in a rut.”

I guess this was the longest week I had ever spent. I called home on Tuesday. No answer. I didn’t try again all week. If my wife wasn’t home to take my call, so be it. Sharon hit me about it Friday night, complaining she hadn’t heard from me. “I called on Tuesday. You weren’t home. I went out and had a few beers. You said you were busy on Wednesday. I figured I’d see you tonight. I got home three hours ago. It’s good to see you. You’re looking good.”

She did. She had on a form-fitting dress that was shorter than she normally wore and stood tall in heels. “I didn’t expect you home before midnight. Pam and I went out for drinks. Pal stayed with the baby as Mom was busy. She is the only one he will let take care of her, although there are a lot of good baby-sitters that Pam knows of.”

We did go out for dinner and dancing and I did have a good time--to start with anyway. I will say that Pal was much different than he used to be. He was satisfied to have Pam out dancing and flirting just as if she was single again. I questioned him about it. “She knows enough not to go too far. What can I say, I used to be the bad boy and did worse than she will ever do. Let her have her fun.”

The only trouble was Sharon was emulating her. I didn’t approve. When I saw the partner she was dancing with squeeze her breasts and run his hand down over her butt, I had enough. When the set ended I said we were going home. Pal agreed, but there were objections--mainly from Pam, but also some from Sharon too. Sharon sulked all the way home and turned away from me, although it had been two weeks since we had sex.

In the morning I tried to explain to Sharon how I felt about her new penchant for the night-life she seemed bent on pursuing. I guess I made a mess of the explanation for we ended up shouting at each other. Sharon left, just saying she was going out. I sat for two hours and she didn’t return. Screw it. Four hours later I was on a flight to see my folks. Their first question was where was my lovely wife? I just said we had hit a rough spot. I was immediately tagged with the fault. I didn’t try to explain, saying I was there to be with family and it would straighten out.

I thought that being with my folks I would at least get a good night’s sleep. It wasn’t to be. Mom could see how troubled I was. “Tim, you’re twenty-seven. Life has been easy for you. Don’t let this get you down. Go home and apologize to your wife for whatever you’ve done. Everyone makes mistakes. If she won’t accept you back, don’t drag it out. Settle it and move on. She is so sweet and I did love her. Was it another woman you were messing with?”

“Mom, I don’t want to discuss it. Let me stay for a few days and get my head straight. It will work out. If it doesn’t, I’ll follow your advice.” I flew home Friday, leaving my parents still believing that it was me that had been unfaithful to my wife and had been kicked out because of it. Mom and Dad remembered Sharon as being too pure so it must be me.

The house was empty. It didn’t appear that Sharon had been here at all while I was away. The office was still open, so I called Corning. His first words were that Hamm was looking for me. He also added that Pal was in during the mornings, but was having trouble at home and always left at noon. “When are you coming back in yourself? It is a good thing you didn’t have any projects going or you’d be in deep shit. I will say that last job you were on turned out well. Hamm mentioned how happy he was with the results and how you handled it. You get your butt in here Monday.”

I promised I would. I caught a meal at a diner and went by the house. Still no lights. I drove up to Pal’s house and Pam’s car was just pulling away. I couldn’t see if my wife was with her. I followed at a distance. She pulled into the dance hall we had frequented when Pam and I were single. In fact this was the place where I had asked her for the first date. She parked her car way in the back out of the lights. This gave me a sinking feeling, for this was where everyone parked if they anticipated getting a quickie during the evening’s activities.

She was alone though, but dressed as only a slut would dress. Pal must be watching the baby I thought. But where was Sharon? It came to me that probably Pal had reverted to his old ways and she was spending the evening with him while Pam was out. I had to know. I parked on the street and went into the garage. Sharon’s car was parked beside Pal’s. I walked through the mudroom and into the kitchen. I could hear music playing in the living room.

No one was there and I didn’t hesitate as I headed for the bedrooms down the hall. Sharon and Pal were in bed covered up. Both were sleeping and I headed across the room for Pal. Then I spotted the baby, Amy, sleeping between them. I hesitated. Did I want to get violent with this tiny little innocent one sleeping there and possibly being hurt? No.

I turned and blindly headed for the door. I stumbled into a dresser and a vase tipped off and fell to the floor with a crash. Why, I don’t know, but I bent over to pick it up---reaction, I guess. “Tim!” That was Sharon.

I looked at her. She was standing beside the bed and fully dressed. Pal was on the other side and he was fully clothed too. The baby started to cry. “Hi.” That was a stupid remark but I wasn’t thinking. Pal reached over, picked the baby up and cuddled her in his arms. I stood there looking at my wife.

Pal brushed by me saying, “Bottle.”

Tears were coursing down Sharon’s face. “I thought you had left me. Home was so empty without you. I’ve been staying here taking care of the baby mornings, because Pam went back to work as a temp teacher. She goes out most every night. Tim, she is a slut. I can call her that because she is my sister.”

“I know. That’s why I didn’t marry her and waited to marry you.” She came across the room and into my arms.

After many kisses, Sharon looked up from where she was cuddling against my chest. “Tim, can’t you fix her like you fixed Pal? He can’t do anything with her. He feels he deserves what she is doing to him because of what he was like before.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t been very happy since I messed with Pal’s problem. It seems as though his problems went away and mine just started. I felt you were leaving me, and oh sweet, I love you so. I thought you stopped loving me and was following in Pam’s path.”

Sharon’s head went down. “Maybe I was a little, but when I went home and you weren’t there I promised myself I would not touch anymore liquor and be the wife you wanted me to be.” I hugged her to me.

The baby was still crying so when we reached the living room, Pal handed Amy to Sharon. The bottle was warm and she soon had a satisfied little one cradled and close to being asleep again.

“Tim, what can I do about Pam? You woke me up, can’t you do the same to her? Please. Was she like this before I met her? Is that the reason you were never jealous when I started dating her?”

“Yes. She was my friend and I watched her back as best I could. When you came on the scene I turned her over to you. I was not responsible anymore. The only people she respects are her father and mother. I wish they could see how she acts.”

Pal looked desperate. Then he asked, “Where would she be?” I gave him the name of the bar and also the location of her car.

Pal went to the phone and as it was nearly eleven, the call woke Hamm and Celia up. He explained just enough to get them to go with him to the bar. Sharon and I stayed with the baby. It was two hours later when Pal came pushing Pam into the house ahead of him. All she had on were heels and a torn blouse. Her butt was red and I could see hand prints on it before she grabbed a coverlet from the couch and cringed in the corner. Everyone stared at her.

Celia answered some of the questions going through our minds. “Hamm spanked her right in front of several people while Pal beat the shit out of the two men she was with. It probably wasn’t their fault, but they were there.”

Hamm asked one question of Pam before he and Celia left. “Pam, I thought you loved teaching. What is going to happen to your career if the school system finds out their sixth grade teacher is a whore and services men she picks up in a bar? You might want to rethink what you have been doing. Another thing. If I ever hear of you trying to lead your sister astray again, you will be disowned and I will urge Pal to divorce you. I will testify you are an unfit mother and he should have custody of our grandchild.”

He turned to me. “Tim, I understand several things about your relationship with Pam now. 

"Enough said. Goodnight. Good luck with your wife Pal.”

Sharon and I stayed the night in the room that Sharon often had stayed in. The baby was between us. We could hear Pal and Pam talking. Sometimes the voices were raised and other times we were just aware they were still awake. I dropped off to sleep for awhile. I awoke when a little fist was poking me in the eye. I tickled Amy and got a giggle. I played until I glanced at Sharon. She was watching me. “You’d make a great daddy. Want a couple of kids?”

“You bet. When can we start?”

“Just as soon as Pam and Pal settle their differences. That would be by tonight. I heard them make up an hour ago.”

***************

Our family started that night although the physical evidence didn’t appear for nine months. Pam, shamed in front of her parents, became a model teacher and finally gave up her wild ways. Pal and I started working together as a team and over time it was paying off as Hamm expanded his company. Hamm hinted that down the road his two sons-in-law would take over the business. Sharon, my everlasting love, was making a name for herself and developing her own technique. She took up portrait painting. She excelled in children’s likenesses.

Pal and I put all of our differences behind us. Pal’s one aim in life was to marry a rich girl. With some adjustments, he found there was more satisfaction in his life with having friends and family. For years, I could never understand how Pal, the inconsiderate bastard, could ever become my friend. But he did.

The End