The Buick: Section Five

Later, when they pulled into Terre Haute,

Fred found the sought-after public phone booth

On the main street in the heart of downtown,

Handing Babette a couple of dollars,

He pointed her toward a five and dime,

But Babette would have none of that, saying

"Here, Mom, take Johnny and buy something fun."

Babette thrust the money at her mother,

"I'm going to stand right here, give these boys

Something to stare at."

                                   Because, up the road,

Three lads, same age as Johnny, stood agape.

Fred waved them off, dropping change in the slot,

Turned his back to all and spoke softly

Into the phone, usual smooth talker.

Grandma grabbed at Johnny's hand, pulling him,

Causing him to stumble, misdirection

From the flirtations out on the still street.

In the store, a girl eyed Johnny sweetly,

As if she understood his agony.

Grandma cuffed his ear and pointed where

He could decide about some distractions.

Blushing, Johnny picked out a yo-yo,

Penny candies and a Baseball Digest,

Hoping for his grandmother's secrecy.

Constance gave a small nod, eyes on the street.

With her change, tucked magazine in her bag,

His conspirator grasping Johnny's hand,

And stood at the door.

                                "Snow's falling again,

"We might as well wait in here 'til he's done."

From behind them, the little girl bawled,

"Mommy, look at all that little boy got!"

"Livvy, not all of us are so lucky."

Johnny blushed again, aware of how

They didn't fit in, staring at his shoes.

"Oh, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,"

Sang the shop owner, only to be sneered

In rebuff from the pint-sized woman

Who clearly wasn't from around these parts.

Johnny coughed violently, then searched

Frantically for his inhaler he'd left

Wedged in the backseat of the black Buick.

"C'mon, honey, let's get back to the car,"

Constance directed, ever well aware

Of the boy's essential medication.

"O.k., everyone," bellowed Fred, volume

Always increased at times when he needed

To boost the illusion of some control,

"It's off to Cedar Rapids we shall go.

Say goodbye to 40, we take new roads,

Sorry, Johnny, we will not be crossing 

The mighty Mississippi for a while,

And yet I promise you that we still will."

Johnny smiled with mock appreciation,

Wishing he had the map here in the back

So that he could locate Cedar Rapids.

"Is that a yo-yo, honey?" said his mom,

Clasping her hands as if she's describing

The found treasure of Sierra Madre.

Babette never swung around in the seat

To make eye contact with her only child,

But straightened her hair, dabbed at her lipstick.

Johnny was used to her stop-and-go talks,

Her flashes of motherhood checked by

Her incessant appeal to womanhood,

Even as Constance clucked right beside him,

Sliding the Baseball Digest 'cross the seat,

Where he kept it hidden between his books,

Another symbol of the man behind.

Link to Section Six

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