Time- Vance Hopper

Chapter 23

Bury me with my lover at least

"You and Marie. A man never leaves a friend behind, or his sister. My dad didn't leave his buddies behind when he went to 'nam. And he didn't come home, and I'm not coming home either. And I'm not going to leave you behind."

"We'll be together again soon."  Finney thought. He had given up all hope at this point.

"Fuck that. You ain't gonna go like I did."

"I've tried everything, nothings worked. Robin-"

"Do you remember what I told you?" Robin asked.

"That I needed to see Texas chainsaw massacre?"

"Before that."

"You told me someday I needed to stand up for myself."

"Someday is today fin. Todays the day you stop taking shit from anybody."

"I'm not a fighter like you Robin, you couldn't even take him. Not even Vance could."

"You've always been a fighter, Fin. That's what we have in common. You were always afraid to throw a punch but you always knew how to take one. And you always got back up, every time."

"I'm not strong." Finney said, he thought that a small little boy like him couldn't be like Robin or Vance. It was impossible.

"You have to be. If you can't do it for you, do it for me."

"What does it matter?" Finney asked.

"Because I don't wanna die for nothing. I wanna die for a friend. And because I can't kill that hijo de puta, you have to do it for me."

"How?"

"You're gonna use a weapon."

"What weapon?"

"The one in your hand."

"The phone?" Finney asked. A little confused on how a phones gonna even hurt a 40 year old something man.

"Fill the receiver with dirt. Pack it in tight. Give it some heft."

"Then what?"

"Then you practice. Over and over.? You raise the phone, take a fast step back, step toward, step back and swing. Try it."

"Now?"

"Yes. You raise the phone, take a fast step back, step forward, step back and swing." He repeated as Finney did the steps while he talked.

"Again, take a fast step back, step forward, step back and swing." Finney had gotten the hang of it.

"Again, take a fast step back, step forward, and step back and swing."

"Again, take a fast step back, step forward, and step back and swing."

Finney swung with a grunt, and raised the phone to his ear again.

"You got it. Now fill the phone with dirt like I told you."

"Will I still be able to talk with you?"

"This was the last call, Fin. It's all you from here on out."

"I'll miss you Robin, Marie does too."

"Then get out for me. Use what we gave you. And- Tell Marie I'm sorry."

'Sorry for what?' Finney wondered.

Robin was sorry for a lot. For leaving her, he felt guilty. He was sorry for all the fights he had gotten himself into. He was sorry he was an asshole. He was sorry that he couldn't be there for her through everything.