The Legend Lives

Tommy's Birthday Present

Mama Sawyer wheeled into the living room where Mindy and Carrie were. It was starting to get dark and neither Thomas nor Tex were back yet.

"Where are the boys?" Mama Sawyer asked.

"Tommy went to wait for Tex", Mindy answered.

"How long ago was that?"

Mindy looked at the clock hanging on the wall.

"About three hours ago", she answered.

"When is Daddy coming home?" Carrie asked.

"I don't know, honey. Why don't you go upstairs? Auntie and I need to have a talk."

"That's what you and Daddy said, and you didn't talk", she smartly said.

"Your mother and I are going to talk about other things", Mama Sawyer said.

"Really?"

"For real this time", Mindy said.

Mindy waited until Carrie was upstairs before turning back to Mama Sawyer. She looked down at her lap before starting.

"What is it you need to talk to me about?" Mama Sawyer asked.

"It's about me and Tommy", Mindy said. "And about his birthday present."

"What about it?"

"How different was it when you had more than one kid?"

"What do you mean?" Mama Sawyer asked.

"Tinker was your first son, right?" Mindy asked.

Mama Sawyer nodded.

"How did things change once Tex came into the picture?"

"Things were very different. Tinker was no longer the center of attention. I had to learn how to give him attention every once in a while, and still take care of Tex. Tinker thought he had to earn my attention."

Mindy felt nervous and started worrying about Carrie. Mama Sawyer noticed the look on her face.

"What's wrong, dear?" she asked.

Mindy shook her head.

"No, it must be something if you had to ask."

"It's concerning Tommy's present", she answered.

"Which is?"

"I have to wait for Tex to come home. He's bringing it. Once I see it for myself, then you'll know what his present is."

Mama Sawyer shrugged and wheeled out of the room. Mindy sighed as she looked out the window and wrapped her arms around herself. She softly touched her stomach hoping Tex and Thomas would be home soon.

------------------------------------------

Tex drove Alfredo's truck heading home and trying to head off a couple of travelers he ran into at the gas station. It was quiet that night. The only thing that could be heard was the engine of the truck and the sound of what little wind there was.

Tex stopped the truck when he heard the buzz of a chainsaw.

"Tommy" he called out. "Tommy, it's Tex."

The sound of the chainsaw soon stopped. Thomas came out from the bushes and stepped onto the road in front of the truck.

"There you are", Tex said. "Guess what, cousin? I got a little job for you to do."

Thomas climbed onto the flatbed of the truck as Tex started the engine. They backed the truck into the bushes as they waited for a car to come. In the back of the truck, Thomas saw a dead coyote. That would come in handy.

Soon a blue car came rushing by. Tex turned on the lights and started following the car. Thomas stood on the back of the truck as Tex sped up. They waited until they were right next to the car. Side by side. Thomas grabbed the dead coyote and threw it onto the other car, smashing their windshield and causing the car to stop.