Twiddling Thumbs

prologue: sammi

[Drew to the side!]

It started as a regular day for me, or as close to regular day as a day get. But life always finds ways to surprise us or in my case, ruin lives. It’s a wonder how I survived to see the next day of my life. After all, I only lost two family members that day. 

I’ll never admit it to anyone, but they were the best. Both took me out for ice cream, made me dinner, and helped me with some of my problems. They did more for me in a day than my own mother ever did in my whole life.

I was never the family favorite, but my brother thought I was. He'd treat me with respect, he wouldn't yell at me if I didn't get an A, and he loved every inch of me. 

And he still would if he was alive. 

I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss him. And truth is, I don’t even know how he got shot, but I imagine it went something along the lines of a drunken man, not knowing exactly what he was doing, pulling a gun on my brother. 

But the police said differently. 

“Hey Beau,” Sammi called, sticking his head around the corner. “I’m heading out to the bar. Do you wanna come? It has been a long year after all.” 

Beau poked his head out of his room. “Sure, let me grab my things.” 

Sammi smiled, jogged back to his room, and grabbed his box of already pack belongings. Summer vacation was a hassle, but at least he’d get to see his baby sister. Mom and dad didn’t really pay too much attention to her, after all. “Beau, you take forever!” he called down the hall. “My baby sister can pack faster than you, and she’s a girl!” he joked.

“I’m a math teacher, Sammi. I can’t just leave all these calculators lying around. I’ve got to bring them home, or put them in the library storage. Then I’ve got to clean the boards and–”

“Oh shut it. Can’t you do that sometime later? You can always come back. You have the keys.” Sammi suggested. 

“Yeah, but–”  Beau tried. 

“Don’t make me come get you.”  Sammi warned. “Grab what you have now and come on.”  

“God, Sammi, why’re you in such a rush?” Beau laughed.

Sammi crossed his arms, even though Beau couldn’t see him. “I wanna get there before they run out of the good stuff.” 

Beau came out of his class room. “I thought you were an English teacher.” Sammi gave his a confused look. “You said ‘stuff’. English teachers are supposed to use big words.”  

“Oh shut it, Beau.” Sammi grabbed his box. “Let’s get to the truck.” Beau nodded, and they headed out the from doors to Sammi’s blue Chevy. They tossed their closed boxes in the back and headed around to the front. Sammi pulled out his keys and unlocked the car. They hopped inside, and Sammi started the truck. 

“So...” Beau tried to strike up conversation. “how’s the parent thing going? Have they even tried to conversate with her? I mean, besides yell at her?” 

Sammi sighed, “No, not really. They expect her to be just like me: an over achiever. But I’m not sure if she can do it. I mean, she’s really smart and all, but I don’t think she wants to be like me. She wants to do her own thing, y’know?”

Beau nodded, “What does she like to do?” 

Sammi knew this; it’s somewhere in the back of his mind. He knows she’s said it before. Sammi rubbed his chin. His eyes lit up. “Ah, I remember. She said she wanted to be a photographer. She’s always loved to take pictures.” Sammi smiled at the memories when mom and dad weren’t always so harsh to her. 

Beau smiled, “I always knew she’d love to take pictures of the outside. Well, tell her I wish her luck.” Sammi nodded and pulled over into the bar parking lot. 

“Will do, and we’re here.” Sammi pulled over into a spot and shut the truck off. He opened the door and stepped out. Beau did the same. They met at the front of the truck, and Sammi locked it. “Come on.” Sammi waved to his friend. 

Beau wasn’t much older than Sammi. He was probably a year or two older than Sammi; Sammi never asked. Matter of fact, they met at college. Beau was his roommate for the year then Beau left to get a job. Sammi graduated college soon after and became a teacher at the same school Beau was. It was a coincidence meeting him there, but soon after they became friends. 

They headed inside the bar, and Sammi rushed over to the counter, Beau right by his side. Sammi looked over at Beau. “What do you want?” Beau waved him off. 

“A vodka please.” Beau smiled. 

Sammi nodded, “Make that two.” 

The bartender poured the drinks and handed them to Sammi and Beau. Beau chugged his, but before Sammi could even get his to his lips, he heard a boom and felt a piercing pain in his stomach. He looked over at Beau, who’s eyes were wide. He followed Beau’s gaze down to his lower region and saw blood pouring from his stomach, ruining his favorite shirt.

"Goddammit, this is my favorite shirt." Sammi murmured.  

He clenched his stomach with his hand and fell to his knees. He raised his head just enough to get a peek at the man who shot him. The man was standing on top of a table with a disgusted look towards Sammi on his face. Sammi couldn’t understand what exactly he did wrong. 

Sammi started feeling wheezy, and he heard Beau frantically calling an ambulance and then police. Beau took off his over shirt and wrapped Sammi’s stomach with it. Beau started swearing loudly, and Sammi’s eyes closed. 

Sammi felt himself being lifted into the air, and he saw the light. Sammi never opened his eyes again. Beau was devastated, but rode in the ambulance with him anyways. The doctors said there was nothing they could do, because of all the blood Sammi lost. 

The police showed up a few hours later and explained to Sammi’s family what happened. Beau only showed his face at school, and at the funeral. 

I was devastated, but I guess I wasn’t the only one. A few hours later my dad killed himself. Without Sammi here, he had nothing to route for. My mother was scared, so she moved her work home. She never left her room, unless she was hungry or had to use the bathroom. We never spoke about what happened; we never spoke at all. She paid the bills, and I stayed out of the way. 

I kept my camera Sammi gave me; even though, right after Sammi was shot Mom said to throw it away. I hid it, and she never noticed. 

I kept my head down at school, because people didn’t pity me. They found an opportunity, and they took it. They made fun of me, only for the fact that my brother was killed in the bar; he hadn’t even been drinking. But they didn’t know that. They only knew what the reporters showed them. 

I hadn’t seen Beau since the funeral, and he was a mess. Sammi was a great person. He always gave to the homeless, he gave me my camera, and he even tried to get my parents to go easier on me. 

So how come bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people?