Brothers In Need: A Novel

Finding Work

The sun shone bright at the top of the sky, cars whizzed by on the highway, Walter and his brother, Martin, sat on their minimal luggage waiting for the next bus out of state. The two men had no idea where they were going, but Walter knew they had to get far, far away, the last town they were in ran them out or threatened to 'get rid of' Martin. It was a miniscule town in northwest Mississippi called Alligator*, the entire town listen to every word their vehement preacher spoke, and once Walter and Martin's mother passed he had no qualms taking advantage of the people and preaching of the 'demons' inside Martin's head and that they were being called to 'action' by the lord, so instead of sticking around to see what happened next, they fled town. The sun warmed their skin as they waited. "Walter?" Martin spoke softly

"Yeah?"

"Why are there voices? Some are mean," Martin questioned his voice shaking.

"It's just- you're just- I don't know Martin you were just born like that."

"I see things sometimes," Martin confessed.

"Like what?"

"Sometimes I see Mama, but it don't sound like her, she's mean sometime. It scares me."

"It's okay they can't hurt you, jus' don't listen to nothin they say to do, no matter what okay?" Walter said seriously. Martin shook his head slowly, acknowledging what Walter said.

"I miss Mama, Walt."

"Me too, Martin, but I'm all you got now an' we gotta stick together." Walter looked at Martin who was playing in the dirt on the sidewalk, the gray dust coating the tips of his fingers.

"Bus to Oklahoma leaves in five, load quickly!" a large voice announced over the intercom.

"Dust off ya' hands Martin, we gotta go." Martin confusedly stood up, wiping his hands, and Walter grabbed his arm yanking him towards the bus.

The bus trip wasn't even half a day, but it certainly felt like it, Walter and Martin were glad to stretch their legs waiting for the next bus. "Ok, Martin, we got till ten to get back here an' forty bucks. What do you wanna do?"

"Let's get Dinner!", Martin shouted excitedly pointing at the large sign at the end of the block, the sign read "Best Burgers this Side of the Mississippi".

"Alright then let's go."

The boys ate a hefty dinner of burgers, fries, and milkshakes, they still had some time left so they popped into some of the shops along main street, they were in a large antique shop right across from the diner. Walter was laughing at Martin who was playing with some of the smaller trinkets and knick knacks. "Store's closing in two!" Walter looked at his watch and panic rushed through his body, it was ten o'clock already.

"Let's go!", Walter shouted, Martin turned and followed his brother running out of the shop. The street was quiet with just a few cars puttering down the dark street, the moon was large overhead in the sky illuminating the sidewalk. The men shot down the sidewalk towards the bus station with their luggage in hand, the bus station was only a block away, but they were too late, when they got there the bus had just pulled away from the station. "Wait!" Walter screamed at the bus even though it was no use, he slumped down against the wall panting with his head in his hands.

"Wha- what are we gon' do now Walt?"

"I guess we just gotta wait here till the next bus out." Walter stood up and walked over to the small window on the outside of the building. "Excuse me, Ma'am, do you know when the next bus outta here is?" The lady didn't even look up from her magazine and pointed towards the board on the wall, Walter scanned the board and groaned. "Looks like we gotta find somewhere to sleep cause' the next bus outta here is this time tomorrow." Picking up their luggage they were on their way to the nearest motel.