Reaper's Touch

Gus: Layers

"For we are all bound in stories, and as the years pile up they turn to stone, layer upon layer, building our lives."
-Steven Erikson

That Saturday, the kitchen table had been mysteriously cleared of its junk and papers. And Gus knew Jeff meant business when he asked him in a flat tone to sit down across from him.

"What's up?" Gus asked nervously.

This was it, he was sure. His mind was already running through places to go after Jeff kicked him out. At least it was summer. That gave him a little extra time before winter clawed its way out of the depths of Lake Michigan and began to gnaw on the city like a stray dog on a meatless bone.

Jeff held up a worn Manila folder. "This is your file, Gus. I'm going to give it to you. I want you to read every word."

"My file? Where'd you get that?" Gus asked.

"It's yours now that you're eighteen. It's your legal right to have it."

"What am I supposed to do with it?"

Gus reached for the forbidden folder.

"Whatever you want. Keep it, burn it, show it to your grandkids. It's your property."

All his life, Gus had been curious about this folder's contents, and his hands shook as he opened it. The first thing he saw was his official birth certificate, looking worn and frayed at the edges. His mother's name was Tracey Jewel Crady. His father was a man named August Aaron Hill. That name was listed but never signed, indicating that his father had either disowned him at birth or didn't know about him at all.

"I know their names now! Looks like she named me after my dad," Gus said excitedly. "He might be a lost cause, but I always wanted to meet my mom. I bet she's on the internet and I can find her! Maybe she'd wanna meet me too and-"

Jeff put a hand over his, and Gus lowered the file to see his grave face.

"She dead?" he asked softly.

Jeff shook his head.

"Then what's wrong?"

Jeff's eyes were becoming pink and glassy as he fought back tears. Jeff hardly ever cried, and Gus was scared.

"What?" he asked desperately.

"You can't meet her, Gus," Jeff said, clearing his throat.

"You said she ain't dead so..."

"She's alive. She's in prison."

Gus felt relief flow through him. "Okay, so I can visit her in prison then! Damn, Jeff, you had me all freaked out for no reason!"

Jeff shook his head again. He pulled another piece of paper out of his pocket. "There's some hard words in here. I've highlighted just the parts you need to read. The rest is legal jargon. It explains everything."

"What is it?" Gus asked.

"A police report."

"Is this why she got arrested?" he asked, and Jeff nodded.

Gus put his file down and opened the paper with shaking hands. Reading a police report was a little confusing, but Jeff had gone through and defined the words he might not understand with a pen. It was clear enough. As he read it, he felt himself growing cold inside.

"It just says 'the infant'. But... who are they talking about?" he asked in a whisper, already knowing the answer but wishing he was wrong.

"You," Jeff said.