Country Prisoner

Part 1

I stood at the sink, scrubbing the dirty dishes. The window above the sink offered nothing but darkness and a cricket's song. That was the beauty of living in a small farmin' town. Dad always said city lights and lots of people can be bad for your health. Good thing Iowa didn't have much of that.

Dad and I just finished dinner. Tonight, I fixed us up some baked chicken. It wasn't as good as mom's chicken used to be, but good enough. As I did dishes, dad lounged back in his cushy chair behind me in the living room. He was watching TV while sipping on his glass of Jack Daniels.

Half-way though the dirty dishes, there was a loud pounding sound. Dad and I both looked towards the door. We were confused. Though we know everyone in town, we don't get visitors often.

Then, there was more aggressive pounding against the door.

Dad sat up in his chair at attention. "Holly, get the door."

When I reached the door and opened it... my eyes grew wide into perfect circles. "Uncle Curtis?"

He rushed inside, slammed the door shut, and slumped against it.

Dad set his glass down and raced over. "The hell? What in—"

"Fred, I'm gonna need that spare room. I need to hide. A place to hide out," he said, out of breath. "The fucking cops are chasing me."

"And they shot ya," dad said, stepping forward and grabbing his brother's shaky arms.

"How did you escape?" I asked, unsure how to feel. I hadn't seen Uncle Curtis since he got arrested last year. He shouldn't be here.

After earning an irritated glance from my uncle, he turned back to dad. "Yeah, yeah, they shot me, but I should be fine. The bullet went right through and out the back. Anyway, Fred, come on, please, I—"

"Yes, yes, it's no question, you can stay here."

He just escaped prison. And he is going to stay here? "Dad—"

"How far away are the cops? When did you lose them?" dad asked.

"A few miles back."

Dad nodded then looked to me. "Holly. Go make room in the spare bedroom. Grab the healing kit, bandages, a wet rag, meet us up there. We gotta patch him up."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I did as daddy said. Even though this felt wrong, dad was the boss and he knew best. So, dad helped Uncle Curtis into the spare bedroom upstairs across from my room. After getting dad everything he needed, I waited. Leaning against the wall in the hallway, I stared at the closed door.

When dad gets finished patchin him up, I would have to try to reason with him. We could get in trouble for helping him hide. Waiting, I played with the ratty yellow scarf around my neck.

Rocking my bare feet against the hard wood, eventually, the door opened. Dad stepped out and closed the door behind him. "He will be fine. Thank the good lord the bullet went straight through and out the back of his shoulder."

"Dad... I don't know about this."

In the dim lit hall, I could see his lips flatten tightly. "Don't start with me."

I knew to fear that voice. Though I flinched at his warning, I couldn't help but speak my mind. "I just... I don't think this is a good idea. What if the cops catch him and learn we helped him hide?"

He jutted a finger in my face. "That's selfish. Selfish. How many times I gotta tell you? Family is family. Family—"

"Daddy, I know family is family and family is the most important thing in this world. I love Uncle Curtis, but... he was in prison."

"Does that make him not family?"

"No, but—"

"Then you're being selfish!" Taking a deep breath, he rested his hand on my shoulder. "Listen. My brother has done more for me than you'll ever know. Family sticks together. Your momma never understood the meaning of family. God knows why you dangle her shit around your neck," he said, flicking the loose end of my scarf.

Mom had tons of scarves. She would wear one every day. Some she knitted, some she bought from Mrs. Flenning's shop down the road. When she took off just over a year ago, she left plenty of scarves behind. Dad never understood why I wore them though.

"I know she abandoned us, but I still love her. That's why I wear her scarves."

"Well, we are better than her. She betrayed and left us. She shit all over her family."

"Yeah, but she ain't a criminal like Uncle Curtis. She left. She didn't drag us down. So... coming here and asking for help, don't that make Uncle Curtis selfish?"

"The reason he came here is because family is everything and we can count on each other. Do you understand?"

Still seemed selfish, but I did understand. Dad knows best and I felt bad for questioning him. I should know better. "I'm sorry dad. I was just feeling selfish."

"That's alright sweetie." He smiled and squeezed my shoulder. Turning towards the stairs, he said, "You need to focus your worry on Uncle Curtis. He'll be fine, but we need to keep his wound safe from infection. So while I am at work tomorrow, keep an eye on it, kay?"

Uncle Curtis wasn't the nicest man. But the biggest rule around here was being loyal to family. He was family so I had to love him. I nodded. "Okay dad."