Broken Society (EDITING) COMING 2023

chapter 7: july 3rd, 1960

After the meeting at the diner, my uncle insisted that he needed a couple of days before we started. He said he would tell me everything, and after he had told me everything he never wanted to talk about the past again. I thought hard about what he was going to be telling me that was so bad that he didn't want to discuss anymore afterwards. And was I sure that I wanted to know? The painful expression on his face let me know that this wasn't easy for him. I spent the first part of the morning staring at different objects throughout the room with curiosity. Would I soon have that painful expression on my face? I woke early, seven-thirty because sleep was my enemy. It had been for a while, so I took morning as another time to let my thoughts drift wherever they pleased.

When my body began to feel tired I grabbed my jacket and headed towards Kit's to get some coffee. The sun had just barely risen and the air was cool. I don't remember the air back home being this crisp and perfect. There were few women in work out attire walking down the opposite side of the sidewalk getting in their morning exercise.

There were some men putting up red, white, and blue banner's getting ready for the Fourth of July. Fourth of July was my family's favorite day. I knew my absence would probably change things. My dad loved to grill and then we'd drive into town and watch the fireworks. I assumed something similar would happen tomorrow. I found a nearby phone booth and dialed Olivia's number. "Hello?" her hoarse voice answered. She was still sleeping, but I hadn't talked to her since I left. "Hey Livy," I said. "Johnny?" She sounded surprised to hear from me. "Hey. I know its kinda early I just wanted to hear your voice." she stayed silent. "I know you're probably still mad at me, but I just want you to know I'm doing this so that afterward I can put it all behind me." "You promise?" she asked. I sighed, relieved she was finally responding to me. "I promise. I'll call you later," I said.

Outside of Kit's, there were maybe two cars. The sign hadn't turned on in both the parking lot and on the building. For a second I didn't even know if they were open until I got up to the front door and the sign had been flipped to open. As I opened the door the bell chimed above me and everyone inside turned their attention to me. I gave a small smile and placed my hands inside the pocket of my jacket. I headed over to the cash register, where a younger woman met me. "What can I do for you?" She asked. She was taller than the woman from the other day. She looked to be closer to my age and had dark hair. She was extremely tiny, which made her uniform cling to her tighter in certain areas. "Just a coffee to go," I said. I reached in my back pocket for my wallet. "That'll be a dollar fifty." She said. I gave her the exact change and waited for her to make my coffee. I looked around the restaurant at all it's interior design. A large picture of the Sienna Hills High school sat somewhere against one of the walls closest to the booth in the corner. When you first walked in the pictures were lined with celebrities. Whoever owned this had a thing for Dean Martin and Paul Anka.

"Here ya are hon." She said. I took the coffee before thanking her and wishing her a great day. I didn't know where I was going now, so I just started walking in some direction. Eventually, I came across the Sienna Hills high school. It was summer, which meant that the school was vacated. I sipped my coffee every once in a while but took in the building. I walked around until I was by the football field, and something about this looked vaguely familiar. I sat in the bleachers, now getting a better view of the sunrise. While I sat in the bleachers I began to think of where I did go to school. My parents said it was North Ridge High in Alabama with Olivia, but I can't remember anything about that school. High school is a time you should remember. Often you should reflect and think about the memories that you made, but I had none.

I wandered off near the baseball field. Baseball had been something the old me had been good at, but after my accident I never picked up another baseball bat. At the exit of the field, there was a bulletin board that had the teams from each year. I study the pictures admiring the people that loved this sport so much. My eyes stopped when I got to 'Season of 1955'. In the third row there I stood. I was in a uniform with Sienna Hills written right across my chest. I dropped my coffee and took a step closer. I was smiling with my hands behind my back. I was apart of that team. I began taking slow steps backward, making my way back to the sidewalk. And for the rest of the morning, all I could think about was that picture.

I drove to Charlie's house around one. I was still thinking about the picture when I pulled into the driveway and planned to ask him about it. I had so many questions, but at times had to remind myself that this was difficult for him in some way and pushing him too much would get me nowhere.

I knocked on the white front door. I heard some footsteps before they stopped in front of the door. He still had a dry expression across his face. "Hi," I said. He stepped aside. "Come in." He said. The inside was beautiful. As soon as you entered there was a set of steps that led upstairs. But if you passed those steps, to the left was a room, a tea room. And on the right down three little steps lead you right into the living room. There was a fireplace with pictures lining the top shelf. In the corner, a small green tv sat. Once in the living room, you could see the next room lead into the kitchen, which was huge. An island sat in the middle and one side of the room was nothing but windows that gave a gorgeous view of the lake. There was a side door in the kitchen that led out to the backyard and that was just the main level. He instructed me to take a seat in one of the chairs in the living room. There was a large couch and one chair next to it. The other chair was a big comfortable armchair by the fireplace, in other terms his chair.

Before he sat down he went to the kitchen, I assumed to get drinks. While he was there I stood and took a closer look at the pictures. There was a girl, probably in her teens and African- American sitting at the kitchen table. Another woman, who looked like an older version of the girl stood behind her. Next, my Uncle Charlie stood on the other side of her. In front of the girl, there was a birthday cake. After analyzing the photo my eyes returned to the girl. I felt like I had seen her picture before, maybe not this one but in another one. I heard footsteps approaching the living room, but kept my eyes on the girl. "Who is this girl?" I asked. When he remained silent I looked to him for a response. That look he had been giving since I got here returned. He had two cups of tea and his hands and proceeded to place them on the table before answering me. "That girl is-" he sighed instead of finishing his explanation. He looked like he was trying to hold back tears for a moment before he looked away to the floor. "This is probably as hard for you as it is for me Johnny, but all I can give you is the truth. You might not believe it, but this is it." He took a seat in his armchair. "You came here a month before school began." He started.