Simple Man

- TEN -

Rowan saw Kahuna futilely trying to light a cigar but the air around him was too moist. The bouncer gave up and that's when he noticed Rowan as he walked past, "Boy what is you doin'? Get yo ass back inside. You too gone to be riding that motorcycle. It'll be fine under the carport until morning. Go sleep in a booth. Oz won't mind none."

"You know I can't. Too many sore memories here. It was a mistake coming here at all." Rowan slurred, leaning against one of the porches support beams.

"Now hear, I'm not at fit as back when we played football together but if you don't quit I'm going to wrestle you for them keys to yo bike." Kahuna threatened.

"Here." Rowan patted down his denim jacket and felt the bulk of his keys on his inside pocket, he threw them at the big bouncer and Kahuna almost fell off his stool to catch them, "The only one we knew who drove in this condition was Bill, not me. I'll walk."

"You crazy." Kahuna mumbled as he pocketed, "Not as crazy as your old man, but something's not wound right in you."

   Rowan shrugged, "This is very possible... but that son of a bitch was never my old man. I thank fuck he's dead. Have a good night!"

   Rowan stepped down the stairs and out from the cover of the porch, it only took half a second for his clothes to be completely soaked through. The dirt outside Ozzy's establishment was nothing but a big mudhole. Even if Rowan wasn't intoxicated his Indian would have gotten stuck somewhere in between here and where the pavement started into town. The muck suctioned at his boots and there were a few close calls as he made is way down the dirt road that lead back to Juniper.

  He drank socially from time to time but never had he let himself get this wasted since he was sixteen. Even then he didn't drink for the same reasons other teenagers drink. His reason was the same reason he was drinking now. He needed to be numb for a little while longer before powering through the next few days. It was a lot, almost too much for one man to bear. He still hadn't called Edmond yet. It had been three, almost four, days since he left. Rowan was sure Edmond would strangle through the phone if he could.

   Tomorrow. As soon as he slept and sobered up. He'd call. He couldn't put it off any longer.

  "Oh shit!" Rowan yelled as the mud almost pulled the boot off his foot, this time he couldn't do anything but put his arms out in front of him and brace for impact.

   Rowan laughed as he struggled to get back up, a good, healthy, full belly laugh. Was this it? Was Kahuna right? Had he finally lost his mind? Clearly because he caught sight of a Opossum. It had paused not five feet from him and it's eyes were glowing bright. He was drunk but he knew they hadn't installed any kind of streetlights on this road. This road at night was pitch black. So unless he was seeing things, this demon opossum was about to eat him. He could think of worse ways to go, at least it wouldn't be a boring story.

   Then, just like that it flew off into the woods towards the swamp. Rowan realized then he was in the headlights of someone's car and they stopped short of where he was kneeling in the mud. Rowan didn't turn around as he heard the car door slam shut behind him, "Of course you're in the mud! Perfect! Get your sorry ass up!"

"Miss Meghan is that you?" Rowan asked, "I told you  not to worry about me. I'm fine. See? I haven't melted yet."

"This white boy..." she heard her mutter under breath, "Get up, you lucky I came at all! I should have let you catch you're death out here! You'll be glad I didn't!" She said as she bent down in an attempt to pick Rowan up.

"Oh yeah? And why's that?" He asked as he assisted lifting himself up off the ground.

"You were walking in the wrong direction." Meghan stated, dryly.