A Short Inspired Story…
Hmmmm hmmm hmmmm… The phone buzzing in his pocket disrupting the meeting that he is running.
Hmmmm hmmm hmmmm… A room of well but casually dressed men and woman as if in their sunday’s best listening intently to the speech.
Hmmmm hmmm hmmmm… As the phone continues to ring the buzzing from George’s pocket soon is the only thing everyone can hear and his presentation to his crew is going unnoticed.
Letting out a large sigh and rolling his eyes sarcastically to his staff as they chuckle along with George he digs his phone out of his jeans from underneath his tool belt.
“What… a… hastle!” George says struggling to wiggle his phone from the tight pocket and guarded by a bustling belt. Once free his carefree and confident expression sours to a scowl.
Some of the crew begin to become concerned. The most senior of which, Martha a tough as nails electrician that has worked for George for many years asks, “What’s wrong boss? Another truck tagged?” The crew chuckle as Martha attempts to break up the seriousness.
“It’s Ryan.” George says abruptly and leaves. On his way out, looking to Martha and waving her up to finish the meeting.
“Alright ya’ll you know how it is Georgie boy needs to go find his brother. Nothing out of the ordinary… unfortunately.” Pausing awkwardly Martha rethinking her sentence. “Never mind all that we got jobs to get to and it’s early! Plummers you have three houses right away…” pointing at the whiteboard and continues on.
George on his way out smirks with gratitude for Martha sticking around as long as she has. Walking away as Martha’s instruction fades in the background, George thinks to himself, “like a sister I never had, I’m glad Martha can step in for times like this.” Climbing into his chevy truck and taking off for the shelter on the other side of town.
Stopping halfway at the home George and his older brother grew up at is always the first spots he checks. Dingy, dark and void of life stands what remains of their childhood home and all the times that reside within its walls. Staring blankly at the house with its unkempt weeds winding themselves in the chain linked fencing. Rusted joints and chipped yellow paint gave this old home a jaundice appearance. Snapping from his trance remembering what he is up to, George’s phone rings again this time sound broke out to catch his attention.
Looking at the caller i.d. saying Lucy and underneath her name reads homeless shelter. “Yeah, George here!” He said panicked.
“Hey George it’s Lucy…” Lucy is the lady who runs the homeless shelter and who is always the one to make this call.
“Hey, hey, what’s happening?!” George interrupts.
“Ryan had another break and we need your help to find him.” Lucy says concerned and sorry that this is happening again.
“I’m on it and I will find him.” George says and hangs up.
Starting at the childhood home George began to weave the streets of the neighborhoods they grew up. Much like they did as children jumping to the back of their Pop’s chevy pick up to “discover treasure” as he put it. The boy’s father was a self taught handy man and would often spend his drives home from work combing the streets for stuff people put on the sidewalk for the trash folk to take. So before the trash guys came around he would collect things he could fix then sell them at a local market.
As George drove the streets he began reminiscing to himself, “we would spend every Saturday morning the same as this one. We wake up before the sun, clean the truck and head out to see what we could find. The magic of the morning and the excitement of a good find was entertaining to watch none the less from Pops. He didn’t need the money either because he had a solid job that kept us in good condition. This was his hobby which was more of the same work he would get paid for at work. He loved fixing things.”
George knows that if he combs for long enough he will find his older brother rummaging through trash for treasure as they did as children. This was a cycle George would find himself in time to time as his brother would enter into these episodes. Continuing to weave through the neighborhoods George reminisces on, “the episodes started when I was in community college at that time my maintenance business was just me and my brother when he was around. I remember that day vividly because it was the day I would loose my brother and gain a whacky new friend. I was in class and my phone went off as it did today, but it was our Mother. She said that one moment Ryan was crashing on the couch as he did time to time and then he was gone with the front door wide open. I quickly got up from my class and stormed out heading home. Once home I discover my Mother crying on the door step talking to an officer worried he got mixed up with bad people. My brother lived a very unsavory life. The officer turned to me saying they have gotten calls at the homeless shelter of someone matching my brother’s description. I took off again consoling my Mother. We use to feed homeless people and help fixing things up there with Pops as Mom would cook in the kitchen for the people there. We would fix anything and for hours. Why would he be there? Once I arrived I saw two officers observing my brother fanatically fixing an old air conditioning unit that has been broken since we were children. The officers told me he wasn’t hurting anyone and was experiencing a psychotic break as described by Lucy who knows these events all to well. Once my brother calmed down he fell unconscious and began having seizures. An ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital. After a few days of rest for him and tests they confirmed that he had taken so many drugs in his life that this last mix had sent him over and broke his mind. I woke up by someone tapping me on my shoulder as I sat in the chair beside my brother’s bed. Ryan had woken up and wanted to know why he was in the hospital and who was I. He had lost all memory of who I was, but not of me his brother, he just couldn’t recognize me as a man and only as his little boy brother. I was now just a new friend that was like a brother to him.” Just as the memory concludes George turns on his high-beams looking at a dumpster moving around in a parking lot of a market.
A disheveled man jumps out of the dumpster holding a bicycle frame and wearing three sets of bicycle chains on his neck covered in grease. Covered head to toe in dirt and filth from the various dumpsters he had loomed through.
Pulling up through the lot and up to the man George pokes his head out and yells, “Hey! Dingus! What are you doing so early?!”
“Georgie!” Ryan exclaims arms out wide waiting for a hug then sniffing himself and putting his arms down.
“You know George I am just looking for gold out here in the wee bits of the morning!” Ryan says with a large grin as his teeth rattle and gnash together. His eyes are dilated and looks like he hasn’t slept in days.
“Have you slept in a while?” George asks approaching Ryan.
“Not in a few days. I have been in a flow of finding amazing things. I was able to make someone a table and fix a whole refrigerator for the shelter. Can’t sleep with all these great projects!” Ryan rattles on jittery and despondent.
Pulling in Ryan, George gives him a massive hug smearing the grease and filth onto his clean work shirt. “Oh Goergie! Why did you go and dirty up your shirt you know I was in that dumpster…” Ryan pleaded.
“No big deal I have other shirts and only one of you Ryan,” George says as he leads Ryan to the truck throwing all his finds in the bed. Looking down at his shirt and taking a sniff George shakes his head violently to the smell as he gets into the truck.
Hopping into the passenger seat Ryan says, “you always know how to find me like we grew up together or something.” Grinning ear to ear after gesturing.
“Speaking of how is your brother?” George asks knowing all to well Ryan can’t tell the difference between a phone call and in person.
“Well, I haven’t seen him in a long time and wouldn’t even know what he looks like because he was in college last I saw. Any how he has a nice business going and a large staff, he has a fiancé and is looking to grow his business and family soon.” Ryan rattling off a laundry list of things that George has accomplished.
“Sounds like he is doing well.” George laments.
“So Ryan. You need to be getting sleep. You know that the projects aren’t going anywhere. Sleep is what keeps you level.” George says after he pulls up to the homeless shelter.
“Yeah I know I just got excited. Did you see what’s in your truck bed?!” Ryan responds.
After taking all the new/old finds into the shelter for Ryan and him to fix George says, “Hey, Ryan I need to make a call then I will be right back.”
“Sure thing Georgie.” Ryan says gleefully.
Scrolling through his contacts George taps on Martha and selects call. The phone sounds of ringing when… “Yeah, what’s it to ya?!… Hello?” Martha yells clears her throat then calmly says hello.
“Hey Martha who are you yelling at?” George asks concerned.
“Georgie Boy! Oh I caught some of those ding dongs tagging our trucks and beat the shiz out of one and chased the rest off. How’s your brother?” Martha states proudly and asks sincerely.
“He is ok. Found him in a dumpster this time.” George says laughing as he looks down on his shirt. “Everything going well today?”
“Yeah no problem here Georgie. Say?! Are there any good finds that your brother may want to fix up for me?” Martha asks.
“Not sure yet, but maybe a bicycle you would like. Any jobs I’m needed for?” George cajoles and asks.
“Awesome! Tell him if it’s custom I will take him shopping for some new tools.” Martha says excited.
“Hey! Don’t spend all your raise on tools for other people this time. Any jobs?” George asks again.
“Oh yeah! Miss Garfield is requesting you personally. That old lady was your mom’s best friend right?” Martha asks.
“Yeah, sweet woman. Tell her I will be by this evening.” George says hanging up.
“Alrighty Ryan what did you find?” George asks as he walks back into the shelter.
“Ok ok ok!!! There are plenty of parts for a bicycle, some for maintenance here and a few kid scooters that I can make real cool for the neighboring orphanage.” Ryan rattles off again.
“Sounds good, while I clean all this up for us to work on you go get cleaned up yourself.” George says.
“Will do Georgie! Was that Martha on the phone?” Ryan asks as he was on his way to the showers.
“Yes! She said if you make her a custom bicycle she will take you for new tools and stuff you need for the shelter.” George relays.
“OH SHIT!” Excited beyond belief; Ryan sprints off to the showers.
Lucy from the kitchen yells, “LANGUAGE!” Lucy then waves over George.
George makes his way to the kitchen to speak to Lucy. “What’s on your mind?”
“You don’t have to spend the day here with him you know. He will get into projects and zip through the day as usual. The break ended and he is safe; you can go back to work.” Lucy says with her hands on his shoulders with the warmth of a mother.
“I know Lucy, first work is good and Martha has that under control. Second though Ryan may not remember me as his brother when we spend time together, but I can still be his brother.” George sums up.
“Oh Martha is quit the firecracker!” Lucy says laughing. Letting the laughing subside.
“I remember you both as young boys coming with your parents to help here often and Ryan wasn’t the best brother to you. I don’t mean to disparage Ryan as he has his troubles and those may have been the reason he treated you the way he did. Despite that you were treated terribly sometimes and I often was the one to break up the fights that would ensue. I became a surrogate parent to you both as I never bothered your parents with your boys tomfoolery.” Lucy mutters off concerned.
“Hm….” Taking a moment to take that all in George says, “My brother may not have been a good or nice brother, he may have bullied me, hurt me and threatened me. The thing is I have always understood why. He is sick and always has been. As much as I was never able to fight back when smaller, once I grew up and could handle him I thought I would get revenge. Instead I realized that once I knew he could not hurt me again because I became more physically dominant it made me feel pity and sadness for him. I spent my childhood watching him make every single mistake a to z. So in a way I am grateful he is the fuck up so to speak….”
“Language!” Lucy cutting off George with a quiet admonishment.
“Sorry got carried away there. I am grateful he was tripping over every curb and stepping on each land mine because it made it so much easier for me to avoid them. Ryan despite being a thorn in my side for so long is one major reason I have become so successful and strong.” George finishes.
“Well I would say that you definitely got the insight from your parents.” Lucy says chuckling.
Chuckling along with her George says, “after all I am stronger than him because I started working out early to avoid being beat on. Now look at me!” Holding his arms out wide.
Lucy and George laugh as they realize his shirt is still covered with filth. Lucy then says, “yes young man you are quit healthy.” Patting him on the back and pointing at Ryan.
“Georgie Lets Do It!” Ryan yells sprinting to the fresh finds. “You didn’t clean them?!” Ryan asks.
“Lucy made me talk to her and I got trapped.” George pleads.
“Oh yeah, her talks can get you.” Ryan laments.
The brothers break out the cleaning supplies and get to washing away the dirt and polishing a shine to these diamonds once tossed aside. After organizing the pile into specific parts for various projects the brothers sit to game plan with a whiteboard and sandwiches Lucy made earlier.
“Looks like we can make Martha one of those bad ass three wheel bikes that will be a Harley Davidson equivalent to a bicycle. You think she will like that?” Ryan sparking with creativity asks.
“Oh definitely! She actually joined a biker gang recently. You must be psychic or something.” George jokes.
“Do you have your welding gear in the truck?” Ryan asks.
“Yeah, but you aren’t using it.” George jolts.
“Fine!” Ryan throwing his hands up frustrated.
The brothers get to putting together one of the meanest bicycles in town. Practically a bicycle low rider with multiple cup holders, speakers built in and a little motor to assist with peddling. Proud of their work they stand up look at the clock and realize many hours have flown by as Martha walks in to pick up her bike.
Looking upon the two brothers from her office above Lucy writes in her journal, “it still surprises me how much of their father’s knack and passion for building projects lives within both his boys. It’s like they are kids again after getting into a fight and making up they would loose the day to projects like this. Some things don’t change.” She caps her pen and makes her way to the window just in time to see Martha arrive.
“Hey my boys! George you look gross! Have you both been here all day?!” Martha walks in and shamelessly hugs them both grappling them with her callus crusted hands with no way to escape.
Upon release the brother both gasping for air and say, “WAIT!” Coughing Ryan continues, “wait wait wait let us do a grand reveal!”
Martha sits down on a metal fold out chair flipping it open like the cool kid in the cafeteria. Ryan rolls the bike up covered in a blanket. Whipping it off the once turd now polished into pure silver…
“Oooooooooooooowwwweeeee this shiz,” sliding in the z in her shit as she glances scared at Lucy above due to the language. “Shiz this looks like it straight out of pimp my bike ya’ll!” Jumping around like a large rabbit Martha is esthetic with the old/new ride.
“How do you like it?” Ryan asking seeking approval.
“Amazing! We are getting you some tools my friend!” Martha hugs him close as George stands with a smile on in the background.
Ryan pushes away from Martha urgently, “how’s my brother doing?!”
Martha looks to George who simply says, “yeah, how is he doing today?”
Martha taking time to gather the thoughts, “Ryan, your brother is having an awesome day today. He got to work on something fun with an old friend.”
“Thats great. Will you both tell him to call me later?” Ryan asking sincerely.
“I will be sure he calls when he is at Miss Garfield’s.” George says knowing Miss Garfield would love to hear from Ryan not knowing of his current state.
“Let’s go Ryan!” Martha yells breaking the awkward moment. “We have tools to buy!”
“YES!” Throwing a fist to the sky Ryan exclaims.
“Have fun you two!” George says as Martha and Ryan skip off to her truck.
Once the two left George stands in the same spot for a bit as one tear of joy runs down his face. Lucy walks up wiping it away with her thumb patting him on the back and saying, “you have had a long day, but you have one last job to get to.”
George walks out silently with a warm smile on his face and gets into his truck. Before starting the ignition he looks up at the shelter giving a nod of respect and takes off.
Knock, knock, knock goes George on the front door of Miss Garfield’s home. “Oh George! Come on in!” The gentle old woman shuffling along guiding him to a recliner with a small pillow of a butterfly upon it.
Sitting down and brushing himself down as he admires the fresh shirt he has on now. “Wasn’t this Uncle Jed’s chair?” George asks.
“Oh yes! I know you have been working and this is the only chair I would allow Jed to sit in once he got home from the factory. That man would just come home filthy and sit in that chair, shower then sit back in the filth he tracked in!” Miss Garfield fusses about laughing at the foolishness her husband would get up to in earlier years.
“I miss Uncle Jed.” George laments.
“I will see him soon enough.” Miss Garfield states.
“Don’t say that!” George retorts.
“Oh please I’m an old woman! Should I be surprised that I would die at some point being this decrepit.” She says laughing hard and finishing with a cough.
“What needs fixin’?” George asks once the coughing subsided.
“Nothing child I made too much diner yesterday, so there are leftovers for you to take. Also I haven’t seen how you have been for a while. How’s Ryan?” She reveals with a smirk pinching his cheek then asks.
“I actually spent the day with him today and he actually wants to call the both of us on the phone.” George states.
“Oh wonderful ring him up!” Twirling her finger in the air in a gesture of excitement.
“Alright…” George says as the phone begins to ring.
Ring….
Ring….
Ring….
This story was inspired by Otto von Bismarck’s quote:
“Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”
Mr. Sods 