The Wall

The Wall

  1.

  A dusty road runs up to the side of a group of trailers that lay baking under the morning sun. 87 degrees it reads on a swelling plastic thermometer that hangs haphazardly on the peeling sheet metal. There seemed nothing that could save these sweltering boxes except that off to the side; Past the heap of rotting tires and forgotten faded lawn ornaments is a wall that shimmers, an oasis of trees behind it. 
   A lone black cat, meows plaintively in the hot sun, its short fur glistening having soaked up the morning rays. It pants and looks around, trotting towards the wall leaving tiny paw imprints in the ground. It approaches the wall, and seems to be gazing through it, before with a slight swish of its tail walks straight at it and vanishes. 

2.

 

  A man, wearing a soiled wife beater and carrying a bag of dripping trash, doesn't notice the cat or the fact that it has vanished. His shoulders are slick with sweat and dark sunburn. A fly hovers nearby, buzzing as if seeking refuge in his shadow and the man swears swatting at it, as the bottom of the bag rips out, spilling the contents close to the wall. But, as he stands there swearing, his eyes see no wall, only dirt and miles of empty lots filled with scattered trailers like the one standing across from him, filled with dead weeds, beer cans and garbage remains, that he is kicking and spreading around in his worn, unlaced construction boots, hoping that the neighborhood strays will just eat it up. His boot flies off to the side, from the effort and he stumbles slightly; his bare foot stepping into a melange of coffee grounds and congealed garbage juice gravies. Standing there, cursing aloud, he debates and flings the hot stinking bag aside so that a micro breeze picks it up and drags it down the dirt path; tangling itself along dead stalks of weeds. He smacks a hand over the back of his sweaty neck at the pestering fly, wiping his foot in the dust as the sun beats mercilessly on him; he turns not bothering to retrieve his boot which blends in with the the rest of the monochromatic debris, thinking only of his ice chest and the tall cans of beer that await inside.

3.
 

   Addie awoke panting slightly, even in her tight tank top and thread bare pajama pants, her room was already sweltering. She sat up, throwing the thin blanket off the dingy mattress which lay scrunched as if the previous owner had jumped the life out of it, against the wall. She groaned for a moment, hoping it was a dream. 

  Always the same one; her father sneaking into the dusky darkness and whispering in her ear "Addie, dalrin. I hab ta go. Jaseus is'a calling. bat I'll leave ya'll a check. An Sandra'll be ere." And she would reach up, feeling that 5 o'clock shadow on her father's bristly cheeks and reply sleepily "No daddy, please, take me to see Jesus too. Not here with Sandra." 

  He would sit a moment, thinking, voice sorrowful "No, dalrin, a trip to see Jaseus is no place for a chaild. Stay'll here fa'r me,wi'ch Sandra." and he would run a hand tenderly through her tangled brown strands of hair, his thick rough fingers would work on a few of the matted ones and she would prop her head on his thigh. But, it was like a dream, as he would stand, kissing her cheek; Leaving behind traces of his aftershave and the sandy scent of hand rolled cigarettes on her face.

   She silently got up, her bare feet making no noise on the worn linoleum floor. Sticking her head out, she could hear the blare of the tv soaps coming towards her. Good, maybe Sandra had already passed out with her usual bottle of vodka or tequila. She could see the top of her dirty blond head sticking out above the lime green couch, but not moving. 

   She walked to the kitchen table and notices that her father had indeed left a check. "Great" she thinks to herself, reaching up to grab a box of Cornflakes and the can of sugar.

  "You forgot to take out the trash last night." comes the scratchy voice from the couch. A trail of smoke drifting lazily upwards.

   Addie face palmed herself. She had fallen asleep reading her favorite book, her only book really. "Sorry I forgot. I'll do it after breakfast."

  "You'll do it now, you sorry piece of shit. Don't tell me you just, forgot. Goddamn place is bad enough with you stinking it up. And now your daddy has gone up again and left me with you." the drunk voice faltered only a little. "Don't make me get up. I will rip your god damn hide off."

   Addie reluctantly set the box down, she knew that Sandy would; come after her with the nearest object, usually one of her father's belt. She grabbed a large black trash bag and started sweeping the mummified remains of banana peels, harden bits of eggs and toast. Cans and empty bottles litter the counter and she flicks a roach of off one. She manages to fill the bag, avoiding coming near Sandra and her bottles "K, I'm taking it out now. No need to get up." she says carefully, hauling and tying it shut as she slipped on her old faded flip flops and balancing the heavy bag carefully walked out the torn screen door and into the blistering heat.

4.

  The inside of the wall, was actually not a wall at all. It was a boxlike and contained an oasis of trees, their greenness would have been seen for miles contrasting against the dusty landscape. But, it was all hidden, as the cat shook the dust from its fur and trotted towards a tow headed child that sat up against one side mumbling to himself trying to repair an old well loved bear, who's worn fur had started to show the stuffing. Another child, leaned against a tree trunk flicking stones lazily into a pond that gurgled refreshingly in the middle. There were other's, but none seemed to notice the sweltering heat that surrounded them, only the cool breeze that seemed to circulate in that room alone. 

5.

  Addy trudged down the same dirt pathway, except that her eyes swept the ground and across, always searching for something exciting. But, it always seemed like the same dreary landscape. She was looking across, when she saw the cat, who seemed to be only half there. Its back half vanishing into nothing. She stood there gawking, and watched as the cat vanished once again. The garbage forgotten, she hurried across and studied the area in front of her. At first, she saw nothing and then out of the corner of her eye she saw a hint of green. 

........To be continued....