On the Run by M Zeigler (short story to read TXT) 📖

First of all, what your mother did? Let it go, things happened that you knew nothing about and she felt it safer for her and you to get away while the getting was safe.

Little girl, you need to learn how and when to forgive, you carry far too much baggage around, it’ll kill you. The past is the past, get over it. The anger, the hate, spiteful, bitter behavior you expose to the world only shows your weakness, and it will eventually drag you to a point of insanity far beyond the reach of any doctors.

Now, as for that charming young man sitting outside on the hood of your car, he may seem like trouble, he may be the last thing on this earth that you wanted but realize this. He’s the only person standing by you through thick and thin, now I’m not sayin marry him or noth’n like that but at least trust him and know you have a safe place to go when you need to hide.

Knowing you as well as I do, right about now you’re getting ready to head back after Devon full set on catching him. And I’m telling you, that is exactly a good start! Keep one thing in mind, one age old joke I told your father, your uncle and essentially told you. You may not need this information immediately, but keep this following punch line logged away in memory. ‘They recalled the Lawn Dart! Man, I told you that was going to be a headache!’

 Devon has to be hit when he least expects it, possibly by a seemingly invisibly force. For now that is all I have to tell you kiddo, live, let go, love, trust, and lawn dart.

-Gramps

A sad half laugh, half scoff leaves my throat as I read the last sentence, part of me wants to laugh, and part of me wants to burst out into tears. Since Barrette is grieving over Chelsea I have no time to waste on crying over my grandfather’s memory, the Georgia man outside needs me more than I need to wallow in self pity.

Thinking carefully over the words that are written on this page I focus my sights out the cabin door to where I can see Barrette sitting on the hood of my mustang studying the ground. I can’t help but feel inquisitive about how my grandfather knows things the way he does.

I’m guessing this letter was written sometime around nineteen ninety nine and the old man knew miraculously, that I would have a man with me when I came back to the cabin.

 “You want me to let go of what my mother has done?” I whisper the question to myself reaching up to the necklace that is almost always hidden under my shirt, it’s a charm my mother gave me when I was a little kid. I’ve never really taken it off since she gave it to me; it’s a sterling silver Celtic knot heart, I hate my mother but part of me wishes that her and I could make a mends. I wish that she would just realize I’m never going to follow her orders and I am never ever going to be the pink dressing, pig tail little angel that she wished for me to be.

With a calmly released breath I let go of what she did, there was a reason for what she did and I have to live with that. Even though I will never know the circumstances behind her running away I have to deal with the fact she felt I was safer away from my family.

Feeling infinitely better I tuck the letter under the file and flip open the manila colored filing folder to see Michael, and Devon’s pictures paper clipped to two separate police files.

“How do you know these things old man?” I mutter with disbelief as I get back to my feet heading for the door with the items from the safe in hand.

 “What is it?” Barrette asks as soon as I step down from the porch, his voice still shows sadness but at least he’s trying to be okay.

“See for yourself, this is exactly the information we needed. Jack thought that my grandfather took all of his secrets to the grave but he didn’t obviously. And check this out, Michael, and Devon were arrested on attempted murder back in two thousand four, Michael was supposed to be on a business trip the weekend this arrest happened.” I say handing the police files over to Barrette, his eyes widen considerably as he begins flipping through.

“There’s one sheet in here on Devon senior as well, and there’s this thing.” Barrette says handing over a mostly blank sheet of paper, there’s nothing on it aside from a date in the top right corner stamped September 20th 1999.

“That’s strange.” I say looking at the page as I turn for the car, Barrette carefully tucks the letter into front of the file as he to moves to get into the Mustang.

As Barrette gets belted into the passenger’s seat I review the blank page, maybe my grandfather meant to write more than he did and this is just the extra sheet. In any case I will hang onto it just in case I’m wrong and there is some invisible scrawl on the paper.

I hand the sheet over to Barrette who is already nose first in the police reports, he apparently understands them far better than I do because of being arrested so many times so I let him search for any important details. The bad boy riding shot gun doesn’t even look up as he takes the paper back and tucks it under the stack of police reports.

While he reads I start the car and very slowly guide the car down the miles and miles of dirt road that leads down to the main road.

“I don’t think we should fly to Georgia.” I comment when we are on the main road about twenty five minutes from Nevada City. “Why? We need to get to Georgia and-

“Is Chelsea from Georgia?” I ask Barrette interrupting him, his eyes sadden again at the reminder of the now lifeless blonde, even I am kind of sad that she is gone, I was just starting to warm up to her. “She’s from a few towns over. Chelsea was my mother’s best friends, sister’s, daughter.” Barrette says proving to confuse me long enough I have to actually repeat his words in my head a few times just to make sense of what I was just told.

“Then, we will drive. There is already one funeral going on and if by some freak miracle Devon has found us I’d rather not add Terrorist threat to my charges.” I explain to Barrette who thinks about what I have to say but still doesn’t understand what I’m getting at.

“What do you mean Terrorist threat?” Barrette asks, part of me wants to smack my forehead on the steering wheel right now because he just doesn’t understand what I’m trying to say.

“If Devon has found us and follows us onto a plane, do you really think for one second he won’t try and kill us on the plane? The feds aren’t bright enough to understand that we are being chased, they will just see I killed two men and the seemingly innocent Devon was just another victim, then they will tack on abduction of important persons to the charges when they see you are with me.” I elaborate on the scenario playing in my head, Barrette understands now but he doesn’t seem to agree with everything I’m saying, with that said he also isn’t objecting to driving to Georgia.

                                                            On the Run Chapter 5

                                                             The family, the plan

                                                          Bonnie Parker Perspective

Barrette and I attended the funeral yesterday morning in Adder, the wake let out so late we ended up staying the night at his friend Dave’s house. Dave is six foot nine and a solid wall of muscle clad in biker leather’s, spiked men’s jewelry, and chains. Contrary to his unsavory appearance, Dave is probably one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, you could really share a good laugh with him, I know I did.

  Even having so many hours between the funeral and now I am still vexed over how many people knew Chelsea, everyone had a kind word to say for her. Strangely enough the only people not at the funeral were Barrette’s mother, father, and brothers. I can only assume they did not know Chelsea well enough to attend the funeral.

My mind retreats back to the funeral remembering when the preacher who knew Chelsea well, was talking about her and how fondly she spoke of everyone she knew. He explained she never had a hateful word to say about anyone, she was always a kindred, all around happy woman, part of me envies Chelsea in that way. How can someone remain so ignorant to the darkness in the world?

“Everyone gathered here has their own reason and way to remember Chelsea, maybe because of her vivacious smile and personality, or perhaps the fact that no matter how busy she was cleaning up Barrette’s messes, she would always lend her shoulder for you to cry on.” The preacher says urging everyone to laugh instead of cry. Everyone here gives a sad laugh because we all know Chelsea lived, and sadly died trying to pick up Barrette’s mess.

“ She was one of those people that loved the world and everything that the world had to offer. As for me, being the leader of the Adder church, I mostly remember Chelsea for the loving, devoted woman that she is both religiously and humanely. And I say that in present tense because Chelsea isn’t entirely gone, yes, her body is being lain to rest, her soul has moved unto heaven but she remains within each of us because she left a little piece of her heart with all of us. Chelsea, you will be missed and never forgotten.” The preacher speaks, I hear her mother give a sad sob as the preacher urges everyone to stand and join together for a prayer.

“We little knew that morning that god was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you. You did not go alone for part of us went with you, as you left behind part of yourself with us. The day god called you home you left us with peaceful memories. You’re love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you. You are always at our side. Our family chain