The old man pushed back into his wheelchair and exhaled.
The December sun felt warm on his face. A steady breeze came across the marsh
and the Intercoastal, even rippling the pool’s surface.
“General, here.” A younger man, still with black hair
slicked back, gently draped a lightweight blanket over his superior. “Perhaps I
should move you to beachside?”
“No, Amado, the sun is good.”
“As you wish.” Amado snapped his fingers in the direction
of a young woman standing at the pool’s bar. She moved several steps in their
direction and he held up two fingers. “Con leche.”
“Have we heard from the embassy?”
“No, General.”
Again the old man exhaled. “The news will not be good. I
fear it.”
“Perhaps not, but we do not know for certain.” Amado
stood in front of the general without blocking the sun. “We do not know.”
“We know, because we feel it. I feel it. I feel it in my
bones. Even my legs feel it, Amado.”
The young woman approached without a word and set the two
cups on a small table next to the wheelchair and four packets of sugar to the
side. Amado nodded and signed the bill. He tipped more than he would tip, but
he signed for the general and wanted to continue to make a strong impression on
the resort’s staff.
“Today is, today is Tuesday? A Tuesday. Is that a day for
receiving catastrophic news? I fear it, Amado. A banal day. And yet, perhaps an
end of time day.”
Amado stirred three sugars into a cup and handed it to
the general. “Each day could be everything or nothing.”
The general paused before taking a sip. “Yes, it is true.
Or true except for today.”
Amado added a sugar to his coffee. He turned and watched
three gulls hovering on the wind just beyond the palms down by the docks. When
Amado turned back toward the general he could see Gerardo waiting to approach.
“What is it, Amado?”
“Gerardo is here.”
“Even now?”
Amado gestured for Gerardo to approach. When the general
heard the man’s footsteps nearly to him, he spoke. “Wait!” Amado shrugged at
the newcomer.
“Gerardo, are you a good man?”
“Yes, General, I try to be.”
“Are you an honest man?”
“Yes, General.”
“Tell me, are you a true man?”
“Yes, General.”
“Tell me then, did my mother make it out?”
“No, General.”
“You spoke personally to the ambassador?”
“Yes, General.”
“Did my wife make it out?”
“No, General.”
“My sons?”
“No, General.”
“My daughter?”
“No, General.”
“Answer me again, Gerardo. Think carefully. Be sure of
your answer. Did my beloved daughter, did she make it out?”
“No, General. No. She did not make it out.”
The General held a fist up to his mouth and groaned. He
bit into his thumb. Amado looked away from the old man.
“Gerardo, I can never look upon you again. The sight of
you will always tear out my heart. Amado will see to your expenses and handle
your relocation. You have done your duty. You may go in peace.”
“Thank you, General.” Gerardo nodded to Amado and then
retreated back into the building.
“Go, attend to him, and send a message to the ambassador
that I have been informed of the situation.”
“Yes, General.” Amado set down his cup. “Anything—“
“Go.”
“Yes, General.”
The old man set down his cup and folded his arms on his
chest. The heft of victories against the jolt of the losses, the immeasurable
losses, deep, deep in his heart. Tears.
He glanced up. A pelican gliding by turned and splashed
into the pool.
Lyman 2021
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