Bubbles Always Pop
I've wanted to tell this story for a long, long time. No, it isn't a story which must be told for it has undoubtedly been told countless times before. Nor is it a story which needs to be read for it will no doubt be easily forgotten. It is simply a story I want to tell for no other reason than to to remember, hoping this writing of a special person and what I knew of him will help keep my memories of him alive.
This is a true tale with a tragic end, and ending to which one man, and who knows how many other, did finally succumb. A tale in which none of the first names have been changed to protect the guilty.
1991
I had only been married for a short time when I first met Ed. Being a person of routines, I had just begun my journey back from the mailbox down the quarter of a mile driveway which leads back to the home my wife, SJ, and have shared for almost 10 years together with our faithful companion Bear (a dog which I rarely see as such anymore).
"Hello," came a voice from behind me.
I turned to see to whom this unfamiliar voice was being directed. There, slightly above and about fifty feet from me was a man standing at the edge of the dirt road to which the driveway, leading to our home, connects. The road has about a thirty degree incline before it reaches the top, and our driveway dips down quickly after turning off the road and then levels out. The male individual was approximately five feet seven inches in height, weighing I'd guess about 150 lbs., white (which pretty much everyone is in the region), wearing polyester pants and a plain, block colored cotton shirt. Never, in the four years I knew this man, did I ever see him in jeans, t-shirts, or tennis shoes. He was well groomed in appearance with short hair, slightly balding in front. Had it not been for his closely shaven beard, I would have sworn I was looking at a person who was the spitting image of Radar O'Riley!
"Hi", I answered back in my usual, always suspicious manner. "Is ther something I can do for you?"
"Yes", he said, and then continuing, "I was wondering if you own this property and if so, is it outside the city limits?"
"Why yes I do and yes, it is. Why do you ask?" I querried as Ed had immediately piqued my curiosity as to why he would want to know.
"Well", began Ed, "My name is Ed S_______, and I live just down the road from ya all." Pointing towards a small triangular shaped area between our driveway and the property line, Ed continued, "I would like to know if you would be willing to sell this area here which is just the right size for a home I'd like to build."
"Yes, I've seen you around the neighborhood. Don't you drive a powder blue volkswagon station wagon? And I think I've seen you over at the ball field video taping little league games if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes, thats right. So do you think you could swing it?" Ed continued to press.
"Well, to be honest with you, you'd really have to speak to my wife because the property is actually in her name. However, if you'd be willing to come back by, say, sometime after seven this evening, you can ask her yourself because I really couldn't tell you yes or no. And if you're a chess player, you could hang around and play a game with another fella and myself who meet every week around that time."
"Hey! I'd love to play a game. Its not often that a person finds someone who plays chess. Sure, you bet I'll come."
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work. I hope you'll come over for a game, but I can't promise anything with regard to the property. So I'll see ya later after seven, okay?"
"After seven, I'll see you then. Bye now, and thanks."
"See ya later. Bye" |
