Horizons(part 1)

At the age of thirty Michelle found herself in a state of retreat. A desperate retreat from years of dead end dreams and failed relationships. Her latest foray into intimacy had left her alone, nearly broke, and four months pregnant. Emotionally defeated, she took the last of her money and climbed aboard a southbound bus. It was evening time when she ended up on the doorstep of her elderly aunt Betty’s house. Michelle took a deep breath and knocked on the door. A small white-headed woman peered through the screen door and asked, “Can I help you?”

Michelle replied in a tired voice, “Is Betty Laughlin here?” The old lady kept her eyes locked on Michelle as she yelled, “Bett, there’s someone here to see you!”

Michelle was struggling in her mind with what she was going to say, but the words would not come. When Betty arrived at the door and looked at her, all Michelle could do was burst into body trembling tears. She had wanted to appear strong, but life had been stronger and now she was at the end of her endurance. Betty immediately opened the door and embraced her niece with gentle arms of love. Together the two elderly women helped Michelle inside to the sofa.

 Across the street, an all-night party was brewing. Motorcycles littered the yard and the music was shaking the walls of the small wood-framed house. Most of the partiers were gathered in the back yard where the kegs of beer and the grill were. A few were in the living room watching recaps of the NASCAR race from earlier in the day. In the growing shadows of night a lone figure sat on the steps of the front porch looking towards Betty’s house. He had witnessed the young lady as she had made her way to the door. Twice he had seen her turn away and then slowly return. Finally she had summoned the courage to knock on the door. He couldn’t understand the words the old ladies were saying to the visitor, but he smiled when they hugged her and took her inside. He was contemplating the scene when someone came out the door behind him.

“Hey Lee, whatcha doin out here by your lonesome? The burgers are nearly done out back.” Lee’s brother Mike asked.

“I’ll be there in a minute or two, just relaxing and thinking some.” Lee answered.

Mike sat down beside his older brother and offered him a fresh beer. He was quiet for a few moments, just enjoying his brother’s company. It had been a long time since they had been able to hang out like this. He glanced sideways at Lee who was focused on the house across the street, deep in thought. Mike followed his gaze and saw nothing extraordinary. That was the way it had always been. His brother saw the world through different eyes than most. He had been considered strange by some of the crowd that they had grown up with. While their buddies were into Low Rider and Hustler magazines, Lee was reading thick novels that only the smart, artsy type of kids at school read. The same kids that drove nice cars and went to collage. Pursuing higher education was something that kids from Lee and Mike’s background never got the chance to do. Mike had watched as Lee was forced to quit high school to do mechanic work in order to raise him after their father had left them to fend for themselves. Lee was good at the job, but despised doing it for a living. Unfortunately, when you are poor you don’t have many options. Lee did what he had to do to keep food on the table. Eventually, Mike was able to take care of himself and he moved in with friends. Mike thought of the day when he and Lee had parted company. He remembered the intense look that his brother had as he sat on his Harley and looked down the road towards the future. Mike recalled how Lee had turned to him and said, “Mikey, look down the road as far as you can and tell me what you see.”

Mike looked and replied, “I see the road…what do you see?”

Lee smiled and returned, “I see my future, just beyond the horizon. And if it’s not there I’ll go to the next horizon or the next. Some people settle for the closest place they find and live their lives in regret. Not me. I’m going to keep moving until I finally find that one horizon where my destiny lies just beyond.” With that, Lee laughed and spun his back tire, leaving Mike in a cloud of dust as he roared into the unknown. That had been seven years ago and now the brothers were back together, each one quietly entertaining old memories.

Mike finally broke the quietness and asked, “So are you still excited about the Black Hills run?” The plan was for them to ride with a bunch of local bikers up to the South Dakota rally and then go in with a friend that Lee had ridden with for years and start a motorcycle sales and repair shop. Both Mike and Lee were topnotch mechanics and the area was overflowing with potential customers. This could finally be something that could turn their lives around.

After a brief silence Lee answered, “Yeah, I’m still excited about the run.” His voice betrayed a slight distraction.

“And nothing is going to get in our way this time…right?” Mike inquired.

Lee’s eyes were still focused on the door across the street. After he took a long, contemplative drink, he replied, “Nothing short of my destiny.”

To be continued…