II. The Death of Simplicity

Frank had been friends with Joey since the very beginning. As far as everyone was concerned, these two boys were one in the same; with a single defining difference: Frank did not have Joeys’ father and Joey did not have Frank’s mother. It was this key discrepancy that allowed them to turn into the people that they did; for better and for worse.

Summers were always a time of exploration for Frank and his friend. From the time they woke up until it was time for dinner, they would spend all day outside. Frank often liked to reflect on how some things never change: no matter who you are or where you’re from, if you are young and curious, mischief is destined to follow. And that was exactly what would happen. Frank and Joey would go out into the world and face the consequences when they returned. Those long days were some of the happiest memories in those two boys’ possession; it was the last time life would ever feel easy. Effortless.

The July heat hung in the air. Nature could be heard calling out into town, reminding its residents of both the 90° air and of the wildlife that everyone had worked so hard to forget. Frank and Joey were laying in the Anderson’s backyard. The heat had left them both too exhausted to speak. Joey sighed. Frank sneezed. An interloping fly lingered by the two of them and took advantage of their lack of activity. It was a Thursday so Patricia and Jeanie were at the Flannery house for their weekly gossip summit, although they preferred to call it “playing bridge”. Charles was at work, so the house was empty. The boys considered partaking in some good old-fashioned mischief but the heat and the boredom both made too good of an argument; they continued to fester in the sun.

After what felt like an eternity, Olivia hopped over the Anderson’s fence. The boys sat up with an impressive speed. They finally received a break in the monotony. The three children were ten years old and they had already begun to grow restless with the confines of their small-town paradise. They were in the age of discovery, stuck in a place with nothing left to find.

Olivia was wearing a yellow t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Her shoes were covered in dirt. The boys smiled when they saw her. They had all been friends for as long as they could remember.

The Santulli’s were possibly the only couple in the town to not attend the same high school as Frank and Joey’s parents; they were outsiders. The friendship between these three children would be the first of many rebellions against their parents. Olivia was the daughter of Giovanni and Theresa Santulli, Italian immigrants who would find themselves living in a town that hadn’t seen an immigrant since its discovery. Either way, Frank was always happier whenever Olivia was with him, but he was never really sure why until years later.

“Hey Olivia!” Frank quickly squealed once Olivia entered his line of vision. They were still at an age when enthusiasm wasn’t met with distrust or condescension, it was just met with enthusiasm.

“Hey Joey! Hey Frank! What’re you guys up to? Where’s Peter?” Olivia wiped the sweat from her forehead. She always hated being hot. Her hair was long and the sweat made it glow brighter in the sun, at least Frank thought so. Joey thought she just looked sweaty.

“We’re just sitting out here, bored. I think Peter’s at home right now. We could go and get him and play a game if you want?” Frank responded excitedly. Joey had quickly become more jubilant with the thought of a game; they hadn’t played one in weeks. Almost immediately, Joey concocted different scenarios that they could play out.

“It’ll be perfect! Think about it! We could get the rope out of the back of my dad’s shed and we could actually tie Olivia to the train tracks by school. It’ll be just like the movies!” Joey was in his element. He was excited but he stayed calm, he was in the heart of his sales pitch. “Wait, wait no I have a better one. We can get our old Halloween costumes and walk around town and ask for candy. Everyone will be so confused and maybe we could even get some candy!”

Frank and Olivia looked at each other. They were sold.

So, Frank, Joey, Olivia, and Peter-come-lately all went off on their grand adventure. Frank was dressed as a cowboy, Joey was an astronaut (a costume choice not quite suitable for the weather of a Halloween in July), Olivia was a lumberjack, and Peter was also a cowboy. This annoyed Joey but Frank didn’t really seem to mind. Together, they paraded down the street, marching with a sense of purpose and the desire to be noticed.

It’s actually kind of funny, on some level that’s the real reason why kids ever do anything, to get recognition; adults too. Everyone just wants to have somebody look at them and say “Wow, look at that, they’re really doing something”. The only problem is when every person is parading down the street in their old Halloween costume with the hope of being seen, there won’t be anyone left watching.

Anyway, Joey decided that their first stop should be the candy store but Olivia objected, noting how obvious that would be. Frank suggested that they try the hardware store, since their old teacher would be working there to make some extra cash over the summer. Peter echoed in agreement. Joey nodded with a hurt ego but carried on in good spirit.

The gang of masked children walked into the hardware store. The minute they walked in through the door, they were inundated with a rush of the air conditioner and the smell of turpentine. There were a few older men lingering around the store with just about as much purpose as the lumber they were so attentively inspecting. The children paused for a second after entering the store; the cool air reminded them of what it felt like to have the weight of the summer heat lifted off their shoulders. After what felt like a delightful century, they continued on their planned course. With a smile on their faces and pillow cases proudly displayed in front of them, they uniformly screamed “Trick or Treat!!”. Bob Johnson, the children’s former educator, received his students with a warm chuckle and a sly grin and placed four bolts and a screw into each of their bags. Defeated, the cowboys, the astronaut, and the lumberjack all left the store, their comedian teacher, and the lumber behind and began to plan their next move.

In the alleyway behind the store, Joey took a knee and the rest followed.

“Okay guys, that really didn’t go to well but don’t worry, we will get this candy. We just need to be more aggressive and a lot more adorable; I’m looking at you, Frank. Olivia, next time speak louder. Peter, just remember to speak.” In his mind, Joey was a factory of motivational speeches. To his friends, he was amusing at best.

“Where do you guys think we should go next?” Olivia inquired. She shook her pillow case and the jingle of the “candy” made her giggle. This made Frank smile.

“Do you want to try the library?” Peter asked. Everyone stared at him for a second, confused.

“Why do you want to go to the library?” Joey politely asked, doing his best to not hurt his friend’s feelings.

“I don’t know…I think the librarians have candy sometimes.” Peter shyly responded.

Spontaneously, Olivia jumped off the ground and started running, almost leaving half of her costume and her pillowcase behind.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Joey screamed. “Olivia!”

She turned her head back, maintained her decided course, and said “We’re going to Roy’s, come on!”

Roy’s Convenient Market was exactly that, a convenient market. Owned and operated by Roy Meyers Jr., a friend to the Anderson family, this small store had all of life’s essentials; minus a few necessary goods like bread and dish soap. Roy’s had been previously owned by Roy Sr., until it was passed on to his son. There was a time, back when Charles and Patricia were quite young, when Roy’s was actually quite famous for its hot dogs. Unfortunately, when what would eventually become The Department of Health Inspection entered the community, Roy’s was faced with the choice of throwing away their revered recipe for good or to close their doors forever. Roy Sr. chose the former. Now, this store wasn’t especially large, nor was it very nice, but both Roy’s had made a point of ensuring that it would always be a place that was safe and welcoming to every family in town; not to mention it had the biggest supply of candy in the entire county.

Panting and confused, Joey questioned his friend. “Olivia, what’re we doing here? And why did you have to run so fast?”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you guys are so slow! And we’re here for the candy, obviously. But this time, I have a plan.” Olivia responded with a menacing grin.

The children gathered around in a circle in the Roy’s parking lot. It was Olivia’s turn to take control.

“Okay, so here’s what we’re going to do: Peter and I will ask Mr. Meyers for some candy, Frank and Joey, you guys are going to sneak in behind us while nobody is looking and stuff your bags. Now you’re going to have to be quick and definitely make sure you take enough for all of us.”

“A-are you sure this is such a good idea?” A hesitant Frank responded.

“Of course it is!” Olivia answered confidently. “Come on guys, we’ve pretty much already wasted the entire day at the hardware store! This is a foolproof way to get some candy.”

Too afraid of what the others would think, all three boys agreed to Olivia’s plan.

Had one of them actually vocalized their reservations, the course of the day would have been entirely different. Instead of going to Roy’s, the children would have just gone to the candy store and purchased some for themselves. Then they would have gone back to Frank’s house and eaten that candy until their stomachs hurt. Had one of them just spoken up, their day would have been simple; maybe even forgettable. Life is never that easy though. People never speak up.

So, Olivia and Peter walked into the store. They were no longer entranced by the sudden rush of cool air; they were on a mission. Olivia walked up to the counter and began to talk to Roy Jr., Peter stood behind her. About a minute later, Frank and Joey quietly entered the store. They did their best to crouch beneath the counter, as to stay out of Roy’s line of vision. Roy was a slender man with a white button-down shirt and thick half-rimmed glasses. He was losing his hair, though he did his best to make it a graceful transition. His best was far from good enough. Roy had three kids, two boys and a girl. His daughter was about Frank’s age and they would even have their attempt at romance when the time came.

Olivia was talking to him about her doll collection at home. Roy had a side to him that was known to the people in town. It was one of those secrets that everyone seemed to learn without anybody actually saying it out loud. It was this “special” side of Roy that allowed him to maintain such an engaged conversation with a ten-year-old girl. With his eyes steadily fixed on Olivia, the boys found their way to the candy isle and executed their heist. Frank was a certified chocolate junkie and Joey was FireBall fanatic. He liked the way he could taste the cinnamon in his nose. Making sure to consider what would make Olivia the happiest, partially out of friendship and partially out of fear, Frank scrutinized the shelf and grabbed a handful of suckers and clumsily shoved them into the bag.

Frank and Joey both looked at each other as they stuff their bags and shot an uncertain grin. Part of them had felt terrible for what they were doing but at the same time, the execution of this plan was so successful it was hard to not feel just a little bit of pride. Almost immediately after their moment of shared satisfaction, the universe reminded them of right and wrong as James, Roy’s newest and only employee, firmly tugged on their collars and dragged them up to the front of the store. Frank and Joey were dropped next to Olivia and Peter by the counter and the two boys guiltily looked up at Roy; their trial was about to begin.

“Found these two kids stealing in the back.” James said excitedly. Realizing the unprofessional nature of his demeanor, he calmly inquired, “What should we do with them, boss?”

Ignoring his tenderfooted employee, Roy looked to the terrified children. Having worked in the store his entire life, he had seen all types of shoplifters. He had seen their type before and he knew he’d see it again. In the very least, he figured he could teach them a lesson.

“Why did you children feel the need to do this? Your parents feed you, they love you, they always take care of you. You did not need to do this. Was is to hurt me? Why did you want to hurt me?”

Suddenly, Frank’s stomach dropped. His face turned pale and in that moment, he wished he could be literally anywhere else. He felt his face getting hot and his vision started to blur. Frank began to cry.

Noticing this, Roy decided that his fun was over. He came out from behind the counter and knelt down in front of the children. He explained to them why they should never steal and how much it hurt him and his business whenever people do. Roy talked about his family and how this business is what allowed his children to have a hot meal every night. The children all nodded at him politely and quietly apologized with their heads down.

“Okay, you children are free to go. I’m still going to have to call your parents later but I’ll wait a couple hours. You kids enjoy your afternoon.” He threw them a kind-hearted smile. His eyes then fell onto Olivia and he felt something churning inside of him. Roy had days where the darkness liked to make an appearance at the worst possible time.

That was not one of those days. He looked down and started writing figures into his ledger. The children left the store.

Sometimes things can get pretty bad. Sometimes they can get even worse. But they don’t always have to get worse, sometimes things can just be bad.

Frank, Joey, Olivia, and Peter walked all the way home in silence. A part of them were all reflecting on what Roy had said, but the majority of their thoughts were occupied with what would happen when they got home. Peter knew that his parents would yell at him, then they’d yell at each other, and then ultimately just send him to his room for the night, all the while never speaking of the ordeal again. Olivia knew that her father would yell and her mother would cry. She also knew that once her parents were through with their public displays of emotion, they were going to all sit down for dinner and talk about one of the other transgressions that her siblings would have had committed that day. Frank and Joey didn’t know what to expect. That’s what scared them the most.

--

Charles and Patricia were standing in front of Frank, who was sitting at the kitchen table with his head down. Patricia lit a cigarette and took a long and dramatic drag.

“Robert Francis Anderson, what the hell is wrong with you?” Patricia towered over her terrified son.

“W-we were just messing around” Frank forced his words out, holding back the tears that were patiently waiting in the chamber.

“Son, I don’t even know what to say to you. I thought I raised you better than this. Andersons do not steal. Period.” Charles responded. He did his best to sound stern and commanding while going through the motions of discipline. But that was all Charles was doing, going through the motions. That was all he knew how to do. He really wasn’t sure how to feel about his son’s attempt at rebellion; he wasn’t even sure if he cared. Part of him wondered if he still remembered how to care. That thought scared him.

“Frank, I-I don’t know what to say to you. Patty, talk to your son.” Saying that made Charles’s stomach agitated. He knew that he had reached the end of his script and took a step back. It was Patricia’s turn.

“I mean goddammit Frank, are we not feeding you enough? Is that what it is? Or maybe we’re feeding you too much and you’re starting to get greedy?” For some reason unbeknownst to her, Patricia began to pursue a line of questioning towards her son. She decided that it sounded authoritative enough and continued.

“Do you want me to stop feeding you? Is that what it is? Oh I get it now; it was a cry for help! All you wanted was for us to not feed you anymore! Well, trust me, I have no problem doing that! See if I care. You’re really a bastard, you know that?” Patricia began to get excited and immediately caught herself. She was not going to be one of those Irish girls that could overcome poverty but could never get past being poor.

Right before Patricia was able to continue; a solitary tear falls down Frank’s cheek. That tear, the obvious leader of a brigade prepared to follow, was met by a whole arsenal of emotion that made its mark on Frank’s face. For the second time that day, he began to cry.

Frank imagined what it would be like to have both Charles and Patricia kneel down and embrace their wailing child. He fantasized about how it would have felt to just throw his arms around his parents and bury his face between their shoulders. Frank could almost feel their warmth on his face. The echoes of what they could have said rang in his ears… “It’s okay son, we still love you”. But this did not happen. His parents did not hug him. They did not tell him it was going to be okay. Frank shed his very last tear. Some things were just not worth crying over.

Patricia looked down at her son with equal parts disappointment and disgust. She was not quite sure why she had suddenly felt such disdain for her child; she realized that she too had also been young once. She did her best to be more sympathetic but failed. Deep down she wanted to hurt him. She wanted him to know the pain she had felt in her life. She wanted to hurt him just as much as the world had hurt her. Patricia lit a cigarette in an effort to keep her family from seeing the person she was becoming. Prolonging the inevitable, she thought to herself. The smoke began to fill the air.

Charles was looking to his son with warm eyes, as the rusted gears in his head did their best to move. He began to feel something warm inside and for a short moment he even considered embracing his son, but the sentiment quickly vanished. Charles cracked his knuckles, cleared his nose and with a blank expression on his face, walked over to the trash can. His wife and child looked at him in absolute confusion.

“I-um-have to take out the trash” Charles declared blankly.

“Really? Right now? We were kind of in the middle of something.” Patricia responded with checkered emotions.

Charles didn’t answer, he just picked up the garbage and went outside. As he walked towards the cans in the far end of his backyard, he thought about the life he had built for himself. Charles thought about his wife, his children, his house, and his job. Part of him wondered what it would be like if it all went away; if he were to lose it all in a second. On some deeper level this made him smile. It was in that moment, when he thought about all the loss, he was finally able to feel something. He felt sadness. He knew everything was going to be okay. Charles looked out into his backyard, the leaves on the trees gently dancing with the breeze. Life is getting harder, Charles thought to himself, but at least it is still pretty.

He finally arrived at the cans in the back, put the bags in, and turned around. John appeared out of nowhere, leaning on the fence with his head down. He was taking deep breaths.

“Hey John, is everything okay?”

John looked up and Charles was taken aback. He saw something in his friend that he had never seen before. He was not really sure what it was but something definitely looked different; exhaustion maybe?

“Yeah everything’s fine. I just finished dealing with the kid about this whole thing at Roy’s. Can you believe it, my own son parading himself around town like some kind of fag?” John was doing his best to smile; it almost worked.

“Well…sure, yeah that was definitely something. Patty and I mostly just talked to Frank about the stealing though. How did Joey handle…” Charles’s voice trailed off, he tried to find his words but they seem to have departed along with his trust.

Charles looked down at his best friend’s hands and suddenly everything made sense. John’s knuckles were raw and drops of blood were poetically splattered up his arm. What he first thought was the look of exhaustion was slowly beginning to morph into emptiness. The man that Charles had learned to call his brother was disappearing and a violent apparition was quickly taking his place.

Charles had learned during the war that the best way to show the enemy that you weren’t scared was by not being afraid. He slowly backed away from the fence and the worry began to find its way onto his face. No matter how hard a person can try, fear will always find a way to show itself.

“He needed to learn Charlie…I’m the only one who could teach him. He needed to learn.”

Charles said nothing and moved quickly towards the house. He felt a tear run down his cheek. The yard in front of him started to blur and everything began to spin. Charles stopped, put his hands on his knees, took a deep breath, and vomited.

It was about five o’clock in the evening and the July heat seemed to be floating higher into the sky, which caused an explosion of yellows and oranges up above. Charles Anderson suffered a crisis of faith behind his house, as his wife and son sat obliviously at the kitchen table not fifteen feet away. Charles looked up into the summer sky. Life is getting harder, he thought to himself.