Strings and Lead

I spotted him leaning on the trunk of a Cabbage Palm just outside of Clewiston. His backpack cracked by the sun, his beard gray and long. I slowly drove by to catch a fleeting glance at his eyes. Clothes worn, shoes blown out, his skin hardened, hands formed around thick veins and a faded blue Support John Wurm bracelet.

I asked him where he was headed and he replied, “it is not where I’m headed that is important but what I see along the way that heals my soul, and today is a soul healing day. ” I wanted to trade places with him, he can have the truck and the job I gotta go do today, I’ll take his backpack and just go.

We walked along the guardrail, glass sparkling off the hot asphalt. Looking ahead cars and semi’s run on top of distant flat lakes. The walking felt good, the hot hollow road sponged at my feet as diesel exhaust pushed against the back of my throat. The taste of diesel sending me back to a simpler time when it was just me. We jabbed a while about, fishing, kids, the wife and the dog. He said, “I had all that too, didn’t seem like much when I had it, now its gone, its just gone, no getting it back.”

We walked farther west up along State Road 80, along the tree line shaded by oaks and brazilian peppers. For a moment family forgotten as Red Shouldered Hawks Kerrred as they were being chased by Grackles.

He stopped walking and turned facing me, his eyes narrowed and hand braced my left shoulder, “I know things have been tough on you son, but don’t quit on it, fight a smarter fight. Stay in it! If you walk away this is what you got. Look at me hard son because your actually looking at you.” I saw it, I looked closer at his wrist, dirt and sun had built a dark outline along my watch band but there was no denying that is my exact watch.

I stared at my juxtaposed future and I tearfully said thanks and goodbye as I reached to shake my own hand, grip weak and chapped. I crossed the road and made my way back to the truck, often looking back, watching him walking west. I opened the door, cranked the key and drove back home.

Reaching home my daughter waves to me as she bounces on the tire swing and said, “Hi Dad, mommy just bought you a backpack and miss maggy sent you this blue bracelet, I’m wearing it for now, do you like it on me dad?” Yeah, I do Bella, can you do me a favor Bella? ” Sure dad anything,” You keep it, never let your daddy put it on.