Up Op Away

Up Op & Away

by R.A. Lancaster 2021-2022

A dream veered into destructive distress swiftly descended to a life long nightmare for Donny and Loril. High-school sweethearts attempted to flee their stagnant state for another.

Their tiny hatchback abruptly halted head on by a drunk driver before reaching the county line. The crumpled car’s dashboard crushed Loril’s body into the seat. Pinned and painfully screaming Loril jolts Donny back to reality. Unable to assist her and also hurt Donny struggled to escape through the busted open sunroof.

Becoming free Donny briefly assessed the situation. Most of their car is unrecognizable under the front end of a large off-road pick-up truck. Both engines dead, leaking fluids hiss heated into grey vapors. Intermittent twangs of cooling metal mix with Loril’s cries.

Able to use the truck’s bush-guard for support Donny shakily stands. Upright Donny observes the truck’s driver is lying unconscious against the steering wheel. Reassuring Loril they will live Donny hops off the wreckage.

Tending to Loril he can do little for her. Between cries of anguish Loril fears the loss of their unborn child. Holding her free hand dread brings Donny to tears. Loril’s moans rouse the semi-conscious driver into uttering, "shut-up!" Realizing his face rests upon the steering wheel the driver recalls driving.

Within a whirlwind of emotion Donny confronted the driver. The driver noticeably drunk attempted to blame them despite being in the wrong lane.

Exchanging words Donny heated up finding out the driver was under suspension and uninsured. Succumbing to the injuries Loril went silent. Donny’s twenty-year-old mind snapped, dragging the man out of the truck. Ceaselessly beating the driver beyond death fatigue finally stopped Donny.

Police arriving first on-scene found Donny lying across the deceased driver.

Loril lived however their baby did not. Loril’s injuries were extensive and linger with her. A slight limp from broken leg and hip were her least concerns. Facial scars from broken glass a constant reminder a couple broken ribs destroyed her uterus and spirit. Added to her sorrows Donny was incarcerated for aggravated manslaughter.

Out of the hospital Loril stayed with grandparents on their aging farm.

Donny was released from jail on good behavior before turning twenty-five. Loril met Donny there driven by her grandfather Al. Though Loril and Donny still had aspirations to move away, the conviction followed him, limiting job opportunities and travel.

Their desire to get ahead required paying off debts incurred from the injuries and courts. Though employed Donny foolishly went along with high school buddies attempting a burglary. Caught on hidden surveillance cameras the group were identified, arrested and charged. Managing to throw a thousand towards medical bills Donny received two years less a day in jail.

Released from jail Donny was greeted warmly by Loril. Not so warmly by her grandmother, Edna, upset with Donny’s arrest and also depressed from recently losing her husband, Al. Pushing forward with life, Loril picked up work as a cashier. Through the parole Officer Donny was placed into a commercial landscaping company.

In the winter grandma Edna passed. Her surviving family uninterested in the rough old farm house left it to Loril. She and Donny discussed selling the place and moving. Not wanting their debtors to share the sale Donny suggested staying until they are paid off. The pair soon realized grandma Edna’s accounting was poor. The woman’s aging mind made sporadic partial payments on all bills. February with finances tight and wanting to keep the heat on Donny took a risk selling pot.

Earning enough to get through the winter Donny kept dealing weed. Mid spring, he was caught with a pound and charged. His third time in court earned him five years in a penitentiary. Despite financially struggling Loril stayed on the farm patiently waiting Donny’s sentence to pass.

Showing up in Al’s old pick-up Loril welcomed Donny back with open arms. Despite marijuana becoming legal in many states including theirs’ Donny assures Loril he won’t be selling it. She didn’t care but also didn’t want him to end up in jail again.

Waking before dawn breaks Loril opens her eyes seeing Donny sleeping comfortably. Ambient dampness causes her leg to ache too much to remain in bed. Happy he’s still with her there places a soft kiss on his cheek.

Swinging the legs out from under the blankets she sits up.

Standing she retrieves the cell-phone from nightstand checking the time; 5:24am.

Snagging a pink flannel robe off the bed’s foot-board Loril heads for the bathroom.

While seated checking for messages finds two, a possible scam email, she ignores, and a text from her night-manager stating, a shift co-worker will be late. Typical Ann maneuver. Went drinking with that new city dick. Setting the phone down Loril finishes up.

Washed up and dressed for work Loril’s in the kitchen making a couple sandwiches, while the coffee pot brews up a fresh pot.

Lunch packed and coffee poured up Loril pauses a moment to enjoy the first cup of the day.

Quick checking social media finds the same postings. Catching the time exiting the site notices she’s ahead of schedule. Only thing good that comes out of these aches is unable to sleep in, especially in this dampness. Bringing up the phone’s screen thinks of the ignored notification. Sliding over to the app taps it on. Who’s this guy? Oh, shit that’s from Donny’s Probation Officer. Oh cool, Donny’s got a work assignment. Oh, shit and it’s today. Looking to the bedroom calls out, “Donny dear! Hun? Sorry to wake you but um,”

Semi-conscious from her semi-sweet beckoning Donny figures errands are to be requested. “What’s up dear? Ann a no show and you might be late?”

Amused he knew that Loril giggles lightly.

“…You want me to make dinner tonight? Chicken or something?”

“Sure, that would be great,” She rechecks the message to him, “if you get home before me?” There’s no business listed or named he’ll have a ride pick him up.

“What’s that? Am I going somewhere for you today?” Anxious of unknown expectation Donny sits up in bed.

“To work?”

“Work?” Presently unemployed he’s assuming a family member needs a hand moving heavy, dirty, objects, “For who?” Grabbing up a floor bound sweater he sits up to put it on.

“Doesn’t say. It’s from your parole office stating you’ll have a ride there and back starting at 7:30 this morning. Do you know a Ray Vitte?”

“What really?” Surprised for the assignment Donny will take anything right now. Ray, he does know from school and the area. “Ray-man? Oh yeah, he’s a cool shit. If you see him you’ll remember him I bet, got one of those faces, stands out.” Except for a night or two in the county drunk tank Ray never did real time in jail, “wonder why he’s involved? Haven’t spoken to him in ten years.”

Immediately Loril’s thinking how many times he’s been in and out of jail in that time but won’t say it, “ten years is a while back now. Jeez almost high School times. It doesn’t say on the message what the job is.”

Finding some work pants and warm socks Donny prepares for the worst, “Autumn so I bet I’ll end up outside. I recall something about a couple places that were both farms.”

Sounding plausible Loril retrieves a thermos for him, “Yeah autumn, harvest time. I’ll set this thermos by the coffee-maker for you. At least it’s something, for now.”

“Yup.”

With a few more minutes of time Loril makes up a quick lunch for him, “Hun, is PB and J, okay? There’s no meat left for a sandwich. I’ll bring some home tonight.”

“Thanks hun, I luv you,” Donny dashes for the bathroom, “don’t rush off. I’ll be out in a moment.”

Since she’s opening the store alone there’s no hurry, “Luv you too.” Smearing up a couple PB & J sandwiches she hopes he’ll be working corn and perhaps wrangle a few, dozen cobs home. With several orchards in the area fruit is welcome even the damaged stuff she’d utilize.

Fetching a pair of insulated work-gloves Loril sets them beside his lunch cooler. “Donny dear, if you end up on an orchard…”

“I’ll ask for sure.” Opening the bathroom door, he completes her thought. “Hah, we must’ve been both thinking it. I’m sure they’d let me have the rotten ones - and laugh. Be a sticky mess to haul around. You really think you can pull juice and jam out of it?”

Almost like twins she loves how they seem to know what’s on the other’s mind. “Yeah. It should work. Not the really horrible parts, but most of it should be okay. Livestock got no problem eating it.”

“We’re not livestock,” He smiles at her efforts, “holy, got every thing at the ready, coffee too. You are amazing dear thank you.” In the past Donny has referenced their syncing up as a result from their car crash, knocking heads hard enough to join them. He points to her side and leg, “damp this morning. How’s your aches?”

“Yeah, the leg for sure.” She sees an impish look to his eye and hopes he’s not about to try much. “You’re welcome hun, bit of surprise for you.”

Donny bends down gently cupping the back of her slack covered leg and plants a kiss, “There that help any.”

No, but she smiles at the attempt, “yes. Until I go outside.” She holds out her arms, “gimmie a hug here I best get moving.”

“Surely,” Donny plants a quick kiss on her lips wrapping the arms around her, “you wanna smoke one before you go? For the pain?”

“Cute Donny, no,” She breaks the hold to look into his eyes, “I did think about it, but we’ve only a bit left until Friday. And if you’re starting somewhere today, might as well start it off sober. You know damn well you can’t look any one in the eye when high.”

“Sure, sure,” Donny lightly laughs, “good thinking hun. Guess I better hope for a few long hours this week.” Being mothered this morning he’s almost embarrassed to ask, “hey do I still have a decent pair of work boots around here?”

She points to the mudroom, “any here are out there.” Picking up her lunch and travel mug of coffee indicates his, “left you the last cup there.”

“Thanks again my love,” He gives her a quick kiss before moving to open the doors for her, “I hope you have a good day.”

“Hope yours goes well too,” Radiating a pleasant smile she waits for him, “you’ll have to tell me about it later.”

“Yeah sure,” Opening the door he steps onto the porch, “oh I hope it’s not hand-picking vegetables. That’ll be a bitch on the back for sure.”

Easing past him she remarks, “hey, if its’ tomatoes…”

“…No,” he senses an even worse mess to truck home, “come-on now mushy tomatoes. I don’t care how good of a sauce you could come up with.”

With a half laugh she carries on, “okay. But I bet I could.”

“Uh-huh.” Donny waits for her get into the old pick-up and moving.

With the truck started Loril rolls down the window waving, “luv you, later.”

“Luv you now.” Waving back once Donny smiles watching her exit the property. I really do. I hope what ever this job is, it pays at least a dollar more than minimum wage. Be nice when we finally get out of here. Go someplace warm. All those old people rave about Arizona for being great for those with damp aches and pains. Man, I gotta do better for us. This placement will probably end in November, shit. Hope I can pick-up something else before December or it’ll be a lean cold winter here. Especially if Loril gets carried away for the holidays.