Chapter 29 --- Making Things Right

         Tim came into the barn.  Jess was sanitizing feeders. He looked up and said "Hey, Tim."

         "Can I help?"

         "I'm about done.  Now we have the steam cleaner that's not as big a job as it used to be.  But thanks anyway,"

         "Can I talk to you?"

`          "Sure.  But let's go in the other room because when I open the cleaner it's going to be hot in here."

         Jess had made himself a little room with a table and chairs in the back corner of the barn.  He had a coffee pot in there and a sink and a gas plate and a little bathroom behind it.  He called it his office.

         Tim sat opposite him.  The open window showed the green bushes outside; Two hummingbirds were busy at the honey suckle.  Tim said. "It's nice in here."

         "Yeah it is.  What's on your mind, Tim?"

         "Something I did and something I think I need to do.  I have to tell you what I did and you aren't going to like it."

         "Okay."

         "It happened a couple of days before Pa got arrested and I went to the shelter."  Jess waited for him to go on.

         Then he said, "Tim, I know the things you did back then were things people made you do."

         "Not this."  He looked at Jess and seemed to be searching for words.  "Remember I told you about the mission on the street and the preacher who runs if named Brother Nate?"

         "Yes."

         "Well this is about him.  Brother Nate lives there in the mission and he lives alone.  Pa always called him a hypocrite and said for me not to listen to him just take the sandwich and the milk and don't pay attention.  I didn't know what a hypocrite was but the way Pa said it I knew it was something bad.  I know now what it means.  It means somebody who makes believe he's better than anybody.  Well I found out Brother Nate isn't one of those."

         "You did?"

         "Yeah, well he goes to the diner on the corner for his meals.  He comes out the side door of the building and crosses over to there and then walks back after he eats.  Me and a couple of the boys in the street used to walk after him and say things to him."

         "What kind of things?"

         "Bad things.  I'm sorry but I did it too.  Partly because ~~ I was afraid of the boys that they would call me chicken so I joined in.  Brother Nate never said anything back. "

         Tim paused as if for breath and then looked down at his hands on the table. "But I did something worse than that."

         "Do you want to tell me what it was?"

         "No I don't want to but I have to."  He drew a long breath.  "One day Loony. He’s one the guys, went behind the diner and found some eggs in the garbage cans.  He gave them to Dirtbag and Dirtbag said we were going to throw them at Brother Nate."

         "Dirtbag?  That was what you called him?"

         "Yeah, the bigger ones all had names.  Well I knew that was wrong to do.  But Dirtbag is big and he's mean and we had to do what he said or get hurt. "

         ""Then why would you hang out with him?"

         "Because of protection.  If we were with him nobody bothered us."

         Jess thought, the things this boy has been through!

         Tim went on.  I didn't want to do it.  Dirtbag gave me an egg and said to throw it at him when he came out to go for his supper.  I knew better.  But I was scared of Dirtbag and I was scared of other things if he didn't protect me no more."

         "I understand that."
         
         "So anyway Brother Nate came out the door and they threw their eggs and missed him.  I threw mine and I was trying to miss but I hit him.  It broke and went all over his clothes."  Tim went on after a moment. 

         "Loony and Dirtbag and the others ran away but I couldn't run.  I felt like I couldn't move.  Brother Nate just stood there and looked at me.  He didn't curse at me or try to hit me or nothing, he just stood there and he looked at me not like he was mad but just kind of sad.  All I could do was stand there and look back at him."

         "What did he say?"

         "Nothing.  He looked at me ~~ kind of the way you did when you first met me.  Like he was sad for me.  Like he ~~ loved me.  Then I ran away but I kept on seeing him.  So that's how I know he's not a hypocrite."

         "No, he’s sure no hypocrite."

         "I'm sorry I did that to him.  I think it's the only suit he has and he couldn't go and eat so he went back inside.  I saw him from across the street.  I wanted to go and tell him I was sorry so I decided to go to the mission that night.  Pa would think I was just going there to get food. "

         "So you went and apologized to him?"

         "No. I already told you the next part.  I was late getting there and the people were already in there to have the meeting.  I decided to wait until after and talk to him then.  And I felt so bad about what happened I listened to him and he read out of the Bible and said God loved us no matter what we did and wanted to forgive us and be our Father.  So like I told you I put up my hand to believe in Jesus and I was going to go up front and talk to Brother Nate but like I told you Truck came in and I was afraid he would tell Pa and I'd be in trouble.  So I ran out of there."

         "You said there's something you have to do."

         "Yes I need to tell Brother Nate I'm sorry and tell him I listened and believed him."

         "Yes you do have to do that.  And something else.  We have to buy him a new suit.  When you ruin something that belongs to somebody you have to fix it or get him a new one.  That's a rule."

         "But I don't have money enough to buy a suit."

         "You're my kid now and I'm responsible.  I'll pay for his suit.  I have to go to Lisbon tomorrow to get some paper work from the bank.  We'll go tomorrow."

         Tim smiled then.  "I was afraid you'd be mad at me for that."

         "I'm sorry you did it but we're going to fix it and make it right.  I want to meet Brother Nate.  I admire him just from you telling me about him."

         "Jess, there's something else."

         "What?" 

         "Well. Vail Street.  It's a bad street.  You have to be careful I want you to be safe."

         "I think I can take care of myself."

         "Yes you can.  But ~~”

         "But what?"

         "You shouldn't wear your wallet in your back pocket.  It would be an easy rob for somebody."

         "I don't think anybody could ~~”

         "Well usually they look for somebody old that couldn't fight back but somebody who knew how could rob you and you wouldn't even know it."

         "I would know it.  I have to go unload the cleaner and get those feeders put away."

         Tim got up and stood by the doorway then followed Jess into the work area.  Jess was opening the steam cleaner to get out the feeders.  Tim said, "Jess," and touched his arm.  Jess turned.  To his astonishment Tim was handing him his wallet.

         "How did you ~~?”

         "It was easy.  When you walked by me in the doorway. "

         "I didn't feel anything,"

         "No.  When you do it right the mark doesn't feel a thing.  So if I could do it other people could too.  I just did that to prove it so you'll wear your wallet in your inside pocket tomorrow."

         "I sure will!"

         "I don't want Joey to know about this.  He's like a little kid.  I feel like I have to be careful around him because I don't want to teach him anything bad, I know he's almost as old as me but he seems like younger."

         "I'm glad you said that, Tim.  Some people told me you'd be a bad influence on him and I didn't believe that.  I think you'll probably end up being a good influence."

         "Me?"

         "I think so."

         "I'll try."   
         
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