Owen nodded. “You’ll have to.”
Gary was no sooner home that evening than his mother was harping at him to clean up. He was filthy and knew he smelled bad, but he wasn’t in the mood to be bossed around. Nothing had gone right at work, and even though Owen was patient, it was all such a mess, and Gary wished he could just slip away unnoticed. Nevertheless, Uncle Harrison was coming to dinner, and Gary was expected to be there and to dress properly.
He washed as best he could, even taking a bar of soap to the shirt he’d been in all day. He didn’t know why, but it seemed a smart thing to do. He left it soaking in the washtub and for the first time wondered who would be responsible for cleaning it. All his life, other folks had taken care of such things, and he’d never once considered who might be cleaning up after him.
Dinner was a somber event. His folks were in bad moods, and Susanna seemed anxious about something. Uncle Harrison looked Gary over at the beginning of the meal but said nothing. Now that they were ready for dessert, he eyed Gary again as if considering his worth.
“I’m proud of you, Gary. Your sister tells me you’ve been working in the Santa Fe shops, learning metalwork.”
“Yes, sir. I’m working with the head boilermaker, Owen Turner.”
“How do you like it?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not very good at it.”
“Of course you aren’t,” Mother said, reaching out to pat his arm. “I didn’t give birth to a laborer. It’s appalling that you’ve taken on this job.”
“Not at all,” Harrison declared. “I’m impressed. Besides Susanna, you are the only one to show real initiative.”
“That isn’t fair,” Mother protested. “My poor husband has done your bidding at the hotel, and you act as if it were nothing.”
“It certainly isn’t the hard work your son is doing.” Uncle Harrison gave Gary a smile. “Good job.”
“Thank you, sir.” Gary wasn’t sure what else he could say. It was clear the tension was growing.
His mother began to sniff. When she did this, a full storm of tears was certain to follow. Father noted it as well. He looked at Gary in warning, but it was too late.
Mother burst into great wailing sobs. “You have ruined our life, Harrison. Just look at what you’ve done to my son. He is a gentleman, and yet you’ve turned him into the lowest of the low.” She got to her feet, crying into her handkerchief.
Gary looked at Susanna, who merely shrugged. They’d seen this many a time, usually over something far more trivial. There was nothing to be done. No comfort to be offered. This was their mother’s moment to prove to Uncle Harrison that his treatment had gone beyond reason to very real and heartfelt pain.
She staggered across the floor as if blinded by her tears and reached the bedroom door with a dramatic wave of her arms. “I don’t know if I shall be alive in the morning. This sorrow is surely too great to bear.”
She opened the door to the bedroom and disappeared inside. The four left behind sat in silence, looking at one another as if wondering if they should do something more.
“I’ll take her some dessert later,” Susanna offered.
“I’m going back to the hotel,” Father declared, getting to his feet. He glanced at the food on his plate. “I’ll take this with me.”
Gary continued eating. The food was very good, and the new work left him feeling half-starved most of the time. Owen had warned him he’d drop weight even as he built muscle. Herc said the same thing. He told Gary he’d be muscle-bound by Christmas. He tried to imagine what he’d look like. He’d need new clothes. Of course, before then, he’d probably have to spend some of his money on better work clothes. Owen had gotten him a few things from some of his friends and from a collection of clothes the railroad workers kept for new men. Still, they didn’t fit well, and Gary would be better off with his own. Thankfully, he didn’t have to pay room and board like the others did.
He finished his dinner and excused himself while Susanna and Uncle Harrison continued talking. He had told Herc and Empty that he’d meet them later for an evening of pool. Tomorrow was Saturday, and they’d only be working half a day, so the idea of stepping out for some entertainment appealed to him. He’d have to swing by the hotel and see if Father could advance him a little money since payday wasn’t until Monday.
In his bedroom, Gary took off his good suit and pulled on a blue cotton shirt and older gray trousers. He pulled on his everyday coat, then grabbed his straw hat. He opened his bedroom door just enough that he could hear his sister and Uncle Harrison as they conversed.
“You must never let them know about your money, Susanna. Your father will demand you give it to him for his investments, and your mother will expect you to spend it on her until every penny is gone. You’re a wealthy woman, but you must safeguard your future.”
“I’m trying to be wise, Uncle. But I could hardly stand the whining and scenes Mother made. You saw how she was tonight regarding Gary. I’m afraid I’m just not tough enough to listen to such things for long.”
“Well, now that you’ve bought this house, I suppose there’s nothing to be done for it. Get Gary to stay at the hotel with you so you won’t be in danger. That’s all I can recommend, since your folks won’t move in there like I want them to do.”
Gary used that moment to appear. “Did I hear my name mentioned?”
Susanna startled but smiled. “Yes. Uncle would like you to move in with me at the hotel. He doesn’t think it’s safe for me to live there alone.”
“I can do that,” Gary said, having already determined it would be a nice reprieve from staying with his folks. “I’m headed out to meet some friends right now, though.”
“You can wait until tomorrow to move,” Uncle Harrison declared. “I’ll be at the hotel tonight, so I can be available for your sister. Thank you for your consideration, however. You’re turning into a remarkable young man. I’m sure your father is proud.”
Gary shook his head. “I don’t care if he is proud. I didn’t do it for him. He’s ruined my life, and I just want to find a way to be nothing like him.”
8
I like it better living here than with Mother and Father,” Gary admitted a week later.
“I can’t say that I blame you.” Susanna had made toast and boiled eggs for breakfast. “Are you hungry?”
Gary nodded. “I’m always hungry these days. Owen says it’s because of the way my body is trying to adjust to the hard work.”
“How’s that going for you?”
He slipped into a chair at the table. “I’m not good at it, Susanna. I’m not good at much of anything.”
“In time you will be. You just have to put your mind to it.”
“Herc and the boys tease me because I’ve never had to work. Herc said he had to cut down trees for firewood when he was just a boy of six and lived up in Minnesota. I played with toy soldiers in the nursery when I was six.”
“I’m sure everyone has their story, just as you do. Don’t give up, Gary.” She placed three boiled eggs and two pieces of toast in front of him. “I’ll get you some coffee.”