Watching Close

Ted Morrissey

My uncle from California spends his two weeks fixing stuff. Last summer it was the toilet and garage door, this summer it's the car and a fan in the attic. Dad can't fix anything Mom says, that's why she asks Uncle Bob when he comes. He's glad to do it, though he does it all the time in California. Uncle Bob fixes stuff at Disneyland. He says he's good friends with Mickey Mouse. I believed him when I was little.

I always help him. He says Screwdriver, just like doctors on TV. And I slap it in his hand as hard as I can. To fix the car he says Ratchet then Pliers then some other things I don't know. It's fun helping, though it's hot in the driveway. Little rocks stick to Bob's back when he's done. He says Thanks for the help Cap. He always's called me Cap, though my name is Zack. Mom and Dad told me why but I don't remember.

When he visits he doesn't just fix stuff for us. Bob'll go to Aunt Betty's or Sarah's or my other uncle Lee's. I always get to help. Mom says to watch close so I can fix stuff too someday. She says Dad never had nobody to watch.

Two days before going back to California, Grandpa Dale calls Bob from Fort Madison. He's not really my grandpa. He's Bob's wife's dad. I don't really remember Bob's wife my Aunt Rita. I was little when she died. Grandpa Dale's air is out and his house is too hot Bob says when he hangs up. It's a long drive and it's too late to go today. I can't sleep thinking about the trip all the way to Iowa. I remember we cross a big river on a bridge that costs money. I remember sometimes the bridge opens to let big boats go through. I think it's neat but it makes Bob a little mad.

Next day finally. Bob gets me up when it's still dark. We stop for donuts before leaving town. His coffee makes a cloud on the windshield. You can sleep if you want Cap. It's a long drive he says. Maybe I will but wake me up before we get to the bridge. For a while I watch the corn. It's tall and green. Bob says it's been a good year for corn. Then I do sleep.

When I wake up we're stopped and I think Bob forgot. But it's just that the bridge is open and lots of people are waiting. Below the road I see a long boat going by. I want to get out to see better but I know Bob won't let me. It takes a long time for the boat to leave and the bridge to go back together. It's hot in the car and I think I know why Bob gets mad.

Over the water and it's brown. Not blue like in pictures.

I forgot Grandpa Dale has a carport. We have a garage. It's good to get out of the car. My shirt and pants are sweaty and I hope Grandpa Dale has a sodapop. Bob tries the side door. It's locked. Dale! Let us in. I have to pee too. Wait here says Bob and he goes around front. I hear the buzz inside one two three times. Bob comes back. His face looks funny. Kind of like when he was waiting for the bridge. He goes to the back of the house. I hear him calling Dale.

Then he's running to the car. He gets a wrench from the trunk. Watch out Cap. He breaks the glass in the side door and unlocks it. I follow him inside. The broken glass feels like the little rocks in the driveway. Up steps. In the kitchen. Down the hall. There's a smell like when Bob fixed the toilet cause stuff wouldn't go down anymore. I see in Dale's bedroom. Grandpa Dale is in bed. Bob's pulled back the covers. Dale's face is the color of the sheet. Gray. Bob is hitting him in the chest then blowing in his mouth. I think he's going to say Hammer or Air Hose but it's like he forgot I was there. I'm glad cause I don't want him to see me crying like a little kid.

He stops and pulls the covers over Dale's head.

Bob doesn't go back to Disneyland the next day. He stays for the funeral which I don't go to.

Keep an eye on your folks Cap until I come back Bob says to me at the airport. It's hard to hear cause of the big planes. We wait for his to go. Mom tells me to wave like I always do but I don't feel like waving. I feel like crying again but I don't know why.