DRIFTER’S CODE
Chapter 10: Beau Meets Lily
With the dishes washed and dried she continued her interaction with the drifter she had invited over for dinner.
She met him during his break at the local pub she occasionally stopped in. Seeing they had an entertainer, a rare event in this small town, playing guitar and singing she decided to stay longer than her normal one drink quota.
As she watched him perform, she noticed that his guitar case and other equipment all had the initials BA scrawled over everything. When he had sat down a chair away from her at the bar on his break, she introduced herself. She really enjoyed his performance although he seemed a bit shy, or at least timid, interacting with the small crowd that was enjoying his show.
“Hello, my name is Lily.” She said to him as he ordered a beer from Jerry, the bartender. They small talked for a bit and when she said, “You aren’t from around here, are you?” He replied, “I’m not from anywhere at the moment. I was just drifting through town and asked this gentleman if I could set up and play for tips. He was gracious enough to say yes. So tonight, this is my home.”
“So what does BA stand for?” He looked surprised by her question and didn’t reply for a moment so she said, “No, let me guess. She tapped her temple as if helping her to think then said, “ Are you just proud of your Bachelors of Arts degree? No, wait, I got it… BA… Boy Avenger? You’re some kind of super hero, aren’t you.”
That made him smile before he finally replied, “Beau Adams.”
“See that wasn’t so hard, was it. But, by the way, Beau Adams was going to be my next guess.”
Beau was taken back by the friendliness of his bar stool partner and wondered if her demeanor was natural or was there some other intent going on. As the bartender walked by she said to him, “Jerry, put Beau Adam’s beer on my tab, please.” Jerry replied with a smile, “I’d do that, Lily, but I’m giving him free beer for playing.”
“Thank you, anyway.” Beau said, looking at her and thinking, is she for real?
“I need to get back up and play another set. Thank you for the attempt to buy me a beer and for the conversation.”
“You are welcome.” Lily said,
“Play a song about Boy Avenger rescuing a damsel in distress.”
Beau just nodded. “I should dedicate a song, at least, huh?”
Lily thought she saw him almost break into a grin as he returned to the stage.
His first song back, he introduced it with, “I’d like to dedicate this next song to the Babe Avenger, I hear she is a legend in these parts.” The crowd clapped but also wondered who the hell the Babe Avenger was.
Lily got a kick out of it. So did Jerry, who gave Beau a thumbs up.
After he was done with his last set, he thanked what was left of the crowd for their attention and their tips.
Once he broke down the equipment and finished transporting it all to his van outside, Beau walked up to the bar and asked Jerry if there was any place still open to get something to eat. It was midnight. It was a small rural community and most everything was closed after 9, except the bar of course.
Jerry responded, “No, everyone but us is home in bed and that’s where I plan to be in 30 minutes.” Beau was just about to settle for a can of beans he had stowed away, when Jerry came back to him after settling his bar partners tab and said, “Well, there is always, Lily’s Place. I guess. I hear there is food there.”
“Okay, where is that?” Beau asked, thinking that it was probably a restaurant open later than most.
With a smile he said, “It’s her house.” as he pointed to Lily who was still sitting at the bar orchestrating the whole scene.
Lily laughed and said, “I put him up to that. I haven’t eaten yet and it doesn’t take much more effort to cook for two as it does for one.”
Beau almost seemed reluctant but after she said, “ I have steaks. You in?”
“Sounds good and I will bring the beans.”
He was happy with his good fortune.
Beau followed her truck about a couple of miles out of town to a pleasant ranch house with a barn and several out buildings.
“I will go in and get things started” she said as she closed the door to her truck. “Come on in when you’re ready to eat.”
She cooked, then they ate and talked. Well actually, Lily did most of the talking but after a while Beau seemed to be loosening up.
She described how she loved this little town where she grew up. She loved her neighbors, the townsfolk and she also raved about her church. She remarked that he ought to consider playing a couple songs at her church on Sunday. “The parishioners would love it.” she said at which Beau replied, “I’m not much of a church goer. Not sure God would let me in.”
After dinner they both washed dishes as their conversation was sprinkled with her stories about her upbringing, and her reluctance to leave this place that was her home.
She sensed that Beau was holding back a response on a lot of things that she talked about.
She saw more than once, that he was about to insert an opinion on one thing or another but then stopped himself.
After she saw him do it again, she said teasingly, “Don’t hold it in.”
She finally dried the last glass, put it in her cabinet, wiped the counter and folded the towel and laid it on the counter as she looked him straight in his eyes and said, “You can talk to me,” pausing briefly before adding, “I’d love to hear your story.”
She then leaned back against the counter obviously inviting him to open up to her. She waited for a response.
A look of surprise came over his face for just a moment before the veil he has been hiding behind for a year reappeared. “Uh, Why do you care?” was the only thing he could think of saying. He then caught himself and realized that was he said was bordering on being inconsiderate. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound so rude.”
Lily walked to the refrigerator, in silence and got out two bottles of light beer. “Look, We are all travelers in time. We are all individuals foraging through our lives and trying to make sense of the situations we encounter. But we don’t have to do it alone.”
“If you don’t want to to enlist God’s help, then at least let a mortal in. I believe that God intervenes in our lives through people we interact with. I even believe in Angels.”
“Are you an Angel? He said whimsically as he ran his hand through his hair imagining what she would look like with a halo.
She let out a laugh and said, “If I were an Angel, my ass would have been kicked out of the Angel’s Club a looong time ago.” She had a big smile on her face as she added, “My halo is probably under lock and key in a purgatorial prison.”
“Heaven help the prison guards in that institution.” He laughed and smiled as she laughed too. She has a beautiful laugh he thought to himself. He wondered why such a beautiful, intelligent woman was by herself.
He was amazed at how nice it was to be this comfortable talking to her. Part of him knew that her beauty had to have an influence in his attraction to her but that beauty was also an angst, the temptation of being close to someone again caused him anxiety. He was afraid of conceding to her openness.
He didn’t want to feel close to anyone… Look what happened last time he was in love. It was all taken away in an instant. One moment, he was alive with life. He had a wife and family that he adored. Then a moment later, he was alone. It wasn’t fair.
His mind raced back to his children playing on a beach. A beautiful day where he played in the surf with his kids while his perfectly tanned wife prepared the lunch she had gathered for them. Under an umbrella, she smiled at them, enjoying every moment of her family. Her smile had lit up his world.
“Do you have family?” Lily innocently asked, not knowing the trigger she had just pressed was going to cause him to retreat.
Snapping back to the present, the drifter shuffled his feet as he obviously felt uncomfortable. “No,” he said as he looked down at his feet. there was a long pause before he added, “not any more.” he replied without seeming to want to elaborate.
“It’s not in the Drifter’s Code,” he murmured softly to himself.
“What’s a Drifter’s Code”? She said as she sat down on the bar stool next to the counter and then realized that maybe his murmur was not meant to be heard by her.
He shuffled his feet again and then sat himself at the small kitchen table.
“I’m sorry if it seems like I’m prying,” she quickly added. “I don’t intend to make you uncomfortable. I just enjoy hearing people’s life stories. My life seems fuller when I meet people and they have life experiences that they don’t mind sharing”.
“I lost my whole family in a car accident,” he suddenly blurted out. After a moment of silence, he added, “They were driving home in the rain when it happened. They had all been at a church function.” He rapped his fingers on the table and then said, “It took one second for my whole life to change.”
She timidly asked, “and what is the Drifter’s Code”?
“It’s a song I wrote after it happened. It’s about a guy wandering through life and wandering around the country with no purpose.” He was looking down at the bottle of beer that sat in front of him on the kitchen table. “It’s about me.”
She was glad he was sitting a few feet away from him or she probably would have reached out and held his hand to show him that she was there to support him in any way she could. She was glad because she had no idea how such a gesture would have been received. His story was heart breaking. He seemed broken.
“Did you play it tonight? This Drifter’s Code song?”
“Yes, I did but it still needs some polishing,” he said.
“Well, after hearing your other original songs, tonight, I bet it will be a great song when it’s polished up. Actually, I think I do remember you playing it. I remember hearing lyrics about never traveling down the same road? Was that the one?.”
“Yes.” Then wanting to change the subject he said, “I can’t help but wonder why a woman of your caliber is not married or at least have a man in her life.”
“Oh, I have lots of men in my life.” she said smiling. “Why, there’s Pastor Mike. Principal Carl, Janitor John, Jerry the bartender, he and his wife are golden, and I have several young men that do my lawn care.” She laughed out loud as she saw the confused look on his face. “and that’s not to even mention the fathers of all the young men at the school where I teach.”
“Oh, so you’re a teacher.” He said jokingly as if that was the reason for her being single. “So the men around here have never passed your SAT test?” He paused then tapped the temple on the side of his head mockingly before continuing. “In my mind, I’m envisioning a bunch of eligible bachelors sitting in desks way too small for them as they are all struggling with test questions and I see you at your desk at the front of your classroom slapping a ruler in your hand over and over.”
“Ha, ha” she said. “Great visual, you know me so well! But, seriously, I think I will put that on my bucket list. Thank you.” She was glad the mood had changed from the somber moment they had experienced earlier to a more jovial environment.
He took the last sip from his beer and as then placed it quietly on to the table. He said, “ I should probably get going, I don’t want to keep you up all night. I really enjoyed your home cooked meal. I don’t get many of those these days.”
“You don’t have to go.” Then she thought to herself of how he might have taken that remark and added, “I’m not inviting you into my bedroom, silly. I just enjoy your company. There’s no school tomorrow and all the men in my life are out somewhere shooting the ‘calibers’ they enjoy more than mine. Hunting season, you know.”
He laughed at her ability to so easily tie in the ‘caliber’ comment. “So what do you do to fill your Saturdays?” Beau asked.
“There is always something to do around here. I inherited this farm from my mom and dad. They died a few years ago and there are sheds and barns filled up with all their treasures. I don’t farm or have cattle, I just have the house and barn. Oh, and a goat.”
“It’s a beautiful place, that’s for sure.” Beau said, “The scenery and you make it quite remarkable.”
Beau startled himself when those words came out of his mouth. He blushed.
Lily blushed a bit as well then said, “I totally agree, at least about the scenery part.” She laughed and continued her thoughts about her barn treasures.
I’m in the process of deciding where and who might get the most benefit from all the stuff dad accumulated for over 60 years. I think he had about every tool a man could have. Granted, most farmers and ranchers do.”
“I just wish I had someone to share his memories with,” she continued with a loving grin inspired by her fathers memory. “I dust off a shelf or look in a dusty corner and find antiques everywhere. Just last week I found a broken screwdriver. He saved both pieces and knowing him he had planned someday to weld them back together. Hey, you don’t have a need for a broken screwdriver, do you?” She tried to look serious but failed.
Beau laughed as he thought to himself how the smile on her face lit up the room. It brought back the memory of his wife, Sara. She had that same ability. Finally, he said, “I don’t really think my tool box has room for a broken screwdriver, but thanks for the offer.”
“Hey, What are you doing tomorrow?” she suddenly said enthusiastically. “My plan is to attack the west shed. As I said, it is so much more fun to have someone to share the experience with. Discovering cool things by yourself seems kind of empty. With someone there, it would be fun to find things and make up stories as to how my dad came to own it or how he used it. I’d gladly pay you to help me.”
“That does sound fun.” Beau conceded.
“I’ll throw in a home cooked lunch!”
“Wow, now that and the company sounds like an offer hard to refuse. But…”
Oh my, the dreaded ‘but’, he thought. He couldn’t count how many times he’s said that word just to take an about face on an offer by someone that just wanted to spend time with him. His time wasn’t spent with absolutes or needs to get done things. He just found, most of the time, to just not want to be somewhere that he would have to open up to people.
“But,” he continued, “I have to play tomorrow night and it sounds like I might get pretty dirty scavenging through years of dust. Most of my clothes are already dirty.” What, he thought to himself. That is the best excuse you can come up with?
“Well, where are you staying? A motel?”
“My van, tonight.”
“You live in your van?” Her interest was peeked by hearing that his drifter status in her mind just got more driftier. Is that even a word, she wondered. She ought to know, she’s a teacher, after all.
“Sometimes, I just stay in my van. I have a routine and it isn’t as bad as you might think. It just happens to lack bathing facilities. A hotel, motel is nice but I can’t afford them every night.”
“Gees, Maybe we ought to start you a Go Fund Me page.” She said with a menacing smile.
“I’m not sure what that is.” but he smiled at her, knowing she knew and that there was sure to be a joke in there somewhere.
“If you want, you can just park your van here next to the barn. I’ve got plenty of hot water and there’s a small lavatory and shower in the barn. My mom insisted that Dad put it out there after she got tired of him dragging dirt, oil and grease into the house. It needs cleaned up but you are welcome to use it.”
She walked to the refrigerator and grabbed two bottles of beer. She effortlessly opened one for herself, placed the unopened one in front him and sat down at the table with him. “So, what are your thoughts?”
Beau thought for a second then leaned over, grabbed the beer and as he grasped the bottle cap he grimaced, pretending he couldn’t open it. Finally after tormenting her for another moment with his terrible acting skills, he opened it triumphantly and took a drink.
Lilly cupped her hand to her mouth as if she was speaking through a megaphone and announced loudly. “Beau Adams, BA… for Bad Ass!” She threw her hands to the sky as if she had finally figured out his co-sign. She then put her hands to her face trying not to laugh too obnoxiously.
He almost spit up his beer from breaking out in laughter. Beau was amazed at how witty this school teacher was. Beau gave her his best Bad Ass imitation by flexing and they both again laughed out loud.
Beau was having a hard time getting used to the comfort her energy emitted. A soothing state of calm and a disarming atmosphere filled the room with her in it. He wasn’t used to being with someone that he felt so comfortable around. Lily was allowing him into her beautiful garden. A flower, she definitely was.
After some calm finally entered the room, Beau said, “Staying next to your barn would relieve me the cost of a campground fee, and if cleaning up your facilities in the barn would be something you would want done, I’d be a fool to pass your offer up.” I just ran out of “buts” he thought to himself.
As Lily nodded her head in agreement she asked, “Beau, where do you play next? After tomorrow night, I mean.”
Hearing Lily say his first name, caught him by surprise. Has it been that long since someone he knew said his name in a conversation? His normal conversations were always short and sweet. Leaded or unleaded, where is the closest laundromat, Coffee?
Beau thought briefly and said, “I don’t have any plans, really. My next quest is somewhere left of here.” He waved his arm about as he indicated ‘his left’ was anywhere but here. “Sometimes I just drive down gravel roads to see where they go. I once got chased off my overnight camp site by a bull. Once I’ve seen it, I just get back in the van and drive.”
“That sounds lonely.” Lily said, looking at Beau with sad eyes. She pouted her lips to enhance that point.
“I’ve got my dog, Lucky.”
“Your dog? I love dogs, they are the most loyal and loving partners on the planet. Where is Lucky?”
“He is probably sleeping under the van. I throw a mat under the front of the van and he enjoys the heat coming off the engine. He has a long leash on him so he won’t bother anyone.”
“There is no one to bother for miles around here other than the wildlife. I have deer that like to wander through now and then but nobody else. You should have brought him in. I would love to get to know him.”
“That’s great, so you wouldn’t mind him going on the ‘west shed adventure’ with us tomorrow?”
“Absolutely not! I can’t wait to meet him formally.”
Beau took a final gulp of his beer and stood up. He was wondering what to do next, offer to shake her hand, a small hug, or … ? He finally put out his hand towards her and she stood up and smiled as she swatted his hand aside and gave him a big hug. “If you or Lucky need anything, I’ll leave the door open.”
“No.” Beau immediately responded. “A woman should never leave her door unlocked.” He paused for a moment, then said, “That’s always been a rule in my family.” He surprised himself saying the word family. He thought, there is no family, It’s just me.
Lily was a little surprised as well by his passionate statement but she enjoyed the fact that he was concerned for her safety.
She replied, “Ooookay, but there’s a key under the flower pot if you need to come in. Trust me, I trust you!” She smiled at him, looking forward to seeing him in the morning.
“Good night, Lily, We will see you in the morning.” Beau said as he walked to the kitchen door. As he walked out to the van his hand stroked his face. He was surprised that his cheeks were sore from smiling so much. That hadn’t happened to him in quite a while.