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“Good news, good news, cigarette?” She accepts both cigarette and the light he offers with one of those devices that stay ignited in snowstorms. She wonders what good news he refers to; some record for most pallets moved in a day? “Let’s walk,” he says. “I think you had no schooling, is that right?”
“Sixth grade. I did fine, I read books, write well, math.”
“Didn’t mean to put you on the defensive. I got no problems with your performance, very pleased, matter of fact.”
“Dad didn’t want the debt is all.” Her defense is always the same, not that he couldn’t afford it but that he didn’t want the debt.
“I’d say you’ve done very well, Charlie. Very well indeed.”
“You heard good news?”
“Indeed I did. Look at that.” This end of the yard looks across a hillside of some ofBend’s lovelier homes, topped by a vista of Broken Top and the glistening golf course below. Her eyes rise to the mountain, out of reach now since it was bought by B of A, a rival bank, but still unblemished by signs. “Do you have a house of your own, Charlie?”
“No sir. I’m sorry, what’s the good news?”
“You’re out of debt, sweetheart! You sent the last payment on your mother’s education yesterday and finished off your own hospitalization debts two months ago. Congratulations!”
Charlie has blunt features, a squared off nose and flat, pale lips poorly formed for lying. The shock on her face is as plain as a cinderblock, and she cannot speak.
“No debt! What a feat! Christ, I owe a half a million. Ouch, half a million, I hate that figure.” He flicks his cigarette at the ground. “You’re rich.”
“Why do you know that?”
He glances at her eyes curiously. “I’m your coach, Charlie. They keep me informed of all sorts of news about you. Last week they told me about Derrin’s poor mother, and I was able to arrange flowers and three days off for him. I’m here to help. It’s no secret,” he adds.
“Are you going to announce it? Like Andy’s new truck?”
The coach hesitates, “I was going to suggest some ways to manage your finances. It’s quite an extraordinary position and you have some options. You’ll want something secure –”
About Robert Woolridge
