I Live In A Small Town In Texas Called Sanderson, And I Can Tell Something Weird Is Going On

“You’re always pretty funny Wade, but it was a damn decent question. Don’t you want to be a part of something good?” he said without a hint of humor.

“You assholes done being creepy?” I said. I kept my composure, but the paranoia was starting to cut through the buzz of the alcohol.

Fred stared at me for a long moment, his one giant blue eye locked on me. Finally, he smiled wide and shook me by the shoulder.

“Sorry, bro. Just fucking with ya’,” he said with a little laugh. I turned to see Daryl chuckling too.

The next day, I was on my laptop looking up bus ticket prices to Austin. I’d always wanted to visit the capital, and it’s not like the factory was going to miss me for a few days. I pulled out my wallet for my credit card, ready to punch in the numbers and buy a one way ticket, not sure how long I’d spend out of town. I looked through it twice before I accepted that my card wasn’t in my wallet. I went to the living room to find Daryl on the couch watching football.

“Have you seen my card, dude?” I asked the back of his head.

“No sir-ee,” he said without turning back. “What’d you need it for?”

“Was thinking about heading to Austin for a few days. Get drunk somewhere new for a change,” I said. Daryl turned around now.

“Why would you want to leave town, Wade? You don’t like hanging out with your brothers?” he said with a hint of anger.

“It’s not that, man. I’m just tired of staring at the same old shit everyday. Now do you know where my card is or not?” I was starting to get angry myself.

“No Wade. We don’t have time for you to look around right now anyway, it’s time for work. I’m gonna’ check on mama before we go.” He got up from the couch and walked past me.

I watched him go. Fred and Daryl’s mama took ill almost a year ago. Now they keep her in the bedroom and Fred and I haven’t gone in there since. Daryl looks after all her needs. The topic is not one we bring up much.

It was at the end of a long shift when I went to Mr. Zarzamora’s office to talk to him. I’d worked nearly a double shift, and it was closing time. Fred and Daryl had already gone home. It was the fourth time in a month I’d taken extra hours. I wanted to have cash to spend in Austin, which was exactly what I was there to speak with Mr. Z about. As I walked across the factory floor, I started getting shitty looks from the few other workers still around the building. Being the black sheep that I am, I usually get a few, but this was a bit much. I passed the jerkoffs and headed up the stairs to the head office. I knocked once, and he quickly called me in.

“Hey Mr. Z. Just wanted to get a few days off next week. I know you’re usually cool about it, but I wanted to give you the heads up.”

“To go to Austin?” Mr. Z asked without skipping a beat. It caught me off guard.