Duke
Iwoke up unaware of the time or my current location.
For a moment, the unmistakable sound of men snoring made me think I was in an army barracks somewhere, but the familiar pain in my leg reminded me those days were behind me.
As I opened my eyes, the light stung them like holy water on a vampire which told me two things. It was daytime, and I was hungover.
“Shit,” I seethed as I struggled to read my watch through my blurred vision.
“Good morning, soldier,” Cutter said, placing a strong-smelling cup of coffee on the floor next to where I lay.
“Where the hell am I?” I asked.
“You tell me, soldier boy. You chose our accommodations last night,” Cutter replied.
I sat up and looked to find myself inside what appeared to be a church basement.
Posters containing the Serenity Prayer and the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous adorned the walls along with pictures of Jesus that made him look more like the third long lost member of Loggins and Messina than a Middle Eastern Jew.
Cutter had clearly found the coffee maker, but I was starting to think we should be looking for an exit. Cutter must have read this on my face.
“Relax. The preacher already came downstairs to find all us bears sleeping in his bed and eating his porridge.”
“Oh, yeah? How’d he take that?”
“He was cool. He just asked that we clean up and turn the lights off when we leave. To be honest, I think he was just glad we weren’t here to rob the church.”
“Why are we here?” I asked, taking a sip from the Styrofoam cup.
“Since we were unable to sell our merchandise last night, we were a little light on cash, so we sought accommodations within this holy place.”
“My head feels like we had money to drink.”
“That we did, Duke,” Warthog shouted before passing out again.
“It was your idea to crash here, and a fine idea it turned out to be,” Cutter said as I rose to my feet. “You’re a standup guy and we’d love to have you prospect as a member of the Burning Saints any time you’re interested.”
“I appreciate that,” I replied.
“Where you headed now?” he asked.
“I should probably be heading home to Savannah, but I think I’ll stick around Atlanta for just a little while longer.”
“That wouldn’t have anything to do with that little southern belle you were talking to outside the police station last night, would it?”
“My answer to that will depend on whether or not she gives me the time day. If I can even find her again.”
Cutter laughed and we shook hands. “Well, if Savannah is everything you say it is, we’d love to come check it out.”
“Anytime, brother. You’ve got my number. Don’t be afraid to use it.”
“We owe you one for getting us outta jail. I still don’t know how you managed that, but we’re in your debt.”
With that, I said goodbye to the other conscious Burning Saints and headed out to my bike.
Pearl
After church, I strolled along the downtown shops and cafes per my normal routine.
As much as I craved spontaneity, I was a creature of habit, and window shopping on Sundays was part of that routine.
My predictability was one of the reasons my parents had such an easy time getting me to do what they wanted me to do.
They had to use little to no imagination when anticipating what my next move might be.
Academically, I threw them a little curveball by majoring in a field I was passionate about, but so far, I’d managed to do absolutely bupkis with my degree and wondered if my parents’ influence was slowly poisoning my chance at an independent life.
I stopped in front of a bookstore and was peering through the large display window when I heard a deep voice from behind.
“Good morning, Pearl.”
I spun around so quickly, I lost my balance, but was steadied by Duke’s strong arms.
“Easy there. I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry ’bout that,” he said with a broad smile. “Do you remember me from last night?”
“Of course, I do,” I said, shocked that he was standing in front of me. “How did you find me?”
“I just sorta asked around. People around here are very friendly. I started with the owner of the donut shop closest to the station and he said you’d probably be at church with it being Sunday and all.
So, I went and got cleaned up at the YMCA and was coming down here to find some new clothes when I spotted the very Pearl I was looking for. ”
“I told you, my name is Gr—”
“Duke and Pearl. Pearl and Duke. It’s got a ring to it. You’ve gotta admit.”
“Don’t you mean Randal?” I asked.
“How do you know my name?” he asked.
“You really don’t remember me, do you?” I asked, studying his face.
“Of course, I do. We met last night, but how—”
“We’ve known each other for a lot longer than that, Randal. Much longer.”
He cocked his scruffy head to the side while studying me, making him a dead ringer for a puppy in a pet store window.
“As a matter of fact, the last time I saw you before last night, you’d had some sort of fight with my brothers over a deer.”
I’d give just about anything for a time machine and a camera so I could capture the look on Duke’s face at that very moment.
“You’re Sheriff Early’s daughter? Sweet baby Jesus.”
“I told you my daddy is in law enforcement. My brothers too.”
“Of course, those monsters are cops,” he hissed.
“You don’t remember me, but you remember my brothers?” I asked.
“I remember your brothers because they’re assholes, and a wise man taught me to never forget an asshole.”
“I’ll confess I seem to have the opposite problem.”
“How so?”
“I remember you very clearly from when we were kids but would have never picked you out of a police lineup today.”
“You remember me?” Duke asked with a grin that made my insides melt.
“Fondly,” I replied. “I’ll admit I had a bit of a crush on you when we were kids. I’m surprised you don’t recall me following you around like some lovestruck puppy dog.” I giggled nervously.
Duke smiled, took my hands in his and in front of God and everyone, got down on one knee.
“Marry me, Pearl.”
“Get up this very instant!” I whisper shouted in hopes that not too many people had witnessed what had just happened. “What in the world do you think you’re doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious that the universe is bringing us together? I mean, what are the odds of us running into each other like this after all these years? I’m serious, Pearl. I know I don’t look like I have much to offer, but—”
“Stop talking and get inside now,” I said sternly, swinging the bookstore door open and pointing inside. Duke did as he was told, grinning through his mustache the entire time.
“Listen to me very carefully,” I whispered. “I’m only going to ask you this one time. Are you a hippie?”
“A hippie?” He laughed.
“What I mean is, are you on marijuana?” This made him laugh even louder, which garnered a snooty look from the clerk.
“We’re sorry,” I said to the clerk with a wave before turning my attention back to Duke. “I am not going to marry you. I haven’t even agreed to go on a date with you.”
“Let’s start there then,” Duke said matter-of-factly.
“Miss Pearl, would you please accompany me on an outing on this fine Sunday afternoon?” Duke bowed like something straight out of a Dickens novel and I couldn’t help but laugh.
This boy could charm the pitchfork off the Devil himself, and although I knew it, I wasn’t immune.
“An outing?” I asked, trying to appear disinterested.
“Have you ever seen the Georgia countryside from the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle?”
“I think we both know the answer to that question is no. I would also like to add that it’s not going to happen today.”
“Why not?” Duke asked.
I opened my mouth to answer him, but nothing came out.
Try as I might to come up with a reason I shouldn’t join him for a ride, I was coming up blank.
I heard my father’s voice loud and clear telling me not to go, but it was at odds with my inner voice, which was currently quiet and still.
Lately all I’d been doing was fantasizing about busting out of Atlanta and going on some wild adventure, and here I was too scared to go on a measly motorcycle ride.
Before I knew it, I blurted out, “I’d love to join you for a ride.”
Duke shook his head in amazement. “You always change your mind so quickly?”
I thought about it for a moment and answered with a confident, “Yes.”
“I wouldn’t have pegged you as the easily swayed type.”
“I didn’t say I was a pushover. I simply have no qualms about changing my mind when presented with the appropriate argument.”
“Appropriate argument? I thought I was asking you out on a date. I didn’t realize I was building a legal case.”
I sighed. “Duke, do you read the Bible?”
“Forget changing your mind, let’s talk about how fast you change subjects,” Duke said.
“The Bible?” I asked again.
“I’ve been bored enough in a few hotel rooms to thumb through it, but wouldn’t go so far as to say I’ve read it.”
“Well, I have. All of it. And one of the Ten Commandments…” I paused. “You’ve heard of the Ten Commandments, haven’t you?”
“Saw the Chuck Heston movie,” Duke replied with his usual grin.
I ignored his comment but secretly found this playful banter to be utterly delicious.
I’d never fought with a man like this before.
I’d been at war with my father and my brothers all my life, but this wasn’t fighting like that.
I knew that secretly Duke and I were trying to get to the same place, and the tension of getting there without directly saying so was making me ache in ways I’d never felt.
I suppose this was flirting, and it had never occurred to me that I’d never done it before.
I did my best to keep a poker face and continued, “One of the Ten Commandments, ‘Thou shalt not lie,’ is one I try very hard to keep. So, I want to be honest with you.”
“Please do.”
“I’m not sure if you’re an answer to prayer or an object of temptation, but something inside of me needs to find out.”