And He Shall Be a Good Man

(Author's Note: "Levon" written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.)

When he came back from the bus station, Dean found his dad packing up to leave already.

"I'm done with all my stuff," John said. "You'd better get a move on. We have to be in Detroit by Sunday."

"How bout a little music?" Dean switched on the room's little clock radio, which he had already tuned to the local classic rock station. He heard the opening notes of Elton John's "Levon."

"Turn it off," John said. "I hate this damn song."

"Why?"

"Cause it's about a father who sacrifices everything for his son, and a son who's ashamed of his father."

"He's not ashamed."

"He wants to leave the damn planet to get away from him!"

"How do you know? Maybe he just wants to see what's out there. Maybe he feels there's more to life than blowing up balloons."

"Those balloons paid for his fancy school."

"Maybe he'll get to Venus and find it isn't so great. And he'll come home again."

"He won't. He doesn't care. He doesn't care if his old man dies."

"Well, maybe if he left the garage once in a while and spent time with him, they'd understand each other a little better."

"He's not even trying! He gets a little education and he thinks he's better than us-"

There was a long moment when they just stared at each other, neither of them saying a word. Then Dean reached out and switched off the radio. He loaded the last of his things into his duffle bag and said, "You could call him, you know."

"He's not even halfway there yet. How am I supposed to call him?"

"He has a cell phone."

"Where did he get a cell phone?"

"I bought it for him."

There was another uncomfortable silence.

"I had some money saved up, and . . ."

He thought John would be angry, but the older man just sighed. "No, I'll wait till he settles in. He probably won't want to talk to us anyway."

"He might."

"Yeah. We'll see. You ready to go?"

"Yeah." He hefted his duffle and grabbed the room key on his way out. "You know . . . it is a dumb song. I mean, he named his son Jesus? That's a hell of an expectation to lay on a kid."

"But he had tradition and a family plan," John pointed out. "Always good to have."

"Yeah, that's true," Dean said. "I'll go turn this in."

John sat behind the wheel of the Impala and wondered if he should call after all. They hadn't exactly parted on good terms. In fact, their last night together had ended in a shouting match that had nearly gotten them kicked out of the motel. Maybe he should wait till they got to Detroit. Give him a chance to cool down.

He started the engine, and the radio came on. "Levon" was just ending.

" . . . and he shall be a good man . . ."

I hope he will, John thought.