Long Night's Journey into Day
Carol McAllister who used to be Carol Peletier who was Carol McAllister before that pulled into the U R Welcome lot and parked beside Daryl's equally old and battered truck. Friday night. It had been a fairly calm week but Fridays were always wild. She hoped Daryl was ready for it.
Axel's mustache was leaning to the port side as escorted two teenage boys out the door as she waited on the sidewalk, "Now listen here. A blind man wouldn't fall for those ID's. You go on home before you get into trouble." Good luck with that, Axel.
Carol sidestepped the two belligerent boys. Glenn was manning one register and Daryl was on the other. Every other person in the lines to the register was carrying a case of beer. She left her purse in the storeroom and rescued Daryl from a line, "I'll take this if you'll go stock up the coolers."
"That works for me." Daryl darted for the storeroom.
Later Carol glanced at the digital clock on the counter. 11:30. Axel and Glenn were getting ready to go having put in an extra half hour to help out. Carol noticed that Hershel Green's daughters were sitting in a booth drinking sodas and looking bored. Maggie was in college and the younger one Beth was still in high school. So what are they doing here on a Friday night?
Glenn came out of the storeroom with his Detroit Tigers baseball hat on. "Have a good weekend, Carol. See you Monday night." He was walking by the booth when Maggie scooted out. They bumped into each other. Glenn apologized and Maggie assured him that she was fine. Carol watched it all with interest. Maggie sat back down and before long Glenn was sitting in the booth with her. Maggie was a girl who went after what or who she wanted. Good on her. Glenn was a keeper. Smart and funny.
Beth was busy eyeing Daryl like he was on the menu. Carol decided to mind her own business and looked out on the parking lot. Two teenage boys were in attack position. Clenched fists and angry faces. "Daryl, take Glenn and go out and run those kids off before they fight."
Daryl shook his head, "Do I hafta? Boys like to show off once in a while." He moved toward the door though calling for Glenn. The boys and their separate entourages turned as Glenn and Daryl came toward them. Glenn was doing the talking but the two would be fighters were looking at Daryl. He managed to look tough even in tan pants and checked shirt. The boys looked mulish and she suspected there was some serious swearing going on but they eventually got in their cars and left.
Maggie and Beth had followed them out and watched from the sidewalk in front. Glenn stopped to talk to Maggie and Beth said something to Daryl. He shook his head and said something to her and came back in. Daryl stepped around her to get to his register, "Remember how you told me not to leave you with Axel?"
"Yes?" Axel is funny but skeevy.
"Don't leave me with Miss Jail Bait out there. I'm not interested but who is going to believe me? I'm the new guy with a brother in prison." Daryl's tone was matter of fact. Okay, I shouldn't be so pleased that he is so dismissive of Beth. I'll over analyze that later.
Two barely legal girls barely dressed in short shorts and tube tops dumped two cases of beer on her counter. They had the money and the state of Georgia had issued them driving license stating that they were twenty-one. Carol rang up the sale and gave them back their change. These two have the i ds so they're buying the beer for the party. Nothing much good will come of this.
Daryl leaned against the counter and watched the two girls stagger out with their heavy load. "Partying 'til they puke. These whippersnappers have to learn for themselves."
Carol watched them get into a waiting car, "I wanted to yank the beer away and tell them to go home." She glanced at Daryl, "I've got your back. Next time I see a cute blond eyeing you I'll hang on you like a fat tick on a dog." Damn, who can blame them? He's got those blue eyes and he looks all manly even in the Bible salesman outfit and I should stop this whole line of thought.
Daryl snorted, "Fat tick on a dog? College girl trying to act all country, but yeah, you just act all proprietary with me. Let those girls think I'm taken." No, no, bad Carol. No mental images of acting all proprietary with Daryl.
There was calm before the storm. The storm being three very stoned teenage boys showing up to buy some gas. Then they decided that it was "munchies" time. Stoned kids were not exactly a novelty, but it was obvious that whatever substance that these three had smoked, snorted, ate, swallowed, injected, or inserted had laid waste to their already probably limited brain power.
They headed toward the junk food and brought an armful to the register. Carol motioned Daryl to take the register and went back to the telephone in the storeroom and made a 911 call. These three did not need to be driving. Their walking skills weren't even all that good.
The three amigos had discovered Theo's pecan bars. "Wow, these are good". Cheech took a big bite out of a Sweet and Salty bar and handed what was left to Chong who stared at it for a moment and then bit into it. He chewed noisily and swallowed. Carol checked the coffee supply. Time to make another pot. Then the storm hit.
Chong was gasping for air and Carol saw that he had dropped the Sweet and Salty bar. She rushed to him, "Are you allergic to tree nuts?" There was a medic alert bracelet on his wrist. He was allergic to tree nuts. Fuck. "Where's your EpiPen?" Chong was too busy trying not to die to answer.
Apparently the other amigo Willie Nelson was coherent enough to follow conversation. "It's in the car. I'll get it."
"Daryl, call 911. We need an ambulance."
Willie came back with the EpiPen. She had moved Chong to the empty diner. He had vomited and she was terrified that he was going to choke to death. She grabbed the EpiPen and stabbed into Chong's skinny thigh. Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh came barreling into help. Carol went into the diner kitchen and wet some washcloths to wipe the boy's face. Then the paramedics were there and Carol saw that her housemate Andrea had answered the call.
Andrea and Tyreese took over. The sick boy was bundled into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. Carol cleaned up the mess and went back to work. Rick and Shane took Willie and Cheech somewhere they probably didn't want to go.
Rick had dawdled for just a minute at her register before he left, "I'm glad you acted so fast. That kid might have died right here if you hadn't." Rick shuffled his feet, "Is Andrea dating anybody?"
"No, she isn't. Would you be wanting me to put in a good word for you?" Rick had been divorced over a year ago.
Rick laughed, "It couldn't hurt. Maybe you could give her a hint that I would like to go to out to dinner, maybe see a movie?" Carol's Lonely Hearts Club is at your service.
They were busy until after two and then it eased off. People came and went but they were basically background clutter. Carol paid attention to the couple as soon as they came in. The man was drunk and loud. The woman was sober and too quiet. He pushed her toward the coolers, "Go get me some beer. Gotta piss." Okay, he's a pig.
The woman carried two six packs to the counter and Mr. Oinker came out of the restroom and headed toward them. Bet he didn't wash his hands either. Off with his head.
Daryl had been out by the pumps emptying the trash but she saw him leave it and head inside. Mr. Oinker grabbed his wife's arm and slung her around, "Bitch, you know to get more than that."
Then suddenly Daryl was there. "Don't you hate it when women get it all wrong? Tell you what. Why don't you show me what you like and I'll get it."
The man blinked at Daryl, "I'm going to teach her a lesson. Always trying to be the damn boss of me."
Daryl grabbed the six packs and led Mr. Oinker back to the coolers. "Women. See that woman at the register? She's a damn ball buster." Great, encourage him to believe that all women deserve to be slapped into shape.
Carol turned to the woman, "You can get out. There's a number to call. Your area code and the letters get help"
"He's not always like this. He's having a bad time at work and he'll be sorry in the morning." The woman looked fearfully back toward the coolers. She's scared, afraid to stay and afraid to go.
"Call that number when you're ready. Area code and then hit the letters to "get help. They helped me five years ago." Carol saw that Daryl was steering the man back with a case of beer. Mr. Oinker leered at her, "Daryl told me all about you. You are a bad girl."
Daryl grabbed the beer and Mr. Oinker and stowed them both into the car while the woman paid. "Get help, right?"
"That's it. Good luck." Daryl came back in and the woman got in the car and drove off.
There was another flurry of arrivals and both of them were busy until very late. Daryl finished with the rest rooms. He had volunteered to do both since she had to clean up Chong's mess.
Daryl headed for the storeroom, "Let's go sit outside and get some fresh air. What do you want to drink?"
"Bring me back a Dr. Pepper." The place was empty and they deserved a break.
There were benches out front and Carol sat down and let the night roll off her. Daryl handed her a Dr. Pepper and sat down beside her. "You get a chance to talk to her?"
"I gave her a number to call. Whether she will or not. I don't know." Carol stretched and took a drink of the soda, "I was her, five years ago. I don't know why I stayed with him as long as I did."
"They mess you up. Make you think that you deserve it. You can't think straight until you're away from it." Daryl shifted in his seat uncomfortably. I knew it when he flinched the other night when Glenn patted him on the back for some reason.
Carol held up her bottle, "Let's drink to living well is the best revenge." Daryl clinked his soda bottle with hers and they drank solemnly. "What horseshit did you tell Mr. Oinker?"
"I told him that you were a real ball buster. He told me that I ought to show you who is boss. Just slap you around until you got the message." Daryl was smirking to himself so she knew there was more.
"What else?" She was just teasing. Daryl had deescalated the situation.
"I told Mr. Oinker that you were a fucking animal in bed and I wasn't risking losing the best sex I ever had by slapping you around. He called me a pussy, but it put him in a better mood." He shifted again in his seat and his expression told her that he had went to a dark place, "My father enjoyed hurting us, me, my mom, and Merle. Nothing distracted Will Dixon from his fun. Merle was fine when he was sober, and he only hit me a few times. When he was really messed up."
"I'm glad that you were here tonight. You calmed that guy down and distracted him while I talked to her. Thank you." Carol patted his arm. I don't think he's going to say anymore and I am not pushing.
"Didn't you tell me that you were finishing one degree in December and then starting to work on a forensic science degree?"
"Yes. "
"Well, that job is all wrong for you. Puttering around with little bags of nasty shit. That ain't you. You should go to PA school. That's what you should do."
"PA. Physician's Assistant? Why would I want to do that?"
"Tonight you probably saved that kid's life. You talk to Sela every morning. You tried to help that woman. I've never talked with anyone but you about my father and Merle. People trust you. Know you want to help." Daryl leaned back against the bench. "Is it going to be like this every Friday night?"
He's changing the subject because it got too personal. "I hope not. So how much have you scheduled yourself in for this weekend?" Daryl did odd jobs in his neighborhood in his spare time.
"Those damn cottontops just keep calling. Mrs. Hansen wants me to paint her front porch, shutters, and the fence. Mr. Salyers needs his gutters cleaned out and his garage painted. The Reeds want their old deck taken off and a new one put on. I'm going to need Glenn and Axel for that. And everyone needs their grass cut." Daryl was trying to sound like he didn't want to do those jobs but Carol could recognize the hints of pride that the "cottontops" wanted him.
She decided to tease him, "You do decks? Andrea and I are trying to convince Michonne that we need to put a deck on the back."
He snorted which Carol was starting to recognize as Daryl's way of hiding that he liked something. Like being teased or someone saying something complimentary to him. "I'ma thinking that three smart women could build their own deck. Don't need no man to do anything for them."
She shook her head, "We could build one, but I don't trust Michonne with power tools. She's dangerous enough when she practices with her katana in the back yard. Besides we still need a man around." He looked at her. Wait for it. "You know, to do the heavy lifting."
He laughed, "Yeah, that's about right. Let the man to the hard part and take all the credit."
She made a face at him and he turned toward her just slightly. There was this long moment in which they both looked at the other and Carol found herself staring at his mouth. I want to kiss him. I can't remember when I've wanted to kiss anyone in the way I want to kiss Daryl.
An extended cab pickup pulled into a parking space in front of the store and four burly men poured out. I was either rescued from making a terrible mistake or missed an opportunity to have a close encounter of the best kind. The jury is still out on this one.
The men had been driving all night and needed a restroom and coffee. They worked on electrical lines and were headed north to Pennsylvania. Right behind them another truck from the same company pulled in and then another and the diner opened and there was not another minute to think about what might have happened.
Daryl walked with her to their vehicles after their shift was over, "You got a big weekend planned?"
"I have a test on Monday. I've got to study this weekend. How about you?" I could ask him to our cookout tonight. Just as friends.
"Painting a porch and a garage. Cutting some yards. Making the money."
Carol yawned, "Maybe you better get some sleep before you tackle another job?"
"Got to get some work done before it get hot. I do the siesta thing in the afternoon." Daryl leaned against his truck door, "See ya Monday."
"See you Monday." I am such a chicken shit.
Carol ate breakfast with her daughter Sophia who always woke up early. Later Michonne and her seven year old son Andre joined them. Michonne was taking Sophia and Andre to the library for some sort of event and then they were going to the pool for a while. Michonne had a nine to five job as an attorney in Kingsborough. She usually kept the children while her sleep deprived housemates caught up on their sleep on Saturday.
Carol made a quick pasta salad and a dessert and then went upstairs to her room to sleep. It was early afternoon before she emerged newly showered and dressed. Michonne came in with the kids. All three of them looked hot, tired, and a little petulant and Carol couldn't resist laughing at them, "All three of you go take a nap. I'll handle everything for tonight."
Sophia didn't protest. Swimming always made her sleepy. Andre followed her upstairs to his room. Michonne shook her braided head, "I'm going to check on the kids. Get me a cold beer. I've earned it."
Andrea chimed in, "All three of us have earned it. Carol and I will be outside on the veranda."
The veranda was their back porch. Andrea always said that veranda sounded a lot better than back porch. She gathered up the beer and her basket of pedicure supplies and met Carol on the wicker couch. It was hot out there but there was a nice breeze and it was Georgia. It was always hot in the summertime. You got used to it.
Michonne came back. "They're out like alight. Now where is my beer?"
Andrea handed it to her, "Sit down and let's catch up. One of us has some explaining to do. Keeping secrets and all." She grinned evilly at them. Then, she began applying a coat of bright red polish to her just pedicured toes.
Michonne took the chair and propped her feet up on the wicker table. "Gotta be the wild child then. Carol, what are you hiding from us?"
Carol propped her feet up on the table, "Andrea's bored. She's making stuff up."
Andrea shook her freshly washed and perfect styled hair, "Am not. Remember Carol told us that the guy she worked with broke his leg and some new guy was working with her. One Daryl Dixon. Did she tell us that Daryl had light brown hair and ocean blue eyes and a tan? No. Did she tell us that Daryl has incredible arms? No. Did she tell us that Daryl is handsome? No. Did she tell us that Daryl isn't married or gay? No. Is that holding out or not?"
Carol moved her foot over to Andrea's and grabbed the brush that Andrea was using with her toes and messed up her perfect toenails. Andrea protested, "Now I have to do them over and I was going to do yours too."
Michonne scolded, "Stop acting like children. Let's get back to the issue at hand or foot so to speak, "Andrea, you did a good job building your case. One more year of law school and we'll start our own firm. Carol, why haven't you mentioned this new boy toy of yours?"
Carol kept her tone light, "Daryl is Dale's latest project. He lives in Dale's garage apartment and needed a job. I didn't think you'd be interested." Now is the time to put the pressure on Andrea. "I have some news though. It appears that one of us has caught the eye of a certain deputy sheriff who wants to take the object of their affection out to dinner and a movie."
Both Andrea and Michonne made ugly faces and Michonne gave a dramatic shudder, "Girl, Shane Walsh having the hots for any female over the age of sixteen is not news. I give my share of Deputy Dog to Andrea. He's all yours, Andrea."
"No way in hell." Andrea had cleaned up her toes and was reapplying her red polish.
Carol grinned. Andrea had forgotten all about teasing Carol. Time to bring it up a notch. "It isn't Shane that hopeless horn dog. It's Mr. Blue Eyes. The honorable and legally divorced Rick Grimes who is pining after Andrea. He asked me last night after you took Chong off to the hospital if I thought you might want to go out with him."
Andrea's face went still. Too still. She hadn't been out with anyone for almost two years. Michonne's voice was kind, "Andrea, Rick is a nice guy and he knows about Philip. It's time to put what happened behind you. Move on. Tell you what. You call Rick and ask him if he wants to come to our house tonight for the cookout. He can bring Carl if he has him this weekend. No pressure. You just talk and if you still don't want to take it any further? Just tell Rick. He'll understand."
Two years ago Andrea started dating Philip Blake. They looked like the perfect couple. Philip was the mayor of Woodbury a town about twenty miles away. He oozed charm and Carol immediately hated him. Andrea liked him though and Carol hadn't said anything because after you fall for a turn like Ed Peletier your opinion isn't creditable anymore.
Andrea had enjoyed an active sex life and was willing to share the details with her roomies. Andrea was hell bent on proving that she wasn't a prude and she began to be even more adventurous as she grew older. Then one night she was at Philip's house and he crossed the line from play to pain and Andrea protested and tried to push him away. He slapped her hard and then raped her.
Michonne was up when Andrea came home and she took her to the emergency room. Two Kingsborough deputies showed up and took Andrea's statement.
Philip made his statement with his lawyer by his side. He said the sex was consensual. They had been intimate many times and that Andrea had liked it "rough". They had sex that night and Philip admitted that he had told Andrea after they had been together that he wanted to see other people. This story she made up was just her way to get him.
Classic case of "She said. He said." And he was the mayor of the town that the rape occurred. Eventually the case was dropped but Philip started stalking Andrea after that. Nothing blatant and nothing that couldn't be just coincidental. Noting that that would hold up in court.
Andrea spent the last two years concentrating on law school. She went to school during the day and worked as paramedic in the evening. She didn't have time for a social life. Just work and school. That was her story and she stuck with it.
Andrea lifted her head and looked at Carol. "I'll make a deal with you. I'll call Rick and ask him over for the cook out, but first you have to call Daryl and ask him to come too. Ball is in your court. Carol. I will if you do it first."
AN
Cottontops? My mother always called old people cottontops. Even when she was old. It seems like something Daryl might say.
I keep trying to write slow burns but the lack of Caryl on screen forces me to write the two of them in moderate lust.
Philip is a reliable villain. Maybe Michonne will get to skewer him like she did on the show.
Maybe I'll call the next chapter, "Guess Who is Coming to Dinner?" Old movie reference. Sorry.
I decided on the U R Welcome. I appreciate those of you that made an entry. Your names escape me at the moment but the Universe knows. The U R Welcome seems like the kind of place that embraces diversity. I myself would like to have a chicken biscuit while Sela sings.
I may be missing the mark but I always think of convenience stores where people come and go all day. An almost endless parade of all sorts of people. Is it difficult to follow the story?
I do appreciate your input. So who should Carol invite to the cookout? Except for Daryl who is a given.