Val, Earl, and I were at the garbage field, cleaning it up. Earl was using the Kat while Val and I were picking up bags of garbage. Val picked one up and the bottom ripped so everything fell out. I laughed over the noise of the Kat. Val threw the bag down and stalked over to the old couch. I followed him and Earl did also.
"Cocktail?" Val asked Earl while grabbing a beer.
"You bet."
"Well nobody handles garbage better than we do."
"Well, yeah. That's only cuz we're the only ones that'll do it." I announced.
"Come on guys. Now this is low. I mean, we have got to set our sights a little bit higher." Val explained to us.
Next thing I know is that we're doing the linoleum while Melvin is just sitting on the porch, in the shade, relaxing. He can act like a huge asshole but he is still like another brother to me.
"Hey, Melvin. Why don't you give us a hand? Most of this shit is yours anyway." Val told the kid.
"Listen, run to the store and pick me up a six pack. I'll pay for it." Melvin teased. I tried to hide my smile, knowing Melvin was trying to lighten up my day and he was sorta serious.
"Son, beer is for adults." Earl yelled. "Not planning a head is what keeps us doing jobs like this."
"Not doing jobs like this is you dragging your feet." Val claimed.
"Are you going to stand there and tell me in broad day light that I'm the reason we're still in Perfection. You know how close I am to leaving this place right now." Earl snapped.
"I'll follow that little bluff. How close?"
All of a sudden the pipe came loose and the liquid came squirting out. Melvin just laughed while I screamed and ran right toward him, under the canopy. I didn't get hit unlike Val and Earl. They both got a full blast.
All three of us were loading the truck with our stuff, heading to Bixby. I got all my stuff so I was sitting in the truck. I really didn't want to go. This life is all I've ever known. I don't plan on changing that but I guess that is being rearranged. Plus I can't leave my twin here alone. Twins aren't meant to be separated from each other. Even if they aren't blood related. Earl was making sure everything wouldn't fall out. Val came out with a vacuum cleaner.
"Don't forget the TV." Val said with a map in his mouth.
"What are you bringing that vacuum cleaner for man?" Earl asked him.
"I like this vacuum cleaner. It's good for parts. Besides, maybe we'll hire a maid. Now have you thought about that Earl?"
"Get in the truck." Earl demanded.
They both got in and I just had to ask. "Really, Val? Hire a maid? Oh, Earl don't forget the sign."
Earl grabs the sign while backing up and Val answers my question. "What? It's possible."
"We don't have any money for ourselves, none the less a maid, asshole." I respond.
"We could work on it."
"Would you two shut up?" Earl snapped.
We keep driving down the road and we see Nancy trying to flag us down. We stop and she says hi. Val tells her we're heading to Bixby and she doesn't believe us until she see's our stuff in the back of the truck.
"Oh my gosh, you really are." She said, surprised. "Listen guys, I don't need firewood. I have the big order to fill and I have to finish my new pottery kiln. Come on, it'll be at least a month's work." We just shook our heads. "I'll throw in lunches." Almost got us. "And beer." She tempted the boys but for me, "And Pepsi."
The three of us looked at one another but we had to say no. We continued to drive and the boys were nearly screaming how they said no to free beer.
"Now there ain't nothing, and I mean nothing, between us and Bixby." Val commented. We all laughed and high fived. We drove for a few more minutes until we passed someone on one of those
electric towers. Val soon realized that it was Edgar Deems. We pulled over and got out of the truck.
"Man oh man he sure must've been drunk this time." Earl said. "Edgar get your butt down from there!"
He never moved and we knew one of us had to go up there. I turned to Earl and we did rock paper scissors. Earl had scissor. I had paper. "Damn it." I muttered. I really didn't want to go up there. I turned to Val and we did the same. I did rock. He did scissors. I smirked a little.
"Wipe that smirk off yer face, Charlotte." My face went blank and I was about to punch him but Earl held me back. I hate being called by my first name. Val sighed and said, "Thank you, Edgar." Sorry, bro. You gotta go up there, not me.
Val started climbing up there and I heard him mumbling, "You owe me on this one, you damned old boozehound. One of these days your gonna have to get your ass on a wagon and stay there. It's not like I have better things to do than climb towers and drag your hairy ass down."
