3:22. This was what he has known since he was a small child. 3:22. He was so used to this number because it was not measured in years nor millennia or pounds, miles, yards, feet, or inches, but instead, it was measured in minutes and seconds. He had known this because once on a whim or maybe it was just the plain old curiosity of a young ten-year-old, he had timed himself to see how far he could see into the future. Most people would call what he possessed a curse. His mother on the other hand had known otherwise. She told him that he could use his gift to help people and not think of it as the non-believers told him that it was a curse.
She is the matriarch of their family even though his father was in and out of the picture, she never wavered in her decision for him to use this gift when he would get fed up with his so-called ability.
He had the ability to see into the future for full three minutes and twenty-two seconds. Granted that is not much time in the grand scheme of things but the information he saw could right a wrong or ultimately save someone's life. Rick had never used this ability for that purpose yet since his mother was too busy using what he had been gifted with to make them money to survive.
They were part of a traveling carnival that moved up and down the East coast and he was born and raised within the small group that her mother was friends with. This was one of the last carnivals that featured the bearded lady, the tattooed man, the world's tallest woman, three-eyed Bill, and of course the monkey with a human head.
His abilities were being put to the test nightly and he was getting to the point where he was sick of doing what was termed as carnival oddities because he has been doing it for his entire life. He was going to do something about it but first, he needed to grow up a little and bide his time. He was, after all, only twelve years old.
"Richard, your talent will be put to good use one day, mark my words."
"But mom, I don't want to stand up on the stage and tell people what they have in their pockets. Or the fact that they are going to be winning the large prize by playing the milk can game. I want to be like normal kids. I want to play and explore! There is something to do in almost every town we are set up in, but we never do anything to see what's out there. We're always stuck here doing carnival stuff."
"Richard, I know that you want to play with your friends. And I promise you that you'll have plenty of time to do that when we have more free time. Right now we need to concentrate on making it to the next payday. You like to eat right?"
He knew that she knew that he would stop arguing with her over this because he did like to eat. But one day he thought...
Xx
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY !" Came the shout from everyone when he walked into their trailer after watching the loin tamer practice his act.
He had a smile that covered his entire face and it was so contagious that his mother couldn't help but do the same. All of his friends and most of the carnies were here to wish him a happy fifteenth birthday. He was graced with gifts and a very tasty looking birthday cake. Sadly it would be the last party his mother would ever throw for him.
Flash forward fifteen years later…
If he was honest with himself he missed her with all of his heart. He did finally find the courage to leave the traveling carnival and start a life of his own. He told his mother that his life with the carnival was not what he wanted to be doing anymore. Of course, she tried to talk him out of it but he was headstrong and stubborn. So at the ripe old age of eighteen, he left the only place he had considered home. He'd traveled from town to town until he found a friendly town to settle down in. His dream to write was strong and he had so many stories stored in his head to keep him writing for quite some time. He had constantly thought about how his mother was doing and where she was.
After he had left the carnival he went back to see his mother a handful of times. He could tell that this life was wearing her down something fierce. Even though she was in her late 50's early 60's she looked like she had aged thirty years since he had seen her last.
"Mom, I just sent off my manuscript for the new book I just wrote. I hope to hear something back very soon. This is the last publishing company that I will send my manuscript to so keep your fingers crossed. I've already had twenty-eight rejections so maybe it's not my calling to be a writer."
"Richard, I can only wish you the best of luck. But honestly, I think when you left the carnival all those years ago you were doing yourself a favor. Things went downhill after you had left. But that is not your problem, this is something I must deal with. When do you need to be back home?
"I have to leave first thing in the morning."
"Maybe you can buy your mother a very nice dinner?" Martha asked.
"Anything for you mom."
Xx
After being back home for a while everything was going his way until he got the phone call.
Flashback to two days ago…
The ringing of his phone is annoying, to say the least. When he rolls over to answer it he first checks the caller ID. It's from an area code he doesn't know and it's labeled unavailable. Going against his better judgment he accepts the call anyway.
"Mister Rogers?" The caller asks.
"Speaking. Who is this?"
"I'm so sorry to bother you, Mr. Rogers, this is Hanna Hall. I'm not sure if you remember me…"
"Of course I do Hanna, I could never forget you. How are you doing?"
"Richard, I am calling you with some bad news."
"Oh? What happened Hanna?" he asks with his voice laced with concern.
"There was an incident at the carnival last night. A fire broke out on the main fairway and well your mom was one of the people who died trying to get people to a safe area. In total seven of the staff including Joey, Gus and Irene also lost their lives trying to get the people to safety because of the fire."
"My mom? And Gus? Oh my god. Where is she now?"
"She's at the hospital's morgue. We thought leaving her there until you were notified was the best option."
"I see," Rick said.
"I am so sorry to inform you like this Richard." Hanna apologized.
"It's fine Hanna. Where is the show now?"
"We're just south of Fayetteville, North Carolina in a small town named Parton. Will you be here soon?"
"I will be there before dinnertime tonight. I'll meet you at the carnival office trailer at six pm."
"Alright, Richard. I will be waiting. See you soon."
The call ended without a goodbye and Rick thought about the last time he talked to his mom as he caressed the last thing she ever gave him. It was a set of three oval triangles held together by a circle that represented the past, present, and future. All referring to his gift. He thinks back to the last conversation they had before he left for good.
Xx
"Richard, don't you understand that you could be saving someone's life with the gift that you have? Or maybe the fact that you could use it for illegal gains as well. I know that I'd need you to think hard about the latter. Think of it, you never have to work again. You just play the stock market or a pony or two with your gift and make you millions." Martha said with a wink.
"Mother, don't you understand that is just what you said it is... illegal. I have another path in life that I must follow and I will make money the honest way instead of doing it illegally."
"Suit yourself, it's just a thought."
He needed to remember the good times he had with her. She was the only family that he had left in this world. She was his guiding light and taught him right from wrong. But all that does not matter any longer because she is gone forever from his life.
Xx
He decided to fly down to North Carolina and request that his mother accompany him on the flight back to New York. He's sure that the airline will grant him his request. The hospital that had her in their morgue told him that once a funeral home had taken care of her body this would not be a problem. After he had talked with the director of the funeral home a plan was put into motion.
Xx
By the time Rick arrived in New York the next day the funeral home he had hired was waiting there at the airport to transport his mother's body. They were compassionate and fast, and he appreciated the efficiency that they had shown for his mother.
She had a simple service in Parton due to the fact that all of her friends were still with the carnival. When they arrived back home she was interred at Mary Rest Cemetery in New Jersey. This was a place that he could visit often because it was close to where he was living. The priest had finished the service and he gave his condolences to Rick with a handshake and the service was concluded. Rick turns to leave after placing a rose on top of his mother's casket and out of the corner of his eye he sees a brunette kneeling in front of a gravestone. He can tell that she's been crying and that she has been there for quite some time for whoever she was crying over.
He knows that the headstones take at least six months to be ordered and placed on the plot. Not giving the brunette another thought he leaves and heads back to his car in the parking lot.
TBC?
A/N: Without the input and guidance of dkfan this story would have never been written or posted. Thanks Deb.