VIII
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"Bobby... I'm sorry, man. I know how much she meant to you."
"It... it was the jealousy. Her old heart just... couldn't take it. I shoulda known... I mean... she's been actin' up lately.... coughin' an' wheezin'... I promised to wash her this weekend.... I just never got around to it.... Damn, Fawkes.... I never even got to say I'm sorry before she... passed on....."
"And she wouldn't even turn over when you came out to start her up this morning?" Darien asked as he watched Golda being hooked up to the wrecker. Bobby stood facing the other direction, unable to bear the sight of his beloved van being hauled away for the last time.
"She tried.... she gave this... sad groan.... like she was in pain.... then she sorta.... exhaled.... then nothin'.... The guy said it's hopeless..... my sweet Golda's flat-lined.... brain-dead.... I gotta go inside.... I can't stick around for this.... damn tow-truck might as well be a hearse...."
As Hobbes hurried back into the apartment to hide from the grisly sight, Darien stood watch in his place, feeling some obligation to the ancient vehicle. As it vanished down the street, gliding gracefully along, Darien pulled out his cell phone and dialed work to tell them he and Bobby would be late due to an unexpected death in the family. As he waited for an answer, Darien began to hum 'Taps' under his breath, tucked the phone into the crook of his shoulder and mimed firing a rifle into the air seven times.
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"Bobby... I'm sorry, man. I know how much she meant to you."
"It... it was the jealousy. Her old heart just... couldn't take it. I shoulda known... I mean... she's been actin' up lately.... coughin' an' wheezin'... I promised to wash her this weekend.... I just never got around to it.... Damn, Fawkes.... I never even got to say I'm sorry before she... passed on....."
"And she wouldn't even turn over when you came out to start her up this morning?" Darien asked as he watched Golda being hooked up to the wrecker. Bobby stood facing the other direction, unable to bear the sight of his beloved van being hauled away for the last time.
"She tried.... she gave this... sad groan.... like she was in pain.... then she sorta.... exhaled.... then nothin'.... The guy said it's hopeless..... my sweet Golda's flat-lined.... brain-dead.... I gotta go inside.... I can't stick around for this.... damn tow-truck might as well be a hearse...."
As Hobbes hurried back into the apartment to hide from the grisly sight, Darien stood watch in his place, feeling some obligation to the ancient vehicle. As it vanished down the street, gliding gracefully along, Darien pulled out his cell phone and dialed work to tell them he and Bobby would be late due to an unexpected death in the family. As he waited for an answer, Darien began to hum 'Taps' under his breath, tucked the phone into the crook of his shoulder and mimed firing a rifle into the air seven times.
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