|
Chapter 15
The woman on the other
side gave a sigh before exclaiming, "That was beautiful! He is everything
my son told me he would be. I must get a copy of his poem to put in my
newspaper column."
Those words was his
first clue that the woman sitting next to Ream might be Sally Barringer,
the newspaper reporter, and the woman Ream was acquainted with over the
telephone. Her words echoed in Ream's mind like a marble rattling around
in an empty steel drum. At first, the words bounced on the surface of his
brain, not sinking in.
Then Ream was trying
to collect more than the words, he was trying to collect himself. The realization
struck him emphatically. The voice was Sally's voice.
The next few seconds
were an avalanche of conflicting feelings, thoughts, and reactions for
Ream. Their phone calls had evolved into a meaningful attraction between
them. Now her presence eclipsed the telephone memory. It was if they had
been strangers until now.
Inside he paused, pondering
weather he should reveal himself. Was this the time and place for him to
make the disclosure? Was he prepared for her possible reaction? Would she
pity him or be shocked?
Her arm brushed against
his on the arm rest between them. This casual touch ignited the drama,
and expanded his appreciation of her presence even further.
In the next moment
he felt her warm hand on his hand, requesting his attention, while she
asked, "Do I understand you and your friend know this poet?" As she asked,
she recognized a trace of something familiar about the man next to her.
Ream stumbled over words, and not just because he had a sore mouth filled
with cotton. He mumbled a few words acknowledging his friendship with Gus.
Sally did not recognize his voice.
"My name is Sally Barringer,
and I see from your name tag you're Maurice Johnson. My son Johnny met
Gus in the hospital last year, and told me he was a very special cowboy.
Johnny was right. Would you know how I could contact Gus?"
Ream said Gus Meeker
lived in Sedona. The cotton in his mouth changed his speech enough so that
Sally still did not realize who she was talking with. Ream then gave her
Gus's phone number from memory. He excused himself for not speaking clearly
because of the gauze the dentist had left in his vacant tooth cavity.
At the same time, Ream
concluded this was definitely not the time or place for a disclosure of
his identity. With this he settled back, sitting deep in his chair. He
could smell Sally's perfume and sense her warmth beside him.
For an instant, it
was her presence which recaptured his thoughts. There was a delicate but
tangible pull between them. He imagined what the extent of their connection
might be.
On stage the master
of ceremonies acknowledged the warm hospitality of the audience, and mentioned
the Cowboy Poets' would have a segment in the upcoming 4th of July Parade.
He concluded the evening's entertainment with a favorite poem of his own.
Looking at Ream's
name tag Sally said, "Maurice, It was nice meeting you. Thank you again
for the information about how to contact Gus."
The air was clear and
seemed to glow with warmth from the poetry and the campfire. Ream and Bob
waited near the fire for the crowd to thin. The fire flickered warmly on
their faces and in the hearts of the bypassers.
As they walked back
toward Bob's parked car, they had to pass the Court House Square.
Colored lights were
strung on poles near a gazebo on the front lawn, and a western band was
playing cowboy music. A few couples were dancing while many sat on park
benches listening to the country music.
Ream smiled as the
music floated toward them, wondering if the real music he was hearing was
what he had just experienced sitting next to Sally. A stab of anguish awoke
him from his wishful thinking as he realized he still did not know how
or when to tell Sally about his handicap. |
