Fool’s Game

March 6 1948: Mark

He was walking back home from the neighbor’s house. His mother had asked him to collect something from them. It was Mr. Reyes’s house. He knocked two times and then a balding man with a thick moustache opened the door. He handed him a brown box and bid him farewell. He walked back silently. His mother had instructed him to not talk to anyone from the house and to not open the box. He was to get the box and head straight home. It was only a five minute walk less if he walked briskly. But he liked to take his time. Taking in the open fields on his left and drinking old men on his right. Their village was small and everybody knew everybody. There was Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez, the village butchers and their daughter, Katherine who became famous in the village because her parents butchered her pet pig and served it for dinner. Then there was the doctor who came from the city, Dr. Harrison. And then there were his friends, the brothers Raymond, Randy, Robert and Richard. The loud and noisy Jose, and Katherine, who chased them all day, asking if she could play with them. During summer they would spend time together from morning until evening. He would only come back to their house for lunch and to sleep at night, but today, his mother forbade him. He always felt like an outsider in this village though. Their family looked different. Unlike the other residents of the village, they looked more like from the city, but their neighbors never treated them as outsiders, they always treated them as if they were their family. As he drew closer to their house he noticed a car, a fancy car one of those cars he had seen in magazines, a buick. When he got closer he saw an old man leaning back on his chair and boy, about his age. The old man had a stubble and a cap that hid most of his grey hair. And the boy looked at him, his hair all gelled up and swept to the back. Mark gave him a smile and the boy replied with a strange smile. What a weird person he thought to himself.

As he approached their house he heard his mother say “My husband has not yet comeback, and I am beginning to worry.” And that’s true his father was always gone from the house. Only appearing during the morning. He would sleep through the afternoon and come nighttime he would go out to “work”. 

He knocked three times, his mother said “Oh it must be Mark, come in my love.” He opened the door to be met by an elderly gentleman. His hair and beard were all white, but he looked fit for his age. 

“Mark, this is Uncle Thomas.” His mother introduced the two of them.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mark.” The old man reached out his right hand for a handshake forcing Mark to switch the package to his left and. It was a firm handshake. He hid the ache that his hand was feeling. Uncle Thomas sat down once again. His mother grabbed the package. 

“You did as I told you?”

“Yes, mother.” 

“You didn’t talk to the man?

“No, mother.”

“Talked to no one?”

“Talked to no one.” He replied with a smile

“Good lad. Now go to your room, we’re still talking about something.” She kissed him on his forehead and went straight to his room. He had always adored his mother, more so than his father. He removed his shoes and laid his head on his pillow and he dozed off immediately. 

“Mark!” his mother shouted, her voice like a hand that snatched him away from his dream, if he does dream. He leapt out of bed and went outside. The two of them were already by the door.

“Time to say goodbye.” She added

He went out still half asleep, he said goodbye to the old man and the kid that was in the car earlier, who Mark assumed was his grandson. He had forgotten to wear his shoes and now his socks were all dirty.

“I made cake.” His mother told him as soon as the car was out of sight. “Let’s eat.” His mother added. He could sense that there was something wrong but decided not to bring it up. The two of them eat the remaining cake. Mark tells his mother the adventures he had with his friends, his mother listening to every word he says. Every once in a while she would tell a story that she remembered from her childhood. This was what he loved about her the most, he can tell her everything and she would listen. He would always think to himself how lucky he was that she was his mother. Before they had noticed it was already sunset. They had spent the entire afternoon just chatting. Then tears started to fall from her eyes. 

“Mother? Why are you crying?”

“I need you to be strong, my son.” She wiped her tears took his hands and continued “We are no longer safe here. We need to leave West Jacob.”

“Leaving? What? Why?” Mark protested, this came out suddenly and it had caught him off guard “Where are we going to stay.”

“Uncle Thomas, the man earlier, he agreed to take us in, we’re going to live near Bay City.” Mark knew that she was trying to hold back her tears, he could hear it behind his mother’s voice.

“What about my friends? What about your work mom?”

She took a deep breath “Your father was involved with dangerous men, men who will not think twice before killing us.” She grabbed his hands affectionately and stared him right in the eye. “We are no longer safe here. I know, I know how hard it is to leave home. Believe me, I have been in your situation before.” Mark saw tears started to fall from her eyes. “When were safe, I will tell you all about it, but right now, you need to pack your stuff. We have to get out of here and never look back.” Mark quickly understood which men she was talking about 

“You’re talking about Jorge’s crew aren’t you?” she nods 

“The thing I fetched for you earlier is connected to this?” she nods again before replying “And I am sorry Mark, for having to have involved you in this. If it were me who went there-” 

“It’s okay mother, I understand. You never have to explain, not to me.” Mark stood up and started walking towards his bedroom, but just as he was about to enter a car pulls up. The headlight of the car illuminated their dining room and as he looked back he saw the fear on his mother’s face. Was it Jorge’s men? Were they here to kill them? Was it too late? Questions started to enter his mind. He heard the car door close, but the light was still on. And just like that a knock on their door. She opened the sink cabinet and grabbed something underneath. She signaled him to hide, but he couldn’t just leave her mother behind.

“Who is it?” she shouted trying to pass of a friendly tone

Another knock “I said who is it?” still no response. The door opened forcefully, kicked in? He did not know and he did not have the time to think. His mother was pushed back violently. A giant man then entered the house, he had to duck just to fit in the room. Just as he entered Mark noticed a revolver oh the floor, that must have been what his mother grabbed under the sink, Mark grabbed it immediately clutching it with his right hand. He saw his mother laying on the floor, she was not moving. The giant man was just standing there, was he assessing the situation? Mark dashed to get to his mother’s side.

“Salutations to the inhabitants of this house.” The giant man mockingly said “Tonight you say your last prayers.” Mark was trying to feel her pulse, it was weak but there was a pulse. The giant man then started walking towards them. He pointed the gun he had picked up earlier at the man. His hands shaking, he was frozen by fear.

“Don’t come any closer!” he shouted at the man.

“Ooh! Little man with a gun. That’s not a toy, boy!” the man rushed him. Overcome with panic he pulled the trigger, blood splattered on his face and the giant man stopped on his tracks. He was kneeling “Hijo de puta! You actually did it. You f*****g shot me.” The man stood up once again, Mark could see the rage on the man’s face. Mark aimed and pulled the trigger again and again. He hit the giant man three times but he still kept coming towards him. The giant grabbed the gun from Mark’s hand with ease and threw it away. 

“You’ve really done it cabròn! Hijo de puta it hurts.” The man grabbed a knife and pressed it against his cheek “I was instructed by my jefe to kill you quickly, but I’ll take my time with you. The man cut his cheek. Blood started to flow and Mark could not help but scream.

“And if you’re going to shoot at someone cabròn, aim for the head! The man swings his knife back with every intent to stab Mark but he heard another gunshot, by this point Mark’s ears were ringing. The giant man lets go of his hand. Mark saw the giant man kneeling.

The silhouette walked closer, he was holding what looked like guns on both his hands, a revolver and what looked like a shotgun. While the giant man was grunting in pain.

“You. You’re Caldwell’s man. This will start a war cabròn.” The giant man said in defiance.

“Ohh, I know. But you don’t have to worry about that.” The silhouette c***s his shotgun and fires it at the head of the giant man. Blood splattered everywhere. 

He finally saw the silhouette’s face, it was the man from earlier, he was with Uncle Thomas. 

“The two of you are safe now.” The man said to them. 

Mark was still on the floor his cheek bleeding, then he snapped back to reality. He picked himself up and went to his mother.  He laid her on his lap “Mom?” he called out in desperation. 

“We have to go now, young sir. It’s not safe here anymore. Here I’ll grab your mother for you, there’s a car waiting for us outside.”

“Mom!” Mark shouted in frustration. Then slowly she opened her eyes.

“Mark?” she said weakly.

Mark was able to have a breath of relief.

“Good.” The man said “Let’s go, can you stand madam?” he added reaching out a hand to her.

“I-” she stutters “I can’t move my legs!” she starts to panic “I can’t feel them! I can’t feel my legs!”