I Want To Live

Chapter Twenty-eight

   Katie posted a letter to Angela the following morning. She had the day off with plans to meet Ron and Gunny for lunch in Claremont. Buckling Adam in his carseat over protestations gave her a headache. “It’s for your safety, little man. Mama knows best.” He hated being confined.    

    The drive along Interstate 2 was refreshing. Apple and pear orchards in full bloom. Fireweed bloomed along the roadsides. Snow was receding from the mountains. A smattering of cirrus clouds in a cobalt blue sky. Temperature warm enough for a light jacket. The Wenatchee River on her right near the outskirts of Claremont was flowing swiftly. Already three river rafts were being swept through the rapids. Helmeted passengers wielded paddles furiously to get past the churning water.

    Too early to meet the guys, Katie decided to take a walk with Adam in his stroller. She pulled into the parking lot beside the bike trail which skirted the Columbia River. Adam put up another fuss while being transferred to one more confining apparatus. “Stop it, Adam. That’s not necessary.” Frustrated, she fished a Ziplock bag of Gerber arrowroot cookies out of the diaper bag and handed him one. “Here, Mama’s got a snack for you.”

    Once the stroller was in motion, Adam quieted, content to look at the changing scenery and munch on his cookie. This really is a great place to live, Katie thought. It felt good to stretch her legs and breathe clean air in distinct contrast to the smog-tainted atmosphere of Seattle. Too many people. Too many cars congesting the highways along the I-5 corridor. 

    Rounding a bend above a hillside that descended to the river, she noticed camp chairs, blue tarp shelters, black garbage bags stuffed with personal possessions, and human litter beside a grove of trees back from the water. Memories of homeless conditions around Seattle surfaced. It definitely was a blight on the landscape. It somehow spoiled the ambiance of a walk in nature. 

    The newspaper had been bombarded with citizen complaints lately about the mounting homeless problem in Claremont. This was Katie’s first sighting of the impact of their presence since moving to the area. Her journalistic mind started reeling with possibilities. Maybe she could do a series on the homeless and write about existing agencies working to help them. If readers were educated, they might come up with viable solutions instead of complaints. She missed the reporting she did for assignments at UW. Katie’s spirit quickened, aware that she couldn’t face a future working at Safeway forever. Maybe I am an adrenaline junkie.

    Her thoughts whirled and slowly coalesced by the time she drove into the Wendy’s parking lot. She released Adam, carrying him into the building. The entrance door was opened by Ron, who reached for Adam before they were completely inside. Her son struggled in her arms to be held by the tall black man, his bosom friend.

     Ron laughed heartily, hugging his little buddy close to his chest. “This way,” he said, heading to a booth in the rear. “Look who else is here, Adam.”

    She slid onto the seat opposite Gunny and Ron, who bounced Adam on one thigh. Watching their interaction Katie wondered if Adam was solely her son. He needs a man in his life. “Three against one. It’s not fair,” Katie said, glaring at the males before her. “Isn’t it enough that you guys dominate society as it is?” 

    “What shall I order for you, Katie? Humble pie?” asked Gunney, smiling at her twinge of jealously. 

    “I’ll have a grilled chicken sandwich, small fries, and two-percent milk.” Scowling. “Thank you very much.” An edge to her voice. 

    “What’s bothering you?” Ron leaned forward slightly, laying a hand on top of hers. Searching her face for clues to the strange behavior of his friend.

    His words stung to her core. Katie shut her eyes to collect her thoughts. This isn’t like me. Where did that come from? “I apologize Ron. I was walking on the bike trail before coming here.  Passed a section where some homeless people have made a camp near the river. It triggered memories of my visits to the homeless in Seattle with Angela.” Katie paused, searching for words to describe her unrest.

    She leaned back in the booth. Met Ron’s eyes. Willing him to understand what she was trying to say. “I felt truly alive then. Learning about the destitute, a people that many in society try to ignore. Angela wasn’t troubled with their presence. She accepted them, telling me ‘The Bible states that poverty, social injustice, and homelessness exist just as it did in Christ’s time.’ She believed we are to follow Christ’s example and take care of them.”

    “Major Angela is a very down-to-earth person,” said Ron, removing a salt shaker out of Adam’s reach. “The homeless are drawn to her because she doesn’t judge them.”

    “You see. That’s it.” Katie’s eyes blazed with fiery energy. “I gained a new perspective toward the seeming injustices of this world just by accompanying her .  .  . ”

    Gunny lay a tray heaped with their orders on the table. He looked from Ron to Katie. “I feel I’ve interrupted the chain of your conversation.” He carried on to distribute their food. Adam wiggled in Ron’s lap, chubby hands slapping the table, as if saying, “Finally I’m getting something to eat.”

    “Let me have him, Ron.” Katie extended her arms to receive her son.

    “I’ve got this,” Gunny said, walking toward the row of highchairs in a far corner. He brought one back, set it beside the table, picked Adam up and secured him in the chair, sliding the tray close. 

    Katie’s objected, “He doesn’t like to be confined” The words died on her lips.   

    Then Gunny eased onto the bench beside Ron, who chuckling with amusement said, “See, the kid understands authority when he sees it.”

    Chagrined, Katie fished out jars of pureed chicken and sweet potatoes from the diaper bag and started feeding her traitor son.

    Ron bit into his spicy chicken sandwich, continuing to grin at Adam’s contrary behavior.

    Katie shook her head in resignation. “He doesn’t listen to me like that.”

    “That’s because you’re his mother,” said Ron, as if everyone understood that. He took another

bite of his sandwich. “Mmm, that’s good. Where was I? Hmm, every kid I know will push 

mama’s buttons to see how far he can go. You have to be firm, Katie. Let him know his limits. You can’t be his friend.” 

     Adam turned his head away. Swat at the spoon. Done with eating. He grabbed the proffered Playtex nurser and sucked contentedly.

    Katie took a bite of her own grilled chicken sandwich, suddenly realizing she really was hungry.

    Gunny interjected, “You were saying, Katie?”

    “I was telling, Ron, that I got an epiphany this morning walking the bike trail. I was a journalism major while in Seattle. My original dream was to be an investigative reporter. Adam squashed that goal.” Mixed feelings toward Adam rose from deep within, fluctuating between love and anger. She looked at her sweet child with soulful eyes. His presence wasn’t his fault. He was an innocent party to a regretful event in her life. 

    “I saw a homeless camp today and realized I was living a lie.” She lowered her head, fighting back tears of frustration. “I don’t want to be a single mother working a dead-end job in a grocery store. I want to write, to report on pertinent issues affecting my community. That‘s my dream.” She jutted her chin, lips thin with determination.

    “Okay, what’s preventing you from doing that?” asked Gunney, dark eyes accepting her tirade. The two men seemed to be boring holes in her premise. 

    Katie looked at her happy little boy, strawberry blond curls flanking his round face, milk coating his lips as he drank greedily. “You’re acting as devil’s advocate, aren’t you, Gunny?” 

    Gunny just smiled, waiting patiently for her answer. Ron hummed softly, staring nonchalantly at the ceiling.

    “I’ve been contemplating updating my resume, pooling together a few articles I’ve written, and pitching my freelance idea to the editor of the Claremont Echo. I’ll write under the pen name, Cat Stevens, to hide my identity. Craft some thought provoking articles about the homeless and submit them. See where it leads---” She searched their faces, eyebrows arched, for their reaction.

    “Sounds like a plan,” said Gunny.

    “Don’t quit your day job,” said Ron.

    “You two are like the brothers I never had,” said Katie woefully. “Com’n Adam. It’s time to go bye-bye.” She retrieved a packet of Wet Ones to wipe his hands and mouth clean. Adam swiveled his head vigorously to thwart her intent. 

    “Testing. Testing,” said Ron. He and Gunny laughed at the boy’s actions.

    “Thanks for the support, you double-crossers.” Katie whisked Adam out of the highchair into her arms, settled him on her hip, grabbed the diaper bag and stormed out of Wendys.