Chapter 20

“Welcome, Bettie and Bruce. The killer B’s? Your daughters are going to UT in Austin? Well, there are worse places. Make sure they each have birth control pills, $30, and a telephone card in their wallets. I have only one question, really, about Archie. What do you expect from him?”

“I just want him to be happy again,” said Bettie. “And how is that going to happen?” “He needs to relax and be less fearful, I don’t want to discourage him.”

Brian shook his head. “No, no, hell no! When his father took a hike, did you relax? And you, Bruce, what should you do with him? Yes, you. I’m not talking to ventilate my head!”

“Um, we have focused on getting the girls out to UT.” “Are they incapable, dependent, or frightened? They look prepared to me. Jessie’s ear is repaired, yes?” “Yeah, and they both earned full-ride scholarships.” “So, what about Archie?”

After an uncomfortable silence, Bettie spoke: “He just passed his GED.” “With his preparation, he should have passed that test. Easily. Anything else?”

“He appeared before the Judge and they settled.” “I know that from Sara Kelso.”

“Don’t you get it? You will only get low results matching your low expectations. He isn’t going to marry some girl and give you grandchildren. This isn’t fantasy-land, it’s east Texas. Expect more from him, and he’ll surprise you. Leave him alone, and he will wither. Now, as my uncle used to say, go forth and sin no more. I will follow up if there’s need. Now scram!”

Outside, Bruce said, “I think we got sent to the principal’s office. Wanna break some more rules?” Bettie giggled, girlishly.

Two weeks passed, Archie was back with Feloni. “What did you do? The ‘rents have me doing chores. Taking the girls to the mall. Making food-like substances for the evening meals. Cathie said, ‘Now we are ready for dorm food.’ Everybody laughed at me!” He was actually pouting.

Brian smirked. “It’s not funny!” The dam burst open. Brian was laughing until his sides were hurting. “Look, Archie, what do women know about you. You’re not very big, or strong. You limp. Your eye socket is scarred. None of that will count when they learn you can cook. Food. And clean up. You know the key to lasting romance? Breakfast in bed!”

Archie grumbled. “All the breakfasts in the world won’t make up for being a eunuch.”

“Shit. Don’t make me ask Ann Richards for your balls again. I thought we were done with that melodrama.” Brian bit back a comment about bulls and their shit, and internally counted to five. “Your homework was to tell me about Galveston Bay. Did you steal a boat?”

As intended, the accusation switched Archie’s train of thought. “No, I walked. There’s miles of uninhabited shoreline down there, and just enough abandoned houses so I could keep out of the weather.” “Abandoned?” “Yeah, in 2008 Hurricane Ike ripped the whole area.” Brian thought to himself, “Was I in Texas then?”