C.O.T.V.H. (Book 1): Creation Read Online Free PDF Page A

you're gonna be a big-gun like your old man, ain't ya?"
    "Uh . . . yes sir." Jake nodded, unsure of what else to say.
    "Well, I’m headed to Freddie’s if you change your mind. Meeting a few of the boys.”
    Marty got up from the table and straightened his gray sports coat, buttoning the bottom two buttons and then for the second time slapped John hard on the shoulder before downing the rest of his second beer. He set the empty bottle on the table next to the first and belched loud enough to start the dog next door to barking. Jake couldn’t help but laugh. Marty gave him a wink.
    He edged toward the front door then stopped, reaching into his pockets as if he was looking for something. After not seeming to find what he had been looking for, he looked over at John and said. “Say, uh, John. I really hate to ask, but is there any way you could loan me twenty bucks?”
    With a grunt, John leaned forward in his chair and pulled out a worn, brown leather wallet. He sifted through pictures of Jake and Julia, business cards, and several yellowed receipts before finding a wrinkled twenty-dollar bill. “That’s my last one, Marty,” he said, plopping it into his hand. "Don’t spend it all on beer.”
    You’ve got to be kidding me! Jake thought to himself.
    “ Thanks, John!" Marty grinned from ear to ear. "I’ll pay you back soon as I get some work. Tell you what, in return you can have my last brew,” He pulled the last beer from the six-pack and set it in front of John. "You boys don’t party too hardy!” He said, walking toward the front door.
    “ Have a good one, Marty!” John called after him. “Stay safe out there!”
    “ Will do!” Marty replied, pulling the front door closed behind him.
    “ Poor bastard,” John muttered under his breath, looking the warm beer over in his hands.
    Without needing to be told, Jake walked back to the front door and locked the deadbolts then walked back to the kitchen and sat down in front of his now cold TV dinner. Bits of Marty’s ashes had fallen into his gravy. Anger swelled in his chest. He couldn’t believe what his dad had just done. They could have used that twenty dollars for groceries. “Dad?” he asked anger building in his voice.
    “ Yeah, son?” John replied, not looking up from his still unopened beer. Setting it aside, he soaked up the last of the gravy on his plate with a piece of white bread, then plopped it into his mouth.
    “ Dad, why did you give Mr. White that money?”
    John chewed thoughtfully then swallowed. “Because he needed it,” He answered, dropping his fork to his now empty plate.
    He needed it?! What about us? “Dad, he’s a bum! A drunk! He’s probably just going to blow it all on beer! We could have used that money!”
    John met Jake's gaze, his eyes showing the tiniest bit of disappointment. “Jake, son, just because we’re hurting doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there that are even worse off."
    "Yeah but, Dad! Twenty dollars could have bought a lot of groceries!"
    John smiled. "Son, we're not gonna starve anytime soon."
    "Still though,” Jake replied. "We need that money a heck of a lot more than he does!"
    "You're sure about that?" John asked looking his son over with an appraising glance.
    "Well, yeah . . .” Jake nodded dumbly. "You see Marty and all you see a 'bum'. A 'drunk.' Is that right?"
    Again, Jake nodded.
    "Did you know that two weeks ago his wife took their three kids and skipped town?”
    “ No . . . I uh, I didn’t know that,” Jake stammered.
    “ Did you know when we first moved to Midland it was Marty that got me my first job working the rigs?”
    “ No . . . but . . .” Jake said, a tiny bit of shame creeping into his voice.
    John took a swig from his iced tea. “Yep. I didn’t even know the guy’s name yet. Just met him in a bar one night and we struck up a conversation. He told me that GT Drilling was hiring. Without even knowing me, he got me a job the very next day. Said he liked the way I