Empty Pockets Read Online Free PDF

and then down to Rogers to see a man named Harnish. He’d been apal of Faye’s and was now in the VA Hospital. John said maybe he could tell him more about the old days.
    The VA Hospital was new looking, recently constructed. The lawns looked old, though, and rich. They went inside and down a broad corridor. Harnish was in the end ward. The room was pleasant and sunny. Harnish was sitting up in his bed, two white pillows behind his back. Lee expected an old-looking man and was surprised. Harnish’s face was lean and tan and his hair was dark with only flecks of gray in it.
    â€œBill,” John said.
    â€œHello, John.”
    â€œBill, this here is Lee Hatcher, Faye Hatcher’s boy’s boy. You remember Faye?”
    â€œSure,” Harnish said. “I do.” He was silent for a moment, then he said, “It’s bad, John, they’ve got to operate.”
    â€œWell,” John said, “they’ll do all right.”
    â€œNo, John, they won’t.”
    â€œSure they will.”
    â€œNo, it’s terminal, John.”
    â€œI don’t believe that, Bill,” Sarah said.
    â€œDon’t tell Judy now. She doesn’t know.”
    â€œHas she been here?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t let her.”
    On the way back John pulled into a Dairy Queen drive-in and bought them all double-decker ice cream cones. Sarah told Lee a nice story about Bill and Faye that she had heard of and then one about her grown kids and how Laurie, who would be Lee’s cousin twice removed, had learned about how babies were made and had him and herself laughing.
    That evening after supper John asked Lee to come outside with him and he’d show him the main barn, the only thing he hadn’t gotten around to doing. John was a large man, nearly six three and easily two hundred and thirty pounds. He’d worn Big Mac overalls, a blue work shirt, and a felt hat all four days Lee stayed there, even on the visit to the hospital. He was dressed this way now and Lee studied him as they walked out across thelawn and then into the barnyard. John was dark like Grandfather Hatcher had been, all the Hatchers had Indian blood in them.
    They went inside the barn and John walked over to a stall, then turned around.
    â€œWell, Lee, it’s been real nice havin’ you stay with us.”
    â€œThank you, John. I’ve learned a lot.”
    â€œTell me one thing, Lee. It’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. You don’t have the true faith do you?”
    â€œNo, sir,” Lee said. “You mean the Baptist, don’t you?”
    â€œYes, sir, I do.”
    â€œNo, not right now,” Lee answered.
    â€œHave you any faith?”
    â€œNo, sir, I guess I don’t.”
    â€œYou think about it, son. It would make this old man mighty happy to think that someday you would.”
    â€œAll right, John,” Lee said, “I will think about it.”
    â€œIt would make me mighty happy,” John said.
    â€œI’ll try my best, John.”

Becky: West Florida Romance
    â€œT hat’s them,” Reeves said.
    Down the highway under some trees some people stood by a white mailbox. The little girl was standing behind the woman. A boy in a T -shirt stood next to the girl. They both looked small, babies, really.
    I looked at Reeves. His alcoholic’s face was up over the wheel with his eyes squinted, trying to see through the dirty windshield and glare off the highway. Fine veins branched redly under his cheeks. He was excited for sure.
    We went off the road and along the shoulder.
    â€œBecca’ll ride up here with us,” he said. “You’ll see what I mean.”
    We came alongside and he stopped the car.
    â€œWell,” he said out my window, “I made it after all.”
    â€œI knew you would,” the woman said. “I wasn’t worried.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Reeves said.
    The woman smiled at me and pulled