The Lost Friend Of Christmas
While stopping at a mall with my wife I had come upon a man. As we approached each other something had seemed familiar. In animated motions we nodded to each other. Upon passing it seemed we had turned at the same time to glance at each other. Both of us knowing that we looked familiar. He was dressed rather shabby, with beard and knotted hair. It was hard to ignore that he was near. A putrid odor with grimy clothes, was actually what had caught my nose. I turned to walk back to satisfy my curiosity. His thin fetid face staring portentously. Fingers and hands aged and old. The look on his face frightened and cold.
"Tom?" He had said. I wondered aloud how he had known me. Surely he knew he was difficult to see. "Class of '67, right?" I nodded yes. Though I still had not the slightest guess. "C'mon man! Don't ya know me? We used to hang together!" He grasped my hand and his felt like leather. I felt like a fool, still trying to be cool. But he was still nondescript as he spoke. "Sorry man, I can't place you." "Yeah, well you look like you might choke!" "Jerry? Sorry, it's been a long time man." I stepped back a bit, indiscreet as I can. "Jesus, whatcha been doing all these years?" "Ah, not much really....Christ, Tom, it's good to see you" Then I saw some tears. He had moved closer and rested his hand upon my shoulder. I was lost for words so I said, "hey we both got older, huh?" "No", he answered. "You look the same, but I know I look bad." "Tough times Jerry, where ya been for 30 years?" Now I had a hard time holding back my tears. "Well, after school I went out to L.A. for a while, then they caught up with me. Looks like they got you too, eh?" I had on my usual old Army fatigue coat, that's what he was referrring to. "Yeah, I been to Nam, three times in fact." "Three times! I did my thirteen months, and couldn't wait to get back." I asked him if he wanted to sit and have a cup of coffee, saying I would really like to talk. Laughing he said, "they would tell me to walk, look at me!" I went in to get us two cups and then we sat on a bench for awhile. "So Tommy, you married or what, what do you do? Ya got kids, where ya livin', you used to go out with Bev, yeah man I remember her, did you guys get married?" "Jerry what's up, you look tired man."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry was a black guy, very popular in school. Football, basketball, he was really liked by everyone. He was also very smart, as I remember....always honor roll. When I returned home I couldn't wait to look in my yearbook. DECA-Basketball-Football-School Store. Aspirations....business school. Man what happened to my friend? " I got my greetings in L.A. , went to Leonard Wood, then to Benning AIT. Guess you can figure the rest out. 94-Bravo, I'm black ya know? Heavy duty Tom. Americal Division, August '67. I see you wearing the Ranger tag, hot stuff! Airborne too, eh man." "Yeah same as you Jerry, I got drafted too. Americal for awhile. Just before we graduated, left 6, August." "What's the other one man." "82nd Airborne, 173rd Infantry Brigade-73rd infantry. Jerry, what happened to you, why you limping?" "A 155 hit near me...got a piece in my thigh. Pleiku. Got a piece of it in my head too. Why the heck didn't they teach us about the Nam in Current Affairs? We never talked or read about that place, no Viet Nam studies. No Charlie, no jungle stuff. Wow, Airborne Ranger, huh? Far out! Where were you? 3 Years! Jump school Benning, huh? Use to see them with their berets, spit shined boots. We musta been AIT...same time. Oh man, who knows...huh?" "Yeah I guess, sort of get wrapped up too tight you know?" "Ya take any hits man, I see you got inked, is that to cover the scars?" I laughed, told him it only took me thirty years to get inked. "No, these here are only about a year old." "Jerry, what happened to you, you changed?" "Where you living Jerry?" "Anywhere, everywhere." Listen, I ain't seen you in over 30 years, why don't you cut out that booze?" "Eh Tom, I'm cool...no big deal really." I guess I shouldn't have said that to him. "Jerry, didn't you have a sister?" "Yeah, she don't know me anymore. Says I'm a bum. I tried to work ya know, but it's the head, I still got the steel in there. Look at me..would you give me a job?" "When did this start.....when you got out?" "Yep...bad stuff went down Tom, you know you saw it too."
~~~~~~~~~~
My wife walked over to where we were seated. "Bev?" He said. "Hello." "Well you don't me either, huh?" "Bev, that's Jerry Burns, remember him in high school?" It seemed as though he had wanted to hug her, they were good friends in school. But I guess he knew that he looked and smelled pretty bad. So he just touched her sleeve. "Tom ain't changed, and neither have you Bev, you guys still look the same. I could see Bev was a little uncomfortable. I could also see that Jerry realized this, but it seemed like he understood. "Well, gotta go guys, eh Tom, maybe I'll see ya again, huh?" Without saying goodbye, he started to walk off. I ran over to him and just handed him a $50.00 bill. "Take care Jerry, stay clean." Again I saw tears glaze over his eyes. I put my arms around him, and we patted each other goodbye. A lot of people were watching us. I could care less! "Thanks man, Merry Christmas to you and Bev." " You too Jerry, take it easy, ok?"
~~~~~
What went wrong? Something array. And intelligent man gone astray. I had all to do to hold back my tears....having not seen Jerry for so many years. Some of us made it, some did not. I guess I am fortunate on my part. But no one really cares, not even me I suppose. This once billiant man, his ragged clothes. Maybe a few more decades must pass by...To see the decadence before we die. Maybe no more wars that politicians scheme.....It's really ok for me to dream......Right?
Written For and Dedicated to My Friend Jerry..Who Is Somewhere Out There......Please Keep Him In Your Prayers.....By Tom(BabyB0Omer@aol.com)