c. 2026 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(10-26)
Linn Speck had always been an insider at Evergreen Estates. Someone who was part of the herd, intellectually aligned with other residents, and socially connected because of his gracious wife, Haki. He still had a Trump campaign sign standing in his front yard. And regularly attended services at their township’s Church of the Lord Jesus in Heaven. In addition, he had much experience with organizing groups and activities, from time spent serving in the National Guard. He had never been tagged as a contrarian figure by anyone. Except perhaps the drunken loner who once lived on his street, at Lot 13. So, he felt comfortable being at the rural development. It was a community that perfectly reflected his own view of right and wrong.
Yet curiosity about the suspicious fire that had expelled his nemesis aroused a measure of uncertainty that he had never faced, before. After being released by Sheriff Rath, and returning home to the trailer enclave, he found himself isolated in a bubble of shame. Friends who once shared his concrete-block fire pit, and coolers full of macro brews, now stayed away. No one called on the telephone, or contacted him via the internet. He was shunned in a manner that seemed completely inappropriate for someone with such a good reputation.
Meanwhile, any mention of T. C. Lincoln now evoked an odd form of sympathy for the reclusive hermit. Though he had never been popular in their group, and had the combative disposition of a mountain goat, his exit from the junkyard oasis left a lingering hint of empathy in its wake. Despite being hard-headed and grouchy, the shaggy loner had never actually harmed anyone. Indeed, he generally avoided interacting with others, face-to-face. His presence outdoors, throughout the year, represented a puzzling spectacle for those who passed by his singlewide abode. But did not represent a threat of any kind. He stayed quiet, and inebriated, as a matter of course. Off the beaten path, by choice.
Linn decided that having a fall party would help to revive his standing at the distant venue. But after distributing fliers around the property, and filling his storage barn with drinks and snacks, he sat alone in the side yard. Classic Rock echoed from a boom box in his kitchen window, as he waited, anxiously. But there were no visitors arriving. Finally, Darby Stronelli appeared, with her spiky hair tipped in frost, and a Carhartt jacket to compensate for the seasonal chill. She had tucked bottles of Bud Light in her oversized pockets. Along with a bag of Goldfish crackers.
“Hey buddy! Am I the only one who came over today? Shit, that is crazy! This damn dump is no fun anymore! I think everybody must be burned out! Like that shitty shack up the street, you know?”
Her neighbor on the corner nodded with embarrassment, while chewing on a pretzel.
“That’s a poor choice of words, lady! I don’t want to hear anything about a fire!”
His counterpart giggled and pinched her nose.
“Sorry dude, I didn’t mean to get your ass upset! And I didn’t! Maybe this park is just getting tired, I don’t know. We used to party all night. I can’t keep up with the kids. We don’t even play beer pong anymore! That really sucks!”
Linn stroked his jowls, to wipe away the crumbs.
“Look, you get along with everybody. That’s why you’re here by yourself, probably. So tell me, what’s the scuttlebutt out there? What’s grinding out of the rumor mill? Why am I all of a sudden, a pariah in this neck of the woods?”
Darby rolled her eyes and whistled.
“A what? Is that the name of a singer?”
Her associate cleared his throat and winced.
“NOT MARIAH! I SAID PARIAH! YOU KNOW, AN OUTCAST! SOMEBODY THAT NOBODY LIKES!”
The mannish femme shrugged and continued sipping her beverage.
“Yeah, okay. Whatever, buddy! Don’t ask me what happened, ‘cause I don’t know nothing. I never paid that much attention to Link, but he has been next door to me for a long damn time. I kinda hated to see his house get fried! But you know, he had lots of junk in there. It was a trash pit. I remembered that his legs were shot, so I always gave him a pass. I think just getting out to his porch was a struggle...”
The former residential organizer sputtered with irritation.
“SEE, THAT’S IT RIGHT THERE! YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE OLD SON-OF-A-BITCH! AND HE DOESN’T DESERVE YOUR SYMPATHY! THAT’S WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND! ALL THESE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE GETTING SOFT! THEY’VE GOT NO BACKBONE ANYMORE! IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH! AND HONESTLY, YOU MAKE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH, TOO!”
Darby spit a mouthful of her light libation.
“Yeah well, don’t get an attitude about it! I’m here drinking with your flabby ass, give me some credit! Which makes me think, what happened to your wife? I haven’t seen her in a week or two!”
Linn blushed bright red. He did not want to discuss the fractured state of his marriage.
“My other half is... visiting her relatives right now. You know, catching up on family stuff!”
His fellow leaseholder belched a spray of foamy liquid.
“C’mon dude, that’s a load of horseshit! I heard all about you two having a fight in the kitchen. And I did! It’s been all over the park, you know how rumors ‘n shit travel around this place! And these trailer walls are thin, the noise really gets around. Nobody can keep a secret in here!”
Her rotund neighbor began to sweat profusely. She had struck a nerve with the impulsive query.
“I DON’T WANT TO DISCUSS IT, OKAY? IT’S NOBODY’S BUSINESS WHAT HAPPENED! NOT YOUR BUSINESS, NOT THE SHERIFF’S BUSINESS, NOT EVEN PASTOR FORESTER’S BUSINESS, UP AT THE CHURCH! NOBODY, NOBODY, NOBODY! NOBODY NEEDS TO STICK THEIR NOSE INTO MY LIFE!”
Darby stood up as if pulled by puppet strings. Her bottle was empty.
“It’s all good, buddy. I’m gonna let you finish drinking on your own. Have a good one, dude! It’s getting too damn cold outside for me anyway! This weather makes my back ache! See you later!!!”
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