Fight tuberculosis, folks. Christmas Eve, an old junkie selling Christmas seals on North Park Street. The Priest, they called him. Fight tuberculosis, folks. People hurried by, gray shadows on a distant wall. It was getting late and no money to score. He turned into a side street and the lake wind hit him like a knife. Cab stop just ahead under a streetlight. Boy got out with a suitcase. Thin kid in prep school clothes, familiar face, the Priest told himself, watching from the doorway. Remindsme of something a long time ago. The boy, there, with his overcoat unbuttoned, reaching into his pants pocket for the cab fare. The cab drove away and turned the corner. The boy went inside a building. Hmm, yes, maybe - the suitcase was there in the doorway. The boy nowhere in sight. Gone to get the keys, most likely, have to move fast. He picked up the suitcase and started for the corner. Made it. Glanced down at the case. It didnt look like the case the boy had,or any boy would have. The Priest couldnt put his finger on what was so old about the case. Old and dirty, poor quality leather, and heavy.Better see whats inside. He turned into Lincoln Park, found an empty place and opened the case. Two severed human legs that belonged to a young man with dark skin. Shiny black leg hairs glittered in the dim streetlight. The legs had been forced into the case and he had to use his knee on the back of the case to shove them out. Legs, yet, he said, and walked quickly away with the case. Might bring a few dollars to score. The buyer sniffed suspiciously. Kind of a funny smell about it. Its just Mexican leather. Well, some joker didnt cure it. The buyer looked at the case with cold disfavor. Not even right sure he killed it, whatever it is. Three is the best I can do and it hurts. But since this is Christmas and youre the Priest... he slipped three bills under the table into the Priests dirty hand. The Priest faded into the street shadows, seedy and furtive. Three cents didnt buy a bag, nothing less than a nickel. Say, remember that old Addie croaker told me not to come back unless I paid him the three cents I owe him. Yeah, isnt that a fruit for ya, blow your stack about three lousy cents. The doctor was not pleased to see him. Now, what do you WANT? I TOLD you! The Priest laid three bills on the table. The doctor put the money in his pocket and started to scream. Ive had TROUBLES! PEOPLE have been around! I may lose my LICENSE! The Priest just sat there, eyes, old and heavy with years of junk, on the doctors face. I cant write you a prescription. The doctor jerked open a drawer and slid an ampule across the table. Thats all I have in the OFFICE! The doctor stood up. Take it and GET OUT! he screamed, hysterical. The Priests expression did not change. The doctor added in quieter tones, After all, Im a professional man, and I shouldnt be bothered by people like you. Is that all you have for me? One lousy quarter G? Couldnt you lend me a nickel...? Get out, get out, Ill call the police I tell you. All right, doctor, Im going. Of course it was cold and far to walk, rooming house, a shabby street, room on the top floor. These stairs, coughed the Priest there, pulling himself up along the bannister. He went into the bathroom, yellow wall panels, toilet dripping, and got his works from under the washbasin. Wrapped in brown paper, back to his room, get every drop in the dropper. He rolled up his sleeve. Then he heard a groan from next door, room eighteen. The Mexican kid lived there, the Priest had passed him on the stairs and saw the kid was hooked, but he never spoke, because he didnt want any juvenile connections, bad news in any language. The Priest had had enough bad news in his life. He heard the groan again, a groan he could feel, no mistaking that groan and what it meant. Maybe he had an accident or something. In any case, I cant enjoy my priestly medications with that sound coming through the wall. Thin walls you understand. The Priest put down his dropper, cold hall, and knocked on the door of room eighteen. Quien es? Its the Preist, kid, I live next door. He could hear someone hobbling across the floor. A bolt slid. The boy stood there in his underwear shorts, eyes black with pain. He started to fall. The Priest helped him over to the bed. Whats wrong, son? Its my legs, senor, cramps, and now I am without medicine. The Priest could see the cramps, like knots of wood there in the young legs, dark shiny black leg hairs. A few years ago I damaged myself in a bicycle race, it was then that the cramps started. And now he has the leg cramps back with compound junk interest. The old Priest stood there, feeling the boy groan. He inclined his head as if in prayer, went back and got his dropper. Its just a quarter G, kid. I do not require much, senor. The boy was sleeping when the Priest left room eighteen. He went back to his room and sat down on the bed. Then it hit him like heavy silent snow. All the gray junk yesterdays. He sat there received the immaculate fix. And since he was himself a priest. there was no need to call one.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 00:42:50 +0000
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