Chapter Six: The Cowboy and The Outlaw
I sat down, watching a random movie about a cowboy. As the movie continues, there is one scene that happens. There is a cowboy, a bounty hunter; he works for the law. He has nobody in his life anymore, his wife left him, and his family was taken by typhoid fever. He had nothing left. But what’s stopping him from taking his own life, is his job, bounty hunting. It’s the only thing that makes him feel…not empty. He’s made a lot of enemies throughout his career of bounty hunting, so because of that he wears a white bandana, and when he's on break, he hides it so no one will know who he is. But he’s received a job, a job to catch an outlaw. The only known thing about him is that he wears a black bandana.
This is where the scene happens; The cowboy is sitting in a bar, drinking his Jack Daniels, sulking over his and his wife’s separation. Then the outlaw walked, had his bandana tucked away just like the cowboy so nobody would know their identity, just how the cowboy and the outlaw don’t know each other’s identity. The outlaw sees the sulking cowboy and walks up to him. The outlaw sits to the left of the cowboy, the cowboy is seated on the right side. The cowboy doesn’t face the outlaw, instead just stares at the ground, potentially spaced out.
“Hey.” The outlaw says, calling out to the cowboy.
The cowboy doesn’t respond. The outlaw then nudged the cowboy’s arm, which laid on top of the bar counter.
“Hey, partner.” The cowboy said.
This breaks the cowboy out of his spaced-out trance, and snaps his head towards the outlaw. The outlaw recoils a bit, and raises his hand to his chest slightly as a mock surrender.
“Hey, hey! Calm down, friend. I just wanna ask ya a question.” The outlaw said.
“I’m not your friend, nor do I feel like answering your question.” The cowboy said, not wanting to talk to the outlaw, or anybody. Still sulking after the separation.
“Well, I just saw you were sitting here all by yourself. I just wanted you to know if you're lonely, because… you look lonely.” The outlaw said, looking at the cowboy.
“Tch. Are you lonely?! And what does it matter to you if I’m alone or not?” The cowboy said to the outlaw with a slight scowl on face, with his eyebrows furrowed.
The outlaw sighs, “Because, I’m alone too, I ain’t got nobody, well nobody anymore. The only thing I got, is the thing that gives…joy, y’know?” The outlaw said as he clenched his fist, not out of anger, probably to grasp what he’s trying to say, or something.
“Yeah…I know.” The cowboy looks away, then down, and sighs. He continues, “I’m lonely.”
“Yeah, I figured.” The outlaw then says as he lets a slight chuckle and smirk. The cowboy just looks at him and scoffs at laughter. The outlaw chuckled again.
“I guess destiny brought us together, then? For a reason, y’know?” The outlaw says as he puts his hand on the cowboys shoulder.
“Yeah, I guess it did.” The cowboy says as he looks at the outlaw again, with a slight smile. The outlaw smiled back.
After I finished watching the movie. I didn’t know if it was cheesy, cliche, or whatever. I knew it sparked hope in me that I could find someone to relate to, and enjoy life with. But, I know I can’t just sit around in my house, expecting someone to come to my door, no, It can’t work like that. I remember there being a bar not too far from my house. My dad used to drive past there when he used to drop me off from school. But I’m only 18, I can’t drink, much less go into a bar. Well, what came to mind was my dad’s drivers licenses. I could use that. But it’s like I said before, me and my dad are opposite people, even though we look the same- wait, I got an idea.
I took out my dad’s drivers licenses, and looked at it. Black suit, black tie. I already knew I had a black suit because of my Dad’s funeral. I got up from the couch and walked into my room and went into the closet to take out my suit.
I held my suit by the rack hanger with one hand, and with the other my father’s licenses. I laid the suit at the edge of the top bunk of the bunk bed, then I put down my fathers licenses on the dresser. I began to strip until I was in my underwear. I then took the suit off the rack, then the dress shirt. I slipped the white dress shirt on, and buttoned it up, put on the black tie, and the dress pants. I went into the closet, and took out the black dress shoes, then slipped them on. I contemplated putting on the suit jacket. It is cold outside, and to maximize the similarity of my father, I have to wear the suit- well, maybe not have to- wait, the bouncers will probably be suspicious of me if I look exactly how my dad looks in his picture, because why would someone come in a suit, not to mention you looking like you own a company, to a bar dressed exactly how they look in their driver’s licenses? Just doesn’t make sense. I gotta look like I had a long day of work. I loosened the tie, and kind of crumpled my dress shirt, and slinged the suit jacket over my shoulder- I almost forgot to roll up my sleeves. I went over to the dresser and picked up the driver’s licenses. I looked at a deodorant spray, and left my room. Before I left, I went into my mother’s room, and grabbed her keys since we won’t be needing them in hell.
I looked in the mirror and put the keys in my pocket, and took out the driver’s license and put it side by side with my head. I’m trying to look like my father, if he had a long day at work. I looked at the driver's license then back at the mirror, with the driver license next to my head, pointed at the mirror. I mean, I do look like him, but that’s me. I need outside confirmation…but who will I ask?
***
Amare breaths started coming in fast, the liminal space met with liminal breathing, started getting to her. Since her mouth was taped, she breathed through her nose, the nose breaths came in quick and fast. She felt like she was gonna die in this crate until someone opened it, Michael opened it.
He looked down at Amare, who was in the crate. He had a different attire on. Before, when she saw him, he had a sleeve button-up jacket and sweatpants. Now he has on a dress shirt, with a black tie, and dress pants.
Do I look like this man? You can be honest, I won’t kill you.” He said as he held a driver’s license right next to his head, and got a little closer for Amare.
Amare was too shocked to understand what was going on. She panted and looked at Michael and the license. Michael sighed and put the driver’s license in his right hand, and punched her in the face with his left. She let out a muffled moan of pain, and turned kept her head and eyes away from his gaze. He switched back the driver’s license, then grabbed her chin with his right hand with the driver’s license in his left hand, holding up right next to his face.
“I said, do I look like this man, or do I and this man look similar?” He said as he gripped her chin tightly, making her face meet his eyes, staring into her eyes, waiting for an answer.
Amare looked at the driver’s license. The man had on a suit, Michael had on a suit, just without the suit jacket. The man on the driver license had a smile on his face, Michael’s face was straight, no emotion to it. The man had nice,combed hair, Michael’s hair was the opposite. After Amare looked at Michael, and his dad’s license, she nodded. Michael then gripped her jaw.
“Are you being honest? Don’t lie to me.” Michael said as Amare nodded her between Michael’s sentences.
“Is it the face?” Michael said.
Amare nodded desperately, being as honest as she could.
“Is that the only part? Be honest.” Michael said, still staring into Amare’s eyes
Amare nodded again, vigorously with her limited head movements because of the grip Michael has on her jaw.
“Alright…” Michael said in a quiet voice as he nodded back.
He then closed back the crate, and put the license in his pocket. He then stood up, and walked to a door that led to the garage. He opened the garage door, and looked over at the shelf. His eyes landed on the drill. He walked over to the shelf, which was right behind his mother’s car, well used to be mother’s car. He grabbed the drill then put the drill bit on the chunk of the drill. He walked back out the garage door, to the crate. He kneeled before the crate Amare was in, and drilled holes. Amare was startled, and started moving a bit while looking at the holes being made. Michael had made 10 holes, then went back into the garage, putting the drill back on the shelf. Michael then looked over to the garage control and grabbed it, pressing it to open the garage. He walked up to the driver seat of his used-to-be mother’s car, and pressed the electric unlock button on the control unit that controls the car. He then opened the car, and went inside, throwing his suit jacket in the passenger seat next to the driver’s. He put the transponder key into the ignition lock cylinder, then pushed, then turned the transponder key, starting up the car. Michael then breathed in and out. It’s been a while since he has driven a car, well since the driver’s test he hasn’t driven a car. So, the only thing is to fall back on the driver’s test he had. Michael put the car in drive, then slowly pressed on the gas pedal. He drove the car out of the garage, and stopped it. He took the garage control, and pressed the bottom button to close the garage. As he did so, he threw the control into the passenger seat next to him,on top of the suit jacket and drove out the lot. He began driving down the street, calm and collected. Red light, stop. There’s a lot of cars nearby, which throws him off because what if he does the wrong thing? People are gonna yell at him, honk at him. Michael looked at the traffic lights as it stayed on red, then turned his left to see a couple, a couple that looked all too familiar. Brad and Amare…they…were walking? Michael squinted his eyes to get a good look, but he could only see their side profiles.
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HONK
Michael turned his head to the traffic light, looking out the windshield, realizing it was green. but he had to look. He moved his car slowly to look through his side rear view mirror to get a good look at their faces, but he couldn’t see them well.
HONK
“Drive up! What are you doing?!” The man in the car behind as he honked at him. The man couldn’t go past Michael. The cars on the right side stopped him, and they were on the left end.
Michael then poked his head out the window, to look at the couple,his feet still barely pressing the gas pedal. He squinted eyes to look at the couple, seeing that it’s not them.
HONK
Michael looked at the driver behind him, seeing him pointing at the road.
“The road! The road!” The man said.
Michael then raised an eyebrow at him, “Excuse me?”
“Drive! Drive!” The man said.
Michael then realized the traffic light turned green before he was looking at the couple that looked like Brad and Amare. He then puts his head back into the car, and goes to hit the gas pedal. The man sighs then looks up as Michael puts his head back into the car as he looked up for a quick second, to see the light green, but looked down as it turned yellow, then red, not realizing the light turned yellow then red.
“Wait- Red light! Red light!” The man shouted as he put his head through the window as he looked up realizing the light turned red.
Michael heard him say red light but it’s too late before he can process what he says, Michael hit’s the gas pedal, he looks to see another car coming in from a different intersection, and swerves out of the way, causing cars to honk their horns.
“Shit!” Michael said, as he dodged the incoming car. He panted, and panted until he came to his senses and drove off the four-way intersection, turning left to reach the bar that was not that far ahead.
“Some people nowadays. No regards for themselves or others.” The man that was once behind Michael’s car, said to himself as he put his head back into his car.
***
As I parked on the side, a few feet down from the bar. I take the transponder key out the ignition and put it in the armrest. I rub my forehead, which puts sweat on my fingers. I wiped the sweat on my shirt, leaving a little damp area. I opened the car door and got out, closing it behind as the car door made a clicking sound, locking the car doors. I made sure I had my father’s license in my pocket by putting my hands in my dress pants pockets. It was there, safe and sound. I kept my hands in my pockets, looked down to make sure I had one part of my shirt tucked in, and one tucked out. When I looked up to the bar, I saw the line. Really, the line wasn’t even a line at all, there was like four or five people, and the reason there were four or five people stacked in a line, waiting, is because the bouncer had to thoroughly check everybody’s ID, the bouncer probably didn’t have a good eye or something, but he looked very buff.
As I reached the line to the bar, I waited until it was my turn to be checked. After two minutes of the bounce thoroughly checking each person's ID, it was my time.
“ID.” The bouncer said in a stern, deep tone. It was like he wasn’t gonna take shit from anybody.
I looked down at the pocket where the license was, and took it out, showing the bouncer it. He took it from my hand, and looked at it, then at me. He did this for about 10 seconds before fixing his eyes on me with his head tilted down, facing the licenses, and saying
“Work?” He said with one of his eyebrows raised.
“Work.” I said as I looked at with a slight tug of my mouth being displayed upon.
The bouncer nodded, then handed me back the license and let me through.
When I walked into the bar, I was instantly hit with the smell of alcohol and somewhat cologne. But there was a scent of vanilla and cinnamon, almost convincing me it was a cafe. I looked around to see only two people in black trench coats compared to everyone else that was vibrant, and looked more colorful. The first guy in the trench I saw when I walked in, sat across from a vibrant, colorful man. Very nice Hawaiian shirt. Judging by the Hawaiian shirted guy moving his mouth, he was talking to the guy in the trench. Even though I could only see the back of the guy in the trench coat head, I could tell he was talking too, when took out his cigar to blow it, then held his cigar between his fingers before putting it back in, and that’s when the Hawaiian shirt guy would talk. And also the movement of his body when he talked. I looked over to the second guy in the trench coat. He didn’t look too happy. The first guy looked okay, him, he doesn’t look okay at all. I could barely see him, just like the first guy, but this guy's head was down, like he was sad…just like the cowboy in the movie. This had to be a sign, a sign from the heavens, or god himself! I knew I wouldn't miss this opportunity. I looked at him, contemplating what I was gonna say, when I found the right words. I walked up to the bar counter, and sat down next to him, to the left of him.
“Hey, would you like anything to drink?” The Barwoman said as soon as I opened my mouth to talk to the man in the trench coat, to the right of me.
I looked over to the Barwoman, and then looked down patting my pockets, realizing I didn’t bring a wallet, I didn’t even have a wallet, and I couldn’t bother searching my mother’s.
“Oh, uh- no, I-I don’t have my wallet.” I said, looking at her with a sheepishly smile.
“Then how did you get past the bouncer?” She said, raising an eyebrow.
“With my…licenses…drivers licenses.” I said looking at her while slightly looking away.
I pretended to swallow, making it seem like I didn’t gulp.
“And your driver's license is usually in a wallet, right?” The barwoman said, with the corner of her mouth tugging with amusement.
She’s got me. I think this wasn’t meant to be destiny. I think I’m supposed to be alone forever, and ever. I think I’m supposed to have nobody to care about me. I’m all alone.
“Right.” I said. Looking away, avoiding eye contact as sweat beads drop from my forehead.
“Hey, look at me.” She said, staring into my eyes with a smirk, she’s enjoying this for some reason, she’s enjoying catching me in the act.
I look at her in the eyes, struggling to keep my gaze on her vibrant green eyes.
“Tell me your age without looking at your license.” She said with a smirk on her face as she leaned forward, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, which was sideways.
Damnit, damnit! She got me! I-I don’t even know when my dad was born! I had the ID, I could’ve looked, but I was more focused whether I looked like my dad or not! I thought my dad’s birth didn’t matter, it shouldn’t matter, but it did! It did here!
I only looked away, staying silent. Even if I tried to do the math in my head, it would have taken too long. Everyone should know their own birthdate, but I obviously didn’t, because I wasn’t who I was portrayed to be.
We sat in awkward silence for a few seconds. It was awkward for me, but for her, she had me, she had me right where she wanted me. All because I forgot my dad’s age, and I didn’t have a wallet…
“Here, how about I get you a sprite? On the house.” She said as she stopped leaning forward towards me, and stood up straight.
My eyebrows rose as my eyes widened, I genuinely looked surprised. I thought she was definitely gonna kick me out. I-I thought I was a goner, for sure. Maybe this is my destiny, to meet him. I glanced over at the trench coat man, then back at the barwoman, who smiled, trying to stifle a giggle.
“So, what do you say? Is that a yes?” The barwoman said, letting out a giggle she couldn’t hold back any more.
I nodded as my face slowly went to normal from that surprising turn of events.
“Sure.”
She nodded, then went to get the sprite. I stayed, staring at the spot where the woman was standing. My face went from surprised to confused as I slowly raised my eyebrow, with my mouth slightly parted.
I turned my head to the man. I didn’t know if he heard all of that, he’s probably asleep. Well, probably not since his head isn’t on the table, and no one can sleep with their head just facing the ground. I leaned in close, and whispered in his ear,
“Hey.”
Then, I saw him turn his head to me, I needed to make sure I didn’t stutter, don’t stutter. When he leaned his head up and faced me, I said…