Chapter 20

As far as hitting somebody, it wasn't much of a hit. Mule actually just bumped Jimmy with the padded end of the crutch, but you couldn't tell that from his reaction.

The little Yosemite Sam-looking guy staggered back a few feet and went to a knee.

"Jimmy, are you okay?" his wife asked, glaring at Mule.

"I've been struck," Jimmy said. It appeared to be a first for the cowboy.

Mule was giggling. Squiggy was trying not to laugh while May was crying.

"Heckfire," Mule said. "That won't even leave a bruise."

"What's with you bludgeoning me?" Jimmy asked, shaking his head.

"You was goin after Squiggy."

"So?"

"He's my buddy."

Jimmy paused to spit a wad of tobacco juice on the ground, barely missing the little boot on his right foot. He stood with some help from his wife, who stood almost half a foot taller.

"Get outta the truck," he said, looking at Mule.

"Me?"

"Yeah, nobody thunks me over the head with a crutch and gets away with it." Jimmy took his cowboy hat off and saw it was dented! This didn't help matters. "You ruined my Stetson!"

Mule tried to climb down from the truck. Broken leg or not, he had been challenged by the little guy. Mule had barely got down from the truck when Jimmy charged. Mule stuck his crutch out and caught the little man in the chest. He was pumping his arms and legs, but not making any ground thanks to the crutch.

"Hold yer horses, Yosemite," he said. "I ain't ready to whoop yer butt yet."

Jimmy was flailing his little arms, still with the end of the crutch stopping his progress.

Squiggy had seen enough. He didn't need or want anybody to fight his battle. "You wanna fight somebody, get you some of me."

"Later," Jimmy said. "I'm gonna take care of this big fellow then beat your butt."

"He's got a broke leg."

"He'll have more'n that after I get through with him."

Arlene stormed up to Squiggy, willing to take on the challenge.

"Git outta my face," Squiggy said.

"Why, you scared?" she asked.

"Naw, you got the bad breath."

"Liar! I have an Altoid!"

"Don't matter." Squiggy walked past her toward Jimmy, who was tiring quickly. "Let him go, Mule."

Jimmy weighed his options. Things weren't looking all that good. "You want a piece of me?"

"Whatever, Little Jimmy," Squiggy said, a nickname that one Jimmy Alice hated with a passion.

Jimmy pushed aside the crutch and came after Squiggy, who responded like he was in a football tackling drill. It was difficult to get low enough, but he executed a perfect form tackle and slammed the little man down on the asphalt. Squiggy pinned Jimmy with his knees on the man's shoulders and giggled.

"Get off me!" Jimmy hollered.

Squiggy saw the long hairs poking out of the man's nose and couldn't help himself. He plucked a couple.

"Hey, that hurts!" the little man said.

"Say 'uncle'," Squiggy said.

"No!"

Squiggy plucked a hair from the man's mustache, a long one hanging over his lip.

"Ow!" Arlene came up behind Squiggy and started beating on his back. The blows were much harder than anything Jimmy was capable of delivering.

Squiggy paid no attention and kept plucking hair's from the man's face. He thought about getting his knife out and shaving Jimmy, but decided that might be pushing things.

"Quit pulling my hairs!" Jimmy hollered. Arlene jumped on Squiggy's back and put him in a headlock. Mule thought about helping, but decided his friend could take care of this. She knocked Squiggy's hat off and grabbed his hair in the back.

"Get off my husband!" she screamed. Several cars and trucks were stopped on the highway, taking in the scene. Squiggy stuck his hand down the back of his pants, wallowed it around in there for a few seconds then stuck it under Jimmy's nose.

"A stink bomb!" Mule hollered, laughing so hard he doubled over.

Jimmy was really struggling now. "My gosh that's horrible!" He was shaking his head, but Squiggy would stay in tune, his hand right next to the man's nose.

Squiggy was laughing also. He had never done this to anybody before, just heard people talk about it. Jimmy's eyes were watering heavily.

"Uncle!" he hollered.

"You quits?" Squiggy asked.

"Anything to get that stinky hand outta my face!"

"You care if I see your daughter?"

"Never!" His eyes bulged even wider as he watched Squiggy go for a refresher. Squiggy stuck his hand down his pants again, let it linger, then pulled his hand out and slowly moved it toward the man's face. "Please quit!"

"Get off my daddy," May said.

Everybody looked at her. That took all the steam out of Squiggy. He removed his hand and crawled off, with Arlene still holding on. She was slapping him in the back of the head, but it hurt little, compared to the look he saw on May's face. Squiggy shook Arlene off and stood up. May was so upset that she was shaking.

"I'm sorry, May," Squiggy said. It had no effect on her. Jimmy was trying to snort in some fresh air. His hat had fallen off, revealing what looked like a permanent imprint of the hat on the man's head. His hairs were messed up, aside from where the hat bands had been.

May lowered her head and ran toward her car, the crying cutting a hole in Squiggy. He walked toward her, but knew it was a waste. She got in and drove off, leaving Squiggy standing in the middle of the parking lot with his hands in the front pockets.

Arlene was kneeling next to her husband. "Are you okay?"

"I can't breathe!" he complained.

Mule followed behind his friend. He moved up beside Squiggy and put his arm around him. "It'll be okay."

Squiggy turned to his friend. His face looked worse than little Jimmy's. He might have came out on top against the rest of her family, but knew this was a big loss. May would never want anything to do with him now, not after he tortured her father with his stinky hand.

"Naw, it won't."

They turned around and started moving toward the truck. Jimmy and Arlene were standing now, watching to make sure Mule and Squiggy stayed away. Squiggy walked with his head down. Somehow, he always thought things would work out between him and May. That dream was dying for him.

They got in the truck and Squiggy leaned his head against the steering wheel. Jimmy was hollering at them again, helped by Arlene. Squiggy heard them, but could care less.

"Let's go, Squiggy," Mule suggested.

Squiggy stayed in the same position for several minutes, refusing to move. Finally, he turned the key, firing the engine up and drove away slowly. The traffic had cleared out on the highway so he gunned the engine and took off. He was quiet while driving through town. They passed through the empty downtown and two groups of Mexicans having a party out in the lawn.

He didn't even bother hollering at them. Squiggy got to Mule's house and stopped the truck.

Mule wasn't wanting to go home, but could tell Squiggy didn't want any company. He grabbed a few beers and opened the door. "Where you goin, Squiggy?"

Squiggy shrugged his slumped shoulders, looking straight ahead. It was getting dark, but Mule could see the tears slowly descending down Squiggy's cheeks.

Mule got out of the truck and stood in the road, watching Squiggy drive off, wondering if he would ever see him again.

Chapter 21