The Beach House (3 page)

Damon pulled into
the gas station with the radio blaring AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock”. Mark wondered if he could try any harder. What in the world did Kristi see in this guy anyway?

“I’m going to fill the Jeep up. Anyone want anything from inside?” Damon asked.

The thought of mood made Kristi’s stomach grumble quietly. “I’m going to go in and grab a snack and a diet coke. Megan, come in with me”.

Megan looked over at Mark, “Be right back. Want anything?”

Mark shook his head, “Just to get the fuck out of this shithole and to the beach, babe”.

Megan and Kristi rolled their eyes and walked from the Jeep to the convenience store located about ten yards in front of them. Mark couldn’t help but watch Kristi as she walked into the store, purposefully toying with him. That’s alright, he would be sure to get some alone time with her later.

Damon smirked as he looked over at Mark who seemed to be eyeing something that didn’t belong to him.

“You like what you see, pal?” Damon asked.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Damon. Just pump the damn gas so we can get out of here.”

Damon continued to smile, “this is going to be a great weekend, man. I’m really looking forward to it”.

***

Megan and Kristi walked into the conveni
ence store. Kristi wasn’t expecting it to be immaculate, but sanitary would have been nice.

The guy behind the counter called out, “Welcome, ladies. Let me know if I can be of any help to you.”

Megan whispered, “Think it’s safe to use the bathroom? I’m about to find out. Grab me some chips or something”.

Kristi watched Megan enter the bathroom. She had never been more thankful in her entire life that she didn’t have to pee. She wasn’t feeling quite as brave as her friend.

As soon as she started to walk down the aisle of assorted snacks and junk food, the guy from behind the counter approached her from the other end of the aisle. If he was any indication of the sanitary standards of this establishment, then she was afraid to see what Megan was experiencing in the bathroom.

He looked like he hadn’t showered in a week, and not in the hot, grungy kind of way. His hair was matted down against his forehead and he looked like he hadn’t shaved in days either. He was wearing the store shirt which had large stains spread all over it. His name badge read “Cliff”. That made sense to Kristi; he certainly looked like a Cliff. She wanted to turn away and leave this damn place, but she was thirsty and really wanted that soda.

“Sure I can’t help you with anything, beautiful?” Cliff asked as he approached her.

“I’m just trying to grab a few things so that I can get out of here” Kristi replied.

What the hell was taking Megan so long anyway? She was hoping Cliff would step aside and allow her to pass, but he didn’t. She made one more attempt to walk past him, but he stubbornly remained in the center of the aisle.

“Excuse me, I really need to just get these items. My boyfriend is waiting for me outside.”

“Your boyfriend is one lucky guy. I’ll step aside, no problem.”

As Cliff moved against the left side of the aisle, Kristi quickly brushed past him and continued onto the chips at the end by the freezers. Then she felt someone standing right behind her and felt a hand groping her ass.

Her scream sent Megan rushing from the bathroom as well as Damon and Mark hauling ass from out by the gas pumps.

“What the hell happened?” Damon called out.

“This guy is a fucking pervert. That’s what happened.”

Cliff protested, “I don’t know what she’s talking about. I was just trying to help the lady find some snacks.”

“Like hell you were. You don’t need your hand on my ass to provide customer service.”

Damon could feel the anger swelling up inside of him. He had no tolerance for people who made his life difficult or unpleasant.

“Mark, take Megan and Kristi out to the Jeep. I need to talk to Cliff and pay for this shit”.

Mark wanted to beat the guy’s ass for touching his girl, but knew he couldn’t let his emotions get too out of control. He reluctantly took Megan and Kristi by the arm and led them out to the parking lot.

Damon starred at Cliff whose lip began to quiver. “You got a problem keeping your hands to yourself, Cliff?”

“No, dude. Really I didn’t mean any harm. It was a total accident.” Cliff replied, his eyes beginning to well up.

Damon looked unimpressed by his show of remorse. “Yeah, I can totally see how extending your hand and grabbing my girlfriend’s ass could be a mistake.”

Damon quickly surveyed the interior of the store. He doubted that a place this crappy would possess a surveillance system. Sure enough there were no cameras in this back area of the store, just one up front by the register.

He walked up to Cliff. “I’ll tell you what, pal. I will cut you a break because you look like a good kid who made a mistake.”

“Yes, I am a good kid. I’m sorry, so sorry”.

Cliff really had not meant any harm. It was just so rare that a beautiful woman walked into the roadside establishment. He didn’t think about the trouble it may cause. However, he was looking in the eyes of an apparent crazy man who was possessed by some bout of anger. He had never wanted a customer to leave so badly in his eighteen months on the job.

Damon patted Cliff on the shoulder, a slight smirk showing on his face. Cliff felt quite relieved. It wasn’t often that attractive women came through the store, and he just couldn’t restrain himself. He knew that he shouldn’t have touched her, but the temptation had been too strong.

Damon reached his hand into the back pocket of his jeans. As Cliff was turning away, Damon pulled out a knife. He grasped Cliff by the shoulder and spun him around. As the knife flipped open, it pierced Cliff in the chest. The attendant let out a loud gasp, stunned by what had just taken place.

Damon twisted the knife, his face completely expressionless. As Cliff fell to the ground, Damon pulled the knife from his body. The blood dripped onto the floor of the store. He grabbed a handful of napkins which were sitting by the coffeepots. He wiped the knife off, disposing of the napkins in the trashcan. Then he wrapped the knife up carefully and put it in the front pocket of his jeans.

He stood above Cliff, watching him take in his last few breaths. Cliff’s death was completely unnecessary, but he had gotten in the way of his plans.

With the knife securely in his pocket, he grabbed a couple of sodas, a bag of chips, and a candy bar. It was time to get to the beach house.

Mark, Megan, and Kristi sat in the Jeep waiting for Damon to come out of the small convenience shop.

Mark was finding it more an
d more difficult to suppress his feelings of impatience and frustration. “What the hell is he doing in there anyway?”

Megan could see the look of guilt on Kristi’s face. “You okay?”

Kristi forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just wish Damon would hurry up. I didn’t want to get that Cliff guy in trouble. Damon can let his anger get the better of him at times; just has me a bit worried.”

Although Mark was tired of waiting, he was angrier at himself for not confronting that stupid kid in the shop. He wanted to be the guy who took care of Kristi, but he knew this had not been the right place to display that kind of heroism. It would have ruined their weekend if he had come to her defense in front of Megan and Damon. He really could have cared less about Damon’s feelings, but Megan was a different story. Although he didn’t have the same passion towards Megan as he did Kristi, he still cared about her. She was a good girl, and he didn’t want to hurt her in front of everyone.

Kristi continued to stare into the small store. However, she couldn’t make out anything that was happening inside. The sun cast a terrible glare against the front windows of the store. Just as she contemplated going back into the shop to check on the situation, Kristi saw Damon exiting the store. “Never mind. He’s coming out now. Thank god!”

Damon walked quickly from the front of the shop to the Jeep not making eye contact with any of his so called friends who were waiting for him. As he got into the Jeep, he threw the bags of chips, candy bars, and sodas in the center console.

Mark looked at the stockpile of food and drinks. “You fucking rob the place or something?”

Damon let out a small snicker. “Cliff told me to take some supplies for our trip, no charge. Since he was such a perv, his way to make up for it I guess. So eat up, there’s plenty. And no more damn stops on the way.”

With that, the Jeep pulled out of the gas station and headed for beautiful weather, stretches of sand, and the endless ocean.

Max was not a dog who liked to go for walks. In fact, he would lie stubbornly in one spot for the entire day if Horace allowed it. Horace, however, did not allow it. Every morning it was the same routine. H
e would coerce Max to get up from his spot with some sort of a dog treat or bone; the old boy still had to eat. Then he would leash up poor Max and take him for his daily morning walk. The way Horace saw it, he was doing Max a favor.

Horace remembered when Max was a young pup; he would take in all of the sounds and sights as they jogged up and down the beach. It was almost over stimulating for him; the kids running and playing in the water, families having picnics and barbecues, games of volleyball, and lovely ladies working on their tans. Nowadays, Max barely noticed there were other people on the beach. Despite his reluctance to sniff and explore, Horace stopped every now and then and encouraged Max to take in his environment.

The beach, after all, was a rather interesting place. Sure Horace could live in a neighborhood next to the same people who would exchange the same pleasantries day after day with him. Not here though. Horace was able to interact with different people every morning as he walked his beloved friend. Not a single day was like any other he had experienced before. He had no idea what this day had in store for him, but he sure was looking forward to it.

***

Susan threw the last bag into the back of the black SUV. It was the first time in a very long time that she had planned a trip that required additional changes of clothes. Packing these bags had reminded her of so many good times they had had as a family. She recalled the first time that Joseph had swam in the ocean. He was so afraid of those crashing waves even as Clint held onto him. Joseph knew his limitations in the ocean. That’s why the drowning was so hard for Susan to understand.

Then there was poor Damon who she barely even knew any more. She considered calling him to see if he would like to accompany them to the beach house. She knew it would be more painful that way. Damon seemed to act as if he never had a little brother; maybe that was the most hurtful part of the entire situation. How could he move on as if Joseph had been a dream or a figment of his imagination?

Damon and Joseph had never had a great brother relationship though. Damon often excluded his little brother from activities and lashed out at him over the smallest things. Maybe it was her fault that they never formed a bond and now Damon would go through his life with no good memories of his little brother.

Clint walked out of the house and made his way to the car. He could tell that Susan had been reminiscing and who could blame her. It seemed so long ago that Joseph had been taken from them, but it really wasn’t all that long ago that he had his perfect family. What did he have now though? As far as he could tell, he had no relationship with his living son, a son who had died under suspicious circumstances, and physical health that was beginning to fail him. As painful as this trip to the beach house may be, he certainly had nothing to lose.

Clint looked at his wife. “You ready to get going?”

Susan smiled at her husband. “Yes, I’m ready. You sure you will be okay to drive there?”

“I can drive. I remember the way there as if I’ve driven it all my life.”