Deadbeat Dads by Roseanne Dowell

his shirt collar , and looked everywhere but at me.
    “Yes, I have it.” I clutched my purse tight against me. He was nervous as a jack rabbit , and I was afraid he’d grab it and bolt.
    “So hand it over.” The last words came out in little more than a croak.
    “First I want you to tell me the truth about what you saw.”
    “Why?”
    “For my own satisfaction.”
    “I saw that guy push you and laugh. You screamed his name and when he turned around, he tripped. You ran down after him, but even I could tell he was dead.”
    “Thank you. Where were you? I didn’t see anyone.”
    “I was under the steps. I had to drop something off for my dad. When I heard you arguing, I hid. After you left, I checked on the guy, just to make sure, ya know. He was dead al l right.”
    “How did you find me?”
    “I read about it in the newspaper. I was curious ’cause you inherited so much money. I went to the service and followed you.”
    I almost laughed. “I’m not the one who inherited all the money. What gave you the idea to blackmail me? You seem like a nice kid.”
    He shrugged. “I told my buddy about it. I wanted to buy this motor bike, but my dad said I had to earn the money. I’ve been cutting grass and stuff, but I can’t get a real job. How am I supposed to earn that much money? So my buddy suggested it. Look, lady, just give me the money and go, okay?”
    Carr stepped out of the darkness.
    “Dad!” The surprise and fear in his voice made me wonder if I had done the right thing calling his father.
    “Randy.”
    “You called my father? How did you…where did you….Shit.” He sunk down to the ground and cradled his head in his hands.
    “Watch your language, son. There’s a lady present. Come on, get up.”
    Randy looked up at me. “Why’d you call my father?”
    “I couldn’t let you blackmail me. For one thing, it’s against the law.”
    “So whyn’t you call the cops?”
    “That’s kind of obvious, isn’t it? What if you didn’t tell them the truth? What if you told them I pushed my husband?”
    “Come on, son, stand up. You ought to thank her for not calling the cops. What made you think you could blackmail her?”
    He shrugged. “I just want ed the money for the bike. Rex said she was an easy mark.”
    “I think it’s going to be a long time before you buy that bike. And I think you need to stay away from Rex.”  Carr put his arm around his son. “You and I have some serious talking to do. You broke the law. I can’t let you get away with that.”
    I hoped he wouldn’t be too hard on the boy. It wasn’t easy for kids when parents divorced, especially when one parent left and didn’t come back. I guess there were deadbeat mothers too. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure that one out. I’d just as soon lose my life as to leave my kids. It was hard enough to understand a father who deserted his kids, but a mother. That was something I couldn’t comprehend.
    Carr came toward me. “Thanks, for not calling the police. I know, I know, you didn’t have a choice . Look, can I call you sometime? Maybe have coffee or a drink.” He raised his hand to stop my refusal. “To talk about the kids. As friends. Because I could really use one who understands right about now.”
    How could I refuse an invitation like that? He needed a friend. Only another single parent could understand what he was going through. I, at least, had my divorced friends. “Okay,” I said. “As friends.” Besides, it would be interesting listening to the other side of the coin, so to speak. I’d never met a man whose wife ran out on him and her children.
     
    Chapter Ten
     
    Becky joined us at our next meeting. All in all, she was doing a heck of a lot better than I expected. Never dreamed she’d recover so quickly. Honestly thought she’d fall apart. The kids were coming around pretty well, too. Even Sammy. “And Larry quit trying to be the man of the family and responsible for everything,” Becky