Hazel and Dan in the Hazy days of Fall. Book 01
My life became worth a story only after being loved and challenged to learn how to return it. Life for me became a do-over on a warm Saturday afternoon in September of 1978; the leaves are on the trees, but it won't be long before they go bare.
I left the house like most mornings, pissed at my family, pissed at the world, slamming the back screen door maybe more than I should've. So I went to the back of the garage where once my Dad's shop was, it was now mine, a complete blacksmith shop with a full forge, and power tools and hand tools of all kinds were out there.
I went with no clear idea in mind, like most days. I hoped to find something to beat on or work on, often the same thing to me. So I clicked on the old beat-up tube radio that was my grand-pops. The noise and music keeps me from thinking how alone I am as the furnace is warming up. This, You Belong To Me - by Carly Simon was playing on the radio.
I left the shop door open to keep the heat down, The cool air felt good it's going to get hotter today when I start working. The edge of my mad was on me bad I wanted to bang on something seriously hard. I fired the gas furnace up on high by firing up the blower.
Sticking a piece of cold steel in the coals and coke, maybe I make a spade or a knife or, better yet, another sword for the Renaissance fair, my last two sold well. It's adding to my car fund my first step in escaping from this so-called home, a hell hole in word and deed. Hell indeed it was Mom left the house to my Sister because she's older, hell Mom sold it with a Home Reversion Plan in place they pay her to live here.
I pick up the eight-pound hammer one-handed, striking hard making the anvil sing. The shock to my arm, making it ring is calming in a hard way. Then, I raise my arm to make it ring again.
I hear coming from my behind my back. "My word, that was loud, honey. That was you?" You asked.
I turn to the sound of an angel. You stop. Your face shows great deal of concern, but you've not come into my shop yet. The dust particles in the light dance around your head, making you look angelic. I've seen that look before. I'm scary looking when I'm mad; I get that a lot whenever I'm angry.
You say. "Your face sure is red, Hon." Yours brushed a touch, and your hair caught the light, making it look blonder.
I began to snap back at you like I would at my Sister my mouth opened to bark at you, but I could not move when why be mad at you crossed my mind. So I froze and un-froze like that my mad when away.
You say. "You go, Dude, look at you, one second mad as hell, seconds later you looked at me like you see me damn that's sexy. That other thing was scary; my brother got that way bad before he went off to boot camp." You say it as if you do not want to think further about that.
I choked out. "I'm sorry if you knew what I was mad about. You never want to talk to me ever again."
This incredible creature asked me. "What should we do, Dan? Look, we saw what you did for Mae the other day; Dan, trust me, I'm here because I want to be."
My voice dropped off after saying it. "I had to empty my Mom's bedpan again today. She was passed out sitting on it..."
Your face shows concern you are not a poker player; you wear your heart on your sleeve. My face looks like I'm trying to remember your name, your Mae's friend in school my next door neighbor but we don't hang out. We went through first grade together till now but we have yet to speak to each other.
I say. "Breast Cancer, they're taken one; they might want more, but I can't get her back to the Doctor. She has Agoraphobia, her social worker said. Had to look that one up; it means she is afraid of going outside."
I say, trying to hide my pain. Your look tells me I'm failing badly; I've no clue where the guts to tell you that came from.
Your voice was low, as if you were still unsure, you say. "Damn, Dude, I'm still here. I think it makes you well more of a man and not so much a damn boy anymore. Will you help me bring my bike over and fix it, kind Sir? I pay you with a kiss?"
I often mumbled around cute girls, and you sure were one; I have not mumbled once with you today. A senior cheerleader at school turned eighteen a summer ago.
Five foot Five, One hundred twenty-eight pounds, 36-30-34 with DD, dark blue-eyed with a touch of gold specks with long lashes with sexy full lips with white teeth and a long-haired golden blond, her curls catching the light, a vision of an angel was standing a foot or so before me.
Dressed in a matching pink and white seersucker patterned top with cute matching shorts shorts a true fad from the 1960s.
Your name popped into my mind as I spoke, looking into your eyes. "You're, Hazel, aren't you? Be happy to, but I not kissed..."
Hazel says. "Me too, Dude; every guy I know wants me to; many have kissed me without asking, and I kissed none back so far, but I have to want to first, you know? Nobody has been first until now, but we can learn together, right? So, Dan, I think it will be fun. Call me Hazel in front of our folks, but you can call me Hazy when it's only us."
We crossed the yard to your house; the small talk was about football and the upcoming season, I admitted to not knowing who we were playing or why and mostly knew a few on the team, but I was not a fan; I felt out of place like home.
We, or rather I, carried your bike back to my shop. Sticking the bike on my work table and see the wheel is badly warped. One of the spokes is bent with the wheel rubbing against the frame, and your chain is off the sprockets. Hazel is looking at my shop. It's neat, and clean two kinds of brooms are in the corner. A suitable size fire extinguisher was mounted by the door. It was a gift from my grandfather. You took one of my handmade screwdrivers it's turned rosewood handle made it stand out.
Hazel says. "Wow, I never thought you could buy tools that look so pretty, each one a different wood. All your tools look pretty. My uncle's tools look nothing like this."
I answer you by saying. "I was taught how to make tools; my Dad's rich, or we would not live in this subdivision. My Dad refused to buy me tools. He gave me something money can't buy. He taught me skills. He taught me how to make my first sledgehammer but gave me the forge and electric sledgehammer. They were my Dad's. With all the hand tools I made, I could swing a hammer in third grade. Made my first tool this hammer."
I hold it up. Its oak wood is turned for a better grip. Hazel looks at all the tools; they are all polished out, but the hammer's sides show tool marks.
Hazel says. "I'm not sure I believe you made all these, but my Dad takes me with him to the hardware store, and these are nothing like them."