Page 42 of Deeper

“Well, now would be the time, son.” He twists the cap off the thermos and shakes his head. “Well, actually, the time would have been during my first visit, but I’ll forgive you for that. I have a grandson about your age, so I know how you young guys tend to forget manners.”

I sigh in defeat. “Callen. My name is Callen.”

“Great! That wasn’t so hard, was it? Now, drink the coffee I brought you. It’s my Louise’s special recipe.”

“I drink my coffee black.”

“It’s black with a kick. Drink.”

I take a sip and get a mouthful of coffee, whiskey, and something vanilla-flavored.

“Good, huh?”

I nod while taking another sip.

“Great. Get dressed. I’ll wait right here. The coffee should improve your surly mood. Maybe you’ll find some manners.”

“Why exactly am I getting dressed?”

“For horseshoes! Who’s the senile one—you or me? We’ve already discussed this.”

I find myself following his order, and I have no fucking idea why. I grumble under my breath like a bratty teenager being forced to do something I don’t want to as I pull my clothes on.

Why the fuck am I entertaining this?

Fully dressed, I drag my feet back toward the kitchen.

“Ready?” he asks after I’ve shoved my feet into my shoes.

“I don’t think you’ve given me much of a choice.”

“You’re damn right I haven’t. You kids these days don’t appreciate a good game of horseshoes anymore. Plus, my Louise always said it was important to visit with your neighbors. Promotes community.”

I follow Willy outside between our two RVs and stand awkwardly as he collects the horseshoes.

“You ever play before?”

“No, can’t say that I have.” I’m eyeing the two metal pegs stuck in the ground.

“Well, it’s simple enough. I’ll show you.” He takes his stance and throws. “You want a ringer, meaning the horseshoe encircles the stake. It’s worth three points.”

A ringer is exactly what he gets.

He throws again. “If you get it close to the stake, your throw is worth one point.”

This time, his horseshoe lands almost to the stake, but it isn’t a ringer.

“Simple, right?”

I nod.

“The first player throws both of their shoes and gets points. The second player then throws both of theirs to try to cancel the first player’s points. Points are achieved one inning at a time. If both the pitcher’s horseshoes are closer to the stake than the second player’s are at the end of the inning, then the pitcher gets another two points. Think you got it?”

I nod once more.

Throw horseshoes at stake. Get points. Try to cancel points. Got it.

Willy shoots me a toothy grin, and with a skip in his step, he goes to collect his throws. I pick up the horseshoes by my feet to test their weight.

---