"THE SEND OFF" Part 1

Charlie wasn’t surprised by all the commotion. For several months he has felt a premonition that something major may be about to occur. Even though he couldn’t imagine what it could be, somehow he knew that he needed to get ready for something really big. But now that the event has come and the shock is now past, he still is upset about the timing and the unexpected way he ended up here. Of course, everyone knows that is typical for Charlie! All his life, Charlie always had this way about him. You know--- the kind of guy that isn’t shy about telling you just what he thinks. The sort that always has a gripe about something and is quick to let you know that he could do it better no matter what it is or who's doing it.

The preparation for the big day really had started three days prior to today’s big show. It began on a Tuesday when Charlie was sitting at the kitchen table while his wife, Anne, silently washes the breakfast dishes. He sips from an open fifth of bourbon while the smoke from his third cigarette has formed a hazy curtain between them that is the color of dirty snow. Charlie glances at his wife, but his mind is not on Anne. But then, it hasn't been on her for several years. He is thinking about Sunday's coming game with the Bengals. Charlie would never admit it, but he is not as sure today as he was last night at the bar that the Steelers will "kick the Bengals’ butt by twenty points IN Cincinnati.” At least not the beer-drinking, "bet-you-a hundred" confidence he had when that "big-mouth," Sammy Kubina, had challenged his prediction at the VFW.

Charlie is hardly listening when KDKA's Bob Kudzma begins to give the "latest radar enhanced view of an approaching storm" but he becomes all ears when Kudzma reminds everyone to "get your tickets for tonight's drawing for NINE MILLION big ones. Hey folks! You can't win if you don't play. Don't forget, this might be YOUR day!" Charlie can't even say for certain it was Kudzma who said “this might be YOUR day.” But, “who” said it was not important. As soon as he heard them, Charlie is certain these words are meant for him. He makes a mental note to stop at the Seven/Eleven and get a couple lottery tickets on his way to the mine. Somehow, it is at that moment that Charlie has his first premonition that today is going to be a day like no other. Now as he thinks about it, he thinks that he hadn’t heard a voice as much as he felt one. Nothing jolting or loud, in fact, it is barely perceptible . . . a passing whisper as subtle as a mosquito landing in the hair on his arm. But deep inside he immediately senses this will be HIS day.

Charlie jumps as Anne abruptly lays her hand on his shoulder. Softly she asks, "Would you like some coffee?” She is now accustomed to the harshness and hostility in his voice. She is not surprised when he snaps a sullen, "NO! I have to get going! Third shift has been griping that the roof in the new heading needs more support and Tony wants me to check it out." His annoyance with her, as usual, is unmistakable.

Charlie, on occasion but not too often, feels a little guilty after his usual “blowup” toward his wife. But not today. For some reason this time he feels nothing. Of course, he assures himself that Anne will get over it because she knows that is just the way he is. Moreover, Charlie has never been one to apologize to anyone, especially a woman. Instead, he puts on his trademark smile and bends slightly to kiss her goodbye . . . not from affection but mere routine. As Anne raises her lips to meet his, she suddenly stops. Without a word or backward glance she turns and slowly walks away. Anne’s response takes Charlie by surprise. But he quickly recovers and only shrugs as he walks out into the early morning blackness.

The Brady mine is nearly forty minutes from his home and by the time he arrives at the portal, Charlie has completely forgotten Anne's strange behavior. Today, Charlie arrives early. Only a few miners have arrived for the morning shift. Charlie ignores their “hellos” and “good mornings” as he grabs his tool belt, hard hat, and lamp and hurries to the cage for the next "man-trip" to the new section. As he waits to descend into the blackness of the mine, he glances at the three LOTO tickets he has just purchased and carefully places them in his wallet.

As he enters the cage, Charlie is still thinking, “WHAT IF THIS REALLY IS MY BIG DAY?” As the cage begins its descent, from the shadows and somewhere very near, Charlie hears his boss, Tony Angellini, call his name. At least Charlie thought it was Tony’s voice that he heard. He knew that someone had called him.

Click here for Part 2 https://steemit.com/religion/@willsplace/the-send-off-part-2

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