Bob Granger was an intelligent man. He had taught physics at the local high school, and he was loved by his students because he had a wonderful way of making the material accessible. He was pleasant and easy going, and kind. Bob was married to Teresa, his high school sweetheart. Together, Bob and Teresa had navigated life’s unknowable journey, facing each challenge side by side. They planned on having a big family, but children never came. So Teresa went back to school and became a librarian. Bob had some heart problems, and they dealt with that together. Teresa had cancer, and they faced each surgery and treatment together. When they retired, they had managed to build a small nest egg, and they expected their “golden years” would be spent together, in a quiet and comfortable existence. However, Teresa’s cancer returned, and she was very ill. Her medical costs began to chip away at their nest egg. Her care was at a hospital nearly 2 hours away, so Bob stayed at a nearby hotel for almost 2 months in order to be near. When Teresa was finally released from the hospital, and they could go home at last, she was going home on hospice care. Bob’s heart broke again and again as he watched her become a ghost of the person she was, in pain and unable to enjoy life at all. When Teresa’s spirit left her body, Bob was there to hold her and tell her that he would join her soon.
In the aftermath of Teresa’s death, Bob did the best he could to stay on top of the things of life. He arranged for her funeral and burial, sparing no expense. Teresa had been very ill for the last year, and he had forgotten to pay his property taxes, so he received a notice that his home was going to be sold in a tax sale. Bob didn’t know if he cared. Teresa had always paid the bills, so his utilities were slowly being turned off, and the house was dark and cold. Bob just sat in his chair, unable to move or act. He was lost. He was also angry. Angry that Teresa was gone and angry that life had turned out to be so unfair. Hadn’t they weathered every obstacle without complaining? Why was this happening?
In a state of frustration, Bob left and drove around. He saw the colorful lights of a neon sign on a window of a bar. He pulled up and went inside, It was a comfortable little place, with a giant mahogany bar, old scroll work around the wooden pillars on either side of the big mirror behind. The place had a very high ceiling with punched tin covering it, all original woodwork, worn hardwood floors. The liquor bottles were lined up like jewels, sparking in the light. Bob realized that he was thirsty, in fact, he was dying of thirst. He had one drink after another and came back the next day and the next. He knew he was out of control, but he couldn’t stop himself. How low could he sink, he wondered. He didn’t care.
One night, driving home after an evening at the bar, he had an accident. A man on a bicycle came out of nowhere and Bob’s car hit him. When Bob got out of his car, he was horrified to see it was a former student of his, probably biking from a night class at the local university. People had stopped and someone had called the police. The student was hurt, had an obviously broken arm and blood coming from his head. Bob felt dizzy and sick. Then an ambulance and the police were there and the student was taken to the hospital. The police talked to people and then handcuffed Bob and put him in the back of a squad car.
After a night in jail, a hungover and remorseful Bob appeared in front of the Judge. His charges were read, Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated causing Serious Bodily Injury, a Class 5 felony. Since Bob had never been in trouble before, the Judge set Bob’s bond at Five Thousand Dollars. When Bob was returned to the jail, he was able to post the bond with a couple of his credit cards.
Bob sat outside of the jail on bench in the shade, his belongings from his arrest in a trash bag at his feet. A pretty little cat had rubbed against Bob’s leg and let him pet her, purring sweetly. Bob realized he had no one to call. He was embarrassed and afraid and didn’t want anyone to know what had happened, but he knew this was an incident that would end up splashed across the newspaper. “Former teacher hits former student with car, student in _______ condition”. Bob wished he could find out how the student was doing, if he was going to be okay. Bob groaned at his stupidity.
Bob knew of a former student that practiced law, Matthew Shelton. He looked up Matthew’s number on his phone and called his office. Miraculously, Matthew was in the office and was able to give Bob some helpful information, as well as telling him that he would represent Bob in his criminal case. After Bob hung up with Matthew, he felt better. It might not be too late to change his life. He would pack a bag and go stay at a treatment facility for alcohol. Bob knew he had to get sober. Matthew said he could also help Bob with straightening out his financial messes, and Bob hoped he would be able to keep his house and get his lights turned back on. He petted the cat, shaking his head. What a mess. He would be completely broke after all this was said and done. Looks like it was a short retirement.
Bob stood and got his bearings so he knew which direction was home. Pack a bag, he thought, go to the treatment facility. He would call the hospital from there, see if he could get any information about his former student. One step at a time, he thought. And he took the first step, the cat trailing behind him.
#WDYS
A Little Bit of Everything, With Love 