The Little Things That Matter

Rupert Gettis was walking through the sloppy rain, as he knew it, on his way to his weekly with his probation officer Nick Adams. Rupert had nothing against Officer Adams, but he was a by the book kind of guy which irritated Rupert. Walking into the cramped officer that always smelled like mold, Rupert greeted Hazel Manfred who was the receptionist with a nice figure, but she was addicted to Diet Coke. Lots of her empties cluttered her desk.

“Hey there Rup.” She greeted him, “Sign in.”

“Sure.” He picked up the pen and scribbled his name on the sign-in sheet.

“How have ya been? Hazel asked even though Rupert knew she didn’t give a crap.

“Keeping cool.” He shrugged before sitting in one of leather chairs with the cracked veneer. “Wet outside.”

“It’s the rainy season.” She smacked her gum.

“Hey Rupert.” Officer Adams walked out of his office with an empty coffee cup. He piercing blue eyes and thin muscular build made him look like the part. “I’ll be with you in a sec.”

“No hurry.” Rupert shrugged.

Three years ago, Rupert was convicted of a B. and E. which got him three years in the state penitentiary, but his lawyer cut the sentence with the condition of community service. It didn’t matter to him what the service would be as long as he was out of the pen.

“C’mon in.” Officer Adams stood at the door to his tiny office holding a folder.

“So, what’s up?” He sat int the folding chair in front of Adams’ desk that was cluttered beyond redemption. “So how have you been?”

Rupert knew Adams really didn’t give a crap either, but it was social protocol.

“I just wanna know what community service you got for me.” Rupert eyes were fixed on his work boots.

“I have a position at El Camino Retirement Community.” A hint of a smile curled Adams’ lips.

“Old folks home?” Rupert was closing in becoming a senior citizen in a few years himself.

“Could have you shoveling shit in the sewer.” Adams folded his hands on his desk and rested his chin on his knuckles.

“Depends on whacha wan’ me to do.” He leaned back in the warped chair.

“Yes or no?” Adams spread his hands.

“Yes.” Rupert blew air between his clenched teeth.

“Sign here. El Camino would love to have you.” Adamis watched Rupert sign his name on the document. “Mr. Keaton will be your supervisor. You will report for work at Oh-seven-hundred. Here’s the sheet you will give him.”

“Super.” Rupert could really lay on the sarcasm, but Adams was used to it.

The next morning at the Rayfield Boarding House, Rupert’s alarm failed to go off. He knew that his alarm clock was undependable, but he hustled and was able to catch city transit that got him to El Camino a few minutes later. No biggie. Except Mr. Keaton was ex-military and he called Rupert into his office.

“You were supposed to be here five minutes ago.” He showed Rupert his watch.

“I apologize Mr. Keaton.” He hung his head.

“I expect you to be here on time or I will not count you time.” He explained. The sheet Adams had given Rupert; in turn Rupert gave Mr. Keaton to keep track of his community service hours. When he looked at the sheet, it did not seem so bad.

“You need to turn the sheet over.” Mr. Keaton rolled his eyes.

When Rupert turned the sheet over, he saw another page doubling what he saw on the other side. He sighed deeply since he now had twice the hours he thought he had.

“I suggest you start on your list of daily duties.” Mr. Keaton handed Rupert another piece of paper where all the tasks he was to perform daily was listed. Vacuum was the first thing listed.

“Where is the vacuum?” He asked.

“In the utility closet over there.” Mr. Keaton pointed, “You will need to ask Miss Kinsey for the key.”

“Who is Miss Kinsey?” Rupert was getting a bit frustrated, but he knew better than to show it or he would wind up on a road crew which he did not want. On a road crew some of his homies might see him in the bright orange suit picking up trash on the side of the road.

“She is at the reception desk.” He once again pointed. She was the one who had checked him at the front desk. She seemed rather abrupt and condescending when he walked into El Camino.

“Miss Kinsey” He stood in front of her at the reception desk.

“You?” She stared at him, “Wha duya need?”

“Keys to get the vacuum cleaner.” He shuffled his feet overcome with a feeling as if he was not welcome in this place.

There was a woman sitting in one of the chairs reading a magazine. When he looked at her, the woman turned her head away.

“I will open the door for you.” Miss Kensey dangled the keys in her hand. It looked like there were at least twenty keys on the metal ring. She strutted out from behind the desk, “Follow me.”

Her brusque tone told Rupert, she was not to be messed with or questioned. He followed her to the hallway where there was a locked door she opened after giggling the key. When she managed to open the door, he saw an old vacuum cleaner that hat seen better days.

“Here ya go.” She exhaled, “Whacha name?”

“Gettis, but mos’ folks call me Rupert.” He smiled, but she did not return his smile.

“Alright Rupert. Whanya done lets me know.”

“Yes-um.” He took the vacuum down the hall.

“Ya’all needs to start here.” She pointed.

He just nodded as he searched for an electrical outlet.

“Use da one over there.” She pointed to an outlet that was scorched in places.

“Bes’ be careful.” She offered half a smile, “Sometime this old thing may spark.”

“Thank you for the heads-up.” He nodded as he plugged the cord into the outlet. No sparks this time. He pushed the on switch and the beast came to life with a very loud groan.

“What the hell?” An old woman came scurrying out of her room, “Who told you to vacuum?”

“It be on my list.” Rupert was taken by surprise at the elderly woman’s ire.

“On your list? Are you kidding me?” She howled, “You must be new here.”

Rupert felt her finger jab him in the chest. Her bony finger was sharp and seemed to push its way to his heart.

“Quicha jabbin’ me with that finger.” Rupert stepped back.

“Ain’t no darkie gonna tell me what to do in my home.” She hissed.

“Miss, you ‘n’ me is gonna have a problem if ya keep this up.” He let her know in no uncertain terms she was not going to push him around.

“What is your name, darkie?” She folded her arms across her chest. She wasn’t very substantial as she was rather thin and frail.

“Please call me black. I ain’ no darkie like my grandpa.” He leaned over her since he was over a foot taller than she was. “My name is Rupert and while I am doin’ comm-un-nity service, you shall address me as such.”

Her expression changed a bit since he pushed back on her. Something she was not used to in her seven years at El Comino. She took note of his size and volume of his bark. No, he was someone you didn’t want to mess with.

“Rupert, eh?” She pursed her thin colorless lips, “You on a work released?”

He stood there with his head tilted. Swallowing hard, he answered, “Yes-um.”

“What did you do?” He squinted like a gunslinger.

Rupert hesitated again, “Breakin’ and enterin.’”

“So, you went into someone’s house that wasn’t your own, did ya?” She tilted her head as if she was a judge about to sentence him.

“Yeah, I did that.” Rupert admitted.

“When you were using that fan-dangled contraption,” She pointed to the vacuum, “I was disturbed from my morning prayers.”

“Sorry.” He felt as if he needed to apologize to her. His grandma used to have a “quiet time” when she would pray for the souls of all of her friends. She had quite a list since she was over eighty.

“You don’t seem like a bad sort.” She shrugged, “Did you learn your lesson?”

Rupert closed his eyes remembering when the judge looked at him with disdain and derision when he stood before the bench awaiting his sentencing. He learned that the color of his skin was often the reason for his misfortune. His mother died from working in a factory where she inhaled toxic fumes, but nobody ever mentioned anything of a compensation. The chemicals that killed her would be sent overseas to kill an invisible enemy who hid in the jungles of Vietnam. Yes, he learned that he did not matter.

“Yes-um.” He nodded, because any other answer was not acceptable.

“My name is Rose Marsella.” She turned her head for a moment, “I am a prisoner here.”

He wanted to chuckle, because she had no idea what prison was really like.

“When my husband died, my son felt it was best for me if I went to a place with full-time medical care.” She shook her head, “He was wrong, but he was an attorney and he knew how to get what he wanted. I spoke out hearing, but nobody listened to me.”

Rupert no longer felt he was going to chuckle. He saw that there were different kinds of confinement, none of them were just or right.

“Ma’am…Rose I am sorry.” He bowed his head.

“I thank you for that. It’s more than my ungrateful son ever said to me.” She wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

“Hey boy!” Mr. Keaton called out as he tromped down the hall, “You have a list of things that need to be done if you’re going to get signed off for the day.”

Rupert remember the page filled out on the back and front. If he didn’t get signed off, he might spend a few years in this place. Rose glared at Mr. Keaton.

“He was vacuuming and I told him not to. He should be in the kitchen mopping the floor.” She said articulating the order of his list. “The kitchen staff leaves at seven. What time do you get here, Rupert.”

“I’m supposed to be here at eight.” He answered.

“Eight? How about seven.” Mr. Keaton shook in frustration. “I can arrange that you know.”

“Do us a favor, Mr. Keaton, go back and hide in your office.” She pointed down the hall.

“Rose, don’t you get in on this, because this is between me and Mr. Gettis.” He pointed his finger at Rose as if it were a pistol.

“Please, go back and finish your game of solitaire on your computer.” She shook her head while Mr. Keaton shook with rage. With a final “huff” he turned on his heel and walked back down the hall in a tiff. “You see Rupert, you’ve got to know how to handle them at times.”

“You is one bad lady.” His smile spread across his face.

“When you a mother to three sons, you have to learn how to deal with them even when one of them turns out to be a jerk.” She smiles and shakes her head, “You must pay attention to the little things that matter. Like my husband Curly who was always in pursuit of the big things he was going to do. Big things. He wanted to be like his brother who always bragged about the big things he was doing, but that man never did half of what he told Curly he did. When the end came, Curly told me he could have done better, but I just stroked his cheek and told him how special he was to me. He just smiled and closed his eyes and never woke up. I am glad I told him what I did before he went away.”

As big as he was, Rupert could not keep the tears from falling down over his cheeks.

“It’s the little things, I tell ya.” She shook her head, “That you will remember when you come to the end.”

Rupert reached out and took her hand which startled her at first, but when she saw his tears she smiled.

Rupert was surprised when Officer Adams appeared next to him.

“Hey Gettis.” He smiled, “I heard you have caused a disruption here.”

“How so, sir?” There was no hiding his befuddled expression.

“Yeah, Mr. Keaton called me a few minutes ago. I wasn’t busy so I figured I come over and see what’s going on.” Adamas smiled with a toothpick tucked in the corner of his mouth. Rupert could not see what is eyes were saying as he wore his mirrored sunglasses.

“I ain’ done nothin’ that man says I done.” His temper instantly spilled out of him.

“I know how things are with you.” He shook his head, “You like to play by your own rules, but you haven’t realized when you do that, you wind up getting yourself in trouble.”

“I ain’t done nothin.’” He shook his head wildly, “I ain’ done it.”

“Don’t lie.” Mr. Keaton was there to interject, “You refuse to do what I asked you to do. I need this place cleaned and kept to code. That’s why I gave you that list, but have you done anything other than talk to Rose Maarsella. You are not supposed to engage with our patients.”

“Why not?” Rose stepped forward.

“Because he is a criminal. A dangerous man.” Mr. Keaton’s face was scarlet red at this point.

“Hey buddy, take it easy. I don’t want any altercations.” Officer Adams stepped in front of Mr. Keaton.

“So am I to understand once someone breaks the law, they are automatically considered a dangerous person?” She pushed by Officer Adams to face Mr. Keaton. “Mr. Gettis has been a complete gentleman unlike you are being right now.”

“Rose, I am tired of your haranguing me about things that don’t concern you.”

“I live here, Mr. Keaton, you don’t.” Her voice became a harsh whisper. “I watch you get in your car and drive away from this place.”

“I have a home.” He countered.

“And so do I. It’s right here thanks to a court order.” She squinted and tilted her head.

“I should have you arrested.” Mr. Keaton glanced at Officer Adams.

“You ain’ gonna do nothin’ like that to her.” Rupert pinned the smaller man to the wall. Try as he might, he could not wiggle free.

“Let me go!” Mr. Keaton screamed as Officer Adams grabbed Rupert.

Rupert grunted when he let go of Mr. Keaton.

“You are fired.” Mr. Keaton pointed at Rupert when he was able to get himself free.

“You can’t fire him. He isn’t employed by you.” Officer Adams laughed. “I will reassign him to another community service.”

“I want him gone now!” Mr. Keaton’s face was burning red.

“C’mon Rupert, let’s go have a word, shall we?” He smiled.

By now Rupert had calmed down a bit. He just nodded. As he stepped away, he glanced over at Rose who was standing there like a statue with her eyes wide open.

“Can I have a word with her?” He asked Officer Adams.

Officer Adams glanced over at Rose who was quite shaken and then he glanced at Mr. Keaton who was trembling.

“Sure.” He smiled.

“Rose, I wants to say sorry.” He took her hand.

“Rupert, you have nothing to be sorry for.” She bowed her head.

“I wanna thank ya for whacha tol’ me.” He shook his head as tears continued to run down his face, “You done more than mos’ folks ever did fo’ me. I hasta thank ya. They gonna put me on a roadside team where I won’t hurts nobody.”

“It’s okay.” She assured him. “Stop in sometime when you have a chance and we can have some tea.”

“Tea ain’t my beverages.” He chuckled as he let go of her hand, “But I’s gonna stop in.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” She waved as he left with Officer Adams. Mr. Keaton watched both of them leave out the front door of El Camino.

True to his word, Rupert walked into El Camino with a hand full of freshly cut flowers.

“Can I help you?” The receptionist asked.

“I came to see Rose Marsella. These flowers are for her.” He smiled.

A troubled expression overtook the receptionist’s face. “I’m sorry sir, but Rose passed away last week.”

Rupert bowed his head, “I see.”

“I’m sorry.” The receptionist shook her head.

“Nothin’ ya can do ‘bout it.” He said as he walked out of the building. He hailed a taxi to take him to the cemetery. Checking in with the office at the cemetery, he was able to find where Rose’s grave was. Taking a knee near the freshly dug soil, he put the flowers there.

“I ain’ never prayed since my mama died, but I ain’ never saw no one like you.” He sniffed as the tears began to fall on the dirt, “I learnt that little things does matter. Thank ya for tellin’ me that, Rose Marsella. I ain’ never gonna forgit that.”

The rain began to fall mixing the soil with his tears.