Sun Chasers

Elijah and Caleb stewed in the Mississippi heat. Merciless humidity, teenage hormones, last night’s beers. The brothers sat on the porch swing, sweltering in the hot, heavy air. Oily sweat, salty and sour on their lips, coated their bodies. They had to be out of the house, so they didn’t reek up the place their mother said.

“God, I could use a beer,” said Caleb.

“Listen to you,” replied Elijah, “Thirteen goin’ on thirty.”

“Yeah, but still.”

“You’d be too lazy to git up an’ go get one even if you had the money for one.”

There was a dramatic pause, and then in unison, “And one wouldn’t do!” followed by a fist bump, a short laugh, and a sigh.

It was a slow Saturday, phones confiscated for breaking curfew and smelling like beer, nothing going on worth the effort to move. Until a supernatural intervention unfolded.

The Woods boys felt the rumble in their throats before they heard it, before it was real and before their eyes. The throaty purr of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, glossy white body, double scoop, spoilers, custom wheels, the works. They didn’t have to guess who was at the wheel. Only the notorious Sonny “Sundown” Williams drove a beast like that in this town. And there it was, pulling up to the trailer next door where the Baker girls lived.

Tina Baker, the eldest, came sprinting out in a halter top and short shorts, the most eyed candy of the trailer park. That’s how Sonny had it, pretty girls sprinting to him. She said something to Sonny and then ran back inside the trailer house. He did not look happy. If the boys had any vocabulary, they would have said he looked resigned.

The brothers were still stunned that Sonny was parked nearly in front of their trailer when the unthinkable happened. He called them over. The scene replayed in the boys' minds before they moved. Sonny rolled down his window, took off his Panama hat and waved them over with it.

“Hey, guys, c’mere.”

When they didn’t move immediately, Sonny repeated the invitation more slowly.

“Yeeeees, I’m talking to youuuuu. Come here a second.”

Elijah and Caleb stood reflexively and went down off their porch into the direct sun. The sunlight had weight. The heat hit palpably, it landed and baked. They moved through the muggy air, breathing with effort. Finally, they arrived in front of the driver’s seat window.

“Hi guys. Nice of you to make it. Look, the girls are going to make me wait, can you believe it? In this heat? So, I want you to go to the corner store there and get some cold brews. We can chat and have a drink while we wait.”

Sonny produced a roll of bills, peeled off a fifty and handed it to Elijah.

“Now, if they give you any hassle tell them I sent you and if they make me come get it myself I’m not going to be happy. Got it? Good. Now don’t keep me waiting like a couple of girls”

Elijah and Caleb did a fast-walk to the corner store. Pulses, racing.

“I can’t believe it,” said Caleb.

“Ask and ye shall receive,” replied Elijah.

“What?”

“You asked God for a beer. Now this.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Jus’ shut up and let’s get through this.”

The clerk was angry with the boys for even touching the beer.

“Put that shit back! I know you Eli, you just got your Driver’s Permit!”

Elijah placed the short case of beer and fifty-dollar bill on the counter.

“Look man, Sonny told us to pick this up for him. It’s not even for us. He said if he has to come down and get it himself, he’s goin’ to be pissed.

“Don’t believe me? Check it out, you can see him from here.”

The clerk grabbed the beer and took a quick look out the window. His jaw dropped open a little.

“You’re bullshitting me.”

“Like hell. Where do you think I got the fifty?”

“Oh, shit. I’m going to get in so much trouble over this.”

“Trouble is sittin’ in that Charger.”

The clerk panicked. He placed the beer back on the counter.

“All right, get the fuck outta here. I’ll just say you stole it. And take that money with you.”

Elijah grabbed the beer and the bill and headed out the door, Caleb at his heels. They quick-walked back to Sonny.

“Good work gents. Hey, you didn’t get the cheap stuff. Great. Keep the change.”

Sonny popped a can and took a swig. He handed Elijah two cans. Elijah handed one to Caleb.

“Drink up boys.”

Elijah and Caleb looked around.

“Worried about being seen. I get it. That’s good. It means you’re thinkin’, anticipatin’.

“But it’s also bad. See, you’re lettin’ people control you. You don’t even know if anyone is even lookin’.

“So drink up boys, before it gets warm.

Caleb didn’t hesitate. He popped his can and took a swig. The miracle elixir started working as soon as it hit the back of his throat. It was so good, Caleb thought.

Elijah followed suit, popped his beer, and drifted with the first slug. The sweat and sun beating down forgotten for one brief, blissful swallow.

“That’s the spirit. Sorry to keep you standin’. But I can’t afford to have you drinkin’ in my ride. You don’t mind, do ya?

The boys shook their heads emphatically. They didn’t mind. They were drinking for free with the gangster of Greenburgh, fifty dollars richer.

“You boys smoke?” asked Sonny.

The boys shrugged their shoulders in habitual unison.

“Well I smoke. Keeps things mellow. Ya’ know?” Sonny said, producing a joint from his center console, lighting it up and passing it to Elijah.

Elijah took a hit, he’d done this before, and passed it to Caleb. Caleb took a tiny puff, not wanting to splurf in Sonny’s presence, and held the joint out for him.

“Nah, you keep that. You got sweat on your fingertips. Sorry about that. Here, have another beer and cool off.”

Elijah and Caleb swapped their empties for new beers and split the rest of the joint. Sonny pulled out a second joint, lit up, and started to hold forth.

“This is a special celebration, gentlemen. I’m goin’ to chase the sun. Goin’ to follow it to see where it goes to rest each day. California.

“Yeah, goin’ to leave all this behind. Go make the big time.

“You ever get out that way, look me up. I’ll take good care of you for takin’ good care of me.”

Sonny raised his can out the window for a toast. The boys touched cans.

With perfect timing, the Baker girls came out of their trailer and got in the car without a word. They didn’t even look at the Woods brothers. Sonny handed the rest of the half case to Elijah.

“You take care of that and have yourselves a great day,” said Sonny.

Sonny and the girls drove off past the corner store. Elijah and Caleb went back to the porch swing.

They put the remainder of the short case under the swing, eased back and floated, drifting in their own dreamworlds. Their bodies were still hot and humid, but it was all far from their minds.

“Eli,” said Caleb, “I wanna see where the sun goes to rest.”

“Yeah, me too, brother,” replied Elijah, “Me too.”