Crooked Hearts

The summer I was 11,

I was desperately in love with the waitress in Hale's Cafe.

Her name was Jennetta.

I thought she was beautiful but there was something beyond that,

something magical about her,

the way there is about some movie stars.

How're you guys doing? You need more coffee?

Sure.

It was a wasted summer in every other way.

My little brother Ask and I spent every morning down at Hale's

drinking Cokes while I mooned over Jennetta.

There was a night that summer when my brother, Charley,

got stuck babysitting Ask and me.

Charley had plans that night

and he wasn't about to break them just to look after us.

So he did something we could never have imagined.

He offered to take us with him

and he made us swear we wouldn't tell Mom and Dad.

So, boys,

got any chicks lined up for tonight?

Yeah, sure, Limber.

Yeah, right.

You'd just better not be hitting on mine.

Charley's moods were up and down that whole summer.

We were moving across the country to Tacoma, Washington.

My dad was fed up with teaching

and he was going into business with a friend.

Charley was angry at having to miss his

senior year in high school with his friends.

Charley had always seemed mysterious to Ask and me.

He was our brother but he was older.

His world was different from ours.

And even when he wasn't angry about moving,

his moods had a way of surprising you,

sometimes good, sometimes bad.

And you never knew which was coming.

You guys want a beer?

Sure.

Be cool about it.

Very smooth.

A couple of dudes in the back seat.

Where you buttheads been?

What's going on?

Jennetta's in there dancing with anything that moves.

Oh, boy.

Okay, I'm going to go inside and check out the girls.

If there's any left over, I'll bring some out for you guys.

Okay.

Don't let anybody see you drinking that beer, okay?

I'm gonna go take a look.

You'd better not.

How've you been?

Great.

Want to dance?

Fuck you.

I was embarrassed by what Charley had said

but Jennetta said she understood

and that Charley was just upset.

She asked when we were moving.

She made me promise to write to her.

And then she did a funny thing.

She kissed me.

On the lips, too.

And I wished Ask had seen it because I knew he'd never believe me.

And then Charley came.

Tom!

Well, bye.

See you tomorrow.

Yeah.

How come you said that to Jennetta?

She wants me to deliver a message to Dad.

What message?

She said to tell him

that she'll wait for him to work things out.

Bull.

No bull.

What the hell happened to Jennetta, Charley? I missed my dance.

What's wrong?

We moved to Washington later that summer,

although it seemed like a waste of effort.

My father sold his business after a year and went back to teaching.

No one ever spoke of that night at Hale's again.

And after a while, the memory of it faded.

And there were times I couldn't swear to you that it really happened.

Sometimes I think being a kid is like that.

The things that happen are like in a dream.

Then you get older and you wake up

and you see them in a different, clearer way.

And you hope it's not too late to matter.

Hey, I was gonna pick you up at the bus station.

I had a little money for a cab.

Yeah, well, welcome home.

How you doing?

Okay.

Let me grab this.

What have you got in these things? Books.

Yeah? Yeah, here.

Thanks.

God, you look great. Berkeley hasn't changed you a bit.

So, what's up?

It's good to be home.

There's not going to be a party, is there?

Hi, Tom.

Hey, Ma.

Oh, let me see you.

Hey, put his luggage away. It looks like he's leaving.

Hey. Don't you eat? You look skinny.

Oh, he does not.

Hey, Dad. Hey.

Well, listen, I have some things

to finish in the kitchen, okay?

Would you get Cassie? I think she's upstairs.

Sure.

Edward, would you and Ask move the furniture, please?

We're almost ready.

Yeah, let's just slide the couch back against the wall.

Okay. Well, let's get the table first.

Leave that suitcase, Tom. I'll get that one.

Okay.

Where's Charley?

I think he's getting the beer.

Tom here yet? Yeah.

Yeah, he just got in. He's waking up Cassie.

No, he isn't.

Charley, is all that gonna fit?

We'll just have to throw out the food.

Yeah, right, and walk back up with a few brewskies, right?

Let me have one. Keep your hands off.

I'm gonna get it.

Stop it.

Come in.

Hi.

Thanks.

So?

What happened?

Couldn't dig in.

Was it because of Eileen?

Maybe.

Hey.

You know anything about this letter?

No, did she send you a letter?

Sort of.

Are you gonna see her?

What for?

To talk.

Ask, she's married to Sam Crawford. She's pregnant.

What am I going to talk to her about?

You could talk. Look, communication never hurts.

Tom, get down here!

Hi, honey, come on. Party time.

Charley. How are you?

Welcome to hard times.

Hey, come on, Charley! Will you please put me down? Hey!

Cassie's cake.

Cassie.

Looks great, Cassie.

You made a cake?

I made it for you.

Come on, Ask.

Does everybody have a drink?

Happiness.

Well, I believe I last stood here

to commemorate the scientific achievements

of our own Askew Warren, whose volcano project had just exploded,

spewing forth a rich brown lava,

redecorating the entire science laboratory.

Thank you. Thank you.

And before that, if I'm not mistaken,

we celebrated Cassie's performance in the school play.

Yes, I meant to do that, Dad.

When she forgot her lines and decided her character should die on stage.

It was a noble death.

And it shortened the play. Oh, Cassie.

And in that spirit, we welcome Tom Warren.

Go, Tom! Home from school.

Yeah, come on, Tom.

Before a single year has elapsed,

just a few weeks shy of his final exams.

He puts us in mind of the great man who once said,

"Half the failures in life arise from

"pulling in one's horse as he's leaping."

That's Tom.

Let the banner fall.

"You must know home to be a traveler."

What does it mean, Ask? Please?

Come on, it means what it says.

Uh-huh.

It's philosophical.

The Warrens!

The Warrens! Yeah!

To the Warrens. The Warrens.

The Warrens.

Ask, dance!

You're crazy.

I'm going to put this somewhere very safe.

In my arms, sashay...

Oh, Charley.

What are you doing?

Bonita, this is my brother, Tom.

Tom, this is Bonita.