Character Sketch - Jolly Hobo

The old man shuffles along the sidewalk, rummaging in his plastic bag. He glances cheerfully from side to side, then down into his sack. What treasures have we here, my sweet? White hair stands out from side to side around his jolly, weathered face, a bit like Frankenstein gone mad. A grey jacket dangles over one arm, his paunch contentedly covered by a half-buttoned plaid shirt. Curly white hair peeks out from where the shirt buttons end. He shuffles some more, his feet shod in scruffy leather shoes. He peers out again, twinkles in his eye. Though he has no home to go to, he is truly satisfied.

Minnie

He took her by the water. It was his favorite place. He had taken her there first when she was seven. Terri was twenty-nine now, and cried as he led her to the sloped rock. She was only doing it to save Minnie, 14 and pregnant. Minnie was the baby of the family, with thick dirty blonde hair and old, innocent blue eyes. She was the catalyst that got her father what he wanted from everyone else – they didn’t want her to be subjected to the same harm, though apparently it had already happened and she was carrying his child. They all hoped it was a boy.

Terri had tried to escape – had moved all the way to Illinois City. But it wasn’t far enough, and since she was gone, of course he desired her more. She entertained dreams of leaving without a word and taking the Greyhound all the way to Sacramento, California, where she’d walk by the sea and imagine flying as one of the gulls.

When he was finished, he asked her if she wanted a ride back to town. It was a long way back to her apartment. She didn’t look up as she nodded. They walked to the house first. Minnie was there, setting out plates for the evening dinner. She smiled to see her, a tired old smile. Her mother was at the stove. She didn’t hear them enter. Terri walked to her side, touching her arm. ‘Hi Mom’, she signed. A bright smile broke across her face. ‘My darling’, she signed. ‘How have you been? Won’t you stay for dinner?’ She turned then, noticing her husband behind. Her smile faded, and she ducked her head as she turned away. ‘Stay if you want to.’ she signed back. ‘I had better go home’, Terri signed. ‘It was good to see you again. Take care of Minnie, and let me know if you ever need anything’. “That’s enough of that,” he declared. “Let’s go.”

He had never learned to sign, though he had promised his bride that he would. He had been translated through her tutor during the entire wooing process, and then when the knot was tied, he’d taken her back to his home, far away from anyone who knew. Terri had learned the basics at a young age from her mother, the rest from an part-time teacher in grade school, who had thought it was good education for children to know how to sign.

He walked out the front door, heavy boots knocking dirt onto the floor. Terri followed. No one waved goodbye. She sat in the front seat, silent, for the entire drive, then when he parked in front of her door, she got out and shut the door without looking back. He drove away, and she stood at her door. Inside was a bottle of aspirin, a half-empty bottle of wine, and a glass, if she chose to wash it. She didn’t, drinking straight from the uncorked top. She showered, then dressed in her favorite pajamas and took a blanket to the couch where she turned on the tv. She wondered if Minnie would end her pregnancy as she had her own, two years older than Minnie. Terri had run away after recovering from her self-inflicted abortion; had run all the way to Illinois city and stayed there, dabbling in drugs and men until one day, at the age of 26, she realized she had better get her life straightened out if she were to help herself or her family.