Coda to Uncle Bob (Patreon)

Epilogue to Summer with Uncle Bob.

The driveway was full of clutter, and I could see my sister moving between the boxes. She had given me a glance, but given the lack of reaction she obviously didn’t recognized me and assumed I was on my way up the street. As I got closer I recognized some of the stuff from the landfill side of the garage. The start of a late summer yard sale perhaps? I was no more than twenty paces away from her when she stared and her face turned into priceless surprised.

- Lilbro? WHAT THE FUCK! LILBRO!
- Hi sis.

She dove head first into my chest and locked me in a hug.

- Hey, I got dirt from seven states on me.
- What the hell did they do to you? You even walk different. The crate makes so much more sense now?
- I wont tell, and what crate?
- DHL delivered a big crate this morning with lots of a gym stuff. A punching bag too. Dad and I are moving out his junk to set it up. This letter for you was in the box.

She grabbed an envelope and handed it to me. This was a surprise I didn’t see coming, but then that was the theme of the summer. I opened the envelope, and pulled out a card that in beautiful penmanship read “We’re not stupid enough to work on our free time. Bob bought it all for you half a year ago. Stay stupid. /Tom & Sib” At the bottom of the envelope was a leather string coiled into a bunch.

- DAD! Look who’s back!
- Oh! Oh, my… Hello son.
- Hi, dad. You’re a weak ass.
- So I’ve heard. Perhaps you can show me how these things work then?
- Heh. Be right with you.

I emptied the envelope and found an iron pendant with a Taurus zodiac sign on the leather string. I didn’t use to be a Taurus, but I guess that’s me now.

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