the rest of your natural life. Both are felonies, sir.”
The color completely drained from Billy Joe’s ruddy face, and he looked like he might pass out at any moment. He gulped, and tried to find his voice. “Uh, I didn’t mean to be doing all of that, and I didn’t mean no harm to nobody. I jus needed money. Please, don’t put me in jail, I’m sorry Ma’am, I truly am.”
Derek had listened to enough of Billy Joe and Dottie to see that they were not in this together. Billy Joe had apparently acted without her knowledge. He just had to make Billy Joe see the seriousness of the situation he had created to keep him from going further.
“Did you discuss this with anyone?”
“Eh, nope, nobody.”
“Did anyone help you write the letter?”
“Nope, I d id that by myself.” Billy Joe hung his head, avoiding Dottie's dagger-like looks.
“Now Mr. Thompson, I think you do understand that you could be in a lot of trouble. I would advise you to say nothing to anyone about this, to protect yourself and your family. You going to prison wouldn’t be good for anyone here.”
Billy shook his head, “No sir.”
Dottie was still fuming, but at least was thinking, “Everyone around here saw your car, they probably saw you get out of your car. It’s a small town, tongues wag, we will have to come up with somethin’ to say to ‘em.”
Shelly looked at Dorothy, “Who was the no account friend you were talking about when we got here?”
Dorothy sighed, “Billy Joe’s best friend, Tim. He’s in an out of jail more than we can keep up with.”
Light dawned in Billy Joe's eyes, “Well, I reckon, if anyone does ask, we’ll tell ‘em y’all were here looking for Tim.”
“Good thinking, Mr. Thompson.”
Shelly spoke again. “ I feel bad for you folks. I can see that you could use a helping hand. I want to help you, but, you have to understand that this is a one-time gift. I’m going to keep that letter you sent to me as insurance. If you ever ask for help, or try to extort me or anyone else again, I will make sure your letter gets into the hands of the proper authorities. Do I make myself clear?”
Billy Joe looked carefully at the people in his living room before he answered, “Yes Ma'am, I understand.”
Dottie stepped forward, “Miz Shepard, I can guarantee you, he won’t be a botherin’ you no more. I promise.”
Shelly nodded, opened her purse, pulled out a plain white envelope, and handed it to Billy Joe, “I have your word?”
“Yes, Ma’am, you have my word.”
Shelly released her hold on the envelope, closed her purse and turned toward Dorothy. She wondered if this woman was really one of her sisters… she believed she probably was. Poor thing, life had not been kind to her, and that broke Shelly’s heart. Shelly remembered that she had always been glued to Shelly’s side, never letting her out of her sight for more than a moment at a time. She felt remorse and guilt, but there was nothing more she could do right now. Shelly smiled at her and took her hand, “Dorothy, please see about getting some aid, or perhaps some training. I know there are programs out there that give help to displaced workers, please check into it.”
She looked back at Billy Joe, her expression hardening. “Goodbye, Mr. Thompson.” Then she turned to the others. “Let’s go.” Vani held her hand as they walked back to the SUV. All five of them opened their doors and got in without a word, and they didn’t look back.
Nobody spoke until they were on the plane. Alex wondered if Shelly thought Dottie might be her sister, but didn't ask. In a small community, everyone was likely to have known the names of the mother and her children , so Dorothy was as likely a candidate to be her sister as anyone else in the town named Dorothy. Everyone gave Shelly her space. Emotional encounters like the one she had just experienced were difficult for anyone, it would take her a few
The color completely drained from Billy Joe’s ruddy face, and he looked like he might pass out at any moment. He gulped, and tried to find his voice. “Uh, I didn’t mean to be doing all of that, and I didn’t mean no harm to nobody. I jus needed money. Please, don’t put me in jail, I’m sorry Ma’am, I truly am.”
Derek had listened to enough of Billy Joe and Dottie to see that they were not in this together. Billy Joe had apparently acted without her knowledge. He just had to make Billy Joe see the seriousness of the situation he had created to keep him from going further.
“Did you discuss this with anyone?”
“Eh, nope, nobody.”
“Did anyone help you write the letter?”
“Nope, I d id that by myself.” Billy Joe hung his head, avoiding Dottie's dagger-like looks.
“Now Mr. Thompson, I think you do understand that you could be in a lot of trouble. I would advise you to say nothing to anyone about this, to protect yourself and your family. You going to prison wouldn’t be good for anyone here.”
Billy shook his head, “No sir.”
Dottie was still fuming, but at least was thinking, “Everyone around here saw your car, they probably saw you get out of your car. It’s a small town, tongues wag, we will have to come up with somethin’ to say to ‘em.”
Shelly looked at Dorothy, “Who was the no account friend you were talking about when we got here?”
Dorothy sighed, “Billy Joe’s best friend, Tim. He’s in an out of jail more than we can keep up with.”
Light dawned in Billy Joe's eyes, “Well, I reckon, if anyone does ask, we’ll tell ‘em y’all were here looking for Tim.”
“Good thinking, Mr. Thompson.”
Shelly spoke again. “ I feel bad for you folks. I can see that you could use a helping hand. I want to help you, but, you have to understand that this is a one-time gift. I’m going to keep that letter you sent to me as insurance. If you ever ask for help, or try to extort me or anyone else again, I will make sure your letter gets into the hands of the proper authorities. Do I make myself clear?”
Billy Joe looked carefully at the people in his living room before he answered, “Yes Ma'am, I understand.”
Dottie stepped forward, “Miz Shepard, I can guarantee you, he won’t be a botherin’ you no more. I promise.”
Shelly nodded, opened her purse, pulled out a plain white envelope, and handed it to Billy Joe, “I have your word?”
“Yes, Ma’am, you have my word.”
Shelly released her hold on the envelope, closed her purse and turned toward Dorothy. She wondered if this woman was really one of her sisters… she believed she probably was. Poor thing, life had not been kind to her, and that broke Shelly’s heart. Shelly remembered that she had always been glued to Shelly’s side, never letting her out of her sight for more than a moment at a time. She felt remorse and guilt, but there was nothing more she could do right now. Shelly smiled at her and took her hand, “Dorothy, please see about getting some aid, or perhaps some training. I know there are programs out there that give help to displaced workers, please check into it.”
She looked back at Billy Joe, her expression hardening. “Goodbye, Mr. Thompson.” Then she turned to the others. “Let’s go.” Vani held her hand as they walked back to the SUV. All five of them opened their doors and got in without a word, and they didn’t look back.
Nobody spoke until they were on the plane. Alex wondered if Shelly thought Dottie might be her sister, but didn't ask. In a small community, everyone was likely to have known the names of the mother and her children , so Dorothy was as likely a candidate to be her sister as anyone else in the town named Dorothy. Everyone gave Shelly her space. Emotional encounters like the one she had just experienced were difficult for anyone, it would take her a few
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