The Visit

- Any plans for the holidays this year Jim?

- Not this year, Bon. Mary’s got her heart set on a ‘Christmas staycay’ as she calls it, get the grandkids round, maybe pitch up a tent in the back yard, watch the stars. Bit cold, if y’ask me, and I prefer real campin’ anyways, but Mary’s put her foot down as she always does. Kids are too young to go out in the woods late at night. Huh. Goes on about bears or wolves or sumthin’, but I ain’t never seen no bears or wolves in these ‘ere parts.

- Me neither. ‘Course… it’s been a while since I been able to go out camping or fishing or anything I used to like doing when I was a young ‘un. But time waits for no one. I know that better than anybody.

- You do, Bon. You do. That’s for damn sure. But listen, how ‘bout them summers we spent up at the lake huh. Remember them? We were barely out o’ shorts back then. Thinking we was all that and then sum, ogling the out of town girls that had come down for a day’s swimmin’. The water was so clear back then, not like it is now with all them tourists and pollution and sum such. See-through like glass it was. Could see the fishes and plants right down to the bottom. Not like it is now, no sirree, can barely see past the surface now. A damn shame, that’s what it is.

- That’s right, Jim, but like I said, time waits for no one. Everythin’ changes and everyone grows old. I know that better than anybody.

- You sure do, Bon. You for damn sure do. Hey, how ‘bout prom night! ‘Member that? Damn, when I saw you and Abeline together I knew right there and then y’all’d be getting married one day. Ain’t never seen no one look at a girl the way you looked at her that night. And wasn’t I right, Bon? Goddamn best lookin’ couple this side of West Texas.

- You were, Jim. You were always right ‘bout a lot o’ things. Only asked you to be best man at my wedding ‘cause I thought you were sum kind o’ oracle or sumthin’, like a good luck charm or sum such. Way you always seemed to know things.

- Nuthin’ to do with us bein’ best pals then, you ol’ sumbitch?

- Naw, I’d just as soon bite a bug as hang around wi’ you, Jim, you know that. As it was, I just had no one else to ask, is all. Didn’t want to let Bella down on her big day with a groom and no best man. She’d put her heart and soul into that wedding, sewing the bridesmaids dresses with her own fair hands. Nuthin’ she ever turned her hand to she couldn’t do. Cookin’ too! Best damn chicken fried and pecan pie this side o’ Texas. Could do with sum o’ that right about now. You’ve tasted her pecan pie, ain’t you Jim?

- Sure have, Bon. Never tasted any better. My Mary, God bless her heart, she can’t bake for shit. Burns everything she touches. But your Bella’s pecan pie… could always eat that till I was full as a tick on a hound dog.

- Anyways, Jim, looks like the sun’s gone started to set. Be dark soon. You know how quickly night falls this time o’ year. You best git on now, you hear. Ain’t you got nowhere better to be?

- Well, I was fixin’ to meet with the president at the White House today. Mary got her Sunday best out for it and everything. But he’s not available, so guess you’ll have to do.

- You’d beat a guy senseless and tell God he fell of a horse, Jim. But kiddin’ aside, ‘preciate you bein’ here. As you know, the good Lord never saw fit to bless me and Bella with kids or grandkids of our own, so’s nice to have your company today. After Bella, well, with her gone to meet her maker a few years back… is just been mighty lonely at times, is all.

- Sure can ‘preciate that, Bon, and, hand on heart, maybe I should’ve made more effort to stop by more often. But you know how it is with work and kids and grandkids… the good wife wantin’ you home in time for Sunday supper… Anyways, I should’ve called on you more than I did, is what I’m tryin’ to say.

- ‘S A’right, Jim. I get it. Life takes you by the hand and runs with you. I know that.

- Well… I’m still sorry for it.

- You’ve got nuthin’ to ‘pologize for old friend.

- That’s mighty nice of you to say. How you feelin’ anyways? Anything I can do for you while I’m here?

- Nuthin’ I can think of, but thank you kindly all the same. I just feel mighty sleepy all of a sudden. Can hardly keep my eyes open. You won’t think too badly on me if I take a nap, would ya? I know it don’t exactly make me good company, but boy, don’t think wild cattle could keep me awake right now.

- ‘S Alright, Bon, you close your eyes now. Don’t you worry ‘bout me. I’ll be just fine right here.

- D’ya mind sitting with me a while, Jim?

- Ain’t going anywhere, Bon.

- You’re… a good pal… Jim. Always… have been good… to me.

- And you, Bon.

  …

  Bon?

  Bonham?

  Doc, you better come in here! It’s Bonham…

  Is this it, doc? Is he…?

- I’m so sorry, Jim. ‘fraid he’s passed on. D’you know if there is any other next of kin? Anyone we can notify? He never got any other visitors ‘sides you.

- There’s no one left ‘sides me. Me and my wife will handle his affairs.

- That’s mighty good of you, Jim. Thanks for being here for him these past few days. I know for a fact he took a lot o’ comfort in that.

- I sure hope so, doc. I best be going now.

  God speed, Bonham. Been a pleasure knowing you.