Leech Hoose, part five

Several nights per week, Leta met Mr. Leech Hoose at a speakeasy located a couple of miles from where she was living with her children Vivian and Dale. She was divorcing her third husband Ora Freeman after several months of extreme unhappiness. While the legal process dragged on, Leta and the children were living in near-poverty, but with the assistance of her family and her own capabilities, they were surviving.

Even so, the tension weighed heavily on Leta. While she adored motherhood, serving as sole provider for two children hurt her heart. The hours she spent with Leech were her respite. They would order drinks and sit at a table in the corner of the establishment, talking about whatever popped into their heads.

On this evening, their conversation was disrupted by an altercation between two other patrons over what appeared to be a bar seat. Leech had casually stated that all boys have a bit of a violent streak in them.

“Not Dale,” Leta responded with a smile about her own son.

“How old is he?” Leech asked. “Thirteen?”

“Twelve,” Leta said.

“Twelve. Thirteen. Doesn’t matter. He’ll grow into it before too long.”

“What do you mean?” Leta inquired.

“You don’t know much about this, Leta,” her companion said with confidence. “I mean, you grew up mostly with sisters, right? Your brothers were older and left when you were small?”

“Yes, but Aaron came back,” Leta clarified.

“As a man.”

Leta nodded.

“So what you don’t know is how boys get when they start turning into men. More aggressive. More physical. They like to start taking charge of things, doing what they want. My old man had so many problems with my brothers and Cedric—and me, too—that it nearly killed him.

“For example,” Leech continued, “my oldest brother—Albert—got into a big ruckus with another fellow over a girl. He was about 18 and still living at home. Both fellows worked at the same place, and there was a young lady there that they both were fond of. She was the owners’ daughter, as I recall, and about sixteen, maybe seventeen—marrying age. One day the other fellow brought her some flowers and gave them to her right in front of my brother. I don’t know if the fellow did it on purpose or he really had feelings for the girl, but what he did set my brother off. Jealous, Protective. Call it what you want. He said something not very nice and then socked the fellow right in the jaw. He didn’t hit him hard enough to knock him out, so the other fellow responded in kind. Soon they were in fist-to-cuffs. Albert was sent home from work early with a fat lip and a black eye. I remember him walking in the house. Mama—that’s what we called our stepmother—fixed him up, but since my old man worked at the same place, he was a bit furious about the whole thing. Albert nearly lost his job. Father had to use a lot of influence to get him off.”

“What happened with the girl?” Leta inquired.

Leech thought for a moment.

“I don’t remember, but I think she was playing around with the both of them boys. And some others even. Not, you know, inappropriately…but toying with each one. I know she didn’t marry Albert.”

“So you think she was responsible?” Leta pressed.

“Look, Leta, all I know is my brother thought she was interested in him, so he responded. That’s how she acted. End of story.”

Leta took a sip of her drink.

To be continued.