can't lead won't follow

won't lead can"t follow

fiction
edward w pritchard

for More on Judge Myers Evans see-the five senses taste, emotion[#6], and sound


can't lead, won't follow
kicked stoutly in the face as a child
beaten timely later
when thirsty sought water
acquired and squirreled
mesmerized by womanhood
preserved
now the Judge was about to forget everything

Myers was the retired Judge down in East Liverpool, Ohio and everyone still nodded when he passed them around town. Many of the younger folks didn't know him anymore

Walking with difficulty hand over hand pulling himself slowly and methodically he climbed the steep steps along side of his garage. Three different relatives had lived up in the second floor room over the years and now his deceased wife niece, Karla's lived up there.

Jen, the niece always called him Mr. Evans and she was surprised he had came up to her apartment for he had never stopped before. He was the consummate gentleman and always respected her privacy and dignity. Jen, was low functioning but capable at times and today she ended up cooking for Uncle Myers and listening to him tell her about weather forecasting. As recently as the time of his Grand Father the technology didn't exist to stay ahead of the weather, Not till the telegraph was it possible to outrun nature.

Mr. Evans also mentioned if she knew of any other Liverpool's, beside the East Liverpool where they lived and the famous Liverpool over in England. Mr. Evans started to tell her about his thoughts on having each Liverpool around the world call or send ahead to the next Liverpool to stay ahead of the weather and nature.

He stopped however, talking about Liverpool because he told her that Karla hadn't been bringing him his water. Jen of course reminded him that her Aunt and his wife was dead now and she missed her too. Myers drank two tall glasses of cold water she brought him.

About two weeks later up on thirty north two young policemen picked up Mr Evans walking up on state route 30 caring an ax handle and when they first approached he had it slung against his shoulder like a soldier carrying a heavy rifle. In confusion he said he was going to Fort Dix New Jersey. He was very thirsty and hadn't remembered about the plan to find 24 Liverpool's, some east some west some just Liverpool, so we could stay ahead of the weather.