Chapter 5

 

 

The water splashing in the creek running along the base of Montgomery Mountain weaved a singularly odd trail through the countryside around Bryantsville. It was formed in such a way as to be accessible on three sides of the town, placed in the center of a gigantic arch the deep creek made through the land.

 

 

 

The laundress for Tent City had taken ill, meaning that everyone was doing their own laundry at odd times and in odd places.

 

 

 

Manny didn’t particularly mind doing his own laundry. The only problem that presented itself was that he had never done it before. Despite his circumstances, he’d always managed to find a woman to wash his clothes for him.

 

 

 

He was sure after a few tries he could manage it. He just needed to watch and see what everyone else was doing.

 

 

 

That would have been a lot easier for him if he’d tried going to the creek when there would frequently be others there doing it. Specifically, women, who tended to have more experience than the men.

 

 

 

But he’d chosen early morning on a Thursday to go. No one was there. The creek was occupied for miles in the afternoon on Saturday or after church on Sunday or Wednesday afternoons.

 

 

 

He had chosen a time when no one seemed to be there. He grunted in frustration and then turned when he heard his name called.

 

 

 

He grinned wide when he caught sight of Tito running toward him, one arm stretched high up in the air, making him look elongated to an exaggerated extent.

 

 

 

“Tito! My friend! Right here!”

 

 

 

He raised one arm and waved.

 

 

 

“I heard you say you were coming this morning!” Tito called out as he stepped over small fallen trees, rocks jutting out of the ground, and the unevenness of the hill. “And I happened to know there would not be many people here this time of day. So I thought I would come along and help you. What do you think? You want my help, amigo?”

 

 

 

“Sí, I’d be grateful,” Manny replied, nodding.

 

 

 

He’d told Tito all about the meeting with Jimmy and how their boss had pledged to give them all new boots within a few weeks. He’d told them they might have to be patient as shipping that many boots would put a great strain on any company that took it on.

 

 

 

When he and Tito finished talking, he was sure his friend understood.

 

 

 

And here it was two weeks later, and he was sure the boots would come in any day now by convoy. He couldn’t think of any other way for the boots to arrive. So he kept his eye out for a long line of covered wagons filled with boxes.

 

 

 

Standing on one of the rocks by the water, Manny shielded his eyes to see down the shoreline. There was bound to be somewhere perfect for the task. He just didn’t know where it was. He glanced at Tito when his friend came up beside him.

 

 

 

“I was thinking down this way, what do you think?” he asked, pointing toward the west.

 

 

 

“The water is shallow in that direction and good for washing the clothes,” Tito said, agreeing. He peered down the shoreline as well. “I do not see many people there. That is good, so you will not get their dirty water coming downstream to get in your clothes. That is a bad thing that happens when there are many people here washing their clothes. You may think it silly, but I do believe the soapy water that flows downriver has someone else’s dirt in it and …” He shivered dramatically, making Manny chuckle. “I just cannot even think about it. It makes me want to be sick to my stomach.”

 

 

 

“I know. I know.” Manny nodded. He gestured that Tito should lead the way and his friend walked past him, nodding. He felt better about coming on a day when no one else was there, now that Tito had shared his opinion. His friend had made a good point. One that Manny would likely never forget because of its unique take on the everyday task.

 

 

 

“I’m not asking you to wash my clothes for me, Tito. If you show me what to do, I would be most grateful.”

 

 

 

Tito glanced over his shoulder. They were already to the spot Tito apparently thought would be their spot for the day. “Sí, I know, my friend. That is why I’ve brought along my own sack. I will not be bored.”

 

 

 

Manny laughed.

 

 

 

For the next half hour, Manny successfully washed half a load of clothes. He was satisfied with their cleanliness and his progress at cleaning them on his own. He stepped out onto a rock and heard Tito call him just as his foot slipped on the wet surface, and he felt a painful stab to his right ankle. He cried out and yanked his foot out of the water. It didn’t come when he pulled. In fact, the pain got worse.

 

 

 

“Agh, help me, Tito!” he called out, reaching for his friend who was onshore preparing another shirt to put in the water. Tito spun around to assess the situation. He immediately splashed out into the water and held out his arms for Manny. “What has happened? Are you hurt?”

 

 

 

“My ankle … my foot is stuck. I think a rock must have shifted when I slipped into the water, and now I am pinned.”

 

 

 

“The water is not deep. Stand perfectly still, and I will move the rock off your ankle.”

 

 

 

Manny was terrified he had broken it. How could he have been so careless and stupid? The thought of poverty and days without food haunted his mind. Anxiety made his heart pound in his chest, and he became short of breath. The loss of money from not being able to work would devastate him. He had some money saved, but it certainly wasn’t enough to do anything with really. He was living from paycheck to paycheck, just trying to get by.

 

 

 

He grunted in pain as Tito dropped down and began to feel the side of his leg. It felt like he was still being stabbed with a knife.

 

 

 

“Ohhhh,” Tito said in a low voice.

 

 

 

“What is that?” Manny asked in a panicked voice. “Why are you saying that? What is wrong?”

 

 

 

“It looks like you were attacked by an angry sharp rock,” Tito said, no humor in his voice, even though he was trying to make a joke. “Let me move it. When I do, it will be painful. I am pulling it out of your leg. Hold on to my back, so you don’t fall over.”

 

 

 

Manny tried to prepare himself mentally for what it might feel like to have a sharp rock pulled out of his body. There was no way he could have, though. Tito counted down before he moved anything.

 

 

 

“Tres, dos, uno …” Tito slid the rock to the side, pulling it out of Manny, who nearly collapsed on his back from the pain. It was instant and over in a flash, but it left a dull ache, and the water around his leg immediately turned red with blood. Tito pointed at his back. “Get on, my friend. I will take you to the doctor in Tent City. He will stitch you up nice and good and proper. Come on. Don’t be shy. I will come back for our things later.”

 

 

 

Manny didn’t know what to say. He hiked himself up on Tito’s back. Tito held him by the legs, and he held onto his friend’s shoulders.

 

 

 

Tito was a lot stronger than Manny had previously thought. He managed to run as he carried a 175lb man on his back made of solid muscle. Granted, Tito himself was no wilting flower at six feet tall and arms like thick iron rods.

 

 

 

He ran across the grass and dirt, rocks and twigs, and they were at the doctor’s huge tent before Manny knew it.

 

 

 

Five minutes later, he was lying on a cot in the tent, the doctor attempting to stop the bleeding and clean up the wound.

 

 

 

 

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