Five Deer Shot

Sarah Lee was standing on the front porch with Darryl. The sky was still not clear. It never was. The overcast didn’t seem to promise rain, but it didn’t deny it. It was so humid that you could almost drink the air. 

“The kid’s good,” said Darryl. “He was up in that stand, and he saw the deer in a field to his left. He shot at one, and they ran. He didn’t think he hit it.”

“How would he not know?” asked Sarah Lee. She was aware of the size of a deer.

“Tall grass,” explained Darryl. “Anyway, they came back for a bit. He tried again. Same thing. Happened two more times. Finally, he was so sick of himself that he climbed down. He was going to call it a day. When he got down a big buck walked up to him, and he shot that. It ran a little and took him into the grass. Four headshots. From at least a football field.”

“That’s amazing,” sighed Sarah Lee. She was thinking about her daughter. Sarah Grace. Hopefully, she would be done with track before any rain materialized. “I wonder if he has ever thought of joining the army. They would like him. They probably wouldn’t have to train him much.”

“The army might be the best thing to happen to him if he keeps his nose clean,” said Darryl thoughtfully. Sarah Lee felt a pang of jealousy. She had personally kept her nose clean her whole life. 

“Or maybe the Marines. He should probably shop around for a good offer. I’m sure there will be at least one branch that wants him more than the rest. I don’t know if a deer story will get him anything better than just off the street, but you could try,” mused Sarah Lee. Her hand tightening around her fruit-flavored seltzer. The ring on that left hand was the same as the purity ring her parents gave her when she was a teen, only it was real. A gift from Mr. Sarah Lee. 

“Yah, it’s a tough one. His grades aren’t stellar. He could use the resume bump,” thought Darryl. “His girlfriend,”

“They are in high school. If it’s meant to be, he can come back,” snapped Sarah Lee. Darryl was surprised.

“That’s pretty jaded, Sarah Lee, didn’t you and Buck meet in high school?” asked Darryl. Sarah Lee’s nails were starting to press against her can of sugar-free fruit-flavored water. 

“That’s different. He has a talent; the recruiter is right there. They’ve already been to the school. Sarah Grace told me they brought all the juniors and seniors in for a meeting. Even if he wasn’t talented, they need bodies. It ain’t glamorous, but it’s out.”

“Now, Sarah Lee, if I didn’t know better, I would think you wanted out yourself. You’ve got a kid and a whole husband here. You just go to bible study and such. Grocery shop. Hell, most of the child rearing’s done. Sarah Grace is almost old enough to drive.”

“Bible study, church, groceries, cook, clean, Bible study, church, groceries, cook, clean, the cycle continues. What about you, Darryl? Church, the bar, hunt club, work, fishing, the lake, take credit for church work your wife did, show up at functions women planned, the cycle continues.”

“Now, Sarah Lee,” started Darryl.

“Yes, I know. That was ugly. I’m sorry, but you have to admit a bit of it was true. At least a bit. Buck can have his fun gallivanting around. Lord knows he did when he was younger. The only going out I get is church. I want more for Sarah Grace. I know you want more for your Reagan Lee.”

“Now I’m raising Reagan Lee to be a good Christian woman. You can do whatever you want. You could have left if you wanted. Now you are making it Buck’s problem that you didn’t,” chided Darryl.

“How?” asked Sarah Lee. “Even if I was to go to college, my grades weren’t good enough to get any scholarships. Moreover, how do you find them? Do you just put ‘free money’ into your web browser of choice? I can guarantee that would fail. Besides, I am not good enough for their salvation. They want a 9.5, volunteer hours, twenty sports, and eight clubs just to get in the running.”

“Now, I’m sure that’s not true,” said Darryl.

“How do you know? Have you found any? I thought- I mean, I loved- love Buck. I swallowed the dream of staying home, a post perfect kitchen, five kids, and eight dogs. I swallowed it, and it is rotting me from the inside out. I don’t know who I am. I don’t even know if I ever was. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get the hook out of my lip,” snapped Sarah Lee as she turned and stormed indoors. Darryl slowly walked down the stairs. He would tell Buck he wasn’t feeling well. They could go mudding another night. He got in his truck and thought of his wife, Macayla, as he drove away. Was she rotting? Buck made a pretty penny, and Sarah Lee could stay at home. Macayla worked at the bank as a teller. He worried about her with the drug problem, causing the crime rate to skyrocket. However, they couldn’t afford to do without her income. Still, Sarah Lee’s words beat rhythmically against his skull.

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