Page 7 of Generation Lost

CHAPTER FOUR

“Ya’ll sure got a lot of pretty girls around here,” said the old man seated before Cruz. “And pretty girl doctors! That’s amazing.”

“Yes, sir,” he smiled. “They’re all very talented, and they know what they’re doing. Oscar, how long have you been on this heart medication?”

“Oh, probably seven or eight years now,” he said. “Lost my wife, Mattie. Lost her about nine years ago, and my health just started getting worse and worse. I got a son who lives in Houston, but his wife, well, she didn’t want to have an old man living in her home with them. They got three kids. Haven’t seen ‘em since they were born.”

“I’m terribly sorry to hear that,” said Cruz. “It’s their loss, believe me. It’s why we all live here, close to one another. Our children, grandchildren, even our great-grandchildren go to school together and are great friends.”

“That’s the way it should be, and I’m glad you think it’s their loss for not knowing me. Most young folks don’t think being around old people is very interesting.”

Cruz held in a smile, knowing that he and Oscar were about the same age. It would have been easy to send them all to the pond, but it also would have been dangerous. With their memory issues, they might leave and say something, putting them all at risk.

“Oscar, I think we’re going to change up your medication. One of the reasons you’re continuing to have chest pains is because this isn’t the correct medication. This one really doesn’t work for congestive heart failure. I’m not sure why you were put on this medication.”

“The doc said it was what I could afford and should help with some of my symptoms,” he said with a shrug.

“Well, that’s not a good reason,” said Cruz. “We’re going to try this medication, and I’m going to bet that within a few days, you’re going to feel a whole lot better.”

“You’re a mighty fine young man,” said Oscar, shaking his head. “Wish there were more like you all in this world.”

“There are a lot of us,” smiled Cruz, looking around the room at the dozens of teammates and their spouses. “We’re all in this room right now, helping each of you. And there are more. We’re going to help you, Oscar. You’ll see.”

“Can’t help me get back the house I bought with my wife of almost forty-five years,” he said with tears in his eyes. “They tore it down right in front of me. They didn’t care that we’d made a lifetime of memories in that house or that it was the last thing I really had to remember her by. I hadn’t changed a damn thing since she died.

“Two men knocked on the door, grabbed my arms, and pushed me into a lawn chair. Didn’t let me grab what I wanted from the house. They threw a few articles of clothing at me, handed me my wedding photo, and that was about it.”

“What did these men look like?” asked Alec, Tailor behind him.

“A bit like you two,” he smirked. “Big, beefy fellas, but not nearly as tall as you boys. Young. Maybe in their thirties or forties. Hard for me to tell anymore. They just lifted me up, set me in that chair, and started tossing my things into the yard. About an hour later, a bulldozer took after the house.”

He wiped the tears from his eyes, and Tailor and Alec frowned.

“I think we should go see if they’re tearing any more houses down,” said Alec.

“Splendid idea,” smiled Tailor.

“You boys be careful,” said Cruz. “Maybe take a few others with you.”

“You’re no fun,” frowned Alec. “Fine. We’ll take a few others.” Alec let out two shrill whistles and heads popped up all over the lodge. Big smiles could be seen by the members of Team Big, and Cruz could only laugh.

God help whoever was still on the property.

It ended up being Alec, Tailor, Vince, Bull, Miller, Gabe, Skull, and Luc. Everyone wanted in on the action, but they thought they’d go in with a ‘minor’ showing to start off. As they pulled into the nearly empty neighborhood, the men stared at one another. There was no building happening here. Only tear down. Lots were being flattened to an even smooth surface.

“Down there,” said Bull, pointing, then nodding to Gabe.

He nodded, turning down the little side street toward the small white house. An old woman was pushed into a seat, and before Gabe could stop the vehicle, the backdoors were opening, and men were jumping out.

“You push that woman again, and I’m going to give you a lesson you won’t soon forget, boy,” said Bull.

“Go away, old man, or I will fuck you up,” said the young man standing in front of him. He was still gripping the old woman’s arm, and she was crying.

“Let the woman go,” said Alec, walking toward the two men. The man pushed the woman toward him as she yelped, crying out in pain. “Are you alright, ma’am?”

“No,” she cried. “No, they’re going to take my house down!”

“I don’t think so,” said Miller. Two other men emerged from the home, tossing furniture into the front yard. They looked at their buddies and stepped closer as if to offer their assistance.

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