Read Online Just Beyond the Curve by Larry Huddleston - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Larry Huddleston
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the
crowd.
Unseen by John, Judy, or any of the other people who
would possibly know him was Danny Floyd. He stood sullen and angry,
staring at the stage and John Travis, his sworn enemy. The reason
for his own failure! The very reason for his own failure as a
musician. Other than the fact that he had no talent. Or not enough
to support a career as an entertainer. Still, he followed the same
sullen pattern in Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi,
Raleigh, North Carolina, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa,
Dallas, and back to Austin. With every concert his hate and
jealousy for John Travis escalated to the point of near
insanity.
When the tour bus pulled up in front of Misty Rivers’
Austin home, Danny Floyd was watching from his pickup down the
street. His hatred soared, when Judy stepped off the bus. He could
tell she was several months pregnant with John’s child.
Misty stood in the doorway of her house and watched
the members of the band unload John and Judy’s gear and carry it
into the house and Judy’s bedroom. She tried unsuccessfully to
contain her tears of happiness for her daughter. When she saw she
was going to be a grandma the dam broke and her tears flowed. She
ran to the bus and grabbed her swollen daughter in her arms, kissed
her, then turned to her son-in-law and kissed him full on the
mouth. John stood shocked speechless, watching the two women in his
life walk back to the house whispering conspiratorially.
“Thanks for your help, boys,” John said when the last
of his gear was taken inside the house and the band members
returned.
They shook John’s hand then got back on the bus.
They, like John and Judy, were exhausted and ready for a break.
When the bus was out of sight John turned and went
into the house. He found Misty and Judy in Judy’s bedroom turning
the bed back and talking. He turned from the doorway hearing Misty
ask Judy, “So, have you chosen a name yet?”
He looked in on Billy and smiled. Billy was sleeping
the sleep of exhausted youth. He seemed to have not grown an inch
in the six months John and Judy had been gone. Well, John thought,
enjoy your childhood while you can, little man. It’ll be gone
before you know it.
When John went down the hall from Judy’s bedroom,
Judy told Misty, “Misty if it’s a girl and Billy if it’s a
boy.”
“Hopefully,” Misty said facetiously, “it’ll be
smarter than it’s daddy.”
“Momma, behave!” Judy scolded. “John is smart enough.
He’s made us rich. He paid your house off and put money in the bank
for you. I don’t understand why you don’t like him.”
“I like John just fine,” Misty said honestly. “He’s
just not real smart, that’s all.”
“He loves me and I love him,” Judy stated firmly.
“That’s all that matters to me. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. You
wouldn’t believe how his momma treated him. He was raised in
virtual isolation from the world. He was home taught until he
started high school.”
“That explains a lot,” Misty said.
“His momma loved him as much as you love me and
Billy, Momma,” Judy said.
“I don’t doubt that,” Misty replied tiredly. “Maybe
she wasn’t so smart either. Well, I’m going back to bed, now. We’ll
talk tomorrow.”
“Her whole world was John’s daddy,” Judy told Misty.
“When he was killed something inside her died, too. And she pined
for him until she died. That is true love and devotion, don’t you
think?”
“Obsession, more like it,” Misty replied.
“We’re going to Wimberley tomorrow,” Judy said
changing the subject. “John wants to check on his house.”
“Would you mind if me and Billy tag along?” Misty
asked, stopping in the doorway. “Billy worships John, you know.
He’d be disappointed not to get to spend some time with him.”
“That’ll be fine, Momma,” Judy said seriously, then
smiled sweetly. “We’ll see you in the morning,” she promised.
Misty smiled and went out the door.
Judy sat on the
crowd.
Unseen by John, Judy, or any of the other people who
would possibly know him was Danny Floyd. He stood sullen and angry,
staring at the stage and John Travis, his sworn enemy. The reason
for his own failure! The very reason for his own failure as a
musician. Other than the fact that he had no talent. Or not enough
to support a career as an entertainer. Still, he followed the same
sullen pattern in Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi,
Raleigh, North Carolina, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa,
Dallas, and back to Austin. With every concert his hate and
jealousy for John Travis escalated to the point of near
insanity.
When the tour bus pulled up in front of Misty Rivers’
Austin home, Danny Floyd was watching from his pickup down the
street. His hatred soared, when Judy stepped off the bus. He could
tell she was several months pregnant with John’s child.
Misty stood in the doorway of her house and watched
the members of the band unload John and Judy’s gear and carry it
into the house and Judy’s bedroom. She tried unsuccessfully to
contain her tears of happiness for her daughter. When she saw she
was going to be a grandma the dam broke and her tears flowed. She
ran to the bus and grabbed her swollen daughter in her arms, kissed
her, then turned to her son-in-law and kissed him full on the
mouth. John stood shocked speechless, watching the two women in his
life walk back to the house whispering conspiratorially.
“Thanks for your help, boys,” John said when the last
of his gear was taken inside the house and the band members
returned.
They shook John’s hand then got back on the bus.
They, like John and Judy, were exhausted and ready for a break.
When the bus was out of sight John turned and went
into the house. He found Misty and Judy in Judy’s bedroom turning
the bed back and talking. He turned from the doorway hearing Misty
ask Judy, “So, have you chosen a name yet?”
He looked in on Billy and smiled. Billy was sleeping
the sleep of exhausted youth. He seemed to have not grown an inch
in the six months John and Judy had been gone. Well, John thought,
enjoy your childhood while you can, little man. It’ll be gone
before you know it.
When John went down the hall from Judy’s bedroom,
Judy told Misty, “Misty if it’s a girl and Billy if it’s a
boy.”
“Hopefully,” Misty said facetiously, “it’ll be
smarter than it’s daddy.”
“Momma, behave!” Judy scolded. “John is smart enough.
He’s made us rich. He paid your house off and put money in the bank
for you. I don’t understand why you don’t like him.”
“I like John just fine,” Misty said honestly. “He’s
just not real smart, that’s all.”
“He loves me and I love him,” Judy stated firmly.
“That’s all that matters to me. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. You
wouldn’t believe how his momma treated him. He was raised in
virtual isolation from the world. He was home taught until he
started high school.”
“That explains a lot,” Misty said.
“His momma loved him as much as you love me and
Billy, Momma,” Judy said.
“I don’t doubt that,” Misty replied tiredly. “Maybe
she wasn’t so smart either. Well, I’m going back to bed, now. We’ll
talk tomorrow.”
“Her whole world was John’s daddy,” Judy told Misty.
“When he was killed something inside her died, too. And she pined
for him until she died. That is true love and devotion, don’t you
think?”
“Obsession, more like it,” Misty replied.
“We’re going to Wimberley tomorrow,” Judy said
changing the subject. “John wants to check on his house.”
“Would you mind if me and Billy tag along?” Misty
asked, stopping in the doorway. “Billy worships John, you know.
He’d be disappointed not to get to spend some time with him.”
“That’ll be fine, Momma,” Judy said seriously, then
smiled sweetly. “We’ll see you in the morning,” she promised.
Misty smiled and went out the door.
Judy sat on the
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