TWO: HAMLET

Two tall pine trees stood, one on each side of the wide wooden porch in front of the house, which stood in the middle of the block. Ulysses stood on this porch and stared at the tree closest to the front door. They stood, in his imagination, like guards or sentinels. He wondered who climbed the trees and steps before he did. He wondered what the trees might have seen standing there, and how old they might be, and who lived across the street. He wondered where the Post Office was in this little town, and he began searching for flagpoles as he dug his index finger into pine sap that oozed from the pine tree’s flaky exterior. As he pulled his sticky fingers back from the tree he heard the noise of a loud muffler. The boy looked up and grinned. He saw the familiar sight of his Uncle Ray’s big green truck, which came all the way from Chicago. The flatbed behind the lime colored cab was filled with furniture, assorted household goods and bedding. A sign was painted on the door of the truck that saidFitz McBreen Plumbing Contractors Call the Mick at 312-236-6132.

“Hey, Soldier Boy!” Raymond Fitzpatrick McBreen yelled out the side window.“Come here." Grinning wide, Ulysses walked up to the truck, wiping pine sap onto his shorts. Ray McBreen extended his arm and tossed the boy a piece of Juicy Fruit gum. Grinning from ear to ear at the unexpected sugar surprise, Ulysses tore the yellow wrapping and stuffed the gum into his mouth as Ray’s huge body exited the truck. The large redhead reached down and picked the little redhead off of the ground. Holding Ulysses out and away from his body, Ray smiled, apparently satisfied with what he saw, then put him back down and said,“Now get your ma and pa and tell them her brother is here.” He put the boy down and watched him scamper into the house.

“Mama, Uncle Ray is here,” Ulysses hollered as loud as he could with a mouthful of gum. Annie and the Sergeant were inside wielding paint brushes in the kitchen. Ray walked in behind Uly.

“I hear there’s some folks around here bought a new old house and might need some new old furniture.” Ray took Annie’s hand and walked her back out to the front porch, smiling.“You think Rock can help me unload this stuff?” Tears filled Annie’s eyes as she looked up at her older brother, who was almost twenty years older and had spoiled her all his life.