Layin' Carpet

“So I says to Momma, ‘Momma, you gotta stop pickin’ strangers up off the side o’ the road!’ I swear, Pete, one o’ these days that woman…”

Pete got up to get the carpet paddin’, leavin’ Bud to finish nailin’ the last of the tackless strips. Pete had started layin’ carpet with Bud to save money fer school. The money was saved, and school was startin’ soon, but he hadn’t yet given his notice. He wasn’t entirely sure he was eva gonna.

“…and then Lucy, that gal from the bank, she come over and starts up with ol’ Edith right there in the bakery, sayin’ som’n ‘bout her man, and if that ain’t just the…”

The thing with Bud, Pete thought, as he held the ends of the paddin’ together while Bud taped ‘em, is that there were three things he did better’n anybody else. And as much learnin’ as he could get over at the State College, he didn’t think he’d eva meet anyone who did these things better. And mebbe… well, just mebbe gettin’ to stay workin’ for a man who did these things well was worth more ‘en gettin’ educated and citified.

“…so I hear’d he was workin’ for the grocer, loadin’ stock nights and deliverin’ or some such, but that ain’t ‘zactly permanent and you don’t just go trustin’ strangers, they been here a week or a year…”

The first, o’ course, was talkin’. Bud Sanders could fill more time with talkin’ ‘en any man or woman alive, Pete figured. And that was alright with Pete, ‘cuz he’d always talked too little. Deaf as a baby, Pete’s Momma always said that when the Doc fixed it so he could hear, he was too busy catchin’ up on listenin’ to bother with no talkin’. And Bud… well, with Bud you never had to worry ‘bout gettin’ yer fill of listenin’.

He talked straight through as they cut the carpet and taped the seams. It’d got so they didn’t need to talk ‘bout the job, they just knew what each needed to do. Pete could listen to Bud all day and all night, he figured. Only eva got to hear him all day tho’. All night, well, Pete figured he should settle for what was reality. Leave fantasy to his little sister’s story books.

“…I tol’ her that gettin’ involved with that sort’a man was only gonna get her in trouble, and now look, she in ‘trouble.’ I ain’t gonna say ‘I tol’ you so,’ tho’, she gettin’ enough grief from Momma as is. And I kinda like th’ idea o’ bein’ an uncle. Hear that, Pete? Me, an uncle…”

The second thing Bud did best is lay carpet. Ev’rabody in town was wantin’ wall to wall and Bud’s the one they called. Pete personally liked the old wood floors they was cov’rin’ over, and the old rag rugs they was throwin’ out, but Bud was makin’ good money layin’ these shags and berbers and Pete was gettin’ to share in the wealth.

“…she gonna do just fine, and don’t know why Momma think less, she raised Grace after all. Don’t know that livin’ home with Momma’s such a good idea tho’, best if there’s only one Momma in a house, I figure. Gonna buy me th’ ol’ Kent farm and have Grace and the baby with me. You ready to kick and stretch?”

Pete nodded and got the knee kicker and power stretcher. This was his favorite part of each job. Soon he’d be too busy crawlin’ around stretchin’ the carpet, but Bud always started the first corner, and Pete’s only job for a few seconds was to watch Bud’s ass as he faced the corner on all fours. This was the third thing that Bud did better’n anyone else. He wore his jeans well. Really well. And Pete really wasn’t sure a college education was worth leavin’ this sight behind.

“…and I checked with the cable comp’ny and the phone comp’ny, and either can hook up that high speed connection so the farm house can have all that email n’ stuff on the computer and that will be good for the baby, as well. So’s he can be ready for college someday, too…”

Pete’s thoughts stopped at Bud’s mention of college. He didn’t consider that Bud knew he was goin’ anyway. Of course Bud knew, though. He knew ev’rathing that went on in their small town. Pete figured it was just as well. Stayin’ ‘round, he’d only start wantin’ what he couldn’t have.

“…guess this is one o’ the last carpets I’ll lay, then. Too far out on the farm to come into town daily, and I want to really make a go at the farm, you know? Plus, I think most folks have got carpet in ev’ra room of ev’ra house, now. Not the farmhouse, though. All wood, in ev’ra room. I think I might see ‘bout some tile for the bathroom, and mebbe the kitchen. They’re both worn and there was water damage. There’s one room under where the roof leaked and it could just be sanded, and the stain might not show, but I was thinkin’ mebbe carpet in that room. We could lay it together, and it could be yer office, if you want. Or mebbe the nursery; a nice soft hypo-allergenic weave would be nice for learnin’ to crawl. Pete? You done trimmin’ and smoothin’? Come over here, man.

“What’s with the look? I been askin’ you all day to stay with me, go to school on-line and now yer makin’ like the deer in the headlights. We don’t gotta put carpet in that room. A large rug would cover the stain, too. I just thought… well, shucks, all summer of watchin’ you crawl ‘round and I just want once when I can lay you instead of the carpet. Pete? Baby? Yer shakin’. It’s gonna—mmphh.”

Kissing Bud was wonderful, and Pete knew there was a lot more that was gonna be added to the list of things that Bud did better’n anybody else.

The End.