The Erection Set

When we propped ourselves on the stools and called for a beer the two at the end stopped talking long enough to look us over, then went back to their argument. The bartender set down our glasses, rang up the money and pushed my change toward me. I looked at him carefully, studying his face, remembering the towering man with the huge gut that could bounce off full half kegs of suds onto the cellar chute, and the deep voice that used to make us hustle for the quarters we earned when we cleaned up the picnic tables.

I said, “Tod?”

The old man turned, his eyes focusing on mine. He nodded.

“You been on a diet?”

He grunted and a grin showed his false choppers. “I been on a cancer, son. Only that was a long time ago and hardly nobody remembers me fat. Who may you be?”

I stuck out my hand and waited until he took it. “Cameron Barrin was my grandfather.”

He pulled his hand away sharply. “You ain’t ...”

Before he could finish I shook my head. “I’m the bastard one, Tod. Dogeron Kelly. Used to run errands for you when I sneaked out of the castle up there.”

His grin got big suddenly and he grabbed my hand again. “Damn, boy! Sure I remember you. Hell, I remember you and that Polack kid fighting to see who got the swamping job at the hunkie picnic. I put up five bucks for the winner.”

“That Polack kid sure could hit,” I said.

“Yeah, but you won.” He laughed again and pulled another beer for himself. “You know, I bet another five on the Polack.”

“Tough.”

“My own fault. I shoulda remembered you was your father’s kid.”

The beer stopped halfway to my mouth. “You knew him?”

“Sure, and your mother too. But that was before all the trouble. What a wild-assed Irisher he was. He used to meet your ma right here in this place. Oh, nobody ever knew about it or anything. She used to sing when old Barney played the piano.” He stopped for a minute, cocking his head at me. “I ain’t talking outa turn or anything, am I? Sometimes an old guy like me ...”

“No sweat, Tod. It was just something I didn’t know but was glad to hear. I’m glad my mother had class enough to cut away from that bunch when she could.”

“Dead, both of them, aren’t they?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Too bad. It ain’t like before at all. What’re you doing back here?”

“Looking the old place over.”

“Not much to see anymore. Except for her.” He nodded at Sharon, smiling. “This is your daughter?”

Sharon choked on her beer and grabbed for a paper napkin to wipe her chin. When she dried off she faked a sigh of exasperation and said, “Good griefl”

“We’re not even married,” I told him.

“Made another- boo-boo, I guess,” Tod said.

“Nope, you just proved a point, Tod. I’d just better pick on somebody my own age.”

“Don’t do it on my account,” Sharon told me quickly. “I’m starting to enjoy all this after putting up with my New York image.”

“Good thing she isn’t my daughter,” I said.

“It would be a very incestuous relationship if I were.”

“I didn’t mean that.” I gave her a poke with my elbow and Tod let out a chuckle.

“Me,” he told us, “I couldn’t take the excitement you kids look for. I’m glad even the old pilot light’s gone out. Now a woman is only something that goes to the ladies’ room instead of the men’s room.” He finished his beer, filled all three and set them down again. This time he didn’t take my money. “You still didn’t say what you’re doing back. It ain’t really to just look around, is it?”

“In a way. I’m looking for information.”

Tod folded his arms on the bar and nodded. “I see. Well, it ain’t like it was, this being a place where you could learn anything, but I hear a few things now and then.”

“About Barrin Industries?”

“Shot to hell, is what. Maybe half working what used to work there. They ever get busy, they’re going to have to import a labor force. No more young people around here if they can help it.”

“How about McMillan?”

“Shoot, man. He’s the one that hired ’em all away for his factory in Aberdeen and the electronic plant outside Madrid. He even bought up a lot of property they owned so they could relocate.”

“Adjoining lots, probably, and all on the right of way to the water.”

“Correct. But who cared?”

“McMillan,” I said. “He knew what he was doing.” Tod shrugged again and spread his hands. “They was all glad to get out. They’re probably still glad. This town hasn’t improved none.”

“Ever hear anything about my cousins?”

“Dennison and Al? Them two patsies? All they do is toss parties out at the country club. Society crap, y’know? I got a niece that waits on tables out there and she tells me everything that goes on.”

“Wild?”

“Them old maids? All hankie waving and backbiting. Half the guys go only because their wives make ’em. They wind up talking golf at the bar and getting blasted. Sure not like the old days here.”

“You mean Al and Dennie are boozers?”