The Redemption of Darryl's Shadow

The youngest finds way to redeem himself at the end by ending and saving a life.

Redemption of Darryl's Shadow by Ironworker AKA Dayna [ Under renovation ]

The man was born no good, her mother would say, but Marva full figured, only saw his chiseled looks, dark flawless skin. She forgave all his ills in exchange for how he made her body feel. Then after years of contemptuous actions made against her, they had, 'The fight'. You know, the fight when enough had become enough. That day, with her finger pointed in his emotionless face saying.

“You, you can't just get up leave me you son of a bitch. I've given you everything and two sons! You're not leaving me.”
“Get off me bitch!” he snapped, and with the back of his hand mercilessly sent her to the floor. I ain't married you! She uncoiled herself from the blow and reached out grabbing his legs as he began toward the door.

“You've given me nothing but problems... get off me you needy bitch!. I don't owe you a God-damn thing. I don't care anymore.". he bellowed. Then he yanked her up by her hair and drug her through the tight poorly lit tenement hall door, yelling obscenities all the way to the top of the stairs. Instinctively she hung awkwardly onto his arm as he dragged her. The door of the boys room opened at the end of that hall and were stunned with frightened looks on their faces watching as their father, with a gleam in his eye, tossed their mother over the handrail she had begun to cling to on to the stairs, then he smiled back at them. Her two boys, then 8 and 17, both ran to her aide that night. The oldest was rendered unconscious with a single bare knuckles blow to the face and for the youngest he pulled off his belt and began beating at the top of the stairs him into a silent submission.

The atrocity done, He towered gallant tall over his work, calmly lighting a cigarette taking what he flt was a long slow deserve drag, over the moaning carnage of Marva's semi conscience body as she slide down the hard metal edged steps one at a time, smiling, pleased with the moment he began following her twisted full and bruising body down the rest of the stairs and hoping over her, then walking out the door.

Ten years passed. Marva's then broken body, eventually recovered. There would be no new men in Marva's life. Darryl the oldest was never the same again. –just angry. Darryl began the job of helping his mom.

Marva sought help for him. Sitting before many counselors years later, Darryl when asked, “Why are you so angry?”

Darryl's eyes grew squint and his jaws tightened as he said of his mother, answering, “You try to act so innocent.”
Marva pursing her lips turning to the counselor, a bit embarrassed having all his vitriol directed at her. She did feel guilty having to lean on him as much as she had.

To the counselors she'd resign to her being at fault. “I'm sorry, but I guess we should be going home now.”

As time passed she made efforts not to lean on him so much. but she continued to weaken.

Jimmy the youngest was good in school but slow in Darryl's eyes. Darryl saw that if they were going to realize any of their dreams,–his dreams. he decided he'd have to take charge.

Their mother began to grow weaker as the years progressed. She became inexplicably tired all the time.

Some time had passed and Darryl came home one night having gotten a new job, and quickly provided her the money she needed and He told everyone he had become a Wall Street associate. Marva had questions about this but decided she wouldn't pry partly out of fear of what she'd find out and in some part having some fear of him. He brought her tea each night but she felt his growing resentment of her. While she was proud of him for the most part she wished he would bring home decent girls. It seemed to her he love the "Bar Fly" types and the question sill lingered in the back of her mind, 'How did he get that Wall Street Job'. She asked many time but it had become a touchy subject.

He'd tell her rudely, "What? The money isn't enough? Just drink your Tea Mama. So over time she asked less and less.

All was well for awhile, until....Jimmy turned 18. Graduation day for Jimmy. Marva was now bed ridden and could not attend and awaited the video Darryl and Jimmy promised. And after the ceremonies at his school were over Darryl took Jimmy to a fancy restaurant in the heart of the city.

“Congratulations Jimmy. You're now done with school.”, A somewhat happy face appeared quickly followed by a puzzled look after his remark about school, as Jimmy loved school. He hadn't told him but he was thinking of becoming a teacher.

"I've got something special for you."said Darryl removing his overcoat revealing his Brunello Cucinellias Jet black evening suit which was also noticed by most of the patrons around them as they took their seats. And, as if on cue the waiter brought over a small gift wrapped box, placing it in front of Jimmy. Upon opening it Jimmy just stared at it, mouth open.

"Money, Whoa! I don't think I've ever seen this much money.

"Congrats little brother, That's 5Gs, .I want you to work with me, and you'll make more just like it."

Grinning with amazement. You got me a Wall Street job? Momentarily forgetting his teaching ambitions. What will I be doing?

"Don't you worry about that Little man I'll teach you everything you'll need to know. But first let's eat."
As, the food arrived. 2" Medium well done stake, shrimp, potatoes, and something with glazed onions and all steaming, The waiter poured them tall glasses of Red wine then after brought dessert of Jimmy's choice. Well into the meal Jimmy glancing toward the restaurant doors, thinking of his mother who couldn't be their.

"Is Mom...?"

“I know, I wish she could be here too.” said Darryl and began talking about the things and places they were going to go together.

They continued to eat and when done and were about to leaving Jimmy asked, “You picked up mom's meds?”

“Yeah”, and when they got in the car Darryl handed the plain white pharmacy paper bag to him.”

They would follow Darryl's plan, see a movie and afterward they headed home to their mother. Marva on hearing them return groaned a bit sitting up on the living room couch. She was enduring a stomach pain which began a few weeks earlier. Darryl immediately went to the kitchen
"Let me get you tea started." After getting the water to boil he called Jimmy.

"Hey Jimmy, Jimmy give me a hand", pointing to Mama's cup he placed on the counter directing him to administer it to his mother.

“You boys are my angels, what would I do without you?” Jimmy helped his mother drink her tea quietly. Jimmy then helped her walk down the long hall to her bed.

“I need to take care of something. Darryl announced .I'll be by later to check on you. I should be back in a few hours.", said Darryl putting on his overcoat and leaving.

Jimmy and his mother watched the videos they'd taken at the Graduation ceremony, the restaurant and he told her of the movies and his gift. When he told her of the job offer. A chance for him and Darryl to work together. While he told his mom some of the things Darryl told him. Her expression changed. While he continued talking, she recalled a conversation she had over a year ago with his brother. Jimmy hadn't notice her demeanor change.

Darryl had just gotten back from a job which had taken him to Europe. He had sat across from her in her old kitchen. The summer afternoon sun was brightly lighting the small room as the talked, "Ma, I'm very good at what I do!" Marva cut her eyes away from him.

“My God boy, Do ya hear yourself? How long... until you caught or god help, killed. Mercy What happen to you, You promise me you done?”

Darryl's eyes swept the room quickly as if he might find an answer on cabinet doors or wall, “It's not that easy, he said, besides…” as his mother explodes over him with her heartbroken tirade.

“Killing people for a living! Who ever heard of such a thing? What happened to you son?” You're smarter than this, Darryl looked away as she spoke.

Then explosively said back, “I Just can't walk away right now, you don't understand.”

“You right, I don't. And Please, please can you promise me not to introduce your brother to this.” Marva grew angrier, coughing again.

“Don't worry ma, he'll never know.” he said.

She put on a smile as Jimmy was coming in from the community center. saying to Darryl, “You better not.”

It was after 1am now, when Darryl returned.
Marva and Jimmy were both being watched by the TV. An announcer was loudly making a big deal about a sponge, He takes a blanket from a hall closet and covers them turning the TV off as Marva's tenor voice calmly breaks the silence piecing the darkness of the room .

"So you, neither done or keep my baby innocent?, Speaking low. "He told me Boy... Why?

He without turning to face her said, "It's late ma. I... just need him." and walked off to a bedroom.

The Couch was positioned by the large front room window, a view she loved but felt diminished by how it comes to be hers. She turned peering through the curtains laying head on Jimmy's as he slept and cried quietly into the rest of the night.

Morning brought with it more pain an stiffness for her.

Jimmy was already making breakfast. Marva was still on the couch when he came in, so he pull over a chair sitting in it backward." I'm taking him to San Diego with me." he said with no equivocation.

Marva's eyes beginning to water. Pausing a moment she said. I realize I can't save you. I don't know when I lost you. I do love you. I just wanted different.

Jimmy was coming in with a tray for Marva. "Set it here son." Turning to Darryl as Jimmy lay the tray beside her. "Take care of him," Thank you Jimmy. Changing the subject she said, "Well its the first day of Summer for you, any plans?

Not really, thought I'd hang out some with friends on the beach.

Darryl turned to Jimmy saying, "Well I've got some. I've a big surprise for you. Want to come with me to San Diego for a few weeks. A glowing smile rips across his face. "Pack for warm days and cool nights." he says..

Will we be doing anything special? Jimmy asks with a little gleam in his eye, and smiling back at Marva just before he went bouncing off to pack.

Darryl turned to His mother and answering Jimmy's question, in a slightly French accent, we go for little work, pleasure." Then eye to eye he said to her, "I will... take care of him." calling back to Jimmy, "Pack for 10 days"

Marva just stares back at her oldest son, She says to him. "I will miss you both."

San Diego

Dawn arrival in San Diego. They arrived at the hotel just in time for breakfast. It had a full restaurant where they had breakfast in style, no buffet for them. As the waiter approached. "Order what you want. So what would you like to do today? We've a few days before we have work to do.

Jimmy, asked, Can we just drive around? I've never been here?

Sure, a good way to learn the terrain. Lets get a car after breakfast. Get on your phone and find a few places of interest to start with. And for the next two days the went here and there, day and night as they felt.

After the third day They parked on a hill just outside of town in a clearly exclusive neighborhood with great view looking down on the city, which Jimmy thought they were there for.

Darryl after about a hour in which they shared Chinese he told him “I've a small job here. Just wait for me. I've got to pay a quick visit to these folks over her, pointing to a house a few doors down.” and Jimmy found himself at midnight behind the wheel of a black SUV. Nervous, He sat quiet, hands sweating, outside an exclusive residence waiting for his brothers' return.

Minutes later Darryl jumped in with folders in his hands saying, “Let's go, Drive”.

"That's it", asks Jimmy?

"Yeah Jimmy. That's all I do for the most part."

"If that's all there is to it. I can do this." Jimmy states.

Darryl asks, "No other questions?".

Jamie continues to drive and answers, “Well I'm not stupid. No one pays five grand to have mail picked up in the middle of the night, so I figure, you're doing a little more. Am I close?"

Darryl smiling took this as a good sign of a good start, saying, “Let me know if and when you want to be brought up to speed.

Jimmy smiled as he drove back to the hotel.

Several days later. Jimmy relaxed and was feeling a new sense of independence, tried to call his mother. After a few rings, he realized it was late, Ma was probably preparing for a bed. He'd call again in the morning.

At their mothers house, Marva was not feeling well. Her coughing was increasing making breathing harder. she called Jimmy but couldn't reach him. So She called Darryl who said he' come home the next day. Having told Jimmy to enjoy the hotel and car, he'd be back in a couple of days without telling him he was going home. He just said he had a small job to handle by himself.

Marva was already in bed when he arrived. The sun was beginning to set. it's glow draped over her bed "Come boy, pull up the chair.there" she said. “Why you don't look at me? Look at me…" she coughs. "And where is my baby?"

"He's safe with me Ma" Darryl says. He pauses her. "Give me a second Ma and goes to the kitchen fixes her tea and comes back to serve her.
.
After a few sips she begins to complain "This pain in my stomach has gotten much worse lately." Squinting as she groans in pain as she shifts herself in the bed to see him better. Reaching for his help and in a quick moment she realizing that he's not moved to help her. That's when seeing gloves come out his pockets. She asks "Why you need gloves." While she had never seen him leave for a job, She had seen him return removing his gloves. Her eyes widened as a chill ran down her back.

“No Child, no, you would do this?” Tears filled her eyes soon she could no longer hold her self up and she fell back onto her pillow. Then she couldn't speak easily. She cried quietly eyes fixed on him as he talks. “I'm so sorry mom that things have had to go this way. But you wouldn't come around to understand. Jimmy is too distracted by you. And I need all of his attention."

He looks at his watch and tells her, "I had a chemist add a strong painkiller to the poison in your tea. We should have at least 10 minutes." Marva's eyes fixed on the blood of her blood.

"So you see, I can't have you turning Jimmy against me, Ma."

He repositioning her head. "And yes I did fix it so you couldn't call him this week and he couldn't call you. But don't worry about a thing. I'll take care of all the arrangements". And with her last breath he looked her in the face watching the life leave her eyes in a morbid attempt of getting her attention and said, you realize "I'm doing this because I love you." She was silent now. Kissing her on her forehead. He only needed to make sure he left no clues that he was there.

Funeral

Marva was laid to rest eight days later, few family on a bright sunny winter's morning which rendered long blueish shadows atop the fresh fallen snow along the grounds of cold headstones and leaving none around the wiser.

All Darryl's plans seem to be going well he thought.

Life for the two brothers moved forward and after a few months, while in Atlanta Darryl received a new assignment. It had in it an aspect which felt would cement his brothers commitment. "Do you want to step up to the next level little brother?" I've got another job, and I could use your help.

Jimmy looked up at him. "Yeah!".
"OK, you'll begin by watching and then with some training you'll be able to take on jobs by yourself.

Putting the game controller down saying "I'm down, When do we start?" smiling.

365 days plus later in a remote modern house in Alberta Canada.

Jimmy learned the craft well. Now together they would get bigger jobs and all seemed perfect. But Jimmy after his first kill he remembering the words of his mother over the years on integrity.

'Would you do this in the light of day?

Jimmy couldn't sleep that night for seeing his victim's face. His fall, his shock, surprise, his eyes close, the growing blood as it spread smoothly, carrying his life away along the surface and cracks in the charcoal colored stone flooring. It became a month long repeating set of nightmares.

It was nearly Christmas when Darryl told Jimmy, “We've another job, In Aspen.Colorado, maybe we'll get in some skiing?”

“I love you brother but, I don't think I can do this.” jimmy said.

There was a long silence. Then Darryl said, “I've been easy on you little man. I need you here. Now, you grow a pair and just be there” and left the room.

Jimmy silent most of the night went to Darryl's room and speaking up. "I need to get out., I am…”

Cutting him off, “Just how do you think you're going to do that, you've killed 2.”

Jimmy winced, 2? He rebutted to himself, but, I've killed one.

“One not two.” Jimmy said.

Darryl turning to him calm saying, "Remember the medicine I had you administer to our mother."

Jimmy's eyes widened, “What? What did you do?”.
Let's just say The tea was very special and you served most of it.

Jimmy cringed. “You... did what?”

“Yeah and, you had a hand in it. "

“Is that supposed to be funny?

”

“Do you think a jury's going to care, Darryl chuckled in his face. Get some sleep, we've a long day ahead and it starts early..”

They arrived at the job. “Come on it's a simple job. Let's get it done.”

Jimmy was to make sure the house was cleared save the target which
Darryl went after. But as soon as Jimmy knew the house was cleared, He went to the target room. He found his brother talking to the woman who's throat he just slit. He looked up and smiled at Jimmy and saying “Come on in! come on.”

Then Jimmy looked around quickly, and asked I thought two were to be done here.

Darryl said, “There are.” For a moment Jimmy thought it was him, but the thought was broken when the child began to cry in the next room. Darryl pointed with the gun. “I left the baby for you. Go on, kill it.” and laughing mockingly. See if you can do that?

As Jimmy enters there's a mirror facing himself from behind the crib. He sees a man he no longer knows standing over a crying toddler with a gun.

Jimmy hearing Darryl's approach full of condescension instantly decides. Without hesitation Jimmy aimed his weapon and without hesitation puts two bullets into his brothers head and chest, saying, “The last one was for mom.

Turning around he settled the child smiling into his face, and says in the ensuing silence., “Come on, little brother, neither of us need this. I think we can do better on our own. It' looks like it's just you and me from now on”. What do you say guy? The baby smiles.



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