Stories from the Tritone: Book One

By Stephen Nepa

Dorothy Gillis along with her son Ray move to a new town. Dorothy wants a change in her life. Ray is just along for the ride. What the town of Lodi has to offer them is definitely life changing. In Footsteps of Nevermore a mother is haunted by the ghost of her son. Is she going insane or is there really a ghost calling her name? In Tonight's Main event an eccentric comedian gets more than he bargains for when he challenges Academy Award winning actor Sean Penn to a fight. In Your Honor is about a fallen soldier who leaves a story behind for his son to read. A lonely girl in the back roads of America meets a zombie in Page Seventeen. The stories in this book are a tribute to The Twilight Zone and Tales from the Crypt. A new generation in horror has begun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462858033

Stephen Nepa

Stephen Nepa resides in Delaware with a dog named Ginger. He likes watching late night scary movies.

Book preview

Stories from the

Tritone

Book One

98224-NEPA-layout-low.pdf

Stephen Nepa

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen Nepa.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011905941

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4628-5802-6

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4628-5801-9

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4628-5803-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Lodi

Footstep’s of Nevermore

Tonight’s Main Event

Ruth’s Diner Reprise: CKK

Home is Venus

Thin Lizzy

Page Seventeen

The Car Ride

In Your Honor

The Balance of Guster

Lodi

She had only thoughts of new beginnings when she had begun her drive, but as she stood outside her car staring down at the flat tire her mind began to wonder, like it always seemed to do in times like this. How did it come to this? It wasn’t a question she asked herself often. She was to busy trying to get by. Trying to survive. It started out with her husbands drinking, but after that got old he started on her. The sound of a passing car speeding by behind her shook her from her thoughts and Dorothy Gillis spun around left with nothing but tail lights to stare at. Back to reality and dealing with this damn flat. She could think about her past when she was back behind the wheel and driving down the interstate. Dorothy looked from the road to the inside of the car. Sitting in the passenger seat was her sixteen year old son, Ray, who was to busy listening to his CD player to notice her staring at him. He had his headphones on and was shaking his head to the beat of what was ever was coming through them. Dorothy wished she could get away from reality as easily as her son. Well then again Ray didn’t know everything about the situation going on. About the physical and emotional abuse that went along with being married to a man like his father. Hell Ray didn’t even seem to notice the popping sound that had occurred just about a half a mile up the road, from where they were currently sitting. The car was perched on the side of the road just inches from the white line that separated it from oncoming vehicles. There was a ditch to the right of the car that lead to a wooded area that Dorothy didn’t want any part of. In the hot sun this incident would have been an even harder for Dorothy to deal with. She was lucky that it was just the start of spring and if she looked hard enough past the ditch and towards the woods. She could see small buds forming on the branches that would later become beautiful green leaves. Damn she could go for a little green in her life right now. But the green leaves wouldn’t be around forever and as the summer ended the green would fall into many beautiful colors. And Dorothy didn’t want to stand around here forever and watch this happen. She had better things to do like try to figure out how in the hell was she going to get this car back on the road. Then it hit her, the memory of seeing one of those telephones up the road just before she heard the popping sound come from under the car. Above the red phone on a white sign in black letters were the words, call for roadside assistance. Dorothy laughed at the idea of there being a red phone out in the middle of no where. Didn’t the president have a red phone in the oval office? And didn’t sometimes answering that phone cause things to happen. Wars have been started just by picking up that phone. Dorothy shook the thought from her head. She promised herself not to have any more weird thoughts At least not until she was back safely behind the steering wheel of the car. If this problem of hers was going to be solved she would have to take of it. Like she took care of everything else. Like the saying always says. If you want something done you better do it yourself. Dorothy walked around to the passenger side window and tapped on the glass. Ray was still lost in his own little world. He had his eyes closed and his headphones on. Dorothy had the sudden urge to open up the passenger side door and pull Ray out of the car and give him a whipping that no song on his I pod could take him away from, but the image vanished just as quickly as it was conjured. Dorothy tapped on the window again this time with a little more force. Her knuckles sent a warning up to her head not to do that again with such force or there could be consequences. Her knuckles were already beginning to see a little red. It wasn’t because of her knocking on the window the way she did. It was because while standing waiting for a good citizen to come save the day she had her hands half in and half out of the pockets of her jeans. Her finger tips stayed mainly in the pockets and the palms of her hands were pushed out and the pressure of doing this caused the knuckles to scream red. She was trying her best to look like she didn’t belong in this situation, but no good citizen was going to pull over and help a lady in distress not today anyway.

The second tapping at the cellar door of his subconscious brought Ray back to reality and he pulled the headphones off slowly from his ears. He saw his mother standing outside the car staring down at him and he took a deep breath and opened the car door and got out. The hot summer sun above made him wish he had just stayed in the car and put down the window. Ray could feel the sweat on his back under his black Splinter Porcupine t-shirt starting to form. The beads of sweat would form at the top of his back right at the collar and then would slide down his back. Making there own form of Olympics to see how fast the beads of sweat could reach his ass. And then he would have another case of swamp ass. And as he tried to make it not so obvious to any passing cars he would do his best to get to the itch between his ass cheeks. Yeah Ray hated summer, time for this reason, but he would step outside of the car for his Mom. He could tell by the look on her face that it was important. She always got that look when she had something to say. And if he just sat there gingerly and put down the window while sitting in the passenger seat and the music blaring out from the headphones he would get a tongue lashing all the way to wherever the hell they were on there way to.

I saw a telephone up the highway up a little ways. I need to go for a walk and try to get somebody out here to fix this flat. Dorothy spoke her voice sounding like she was explaining something to a simple minded child.

A flat what happened?

Well if you weren’t so busy listening to your stupid music you would have heard the tire blow out a little while ago. Dorothy said responding to the question that she knew her son would already ask. Ray didn’t like the way his mom was always putting down the music he listened to, but bit his tongue. Instead of starting a useless argument that he knew would only end with him getting grounded he leaned against the side of the car. The heat from the summer sun had heated up the side of the car enough that Ray didn’t lean for to long. He could already feel the beads of sweat traveling down his back. Dorothy knew Rays next move he would walk around to the other side of the car and look down and see the flat she was trying to tell him about. And that’s exactly what happened. Ray walked around to the other side of his moms car and looked down and then back up at her.

Wow, that tire is fucked.

Dorothy allowed her son to cuss every once on a awhile and this was one of those times. If Dorothy had cussed like that in front of her parents at Rays age, she probably wouldn’t be here right now. But boy the times have changed since when she was young. It seemed like kids were cussing like a sailor even before they were in high school. There wasn’t a day that went by that she wasn’t out somewhere running errands and would over hear some kid cussing. But Ray and her had an agreement as long as he didn’t curse in front of adults she would let it be. And if she didn’t get on walking soon there situation would be fucked. Because soon it will be night and everybody knows that the crazies come out when the sun goes down. Dorothy thought, and looked out onto the highway as she smiled. She turned away from Ray who probably didn’t see her smile anyway. She thought it was funny when he cussed. And his language was tame like a little puppy compared to his fathers. She had heard worse coming from that assholes mouth. And the language of that spewed from his drunken breath was mostly aimed at her. When Ray cussed he was mainly stating the obvious in a way only he could pull off.

So what do you want me to do? Ray asked looking again at the shredded rubber and then at his mom.

I need you stay here and watch the car so I can go use the phone and get some help.

Dorothy was a little upset that Ray had to ask her the question. Didn’t he have any common sense? What else would she have him do?

What if someone pulls over and helps put the spare on while your gone?

Now that was a better question, Dorothy thought.

She wished she still had her cell phone, but she canceled hers when she decided on the big move. She was even surprised at herself when she shelled out the extra two hundred and fifty dollars to cancel the contract she had with Verizon. She would do anything to get away from the abuse. And one less way for her husband to try and contact her was well worth the price. Ray was a little bit more apprehensive to turn over his cell phone, but Dorothy promised him that once they got settled, she would buy him the most expensive phone in the store. And she would pay his phone bill for six months.

Well if anyone does pullover, just tell them that the flat is being taken care of and thank them for there concern. Dorothy spoke in her parental voice. She hardly used this tone of communication, but she had to get on the move the sun didn’t work around her schedule. And soon the sun would be down and night would be here. From all the stories on the late night news it seemed that all the crazy people came out at night. And Dorothy didn’t want one of those crazy people pulling over and harassing her son.

What am I supposed to do here by myself?

That’s an easy question just listen to your stupid I pod and zone out like you always do.

Dorothy’s comment hurt Rays feelings, but he bit his bottom lip and remained silent. He nodded his head instead.

I’m going to get going then. Don’t do anything stupid Ray. Just stay here and make sure nothing goes wrong. Dorothy said using the parenting voice again.

Ray looked down at the flat, we have a flat tire where the fuck do you think I’m going, Ray thought.

Ok Ray said.

Dorothy turned away from her son and started walking. Ray watched as she walked down the highway until she was nothing more than a dot under the late afternoon sun. He found himself leaning against the car again, but the heat didn’t bother him this time. He was alone. Alone to do whatever he wanted to do. He found himself taking the I pod out of his pocket and the headphones that had been resting around his neck and putting them inside the car on the passenger seat that he had been sitting in for the last two hours. He never questioned his mother for wanting to get away from his father. Ray knew some things were better not asking about. He played dumb like always when she had asked him to start packing his things. Ray opened the drivers side dad to door and got the key from the ignition that his mother forgot to take with her. Just in case he had a moment of lost sanity and decided to drive the car away. Away from the scene sparks barreling from under the car as he drove on three good wheels. Ray was the farthest thing from an auto mechanic, but he had seen how flat the tire was and there was no way in hell he could drive six feet without doing substantial damage. There was a part of him that wanted to be that guy. The rebel, Ray thought as he shut the drivers side door. Who was she to take him away from his home? Take him away from his friends and school?

I’m not my father. Ray said aloud and then realized that there was no one around to hear him. As Ray was trying to figure out why in the hell he just spoke out loud the way he just did. A sound was coming from the woods to his right. It was low at first like the volume of a song you can barely hear on the radio, but it’s a song and you want to hear. There was a crunching sound probably left over dead leaves and twigs from last years autumn. Ray turned all his attention toward the wooded area that was just a few feet away from the ditch. He looked down at the car keys he held in his hand. He could surely go back and lock himself in the car till his mother returned. Who needs mommy? Ray thought, he sure as hell didn’t. He was a grown man at the age of seventeen. Whatever was coming out of the woods towards his direction would have to deal with him if it came to it. He took a deep breath and could feel the muscles in his upper arms starting to flex. The woods were pretty open and if something was hiding it was doing its best to hide. There were no big trees that Ray could see anyway, that anything big could hide behind. The thickest tree was about twelve feet away and even Rays skinny ass couldn’t hide behind it. Maybe it was his mom trying to pull a prank. No that wouldn’t be possible. He had seen with his own eyes his mother walking down the highway and turning into nothing more than a dot. She would have had to run into the woods and run all the way back through the woods and that just wasn’t her style. He knew his mom and nature didn’t like each other His mom avoided nature like a cat avoids bath water. Besides the timing wasn’t right it had only been about forty minutes since his mom had started walking. From the distance he had last seen her last it would take something like a super heroes efforts to make it back up the road toward the car. And she would have had to sprint back past trees and step over downed branches. Ray wished his mom was that cool. No whatever was stalking out there in the woods wasn’t momma. Could it be one of those crazy looking guys from that movie Wrong Turn? Or some deranged hitchhiker looking for there next ride? Maybe it was a lost playboy bunny wearing a skimpy white bikini looking for a ride to The Playboy Mansion, Ray liked that idea and smiled. The sound was coming closer now. Closer to Ray and closer to revealing its identity. The sound coming from the woods was growing with each pump of Rays heart in his chest. He had never had to deal with something like this before. Dealing with the unknown was something that a boy his age wasn’t supposed to deal with. This was an adult situation. Ray had the sudden idea to look down at the keys he was holding. There they were there was seven of them. One key was for the car. There was another key that had opened the door to his old house. Old, the word ran through his head. He was just there yesterday packing. The other keys he had no other idea where they led too. Ray reached down with his free hand and arranged the keys so that each key fit in between his fingers. Ray closed his hand and looked at his little invention. The keys appeared in his closed fist in between his fingers to form what appeared to be a claw. Whatever this was that was coming towards Ray, was sure going to have a wolverine sized fight on there hands if need be.

The noise was coming closer now and Ray stood his ground. Each second that ticked by Ray could feel his heart pumping faster and his muscles tensing up. Never really good at measuring distance Ray looked down at the ditch that was before him and then at the woods. He guessed that there was probably a good ten to twenty feet between them. Plenty of time to either fight or run like the cowardly lion. Another crunching noise and the culprit from the woods revealed itself. Ray froze up and for a moment he could feel his heart sink deep down in his chest. Ray stared into the eyes of his new friend or enemy. And the eyes of the culprit stared back and they weren’t the eyes of any human. Ray raised his make shift claw hand up and took a deep breath. This should be interesting, Ray thought. And the stare down was on and it was only a matter of time until something else happened. And Ray waited.

The sun was beginning to take its toll on Dorothy as she walked on down the busy highway trying her best to look like she belonged. Her feet were starting to hurt through her sneakers. And she could hear her heels screaming out to be released from there chamber. Like a prisoner screaming out to be released from the prison cell they built for themselves, and the prisoner comes to the realization that there never going to know the life they had before they committed there crimes. But Dorothy was no prisoner. Maybe she was a prisoner sometime ago when she lived under the same roof with the monster she once called a husband, but this was a new day and a new life was ahead of her. Why must I struggle in this life? Dorothy asked herself that question for so long now she forgot when the question began to fester at her brain. She had met Evan eighteen years ago at an after work party that her co worker Pam was having. She saw this long blond haired guy come in the kitchen as she tried to open a bottle of Captain Morgan. Evan threw a shy smile in her direction and introduced himself to her. He took the liquor bottle from her hands and opened it for her. His touch was soft and sweet and Dorothy knew right then and there that this mysterious blond would change her life. Even after all these years and even as she walked down this highway her heels blistering she could remember that first touch. Evan poured a shot of the good ole captain for her and himself and they did a shot together. Evan asked if she would like another shot and Dorothy shook her head no. She would have said No, but the Captain had burned her throat and she couldn’t speak at the moment. Dorothy remembered how Evan stayed in the kitchen with her and made sure she was all right, and how she felt the kitchen was small and confined.

When Dorothy could speak again she made small talk with Evan and even introduced him to a new drink. It was her favorite at the time, she took some ginger ale from the fridge and mixed it with the Captain Morgan. Evan took the drink that Dorothy had prepared and chugged it down. Evan coughed immediately and tried to play it off like the Captain didn’t burn his throat like it had just done to Dorothy. Years later she would regret introducing that drink to Evan because it became his favorite cocktail to have before he started on her.

The waiting game was over and the only thing left to do was eat some Skittles. The weird noises and sounds coming from the woods that had made Rays heart beat a mile a minute turned out to be a red tailed fox. The fox and Ray had a stare down that lasted only two minutes. The bushy rusty red tailed little guy was in search of some food. Ray could tell this was the case because the fox was smelling the air like it smelled a delicious Big Mac from McDonald’s. But the Big Mac was now in Rays stomach digesting. He had gotten it with his mom before they hit the interstate and woofed it down in the car. There was probably a few fries left in the bag in the car. But the bag was in the car and that seemed like a mile away. Even though he had lowered his expectations expecting there to some sort of fight, he sure as hell wasn’t going to turn his back on a wild animal. The fox was sniffing the air revealing raising it’s head every once in a while to see if it could pick up on a new scent. And hoping the scent would lead to something to fit its belly. Every time the fox raised its lowered head it revealed a beautiful white underbelly. Ray relaxed and watched the fox with interest. This was the first time that he had seen a wild animal without going to the zoo and eating popcorn and watching the apes do battle with each other.

Are you hungry little guy Ray asked his voice sounded like he was speaking to a small child, but Ray knew this was no small child. This was a wild animal and wild animals would attack a human if it was hungry enough. Worst of all wild animals carried diseases with them. The word rabies, ran through his head. If he was bitten that sure would suck. He could picture himself at the hospital getting every test under the sun done to him. And then there would be a trial of shots that he would have to endure as his mom waited patiently outside the room as he screamed bloody murder as the doctors injected a three inch needle into his spinal cord.

We have to get all the rabies out of your body son. A doctor would tell him from under one of those scary masks they always seemed to wear. How come those masks that those scary doctors always wear never have anything funny on them. Something like a smiley face or a cartoon character that kids could relate to? No these doctors have to care the shit out of little kids while there parents pay the bill. But Ray wasn’t no kid damn it. He could face this little guy as the sun beat down on them both. The skittles in my pocket, Ray thought. I’ll reach into my pocket and throw them to him or her. The claw invention that Ray had invented went back to being car keys as the little fox looked on. He reached into his pocket dropping the keys inside and felt for the pack of Skittles. People in his school and his friends always called him the candy man, because he always had some sort of candy on him no matter what time the day. Ray liked his candy. It was his weakness everyone has one. And his sweet tooth addiction was better than being addicted to the other shit that was out there. Ray pulled the red pack of Skittles out of his pocket and a few of them fell to the ground. The little fox looked on still smelling the air his little black nose twitching every once in awhile. Red, orange, green, and yellow made up the majority of the colors. Ray threw the color combination as hard as he could. His movement startled the fox a little and it shook its head like it was going to sneeze. But the fox stood its ground and never moved it’s paws from where it stood. Rays intentions were simple get the Skittles as close as he could to the fox. So that the fox didn’t need to come toward him. Some the Skittles landed in the ditch, but a lot of them landed only a few feet in front of the fox. The fox watched all this with interest its brown eyes still staring s at Ray and its black nose twitching. As the seconds passed the fox took one step forward and then another and one more until it reached the first Skittle. The fox stood over it smelling its yummy goodness. It then picked it up gently and chewed. Ray didn’t understand wild animal lingo, but judging by the way the fox lipped its lips and bent its head down taking in another Skittle in its mouth, it sure looked like it was enjoying them.

I have made yet another person a candy addict. Ray laughed out loud. Even though Ray knew that the fox wasn’t really a person more like a thing. More like a new friend.

I hope I make new friends this easy.

This time when he spoke his voice was lower than before. Maybe he didn’t want his new friend to hear the sadness in his voice. Not that it mattered anyway. Looking by the way the fox was chow ling down on the Skittles it was in its glory and didn’t want to be bothered by human problems. The fox was probably still a little baby when its momma left it and it seemed to do just fine. Just a little hungry sometimes. Ray turned his attention away from the fox for the first time sine it had appeared from the woods. A passing car had caught his attention. Not the car so much but the sound it was making. He was no auto mechanic, but by the sound coming from the car he could tell it was the muffler. There was a Pep Boys only four blocks away from his house. And there were to many mornings to count that he was awoken before his alarm clock was supposed to go off due to the sound of some loud muffler traveling to Pep Boys. The car passed by Ray with lighting fast speed. A man in his mid 40s was behind the wheel a cigarette in is mouth. He was wearing a truckers hat. Probably one of those NASCAR fans. Ray hated NASCAR. The car had disappeared down the road the only evidence of its existence was the monstrous sound coming from the muffler. The guy behind the wheel didn’t even turn to look at Ray stranded on the side of the road. So much for hospitality. Ray turned his attention back toward Mr. Fox. The little guy had made his way up near the dip where the ditch ended and lead to the woods. The fox who had its head down chomping down on some skittles lifted its head in an instant as it felt Rays eyes fall upon it. Ray felt a sudden rush of emotion fall over him. The fox was to close to him. To close to his comfort zone. He felt the need to shoo the thing away. Ray started yelling and raised his arms waving them back and forth. Doing anything he could do to scare the animal Ray stepped forward like he was going to lung toward the animal. It was a dangerous move, but he didn’t like the feeling he was getting with this thing so close to him. The fox bowed its head to the ground and picked up one more delicious skittle. And in a second the fox was retreating back towards the woods. Damn that thing can move. The fox stopped just at the opening of the woods and looked back at Ray. It had a look in its eyes that would stay on Rays mind for a longtime. The look of abandonment and sadness, but there was also a look of hope in that things eyes. The fox spoke to Ray to a degree that he had never experienced up until that point. Words couldn’t describe what the fox was trying to say. And only Ray had the right radio frequency in his soul to get what was being spoken. Before Ray could lower his arms back down to his side the fox turned its head and disappeared back into the woods. Back to where it had first appeared. Ray ate a couple Skittles and walked to the side of the car. He sunk down the side of the car until his tail bone and then his ass hit the hot ground. He was alone again and he cursed his actions to scare the fox away. Maybe the fox would have attacked him if he let it. Or maybe nothing would have happened and the fox would have made its way up the ditch and smelled him a little. Or maybe he could have snuck the fox into the back of the car. Into one of those big suitcases that were packed like sardines in the trunk. He could take the fox with him on his trip. That way he had a friend to hang out with when they got to wherever they were going. Ray looked up the road in hopes of seeing his mom, but nobody was coming. He knew he wouldn’t cry, but he felt alone for the second time today. And so he just sat there on the side of the road. Leaning against the car and letting the sun shine down on him.

Dorothy had started counting the passing cars to pass the time. But had lost count around fifty four. She then started counting her steps as she stared down at her shoes. Her feet still felt like they were on fire. Right foot in front of the other. How much time had she wasted? None of the passing cars had even slowed down to se if she needed help, but maybe that was a good thing. Dorothy could feel the beads of sweat forming on her forehead. I shouldn’t have left Ray by himself. Left foot in front of the other. A passing car shook her concentration. Dorothy looked from her shoes to the road as the car passed by. It was a Cadillac with big black tires. The color was horrible it was painted a limy looking yellow. And it looked like a fucking tank. The engine roared inside its body. The car looked like it was made in the mid 70s. It probably had one of those eight track tape decks in it. Now that’s something that they don’t sell at Macy’s. You could probably get one at a farmers market. There wouldn’t be an attractive young man behind the counter at a farmers market. There would probably be a guy in his mid fifties balding and smelling of Old Spice cologne. He wouldn’t have shaved or showered for over a week. A tooth pick hanging from his mouth for dear life. And he would smile revealing nicotine stained teeth. Dorothy shook the image in her mind and kept walking. And then there it was in front of her like an angel. The telephone that she had started this walk for was in her sights finally. It was probably a good forty yards away. And Dorothy could feel herself instinctively picking up the pace of her steps. The hurt in her feet was disappearing as hope of communicating with someone that could help her was on the horizon. Right in front of left. Left in front of right. She was getting closer. She felt like breaking out into a run for the phone, but her subconscious knew better and she kept the steady pace she was already on. If she were to break out into a run. The damage that had already been done to her heels could worsen. The blisters that could all ready be felt would burst and puss and blood would be something else she would have to deal with. And she was done with dealing with reality today. Whoever said patience is a virtue, never lived in Dorothy’s shoes. The phone was only about ten feet away now and she was all ready reaching her hand out to pick it up suddenly she felt a sharp pain shoot up her leg. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked down. For a moment Dorothy had forgotten she was on the side of a highway and that people threw things out there windows as they sped by. A broken beer bottle was under her right sneaker. Oh no, I’m going to have to go the hospital, Dorothy thought. On further inspection she realized that it wasn’t that bad. All that had happened was that she had stepped on a broken bottle. There was no sign that the glass from the bottle had gone through the sneaker. The shock that she had felt was from being stopped suddenly from