Short stories
| Sache Sagio "For God loved us so, he gave us the wisdom of children." Every single thing has a purpose. Its value may not be evident at first, but someone somewhere will find it. The first caveman to find a burning ember feared it. Then he found it made fire. Fire kept him warm. Benjamin Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm. He tied a key to the string. Those nearby thought him a bit odd for doing it. He discovered electricity. The real use of his find would not be for years to come. Known for many things, he was most noted for the guy flying kites in bad weather. Laws had a reason for being too. Some are outdated or unfair, but still remain on the books. Willis Densmore liked the idea of being a Clarence Darrow or Perry Mason. He would strut about the courtroom and get his client off. That was his dream, to be a lawyer. To be a man with a purpose. After many years of schooling, Willis had his dream. It was reality. Willis Densmore was a man of the bar, full fledged. But Mason or Darrow he was not. His cases were not spectacular. The clients were not the innocent patsy every time. For him to survive he had to defend people he knew were guilty. That was how he learned the "system". In less than a year he became part of that very system. All he learned from his professors meant little now. Those long nights over text books never prepared him for any of the way it was done in the real world. Sitting in his office one day, he recalled what an old instructor told him once. "Willis, if you ever stop believing you make a difference, get a job driving a truck. Even the worst lawyer can win a case. It takes a man and an attorney to win it properly." The folder before him brought these words back to him. James Talbot Hines had been arrested and charged with the death of his wife and her lover. Hardly a poor man, Hines hired Willis. The young Densmore did not take the case purely out of greed. He felt with Hines,as he hoped to believe with all his clients, that the man was not guilty. This one perplexed him a bit though. Hines had all three elements against him. Hines had the means, time, and most of all motive. Hesitant at first, the nice retainer fee convinced Willis to handle it. Few others were willing to touch it though. In need of cash, Willis took Hines on as a client. In time he really got to know his client. The more he learned the less he liked him. After seven long months of hearings and trial Hines was found Not Guilty. Willis was paid well for his efforts. Mr. Hines walked away a free man, inherited his wife's money, and lived happily ever after. Willis got a reputation as the man who got Hines off. With the glory comes pain too. Soon every rich or wealthy wannabe hired him. His clientele got uglier. More than a handful of reputable attorneys shunned him.That was ten years ago. He put his life into perspective. Had he really won properly or sold out to the system? Was his acquittal record tainted by blood money? Even Willis had to ask himself that question that night. Doubting his own integrity he booked a flight to the Bahamas. The past decade had been financially good to him. Now he needed a vacation without any thoughts of law and order. Something was missing. His heart had a wide void in it. Maybe on this island he would fill it. About a mile from the main island full of tourists and avid gamblers Willis took sanctuary in the hut built for one. Calm waves broke upon the shore. In the distance a school of flying fish were observable. There were no bailiffs or defendants here, just paradise. If only his life could be this peaceful all the time. Only five huts had been constructed on this tiny island called "Quatro". Distant from each other, they offered those residing there an escape from reality. Unfortunately the relief only lasted two weeks at a time. It seemed a lot of people liked getting off the world. On the second day Will noticed a young boy at the water. His strapping body ran swiftly without care. Watching him even closer, he wondered his task there. Getting up Will walked nearer. The boy of seven or so was gathering relics from the sand. It included castaway shells of many shapes and colors. The lad did not take just any of them. He was particular. Observing him for a few minutes Will was amazed at the speed and accuracy. Not wanting to interrupt him, he stayed back saying nothing. After he left with his booty, Will went to where the boy had been. Some of the shells were quite attractive indeed. He was curious why the youngster did not choose them. Turning one over, he found a live creature inside. That boy could spot life in a shell in an instant. In all of his cases Will had devoted his energy, keeping killers out of jail. In the process he placed his own life in a shell. Nobody could penetrate the barrier he made. Willis Densmore had insulated himself from the world no one could see his pain. The words of the old professor came to him once again. Had he allowed the system to control him, or did he control the system? What would the instructor say to him now? Each day for the next three mornings Willis waited for his young man. At the same time he showed up, did his work, and left with a pouch full of souvenirs. Strangely though, he never noticed the six foot two hundred pound Willis watching him. Either that or he was too busy to care who saw him. Finally the fourth day came. Willis made up his mind to speak to the boy. Standing by the same tree he had for the previous days, he waited and watched. For some reason he failed to come. Staying longer than normal, Will kept a vigilante eye for the lad. As high tide covered the sand, he gave up and returned to his hut. Willis did not see his young friend anymore. A servant who came once a day to tidy up the hut spoke broken English. Will asked about the boy. The man looked oddly at him. He must be mistaken. The youngsters were not permitted here since Sagio died five years ago. Will was neither blind nor crazy. He argued with the man very adamantly. Upset, the servant left angrily. That evening Will had a visitor. It was the boy banging on his door. Saying nothing, he handed Willis three small, multicolored shells and left. The next morning his servant returned. Apologizing for making him angry, he showed the shells to him. The man stepped back. Sitting down he told Willis the story of Sagio. Every day first thing in the morning at low tide Sagio came to this section of beach and collected shells for his mother. She made artifacts for the tourists on the main island. About five years ago Sagio stayed too long. The pickings were thin and he must fill his pouch. When he tripped, he could not get up. No one was around to help him. The tide's strong waves swept the boy away. They found his body a week later. Every so often a tourist staying here, such as him, saw a young lad picking up shells. He always disappears on the fourth day. Those trinkets in Will's hand meant something special. They stood for life, long, and happy. As the man finished his story, Will looked upon them. Rising, he walked out to the beach. Was he mad or did Sagio give them to him? The final day on the isle Will gave the servant a bonus. Thanking him for his work, he went once more to watch young Sagio gather his shells. As Willis boarded a launch bound for the main island, he could swear, the young boy was waving to him. Not knowing why or caring less, Will waved back. The skipper of the boat looked and saw no one. Will did though. He saw a void closing in his heart too. Back in New York Willis Densmore stopped doing his criminal law practice. He went into corporate law instead. His friends came back and eventually he married. In time he and his wife had two sons and a daughter. Their firstborn was named Sagio. Over his crib hung a webbed sache holding three multicolored seashells from an enchanted isle. Carl Hills chills32@comcast.net |
Copyright 2007 (All rights Reserved)
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