The Delivery

Caleb sat in his room, feeling anxious. He had been waiting for a phone call for awhile now from his boss, Alex. A deal had been struck for Caleb to deliver “some goods”. All that needed to be done was to wait and hear if they would agree to his asking price.

It had been over two hours, and Caleb still hadn’t heard from Alex. To relieve

himself of his anxiety, as he had always done, he wrote in his little black book. A lot that had been written in this notebook was a mixture of notes, poems, ideas, names & numbers of people long gone. But mostly journal entries. If one were to read these entries, you’d see a lot went through Caleb’s mind.

“It’s been two hours. I’ve yet to hear from Alex. I really hope they say yes to my price. After all, this will be my last job. I’m going straight after this. Living a better, peaceful life. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve yet to decide where I’ll go. That doesn’t matter. Once I make the delivery, get my money, I’m don-“

His phone finally rang. Caleb looked at the screen and was joyed to see Alex’s name on the screen. He answered it before it could rang a second time. “Alex!” exclaimed Caleb excitedly. “$20,000, buddy!” Alex said.

Caleb was overjoyed. He wanted to get up from his seat and dance around the room. “Oh, what the hell!” he thought and did just that. Alex could hear him over the phone shouting joyfully and hoping around like a madman. The most happiest of madmen ever heard. Caleb picked up the phone. “I couldn’t help myself,” Caleb said, almost out of breath. Alex just chuckled. Caleb sat back down and calmed himself down. “Where’s the meeting taking place?” Caleb asked. “As soon as we hang up, I’ll text you the information.” responded Alex. “So, this is really it for you, huh?”

“It is.”

“You’re absolutely done after this?”

“I’m done. I’m finished. Nothing in the world can change my mind.”

“That’s too bad. You’re the best delivery man I could ask for. It’s gonna hard to replace you.”

“You’ll find someone better. I’m sure.”

“You said it, not me.”

Caleb laughed. He had come to see Alex not only as a boss, but as a good friend, of sorts. He would miss him. “I know you’re not doing this alone. Who you taking with you?” Alex asked. “Oh, umm…” Caleb awkwardly responded. “It’s someone you know.” Alex was silent for a moment. Two moments. Three moments. Then finally asked. “You’re not taking your brother, are you?” Caleb went silent. This was Alex’s answer. “Christ, man! I’d rather you take some homeless bum off the streets then that asshole.”

“Blood is thicker then water,” quoted Caleb. “That’s what the man said.”

“That man didn’t meet your brother.”

Caleb laughed. “True. Besides, the guy you recommended wasn’t available.”

Alex sighed. He knew there was no way to change Caleb’s mind. “I now understand why your ex called you, Stu.”

“Cause I’m stubborn as hell.”

“Stubborn as FUCK, really. Just be careful out there.”

“Yes, mother.” Caleb sarcastically remarked.

“I hope you know, what you’re doing.”

“Me too” Caleb thought. “Of course!” Caleb confidently lied.

“Good luck, buddy.” Alex said before hanging up. And with that, Caleb was off. He checked the truck of the car, making sure the package was secured. He hoped into his car, reading the text message Alex sent him with all the information. But before he could go, he had to find his brother. He scrolled through his phone, looking for his brother’s number. When he found it, he sent him a text. Where are you? Caleb asked in the text and added, I need a favor from you. It’ll be worth your wild. Eventually, he got a reply back, which simply read, where else would I be at this hour, bro! Caleb knew exactly where his brother was.

“You look like someone who enjoys a good shot of tequila,” said David with confidence as he leant against the bar. His attention was on a beautiful woman who was also leaning against the bar. Her attention though was at the rest of the bar. David was curious if she was waiting for friends or on the look out for a man to spend the night with? He was working towards the latter. “Time to see if this’ll be my lucky night,” he thought. “No guts, no glory.”

She looked at him after a moment. “What makes you so sure I like tequila?” she

asked. Being the confident man he was, David smirked. “Call it a, gut instinct.”

“Oh really?” she replied. “And, is your gut instinct always right?”

“I’m standing here, aren’t I? I’m still breathing. Blood still flows through my veins.”

She was intrigued. At least, that’s what David believed, judging by the way she looked and smiled at him. “How is the tequila here?” she asked. “The finest you’ll ever have.” David answered. “Sure, why not,” she said. David turned to the bartender and ordered two shots of tequila. The woman stood next to David. “Do you come here often?” She asked him. Before David could answer…

“This is practically his home away from home!” David and the woman turned to see Caleb standing beside David. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Caleb asked David. “I’m still introducing myself, bro,” replied David. “This is your brother?” The woman inquired. “Unfortunately,” both answered. She laughed. “That was adorable!” She said. It was, to her. A group of women entered the bar, waving at the woman. She waved back. “One of you have a pen?” She asked the brothers. David shook his head. Caleb handed her a pen. She took it, grabbed a napkin and wrote something on it. She then folded it and gave it to David. “Text me,” she said with a smile and joined her friends. As she walked off, Caleb and David watched her.

“She forgot to give me back my pen,” Caleb said. David pocketed the napkin and turned to his brother. “What can I do for you, cockblocker?” David asked with annoyance. “You got my text?” Caleb inquired.

“You asked me where I was, and I told you! And, I’m regretting that! What more do you want from me?!”

“Your help.”

“With what?” The bartender brought over the two shots of tequila David ordered. “One more shot,” David ordered. “I don’t want one,” Caleb declined. “It’s not for you.” The bartender placed the third shot next to the other two shots. David picked up one of the shots. “What do you need my help with, bro?” David asked before downing the first shot. “I need your help with a delivery.”

“I thought you were done with all that?” David picked up the second shot.

“I will be after tonight.”

“Lucky you.” David downed the second shot. “And, what do I get out of it?”

“$10,000.”

David slowly looked at Caleb. Astonishment was written all over his face. Caleb smiled. He was not bullshiting his brother. David grabbed the last shot of tequila and downed it with lightning speed. “Swing it!” Caleb knew his brother well enough to know that was his way of saying, yes.

As they walked to the exit, David put an arm around Caleb. “Did I ever will you you’re my favorite brother?” David said with a humorous smile. Caleb looked at his brother. As reliable as David was at time, he could also come off as an idiot at times. Especially when it came to his sense of humor. “I’m your only brother, idiot.” Caleb replied. “All the more reason why you’re my favorite!” David said as he put his brother in a headlock.

The woman watched as David left with his brother with a smile on his face. She’d hope to see him again soon.

David awoke suddenly to the sound of the car door closing. To make sure he was alert and aware and not under the influence of the tequila he had, he slept through most of the trip as Caleb drove to the delivery point. David was in such a deep sleep, he had no idea where he was or what was going on. It wasn’t until he saw his brother in the drivers seat, holding two cups of coffee. He looked out the window and saw they were at a rest stop. A rest stop that looked as if it was in the middle of no where.

“Here,” Caleb said handing one of the cups of coffee to him. David took it. He was still waking up. He sipped the coffee. Hot and bitter. Just how he liked it. Especially after drinking. “How far are we?” David asked, groggily. “Half an hour away,” Caleb answered. He turned the car on and drove out of the rest away and back onto the road.

David sipped his coffee as he stared out the window, watching the dark world outside whiz by. Caleb kept his eyes on the road. The headlights of the car was the only thing that illuminated the dark road. It reminded him of when he and David were children and they would drive at night with their father. As a dare, their father would turn the headlights off and see which of them would chicken out and demand the headlights to come back on. Caleb would always be the one to chicken out and demand the headlights back on.

“You’re really gonna give this all up, huh?” David said, breaking the silence. He did not look away from the window. Caleb glanced at him. “Yep,” he replied, looking back at the road. David looked at Caleb. “Where are you going to go?” David asked. “Out west, somewhere,” replied Caleb. “Where exactly? I’m not sure. Why do you ask? Want to come?”

“No, I’m fine where I’m at. But, you better drop me a line when you get wherever you land.”

“Of course. I’ll even make sure there’s a spare bed for you.”

“Sounds good.”

“Finish that coffee! I need you awake, alert, and ready!”

“So bossy,” David said with sarcasm, downing the coffee like he did with the tequila shots.

Caleb opened his eyes. Confused, he wondered why he was laying in the back seat? The image of headlights and people aiming guns at him appeared in his mind. “Was I dreaming?” He thought, staring up at the ceiling of the car. “It wasn’t a dream. It really happened! Something must’ve gone wrong with the delivery. But, what? How?” he tried to piece it together, only to feel pain in the back of his head. He then thought of his brother. He faintly recalled seeing David fall to the ground. “Was he dead?”

“Dave!” Caleb shouted, sitting up. “Bro!” David replied. He reached behind

him, giving Caleb a reassuring pat. “It’s alright, bro! We’re safe.” Caleb looked out the window. Despite it being dark, he could tell they were driving. Driving fast. “How are you feeling?” David asked. Caleb felt some pain in the back of his head. “Must’ve been hit in the back of my head,” he thought. However, that didn’t matter. He had to know… “What happened?”

“The good news is, we got the money,” David answered, grabbing a bag from the passenger seat and placing it next to Caleb. He stared at the bag for a moment before opening it. He turned the overhead light on. $20,000. Finally in his possession. Except… “What’s the bad news?” He asked, still staring at the money. “They want us dead,” replied David. Caleb looked at David. He couldn’t believe what he heard. “Why?” He asked. “I don’t know,” David said as he shrugged his shoulders, watching the road. “Where are we going?” Caleb asked. “Wherever, bro,” David replied.

Caleb stared out the window, watching the trees rush by in the night. “This really was it.”