Gestures - Mike P

 Storytelling with Gestures (before it went off the rails)

Delbert Does the Big D, a Mini-series docudrama, part 1

He bussed in last week from Turkey, Texas. A panhandle boy he was all

his life. But times were changing. The town’s major employer, Sonic Drive-

in, paddle-locked up with a sign that just read “gone.” He took it like a

trooper. Picked up his last check and packed up his only Sunday-go-to-

meeting clothes. Then bought a one-way ticket on a Trailways bus to Big

D. “Now don’t get yerself all citified, Del,” his sobbing momma pled. “Aw,

momma, you know’s me better than that.” His big smile always melted her

like a Baby Ruth in the August sun.

It was his first Saturday night away for the 34-year-old virgin. She was all

dressed up in blue. He was watching her at the bar, and, well by golly, she

was watching him too. He looked at her, just somehow knew that her heart

had been broken. Her heart was in a mess. He caught her eye and smiled.

And she winked in return. Delbert was not one for small talk, or much of

any talk at all.

He'd been around a time or two up in Lubbock, and knew that some girls

wanted a fancy dan on their arm or a sweet-talking Romeo by their side.

Del wasn’t a good looker by nobody’s measuring rod, and neither could he

recite poetry like them rich college boys. But when he smiled, tossed his

head back and cracked his knuckles, he could just tell this little lady was

smitten with him.

Ol’ Del even broke down that day and “got myself one them store-bought

haircuts”. A little dollup of pomade, slick ‘er back and he figured he’d be

one of them chick magnets he read about in People magazine. Just saying

those two words—chick magnet-- made him blush in a bad way, but he had

love on his mind tonight. And love don’t need no two-syllable, big city

words to be heart true.

Lordy, if she wasn’t still smiling at him. She was a real looker. All gussied

and with makeup like you see in them picture shows. Del was getting

serious now. He popped the top gripper on his shirt, flexed his broad

shoulders and flashed her one of those Magic Johnson grins. It was

working! It really was. She smiled again and flicked a finger toward him.

No, not the bad kind of flick. One of those, “I got a secret to tell you,” finger

flicks. What’s a poor boy to do but be polite to a lady. Delbert scooched up

next to her on a bar stool and when she winked and touched his hand, he

blushed even more. When he tried to tell her his name, she just kept

calling him sailor and putting her finger over his lips. He weren’t no military

man, but that’s okay. Why Can’t this be Love played in his mind. Over and

over. Why not? He was in love! He just knowed it.

Del fished out his wallet. A wee bit over $400 in cash money from his life’s

savings out of Turkey Bank & Trust. Drinks cost a bundle in Dallas, and his

new love was a thirsty gal. Her hand touched his thigh, causing him to

quiver and blush even more. Not since Raylene Crenshaw touched him

there on prom night, ….ah, no it really ain’t none of your business where

Raylene touched him. Now is it! Back to the story. She whispered that her

brother was coming soon to give them a ride to a motel on someplace

called Harry Hines Boulevard. Harry Hines. That sounded classy and

probably one of those high dollar places where the rich folk go. Places with

a color tv, ice maker machine, HBO, and a swimming pool out front.

You know, her brother was a lot older than her. A whole lot older. And he

didn’t look a lick like her neither. Not a bit. He didn’t say nothing, just

nodded at Del to get in the car. Lickety-split, they pulled into the motel

parking lot with a flashing sign “by the hour, great rates.”

Room 9 wasn’t too fancy, and it carried a familiar smell. Kind of like the

nursing home where Delbert’s grandmother lived. That stench faded when

his gal fixed him a “special drink,” she said. Said it would make him feel

relaxed and good. Sure enough, it did! Del felt a bit lightheaded. A big

bang on the door followed, and clenched fist came next-- smack dab

between his nose and both eyes. Confusion followed sharp pain, followed

by total darkness. And then a whole lotta nothing.

Banging on room 9’s door awoke Del. “Open up, you pay now, or I call the

police.” Del’s head was throbbing and his saw double. Stumbling to the

door, he was met by front desk lady. “You pay now! Now!” He was nearly

buck naked, ‘cepting for his JC Penney jockeys. Del was dazed. Del was

confused. No clothes. No wallet. No cash money. And worst of all, no girl.

And then it became clear. He knew what had happened. What terrible

event had transpired. Cold, hard reality. A wake-up call from hell, itself.

The horror of it all! He looked at the lady and screamed, “Help me, ma’am,

my fiancee’s done been kidnapped!”

……….to be continued…….