Red Wheelbarrow 2008 text FINAL REVISED.indd - De Anza College

“I mean, he is just so thoughtful,” she went on, beaming at
Roger.
“You know, Joel,” Roger drawled, “I just love your wife.”
“I know you love her,” Joel replied calmly. He stood and
took something from inside his coat.
To this day, I don’t recall ever hearing the gun go off. I know
Marilyn screamed because the bartender told me that later. Roger
stood quickly. As each of the bullets hit him, he staggered. One.
Two. Three. Then it was all over.
Grab Joel or help Roger? Suddenly the room was full of
deafening noises. Joel started slowly toward the door. He was outside
before I could think of what to do. I sent one of the male patrons
after Joel and shouted at the bartender to call the police. I steered
Marilyn into a chair. She was shaking.
I got down on the floor next to Roger. The bullets had gone
straight through him. I could see them lodged in the wall opposite.
There wasn’t much I could do.
The police arrived. The bar patron was holding onto Joel
outside. A paramedic came in for Roger. He said he could handle
Marilyn. I went outside. A police officer was questioning the man
who had grabbed Joel. I nodded my thanks. He waved his hand as
if to say, “Anything to help.”
Another officer approached me. “Mr. Carmichael has
something for you.” He rolled his eyes. I followed him over to the
police car where Joel was sitting, as calm as ever. He reached into
his pocket again. I flinched. He chuckled.
“Honestly. Did you really think I’d be after you? This is your
payment.” He handed it to me. “I’d refer you to my friends, but that
would clearly be inappropriate under the circumstances. My friends
will be a very different sort now, won’t they?”
I turned away and walked back to my car, tearing the check
into tiny pieces and scattering them into the wind as I went.
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