“The score, ladies and gentlemen, is tied at the bottom of the ninth. We have two outs. It all comes down to our local hero, John Frank McKenzie. Can he get us a home run and save the championship title? The answer remains to be seen.”
“Good morning, sugar pie!” John Frank’s mom wrapped her arms under his and pulled him up. She already had his clothes laid out. ‘I hate purple. I always did.’ “Now, momma has a 9:00 o’clock perm to do this morning before the wedding today, so we gotta hurry, okay? Lift your arms up and I’ll put your clothes on you. That purple looks so good on you. Now there, lay back and let me change your diaper.” ‘God, what is going on? I don’t understand!’ His breathing increased and he began to shake his head back and forth. ‘Get the hell off me momma! Why are you doing this?’ “Now, now, calm down! Baby, I just don’t understand why you insist on fighting me every single morning. You know you have to get dressed. You know I’ve got to work. So, please, just cooperate with me! Please!!”
She hated to yell at him, but sometimes she just couldn’t help it. It had been a year since the accident and he seemed to be getting worse than better. He fought her when she dressed him, fed him and bathed him. She tried to be patient with him; but she was growing more tired everyday. She finally got him dressed and put him in the wheelchair; and only now did he calm down. If he had a choice, he would live in that damn chair. As soon as she unlocked the screen door, he was out. She would see him riding around town throughout the day, passing in front of the beauty shop at least a hundred times. She didn’t have to worry about him in Cornwell, Mississippi. In this town, everyone looked out for him. He was their fallen hero. She knew they wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
John Frank looked up at the sky. ‘Are you this blue and beautiful for the rest of the world; or just for me?’ he asked. He started down the street. He was only a block from down town and everyday, he made his rounds, seeing familiar faces that he could never quite place and talking to people who once knew but could no longer remember. “Hey Mrs. Lloyd, where’s Miranda?” he stuttered. Mrs. Lloyd was working in her prized flower garden trying to get the weeding finished before the Delta heat and humidity took over. “Good morning, hun. Miranda’s working down at the pharmacy this summer, remember?” Everyday he asked about his old high school sweetheart and everyday the answer was the same, only John Frank didn’t know it. ‘Poor thing’ she thought as he continued on down the street. ‘What a shame.’
‘Why didn’t Miranda tell me she was working at the pharmacy? I’m sure I talked to her last night.’ He had no idea who he spoke with last night or any other night for that matter. A red bird flew pass his wheelchair and settled on a branch of the oak tree on the corner of Main and Sunflower. John Frank stopped rolling and locked eyes with the bird. The bird seemed to be speaking to him with only his eyes. Not a chirp was made from the bird and not a breath was taken from John Frank. The two, like long-lost soul mates, just stared into each other’s eyes. ‘Red, red. I think that color is red.’ After a while, the red bird flew away and John Frank started back down the street, towards the pharmacy.
‘Why am I going here, again?’ Maybe it would come back to him when he got there, he hoped. “John Frank! Hey, man, how ya doing?” Michael called out from across the street. John Frank smiled back. He knew this guy from somewhere, but he just couldn’t place him. Michael crossed the street and was now standing in front of him. Tears came to his eyes now every time he saw his best friend. How could God let this happen? John Frank just stared at him with a blank look on his face. His mind began to wander.
‘You know what would be cool? If we were blood brothers. Come on, let’s do it.’ John Frank went first. He always went first at everything. That was one of the reasons Michael loved him so much. He took his pocket knife out and ran it down the center of his thumb. There was a burning sensation, then blood oozed down the side of his hand. He took a lick and tasted it in his mouth. ‘Now you.’ He handed the bloodied knife to Michael. “Don’t be a wus.” After minutes of just staring at him, this is what John Frank finally had to say to Michael. “Um, what, John Frank?” Now he realized why he hated to run into John Frank. It was always so frustrating trying to carry on a normal conversation with him. Again, John Frank just stared, settling back into the trance he now spent so much time in. Michael began to fidget. “Well, good seeing ya, man, but I gotta run.” With that, Michael crossed the street and made his escape and John Frank rolled on down the street.
There was no destination for him. He had no idea where he was going, so he just kept rolling. He looked across the street at the pharmacy. For some reason, he wanted to go in. He turned his wheelchair to the left and headed for the door. Johnny slammed on the brakes, coming to a screeching halt, his horn blowing hard. “That damn crazy ass kid. Someone’s gonna kill that damn fruit cake one day. He just needs to be locked away in the damn nut house.” John Frank never looked up. Something at the pharmacy was calling him; only he couldn’t understand what it was. Henry, who had worked at the pharmacy for the past three summers, noticed John Frank coming up after hearing the commotion outside. He held the door open for him. Miranda stood behind the counter. When John Frank rolled in, the room fell silent and dark. The only light she could see was in his face. Her heart began to flutter and she bit down on her bottom lip.
Her bottom lip was red and swollen, she had gnawed on it for so long. She couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. “I think I want to break up, John Frank. Maybe just for the summer. I care about you a lot, but I just think we should be able to see other people this summer.” Tears were streaming down both their faces.
“Hey, John Frank. How ya been?” He stared at her. The room grew smaller. ‘I’m gonna marry you one day, Miranda. Just wait and see. One of these days I’m gonna make you my wife. I don’t want to see anyone else; but if you do, I guess I can’t stop you. Call me when you realize that I’m the one for you and I’ll be there.’ “John Frank, I said, ‘How are you doing?’” Nothing. Miranda continued to bite down on her lip. “Well,” she cleared her throat, “you look well. Just as handsome as ever.” The tension grew. Then a glimpse of realization came across John Frank’s eyes. He looked down at the ground and sighed. He turned his wheelchair around and headed out the door.
All eyes were on Miranda, now. “Can I take my break now?” Her bottom lip was on the edge of bleeding. “Sure.” the pharmacist said. He knew how she felt. He had had a true love once, too. And, just like Miranda, he had lost her. Betty watched from the beauty shop’s front window, tears streaking her make up. Everyday her son went out seeking his one true love only to get his heart broken every time. She couldn’t understand what went on inside his mind, why he continued to torture himself this way. She waved to him as he rolled pass her; but he didn’t acknowledge her.
John Frank rolled around the corner to Magnolia Street, where the restaurant held all the action this Saturday morning. Amber was running from table to table, making sure the table cloths were starched and ironed to perfection and name cards were in place. John Frank parked his wheel chair at the table up front just as he had every day. “So, you sure are going through a lot of trouble for this reception. Are you sure it’s worth all the time and effort you putting in it? I mean, are you sure you getting paid enough? I don’t want you to get taken advantage of or nothing like that.” Cindy was Amber’s best friend and by far the nosiest person in the county. Amber wouldn’t give an inch. “I assure you, dear, I never get taken advantage of, not by nobody. John Frank, honey, I didn’t see you coming in. I’ll have your sandwich right out. Just been busy getting ready for the big wedding reception this afternoon. You better hurry up and get back home so your momma can get you ready to go. I know everyone’s gonna be expecting you.” John Frank never said a word. He just sat in silence, slowing eating his grilled cheese sandwich, sipping Amber’s famous mint julep tea and listening to the conversations people held around him.
It was amazing how they would say anything about anyone without fear of being overheard. They acted as if John Frank was deaf. Throughout his lunch, John Frank heard the farmers’ wives talking about who was cheating on whom, who had an abortion in Jackson, who was pregnant and who was going bankrupt. They probably wouldn’t have said as much in front of a three year old child; but, in front of John Frank, they had no problem gossiping.
After finishing off the last of his sandwich, John Frank moved toward the door. “I’ll put it on your charge account, hun. Have a good day! Now, hurry on home and get ready for that wedding, hear?” Amber called out as she stood in the doorway and watched John Frank head for the dollar store. A car passed on the street with the windows rolled down and the radio blaring. “Every Rose Has Its Thorns” by Poison was pouring out into the street. John Frank stopped his wheelchair.
“Every rose has its thorns, just like every night has its dawns…” Miranda sang along to the radio as they sat in the car. They were parked at the witch’s cove on the river side of the levee-their favorite hide-a-way from the rest of the world. John Frank leaned in a kissed her softly before she could sing any more. She pulled back and looking into his eyes. “I want tonight to be the night,” she whispered, “Go to the dollar store before it closes.” With a slight grin, he started the car back up and headed back into town.
John Frank closed his eyes and began to hum as he rolled toward the dollar store, a slight smile on his face. He looked up and saw his aunt. Still humming, he went up to her. She began to talk. He could see her lips moving; but couldn’t hear what she was saying. He kept humming. He looked up at the sky. ‘Are you that blue and beautiful for the rest of the world or just for me?’ “…for the wedding…” she continued. ‘Red. I think that color was red.’ He looked back up and she was getting in her car to go. ‘What did she say?’ She was waiting for some kind of reply. “Yes ma’am.” He began to roll on down the street.
She had said something about a wedding, but what? Who was getting married? ‘I’m gonna marry you one day. I’m gonna make you my wife.’ ‘Every rose has its thorns…’ ‘I want tonight to be the night…’ What was he doing here on side of the street? He had to go. He had to get dressed. He was getting married to his one true love today.
Lessons Learned From The Rainbow 