The Slob Monster of Stubble Stone Creek

Vonda Norwood

This is a series filled with crime and family drama.

Chapter One

In early spring of 2002, on a country highway in Kansas, twin headlights from a Greyhound bus carved a narrow path through a moonless night. The massive coach surged forward through the twilight, its tires humming rhythmically against the asphalt. Stars shone on the windows, casting ghost-like reflections of half-seen faces.

Inside, and at the very last seat, the engine’s steady growl vibrated through the floorboards, settling deep into Maria’s bones. The smell of fast-food wrappers and diesel fuel mingled in the stale air. The back seat is bouncier, she agreed, but kept that thought to herself. She pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek. Don’t admit it to Ruben. You know he’s going to ask.

Under a weak, yellow haze from overhead lights, passengers slumped against high-back seats. Some slept with slack faces, while others gazed ahead with hollow eyes. Maria sat stiff, her fingers gripped dark-gray, vinyl armrests tightly and she stared across the aisle. There, a young woman clutched an infant to her chest. The mother’s eyes were closed, her breathing slow and deep, while the baby’s bald head bounced softly beneath her chin.

Ruben held the window seat next to his wife. He leaned into Maria’s shoulder. His breath was warm against the back of her neck as he whispered in Spanish, “Have you gone broody?”

Maria rotated, pointing her right knee toward the crisp ridge that she had ironed into his brown slacks just yesterday. She matched his quiet tone. “Why did I marry a crazy man?”

Ruben grinned. He rested his forehead on her temple. “It’s what crazy women do. Stop staring.” His sweaty brow warmed her skin and sent a chill racing down her spine.

“I’m—” She shivered.

“You need to rest.” Ruben reared his head and gazed down into her brown eyes. “This is a long trip, Baby. If you don’t rest, I don’t rest.”

Maria glanced around quickly, then brought her lips to his ear. “There are a lot of weird people on this bus.”

He cupped her cold hands. “You’re the only one I see acting like a weirdo.”

“What?” She pulled from his clutch. “I’m just watching out f—”

Directly behind them, the bathroom door snapped open. A lanky man burst into the aisle, exuding an acrid stench of urine and motor oil. He’d been in there so long that Maria forgot anyone had gone into the latrine. She winced and turned to look over the headrest. The towering, skeletal figure yanked the door handle until it closed with a sharp, final click.

Maria’s eyes watered. She bowed her head and blinked rapidly. Beside her, Ruben leaned forward and held his breath.

That violator of the senses coughed behind tightly closed lips. He twirled toward the aisle and stumbled into the side of Maria’s chair. Then he bounced into the side of the seat where the young mother and baby slept. The baby’s head popped up. Her mother gasped, cradled her infant closer and leaned toward the empty window seat that was beside her.

Maria rotated her denim, skirt-covered knees toward the aisle. No matter how hard she blinked, the yellow haze masked the full view of that stranger’s face. Still coughing, he paused and stretched a grimy, red-freckled arm toward the pink blanket draped over the young mother’s back. Maria’s eyes grew wide and her nostril flared. She placed an open palm between the stranger’s dirty fingers and the woman’s back.

Ruben hopped to his feet and in English he shouted, “Man, what are you doing?” Passengers flinched in unison.

The cougher’s hand recoiled, he whipped around and stumbled up the aisle. A sharp, piercing cry from the baby cut through many grumbles and groans.

The intruder blended into the yellow haze. Ruben lowered himself to his seat. Maria frowned and she turned to her husband who nodded and pointed back and forth, motioning for her to trade places with him.

***

After settling into his wife’s original seat, Ruben gazed across the aisle. The young woman swayed with her quieted baby to the steady, rhythmic jolts of the bus. A faint, powdery scent of milk replaced the foul stench that had choked the small space. The mother glanced up. Ruben smiled softly. She clutched the infant firmly and stared toward the darkness out her window.

Ruben shifted to face forward and he cleared his throat.

Maria reached over and patted his knee. She whispered in Spanish, “I told you.”

***

The next morning the bus rolled into Elk City, Oklahoma nine minutes earlier than scheduled. Their bus driver stood outside the open door. As diesel and asphalt filled the air, he wore a big smile and nodded politely to passengers as they exited, as well as to those new travelers as they boarded. A few people snickered, wondering aloud if they had time to visit the casino up the road. Others stretched, cleared their throats, and mumbled about needing coffee from the massive travel plaza. That sprawling pit stop served as their terminal, and it doubled as a tourist trap packed with restaurants, clothing boutiques, pottery and jewelry stores. Ruben exited with the crowd on a mission to retrieve coffee and anything as long as it is a healthy breakfast for two.

At the back of the bus, Maria had reclaimed her original seat, and formally introduced herself to Mrs. Arla Mitchell and her daughter, Bonnie from across the aisle. The two were on their way to El Paso, Texas, where a new tank commander named Heath Mitchell would be waiting to welcome them to their next, temporary home.

Maria yawned and then returned her hand to her lap where she brushed away imaginary crumbs from her denim skirt. “From Nebraska to El Paso with a six-month old can be a long trip.”

“I know…” Arla sighed and shifted the baby to her right knee, allowing Bonnie’s pink, sock-covered feet to dangle near the aisle. “This is our third move,” Arla’s dark-blue eyes grew wide. “and we’ve only been married for a year and a half.”

Maria gazed down into the baby’s bright blue eyes. “Oh wow… How old are you two?”

Arla held tightly to Bonnie with one hand, while she packed loose baby items from the seat next to her, placing them into a diaper bag. “Nineteen. Heath’s twenty-one.”

“You two have a long and happy life to look forward to together.”

“Yeah, that’s how we see it. But some people thought we were too young.” Arla chuckled. “Some people just don’t get it.”

“Good news!” shouted a woman who just leaped from the steps to standing beside the driver’s chair, capturing Maria, Arla and Bonnie’s full attention. The woman held a red paper bag filled with popcorn. “This is Stinky’s stop. He’s not continuing with us!” A handful of passengers, including Maria and Arla cheered. The woman slapped a handful of popcorn into her mouth. She turned to the seat behind the driver’s and muttered, “Move over Johnny. I’m sitting there.”

Johnny chuckled, “Give me some popcorn first.”

Arla and Maria watched as the woman kicked at the man’s leg. “Go get your own.”

Johnny stamped his foot. “Damn it, Tammy!” He stood and as she maneuvered around him, he told her,  “I’ll get me something better than that for breakfast.”

 Tammy dropped to the chair. “They ain’t got nothing better than this in there.”

Maria’s eyes grew wide. She glanced at Arla who then giggled. “I’ve been through here a couple of times, Maria. They got some good food in some of the places in there.” Arla leaned toward the aisle and stared forward. “That popcorn does smell good.” Bonnie sucked on her pink fist and as her mother giggled, so did she.

Maria smiled at her new friend. “Bonnie’s such a sweetie.”

“She acts like she’s ready for another bottle.”

Maria nodded. “Maybe she’s just teething.”

“I hope so, because if she eats too much, she’ll sleep too much.”

Maria reached over, took hold of Bonnie’s free hand then caressed soft, tiny knuckles with her thumb. “She’ll sleep too much?”

“Miss Bonnie Blue slept all night last night.” Arlar kissed the top of her baby’s head. “Which means she might not sleep much tonight.”

A shadow cast upon Maria’s arm. “I’ll babysit,” said a man who plopped a backpack onto the seat in front of Maria.

“Uh,” Arla leaned back into her chair and looked up.

Maria released the baby’s hand and she sat up to look the man over. He was average in height, too thin. As he spoke, she saw at least three missing teeth, one in front and two on the bottom right.

Henry introduced himself. He placed the blue backpack on the seat next to the window. He sat and turned, draping his legs into the aisle. “I’m the oldest of seven boys. It’d sure be nice to care for a little girl for once.”

Maria frowned, bit her tongue and she stared wide-eyed at Arla who appeared to be mesmerized by the friendly newcomer who continued to speak fast, “I know what’s it like, my mama had her hands full. But I never did mind to step up and help out.”