Hal's Story a Greenville Story

Hal's Story

Another story that came to me in the strangest manner. I have to figure out how to sleep all night. I had no attention of writing a story about Hal who was a very minor character in another story.

My usual disclaimer: No editor, bad English is my 1

st

language. I finally need to admit something that may get me banned on this site. I use Open Office. The Yugo of word processing programs. It has the worst spell check ever. So it doesn't catch 80% of the mistakes I make.

I hope you enjoy this story.

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I'm finally getting home at 5pm. I know most people get home at 5pm. But working in construction getting home at 5pm is really late. Especially starting at 7am most days. I'm late because we're trying to finish up this job we're on.

I've just started my own construction company. I left my old company and went out on my own 3 months ago. Starting a construction company is surprisingly easy. Getting the business to support it and grow it is something totally different. There are so many small solo businesses in the trades, sometimes supply out strips demand. These solopenuers get locked in with certain General Contractors and that's how they make their living. Its the breaking in that's hard. And it usually happens when someone drops the ball on a job. It happens when they get greedy and bid for a price but later try to demand more money to actually finish the job. Or they bid on to many jobs and one doesn't get done. Worst case scenario is they try to grow and hire the wrong people who either don't know how to do the job, or try to undercut the owner by taking on the job themselves.

I have 3 guys working for me. I've known 2 of them since I got out of high school and started in the business. Ramon came highly recommended by Oscar, considering he is his brother in law. They are guys I can trust and know how to do the job.

We got behind on the job because the GC didn't order the right material. We do framing on houses. If we get behind, the whole job gets behind. We've been putting in long hours the last few days to get caught up. Today was the last long day as we finally got caught up. We have another job starting next week. That's the key, keep the jobs coming one after the other.

Karin, my wife, was already home. She works at the Route 74 Diner as a waitress in the mornings. She does pretty well there as the tips are very good. She's bought home $700 to $800 a week in tips alone at times. Between the two of us we are doing pretty well. We have a nice 3 bedroom house I fixed up. I hope to start filling it with kids soon.

I finally noticed dinner wasn't ready or even cooking. Karin was sitting at the kitchen table with a Bud Lite. I'm not the most observant guy but I could see she had something to talk about. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a Miller for myself and sit at the table.

"I'm leaving you Hal." She says without any emotion.

"You're what?" I really didn't know if I heard her correctly.

"I'm leaving you. I want something better, Someone who I can relate to better." She looks me in the eye as she says this. I can see the coldness in her gaze.

"Someone better, what the hell does that mean? I'm not good enough for you now? Is that what you're saying?" I'm passed being mad right now, I'm beyond pissed. She says she wants someone better than me. Really? "No wait, you wouldn't do this unless you had something lined up already. Who is the cunt?"

"It doesn't matter who it is. My choice has been made. I'm moving out today. You're a nice guy Hal, but I found I want more out of life than what a construction worker can give me. You'll be receiving the paperwork on Monday. I'm not asking for anything except 50% of the house and savings. I don't care about your little business." She's almost dismissive in her attitude as she gets up and walks to the door. I finally notice a small overnight bag by the door.

I throw my beer can at her I'm so mad. I've never been a violent man because I've never had to be violent. The beer can explodes against the wall by the door. She turns towards me with her eyes wide in fear. I've never raised my voice let alone threw something at her. "Get the fuck out of my house you stinking bitch. Get out before I do something I'll regret more than marrying you!"

"You bastard!" as she grabs her bag and runs out the door.

That stinking bitch, someone better. I'm busting my ass and this bitch wants better! The more I think about it the madder I get. I know she wouldn't walk out without a plan. That's not how she works.

We started dating at the end of our last year in High School. We had known of each other but never ran in the same circles. I played football, starting tight end at Booker T Washington, on a bad team. She played flute in the band. The marching band won more competitions than the football team won games our senior year. We were at a graduation party for a mutual friend. The old cliche of seeing her across the room. I don't know what it was, if she was dressed differently or what but I was attracted to her. So I approached her and started a conversation. An hour later we had a date for next Saturday to go bowling.

I told my friends and she told her friends and somehow it turned into a group date with 8 other people. We still had a great time but promised each other our next date would be solo. We dated for 9 months before we got married. Neither of us where going to college. I had worked with my dad and uncle in construction since I could hold a hammer. Plus I wanted to be able to help my mom more since my father died 4 years ago.

Karin had worked as a waitress part time and went to work full time after she graduated. Between the two of us we were doing okay for 20 year olds. I asked her to marry me and she agreed. We had a small wedding with only 50 friends and family. We lived with my mother until she retired to Florida to stay with her sister 2 years later. She left us the house to live in and the next 2 years I did some repairs and improvement. I upgraded the bathroom and rearranged some rooms for a more open concept. It increased the value by 30%.

I thought we were happy until tonight. We had even been talking about having kids. Then she hits me with this bullshit. We'll see who the better man is!

2 days, a case of Miller High Life plus a fifth of Jack Daniels later I got up for work with a massive hangover. The guys knew I was pissed off and hungover about something when I got to work. I got some good natured ribbing which helped me forget briefly about my marriage falling apart. At least until I got home and was met by an older guy in a suit. I remembered why he was there and took the famous, or infamous manila envelope with the divorce papers inside. I threw them on the table by the door, walked to the kitchen and got a Miller. Looking in the fridge I realized I had to do or at least start grocery shopping. I was coming to acknowledgment that my life was quickly changing. Doing my own shopping, learning to cook, laundry and house cleaning. Stinking Bitch. Whenever I thought about it I got mad all over again.

I finished off the Miller and ordered a cheesesteak and fries from Antonio's for delivery. I went and grabbed the envelope to see what the bitch really wanted. I know I would need to have my lawyer look it over. From what I could decipher it said what she told me Friday. 50% of the house and savings. She had already taken her share before she left. There wasn't much in the checking as the money from the last job hadn't been deposited yet. I checked the account Saturday between beers and found she had stopped depositing money into the shared account a month ago. Stinking Bitch. The business wasn't mentioned. One thing she didn't take into account was the house wasn't even in my name so it couldn't be included in the divorce action.

My food showed up and I found they put mushrooms on my sandwich. I hate mushrooms and when I called to complain I might have been a little more ruder than I needed to be. If that Stinking Bitch had been here to cook like a good wife I wouldn't have to deal with this shit. My food showed up 40 minutes later and I had lost my appetite by than but forced myself to eat anyway. I promised myself I wouldn't get drunk any longer. Doing so would mean she was winning.

Tuesday I told the guys what I was going through with Karin. Being good friends they offered to send her off to a whorehouse in Chiapas in southern Mexico. Jose says he knows someone who knows someone. Ramon knows a concrete guy and Oscar was quiet which was scarier than all the idea's I had been getting. I told them I appreciated the advice but I would let my lawyer handle it.

I made a call to my lawyer, Tom Pohl. He handled incorporating my business and he also did family law. Its just him and his boss Harry Spencer there but he does good work at a good price. We scheduled to met Thursday at 11am.

Meeting with Tom, I showed him the divorce paperwork she served me with. He thought it was a fair deal except the house which couldn't be included in the divorce since it was still in my moms name. We didn't have kids and she wasn't trying to get part of the business so it would be a pretty easy divorce. If there is such a thing.

Life went on the rest of the week. I still got some jokes from the guys about what was going on in my life. It was all in good fun. They never crossed the line.

A week later that Friday evening I got home earlier than usual to find a BMW parked in the front of the house. I pull in the driveway and walk into the house. I find some trash bags by the door. I hear talking coming from the bedroom. I know this stinking bitch isn't in my house with some guy. I run up the steps 2 at a time. I get to the top of the stairs and a guy, about 30 years old, 6 foot 2 maybe 190 pounds wearing a nice suit. This stinking bitch brought this motherfucker into my house and in my bedroom!

His eyes go wide when he sees me. I don't know if he realized how much of a beating he had coming. And a beating he got. He might have been 5 inches taller then me but I had anger and a lifetime of construction work on my side. I remember landing the first punch to his nose hearing a crunch and followed that up with several more to his face and stomach and then feeling something hit me on the back of the head.

I woke up in a hospital bed. I went to touch my head and found myself handcuffed to the bed rail. The nurse came in to check on me and told me the doctor would be in to talk to me later. She was very professional. I guess they treat you differently when you're in the prison ward or under arrest. The doctor came in I guess 30 minutes later and explained I had a concussion and a broken hand. They would keep me a day because of the concussion. They had to put my hand in a soft cast since I may be in jail. He talked to me the same way you talk to a stranger when you have no choice. He left without another word. The room was as barren as you could get and still not violate the Geneva Convention. No TV, no clock just 4 plain white walls.

Finally 2 police officers came into the room without knocking. They introduced themselves as Detective James Wilson and Detective Sargent O'Brien. They were even more matter of fact than the nurse and doctor. Wilson started off with reading me my Miranda Rights. Asked if I wanted an attorney present and I said yes. They said fine, took my attorneys name and left.

The only visits I got was the nurses that came in to check my vitals. None had much to say.

I was worried about my crew. I had no way to contact Oscar to let him know what was going on. These guys depended on me for their livelihood. That's another thing I can blame that Stinking Bitch for.

The next day my attorney, Tom Pohls and the police showed up. Tom told him he needed some time alone with me before they could interview me. Once the police left Tom got down to business. He asked me what happened that day. I told him about finding a strange car parked in front of the house and seeing some guy coming out of the bedroom. I had figured who he was but I told Tom I thought he was a burglar for something. So yes, I attacked him.

He explained the guy had a broken nose, fractured eye socket, concussion and 3 broken ribs. He might have died if Karin didn't hit me in the head with a frying pan, causing my concussion.

The police came back in. Asked the standard police questions and I told my story. I explained I didn't see my wife there but that guy coming out the bedroom. Having thought he was a burglar. The questioning lasted an hour. I found out the District Attorney was going for attempted murder in the 2

nd

degree and 1

st

degree Manslaughter based on the injuries sustained and that my soon to be ex-wife had let him into the house.

I talked to Tom about the chance for bail but wouldn't find out until I got out of the hospital and went before a judge. I asked him to call Oscar for me and have him finish the job if I wasn't out in time. I told Tom to write up a Power of Attorney so he could take care of making sure my guys got paid. Being a prisoner I wasn't allowed visitors. It really didn't matter much to me. The only family I had was my mom in Florida and some cousins that I wasn't close too. Karin's parents always treated me well. Especially her father. We would go to the Charlotte Knights baseball games. Once a year we would take 3 days and go to a couple of Nashville Sounds baseball games and visit Dollywood. I wonder what that Stinking Bitch told them. I know her brother and sister liked me. Oh well that's life.

Sunday afternoon I was released from the hospital and taken to the city jail. It was everything you did not know it would be. You had to have a medical examine. Which is weird for me since I just got out the hospital. It is what it is. I had to strip down and be searched. They didn't hose me down or throw disinfectant powder like in the Shawshank Redemption. I got my blues, including underwear. Why I couldn't keep my own underwear was another strange thing.

I wasn't put in a single cell but in what looked like a dormitory with 90 other guys. I found out this was the short time area. People waiting for trial, getting out in a few days or doing a sentence of 90 days or less. My goal was to keep my head down and get the hell out of there in one piece.

Monday morning came early. They served what they called breakfast. Grits, toast, a sausage patty the size of a quarter and milk in a bag. I was told tomorrow was bacon day. I found out breakfast had been served early because of people going to court. They lock the phones until everyone has left for court. Its so you can't arrange for an ambush like in a bad police movie.

I'm chained wrist and ankles and duck walked onto the transport bus. Every time I dealt with one humiliation after another I thought of that Stinking Bitch.

Tom came to meet with me once I got to the courthouse. I'm one of the few that had a paid attorney. Most are using Public Defenders or going Pro Se, meaning defending themselves. But you know what they say about a Man who defends themselves has a fool for a client. He explained this wasn't the trial. It was to get bail and I needed to appear as sincere and repentant as possible.

I went back to the holding cell until my case was called. I finally went in front of the judge. As I walked in I noticed Karin and the guy sitting in the, what, stands or whatever you call it. He looked like he got his ass beat like a drum. He might be better than me in some things but fighting isn't one of them. I gave a smirk as I walked past them. She gave me the finger.

Tom explained how I wasn't a danger to the public. I had never been in trouble before. I owned my own business yadda, make me look good, yadda, I'm really a peaceful guy and more yadda.

The Judge asked why I attacked Mr. Irving. "You honor, I came home and found a strange car in front of the house. I thought it might be someone visiting my neighbor so I didn't really pay it any mind. Imagine my surprise when I find who I now know as Mr. Irving coming out of my bedroom. My soon to be ex-wife had left the previous Friday so I didn't expect anyone to be in the house. I thought he had broken into the house and was stealing stuff and I was protecting what was mine. Next thing I knew I was in the hospital handcuffed to the bed. I did what any man would do your Honor."

The ADA was requesting remand due to the severity of the charges and how bad the injuries to Mr. Irving were. Karin and who I found out the full name was Robert Irving, who was a lawyer in Charlotte spoke of being afraid if I was let out. Tom rebutted they have nothing to fear as long as they don't break into my house. Which caused an uproar with Karin saying it was her house also. I loved the look on her face when Tom explained she had no claim to the house but that would be handled during the divorce proceedings.

The judge called for order and granted a $100,000 bail meaning I had to come up with $10,000. Tom said he would handle it and I should be out within the day. Giving Karin and Irving another smirk and getting the middle finger back from Karin I was escorted back to holding. To say she was pissed would be an understatement, Stinking Bitch.

I got out before we were served dinner. I was told I would miss out on the chicken thighs. I guess it was my loss. I got an Uber home.

When the car pulled up Ms Wilson, my next door neighbor, came over from sitting on her porch. "Hal, is everything okay? I was worried sick when the ambulance and police showed up and they took you out on the stretcher."

"It's okay Ms. Wilson, there was a little misunderstanding. Karin and I separated and are going to divorce." She didn't look as shocked as I thought she would be.

"I had seen Karin and some guy with his face all bandaged up taking things out of the house the last couple of days. I thought it was strange considering what happened earlier."

"Ms. Wilson, have you seen anything strange before all this happened? Like a BMW parked either in front of the house or in the driveway?"

"Yes, I was afraid to say something to you Hal in case I was wrong. But I've seen it at least 6 times in the last 2 months."

"That Stinking Bitch!"

"Hal, please language, I know your upset but watch your language."

"I'm sorry Ms. Wilson. I'm going to go in now. Its been a long weekend for all the wrong reasons." I had helped Ms. Wilson with some repairs around her house and I cut her lawn the same time I cut mine. She learned I wouldn't take money but I would accept oatmeal raisin cookies.

I went inside and immediately showered off the prison smell and ordered some food. I called the guys to let them know I was a free man and would see them tomorrow on the job. I still had to met with Tom about the damn trial.

I went to Tru-Value before they closed and bought some locks and changed everything that night. I also disconnected the garage door opener.

As I was getting ready to go to bed and the phone rang. I almost didn't answer it because I was dead tired. I didn't get much sleep in jail. I came to learn there are 2 types of people in jail. Those who sleep at night and those who sleep during the day. The TV is on 24 hours a day and has one sound level, loud. And there is always a lot of noise.

I answered the phone to find out it was Karin's Dad, Earl. "Hey Hal, sorry to call so late. I've been trying to get in touch with you. Karin says you been out of town. We still on for the game next week?"

Jesus, with everything that's been going on I completely forgot about us going to the game next Wednesday. "Earl, when did you talk to Karin?"

"Sunday night when I couldn't reach you. She said you had went out of town for business."