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SueandIgotoffthebusatSavannah,thenIwentandgotacupofcoffeeandsatoutsidethebusstation.WhatcouldIdonext?Ididn’tknow.SoafterIfinishedmycupofcoffee,Itookoutmyharmonicaandbegantoplay.Iplayedtwosongs–andamanwalkedpastandthrewsomemoneyintomyemptycoffeecup!Iplayedtwomoresongs,andsoonthecupwashalffullofmoney!
Bytheendofthenextweek,weweregettingtendollarsaday.Then,oneafternoonwhenIwasplayingtosomepeopleinthepark,Inoticedthatalittleboywaswatchingmecarefully.ThenIlookedupandsawawomanwhowasstandingnearhim.
ItwasJennyCurran.
Herhairwasdifferent,andshelookedabitolder,andabittired,butitwasherallright.AndwhenIfinishedplaying,sheheldthelittleboy’shandandcameacross.
Shewassmiling.‘Oh,Forrest,IknewitwasyouwhenIheardthatharmonica.Nobodyplaystheharmonicalikeyoudo.’
‘Whatareyoudoinghere?’Iaskedher.
‘Weliveherenow,’shesaid.‘DonaldworksinabusinesshereinSavannah.Wecamehereaboutthreeyearsago.’
WhenIstoppedplaying,therestofthepeoplewalkedaway.JennysatnexttomewhilethelittleboystartedplayingwithSue.
‘Whyareyouplayingyourharmonicainthepark?’askedJenny.‘Momwroteandtoldmeaboutyourshrimpbusiness,andhowrichyouwere.’
‘It’salongstory,’Isaid.‘Isthatyourlittleboy?’
‘Yes,’shesaid.
‘Whatdoyoucallhim?’
‘HisnameisForrest,’shesaidquietly.Thenshewenton,‘He’shalfyours.He’syourson,Forrest.’
Ilookedattheboy,whowasstillplayingwithSue.‘My...son?’
‘IknewthatababywasonthewaywhenIleftIndianapolis,’saidJenny,‘butIdidn’twanttosayanything.Idon’tknowwhy.Iwasworriedthatperhaps-‘
‘Perhapshewouldbeanidiot,’Ifinishedforher.
‘Yes.ButForrest,he’snotanidiot,he’sreallyclever.’
‘Areyousurethathe’smine?’Iasked.
‘I’msure,’saidJenny.‘Hewantstobeafootballplayer.’
Ilookedattheboy.‘CanIseehimforaminuteortwo?’
‘Ofcourse,’saidJenny,andshecalledtohim.‘Forrest,IwantyoutomeetanotherForrest.He’sanoldfriendofmine.’
Theboycameandsatdown.‘Whatafunnyanimalyou’vegot,’hesaid.
‘He’sanape,’Isaid.‘HisnameisSue.’
‘WhyisitcalledSueifit’sahe?’
IknewthenthatIdidn’thaveanidiotforason.‘YourMomtellsmethatyouwanttobeafootballplayer.’
‘Yes,’hesaid.‘Doyouknowanythingaboutfootball?’
‘Abit,’Isaid.‘Butaskyourdaddy.He’llknowmorethanme.’
Heputhisarmsroundmeforasecond,thenwentofftoplaywithSueagain.
Jennylookedatme.‘Howlonghavewebeenfriends,Forrest?Thirtyyears?Sometimesitdoesn’tseemtrue.’Shemovednearer,andgavemeakiss.‘Idiots,’saidJenny.‘Whoisn’tanidiot?’
ThenshegotupandheldlittleForrest’shand,andtheywalkedaway.
Well,afterthat,Ididafewthings.FirstIphonedMrTribbleandtoldhimtogivesomeofmymoneyfromtheshrimpbusinesstomyMom,andsometoBubba’sdaddy.
‘ThensendtheresttoJennyandlittleForrest,’Isaid.
ThatnightIsatupthinking.‘PerhapsIcanputthingsrightwithJenny,’Ithought,‘nowthatI’vefoundheragain.’ButthemoreIthoughtaboutit,themoreIfinallyunderstoodthatitwasbetterfortheboytobewithJennyandherhusband,andnottohaveanidiotforafather.
Anidiot?Yes,I’manidiot.ButmostofthetimeIjusttrytodotherightthing.
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