Free Mercury Man by Tom Henighan

“Liebestraum” on the harmonica, although Tom had only ever heard “Blow the Man Down,” and that only when his grandfather had had a few, which was clearly the case this evening.
    As they walked toward the kitchen, Jack leaned over and whispered into Tom’s ear. “Got a little company tonight. Maid’s night off, you know.”
    He winked. Tom winced but tried to get into the spirit of things. “I’m glad you’re having fun, Grandpa.”
    At the same time he was thinking,
I need help badly and Grandpa’s gone and got drunk. I shouldn’t have come here. What am I going to do now?
    â€œI’d like to call my mom,” he said.
    â€œYou can call her in a minute, Tommy boy. Come and say good night to Maisie first.”
    Maisie, one of the two owners of the house, was a large woman with flowing white hair, lively eyes, and a striking hooked nose. She seemed to take up a lot of space and had a Mother Hubbard air about her that made Tom a little uneasy. When he first met her he had commented to his grandfather about the nose.
    â€œGives her character,” Jack had assured him
    As Tom came into the kitchen, Maisie stood up. Wobbling a little, she greeted him with a warm, slightly glassy-eyed smile.
    The remains of a meal lay on the kitchen table — a roast, bits of bread, an enormous pie, a couple of half-empty wine bottles, and several crumpled paper napkins.
    â€œMaisie brought me over a wonderful dinner. Help yourself to some pie,” Jack said.
    Tom found suddenly that he was starving. He gobbled down some pie.
    â€œI’m on my way,” Maisie said and took a couple of uneasy steps across the kitchen.
    Jack took her arm. “I’ll just see my guest home, Tom. You make your phone call. Stay the night if you want. You look like you could use a good sleep.”
    â€œA wash, too, if it comes to that,” Maisie said. “Not that he isn’t a handsome one under all that dirt.”
    â€œTakes after his grandfather,” Jack said, winking at him. The old man and Maisie disappeared, amid much giggling and guffawing, in the direction of the front door. Tom sprang upon the phone and dialled his mother’s number.
    It rang a few times, and then he heard a man’s voice on the other end. Reichert.
    He wanted to hang up. Instead, he held the phone at arm’s length for a minute and swore.
    Reichert said, “Hello? Hello?”
    â€œCan I speak to my mother?”
    â€œOh, it’s you, guy? Your mother was wondering where you were. You didn’t call earlier, did you?”
    â€œNo. Why?”
    â€œOh, we’ve just been getting a few phone calls this evening — with nobody on the other end. Some nut, I guess. Here’s your mother.”
    Tom felt helpless, angry. At the same time he was afraid. Who’d been phoning the apartment? Butwhen his mother came on, an unexpected rage overwhelmed him.
    â€œWhy is he there again? Do you have to see Reichert all the time?”
    â€œTom, don’t be upset. You and I have to have a nice long talk.”
    â€œYou always say that, but we never do. Besides, I don’t want to talk.”
    â€œYou mustn’t be hard on me, Tom. This heat wave’s got us all exhausted. You know what Chuck’s gone and done? He’s found us two nice fans — they’ve already done wonders to cool everything down here.”
    The words got out before Tom could stop them. “Is that so he can hang around there even more?”
    â€œTom, I’m disappointed.”
    There was a long pause. Tom wiped his forehead and swallowed hard.
    â€œSorry, Mom.”
    â€œHey, that’s much better. Now I’ve got to tell you before I forget. Willy called from Damato’s and he wants you to come in tomorrow. You’re feeling OK, aren’t you? I got your note. Did you go to a movie?”
    â€œI decided not to.” He hesitated, and then, suddenly