Volume 2
Chapter 18 – Joshua
November 3rd, 2005.
Unlike before, I don't feel it's necessary to explain who I am, but for those that have little memory, I will do it again to avoid confusion. I am Charles Richard Williams, son of Benjamin Williams and brother of Chester Williams, born the 24th of July of 1986 in Monterey, California to Janine Wilford, and I'm being your narrator for these chapters which describe my experiences and those of Manuel Eric Cañas in the italian island of Capri. The events currently narrated date back to November of 2005, myself being nineteen years old at the time. Without any further relevant information, let me continue.
Just a couple of meters from the coast of Capri, on a beautiful day of November, I was waiting for Ethan to return after inspecting the Holden Commodore, which was parked on one side of the road, where cars aren't supposed to be at in Costa di Amalfi's port. The moment he left the car, I had no doubt he would look at it, turn around, and come back to the Mustang. However, as he was looking at it, two men walked out from a nearby building and approached him from behind, caughting him entirely by surprise. One of those men was tall, slender, and relatively young, probably on his thirties. Judging from his clothes, or lack thereof, since he was wearing only sandals and shorts, along with a pair of sunglasses, I deduced he suffered from heat much more than the man walking next to him, who was his exact opposite in terms of physique: very old, so much that I could barely believe he was walking without help, other than his cane, and humpbacked, which made him look shorter than he actually was. Mentally, I
imagined how would he look like if he hadn´t that hump; I was surprised when I discovered he would be as tall if not taller than the younger man at his side. Both were caucasian; the old man had little hair left on his head, of grey color, whilst the younger one had dark gold blond colored hair, along with a tan I envied at the moment I saw him. Sofocating to death inside of the car due to the abscence of air conditioning while waiting for Ethan to return, I was unable to hear their conversation, but it wouldn't be long until Ethan told me everything about it... After being told by the old man who he was, Ethan asked confused:
Ethan: Excuse me. Come again?
Joshua: I am Joshua Sheperd, Aaron's brother. I asume you are Ethan Norton, right? If I made a mistake, please excuse me, sir, but you look a lot like an acquaintance of mine.
Ethan: No... you didn't make a mistake. I am Ethan Norton, but...
Ethan scratched his head, because he didn't know what to do at the moment. That's what Ethan told me, at least, along with every other little detail he remembered. Before he could finish his sentence, the old man interrupted him.
Joshua: He was wrong, it wasn't that hard after all.
Daniel: Yup, not hard at all. We didn't even have to move, father. You must be glad.
Ethan: Who is this "he" you are talking about?
Joshua: Who else than my brother?
I remember that instant very well. Suddenly, Joshua didn't looked at Ethan anymore, and nailed his eyes on the Mustang. Judging by the angle of his head, and his eyes, I supposed he was looking at the horse logo in the grille. I didn't move a finger to avoid catching his attention.
Joshua: Sometimes, I think the Earth orbitates around Aaron, instead of the Sun.
Ethan: It's an interesting theory you have there.
Joshua: But as you say, it's only a theory. I'm glad to be talking with you, Ethan. I haven't seen you in a while. How long has it been?
Ethan: Thirty-seven years, if my memory serves me right.
Joshua: That long, huh? Oh, right. If I'm not mistaken, after Aaron left for Vietnam.
Ethan: Precisely.
Joshua examined Ethan carefully, before smiling at him.
Joshua: If I still recognize you after thirty-seven years, it means you haven't changed at all. Judging by your expression after you knew who I was, I believe I can't say the same about me.
Ethan: You will always be the same Joshua to me.
Joshua: I'm glad.
The young man took advantage of the situation to speak.
Daniel: I'm really sorry for what I said before.
Ethan: I guess I had it coming, right? I would have done the same, had I been in your position. You have a very nice Commodore.
Daniel: Heh, thank you.
Ethan: You are welcome. By the way, what brings you two to Capri?
Joshua: We are paying a visit to you three, of course. I haven't seen you since ages ago. It was time for Daniel to meet his uncle, also.
?????: It was about time.
Everyone turned around after hearing a familiar voice. Not surprisingly, it was Aaron, and he was coming out of the same building Joshua and Daniel came from before. Aaron approached Daniel, while keeping his eyes on Ethan. “Out of a building came Aaron, the same building that Joshua and his son had came from not long ago. I noticed he had been looking at my since the instant he stepped out of the building, for I know he was still mad at me for the fight a few minutes ago. Never in the entire scene he took his eyes off me, and I recall very well that it made me nervous, so nervous that I had to think twice whatever I wanted to say”, is what Ethan would tell me two years later, today.
Aaron: It was about time you two paid us a visit.
Aaron proceeded to speak to Joshua. As always, he kept his eyes on Ethan.
Aaron: I see you have found him. Was it too hard?
Joshua: Not at all. We did not even have to move, right Daniel?
Daniel: Right.
Then he pointed at Ethan's chin with his left index finger, “since he cannot fully extend his right index finger, due to a weightlifting accident he had when he was younger”, according to Ethan.
Aaron: Does it hurt?
Ethan: Barely, not as much as before.
Aaron: Wait until tomorrow, though.
I remember clearly that Aaron laughed a bit and turned around, which clearly contradicts Ethan's testimony that Aaron never took his eyes off him, but he did laughed. However, Aaron himself told me that indeed he was always looking at Ethan, so there's the chance my mind may be playing tricks on me. However, he said he never laughed. After Aaron pointed at Ethan's chin, the old man reacted.
Joshua: I had been looking at it most of the time.
"If he was telling the truth, then he must be a master in the art of slyness", Ethan's textual words.
Joshua: So that's what happened. In the end, I was right. You did this to him, Aaron. Can't say I'm surprised, but I am disappointed. I won't even bother to ask why, as I'm sure you won't have an aswer.
"Aaron parents were long dead, and the most similar person alive to a father was his older brother. Joshua knew this, and so used his authority against Aaron". Aaron looked at Joshua, but didn't say a word. He knew that arguing with his older brother was pointless, especially when he was likely to lose.
Joshua: Don't look at me, look at him. Will you apologize or not?
Aaron nodded his head, and slowly approached Ethan, with good intentions.
Aaron: I am... I am sorry for that, Ethan. I shouldn't have done that.
Ethan: It's not your fault. I should be the one apologizing, I didn't mean to say that to you.
Aaron: Thanks.
After staring at each other for a while, Aaron hug Ethan, and to be honest, the scene resulted quite uncomfortable to me. After they stopped hugging, Aaron spoke to Joshua.
Aaron: What happened was---
Joshua: Don't tell me. I don't want to know. You two solved it, then we are alright.
Aaron: Alright.
Joshua: But don't let it happen again, okay? You two are too old for these kind of things, especially you, Aaron.
Aaron: It won't happen again, I promise.
After Aaron apologized, I saw Daniel look at the Mustang, like his father before him.
Daniel: By the way... there seems to be a kid trapped in the car. Who is he?
Aaron: What are you talking about?
Ethan: He means Charles. I brought him with me.
Ethan looked at me, and signaled me to get out of the car. While I unlocked my seatbelt and walked towards them, Aaron and Ethan continued speaking.
Aaron: Why did you bring him with you?
Ethan: He wanted to come, I told him I was going to look for you.
Aaron: What for?
Ethan: He wants the keys of his Elise back. Eric decided to stay at home. By the way, you do have his keys, right?
As Aaron was about to answer, I was standing in front of the four men: Ethan, Aaron, Joshua, Daniel, all of them forming a "C", pointing to me. I didn't know what to say, and for good reason. Two of them were strangers, and there was a good chance one of the other two wanted to see me dead. I stood in silence for a while. The scene before with Aaron and Ethan hugging was nothing compared to this moment. After a few seconds, Aaron spoke.
Aaron: Say something.
Charles: What...?
Ethan: Say something.
Charles: I don't...
The old man seemed to know I wouldn't introduce myself anytime soon, so he decided to take the initiative.
Joshua: My name is Joshua Sheperd, and this man at my side is my son Daniel.
Daniel: Nice to meet you.
Joshua: Now, would you tell us who you are?
I admit that Joshua presenting himself and his son was of great relief to me, so I felt confident enough to introduce myself to them.
Charles: My name is Charles Richard Williams. You can call me Charles if you want to, sir.
Joshua: Sir?
Surprised, the old man looked at his son.
Joshua: Did you see that? Learn a thing or two about manners from this kid and maybe you will avoid future fights.
Daniel: But I never...
He looked back at me, but this time Aaron was the one who spoke.
Aaron: Charles? That's a new one.
Joshua: Huh?
Joshua obviously had no idea what was going, but it wasn't his fault.
Joshua: What do you mean?
Aaron: When he first arrived, he almost scolded me for calling him Charles. What happened after I left that I missed, Ethan?
Ethan: I don't...
Charles: Nothing. You can call me Charles if you want to. It doesn't bother me anymore.
Aaron: I sure will. Let us see how long can you take it, Charles.
Joshua: Anyways. I couldn't help to notice your surname is Williams.
Charles: Yes.
It was predictable what was going to happen. The old man was about to sparkle a conversation about my father. Before doing so, however, he salivated.
Joshua: You probably can image what am I going to say, right? No, you know what I'm going to say. Am I right?
Charles: Are you going to ask me about my father?
Joshua smiled, and spoke to his son quietly. I didn't heard what he say, but I know it was something along the lines of "I'm liking this kid already".
Joshua: Yes. Yes, you are right. I believe I don't need to ask you what's your father's name, don't I?
Charles: If you are looking for Benjamin Williams... no, you don't.
He smiled at me, and for some reason, that smile told me a lot about my father.
Joshua: I'm willing to bet you don't know much about him, right? No, wait, don't even answer. I'm willing to bet you know almost nothing about him.
Charles: You are right, I don't.
He shook his head before I answered, he already knew what I was going to say.
Joshua: I thought so. Tell me, how old are you, Charles?
Charles: I turned 19 on July.
Joshua: And your father, rest in peace, died in 1991... I'm terribly sorry for what happened to him, Charles. I can't even begin to imagine how hard must have been to you growing up without a father.
Charles: It was hard... But to be honest, I was four when it happened, so I actually never got the chance to make a strong bond with him as to be terribly saddened with his death. My brother and my mother, however, weren't as "lucky" as me.
Joshua: Your brother. You mean Chester, don't you?
Charles: Yeah, but how did you...?
Joshua: I thought I made clear that I met your father personally. And before you say it, no, I'm not related to you in any way.
The old man turned his head towards Aaron, who was looking at me with a sad expression in his face.
Joshua: If you don't mind, I think it would be better for us and my back to go to your house and continue this conversation there, don't you think? It would make things easier for me.
Aaron: Sure, not a problem.
Joshua: Thanks a lot, Aaron. I really can't take this pain anymore. Daniel, let's get back inside.
Daniel: Yes, father.
Daniel grabbed his father's arm and helped him walk across the road into the building they came out from minutes earlier. Meanwhile, I stood with Aaron and Ethan next to the Commodore. They talked for a while, but I honestly didn't care. What I wanted was to talk to that man again at Aaron's house.
Ethan: Were you faking?
Ethan directed his words at Aaron, while watching the building.
Aaron: No.
Ethan: Good.
Aaron, who was also watching the building, asked the same to Ethan.
Aaron: Were YOU faking?
Ethan: No.
Aaron: Good.
Ethan: What will we do about it?
Aaron: We will forget it. We will do the same as Joshua, we will act as it never happened.
Ethan: Good idea. What do we do now, then?
Aaron: You two should head back home in the Mustang.
Ethan: And you?
Aaron: I will walk home, as always.
Ethan: Are you sure you don't want to drive home with Charles? You must be tired.
Aaron: No, you go with him. Besides, walking will do me good. I don't want to end like Joshua. You need to put a bandage on that cut, also. Some ice will also help.
Ethan: Alright.
Then Ethan grabbed my shoulder, and talked to me.
Ethan: Did you hear that? We are going back home now.
Charles: Where's Conan?
Ethan: Huh?
I took my eyes off the building for a second, and looked at Ethan. I was still thinking about Joshua by the time Ethan grabbed my shoulder, but for some reason, the thought that I hadn't seen Conan since I woke up crossed my mind at that moment.
Charles: I ask because I have not seen Conan since... well, this morning. You?
Ethan: I haven't seen him since... Now that I think about it, I haven't seen him at all today.
Ethan then looked at Aaron, hoping for a different answer.
Ethan: What about you, Aaron?
Aaron: What?
Ethan: When was the last time you saw Conan?
Aaron: Last time? Yesterday at night, after he came to the house, of course.
Ethan: True. What did he do after yesterday's race?
Aaron: When the race was finished, that is, after Eric won it, I called Conan to tell him that Eric was the one driving the Charger. Afterwards... I don't know. From the time he left the house for the race to the time he got back while Charles was in the bed, I don't know, to be honest.
Ethan: Don't you find that strange?
Aaron started thinking. It was unusual that Conan did something like that, and I can tell it right now because, having lived here two years, I familiarized with each one of them and their habits.
Aaron: I don't know.
Charles: Why don't you call him to his cell phone?
Aaron: What?
Charles: His cell phone. When I first got here, I scrolled through Ethan's contacts in his cell phone, only to find Conan's. Then I talked with him. You said it yourself that you called Conan after the race, so I suppose you called him to his cell phone, right?
Aaron: I didn't mean that, I meant that it's something so obvious that I completely missed it. Do you have your cell phone here, Ethan?
Ethan: It's in the car, I will look for it.
Ethan then ran to the Mustang. Something wrong was going on, and I could see it in Aaron's eyes. Ethan told me today, "You know I don't cut my fingernails often, so I am careful when opening the doors of my cars to not scratch the handles. This time, however, I wasn't careful". When he got back from the car, with his cell phone in his hand, he started dialing Conan's number while walking towards us.
Aaron: And...?
Ethan: Wait.
The three of us waited to see if Conan answered the call.
Ethan: He isn't answering. I'm calling again.
Once again, dialed the numbers, while me and Aaron waited for an answer. Finally, it happened.
Ethan: Conan?
(On the phone) Conan: Ethan?
Ethan: Conan, where are you?
Conan: Capri, where else?
Ethan: Where? Which part?
Aaron grabbed the cell phone from Ethan's hand.
Aaron: Let me talk with him.
Ethan: Put it on speaker phone. That button.
Aaron pressed the button. We were all more relaxed now that we are speaking with Conan. You could see it on Aaron's face.
Conan: Hello? Are you there, Ethan?
Aaron: Conan.
Conan: Who's this?
Aaron: It's Aaron. Listen, where the hell are you?
Conan: I'm in the parking lot, but why?
Ethan: What are you doing there?
Conan: I'm working on the Shelby, why are you asking me this? What's wrong?
Aaron waits a couple of seconds before answering him.
Aaron: Nothing. Come back to the house once you are done, we have visits.
Finally, he hung up. Then he looked at us.
Aaron: I'm too old for this 🤬. I will tell him this later, but I'm telling you two before. If you ever, ever decide to go somewhere here, tell me beforehand, so that we don't have to go through this 🤬 again, understood?
Both me and Ethan nodded our heads.
Aaron: And with anticipation, nothing like "Oh, Aaron, I'm leaving now, see you later". I have to know, I may have so plans in which I need you to be with me. Understood?
We nodded again. He then gave Ethan his cell phone back.
Aaron: Alright... 🤬, sometimes it seems he thinks with his 🤬 instead of his brain.
I couldn't avoid to smile slightly when he said that. Ethan told me it's an expression one of his friends used to say.
Aaron: Now... are you two going home, or what? Where's is Eric? He stayed at home, right. What for, though?
Ethan: He decided to wait for Conan.
Aaron: You better go back now. We don't know how long will he work on that car.
Ethan: Work? He doesn't have any tools, what could he be doing?
Aaron: Maybe fixing some things.
Ethan: It's the same case, he doesn't have any tools.
Aaron: That's what we think, it doesn't mean it's the case. Still, we don't know. Eric must be bored as an oyster already, you should go and make him company.
Ethan: If you say so... By the way, tell your brother to move that car from the road.
Aaron: It isn't bothering anyone.
Ethan: Still. It shouldn't be there.
Aaron: Nobody is driving a car at the moment. And they can easily avoid it. I bet you are complaining because you almost crashed against it, probably because you were driving too fast.
Ethan: Whatever...
Ethan looked at me, pointing with his head at the Mustang.
Ethan: Shall we go?
Charles: Yeah, he must be bored.
Before I walked to the Mustang, however, Aaron grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to turn around.
Aaron: Oh, yeah..
He drew something from his pants, which I quickly recognized: my Elise's keys, which I grabbed instantly as soon as I saw them.
Charles: Thanks.
Aaron: Ethan told me you were looking for these. I was going to give them back to you after I got back. Still... if you want to make any progress in your driving skills here, you shouldn't drive that car for a while.
Charles: You could have told me that you had them, instead of Eric.
Aaron: So it was him, after all... can't keep a secret, I guess. See you at the house, I will be walking from here. That apologize of before goes to you too, in case you didn't know.
Charles: Thanks... Alright, see you later.
With my keys back and the fight from before already over, I walked towards Ethan and entered the Mustang after him. Once inside, we buckled up our seatbelts, and after Ethan checked everything was alright, drove off to Aaron's house, quickly accelerating to the 50km/h limit that Aaron had imposed over the inhabitants of Capri. On our way there, we had a conversation again, one of the many we would have for the next two years.
Charles: So we are cool with him, right?
Ethan: Yeah. I expected this to last longer, but problems involving Aaron get solved quickly with Joshua around.
The Mustang approached the first corner, Ethan holding the wheel with his left hand and the shift knob with his right hand.
Charles: By the way, where do you know that man from?
Ethan: From the States, obviously. But if you want me to get accurate-
He braked slightly, and downshifted from fifth to fourth, then to third, and cleared the corner.
Ethan: -I met him in Seattle, Washington. You have been there before, haven't you?
He upshifted from third to fourth, and stopped there to allow the car to drive uphill.
Charles: Yeah... I have.
Ethan: And you beat Conan there... amazing.
Once again, he braked and downshifted to third, clearing the second corner of the road, afterwards shifting back to fourth.
Ethan: Still... that race means nothing. Had he wanted to, the outcome would have been the opposite.
Charles: I know. I heard your conversation yesteray.
Ethan: And?
Charles: And now that I think about it, seeing yesterday's race it was only obvious that he lost on purpose back then.
For the third time already, he braked and downshifted to third, clearing the third corner on the track, shifting again to fourth.
Ethan: Then you didn't hear well.
Charles: What?
Ethan: What Conan said was that he handicaps himself in the races he has outside of Capri, whenever he sees fit.
Charles: But why? With what purpose?
Ethan: To see what the rest of the drivers can do, of course. Hadn't been for that in the first place-
As he spoke, we approached the fourth corner, he started braking and this time he downshifted to second gear, using heel and toe downshifting.
Ethan: -you wouldn't be here, Charles.
Charles: I guess you are right.
Ethan: Of course I am.
Ethan: I'm going to speed things up a bit.
Ethan thus downshifted to second gear, and took the right handed sweeper at full throttle, using the gas pedal along with the steering wheel to steer the car into the corner, as I tried to remain inside the car using whatever means I had at my disposition.
Charles: Wow, you are a damn good driver, Ethan.
Ethan: Thank you.
Ethan: I never respect the limits at this part of the road, there's just no reason to.
He then proceeded to clear the left-right-left corners combination while keeping the car in third gear, using the entire width of the track to maximize the speed of the Mustang out of the last corner.
Ethan: Besides, Aaron's not here with us, so it's not like he is going to find out, right?
Charles: S-Sure.
He braked and downshifted to second gear, and steered to the right to clear the last corner before the downhill leading to Aaron's house.
Ethan: Oh, well.
Ethan: You can stop grabbing your seatbelt, I will slow down.
At that point, I realized Ethan was right: his car was a mess, there just wasn't enough work done to the car to drive it at the speeds it is supposed to be driven at.
Shortly after Ethan cleared the last corner, he started braking before stopping next to Aaron's house.
Ethan: Alright, here we are. Get out and wait for me before entering the house.
Charles: I would like to get out, but it's impossible for me, in case you haven't noticed.
Ethan: What do you-
Ethan: -mean...? Dammit.
Charles: I can't open the door.
Ethan: Wait a second.
Ethan pressed the brake pedal and put the car into reverse while still braking. Then he placed his right hand on my seat's headrest and turned his body with his head facing the rear window. He pressed the gas pedal, and lifted his foot off the brake pedal slightly.
Ethan: Alright...
Ethan: There.
He lifted his foot off the gas pedal, and looked at me.
Ethan: Can you get out now?
Charles: Yeah, no problem.
Ethan: Good. Do as I said before.
Charles: Alright.
Ethan: Watch the door, Charles.
To be continued...
) Anyways, who are those people in picture #7? 
And no, I'm not just saying this... I mean, people, or anyone who hasn't started reading this story, do so, because it's definately worth it. Every time I see a refreshed thread title, saying that a new chapter or short story is up, I get a weird feeling and can't wait to read that chapter / short story. Lucas, you are improving from chapter to chapter and your writing skills, as they are now, are just great! 👍
