Country Still Life (December 2025)

"Tell me you came back for a reason."

No response.

The only sound comes from the clock ticking on the wall above the coat hooks, where his leather jacket hangs alongside his walking stick. His cowboy hat with the Navajo headband sits on the wooden bench by the back door.

"Thought I hung that up."

Pause.

"So?"

His eyes pass across the kitchen. The kitchen cupboard is closed, and he's certain he'd left it open when he took out the Brim.

He starts to take a sip of coffee, but it's gone cold.

"You weren't exactly welcome the last time you popped in for a visit, and I thought I made myself clear."

Without thinking, he reaches out for the coffee cup again, but this time, he pulls his hand away quickly.

"Ow! Did you do that?"

There's no other sound than the clock facing him. The animals have all been fed and put to bed. This is his time, and all he wants is to be left alone. Nobody needing anything from him and no jobs needing tending to . . . leastwise, not in the middle of the night.

Out of habit, he takes another sip of coffee but now it’s just the way he likes it.

"You know I had to do it. You do know that now, don't you?"

Pause.

"Damn, I hate it when you're like this. Say something!"

Longer pause.

Shaking his head, he looks down at the coffee cup. Beside it is a slice of apple pie on an enamel dessert plate, the one with the red rose in the center.

"Is this a peace offering or something?"

No answer.

"Listen, I'm sorry it had to be this way. The doctors said there was no other way. They even said you might get better."

Extended pause.

From outside he hears the soft lowing of his milk cows.

"Good night, Sadie."