Jan Rollings

The Necessary Noises

The elevator opened into the front entry hall of Travis’ apartment. Jan walked from the living room and met them.

"Travis," she said and was immediately enveloped in his arms.

"I am in dire need of some lovin’ tonight," he said against her ear.

"Um well that might be arranged…are you going to introduce me to your nephew?"

"Oh yeah, Tee this is Miss Jan Rollings…make the necessary noises boy."

Tee would have but he had no idea what they were so he held out his hand for a shake.

Jan shook his hand, "it’s nice to meet you Tee." She bent down trying to get a look at his face. "Tee why don’t you go along there into the kitchen I think Gracie might have something for you." She pointed the way and the boy shuffled off.

"I don’t know what to do with him Jan." Travis said as soon as he was out of sight.

"Come along Travis out of the hallway," she led him to the sofa that faced the glass windows over the harbor.

"Travis, the boy has just lost his mother…think about that."

"I’m not sure what kind of a mother she was Jan, she was an addict and this little bag here is all he has in the world. You know what his name is…it ain’t Tee I gave that to him…she named him Thursday cause that was the day he was born. He don’t talk just mashes the buttons on this game here."

"What about his father?"

Travis lit a cigarette, "his name is unknown that’s what it says on his birth certificate I had a look and he is eleven…just."

"What can I do to help Travis," Jan curled up beside him.

"Take him shopping get him outfitted and a damn haircut. I got to see about a school for him, I reckon in Coffs as far as I know there is no school at The Glen. That will mean uniforms…I need you Jan can you take a few days?"

"Of course I can…you’re going to take him to the farm then?"

"Yeah, I talked to mom and dad they know about him now and mom is all excited to see him. Let’s get him cleaned up a bit before I take him home." He turned and looked at Jan. "I’d like to take you too."

Jan shook her head, "I’ll be here Travis."

"Yeah…and I can’t be in both places Jan."

The housekeeper, Gracie, brought Tee back into the living room, "He’s had a sandwich and a glass of milk and three cookies."

"Thank you Gracie…well Tee Miss Jan here is going to take you shopping…get you some decent clothes and a haircut you’ll be all right with her."

"Okay…Sir." Tee wasn’t sure what to do with himself and shoved his hands in his jeans looking at the floor.

"Tee I’m your uncle you can call me Uncle Travis."

"Yes…Sir."

"I believe I’ll go ahead and take him out Travis…sure you won’t come with us?" Jan said unfolding from the sofa and standing.

"No…unfortunately I have something else to do. I’ll see ya latter…you do what she tells ya mate."

Travis had to arrange for his sister’s cremation. After making the phone calls he picked up the bag Tee had been carrying and pulled out what was in it, dirty clothes his passport and his school records which he sat down and went over. The boy was smart…top of his class every year…well at least that was something. A folded piece of paper fell out of a pair of dirty jeans and he picked it up. It was what would pass as a will from his sister giving Thursday McGee to Travis. He looked up ran his hand over his face Tee must have known she’d come home to die. He was going to have to have a heart to heart with that boy and soon.