@Synthesis @CaitsA whirlwind of emotion stormed within Jethro. 'Reggie you asshole! You knew the safety briefing! We all did...I was just as excited as you for this new discovery.' he reached down and yanked the necklace from his neck as quickly as possible. The back had been eaten away by the "acid" like substance that took his life. However, he wasn't going to let his friends keep sake get lost in the medical ward. Engraved on the pendant, just an inch in diameter, read:
'To the Skies, we will ride'Reggie used to talk about it quite often. A memory flashed before him as he fell on his ass next to his dearly departed friend.
Reggie walked up to Jethro in his room and slapped him on the back, "Guess what I just found?!" he exclaimed as he sat and spun around in Jethro's computer chair. "You finally find those Elvis records I have been asking about? I swear if you do then I will finally get back the record player witch hunt!" With a bit of a laugh he shook his head, "Even better." Tossing the pendant at Jethro. He caught it and saw the engraving on the front, "To the Skies, we will ride? Something off a Johnny Cash song? I mean, I love Mr. Cash but not to knowledgeable of his famous quotes." Tossing it back to Reggie who caught it with a frown. "You better get your day ears into gear you country bumpkin! Cash had nothing to do with this, even though I wish he had haha." His eye's began to get lost in the pendant. "This belonged to my grandfather. A gift from my grandmother while he was in the Army. To let him know that no matter where he road that at the end, we would ride to sky together. In one big bike club of heavenly light."The memory faded as he felt his mobile chime. Jethro looked down to see Nir's response and with one quick swipe of his face he jumped to his feet. Patty had done a good job of preemptively getting the other farmers back to work. Some wondered back, others were in tears, but many were consoling them. Putting a hand on her shoulder Jethro said,
"Help me out Patty, we have to cordon off this area with the lights Nir likes and what not." She nodded then looked over to another field hand,
"Marty, wait here and make sure the body gets attended too. There should be someone from medical coming down to handle Reggie, ya hear?" Marty nodded and with a final pat on the shoulder of one of those brought to tears headed over to Reggie.
Once all of the equipment had been brought together they began marking the "Tomatoes" as hazardous. Jethro strung up the lights as Patty continued to mark down the row. Looking over her shoulder she remarked to him,
"What a damn fool, that bastard. I swear I wish I knew why he did this." Jethro let another tear fall down his face once the remark left her lips. We all knew deep down why he did it. The sheer, child like excitement of seeing something grow here that resembled home took the best of him. Jethro then took it upon himself to get his rock throwing revenge from earlier. Winging Patty's right arm he replied,
"Probably to avoid having to hear you and me have a 'singing' duet again." Patty stopped dead in her tracks as she turned back to him,
"Caloway, how can you make jokes at a time like this?" Without missing a beat he said,
"I understand that time will pass on this here planet. During that time, Reggie will no longer be apart of that with us. However, we can't sit here and let our lives fall to the wayside. We have to remember him as he was. We have to help his spirit live on in the new world. Help all of us remember the hardworking son of a bitch that he really was. Big emphasis on the bitch part." It was as though a small pinch of hope spread across Patty's face.
"Well if that is the case," she flipped Jethro the bird,
"Your singing was what really brought our future music career down ya monotone prick!" They shared a decent laugh at this point. Memories would flow through there minds for days after of them together with Reggie. Today though, they had to make sure the medical personnel got all the help they needed with Reggie.
"Patty I have to run and get this sample to Nir, you mind holding down the fort here until I get back?"As she curled her lips into a frown,
"First of all, you ain't my boss Jethro. Secondly, I will do it," she continued down the line,
"But because I want to, not because you told me too." He smiled, snagged a "tomato", bagged and tagged it, and headed off. He ran by his shed first to grab his bongos and pipe.
Well at least I have one thing to look forward to today. A good smoke, with a good dude. Slinging his bongos across his back, he placed his pitchfork back on the wall and touched the pendant.
"Ride smooth brother, may the roads to heaven be clear and true."Jethro would always have a problem walking through the science district. A bunch of, very intelligent, scientists roamed these halls. How could a dirty, vest wearing, farmer feel out of place? Well in a lot of ways. Thankfully, he reached Nir's office quick fast and in a hurry so only a few people could shoot him confused glances.
"Hey buddy, got you your sample."