by Mark Porto
“One word of warning, Mr. Bellow, my ex-husband and his partner, when they decide to impersonate a police officer, frequently stop either married and/or pregnant women. I know of one occasion where either one of them would sexual assault their victims or they don’t take kindly to those who either interfere or resist them.
“Ms. San Jose, this is very important, who is his partner?” Johnny says pouring her another drink while standing up.
Coretta says, “Bill Grayson is his partner, if you’re wondering, yes, he is related to Troy and yes, he is very upset about your fiancée marrying you remarking, ‘If I can’t have her, no one will.’ These men are dangerous. I know, because when I confronted him about his affairs with other women, Clem, at first, denied it, and then he would smack me with his baton. Clem reminded me often, if we divorced, he would contact immigration to have me shipped back to El Salvador.”
Johnny walks up to her to ask why she is volunteering this information.
She fans herself, “Mr. Bellow, I don’t care if I stay in this country or not, don’t get me wrong, I love it here, but not on his terms. Right now, I’ve met a nice young man who’s kind and willing to care for me. Right now, I want to leave this area for good.” She gives him one final warning, “Mr. Bellow, I know your fiancée is pregnant, please...” She touches his hand. “Whatever you do, keep an eye on her.” Coretta gets up, blows him a kiss, leaves the office and drives off.
Johnny’s complexion fluctuates between green and white as he sat down, rubs his temples while uttering a groan.
Ralph gives him a glass of bourbon. Normally, he doesn’t drink before six o’clock in the evening, drank the drink straight.
The next day, Johnny arrives home from an errand seeing his father in the living room shaking his head, he walks up to him asking him what was wrong.
Sal turns to his son, holding a letter, he asks to see it and his father gave it to him. The letter states the bank was foreclosing on the house. Johnny is so angry, he couldn’t respond, but asks how the house had a mortgage, since it was paid off years ago. Sal explains when he got into trouble; he had to take out a second mortgage on the house and has had difficulty paying it back. “The people aren’t coming to the store anymore; many say it’s the bigger supermarkets, but I know it’s retaliation for standing up to the system.”
Johnny takes a couple of deep breath, “How much do you owe?”
“I have to pay $40,000,” Sal starts crying, “I don’t know how I’m going to get the money.” Tears were flowing from his eyes as his speech is garbled, “I don’t know what I’m going to tell your mother, she’s going to be devastated.”
Johnny reread the letter telling his father, he won’t have to tell her anything, but said he had to run another errand and will be back in a few minutes, but when his father asks him where he was going, the door slammed before his father could get an answer.
He returns a few hours later, whistling while walking into the kitchen. Sal, however, was yelling, red in the face with his arms at his sides asking why he was so cheerful. Johnny takes out a can of soda from the refrigerator and sits down at the kitchen table. He explains he invested $20,000 in a stock about a year ago at $5 a share; he talked with his broker who said the stock hit $40. “It was an auto stock and I told him to sell it all and told him why.” He gave his father a Certificate of Satisfaction.
Sal has barely enough energy to sit down and read it; his face mellows to the point of tears as they streamed down his face and reached over to hug his son.
Later on, Johnny had to take Doreen to her obstetrician for a monthly check up, her main complaints were those of morning sickness and fatigue, but she was still able to perform her job as a paralegal. Doreen said she wanted to work right up until it was time for her to have the baby.
The doctor, however, suggests it might be better for her to consider maternity leave towards the end of the second or the beginning of the third trimester. “I’m just concerned that the job may produce too much stress on you and the baby.”
When Doreen insists on working until the baby arrives, but the doctor winces’ telling her such an endeavor was out of the question cautioning her further, if she went down that route, she could lose the baby. Johnny says she should listen to the doctor.
Upon leaving the doctor’s office, Johnny offers to move up the wedding, but Doreen says she wants to make sure she’s done with the morning sickness and fatigue, first. She thought it was sweet of him to offer. He tells her he will assist her with Lamaze classes, because he would like to be with her in the delivery room.
Doreen raises her eyebrows saying, “Wow, I didn’t even have to ask.”
He jokes, “You should tell Madeline what I said.” She says she will when she sees her,“I think she’ll like to hear that.” Doreen agrees.
As he’s unlocking the door to his car, Johnny claims to have seen a figure hiding in the garbage cans. When Doreen asks what was the matter, he says, “Oh, my eyes must be playing tricks on me, I thought I saw someone, I thought maybe it was Troy.”
She points her finger at him, “Johnny Bellow, I don’t want you getting into any fights! I want you to stay clear of him, are we clear?”
He laughs, “Yes,” When she asks him what was so funny, he says, “If it was Troy, it would be appropriate for him to be in a garbage can, yet, that would be an insult to garbage.”
Doreen bursts out laughing and has a hard time containing it, “I never thought of it, but you’re right, Troy would be most comfortable in a garbage can.”
Johnny murmurs a comment, “He’s certainly not Popeye, the sailorman.” Doreen didn’t understand what he meant, so Johnny sings a few verses of the old cartoon song. It suddenly dawns on her while continuing the laughter. During the laughter, Johnny assists her into the car.
He drives her to the shopping mall to visit a department store. She comments that he seems to be in better spirits lately. “Oh, sure, I’m not worried about the civil suit, because they’re so many holes in it. I’ve had to learn to let others handles the problems.”
“Your attitude has sure changed, do you think it’s because you’re becoming a father?”
Johnny says their tike doesn’t need a glum father. “I still have my feelings.”
Inside, he takes her to the maternity department staying for a little bit. He wonders into the department selling hunting gear while looking at a few weapons, inquired about how much they cost. Without telling her when he’s been, Johnny rejoins his fiancée.
“Oh, Johnny, there’s going to be a get together with our families?”
“Whoa! I know you mean well, love, do you think it’s a wise idea to invite ourselves and our parents together?”
“Well, my sweetheart,” she wraps her arm around his, “Remember, after we’re married, you’ll have to deal with my parents sooner or later.”
Johnny flinches, “Later is better. I don’t mind talking with your father, but your mother, my heavens is she impossible!”
Doreen frowns, “Really, sweetheart, I don’t think you’re right in judging my mother too harshly, I’ll admit it, and she has to understand this child is a part of her, too.”
Johnny snickers, “I can just imagine her reaction when you told her you were pregnant.”
She puts her finger under his chin asking him to at least make an attempt to get along with her mother.
“The problem isn’t me, it’s her. Your mother just doesn’t like me.”
Doreen reacts with an “Uh!” She turns to him, “For me,” She looks upon him with sad eyes holding him closer to her bosom with a radiant smile, he gives her a kiss.
As the couple enters another store, he notices the patrons were habitually staring at him. Doreen tells him, tugging his arm, not to pay any attention to him. Johnny gave the people a dirty look uttering in a New York accent, “What are you staring at?”
There was one man who was reading an intellectual publication; his long hair extends to his shoulder blades
, turns around to notice Johnny, he casts a remark. “I followed your trials and I agree with the verdicts, you can’t take matters into your own hands.”
While Doreen keeps prompting him to ignore this jerk, Johnny was calm walking over to him asking what he did for a living.
The man takes off his glasses, “I’m college professor who believes nothing was ever solved with violence.” The man pauses to drink a sip of his demitasse.
Johnny sits in front of him, “The truth be told, I agree.” The comment stuns the professor prompting him to ask why he killed those gang members. “The violence I believe you’re referring is the senseless kind where people regardless of the reason use violence to terrorize people. Sir, I didn’t terrorize anyone, I defended myself, there’s the difference.” Johnny gets up to rejoin Doreen.
The professor says he views those gang members as people who are misunderstood.
Johnny laughs, “Listen, pal, I attend church and we’re taught about the difference.”
“A few of my colleagues do, it’s for uneducated people.”
“Well, I’m proud to say I attend church services and I’m a college graduate. In going to church, there’s a feeling of well-being, along with the humility and the need to worship a God who’s merciful, kind and compassionate. Remember this always, there’s always someone or some other higher power that has got more influence than you.” He walks away with Doreen.
Doreen remarked she was proud of his response.
On March 26, the Bellows and the Normans decide to attend Mass together. Later on, congregate at the Bellow residence.
While Sal and Jim talk and watch football in the living room, Joyce and Anita made dinner as the young couple assist.
As they sit down to dinner, Anita says grace. Subsequently, she initiates the conservation while everyone serves themselves, “Doreen, how do you like working for Ms. Valentine?”
She addresses Anita, “I love it,” Her face, however, is forlorn telling her what the doctor said. Anita advises her to heed his advice and tells her what she went through having Johnny, in those days, she said, they could fire you if you were pregnant.
Joyce suddenly interrupts, ‘She works hand and deserves her position.” She uses her fork to assert her point before she resumes eating.
“After the baby is born, I will return to work.”
Joyce comments, “She’s going to have to, just to survive.” Doreen looks at her mother murmuring that her comment wasn’t necessary. Doreen tells her she doesn’t like what she’s insinuating.
Jim asks Johnny if he’s found work and when he says he hasn’t, Joyce asks what he’s going to do with the rest of his life.
Johnny sighs, he’s thought about a couple of fields of study he could utilize, he was considering going to law school. “To address everyone’s concern about me not being able to care for Doreen, I have money saved up to survive.”
“Sure, he’s got money to go to law school,” Joyce says, “After all, you’re marrying my daughter and you’re both are expecting a child!” She says shaking her finger at him.
Johnny puts down his spoon, “Oh, shut up, as our new president says to hecklers.” Anita wears a scowl whispering to him, his comments were inappropriate, but Johnny tells his mother he’s not going to tolerate this from anyone. “Listen with your ears, Mrs. Norman, I’ve tried to look for work, but no one wants to hire me. So, I wish everyone would stop asking me!” He quietly attempts to resume his meal.
“Well, you’re not fit for my daughter!”
Johnny stops eating immediately telling if she doesn’t like him to get the hell out of the house. “I don’t have to be insulted by you!”
Anita pleads with him it was Sunday. She reminds him Joyce was a guest in this house as well as his mother-in-law.
Johnny tells his mother all his life, she has been trying to keep the peace with aggressors. “I’m twenty-seven years old; I do not have to be nice when someone, some stranger deliberately insults me. If she doesn’t cease in her disapproval of me, I’ll call off the wedding, Doreen and I can just live together.” He drops his napkin and leaves the table.
Doreen follows Johnny to the back porch. She sits down beside him on a couch that had been there for years, she admitted her mother was an abrasive woman. She touches his hand while looking at him with sad eyes. “Honey, this isn’t any reason to call off the wedding.” While Johnny was puzzled, Doreen told him he’s going to have to decide whether to tolerate her or have constant clashes with her.
Jim Norman came out to the couch, despite the cool air; he stands with his silver hair that intertwines with the cloudy skies. “I understand how you feel; there have been a lot of times in our marriage when she gets on my nerves – I’m a nice guy who rarely loses his temper, but you’re not going to solve anything by brooding out here.” He laughs, “I’ll tell you this, it takes a lot of guts to tell Mrs. Norman to shut up, believe me very few people have.”
It was then, Sal appears, “Son, why don’t you come inside and we’ll straighten this out.” He cracks a smile motioning him to come inside the house.
Johnny’s head slumps down while thinking about it for a moment. “Fine, but, I don’t want to hear Mrs. Norman and her malarkey.” He spreads his hands like an umpire.
While Johnny was on the front porch, Anita told Joyce about Johnny’s situation, “Look, he has been out there every day, sometimes Saturdays looking for a job. At each and every time, no one wants to hire him. I don’t know what you want from him?”
Joyce says, “I don’t want to hear it, if your son had waited for the police, he wouldn’t be having these problems.”
Anita stops smiling pointing her finger at him, “Joyce, whether you like him or not, my son is going to marry your daughter, I suggest you swallow your pride or you might not see your grandchild. So, I don’t want to hear you ever disparage my son in my house ever again!”
“My husband has only a year or two before he retires and with your son going after these people, because of a notion they did him wrong, I fear he won’t be available to retire.”
Anita counters her claim, “This isn’t true, but now I know why you’re so hostile to Johnny, all you care about is what people think of your association with this family. Oh, do you look down on us because we operate a grocery store. Your husband works for the state; he’s a working stiff like everybody else. Is that how you chose your friends?”
Joyce sits on a couch remaining as silent as a monk for a few minutes. “All I have to say is I don’t approve of this marriage, but will go through the motions.”
A few days later, Johnny and Doreen were having lunch at a restaurant in downtown Black Meadows, she was in town to take a deposition against Captain Lester. As they were finishing their meal, Doreen says she has to deposit money for her boss, Ms. Valentine. Johnny says he’ll come with her.
The couple arrives at the First National Bank of Black Meadows, a few minutes later. While Doreen was line, Johnny waits near the entrance when three men wearing ski masks burst in to announce it was a hold up.
The men compel the patrons to lie on the floor, and then the leader orders the teller to give them money, during the robbery; one man grabs Doreen by wrapping his left arm around her. He drags her to the door as the two others were racing out the door.
Johnny tries to stop them, but he is knocked to the ground, he’s still conscious, he pulls out a .357 magnum shooting the man who knocked him to the ground. When another man tries to shoot Johnny, Johnny kills him; however, the other robber drags Doreen out the door.
During that time, Doreen is thrown into a van, despite her pleas, she notices another man who behind his jacket has what looked like a badge, and all she could see were the first three letters: LIN. A torn pocket flap obstructs the rest.
She repeatedly asks them what was going on, but a gun is points at her and she is told to be quiet while they drove away.
Johnny got into his car to race after them with breakneck speed and
during the course of travel; he lost them temporarily, but quickly regains ground. He was well within a car’s length of the van, which was traveling in a northerly direction wondering why they were headed toward the Sheffield River.
When he stops the car, he spots the van which is parked next to a grassy knoll, partially covered with snow, even though; it was a mild day, near the river. Johnny opens up his trunk loading his pistol and rifle. Although he kept them to his side, Johnny is sweating profusely as he follows the footprints, which lead toward the river. Upon hearing Doreen’s screams, he rushes to find six men trying to sexual assault her. Doreen is screaming, while pleading for them to stop.
Johnny, with his eye pupils filled, points his rifle and begins shooting the men. Clem Linton tells him he’s a police officer. “I know about you Linton, now get the hell away from my fiancée!” Linton starts shooting, but Johnny opens fire killing one of the perpetrators who was sexually assaulting Doreen by shooting him in the head. It explodes as the man falls on his back, but there was little left of his cranium.
Bill Grayson; then attacks the frightened Doreen, yelling, “You think you can leave my cousin, Troy, he said I could have you.”
Johnny shoots him in the chest, Linton fires at Johnny and he strikes Linton in the lower abdomen, but he is conscious, where Bill Grayson is dead. The other three got into the van and ran off while Johnny was open firing on them while they were driving away. Johnny kept calling Doreen’s name, but she wasn’t answering. He finds her unconscious and naked from the waist down. Her thighs and femur were inundated with bruises. Johnny’s face is flush and white with horror while viewing the blackened pupils of her eyes. He focuses about the bruises that surrounded her throat having to resist the urge to cry. He drops his rifle to picks her up and puts her in the back seat of his car, he quickly retrieves the rifle putting it in the trunk. He quickly drives off with the steering wheel soaked in sweat.