Going Home

by Jan Prins

  After a restless night and a quick breakfast, they drove Bowie into Texas. What a difference with the Bowie they knew so well, now in Maryland 1500 miles / 2400 km from here. It was just a stain in the desert with only five thousand inhabitants, actually only known because Fort Worth is nearby and by infamous bank robbers who struck and then were hanged. Bare wide roads and many churches, that was the image that lay before them. But they did not come for that, they were looking for their mother who, according to the e-mail, would have to live in Old Tucker Home Place.

  After a long search they found Old Tucker Home Place, which turned out to be a bungalow park on a bare terrain. It did not matter much, it seemed that here all tramps lived, really the least of what you could expect. At the reception they asked if Carolyn lives here and indeed that is the case, she lives in house number seven.

  Still somewhat hesitantly they walk to the house and see if anyone is at home, they call but there is no response. Merry looks in the mailbox that stands in front of the house and sees that there are two letters in it. “Carolyn’s name is on it! So she lives here”. “Well then there is nothing else than that we were waiting for her” Zach said. They sat on the porch and looked at the entrance to see if she was coming.

  As if she were from nothing, their mother Carolyn suddenly stood before them. With eyes as big as saucers she looked at them and dropped her bag with fright. “Where do you come from?” She asked bewildered, “How did you find me?” “Hello, Mom, we …” Merry began, but she was interrupted by a shout from Ethan: “Mama, Mama” and he rushed on his mother and flew into her arms. “Where were you?”

  With some hesitation she finally cuddled her youngest child “Missed you too, Ethan! You are sweet!” “Mama, when are you coming home?” Finally asked Zach. “Well, guys, I can be clear in that: I will not go home.” They looked at her appalledly, did they hear that well? That their very mother did not want to come home anymore? ” “Yes, yes, you hear well, I am not going with you. I will not go home anymore!” Merry burst into tears while Zach looked at her very angry. “Well that will be nice” he said ferociously “You leave us with nothing and dare you say that you do not want to come with us? That you leave us to our fate? Unbelievable and that calls itself mother?”

  “And who can you be?” Carolyn said sternly and with a dirty glance to Chad “What are you dealing with?” “Well madam, my name is Chad and I am Merry’s friend and I have helped you to find you” he said polite, but also surprised by so much aggression in her voice and attitude.

  “Okay, so you are Chad. Chad would you mind to take a walk with Ethan? Then I can talk to Merry and Zach separately.” “Of course, Madam, because you ask so politely. Come along with Ethan then we will go and get ice cream to celebrate it that your mom has found again”. And after some struggling of the boy they went to the shop of the bungalow park.

  “Just come in, then we can talk without others hearing.” Carolyn opened the front door and let them in. The living room was very simple, but what was more noticeable was the mess that was everywhere. They looked surprised at a large map that hung on the wall, with all kinds of arrows and crosses, and that telescope gun in the corner was not something you would expect from Carolyn.

  “Have a seat. Do you want Cola?” She asked for the ice to break. They nodded affirmatively and Carolyn gave them a lukewarm can of Cola in their hands.

  All the pent-up tension and anger since her mother left her came out with Merry, she just exploded: “I do not know what you’re doing, but you just let your very own children suffocate! Your very own children whom you have chosen and have given birth to, you simply leave behind and live at the other end of the country without saying anything! It is scandalous and even more outrageous that you tell us straight in the face with a cool look without even greeting us decently. As if we are nothing!”

  Carolyn let her go and said: “I never wanted life as we had, I just do not feel like a mother. I played it, but I was not happy with it. I want to start here again.” Merry did not give up: “Carolyn you have made your own choices, now you have to take responsibility, you can not and should not run away from that!!” “You’re right, Merry, but I can not come back to my decision. I stay here and do not go home anymore! You are better off without me!”

  “Come on, ma, you do not believe that yourself! We were right and we miss you “Zach began” Now the threat always hangs over us that we are picked up and taken to an orphanage or placed in a foster family. The least you can do is wait until we are out, then you can do whatever you want! But not yet! Come with us and get in the car with us! “Carolyn looked at him and responded:” That danger is fast enough about Zach, in two weeks you will be eighteen years old and thus mature for the law and then legally you can take Merry and Ethan fit, you can officially function as a parent. Over those few weeks everything will be easier, continue for a while and the danger has passed.”

  Zach tells her pride that he has received a scholarship for the University because of his good sports performances and that he therefore can not work and maintain the family. “That is your choice. Then you have to find another solution “she said coolly” On your birthday you will receive a letter from my notary that the house and all contents will be in your name and that there will be no mortgage or debt. So you have no costs for the house, that’s all I can do and have arranged. For the rest it comes to you “Carolyn concluded, until recently their mother who had taken care of them.

  Zach sees that she is determined and also Merry knows nothing more to say. Just at the moment they are so staring at each other and can not say anything more, a man enters the room and stares at them in bewilderment.

  “Dad? That is not possible, you are not dead, after all?” After a while, Zach’s mouth came out hesitantly. Merry looked at her brother, full of disbelief. Was this a nightmare they had ended up in?

  The man our father? Went to Carolyn: “This took too long, Carolyn. The children are entitled to know what it is like.” She nodded in silence and took his hand.

  “Yes, boys, I am the man you knew as a father. But the truth and that will be a shock to you is that Carolyn is not your mother and neither is I your father. “

  Merry began crying terribly, and tears were running down the cheeks at Zach too. “What and who are you then in the name of God!” “We think it is terrible what we have done with you” began the man they had known as father “We could not have children and you have adopted as babies as foster children, all tree. We have taken care of you as if you were our own children. But I, your foster father, did not keep it up. That is why I have put my own death in scene and have disappeared from your life. And now, years after I left, Carolyn no longer sees it as caring for you. She therefore came to live with me here in Bowie, Texas”.

  Speechless, Merry and Zach looked at the man and woman who, according to their own words, had deceived their whole life. How could you be! Not to tell them that now they had grown older! It was just cruel and human worthless!

  “Ho, ho, wait a minute!” Merry cried “Carolyn was pregnant with Ethan? We have seen that ourselves! Then you are his mother!” For the first time Carolyn looked guiltily: “I just pretended I was pregnant, with a pillow, etc. And when I gave birth at the hospital, that was fake and they brought Ethan from the orphanage to me.”

  At that unreal moment that the realization came to them that they were really alone and had always been, the windows flew out and there was a huge flash of light and a thunderous bang. They were completely blinded and grasped to their ears. They heard how the doors were shaken, yelled and orders were barked: “FBI, lying down and hands on the back!!”

  After a short time-which seemed like minutes-they were able to see what was happening and they just saw that their “parents” were being dragged out with their hands handcuffed and a hood over their heads.

  “Who are you on earth?” Shouted the commander of the arrest team “And hurry up!”

  They watched i
n the walk of as many as ten guns and pistols when a calm voice sounded, a woman’s familiar voice, “Quiet but Captain, they’re okay. Will it explain you like that? “Bewildered, they saw Miss Megan step inside, not as a kindergarten teacher, but as a FBI officer with a bulletproof vest on, a helmet on and a pistol in his hand.

  The Destination

  Chad and Ethan did not know what they were seeing when they walked back to house number seven with a bag full of ice creams. Suddenly, six or so blinded SUVs flew past them, tore at the house and surrounded it. More than ten heavily armed men jumped out of the cars. A moment later they heard windows ringing, saw a bright flash of light, heard a loud bang and the officers rushed into the house. Less than a minute later they saw that a man and a woman were handcuffed and blindfolded outside and thrown into one of the SUVs. As quickly as they had come, the SUVs were gone again, except for one.

  Hesitantly they walked on and carefully entered the cottage. “Surprise!” Little Ethan crowed “Megan is visiting! Fun! Would you like an ice cream too?”

  It was a long time later that they were sitting at the Dallas police station with only questions. They had been brought here because the house had to be combed out by the technical investigation department and here were the experts who would give their explanation. Dallas was the first big city close to Bowie, one and a half hours away. They looked around them, sitting in a bare room with a large mirror on one side, through which curious eyes looked at them. “What a tragedy for those children,” said the Chief. “See them sitting there, totally ignorant of what is going on and just heard that they have no parents and are all alone in the world.” “Call agent Megan of the FBI urgently here, this is no longer possible” he told his sergeant.

  Not much later Megan came in with the children. What immediately struck that she had opted for green hair for this occasion. “Wrong rinse” she murmured as an excuse when she saw the surprised looks. “Miss Megan can you explain this to us? Why were our parents arrested? And where did Ethan go with Chad?” “Apologies Merry and Zach. Your brother and friend are sitting next door and they are doing well. But I want to inform you - as the oldest children - of what you have ended up in. First of all, the Government of the United States of America wishes to expressly thank you for what you have done to prevent what could become the crime of the century. The Government will do everything to ensure that you get all the help that is needed.” She did not look at her comprehensively, what was she talking about?

  For an hour or so she explained that she was an important agent of the FBI and was working undercover at the preschool for the purpose of learning more about the Plump family because they were part of a conspiracy against the state. Their “parents” were in reality Russian secret agents who were placed in the USA and lived under false identity as purebred Americans. They were so-called “Sleepers”, agents who lived a normal life as Americans, but would come into action after a certain command to carry out a mission or warfare. These “Sleepers” in the USA were organized in cells so that secrecy was optimally guaranteed. The cell that they were part of was called The Mint Leaf. That’s why Carolyn sat there so often. They were all arrested now because of various dangerous activities, the cell does not exist anymore! They were all being answered and detained severely. Normally there would be a chance that they would be transferred to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, but they will probably return to Russia via a spy exchange.

  Zach interrupted her, very shocked “Amaia too?” “Yes, Zach, also Amaia. She asked me to tell you her message that she is very sorry that she has behaved like this to you. She wishes you all the best.” “But who and what was she?” He asked with a foolish expression on his face. Megan looked at him. “She came from Belarus and there she was first a teacher at the theater school and later on the motivation coach of the women’s skating team. Thanks to your sporting achievements, she was allowed to do so and she said she will continue to follow your sports career with great interest. She really wishes you all the best and knows for sure that you will be very happy with Jennifer!” Zach’s jaw slowly dropped down “How … ??”

  “You just do not have to ask Zach, be happy like that” and Megan continued by telling that The Mint Leaf cell used the tombstone of their “deceased father” to maintain contact with the secret service of Russia, where their assignments were in and they in turn did their reports. The Russians had a special agent for that who could be very sad about the death of your “father”. To make their lives as “American” as possible, the so-called parents had received a sinister order from the Russians to adopt children to perfect their cover. And they had become three of them. They had been given the name Plump so that no suspicion would arise. That’s how Miss Megan explained it to them.

  “We are well aware of what a great shock this is for you to find out now that you are all alone and that is why we will do everything we can to help you, I just said that, but that is a solemn promise!” See them with emphasis.

  “But we really had a big problem,” police officer Megan continued. “We could not figure out what they were up to and when your mother disappeared it became difficult, because what were they planning? That is why you have proved so important because you have constantly searched and finally led us to her husband, who had died. That is why you owe the Government’s thanks and respect.” “But “Merry said” we found the tracer and gave it to a truck that went a different direction!” “Yes, that was a handy move from you” Grunting agent Megan grinned.” They are still searching in Salt Lake City. But fortunately we had placed a back-up in Merry’s tablet and you could easily follow via the Wi-Fi of the tablet!”

  Everything that had happened to strange events lately was now in place!

  “But” Zach came to the surface after long thinking “What are our so-called parents accused of? What were they planning?” “Did you see the telescope gun and the floor plan?” “Yes, but I did not understand it.”

  “If you had looked better, you could have seen that it was a map of this city of Dallas. To make a long story short, your parents wanted to kill President Trump!” Merry and Zach shake their heads in disbelief. “But Putin put Trump here as President!” Merry said. “Why would he have him killed?” “He knows too much and becomes dangerous for him and therefore he has no use for him” replied agent Megan.

  “President Trump has thought in his Supreme Pride to pay the same car ride through Dallas as tributes and gratitude to the murdered President Kennedy as on November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated by Harvey Oswald. Just in between: you are now in the same interview room as the killer was sitting in, just look at that photo on the wall! That car ride is already in three days and then they wanted to strike! We were just in time to prevent that! That is why you deserve the eternal gratitude of the Government and in particular President Trump! This is why you would like to receive this in the Oval Office!” said Agent Megan.

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  The Ford Taunus 12 M drove to the north the opposite route that they had previously traveled, they went home! To Teal Lane 13 in Bowie, Maryland. They had the answer they were looking for, but it was totally different from what they had hoped for, but they now knew where they were. Through all events they had grown spiritually years older, but because of that they became more self-conscious and determined to lead the life they wanted. Zach was going to study while Merry would take care of the income by going to work at the gym. And if the relationship between her and Chad remained as good as now, she would soon move in with them and strengthen the financial base. They first drove to the YMCA Trout Lodge to pick up Jennifer. Zach had called her and talked to her a lot. She had decided to break off her summer job and go home with Zach, first to her parents in Baltimore and maybe she would come to live with them later. The house was more than big enough and that’s how Ethan would have been looking forward to not having a babysitter!

  But first they went on vacation with five of them and enjoy each other, money was not the p
roblem anymore after a hundred thousand dollars were deposited in their account as a reward for preventing the murder of the President of the United States of America! Moreover, the FBI paid attention to their home, it could not be safer!

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  Accountability

  Thank you very much for the information at the following sources, as shown below and all other sources.

  All quoted documents come from publicly available sources.

  Most of it comes from Wikipedia, using the “Creative Commons Attribution / Share-Alike 3.0” license, which can be read on: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.nl

  The following is the reference to the original article:

  ● Wikipedia, Education in the United States / Bowie, Maryland / Interstate 70 / Interstate 44 / Bowie, Texas / Sleeper agent / Clandestine cell system / Mark Twain National Forest

  ● Google Maps

  ● TA www.ta-petro.com

  ● Knights Inn Dayton www.wyndhamhotels.com

  ● Chuck Wagon

  ● YMCA Trout Lodge www.ymcaoftheozarks.org

  ● Waffle House www.locations.wafflehouse.com

  ● The Veranda Inn www.verandaocona.com

  ● Old Tucker Home Place

  ● Internet News: Man hears after 6 years who his deceased wife really was

  ● Why Trump Deserves Trust, Respect and Admiration by King, David