When Debbie caught her breath she finished the story, “Even after we were married, my dad made me wear shoes around the house even though Bruce and I were sleeping in the same bed.”
Angela and Stephanie were both on the floor laughing having fallen out of their chairs halfway through. Once everyone could breathe Angela and Stephanie climbed back in there chairs. “That was great. So that’s the reason he doesn’t let anyone wear socks,” Angela stated.
“No, the caterpillar is true. If you sleep in the same bed with Bruce, you lose your socks. Bruce and Mike went on a trip to Ohio hunting. They shared a bed at the motel and Bruce wouldn’t let Mike get in the bed until he pulled off his socks. After that they started getting rooms with two beds,” Debbie told them.
Angela looked at Debbie, “Debbie, thank you for letting Cade and I stay with you, Bruce and Stephanie. It has really helped me a lot. I know I just invited myself in with a kid but you and Bruce make me feel safe. This family is totally awesome and your bedroom is drama central. If you want to know what is going on, just stop by your room every night. I asked Paul to find Cade and me somewhere to sleep.”
The smile fell of Debbie’s face as she stood up saying, “If I remember correctly, Bruce very clearly stated, you couldn’t leave until I said you could. I don’t remember saying you could.”
Angela couldn’t look at Debbie, “I don’t feel like I belong there, even though I love it.”
Laying her body across the table with her face in front of Angela’s, Debbie asked, “Why don’t you feel comfortable? Did someone say something?” Angela wouldn’t look up at her. “Who said something?” Debbie asked Angela. When Angela did not answer, Debbie told her, “If you don’t tell me, I will whoop every person’s ass on this farm until I get to them.”
Not looking up Angela answered, “No one said anything. I just keep getting looks from some of the women around here. They stop talking when I walk up, then ignore me or they’ll talk but it’s just one or two words. It’s like they don’t want me around.”
Debbie looked at Stephanie, “How about you?”
“I don’t want to move out,” Stephanie answered quickly, just to set the record straight.
“That’s not what I meant Stephanie. Are you getting treated badly by others here?” Debbie asked her.
“Not that I know of and don’t care. I don’t want to move out,” Stephanie acknowledged and could care less what others thought about her.
Angela looked up at Debbie, “They’re worse to Stephanie. Since she really only talks to the family, she doesn’t notice it.”
Stephanie looked at Debbie, “I don’t notice it and don’t care if they do. I don’t want to move out.”
Debbie smiled and giggled at Stephanie, “You can’t go anywhere Stephanie, I told you that already so don’t worry.” Stephanie sighed with thankful relief. Debbie turned to Angela, “Do you want to move out?”
“No, but I don’t want people to think less of you Debbie,” Angela replied sincerely.
“Who’s thinking bad about Debbie?” Stephanie yelled, jumping up ready to fight.
Debbie held up her hand, “Put it back in your pants Stephanie.” Still looking at Angela, Debbie asked, “Are you happy with us?”
Angela nodded her head as she answered, “Yeah, I feel normal again. When Cade asks where Daddy is, I don’t feel alone anymore. I have you, Stephanie and Bruce behind me to help and just be there. Y’all treat Cade like he’s yours and make both of us laugh and feel like we belong.”
“Angela, let me tell you something about little Debbie. I don’t care what people think about me, except my family and they care less than I do what people think about them. We won’t even mention Bruce and how he feels about what people think of him,” Debbie said making Angela laugh and snort.
“I care what they think about you and Bruce. Bruce rescued us. He could’ve left us but he took us with him. When we get here, you go out of your way to make us happy and part of the family. I’m not knocking Mike down because he and Nancy do the same. I think Mike believes Cassandra is his daughter now,” Angela replied.
“Angela, I don’t want to use force but I will if I have to. I can kick your ass and will. Then I’ll drag your whooped ass back upstairs,” Debbie told her.
Angela sighed with relief as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. “Thank you,” she told Debbie.
“Don’t thank me. Besides I think my husband likes your feet,” Debbie said. Angela snorted and started blushing. “Angela, are you blushing,” Debbie asked.
“No,” Angela said covering her face with her hands making Debbie laugh. Debbie glanced at Stephanie seeing her smile.
“Angela, Stephanie thinks she‘s not pretty,” Debbie told her.
Angela took her hands off her face looking at Stephanie in disbelief. “Are you mental girl? I look at you and wonder where the castle is at. On the way here from the hospital, I asked Bruce who else was here. I had met the rest of the family. He described you as the smartest person he knew and the prettiest. I was thinking he was exaggerating, you know how boys are. Then I saw you and I wanted to go and hide, feeling like a troll. Stephanie you’re perfect.”
Stephanie smiled at Angela. They thought she was pretty, “Thank you Angela but you and Debbie are much prettier than I am. I’m just smart,” she said.
Angela looked at Debbie, “I’m going to hit her.”
“I’ll hold her,” Debbie offered.
Debbie jumped off the table as Angela bolted toward Stephanie. They grabbed her taking her to the floor. “Raspberry her stomach,” Debbie told Angela as she pinned Stephanie down. Angela lifted Stephanie’s shirt and started blowing raspberries making Stephanie scream with laughter. The twins and Cade saw what was going on and went to help. PJ seeing the kids run over started crawling in high gear. He wanted to play too.
After torturing Stephanie for ten minutes, they let her up then gathered up the kids and headed to the house to join in the planning. That afternoon, Debbie gathered Nancy, Danny and Mary and told them about the treatment of Angela and Stephanie.
True to form Danny wanted to shoot someone, shank two people and throw the rest out. Debbie just told Nancy and Mary that Bruce gave birth to her. Danny confirmed it saying that’s why she had such big balls. Debbie laid out the plan of attack for supper and the group broke up.
At 1800 everyone was at the table except the four. Bruce looked around and out the window but did not see them. “Stephanie where is Debbie, Nancy, Danny and Mary?” Bruce asked.
“Debbie went to the bedroom. I don’t know where Nancy, Danny or Mary are,” Stephanie replied smiling at Bruce. Just then, Danny and Mary came in wearing their leather trail riding dusters. The dusters covered their whole body down to their ankles.
They walked to the table and sat down not taking the dusters off. “What’s with the dusters girls,” Bruce asked.
Danny looked at Bruce, “Nothing Dad but I have a message for you from mama. You are to stay in your seat no matter what.” Bruce just narrowed his eyes at her but Danny was not forthcoming with answers.
A few minutes later Debbie and Nancy came in wearing their dusters also. They did not walk toward the table but to the front of the room. Danny and Mary got up and went to the back corners of the hall. Bruce smelled a rat coming.
Debbie stopped in the front of the room with Nancy beside her. Nobody was talking just staring at the two women that looked like cowboy bank robbers with their dusters on. Debbie cleared her throat, “Can I have your attention please? Unlike my husband, I can’t use a voice that shakes the earth.” Several laughed then quieted down. “It has come to my attention, that several in my family have not been treated kindly by some of the females in this clan. If I remember correctly, one of the clan rules are ‘everyone is treated equal and to each his own.’ Unless it hurts the clan, then it does not matter.
“I really didn’t think that someone who was brought here and treated as an equal coul
d do such a thing. Walking around today, I saw different with my own eyes. Unlike my husband, I don’t like to threaten with physical violence, but I will. This is just a talk today the next time, I will move to threats then acts.
“I noticed a group of twenty or so women that love to gossip and put others down to make themselves feel better. Myself, I don’t care what you say,” Bruce stood up and started to walk up there as Debbie held up her hand.
“Bruce, I think you received your instructions,” Bruce stopped looking around the room. Everyone could see the anger in his eyes and got nervous. Bruce turned around and went back to his seat. “Thank you stud muffin, sugar mama has this,” Debbie told him from the front of the room. Debbie looked back at the room and dropped her coat followed by Nancy, Danny and Mary. They were all wearing string bikinis and combat boots. Danny and Mary climbed up on tables in the back corners of the room. Danny was on a table ten feet from the family table. She was wearing a camo string bikini and Matt’s jaw hit the floor.
Debbie smiled, “Now that I have your attention, you can see I don’t care what you say about me. I know if you talk about me, I’m already better than you. I know this group of women is only doing it out of jealousy. We have what you want. I know who you are, so do you, don’t say anything else bad about my family.”
Matt let out a primal yell as he jumped on the family’s table pulling out his knife screaming, “Who’s talking about my baby doll?! You die tonight!!” Matt was breathing hard with drool coming out of the corners of his mouth. Standing in the center of the table in a fighting stance, Matt held his knife out scanning the crowd. Everyone, including the family, was scared to move thinking Matt might see it as a sign of guilt.
Bruce slowly leaned over so he could see past Matt’s legs and see Mike. When Bruce saw Mike, he inquired, “Mike, can you control your son please?”
Mike looked at Matt then back to Bruce, “He’s going to be your son in law, you do it.”
Bruce looked up at Matt seeing him froth at the mouth with his heavy breathing. “Uh no, you’ve known him longer,” Bruce said but Danny solved the dilemma.
Danny jumped off her table and walked over looking at Matt. “Matt, get off the table please,” Danny said.
Matt just kept looking around the room for signs of guilt. Danny shouted, “Matt,” and Matt looked at her. “Baby get off the table, but, only if you love me,” Danny told him. The feral look erased off his face. It was replaced by one of unfathomable love as he just stepped backwards off the table landing on his feet.
“I knew you loved me. Do you like it? I made it just for you,” Danny said as she spun around showing off her camo bikini. Matt’s knife hit the floor as he just babbled. The only one that understood him was PJ and he thought it was funny. Danny blew a kiss to Matt and asked, “Baby, I put my boots on to tight will you help me take them off later?” Matt fell back in his chair babbling and Bruce started banging his head against the table. Danny waved at Matt and skipped up to the front with her mother joined by Mary. Angela made Bruce stop hitting his head against the table.
After they joined Debbie, she spoke again, “As you can see, the boys really love us a lot. They also love the ones with us.”
It hit Bruce like a brick. Someone had hurt Angela or Stephanie’s feelings, maybe both. Bruce stood up unbuckling his vest and dropping it to the floor. Every head turned toward Bruce when his vest hit the floor. Bruce scanned the eyes of everyone in the room and twenty three women turned away.
Debbie smiled, “Well, if a boy could figure out what I was saying, then the women should have no trouble. This is the only warning you will ever get. This goes not only for my family but the entire clan. If you can’t say something good then shut your fucking mouth. Nancy, do you have anything to add?”
Nancy said grinning, “Oh yeah. I’m just going to clear the air. If you want to talk about someone say it to their face, not behind their back. Women are much worse than guys with gossip. We are not saying don’t talk. We are all family here, our clan, fighting against incredible odds. Don’t talk to belittle people, trying to make yourself feel better. Those people may be the ones that save your life, again. If I ever hear of this again, I will hurt you myself then I will throw your carcass over the fence.”
They grabbed their coats and walked to the family table. Millie stepped in front of the group holding the biggest meat cleaver Bruce had ever seen. “I have a good idea who you are. You should feel ashamed of yourselves but I know you don’t. I will use this on you long before they gets to ya,” Millie said holding up the cleaver from hell and walked back to the kitchen.
The entire hall did not move. Most wanting to know who had pissed off the women to earn such threats and the others were just scared. When nobody stood up to get in line to eat Bruce cleared his throat.
Seeing he had everyone’s attention he spoke, “I now know who the trouble makers are. I’m going to forget this night, I suggest you remember it. My wife was very wise to keep me out of it because I would have thrown you out. You would have died for childish behavior on your part. Now everyone let’s eat, we survived another day.”
Bruce sat down as Debbie, Nancy, Mary and Danny reached the table. Danny went to Matt kissing him and he stopped babbling. With everyone sitting down Bruce felt like this day would never end. Shoveling the food, that Millie sat in front of him, down he stood up and kissed Stephanie, Angela and Debbie. Bruce grabbed PJ and the twins, Cade was running around with the other kids so Bruce left him, and headed to bed.
Bruce stopped outside to look up at the sky. Kneeling down Bruce let the twins get on his back as Matt, Jake, David, Danny, Mary, Buffy and Mindy came out of the center. They walked up to him as he stood up with the twins on his back.
Jake laughed, “Piggyback ride huh.”
“Yeah, like all of you, they love them,” Bruce said.
“Hey Dad we are going to watch movies. Let Emily and Sherry come with us?” Jake asked and not waiting for an answer Jake grabbed Emily and Mary grabbed Sherry each putting them on their back. PJ let out a yell like ‘hey what about me.’
Danny clapped her hands and PJ leaned toward her. “We’re not going to forget the little man who walked today,” Danny said as she took PJ out of Bruce’s arms.
Each of the kids kissed and hugged Bruce as they walked by heading to the house. Bruce just watched the group head inside, feeling left out. Shrugging his shoulders, he went to his room and took a shower by himself, the first one in a long time. Getting in bed, Bruce looked at the empty bed. It looked really big without all the people in it.
He grabbed his notebook to go over the plans again. Looking up occasionally at the door feeling very lonely he just laid his notebook down. Reaching over on the nightstand, Bruce went over the controls on the action digital camera Jake had given him. Bruce had put it on his boonie hat and Jake gave him a mountain of memory cards. Thirty minutes went by until he heard voices coming down the hall. Bruce picked up his notebook as the three walked into the room.
Debbie stopped in the door. Seeing Bruce in bed alone seemed weird. “Where are the kids?” she asked.
“Jake and them took ‘em to watch movies,” Bruce said.
“That makes since. Mindy came back to the center grabbing Cade saying she didn’t have anyone to play with,” Angela said.
They started getting dressed for bed and when Debbie took off her bikini Bruce said, “I was wanting you to wear that to bed.”
“If I wear one to bed, they do too,” Debbie said grinning.
Looking at the women Bruce shook his head, “No that’s ok, you need to be comfortable.”
After getting dressed, they climbed into bed. No sooner than they had laid down, Angela leaned over Stephanie looking at Bruce, “Bruce, Debbie’s feet hurt. Rub them for her,” she told him.
Bruce looked at Angela replying, “Maybe later, I’m busy right now.”
Angela ripped the covers off the bed exposing everyone. Then she turned around grabbing Debb
ie’s legs and pulled her over to Bruce by her ankles. Angela straddled Stephanie setting Debbie’s feet on Bruce’s chest. Then she grabbed his notebook, throwing it to the floor.
“Come on Bruce, they’re right there, rub them for her,” Angela said grinning.
Bruce looked at Debbie’s little feet, “I’m really tired, maybe tomorrow.”
“Oh come on Bruce, look at her little toes. Don’t you want to rub them,” Angela said rubbing Debbie’s foot on his chest. Bruce reached down and grabbed the blankets pulling them up to his chest.
“Oh, no you didn’t,” Angela said grabbing the blanket pulling it off. When the cover pulled off of Bruce, he flipped over on his stomach.
“Angela, I’m not kidding. I’m really tired and cold, give me the blankets,” Bruce begged.
Angela stood up in the bed and spun Stephanie around so her feet were beside Debbie’s on Bruce’s back. Debbie was laughing hard as Angela sat on Bruce’s legs.
“See, now Stephanie’s feet hurt, rub them too,” Angela said trying not to laugh.
“Angela, I’m not kidding, get off of me, this hurts,” Bruce said in growing pain.
“Bruce your head is turning red. Are you blushing?” Angela asked giggling.
Debbie came over and leaned over Bruce putting her mouth by his ear, “You surrender yet?”
“That does it,” Bruce said flipping back over and Angela screamed trying to get away. Bruce grabbed her pulling her back and started tickling all three. He stopped when Angela peed on herself and the bed. Bruce got out of bed going for some towels.
Turning back he said, “Angela, I can’t believe you wet the bed. I guess we need rubber sheets now.” Angela just flipped him off as he put the towels on the bed and left the room to get the kids. Bruce tapped on Jake’s door and opened slowly. Kids were laying everywhere asleep. Bruce closed the door smiling and headed back to bed.
Blue Plague Survival Page 49