The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Dad, look.” Frank squatted again before his father. “I know George is your friend and all but he just isn’t doing the job and I have to find out why. Maybe he’s just holding things tight until you get better. It seems to me . . .” Frank ran his hand across his head, staring at his father who’s only contact with him was his eyes. “It seems to me that he’s doing it on purpose. Like he wants everything to go wrong so he can pick it back up and be the big hero. But he’s taking a chance on the safety of this community and most importantly, my family.” Frank stood up. “I’ll tell you, Dad. I’ll kill him if something happens, something that could have been avoided if he would have acted the leader.”

  It will Frank. Something is going to happen.

  “Sorry if I sound so bad.” He looked down at his watch. “I have to go. I’ll stop back later. I have to go see Reverend Bob with Ellen today. Seems . . .” Franks hand touched his father’s. “Seems it’s all going to be over soon. I’ll stop back.” He leaned down and kissed his father. “And um, I’m sorry I came in here rambling off about George. It’s just that, who else is going to listen to me. Everyone likes him.”

  Not everyone Frank. Not everyone. Joe’s eyes shifted as his son, sad and angry, left the room.

  ^^^^

  Like a little girl shrieking at the sight if a bug, Ellen laughed and squealed as she struggled with the rabbits. “Dean, this isn’t going to work. Every time I open the cage to put one in, another jumps out.”

  “Here, let me help you.” Laughing, he walked up behind Ellen. “You’re lifting the lid too much.” He placed his one hand over hers that clutched the rabbit, then the other to her hand that held the lid to the cage. “First of all, you aren’t gripping the rabbit firm enough.” He squeezed his hand over hers. “Second, just lift the cage a little.” His hand helped her lift the lid.

  “Dean . . .” She felt him move closer behind her. “What are . . .”

  “Then you let it slip right in.”

  Ellen giggled. She felt his hand go around her waist. He moved her hair from her neck and kissed her. She tilted her head from him and away from the tickling feeling. “Dean, stop that.”

  “Yes Dean . . . stop that.” Frank spoke into the room, monotone.

  Dean rolled his eyes and moved back from Ellen. “Don’t you believe in knocking, Frank?”

  “Don’t you believe in keeping your hands to yourself?” He stepped into the room. His face was very serious, yet giving the appearance of trying to remain calm. “I would think you had enough of touching my wife last night.”

  “As a matter of fact, Frank, I didn’t. Seems someone barged into my room.”

  “Aw, too bad.”

  “Why are you here?” Dean asked, a hint of annoyance in his question.

  “I’m here to get Ellen. We have an appointment with Reverend Bob. Or didn’t she tell you. Keeping things from you already, Dean?”

  “Frank.” Dean said his name with annoyance. “Go.”

  “El?” Frank looked at her. “Walk with me.”

  “I don’t think so, Frank. I’ll see you there.” Ellen returned to her rabbits.

  Frank just stood there, waiting as if she had joked with him. When he saw she didn’t, he flung out his hand, turned and left the lab.

  “Gone.” Dean whispered.

  Ellen let out breath. “Thank, God. I really didn’t want to walk with him there. It’s hard enough.”

  “Are you sure you guys will adhere to Rev. Bob’s rules. He said he won’t discuss this annulment thing if you aren’t calm and rational.”

  “Dean.” Ellen spoke, trying to be convincing. “I have every intention of being calm and rational.”

  “You do. But . . . what about Frank?”

  ^^^^

  The large blue vase crashed loudly across Rev. Bob’s living room.

  Standing up, Rev. Bob looked to the water smear on the wall then to Frank. “And do you want to tell me what my vase did to you?”

  “Not the vase. You!” Frank pointed and swung his arm. “And her. Both of you. This isn’t a fuckin tea party. What she did was wrong and it’s being mowed over. Why aren’t we discussing this?”

  “Frank.” Ellen stood up. “We aren’t here to save this marriage. We aren’t here to discuss how to get through this. We’re here to end this. You tried. I tried. It’s not worth it. We will never get passed what I did or you did.”

  “I did?” Frank stepped to her. “You’re the one who cheated.”

  “And you’re the one who destroyed this marriage! You keep talking about what I did.” Ellen spoke up. “What about what you did? Telling your wife she isn’t a fit mother, you hate her, you feel contempt for her, and that she is nothing to you. Or how about calling your wife a whore? Better yet, how about sleeping with her then telling her to leave.” She ran her hands through her hair. “But the worst thing you did to me, the worst, was when you told me I deserved to be raped.”

  “No!” Frank cried out. “No. I thought we were fighting about something else. I would never imply that El, never. You know me, I wouldn’t do that.”

  “I thought I knew you. And now it’s worse because you let me walk away believing that. You could have said something. But you let me go. You let me go because you thought as long as you didn’t mean it, it wasn’t wrong. It was.” Ellen faced Reverend Bob, who sat in his chair, only this time he looked shocked. “Reverend, please listen to me. I have done so many things wrong in this life. I’m going to have to answer for them when I leave this earth. Please, please don’t make me live my hell now. End this for me. For him. Just . . .” She walked past Frank to the door. “Just end this.” With a quick exit, she left.

  Reverend Bob slowly stood from his chair as Frank slammed his fist against the closed door. “Frank. I’ll um, I’ll sign the papers. I’ll need you and Ellen to come over and sign . . .”

  “No!” Frank charged to him. “Don’t sign them. If you sign them, that’s saying it’s over. I’m not ready for it to be over.”

  “Have you told her this?”

  Frank closed his mouth tight and dropped his head swaying it. “I tried. But every time I open my mouth to tell her she interrupts me. She doesn’t want to hear it.” Frank walked slowly to the door. “Don’t sign them yet. Not yet.” Taking a deep breath of sadness, Frank walked from Reverend Bob’s home.

  ^^^^

  Ellen maneuvered the comb through Joe’s hair. “There. All done.” She set down the comb and brushed her hand down his white button shirt. She made Joe look like Joe to her, shirt, hair done, cigarettes in pocket. “You look very handsome, Joe. I always wondered why you continued to wear these white shirts. But you look strong in them.” She straightened the collar. “Getting back to Frank.”

  No, not back to Frank.

  “Frank loved to write letters. He and I both. Robbie too. I wrote a lot to Robbie.” Ellen picked the comb back up and fixed the sides of Joe’s hair. “And knowing how I ramble, imagine how long my letters were. Would you like some coffee now?” She replaced the comb with the cup. “I think it should be cool.” She stuck the straw in the coffee letting a little go into the bottom, she held in there by placing her finger to the end. “Here” She separated his lips, tilted his head back slightly and gave him the coffee. “Is it good?” She watched his neck muscles swallow.

  UH! Christ Ellen, how much sugar did you put into it?

  “Is there enough sugar?” She reached to the cloth and grabbed another small piece of cane. “There, that should be enough.” She stirred it with the straw and brought it to Joe’s mouth.

  No, no. Joe nearly gagged when she dumped more in his mouth.

  “I bet you needed that. Hey . . .” Ellen snapped her finger. “I know what you would like.” She ran to the door, peeked into the hall and ran back. “Would you like a cigarette?”

  What is she going to do? Ellen, go to work.

  Ellen reached into his pocket grabbed a cigarette and his lighter. She placed it in her mouth, lighting
it. She started to cough. “Joe.” She hacked again. “Make a filter or something.” She looked to the door then placed the cigarette in Joe’s mouth.

  Joe breathed it in, and tried, really tried to blow the smoke out.

  “Shit.” Ellen took the cigarette from his mouth and waved her hand in front of him to clear the cloud of smoke that lingered thick around him. “Shit.”

  “Ellen.” Dean stood in the doorway. “What are you doing?”

  “Um . . .” Ellen placed the cigarette in her mouth. “Smoking.” She held in her cough. “God, it’s been forever since I had one.” She exhaled loudly.

  “Put it out, and you shouldn’t be smoking in here with Joe.”

  “O.K.” Ellen shrugged to Joe and put it out.

  “And El. You really shouldn’t start smoking again, O.K.?”

  “O.K.” She smiled then waved.

  Joe saw Dean leave. Take her with you. Take her with you. Shit.

  “Joe.” Ellen spoke softly and knelt before him. “You know what’s going to be really sad about all this break up stuff with me and Frank. You won’t be my Dad officially.” So sad, she rested her head on Joe’s hand. Her fingers touched his. “That makes me sad. I wish you were better Joe. I wish you were.” She kissed his hand.

  A tingle. A tingle in his right hand. No, I didn’t feel that. Joe’s eyes looked down as he watched Ellen rub her cheek on his hand. I did, Ellen, Ellen, I felt you!

  Suddenly Ellen’s head sprang up. Her eyes widened to Joe. “Did you just move your hand?” She grasped it. “Joe, try. Try to squeeze my hand.” She not only felt his fingers wrap around hers, but she felt them grip her tightly. With a loud gasp, Ellen smiled. “Oh, my God.”

  I feel you. I feel my daughter. Joe grabbed her hand tighter. He didn’t want to let go. He had control, control over his right hand.

  “Joe.” Ellen stood up and kissed him. “I’ll be back. I have to tell Frank.”

  Don’t leave. Don’t leave. Let me hold your hand. I can hold your hand.

  “I’ll be right back.” She lifted his fingers from hers. “I promise you I’ll be right back.” She ran excitedly to the door, stopped and ran back, placing her hands on his face. “I love you Joe, thank you for this.” Out of the room she flew. At high speed, she never stopped. Crashing through the double doors, she nearly knocked over George.

  “Whoa, young lady, what’s the rush?” He placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “I have to get, Frank.” Ellen flew away from him. “Joe moved his hand.” She jumped the four steps, pausing in the street, looking up and down. She saw Frank, coming out of the library. “Frank!” She chased him. “Frank!”

  “El.” He turned and saw her running. “What’s wrong?” His heart beat faster as he met her halfway. “What’s wrong?”

  Smiling brightly at him, she grabbed his hand. “Come on.” Leading him, holding his hand she ran to the clinic.

  “El, is it my father?” He stopped at the doors.

  “You have to see this.” Still gripping tightly she raced with Frank to Joe’s room.

  “You did his hair.” Frank stopped when they walked in. “He looks good.”

  “Not that. Get down.” She reached up to his shoulder leading him down to a kneel at his father’s right hand side. She stepped back and knelt next to him. Picking up Joe’s hand, she smiled at Frank as she laid his father’s hand on his. “Do it, Joe. Do it.”

  It came out of Frank with such excitement, an enthusiastic exhale followed by something that he hadn’t done in weeks. He smiled. An open mouth smile lit up his face when he felt his father take hold of him. “El.” He was nearly breathless. “He grabbed my hand.”

  Ellen, her face close to Frank’s, nodded with a huge smile that matched his.

  “He moved his hand,” Frank spoke in awe. “He moved.” Reaching his other hand to behind Ellen’s neck, he clenched her with excitement, pulling her close, leaned and kissed her quickly. “He’s coming back to us.”

  “Yes he is. And it’s good, Frank. Very good.”

  Enough of the mushy shit. Someone get me a pencil, Joe mind bitched.

  Dean, seeing from the hall, stepped in. “What’s going on?”

  Frank stood up. “My father moved. Look.” Frank lifted the hand that Joe still gripped.

  Dean smiled. “I see that. Can I?” He stepped forward. “It’s his right hand.” He spoke softly taking Joe’s hand from Frank.

  Frank gave Dean room. “Right hand, left hand. Doesn’t matter, he moved it.”

  Dean pulled from his pocket a lance. Raising it, he turned Joe’s hand over. “I want to see if you feel this, Joe.” He pricked down lightly, Joe’s fingers flinched. “You felt that. You felt that.” Stunned Dean began to examine his hand. “So why is this hand coming back?” He looked up to Joe.

  Joe’s eyes met Dean’s. You know. You know something is up. Son of a bitch you know.

  Frank moved over to Ellen, leaning down to her. “What’s up with the right hand thing?”

  Ellen moved back with him. “If any movement was going to come back after a stroke, it would most likely be the left side of his body not the right.”

  “Maybe he didn’t have a stroke.” Frank asked.

  “That’s what I’ve been arguing with Andrea about.” Dean stood up, staring into Joe’s eyes. He rubbed his chin and pulled out a pencil from his pocket. “El, get me a piece of paper. I want to try something.”

  If Joe’s shoulders could have dropped in relief they would have. Thank you, Dean. Thank you. I can tell you how to help me.

  Before Ellen could leave for the paper, Frank grabbed hold of her. “Thanks, El.” He smiled at her. “You did something.”

  “I didn’t do anything Frank. All I did was give him a cigarette.” She ran to the door.

  “You had my father smoking?” Frank watched as Ellen smiled, but stopped in the door way when a frantic looking Melissa showed up.

  With tears in her eyes, Melissa ran to Dean. “Marcus is gone. I feel like a terrible mother. I went to get him a snack. When I came back, he was gone. Took off. He started crawling.” Melissa was sacred. “You know how fast he moves.”

  “Shit.” Dean ran his fingers through his hair. “Joe, we’ll be right back. El, help me.”

  Ellen turned to Frank. “Can you help?”

  “I’ll get some men. Melissa which way did he . . . uh run?”

  “Sped.” Melissa answered. “I’m scared Frank. He went out to the fields. They have the tractors out there. What if they don’t see him?”

  “All right.” Frank took a second to think. “Melissa head back home, start looking in the living section. Dean, you and Ellen search center town. I’ll have some men head to the field and I’ll case toward the front gate.”

  With nods, all three of them left the room.

  “Dad.” Frank laid his hand on Joe’s. “I’ll be back.” Placing his headset microphone to his mouth, Frank barked out instructions as he left his father’s room.

  ^^^^

  Pulling a reluctant Dean, Ellen brought him into the clinic. “I’m telling you I saw him come in here.”

  “El come on, he’s like six weeks old. What did he do, open the double doors.”

  “Yes.” Ellen waited for him in the open door.

  “This is silly. Really silly.” Dean walked past her. “No way he’s in here. We’re wasting valuable time looking . . .” Dean halted the moment he stepped by his lab. “Shit.” He walked inside, grabbing the radio immediately. “Frank, we have him. He’s at the clinic.” Dean set the radio down.

  “Oh, no.” Ellen looked about the scene. “Marcus?” She crept up to him, speaking in a high pitch. “What have you been up to?”

  “I think it’s pretty obvious, El.” Dean ran to the sink and turned on the water. “Hurry and bring him over.”

  Ellen lifted the baby holding him at arm’s length from her. “Look at the mess you made in Dr. Dean’s lab.” She moved to the sink. “Dean this baby is heavy.
”

  “Is it any wonder with his appetite?” Dean faced the scene in the room. The long counter with the open rabbit cage had blood and rabbit parts sprawled upon it. “Let’s hurry and clean him up before Melissa sees him. I really hope Jason will give us more of his quantum rabbits.”

  “Oh this fur is going to be impossible to get out of his mouth.” Ellen grabbed a towel dipping it in water. “Dean, put your fingers in his mouth and get it out.”

  “Are you nuts? I’m not sticking my fingers in his mouth.”

  “Fine. I will.” Ellen pulled down the square chin of the child. “Can I see?” She opened her mouth for Marcus and stuck her finger inside. “OW!” She screamed loudly.

  “El, are you all right?” Dean panicked.

  “Just kidding.” She tossed a fur ball at him. “Good thing these weren’t the rabid rabbits, huh?”

  “Funny.” Dean shook his head.

  Frank’s heavy walking was his entrance announcement into the lab. “You guys have him? Melissa is on . . . Holy Shit! What the hell are you guys working on now?” Frank noticed the disrupted counter.

  Ellen finished cleaning the baby. “Let’s just say Marcus has been busy.” She noticed Dean glare at her.

  Frank held his hands up. “I don’t wanna know.” He backed up. “I’m going to see my father.” As he stepped to the hall he stepped right back in, snapping, “Melissa’s coming.”

  Quickly grabbing Marcus, Ellen ran to the door. “Thanks.” She waited for Dean, who came out and shut the door. “Frank, we’ll be right down.”

  Melissa smiled as she saw Dean and Ellen standing in the hall with her baby. “Thank you, thank you. You found him.” Her arms reached out.

  Ellen handed him to her. “He’s been very busy.”

  Melissa bounced her son. “Have you been bad? Dean is he all right?”

  “Um . . .” Dean ran his hand across the top of his head. “Sure. A little hungry though.” He grunted when Ellen smacked him in the gut. “He’s fine.”