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

by Jacqueline Druga

  Hal grunted and ate some more. “Have you prepared a team to take out the Kansas site yet? Our scout says there are only sixty-two men.”

  “Yes, I picked the team and have been speaking to them. Corporal Pollack will lead them.”

  “Excellent choice, he’s always so swift and gets the job done no matter how big or small.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Sgt. Ryder leaned into Hal. “I’ve been giving some thought about what you said earlier.”

  “About?” Hal asked.

  “About The Society wanting and taking the man.”

  “And?”

  “And . . .” Sgt. Ryder hated when Hal made him come right out and say whatever it was on his mind. I think I’ll help you pick the scout teams to go to look for him.”

  “Good, that’s what I want.” Hal gave a swift pat to Sgt. Ryder’s arm. “Support.” Hal ate one of his last three bites of meat. “We know if he’s injured they didn’t take him too far. We can go with that.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. Let’s sit down tonight and work on the maps.”

  Hal agreed.

  “We could start building that connection we need to Beginnings by doing this. It would make it easier when you make your approach with the agreement you want to have with them. Let me apologize for what I said after Gary left. It won’t be a waste of time sending out that many scouts to search for the Beginnings man even if he is dead.”

  “He’s not.”

  “He was shot several times,” Sgt. Ryder said.

  “Yes, I know, but he’s not dead.” Hal stated with certainty.

  “How can you be so sure about it?”

  Hal paused to think. “I don’t know, but I am. I’m very sure. My gut tells me he isn’t dead. I don’t know why I feel so strongly about it but I do.”

  “Odd.”

  “Yes it is,” Hal told him, “and so is that huge bird looking in at us through the window. God, it has to be the biggest bird I have ever seen.”

  “Bird?” Sgt. Ryder turned to look, when he did, Hal took what was left of his meat. Sgt. Ryder returned to his plate. “I didn’t see any . . .” He saw his meatless platter. “…bird.”

  Hal just grinned and chewed.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Dean pulled the sheet over Ellen’s shoulder. It felt chilly in the room and Ellen has some goose bumps on her arm. He sat back down in his chair and rested his head on the raised bed. His was face next to Ellen and his fingers softly stroked her hand. “Come on, El, please come out of this. Please.” He lifted his head when he heard the squeaking boot.

  Robbie had stopped when he walked in the room. “I’m sorry. You want me to come back later?”

  “No.” Dean shook his head. “Come on in.”

  “You’re here late,” Robbie said as he took a chair and sat down.

  “Jenny’s with the kids again. She seems to like it.”

  “Jenny is lonely since Caroline died.”

  “Yeah she is,” Dean spoke then winced.

  “What?” Robbie asked then turned his head to see Henry walk in the room.

  “Henry,” Dean called to him, “I thought I told you to spend time with your son.”

  “Jenny won’t let me. She’s hogging him.” Henry shrugged, and holding his notebook, grabbed a chair, slid it noisily, and nudged it between Dean and Robbie until they made room. “Thanks.” Henry smiled and sat down. “Aw.”

  Robbie slightly rolled his eyes. “What?”

  “Who painted Ellen’s nails this color? It’s all wrong for her.” Henry lifted Ellen’s hands.

  “Trish,” Dean said, “but look.” Dean pointed to Ellen’s face. “It matches the lipstick she put on her.”

  Henry peered closer. “Oh. I see. That works.” He opened his notebook. “You guys weren’t in the middle of telling Ellen anything were you?” Henry looked at Dean and Robbie and they both shook their heads. “Good, because I left off on a really good story and I’m sure Ellen is impatient.”

  Robbie and Dean both moaned softly.

  “O.K.” Henry began. “Mr. Owens was my eleventh grade algebra teacher. He hated me, El, and I can’t figure out why to this day. All because I told him algebra made no sense. What does the ‘x’ equals have to do with anything life. Dean, you’re the big scientist. Do you have an answer?”

  Dean paused to think of how he could explain it to Henry. “Algebra is to help you figure out problems when there are missing pieces. Using ‘X’ and ‘Y’ and such.”

  “But I wasn’t going to be a scientist or a mathematician.”

  “Yes, I know,” Dean explained, “but basic problem solving helps you to work things out in your life as well. It shows you that if you take your time and think, everything can be worked out.”

  “Anything? Nah.”

  “It’s the principal, Henry.”

  “But it still makes no sense. If I have a problem deciding what shirt to wear, how is Algebra gonna help me?”

  “Algebra is basic deductions. Say you stand in front of your closet and have four shirts, Red, white, blue, and green. You deduct you wore the blue on Monday and the green on Tuesday, that leaves red and white. The red has spot on it so you choose white. Basic deductions, algebra.”

  Robbie nodded. “Wow, how layman. I’m impressed.”

  “Thanks.” Dean smiled.

  Henry fluttered his lips. “That sucks.”

  Dean shook his head. “And you wonder why your teacher hated you.”

  “Yeah,” Henry said, “I do. My father used to tell me I would need ‘American Therapist’ if I kept obsessing over it. He used to say that I obsessed over everything. I guess I did. Good thing I grew out of it, huh, El.”

  Robbie and Dean looked to each other.

  “O.K.” Henry went on. “Back to Mr. Owens and his . . .” He stopped talking when Joe came in. “Hey El, it’s your dad. I’ll save the story for him.”

  Joe kissed Ellen and pulled up a chair. “So gentleman, what are we talking about to our girl?” Joe saw that Dean and Robbie pointed to Henry. “Henry, what are we talking about?” He sat down backwards on the chair.

  “Oh. Joe, I’m telling Ellen about my eleventh grade algebra teacher.”

  “Eleventh grade,” Joe said with sarcasm. “You’ve only gotten to the eleventh grade in your stories? Christ, Henry, I didn’t think you had that much happen in your life.”

  “Me Joe?” Henry nodded with a smile. “I had a very fulfilling and adventurous childhood. We’re nearing my college years now.”

  “Henry,” Joe said, “you never went to college.”

  “Still Joe, I had college years.”

  “I remember when Ellen was in college.” Joe folded his arms over the chair’s back and rested his chin on them. “I’m sorry, do you guys mind if I reminisce?”

  Quickly and with relief both Robbie and Dean answered “No.”

  Joe smiled. “Dean, did she ever tell you it took her four times to pass her state boards?” Joe shook his head. “I told her she had to study. She thought she knew all the answers. She still does. I remember we threw her a party and brought it to her. Remember Robbie? Pete wasn’t all that happy about it. She was married to him at the time.”

  “Pete was a dick,” Robbie commented. “I hated him. He was always so mean to me.”

  “Didn’t you used to have a crush on her?” Dean asked. “You think maybe that’s why he hated you?”

  Joe laughed. “Used to? Robbie wasn’t subtle about his crush either. The kid stayed at Frank’s house every summer, yet where was he when he was done helping Kelly out for the day? At Ellen’s. Kelly said Robbie would have his chores done by eight in the morning just to go over there.”

  Robbie grinned, thinking back. “I used to tell El I wanted to help her out. Then she and I would lay out while the kids were in the kiddie pool. I remember I liked it when she would splash herself with water and I’d watch . . .” Robbie cleared his throat. “I was a teenage boy
.”

  “Son, in many ways you still are,” Joe told him.

  Henry was curious though he really wanted to tell his algebra story. “Joe, did you and Ellen always get along?”

  “Yeah, pretty much so. No, wait, at first I scared the hell out of her. I remember when Frank called me. He was barely in school a month and he tells me he’s not living in the dorm. He got a roommate and they have this apartment. He was working at a book store then . . .” Joe saw the surprised glances he received. “Yes, Frank worked at a book store moving boxes. That was before Ellen did the stripper thing and he was her body guard. Anyway, he tells me the apartment is only a one bedroom and he assures me over and over that there’s two single beds and nothing is happening. I got worried. Frank went on and on too much about nothing happening but in typical Frank fashion, he failed to mention one little detail. He failed to mention that his roommate was a girl.” Joe laughed with everyone else. “I panicked. I thought, is this it. Is Frank gay? He’s reassuring me way too much so I went there, with wife two, no fiancé three, that’s it, Bambi.”

  With a snicker, Dean repeated the name, “Bambi?”

  “Yes, like the deer. Can I tell this?” Joe waited until he got the go ahead and he proceeded. His face reflected his happiness as he told the story of his first encounter with Ellen . . .

  Slagel Flashback ….

  The staircase was narrow and the neighborhood wasn’t all that great. “Look at this place,” Joe griped as he walked up the steps with Bambi.

  Her voice was high and ‘Betty-Boop’ like. She wore a fake fur jacket and high heels. “Oh Joey it’s really not that bad. Frankie’s a big boy, he can handle himself.” Bambi had extreme blonde hair, done up wild and big and didn’t look many years over her age of twenty-five.

  “Yeah well, he’s not your son now is he?” They reached the stop of the steps and two doors were there. A pink flowered wreath decorated one and Joe turned to the other. “This is it.”

  “No-no, Joey. Frankie said apartment 2-a, this is 2-b.”

  With wide eyes Joe turned back around. He cringed when he saw the pink wreath again. “Oh my God.”

  “Now Joey remember.” Bambi grabbed his arm. “No yelling at him about being gay, O.K.?”

  Grumbling, Joe knocked on the door. He heard Frank’s clumsy footsteps approach. At least he hoped it was Frank.

  Frank, very thin and an inch shorter than his adult height, answered the door totally shocked. “Dad.” his eyes shifted.

  “Frank.” Joe raised his eyebrow.

  “What uh . . . what are you doing here?”

  “Coming to see your new place. Should I have called?”

  “No.” Frank shook his head and looked back. “This is nice. You drove all the way up here, huh?”

  “It appears that way, bright boy.”

  “Wow.” Frank nodded.

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “Can we come in?”

  Frank looked over his shoulder again. “Um, yeah.” He opened the door wider.

  Joe stepped into the living room. He saw white walls that were decorated and very clean. That scared Joe. The furniture was cheap, but new, as if Frank and his roommate pitched in at a discount store. “Frank, you remember Bambi my fiancé, don’t you?”

  “Ma’am.” Frank shook her hand. “Can I take you coat?”

  “Thanks Frankie.” Bambi spun from her jacket. “Oh I love the decor in here. So fem . . .” Bambi shut up when Joe nudged her. “Hey!”

  “So uh Frank, did you eat?”

  “Today?”

  “No, dinner,” Joe said with some annoyance. “Did you? We’re starved from the drive and I wanna take you out to eat.”

  “Now?” Frank asked. “Um . . .” His eyebrow rose. “I can’t.”

  “You can’t?”

  “How long are you in town? Maybe another day.”

  Joe laughed in ridicule. “Maybe another day? No, Frank, I don’t think so. You called and said stop up anytime. I stop up this weekend because I’m off. Now your ass will go out to dinner with us.”

  Bambi gave a pat to Joe’s arm. “Joey, maybe he has a date.”

  “Do you have a date, Frank?”

  “No.” Frank scratched his head. “It’s hard to explain but . . . O.K., my roommate hates to eat alone and we were supposed to try this new pizza place.”

  “Awfully dedicated to that roommate of yours, aren’t you? You’re not liking this roommate more than you should are you?”

  “Well . . . yeah. I do.” Frank nodded.

  “Oh, Jesus Christ. Ow!” Joe felt Bambi’s nails sear into him when she pinched him. “What Bambi? For crying out loud!”

  “What did I tell you, Joey?” She clenched her teeth as she talked.

  “All right, all right. He likes his roommate more than a roommate. I can deal with this. Frank,” Joe took a breath. “Where is your roommate?”

  “Getting dressed.” Frank looked behind him to the small hall.

  “Go . . .” Joe cringed. “Go ask your roommate to join us. And we’re going someplace better than a pizza place. So change. Put on a nice shirt, Frank.”

  “O.K.” Frank smiled and moved to the hallway.

  “Tell him to look presentable too.”

  Frank stopped walking. “Him?”

  “Yeah, your roommate.” Joe whispered in Bambi’s ear when Frank disappeared into the hall, “I shouldn’t have to tell either of them to look nice. Gay men always have this thing about clothes.”

  “Joey.” Bambi spoke his name soft and with a smile.

  “What?”

  “Look.”

  Joe raised his eyes from his whispering hunch with Bambi. He saw Ellen standing with Frank in the living room. “Frank?”

  “Dad.” Frank cleared his throat. “This is uh . . . Ellen, my roommate.”

  So shy, so timid, so unlike the Ellen that became the woman, she extended her hand to Joe. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Slagel.”

  “A girl?” Joe asked as he shook Ellen’s hand. He almost sounded angry. “You are living with a girl?”

  “Yeah.” Frank said. “What did you think?”

  Bambi giggled. “He thought you were gay.”

  “You thought I was gay?” Frank snapped.

  “Yes I thought you were gay. This isn’t right, Frank.” Joe sounded so fatherly.

  “What do you mean this isn’t right?” Frank asked.

  “It’s wrong to be living with her.”

  “But being gay was O.K.?”

  “At least you aren’t gonna knock up another man!” Joe scolded.

  Bambi was shocked. “Joey, please.”

  “Frank, I hope to God you aren’t sleeping with this little girl?”

  “Dad,” Frank whined and he looked at Ellen who was turning white.

  “And you, Missy Jane,” Joe pointed at Ellen. “Are you even out of high school yet?”

  “Yes I . . . . yes.”

  “Does your mother know your living in sin?”

  Ellen bit her bottom lip.

  “Does she?” Joe raised his voice louder. “Do your parents know that you are living with a boy?”

  “No.” Ellen shook her head.

  “Where’s the goddamn phone.” Joe looked around the apartment. “I want their number and I’m calling them to let them know what their daughter is doing with my son.”

  “Dad!” Frank yelled as Joe searched the apartment.

  “Eighteen goddamn years old, Frank. Eighteen!” Joe yelled, “and you’re playing house! Didn’t you learn by my life? Huh? Didn’t you. You wanna be thirty-eight years old and chasing your stupid hard headed son around? No.” Joe kept looking around the apartment. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. I hope to God you are taking responsibility. Do you have any idea what you’re getting yourself into? Where’s the goddamn phone!”

  Bambi tapped Joe on the shoulder and pointed to the phone.

  Joe picked up the green phone. “What’s your parents’ number?” Joe asked Ellen.r />
  “Please, Mr. Slagel, they live all the way in Michigan. We’re not doing . . .:”

  “What’s the number?” Joe yelled at her and Ellen jumped back.

  Quivering, Ellen answered, “410-887-6756. “Frank,” Ellen softened her voice, “I don’t think I want to go to dinner.” She burst into tears and ran down the hall, slamming the bedroom door.

  “Dad! You scared her. See?” Frank tossed his hand in the air. “This isn’t fair. What are we doing wrong? We’re roommates. We aren’t sleeping together.”

  Again Bambi tapped Joe annoyingly on the shoulder.

  “What?” Joe blasted.

  “Joey, even if they are sleeping together, it’s none of your business.”

  “They’re kids. Mind you own business.” Joe huffed then calmed himself down, running his hand over his face. “Sorry Frank. It’s just that I was expecting . . .”

  “Me to be gay?”

  “Don’t get smart.” Joe pointed. “I’ll go talk to her.” Joe walked to the hall. “Down here?”

  “Don’t yell at her anymore,” Frank told him. “I’ll get mad.”

  Joe grumbled something inaudible and walked down the small hall and knocked on the closed door. He waited and it opened. When he walked in Ellen jumped back on the bed, face down, and buried her face in the pillow. “Christ, this is why I’m glad I have boys.” Joe shut the door. “Ellen.”

  “What?” She asked muffled through her pillow and tears.

  “Look at me.”

  “No.”

  “I wanna talk to you. Look at me.”

  “No.”

  “Ellen!” Joe yelled.

  Immediately Ellen flipped over and sat up. She held her pillow close to her as if it were a baby doll. She sniffled.

  Joe looked around the room. Two dressers, and across the room was another single bed. “Ellen, maybe I was a little harsh but look at it from a father’s point of view. You guys are kids.”

  “Frank’s my friend. We’re best friends.” She hyperventilated her crying breaths.

  “All right, I’m not gonna say anything else. I’m gonna take your word and Frank’s that you’re just roommates, because I think if it’s any more you’re much too young for this playing house shit. But…you have to call your parents and tell them the truth. If you don’t, I will. You got that?”