by Joy Redmond
Jack began to get rough with Tony. When Mandy would scold and get Tony away from him, Jack would say, “I’m teaching him to be a man. My boy ain’t gonna be a sissy!”
Mandy fumed. “You will not keep knocking him around! I’m warning you, Jack. I’ll take him and leave this state if you keep treating him like a punching bag. You might punch me around, but by God, you won’t touch my son!”
Jack laughed. “Shit. You don’t have the means or guts to leave me and go anywhere. He’s my son and I’ll toughen him up. Come here, boy,” he yelled at Tony.
Tony froze.
Mandy scooped him into her arms. “You try to stop me! Kati, grab Mommy’s purse off her bed and come with me.”
Jack stood up and was walking toward Mandy when Lester pulled up in front of the house. Jack sat back down.
“Perfect timing, Lester,” Mandy said with a laugh.
Kati ran toward Mandy, holding the purse. Mandy slung the purse strap over her shoulder, took Kati’s hand and headed out the door.
Both children said, “Hi, Poppa.”
“Hi, Mr. Walker. Go on in. Jack’s in there, but I’ve got an errand to run.”
“Well, I came by to see the kids,” Lester said. “I want Kati to read for me.” He smiled and shook his head. “I can’t believe my little Kati is already in first grade.”
Kati took Lester’s hand and was headed back into the house. “No, Kati. Come with Mommy. You’ll see Poppa later.” She grabbed Kati’s hand and looked at Lester. “We really need to go. See you when.”
“Well, okay,” Lester said as Mandy opened the back door of the car and shooed the children inside. I hate to do this to that sweet man, but I gotta get away. And where is Pearl? That’s strange.
As Mandy drove to Cross Pointe, she realized that she hadn’t put sweaters or jackets on the children. She was so angry she was hot. And it was the first week of November.
Iris and Otis were overjoyed to see Mandy and their grandchildren. And Mandy marveled at how they were the best grandparents that she could have ever hoped for. Iris had a nice supper ready. They all sat at the table and Kati said the blessing that Iris had taught her. Otis beamed as he said, “Amen” after Kati.
After supper, Mandy helped clean up the kitchen, then they went into the living room and Otis and Iris played with the children until nine o’clock.
Tony fell asleep on the floor and Kati fell asleep on the couch. Mandy asked her parents if they could go into the kitchen and have a talk. Once they were seated around the table, Mandy told her parents that she hated Jack. Using all the inner strength she could muster, she meekly said, “Can me and the kids come live here? I’m going to get a divorce and we have no place to go and no way to live.”
Iris wiped her eyes. “Honey, you know we love you and the kids, but we don’t believe in divorce. When you took your vows, you said for better or worse, until death do you part. It was a promise to God.”
Otis pushed back in his chair and said, “I told you when you said you were going to marry him that you were making a mistake. I also said if you went through with it and when things fell apart, not to come crying to us. I think I also said when you walked out of our door a married woman, you wouldn’t be coming back. You made your bed. Now lay in it.”
“I well remember, Dad. I guess I was stupid enough to think you’d want to give your grandchildren a home where they don’t have to witness their mother being mistreated. That’s fine. I’ll take care of things. And thank you for your support.”
Otis said, “Next month is your seventh anniversary. You’ve got the seven year itch. You have to work things out.”
“I have the seven year hate,” Mandy said as she looked at Iris. “I know you don’t believe in divorce. I don’t either. I also don’t believe that God wants me or any women to live with a wife beater, a womanizer, and a rapist. I guess we have a different God!”
“Rapist!” Iris cried, and her eyes seemed ready to fall out their sockets.
“Never mind. I’ll take my children and go home.”
Mandy walked into the living room, threw her purse strap over her shoulder, picked up Tony and headed for the door.
“Iris, bring me a heavy blanket. It’s too cold out there for these kids,” Otis said as he picked up Kati.
When the children were in the back seat with the blanket tucked around them, Mandy quietly shut the door. Otis headed back inside without another word. She opened the front door and slid under the steering wheel. The old resentment and hatred that had died down in the past seven years was now brewing again.
Piss on them. We’ll find a way, Nikko mumbled.
It was ten o’clock when Mandy got back home. All the lights were out. Good. Jack has gone to bed. She picked up Kati, carried her into the house, pulled off her shoes, then put her in the bed fully clothed. She headed back outside to get Tony. There wasn’t a sound in the house. Thank God, Jack’s sound asleep.
She came inside with Tony and just as she started to walk down the hallway, Jack was in her face. “You better never take my kids out of this house again. If Daddy hadn’t been here, I’d have broken your neck! You just never learn, do you?”
“Go to hell!” Mandy said as she tried to step around Jack.
Jack slapped her across the face. “I’m gonna—” Before he finished his sentence, Tony woke up and cried. Jack dropped his hand by his side.
Mandy held Tony in the bend of her arm. “You’re a dead man standing. Just wait until I—”
Jack slapped her again, and his finger hit Tony in the left eye. Tony screamed, and Mandy drew him close to her as she watched a trickle of blood run down his face. “Oh, my God!”
“He ain’t hurt. You baby him too much,” Jack said as he went back to the bedroom.
Mandy hurried into the kitchen, flipped on the ceiling light and grabbed a towel that was hanging across the oven rack. She wiped the blood and saw it was a tiny scratch in the corner of his eye. She took an ice cube out of the freezer and wrapped it in the towel and held it to his eye. Within minutes, Tony stopped crying and laid his head on Mandy’s shoulder. She patted his back until he went to sleep.
Mandy put Tony in bed, then went back into the kitchen. She opened a drawer and picked up a butcher knife. I knew this day was coming. I saw it happening three years ago. You’re gonna die, you bastard!
She felt a hard tap to the back of her head. She whirled around, ready to impale the knife into Jack’s gut. Nobody was behind her. Knock it off! Whoever you are. She headed out of the kitchen.
And I could use some assistance here. Show your stuff. Set the bed on fire!
Just as she passed the wall phone, it rang. She picked up the phone. “Well, are you going to say something this time, or are you just going to act like a mute?”
“Sis?”
“Lee!” Mandy cried. “I’m sorry. I’ve been getting prank calls and I thought—oh, never mind. Where are you?”
“I’m still stationed at Fort Bragg. But I’m heading to Kentucky tomorrow. I want to see you, a few aunts and uncles, then I’m headed to Indianapolis to see Daddy.”
“That’s great, Lee! I’ll finally get to meet Maylee and Teddy and Jimi. I often look at the pictures you’ve sent through the years.”
“We’re always thrilled when we get letters from you, and pictures of Kati and Tony.”
“I get letter and pictures from Don. He has a beautiful wife and his son and daughter are so pretty, they take my breath away. They left Idaho, then went to Missouri, now they’re in Tennessee.”
“They move around about as much as I do. Since I joined the army, I’d lived in three states and I spent two years in Okinawa. And that’s where I met and married, Maylee. But you already know that. I don’t ever hear from Don, but then I never write or call him. We’re strangers after all these years. Anyway, I’m running up a phone bill. I’ll see you late tomorrow afternoon. Love ya. Bye.”
“Love you, too. Bye”
Mandy hung up the
phone. “So that’s what the tap was for,” she mumbled. “You were trying to tell me to behave because my brother is coming.”
She felt a jerk on her hand, and the butcher knife fell to the floor. “Shit! I didn’t remember I was still holding it. I guess I should say thanks. Whoever you are,” she mumbled.
Mandy jumped when the knife began to spin like a top. She didn’t try to pick it up. She turned out the light, went into Kati’s bedroom and crawled into bed and cuddled with her sweet daughter.
Why don’t you spin out of the kitchen, down the hallway, then jump in the middle of Jack’s chest?!
She listened intently for any sounds. She heard nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mandy woke up the next morning when bright sunlight hit her eyes. She reached up and pulled down the blind. She eased out of bed, hoping she wouldn’t wake Kati. She tiptoed across the floor and headed to her bedroom. She walked into the bedroom and Jack wasn’t in bed. She went into the living room and looked out the window. The car was gone. She heaved a sigh of relief.
One more time you lived to see another day, but you’re pushing your luck.
She went into the kitchen, picked up the knife that was still on the floor below the phone. She put it back in the drawer. She filled the percolator with water and coffee. As she waited for it to brew, Kati and Tony came into the kitchen, rubbing their sleepy eyes. “Hi, kids.” She held her arms open in full hug mode. Both children hugged her, then asked for pancakes.
Late that afternoon, Lee and his family arrived. Mandy was overjoyed as she hugged her brother, then hugged and kissed Maylee, Teddy, and Jimi. “What a perfect family, Lee. Those boys are the spitting image of you and Daddy.”
Lee hugged Mandy tightly. “Where are Kati and Tony?” Before Mandy could answer, Kati and Tony came running into the living room. Lee scooped them into his arms. “Beautiful, Kati. Sweet, Tony.” He kissed them on the cheek and his eyes were misty as he stood them back on the floor.
Jack came home later that night and he was a perfect gentleman, welcoming his brother-in-law and family.
You fake jackass jerk, Nikko whispered to Mandy.
He knows when to be nice. He doesn’t want my brother to have a piece of him, Mandy said.
Sic Lee on his crazy ass. There won’t be anything left but a greasy spot.
Nikko, I want this to be a happy visit. I’m not going to involve Lee in my family problems.
For the next two days, Mandy’s heart was light and she felt happiness that she hadn’t felt in a long time. How she wished that Don and his family could be there. And Daddy.
When it was time for them to leave, Lee escorted Maylee, Teddy, and Jimi to his car. He came back inside and stood in front of Mandy. He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed down hard as he said, “I was waiting for the last minute to tell you that—” He blinked as if he were fighting tears. “The week after Christmas, I have to pull a tour in Vietnam—”
Mandy cried, “No, Lee. No! There’s a war going on over there!”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m going, silly.” Lee gave a slight chuckle, but his eyes were filling with tears.
“That was the silliest thing I’ve ever said. But I was so shocked it just flew out of my mouth.”
Mandy threw her arms around his neck, dropped her head on his shoulder and sobbed and her body shook as if her teeth were going to fall from her mouth.
Lee pulled her arms from around his neck. “Don’t do this to me, Sis! I mean it! Stay strong. I don’t need tears,” he said sternly.
“I’m sorry. I’ll stay strong for you. Just go. I’ll hide my eyes.” She turned her back and covered her face, but the tears continued to flow. When she heard the car start and back out of the driveway, she walked over to the front window. “I love you, Lee. Please come back to me. I can’t say bye. I’ll just say, Godspeed, until we meet again,” she whispered as she watched the car disappear from view.
How many more punches to the heart am I going to have to take? That’s the last time I’ll ever see Lee. I just know it. She wiped her eyes and anger boiled. Haven’t You taken enough from me? You took my mother, baby brother, now You are going to take Lee. And I’m supposed to believe that You love me? It’s kind of hard to believe at times.
Mandy took deep breaths and she was determined that she wouldn’t cave. She wouldn’t give in to the fear of losing Lee. And she wasn’t going to stay with Jack. She told herself that she could hang on until after Christmas, then she was filing for divorce. I have no idea how I’ll keep a roof over my children’s head, or clothe them and feed them. But I’ll find a way. We’ll survive, she told herself, and she meant it. She wasn’t going to allow fear to control her. She would control fear.
Christmas Eve was spent with the Walkers, and Mandy put on a happy face and nobody knew it would be the last time she’d ever step foot in the Walker’s house. Christmas Day was spent with the Hodges. Mandy put on a happy face and nobody had any idea what she was planning.
After putting Kati and Tony to bed for the night, she went into the living room, sat on the couch, admired the Christmas tree with the multi-colored lights, and wondered if it would be the last Christmas that her children would have presents. Would they even have the bare necessities? I guess time will tell me. Tomorrow, I’m going to start the ball rolling. And I may be rolling straight to hell, but I’m already in hell. What difference does it make? I just have to believe in myself. I’ve got to take a leap of faith, even if my faith has waned in the past few years.
Nikko whispered, spread your wings and fly!
The next day, Mandy called a lawyer. The earliest appointment she could get was January 4th. Nikko nudged her. That’s the date that Mama and Evan died. Maybe this is an omen. It’s the day your rotten marriage will die. You survived the accident against great odds. You’ll survive the marriage too.
“I believe that, Nikko. I’m strong. I’ve been beaten down physically and mentally for so many years, I’m beginning to think I’m nothing more than a pile of shit, and I’m worthless. But with you, we can conquer anything and anybody.”
Mandy’s nextdoor neighbor kept Kati and Tony while Mandy went to the lawyer’s office. Jack had taken off for a weekend with Jerry and she had the car. She filed for divorce and she took out a restraining order against Jack. Otis and Iris had given her money for Christmas and she had hidden it in her sock drawer. After she left the lawyers office, she went to a pawn shop and bought a .38 caliber pistol, commonly known as a Saturday Night Special, and a box of bullets. If the restraining order doesn’t stop you, this baby will, she thought as she tucked it into her purse. I’ll shoot you and get by with it. You’ll be an intruder. Try me, big boy.
Monday night at 8 pm, Jack jumped when he heard a sharp knock on the door. Mandy grabbed Kati and Tony and headed down the hallway. “Get the door, Jack. It’s for you.” She put the children in Kati’s room, put her fingers to her lips and said, “Shhh. Stay put until I come back.”
She walked back up the hallway and stood around the corner from the living room. She heard the officer say, “Jack Walker?”
“Yeah. What do you want?”
Mandy peaked around the corner. “You’re being served with divorce papers and a restraining order. You need to sign them.” He handed a few papers to Jack, along with a pen.
“I ain’t signing anything. Mandy!” he yelled.
The officer said, “I’d advise you to sign them. And I’m here to escort you off the premises. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s your choice.”
Mandy stepped into the living room. “I’ll bring your stuff over to your mama later. Or you can go to jail. Either way is fine with me.”
The officer said, “Sign the papers!”
Jack signed. He turned to Mandy. “I’ll leave tonight. But this isn’t over. I’ll be back!”
The officer grabbed Jack’s arm. “That’s a threat and I can take you straight to jail. Do you want to change your attitud
e or do I put you in the cruiser?”
Jack walked out the door. Mandy watched from the window as he got into the car and drove away. The officer waited until Jack was out of sight. “Mrs. Walker. If he should come back, just pick up the phone and call the police.”
“Thank you, sir. I will.”
Mandy closed the storm door and locked it. She closed the wooden door and locked it. She made sure the back door was locked and all the windows were locked. She knew that Jack didn’t have a house key because she had the only key.
Come on back, Jack. It might be Monday, but if you break in, we’ll have a Saturday Night Special.
Kati and Tony ran into the living room. “Where’s Daddy?” Kati asked.
Mandy took them by the hand and led them to the couch. “Sit here beside Mommy. I’ll do my best to explain things. See, Daddy won’t be living with us anymore. He’s going to be living with Granny and Poppa. I think we’ll all be happier this way. Daddy, Granny, and Poppa will see you on weekends.
“Okay,” Kati said as she jumped down from the couch. “Can I have a bowl of Captain Crunch?”
“Me, too,” Tony said.
Mandy fixed them each a bowl of cereal, realizing she had an appetite. She hadn’t been able to eat more than a few bites a couple times a day for months. When they finished eating, she said, “I know you didn’t get a bath tonight, but it’s past your bedtime and I don’t think you’ll rot. You’ve got school tomorrow, Kati, so please don’t give Mommy a hard time. Tony, I know you don’t go to school, but you still need to go on to bed. Now, let’s get your teeth brushed.”
After Mandy had the children in bed, she went into the kitchen, found the newspaper that she had thrown in the trash can, then picked up a ballpoint pen from the table. She sat down on the couch and blew a deep breath. Well, that went better than I expected. But why would they care if Daddy doesn’t live here with us. He never pays any attention to them. He’s just some man that comes and goes.
She opened the newspaper to the Want Ads. She scanned the jobs, then she circled one for a cashier at a grocery store, one for an assistant at a drugstore, and one for the Hosiery Mill.