The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  She was so hungry and that biscuit was going to taste really good. It would hit the spot plus stop the embarrassing growl her stomach kept on making. With her teeth ready to sink through the soft surface, she heard the tiny patter of feet hit the linoleum and walk.

  Before biting, she looked. Letting out a soft moan, she set the biscuit down. “Billy,” she said his name as he approached her desk. His head barely came over the desktop. “I know you can’t be finished with the worksheet.”

  “I’m not.”

  “So what are you doing out of your seat.”

  “OK.” Billy lifted a sheet of paper. “Here’s the deal.”

  “Here’s . . . here’s the deal?” Jenny asked in shock.

  “Yes.” He laid the sheet before her. “If you can solve this math problem, I will, from here on in, listen to every word you say. If you can’t, I get free reign over what I do in this prison of a classroom.”

  Jenny’s mouth was still open from her biscuit indulging readiness and it stayed that way when she looked at the math problem. Along the entire width of the paper were numbers, letters, dashes, and dots that made up the problem.

  “Well?” Billy asked. “What do you say?”

  ^^^^

  “I would totally understand,” Elliott said as he stood with Ellen in her Containment office.

  “You would, would you?” She folded her arms.

  “I would accept a no,” Elliott spoke softly. “But as I had said, this is my first evening off in a while.”

  “Why do you want to spend it with me?” Ellen asked.

  “We haven’t spent alone time together and since you’re staying in New Bowman tonight, I thought . . .”

  “We’d have sex.”

  “Oh, my God.” Elliott stumbled back in shock. “Is that what you think I’m asking? Ellen, I apologize if I came off like that. That wasn’t my intention.”

  “Elliott, stop,” Ellen laughed. “I’m teasing you. Of course I’ll spend some time with you tonight.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Ellen asked.

  “Well I was thinking . . .”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter, Elliott. No,” Ellen joked again.

  “I fuckin knew it,” Frank spoke hard as he stepped into Ellen’s office. “Not only is he pissing around when he’s supposed to be working, but he’s in here fuckin around with you and trying to get you to do God knows . . .”

  “Frank,” Ellen cut him off. “What is it?”

  Frank held out his hand. “Where’s the fuckin Security reports, Ryder?”

  “It’s not two,” Elliott answered. “I thought they didn’t have to be . . .”

  “Do you always wait until the last minute?” Frank snapped.

  Ellen gasped. “Can you be any ruder, Frank?”

  “Probably, El.” Frank returned to Elliott. “Where?”

  “I’ve not finished them yet.”

  “Well, I suggest you finish them,” Frank snapped. “I don’t have all fuckin . . .”

  “Frank!” Ellen yelled. “Knock it off.”

  “Oh,” Frank grunted out. “Coming to his defense. Again.”

  Elliott held up his hand. “I don’t need Ellen to come to my defense. I do, however, need to know why all of the sudden you’ve turned a reprehensible cheek toward me.”

  “What?”

  Ellen slightly rolled her eyes. “He wants to know why all of the sudden you don’t like him.”

  Frank spoke loud and rough. “Aside from the fact that you need her to speak for you . . . like now, I never liked you, Ryder. Don’t kid or flatter yourself. I want those reports. One hour. I suggest you stop being the fuckin chivalrous flirt and get to it.” In his turn to leave, he stepped into the hall, only to see Jenny walking up with Billy.

  Billy’s little ‘ow’ noises were intermittent with his steps and with each pull of his ear Jenny did as she brought him to Ellen’s office.

  “Frank,” Jenny called out.

  Never taking his eyes off of the approaching vision, Frank gave a tilt of his head toward Ellen’s office. “Um, El, could you come out here, please,” he spoke.

  “Frank,” Jenny huffed out and released Billy.

  “God.” Billy grabbed his ear. “I believe you can call that behavior abusive.”

  Folding her arms tight, with a paper in her hand, Jenny tapped her foot. “Where is Dean?”

  Ellen stepped into the hall. “He may be still sleeping. Why?”

  “Here.” Jenny handed Ellen the math problem. “I refuse to deal with him anymore. I am seeking his removal from school. I believe home schooling is the way to go. Frank, school him. Someone do something with him. I’m done.”

  Billy whispered out an excited ‘yes.’

  Confused, Ellen looked at the paper. “What did he do?”

  Jenny lifted her arm in a wave and kept making her escape. “Ask him.”

  After the security door buzzed, Ellen peered down to Billy. “What did you do?”

  “I merely told her,” Billy said, “if she could solve that math problem then I would forever allow her to teach me. If she couldn’t then I refuse to listen to her.”

  Ellen showed Elliott the problem then looked again. “Can you solve this, Billy?”

  “Mother, please,” Billy scoffed. “I’m seven. Of course I can’t. But she didn’t realize that so what does that say about her?”

  Frank nodded with a closed mouth. “He has a point.”

  Ellen tossed her hands up. “I guess he stays here.”

  “Yeah, right,” Frank said with sarcasm. “Come on, Bill. I’ll teach you for a while and then you can learn some tracking.” He took Billy’s hand. “Ryder!” He looked back in his walk. “My reports.”

  Billy glanced up to Frank. “This is cool. Do you think we’ll get any SUTs today?”

  “If we’re lucky.” Frank reached the security door panel. “And if we’re really lucky, then maybe we’ll get a Savage.” The door buzzed. “God knows I need one today.”

  ^^^^

  “Sweet Jesus, Joe.” Joe’s hospital gown was lifted above his chest and she stared in amazement. “Sweet Jesus.”

  “What?” Joe asked.

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “What!”

  “Easy,” Dean said as he stepped into the room. “You can’t get this mad after surgery. How are you feeling, Joe?”

  “Good,” Joe answered. “I thought you were sleeping.”

  “I was. I’m awake now.” Dean set the chart down.

  “Dean, did you see this?” Andrea asked.

  Walking closer to the bed, Dean peered at Joe’s surgical site. He gave a closed mouth nod. “It looks good.”

  “Good?” Andrea repeated in shock. “Great. Sweet Jesus, Joe, the Good Lord must have been listening to our prayers. I have never seen anything heal this quickly before in my life. This fast.”

  “Andrea.’ Joe chuckled. “That’s because Dean used . . .”

  “Rosary beads,” Dean interrupted. “I had rosary beads in my pocket while I operated.”

  With as airy ‘oh’, Andrea smiled. “It is good to see you’re being a God-fearing man again instead of the atheist you became.”

  “What?” Dean laughed. “Where is everyone getting this?”

  “Me,” Jason said, stepping into the room. “I told everyone.” He flashed a smile. “Hello, Joe.” He lifted a small shoe box. “I just came from New Bowman and I have something for you.”

  “More get well stones?” Joe asked.

  “Yep,” Jason smiled.

  “Christ.”

  “Joe!” Andrea scolded.

  Jason snickered. “And people are now sporting little purple ribbons.”

  “Christ.”

  “Joe!” Andrea gasped again. “These people are concerned for your well being.”

  “Do you see the goddamn message they’re sending me, Andrea?” Joe asked. “Stones. They’re stoning me.”

  Jas
on set down the box. “Good one. I like that. How are you feeling?”

  “Good.” Joe nodded. “A little sore but not much. I thought you had a full slate in Bowman today.”

  “I do.” Jason sat on the edge of the bed. “It’s my lunch break and I wanted to bring the ballots for the meeting on Wednesday. They’re all done.”

  Curiously, Dean looked. “Ballots?”

  Joe shook his head. “You really should start paying attention to what goes on in the community especially when it concerns your wife.. Did you read the Community Board?”

  “I never read the Community Board,” Dean commented.

  “There you have it.” Joe lifted his hand.

  “Sweet Jesus, Dean, you should read that board. You would be more informed,” Andrea lectured.

  “Read the board,” Jason reiterated. “It says a lot.”

  “Well, I’m in the clinic all the time,” Dean said. “What is the board saying about my wife?”

  Jason shook his head. “The board says nothing. It’s an inanimate object unless you’ve done something scientifically to . . .”

  “Ha. Ha. Ha,” Dean interrupted. “What? Is the meeting about when she leaves and where she goes? Because Joe . . .” Dean looked at him. “I’d like to know where my wife is going.”

  “I can’t say.” Joe shook his head. “No one knows.”

  “Someone has to know,” Dean argued.

  “Oh, someone knows,” Joe replied.

  “Well . . .” Jason interceded. “More than one. Hal, Elliott, you, me, Danny. We all know”

  “Whoa!” Dean held up his hand. “They know and I don’t?”

  “You can’t know,” Joe told him. “Frank doesn’t even know.” Slowly, Joe lifted his head, peered around Dean, and then to the door. He shrugged. “Usually Frank would walk in with a ‘know what?’

  Jason gave a nod. “Bet me Frank knows about the meeting.”

  “Frank knows. He was there. He should know. But then it’s Frank,” Joe said. “We know Frank.”

  Andrea had enough. “All right.” She gave a shaking head and a scolding look to Joe. “The boy is confused enough.”

  Joe winced. “Man, Andrea. He is a man. Don’t let his size fool you.”

  “Joseph.” She widened her eyes, then faced Dean with a smile. “The meeting is for Beginnings residents only to decide whether or not to suspend Ellen’s sentence.”

  “Oh my God!” Dean grinned. “Really?”

  Closing one eye, Joe hated to ruin the happy moment. “Don’t get yourself hyped yet, Dean. The question isn’t to suspend Ellen’s sentence. The question is whether or not the short loss of her outweighs the crime of murder.”

  Andrea reached across the bed and tapped Dean’s hand. “Don’t worry, though. I am certain the community will vote to suspend her sentence. We need her. Since you’re Christian again, you can pray.” She smiled. “Me? I think I’ll start a little noise around the community to suspend that sentence.” She leaned over and kissed Joe. “I have to go.” She started to leave. “Oh, Dean. You could talk to people too. Remember, perhaps you can help by trying to be a Futomara to everyone.”

  “Point well taken,” Joe agreed. “You could try that.”

  Jason shook his head and smiled snidely. “You don’t have to Dean. In my book . . .” He winked. “You already are a Futomara to everyone.”

  Dean tossed up his hands in defeat. “I give up.” He grabbed his chart and walked out. “I give up.”

  ^^^^

  He found him.

  Frank had been looking for some time and every obvious place to search out Robbie produced nothing. Containment. Mechanics. Tracking. Communications. He was like Waldo. Everyone had seen him but no one knew where.

  But Frank accomplished the task. In the old garage not far from center town, he located his baby brother. He didn’t announce his presence but preferred to stand back and watch for a while.

  Robbie was highly concentrating on the M-16.

  Robbie was like a militant baton twirler, turning the weapon clockwise then counter clockwise. He used his hand, a lot of wrist action, and then caught it around his finger.

  Frank stared amazed as he watched Robbie demonstrate he had total control over that M-16. He’d toss it, grab it, spin it, tuck it under his arm, then with a quick movement, pump the chamber, and prepare to fire.

  It was about the tenth repetition through that Robbie took a breather and caught his breath. The second he put down the weapon, Frank applauded.

  Startled, Robbie spun around. “Frank?”

  “That . . . that was fuckin impressive. I mean, you know how hard that is to d?.”

  Robbie tilted his head.

  “Let me see that Rambo thing again.”

  “Rambo?”

  “Yeah, you know, you catch the gun and whip it around to fire.” Frank bent down and picked up the M-16. “Will ya?”

  “Um, I don’t know, Frank.”

  “Let me see . . .” On his final word, Frank tossed Robbie the gun. It bounced off his fingers and fell to the ground.

  Robbie shook his head. “There goes being impressed.” He picked up the weapon. “I suck.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Yeah, I do, Frank. Why else am I the lame guy in Security? I know the only reason I’m still in Security is because I’m a Slagel. It isn’t right to be a Slagel and not be in Security. Don’t give me that Tracking shit. I’m OK to stare at a screen. Hell, Josh stares at a screen.” Robbie slowly moved over to a work bench, lifted up on it, and sat.

  “Your point is?” Frank asked as he joined him.

  “My point is, I’m not trusted to do anything and I don’t blame anyone. Look, I couldn’t catch that weapon.”

  “No, you couldn’t,” Frank told him. “But you sure as hell spun that thing like I have never seen.”

  “That’s because I didn’t know you were there. I do good alone.

  “You practice a lot?” Frank questioned.

  “Everyday. I shoot too.”

  “So you still have your skill. It’s confidence you’re lacking.”

  With his head lowered, Robbie raised his eyes. “I guess.”

  “Ok, let’s narrow this down.” Frank lifted his hand. “You obviously don’t lack confidence in flying.”

  “No, not that.”

  “Is it your shooting?” Frank asked. “How’s your accuracy?”

  Robbie shrugged. “Pretty good. Actually, you know what? I was OK. I mean, I was until . . .” He paused. “Until I got nailed and punched in the face by some nobody drunk guy.”

  “You didn’t see it coming?” Frank asked.

  “Oh, I saw it coming. I lifted my right arm to block his punch.”

  “Um, Robbie?” Frank leaned closer. “You don’t have a right arm.”

  Robbie snickered. “I know. Frank?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I know you have a lot on your mind and I haven’t wanted to ask you, but Hal suggested we do some brother training. Maybe you can work with me.”

  “You don’t need work, Robbie,” Frank stated. “You still have all the skill you need. But. . .” He slapped his hand on Robbie’s leg. “Brother training meaning me and you?”

  “Um, yeah,” Robbie said. “We’re brothers. And maybe Hal.”

  “Hal?” Frank said perturbed and then he grinned. “Hal.”

  “You . . . you like the idea of working with Hal?”

  “Oh, I love the idea. It’ll be a fuckin blast. Let’s get him involved in this. In fact, this may be exactly what we all need. My mood is up now. Thanks. I’m glad I was looking for you.” Frank slid from the work bench.

  “Frank?” Robbie called to him. “Why did you stop by?”

  With a snap of his finger, Frank spun around. “Oh, yeah. It’s Monday. I need your weekly flight reports.”

  Robbie chuckled. “Frank, Dad doesn’t get them until 3. They aren’t done.”

  “Fuck.” Frank’s hand cut through the air. “Doe
s everyone in my fuckin division wait until the last fuckin minute to do their weeklies? Am I the only one who has them done on Friday?”

  “Pretty much, Frank. They’re stupid.”

  “Yeah, but I fuckin do them. Anyhow . . . Robbie. The Savages. I didn’t talk to you this morning about them.”

  “They’re still camping. It’s close to a week now,” Robbie answered. “They look like they might be digging in for the winter, so to speak.”

  “How far from . . .”

  “Far,” Robbie replied. “Ellen will be at a good distance.”

  “Where exactly is this house?” Before Robbie could answer, Frank lifted his hand. “Never mind. You can’t tell me.”

  “No, I can’t, but I will.”

  “I’ll find out when I go out with her.”

  Puzzled, Robbie glanced up at him. “I thought Elliott was going with her.”

  “Sgt. Fuckin Ryder? Yeah, right. I’ll cripple his ass before I let him go with her.”

  “Frank?” Robbie snickered. “Why do you not like him anymore?”

  “One, he has Ellen’s interest. Two, he isn’t dying anymore. He is now a viable threat. I don’t care. He can have her.”

  Robbie laughed. “Here we go again.”

  “No, not again. Well, again. I’m breaking it off with her for good.”

  “Frank.” Robbie slid from the bench. “You do this all the time. You’ll break up. You’ll go back, especially if you plan on being out there for a month with her.”

  “I’m tough.”

  “You love her and she loves you.” Robbie stepped to him.

  “Yeah, I love her. But the truth is, Robbie, who am I?”

  A sound of disbelief escaped Robbie. “A lucky guy Frank. You have the understanding. You have the friendship and the physical side.”

  “I don’t have her heart anymore.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Nah. Neither does Dean and he’s kidding himself if he thinks he does. Ryder has her interest. Me and Dean, we’re habits to her.”

  “And you just want to dump that habit like you did with the alcohol?”

  A short huff came from Frank with a near silent chuckle and he turned. “Something like that. I have to go.”