Facing My Fears part 2

Chapter 64-1

Facing My Fears

Part 2

 

With my father out of the house Mom and I were able to relax just a bit, but not every problem can be solved with a needle. I still had my two sisters to contend with. Several times during my visit they did their best to provoke me or get me into hot water with Mom. The more they harassed me, the more I missed being with the Rothwell’s. We both knew I didn’t belong here, but the decision wasn’t up to me. For if it was I would be living a good life with the Downing’s. Susan slapped me across the face and Becky kicked me in the groin having me fall to the ground which earned a hard kicked to the ribs. Mom ended it before they could do more damage to me, throwing my sisters off me.

Mom knew without a doubt that I could have easily beaten the crap out of them if I had chosen to. But instead, I controlled the situation by only using defense moves, either jumping out of the way or block the most seriousness punches. Without harming either of them; my coaches and Dad have taught me when it was ok to attack and this wasn’t one of them. It took great control and skill to remain calm. My sisters called me a coward for not fighting back. Mom ended it by a slap across the face and grounded them to their rooms for the rest of the weekend.

Her hands shook when she helped washing the blood off my face, hoping this didn’t count against her. She shook, even more, when the phone rang and heard sirens pull up to the house. We both looked down at my wristwatch seeing it flashing, and we both panicked. We both hurried to the door before they broke it down, Officer Kenly was the first to get out of the car. The phone was ringing off the hook, but neither of us answered it. It didn’t look good seeing me still covered with blood and my shirt was torn and covered with fresh scratches, Mom to had blood on her from trying to stop my bloody nose.

I knew I had to defuse the situation or Mom would be joining my father and the visit would be over. Aaron was crying clinging tight to me, afraid that he would never see me again. When they approached I calmly said, “I didn’t push the button and there was no need for alarm.” Mom was sobbing, shaking holding on to me for dear life as we explained what had happened.

Officer Kenly nodded and sent the other Officers away. Mom still shook trying to control her self. Sitting next to me on the front steps, while he answered the phone relaying the message to Mrs. Rothwell that I was fine, considering Dad was already on his way over considering nobody answered the phone and my watch was still telling them that I was in danger.

By the time everyone arrived to rescue me from said danger. The yard was filled with cars Dad was furious the seconded he saw me and Mom; I had changed my clothes and was holding an ice pack to my face. He was about to kill my mother until Officer Kenly held him back, not easily due to Dad size. If Dad wanted to he could have easily picked him up and throw him out the window without breaking a sweat.

My watch was still blinking even though it was called in as a false alarm. Officer Kenly took the phone off the hook having to keep calling it in after the fourth time. I doubted that this neighborhood had ever seen so much excitement. People were gathering on their front lawns trying to find out why they're so many people and police cars in front of my house.

We, of course, ignored them. Everyone in the living room jumped when the buzzer on the stove went off announcing that it was time to take the pot roast out of the oven. Everyone laughed when they realized what it was. It broke the tension in the room. Mom simply turned off the stove and the buzzer and regained her seat. My case worker had just arrived with a towel wrapped around her head moments after Dad. She didn’t look happy seeing that she was the last to arrive. Even more so having learned it was a false alarm, apparently I had disrupted her shower.

The crowd outside was getting larger the longer the police cars remained and kept coming. If I didn’t know better half the town was sitting outside. Dad made his self comfortable on the other side of me after making a quick call home to explain what had happened so Mom (Rothwell) would stop worrying about my safety; the second he hung up the phone it rang again. He picked it up said “Shepherds residence,” finding out it was my grandmother on the phone like Mom he motioned me to the phone taking his ear off it as my Grandmother was giving him a tongue lashing stating she had been trying to reach us for the past hour. Dad simply said, “you deal with her.”

When grandma calmed down long enough for me to say; “Grandma, I am alright,” She stopped yelling through the earpiece. I gave her the same information regarding what happened. When she was satisfied she reminded me she would be here early so we could all go to church together. I relayed the message to Mom watching her roll her eyes and sigh heavily, something said that my sisters were about to get a hard spanking from her and my grandmother for causing this mess.

When I hung up the phone it rang again requiring Officer Kenly to enter a code to reset my wristwatch. It was computer generated so I just relayed the message to him. He growled quickly entered the code. Asked where my mother keeps the knives, and quickly cut it off my wrist after struggling to release the pin that was bent, took his baton and beat the living crap out of it until it was in a million pieces. He proceeded to take a sandwich bag out of the drawer and swept the pieces inside and handed it to Dad.

It was soon after that everyone left, it looked like a funeral train of cars leaving the neighborhood. All that remained were our guest for dinner, my caseworker, Dad, and Officer Kenly. I knew why they were still here and I knew they weren’t about to leave until they all got to look at the side of beef. Mom and I took it in stride and instead of making a big deal out of it; we simply invited them all to stay for dinner. There was plenty of food considering when Mom cooks she cooks enough to have leftovers for a couple of days. To this very day, I do the same thing.

Mom had the menfolk set the table outside on her new patio while Mom and I, my caseworker finished dinner. Susan, Becky, and Aaron set the table. Mom had informed my sisters they both had dishes for the entire month and would be paying for my special wrist watch even though Dad said it wasn’t necessary, but Mom wouldn’t hear about it. They compromised that they would pay half, considering it was under warranty; so it would cost nothing to have them ship them out a new one and he would use the money to buy upgraded version instead. Mom said we had the money when she returned me to them. Dad passed it off that really was no big deal, but Mom wouldn’t be persuaded.

After dinner and fine dessert of brownies alamode; it was nearly 7 o’clock when this so-called side a beef presented itself to my onlookers. Mom patted my bare butt said to Dad that I had a very cute butt and she liked the look of the full “tan.” Catching his eyes and seeing the effect it left on his face was prices-less, even more so when she broke out laughing.

I didn’t think that was a bit funny but did bring a grin to everyone’s faces. All I have to say parents had a strange sense of hummer when came to their children’s modesty. Dad said all his boys have the same “tan.” He too gave it a nice pat as well bring the room into roaring laughter. Again I wondered what was so funny and still couldn’t figure out what made my butt so cute. When I looked back at it, all it did was made them laugh even harder.

I didn’t waste time dressing getting dress after giving permission to do so. I knew my face was red feeling the blush and left them to their idea of fun, Mom had requested two extra days, from Dad and my caseworker. Considering all that had happened, Dad paced my small room, stating he didn’t like the idea of me missing school, but granted it as long my father stayed in jail. He would call the school and tell them I was sick with a bad case of the flu.

My caseworker signed off on it adding the entire week saying two more days weren’t going to hurt anything stating I haven’t had a home visit in almost two years. Dad signed off on it after long consideration and much debate. Most of it concerned my monitor device and my father. Officer Kenly settled it said my father won’t be an issue. He would make him wear an ankle monitor and set his boundaries to not be within 2 miles of the house or me. Having him report to on-duty Officer every four hours or he would be placed back behind bars until I was returned to the Rothwell’s Friday by 3’ o’clock. I had two concerns regarding my recital the following week and swim practice and swim meet on the following afternoon.

Mom said that wouldn’t be a problem and would make sure I was there for both and a piano wouldn’t be hard to find considering my father works at the church house and if Officer Kenly wouldn’t mind guarding the room and he could persuade some of his Officers friends to help. I didn’t have my sheet music with me, but Dad said he would send Shane to bring it to me and more clothing. Mom waved it of said she would make sure I had plenty of clothes to wear. The deal was struck and Mom signed a new contract that held everyone’s signatures.

Dad walked me to his car and hugged me, told me to call home every night or he would be back. He told me he was proud that I controlled the situation and didn’t fight back. Warning me not to hesitate if my parents attacked me, to do everything possible to escape the danger and go to Officers Kenly house. I gave him my word and one last hug watching him drive off. I hadn’t realized I was shaking or crying until Mom was hugging me and wiping my tears. Inside my heart was breaking as I watched my Dad disappear down the road. I loved him, I hated him and feared him, but to me, he would always be my Dad.