A Free Day Part 3

Chapter 251-2

A Free Day

Part 3

 

It felt like I was saying goodbye to my mother all over again, even though I knew she would be back, in a few hours. The truth was we didn’t want her around when we were shooting as Mr. Tate was exploiting us. Yet there was always tomorrow. I only hoped that my mother doesn’t overreact to things I might have to do. Chef Philips said. “So let’s go inside and you can call your grandmother before we get interrupted and before we start working on your menu for Friday.”

My heart was beating a million beats per second as I dialed my grandmother after I had made a call to the local flower shop in the town where she lived. I ordered her some roses, cringing at the price when the lady said it was going cost me close to 50 dollars, but I didn’t care, it was only money I told myself. Yet I couldn’t believe that it would cost so much for stupid flowers that I knew would make her day. I laid on the bed scratching Sparky’s ears while Chef Philips was setting up in the kitchen. I twirled the phone, corded in my fingers as the phone kept ringing.

I was about to hang up and try again later when my grandmother answered. She sounded out of breath, I felt bad that let the phone ring so long. Grandma said. “Hello.”

I said Grandma it’s me. Nate.”

Grandma said. “Nate, who? I don’t…. Nate… oh sorry about that… my mind these days; Nate how in the hell are you, my wayward grandson. I was outside collecting what’s left of my garden before it freezes the whole damn thing. Not that there is much left, but you know me every little bit counts. I suppose you have heard about your brother Aaron. I tried to stop them from taking him, but with your mother in the hospital. Oh, wait did you know they moved her to Charter Canyon a place where she can get the help she needs…?”

I said. “Yes Grandma I know I told her to go there, I just learned about Aaron a few hours ago, but why didn’t you call me and tell me?” I did my best to stay calm as I got up from the bed and started pacing.

She said. “You know why there is no way I was going to let your bother get caught up in that mess you guys are in. I didn’t have much of a choice; we didn’t know when your mother will be able to come home.

“Plus with your father the way he is, we couldn’t let him anywhere near Aaron. He is madder then hornet because you got out on bail, he is madder still because he found out that you had visited your mother in the hospital. You know how he gets when gets that angry, we couldn’t protect Aaron. Not when he only less then few blocks away from home, and with your mother gone. The safest place was for him to be was somewhere where your father couldn’t touch him.

“Bishop Clark couldn’t protect him forever so he called family services thinking it would be best, for now, not knowing when or if your mother was coming home again. After finding out your father is asking the courts and the hospital she is in to be institutionalized.” I growled angrily because Grandma had promised me that Aaron wouldn’t spend one day in a foster home.

Yet what choice did she have, my father wanted me him dead to rights. He wanted us gone, and with my mother away Aaron couldn’t go home, and there was no way I would want him anywhere near this place with Mr. Tate hovering around us. I calmed down and said. “I guess you know that we sprung my mother for a few days of R and R on a home pass?”

I moved the phone from my ear as grandma laid into me. I let her get it out of her system as the words died to breathless. “Why, what in the hell did you do that for, your father is already steaming mad and you poked the bear. I thought I taught you to use your head son, but apparently, I was wrong.

“What the hell… Why is your father here…? We're not done so don’t you dare hang up the phone on me, not knowing when you are going call me.” The phone made a soft click as she must have set it down.  Grandma said. “Jim, what in the hell are doing here? What you mean your daughters have been kidnapped? No, they are not here see for yourself.”

I heard my fathers say. “Get out my way mother. If you are hiding them from me I will come after you with the law…. When will you stop meddling in my God Damn affairs?”

Grandma came back on the phone said. “Now where were we Clyde?” Indicating she didn’t want my father to know I was on the phone with her, I said. Grandma, I’ll call you back when he’s gone.”

Grandma said. “No, everything’s fine Clyde, my son Jim is on the rag again; something to do with his daughters.”

I smiled and said. “Well if he looking for them there I wish him luck because they are with my mother.”

Grandma said. “Jim don’t you dare make a mess in there, they aren’t here and they certainly not under the bed or in my closet,” Grandma said. “Sorry Clyde, can you repeat that? I wasn’t sure what you said... That’s right Jim look all you want.” She faked a laugh, as I repeated my response. Hearing someone open and closes the back kitchen door as the screen door made this certain high pitch sound I recognized.

Grandma said. “He’s gone out back to see if they out in the sheds; burr… like I would keep them in that rat infested place. So your mother has them? Good. How did you manage that if I may ask.” I quickly broke it all down, as someone opened the back door hearing that sound right before the door slammed shut. Grandma said. “I told you, Jim, they aren’t’ here.”

My father asked. “Who are you talking to mother?”

Grandma said. “To my friend Clyde up the street if you must know. Aren’t you supposed to be at work, Jim?”

My father said. “Work? Oh, I was at work when I got a call from the school telling me my daughters were picked up and taken down to the police station to be questioned without my permission. Stating the Judge ruling my case wanted to ask them some questions regarding the rape charges. I called the police station and they said they hadn’t taken them, so my next question was you must have done it when I told you, you are not allowed to see them after that last stunt you pulled.

"Even when I put a restraining order on you and that… worthless piece of garbage you call your grandson and f*****g immoral f*g it’s that he lives with; who I have told you time and time again not too speak too or see him or them, without my permission. Now where in the hell did you take them? And don’t you dare lie to me; I can put you in a rest home so fast with one phone call.”

 

Grandma said as her tone become quick and angry. “I didn’t take your daughters Jim. I haven’t seen them in weeks. But I do know where they are and if you simmer down for a damn seconded I tell you.” She waited as the silence on the phone became deadly calm. Grandma said. “I got a call from your wife Linda, about an hour ago, said if you came looking for them to tell you, that she had them and was going to spend the day with them and her two sons,” Grandma said. “Sit the hell down and be quiet.

“Now then your son Eric isn’t with them, but your son Aaron is. He would have gone with them if he could, but like a good boy, he is. He isn’t willing to add more fuel to the fire. The Judge according to your restraining order though it out in regards to your wife seeing her kids anytime she likes. Yet because you are accusing him of raping his sisters, which is ridicules, considering he can’t stand them and you should be ashamed of yourself thinking my grandson would do such a thing in the first place. When you know damn well he didn’t do it.”

Her voice raised another octave. “You know damn well they weren’t raped and you know for a fact that your two daughters have been having sex with the boys in their class in school. So don’t you dare deny it, you heard the words the same as I did. In that courtroom where your own daughter Becky confessed telling us all that she and Susan had been having sex with these boys for months and those same boys confirmed it word for word. She even stated that her brother Eric wasn’t raping her nor had he ever had sex with her.

“Susan god damn it is pedaling this crap to anger you. Knowing if she can get you to believe it; that he won’t step a single foot in the house ever again; she working you hard and it's working; if she was here, I’d put her over my knee and take a switch her. And if your father was alive he takes you out to the woodshed and gives you what for and you know it.  Now Linda says she’ll have them back by dinner time at the latest. So now I think you oh me and Clyde apology.”

The silence was deadly calm as I heard the front door open and Don says. “Mother I believe these are for you.” My father growled the moment she read the card out loud. “To my favorite wayward Grandma with love from Eric; I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.”

Grandma said. “Jim what the hell are doing with my flowers. Don’t you dare?” I heard some glass break and grandma shout. "Get the hell out of my house right now or I’ll have the cops on your a*s for trespassing.” Grandma said crying over the phone. “I am sorry, the flowers were beautiful; call me when you next get a chance.”

The phone clicked and stating she had hung up the phone. I cursed and wadded up my pillow and threw it against the wall. “Fifty dollars and my father ruined it like he always does.” Chef Philips came into my room hearing the noise, which said he was coming to rescue me from my grandmother, but she had already hung up on me.

I placed my head in my hands rubbing the soft tears knowing that my grandmother was having the worst day because my father couldn’t leave things alone. Chef Philips took a seat on the bed and put his arms around me. “I take it the phone call didn’t go well.” I looked at him and everything finally hit me all at once. My brother was in a foster home, and my grandmother lied to me by breaking a promise that would never happen. He held me in his arms letting me get it all out. Something I really need because the world around me was shitting on me big time and there was nothing I could do.

Well not exactly, Chef Philips picked up the phone recalled the florist said. “Yes this is Dale Philips, you just sent an order of roses to a Doris Shepherd. Yes, that’s one, would it be possible to replace the order and double it. Then I would like to add to that order, by having the same order delivered every day for the rest of the week, and then on the last day on Friday, send a card telling Mrs. Shepherd that limo will arrive to pick her up 5 pm sharp for dinner with her wayward grandson Nate Carrion. Also, I will have a package delivered as well with that order and each order you send to her; I am willing to pay extra for the services.”

He quickly gave him his credit card number. Then hung up the phone only to pick it back up, said. “Yes, I would like to make an appointment for a Mrs. Doris Shepherd. I would like you to arrange to have her hair done, nails the whole shah bang. Yes, that will work;” he gave his credit card number and hung up the phone. He had me sit at my computer said. “Now to give your grandma something to lift her spirits,” I wrote as he stood behind me.

 

‘Dear Grandma every woman needs to feel special. You taught me that, so I am sending you something special every day until we meet again in person on Friday Halloween night. I have arranged to have you picked up in my hot rod that will give the neighbors something to talk about for the months to come. Every day you will receive a gift of some kind that will make your day better as the day gets closer. I want you to know I love you very much. Even though I can not always be there where you can wrap me in your arms and wipe my tears away. So this will have to do for now, until we see each other:  Your wayward grandson EJ.’

I quickly printed it using my fancy stationery that I only use on special occasion like writing love letters to Rhoda and signed my name too it as Chef Philips rummaged through room finding the girls perfume; finding the one that smells like roses, then dosed the envelope and the letter with it then sealed calling for Mrs. Olsen. She quickly came in out of breath and he handed the letter to her said. “This needs to go out, today overnight it if you have to. Either way the letter needs to be in this person's hands by 10 am the following morning when his grandmother receives her next batch of roses. I also need you to find something nice for his grandmother to wear to the party on Friday.”

She nodded and said. “I think we can manage that, considering its only fair that she sees him in his fancy Chefs Jacket.”

She closed the door and leaving us to our privacy. We looked at the clock and the bed then gave heavy sigh realizing there just wasn’t any time. Mom and the boys would be home soon and we need to work on the menu for the big Halloween party. Then we would be dealing with Mr. Tate for the rest of the afternoon.