A Little Shut-Eye Part 1

Chapter 269

A Little Shut-Eye

Part 1

Landan entered the house with Stringum, Chef Philips and Chef Mack as well as Bishop Earl and Bishop Sakes. All the woman that we're going shopping had all left long before Landon had arrived stating that their wives… or… the soon to be like Kirk's Mom were waiting for them in Salt Lake. Kirk came into the house with the rest of the boys. Noting that the rest of the boys was in the pool swimming and playing a big game of pool basketball. He looked at my grandmother and Mr. Holliman and shook hands with him. He didn’t ask why he had his shirt off or why Jody was leaning against the wall naked. He said. “I am starved, how soon will lunch be ready?”  Typical boy as he and the boys as a common curtsy removed their shoes and put them with the rest.

Jennie said. “About 30 minutes. If you boys would like to eat poolside you can help take these out. By the way, I am Mrs. Cranny we haven’t met, but I feel I know each of you boys. Feel free to be yourselves, around me, and my boys and daughter.” She looked at grandma and said. “What I mean to say I would really like it if you boys share your selves with me. And if that isn’t clear enough for Eric’s grandmother, be free to run naked all you want. In fact, I plan to do so the moment lunch is over. I may not be a nudist Mrs. Shepherd, but I see nothing wrong with their nudist lifestyle or their idealism of free love, and plan to have sex with Mr. Holliman and his wife, and possibly his oldest son and any man here that I find attractive.

“As you know I’m no longer considered married to Paul, which that ship has sailed. So hate me, judge me all you want. I happen to find naked men and boys very attractive and I am looking forward to something dark and chocolate like Mr. Philips who I understand tastes like dark chocolate with a hint of cinnamon and knows how to make a woman like me howl like a coyote in heat. So the moment… hell, why wait?” Grandma gasped as she watched Jennie, take off her blouse and slipped off her jeans undoing her bra as she slingshot it across the room having Mr. Holliman catch it and did the same to her red lace panties as they landed on top Chef Philips head.

Grandma blushed only too turn her head finding not only Chef Phillips and Mr. Holliman taking off their clothes. Landan and Dad were not far behind them, Dad asking me and Kerry if we were coming. Grandma yelled. “Someone please get me the hell off this God forsaken mountain. Don’t you dare Eric?” But it was too late as I made a beeline through the house naked and yelled cannonball with the rest of the boys leaving all our clothes scattered across the living room floor.

Grandma looked at Kerry as she had already removed her son’s clothes and Mrs. Holliman’s baby boy’s clothes and was working on hers as she grabbed the babies and head to the pool with the rest of us. Grandma said as Chef Mack leaned against the pool door watching us and counting heads and plates. “Please tell me you’re not going to join them?”

He laughed. “Not a chance, but it is tempting; yes very tempting, but no. I for one rather wear a bathing suit, and the only one I want to have sex with is my wife. We are not nudists, but at one time we... you might say we were in 60s at Wood Stalk and as I understand it my children and my grandchildren believe that this is how God intended us to be… free loving people. People that help each other no matter what the consequences are, God is love, and God doesn’t make monsters. People become monsters, and people like Rothwell’s and everyone in that pool kill monsters, so people like you and I can live happy and free knowing that there are people like them here that will keep monsters from hurting our families.

“Personally I find that comforting, that if I did decided me and my wife wanted to join them in that pool. They wouldn’t criticize me or judge me for how we look without our clothes on. They say they only see what’s important which is our hearts and souls. Everything else is a mask, of skin and bones. I think that’s how God sees us without our masks, not how the world sees us. I can call my wife if you like and she can take you home. Mrs. Shepherd unless you…”

Grandma kissed him on the cheek and said. “Finally a sane person; yes I would very much like to go home.”

Chef Mack blushed and said. “Give me a few minutes to call her, and she will be happy to take you home.” Grandma was on cloud nine, as I watched her from the pool place her suitcase by the door and took a seat on the couch. I got out of the pool and wrapped a towel around me, and made my way into the living room.

Grandma said. “So did you decide to come with me?”

I shook my head no, said. “No. grandma you know I can’t leave, Rhoda and Eli. I am still married to them.”

Grandma said patting the seat next too her. “I admire you wanting to stick it out with Rhoda, but son that marriage certificate is a sham. The way I see it; if you took back your father's last name, no one can hold a candle to it. You only married her because she was pregnant… so you could protect her and the baby from the satanic church. I intend to get the Judge to see reason. That, that adoption paper they are holding over your head is ripped up. Freeing you from the Rothwell’s, and freeing you from Rhoda and Eli.

“Rhoda no longer needs your protection now that she is no longer pregnant. Come with me and we can take Aaron with us, we will manage just fine on our own. You and I against the world like it used to be. You owe these people nothing, they owe you for all the things they have done too you. Rhoda doesn’t love you. The Rothwell’s and Mr. Stringum are using you and I don’t understand why you can’t see that.” Grandma looked me straight in the eye. “Come with me before it’s too late.”

I shook my head no, said. “No grandma, you just don’t get it. I am staying because I do love Rhoda, and l love the Rothwell’s and I know they love me.”

Grandma said. “You don’t know what love is, son. You may think you do, but you don’t. Any parents that allow you to be raped over and over again; and put you in danger like you are now. Don’t love their children. You only think it is love because, most of your life you have beaten, you have been abandon by both your parents and bounced around in more foster homes then I can count.

“What you don’t remember is when you came to the Rothwell’s… Mr. Rothwell beat you to the inch of your life. I was there remember taking care of you all those weeks in the hospital. After that, he and his wife forced you into their nudist lifestyle bit by bit. I admit I was taken in by it myself. Thinking family nudity wasn’t a crime considering you weren’t doing anything wrong and it’s completely normal to see your family naked when living in large families in small houses like I grew up in and raised my own children the same way. And then when you came back from that nudist colony; you were so happy because they had accepted you into their family.

“I kept my mouth shut because you hadn’t been that happy since you were forced to leave the Downing’s. And with the situation with your father at home, I didn’t want you to be hurt again like that. Yet it was the Rothwell’s fault what happened too you with Gloria West. I tried to reason with them that enough was enough that you should be taken out of their care. Again I was being overruled by the state, and your caseworker as well as your mother that for the life of me finds no fault with them. Telling me it wasn’t their fault what happened that they couldn’t stop Gloria West from doing that because they too were being held, prisoner.

“Yet it hadn’t been more than a month when they broke that promised. By getting you involved with the Satanic Church. When you found out that this man Crawford was gunning for you and the Rothwell’s; instead of going to the police. Stringum and Mr. Rothwell put you in danger by leaving you in Texas where you met Eli and Rhoda. Again I admire for doing the right thing by helping them get out of that church and marrying them to protect them.

“Yet it should have ended there, once you had freed them, but Mr. Stringum forced you and them like he is right now forcing your caseworker and the Earls to dance to his tune. Every time he needs someone that looks attractive for his little project. He sends you and Eli in as bait, not caring if they get you both killed. I just can’t take it anymore, I am done being quiet about it. This is going to end before you all end up dead, and I don’t care what I have to do make it happen. The moment I get home I am going to report them to the police and I am going to call whoever is charge at Child Welfare services, and I am going to raise hell until someone listens to me.

“I would prefer that you come willingly, and bring your brother with you, but if you won’t then son I will bring my A game as you kids say it on Wednesday. I going to make sure that this madness end’s, one way or another. Now give me a kiss and hug and go pack your things.” She reached over and hugged me, and then next thing I knew I felt a little sting in my back. Grandma yelled for help as I fell over onto the floor with her help, feeling my eyes close, watching her slip a tranq dart into her purse as Chef Mack and Dad ran to my side.

Everyone, voices sounded underwater as grandma said. “We need to get him to the hospital. We were just talking and he collapsed, most likely from exhaustion.” I couldn’t move as my body felt heavy as the drug took effect. It must have been an old tranq since it didn’t knock me out too quickly as I tried to mumble the word grandma Tranq’ed me as grandma said. “Shush now son, everything will be all right,” as she put her fingers over my lips preventing anyone to notice what I might be saying. Stringum lifted each of my eyelids shining a pin light into them, shaking his head as grandma began shouting that I need a hospital, telling everyone I was burning up.

Dad placed his hands on my cheeks and forehead, said. “I can’t tell, damn it...  I can’t tell. Whipping his wet cold calmly hands on the towel around my waist.

Grandma said. “Trust me Mr. Rothwell I know he’s sick, I was a nurse you know.”  I tried to mumble but grandma leaned over me and to listen to my heart; only to feel another stinging in my leg, causing me to fall even more into a deep sleep. I barely felt someone or someones lifting me up and carrying me outside and laid me down in the back seat with my head in grandma’s lap weeping, and yelling them that this was their fault.

Every time I tried to wake up or mumble that grandma Tranq’ed me wishing I had my watch that had the anti tranq medicine in it, not that I could move enough to matter… Grandma would scream can’t you go any faster, I am telling you he’s burning up;” and then she would stab me again until I was out cold turkey to prevent me from talking or moving on my own power. Wondering what was it going to take to knock me out. 

I soon woke up finding me in some hospital bed with an I’V drip in my arm and my wrists strapped down to the bed. Grandma was telling someone that she needs to speak to the police and someone from child welfare services right away. I looked for Dad not finding him or anybody as grandma was standing by the door telling someone that they had just tried to poison me, and she didn’t want them even near me until police got here and someone from the Child Welfare that I need to be restrained or keep me from hurting myself. That she is charging them for child endangerment.

Grandma shut the door, noticing I was awake, then apologized to me as she stubbed me again, covering my mouth with her hand preventing me from screaming as I struggled against my restraints. Telling me she’s doing this for my own good. Shushing me as the cold darkness surrounded me once more. The next time I had woken up my mouth was gagged and grandma was weeping as she was signing papers mumbling. “I trusted them, and this how they repay my trust.”

Dad came into the room, with several people I didn’t know, plus Dr. Sars and Dora. He looked at me said. “We will have you out of here in jiffy son, as soon as we deal with your grandmother.” Grandma looked at me and stood up walked across the room, as Dad and Stringum made their way over to me and started to untie the restraints and my gag. Only too have grandma stop them telling them to back away from me, that they are done, that their goose is cooked and that I was no longer their responsibility. 

Dad pushed her aside and undid my gag and my restraints; while Stringum handed her a restraining order; said. “You couldn’t leave well enough alone. So you thought if you get him to the hospital here, that you could get someone to help you… Doris, I have known you for years, I can not believe you could steep so low, as to drug your own grandson and kidnap him, because you did not like what he is involved in.

“What’s worst is you are accusing me and the Rothwell’s trying to kill him… Do you know how close you came to stopping his heart with those tranquilizers? One full dose is risky but safe. But 5 full doses you could have killed him and would have if we didn’t arrive at the hospital when we did. Mr. Rothwell has taken out a restraining order on you, and you are no longer welcome in his house.

“The next time we meet Doris will be in court Wednesday. Now get out, before for I have Mr. Rothwell pick you up over his shoulders and carry you out. I have called you a cab to take you home. Don’t bother calling your grandson for I don’t think he wants to speak to you right now.” He shook his head, folding his arms, watching her leave the room with her belongings as everyone stepped back allowing her to leave.

Grandma turned at the door and said. “I was just doing what I felt was best. I hope you can forgive me Eric, but you left me with no choice.” I turned my head away way from her. I wanted to be angry with her, but I couldn’t. Stringum cleared the room.

Dr. Sars said. “I’ll have him signed out in a jiff once the Dr. says he can go home.”

Dad took a seat on the bed and Stringum took the seat my grandmother was sitting in. Dad said. “Tell me exactly what happened. I saw you get out of the pool so you could say goodbye to her. Then next thing I knew you were laying on the floor with her over you screaming like the world was coming to an end.” I quickly explained that grandma was trying to get me to leave with her, but I had refused too for the second time today.

Stringum cursed. “And you didn’t say anything to us when she asked you? Why son?”

I said. “Because it was my decision, too make. Not yours, you told me that if I wanted to leave I could, but the idea of leaving everyone that I loved for the seconded time in my life. I couldn’t do it. The idea of leaving you behind, after everything we had gone through, it just wasn’t anything I wanted to do. For the first time since the Downings I was happy and I had family that loves me and I loved them.

“Nothing on this earth could make me want to leave you, but grandma couldn’t understand why after all everything I have been through. With Gloria west, and Crawford and Mr. Tate, she couldn’t understand; why I trust Mom and Dad after what they did to me when I first came to live with them. She holds all of that against you. More so me, because I had forgiven you for it because you didn’t know if I was one of those bad boys you had taken in the past. Thinking all bad boys needed to be punished until they can learn to obey the rules.

“All she saw was all the mistakes and none of the good things that happened along the way that made us a family. All she saw was the hurt, and pain I had gone through. It hurt her deeply that we kept our lives secret from her, knowing if she knew she would do anything to protect me like she has done most of my life growing up. Making sure I was loved and cared for because my parents were incapable of doing it or showing it.

“The moment she saw those pictures today, it brought it all back and once more she felt that I needed her to protect me. Like she said Dad, she was only doing what she felt was right, thinking if she could get me out from under it once and for all. She would be protecting me from someone harming me like those children and families in those pictures. She sees me only as a frightened little boy. She doesn’t want to face the reality that I am all grown up, because of she afraid I wouldn’t need her anymore. She may never see me old enough that can fight my own battles, nor will she trust me to make my own decisions. She wants me to stay that little boy that needs his grandma. Which I also will and do, but not in the way she wants.”

The doctor came in and looked at the chart and tsked at me and said. “I would like to keep him overnight, to make sure those sedatives are out of his system.”

Dad said. “I agree, but, his mother will wouldn’t like it. I’ll make you deal Dr… I’ll take him home and put him to bed where he can sleep it all off. He most likely hasn’t slept that good in days; with everything going on.”

The doctor said. “I can’t stop him from leaving, when all he needs is bed rest, I am just suggesting I would like him to consider spending the night.”

I shook my head no looking at Dad as he said. “It’s your decision son, I’ll support in whatever decision you make, considering your old enough to do so without my help.”

I said. “I just want to go home, I have always hated hospitals and you know Mom and Rhoda are capable of watching over me.”

Dad shrugged his shoulders said. “Ok one bed is good as another;” noticing he and Stringum were looking at the clock which said little after 3. Mr. Tate’s party was at 7 pm. Dad asked him if I might borrow some hospital scrubs, considering I didn’t have any clothes with me or on me for that matter. It didn’t bother me being I was used to it. The doctor wrote out prescriptions for week’s worth of sleeping pills. Telling Dad he would like me to spend the weekend in bed. Dad said that shouldn’t be a problem. As she signed me out as I quickly put on the scrubs after the doctor was done examining me.

Stringum seemed antsy as the clock tick closer to the time of the party. Dad argued with him that he would prefer that I stayed home. He finally said. “We'll play it by ear if he fine by the time it starts. Fine, if not then we will just have to manage without him. His health is more important than some party where he will have to perform just so we can take down as many bad guys as we can.”

Dad helped me into the backseat of his car and leaned my head against him telling me he would like me to sleep the rest of the day and all night if I have too, having me take two of the pills. Keeping his word to the doctor, knowing Mom and Rhoda would see to it that I didn’t leave my room or my bed, telling Stringum to slow down as he sped towards home.