%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
My attempt at writing a revenge story when the deck is stacked against you! |
|
Burn Baby Burn I was sitting with the crew one Friday having a late lunch in lieu of the foreman calling it an early day and week. We had been under a timeline that the Boss had promised we would try to meet. Now, the Boss would be getting a bonus, from getting the house framed on time, and he would be sharing with us. Life was good! Until it wasn't. All my life I would think I was happy and in a sweet spot, or deal. You know the place. Everyone around you appreciates you and you can do nothing wrong. Then everything goes to crap. It starts out when you're born. You're enjoying floating around in a warm bubble bath until you feel yourself being pushed toward this small opening and getting pushed through. The cold air hits you and then you're grabbed by your feet, held upside down and spanked. Life settles down once again. You are being pampered without a worry in the world and what happens, but they take your nipple away. You learn that what you think you need, you can get along without. When you get spanked for playing under the kitchen table and hitting your head, you are demanded to buy into the idea that the downsides to life are good for you. Learning is what life is all about. Well, it looks like I have a lot more to learn! After eating the great meal that the Boss bought us, I was enjoying sipping on my second cup of coffee, savoring the moment. When I happening to glance across the street to the Super 8 motel, I saw Kathy's Boss, Bill coming from around the front of the hotel and stopping to unlock a door to a room. Instantly my great life just fell apart. Kathy, my wife of sixteen years stepped out of her car and breezed right by him into the room. Bill, that rotten so and so, looked around, and with a smirk on his face, stepped inside and closed the door. Was it the car that drew my attention across the street in the first place? She had insisted she buy a new sporty car last year, even though what she drove was plenty good for her. She still had five years of payments on that bright yellow thing! In retrospect, I still drove my ten year old pickup and didn't need another. Russ, a good friend and co-worker, who was sitting across from me stated; “Joe, you don't look so good. Why, you're as white as a ghost. I thought the food was great. It can't be something you ate, is it? “No Russ. I think I just saw my past life flash before my eyes. Kathy just went into that hotel across the street with her Boss.” “You serious! Really?” Russ couldn't believe what he was hearing. Him and his wife were best friends with Kathy and me. The conversations around the table had stopped and the crew was all ears. Jim, my foreman, spoke up, “What are you going to do Joe. Would you want us to kick the ever loving hell out of him?” “Not just yet! Hank, your wife works with those two, doesn't she?” Most people would have the dry heaves by now. Thankfully I've never had a queasy stomach. “Hank, can you go talk to your wife and ask if she's in the office by herself and how often this happens? Deserving or not, I'd always thought people never told me everything because I might not react well. I'll admit, I have a temper. But I can control it if I have to. It might be because I was small growing up until I hit my growth spurt at fifteen. Before then you learned to handle bullies with more than just brawn. Jim spoke up again. “I went through a divorce five years ago. You know if you get a divorce your ex will get half of everything plus the kids. Maybe we should think about this.” “Any suggestions? Right now I am open to anything. “Ya, looking back, I wondered why I didn't take the kids, the money and leave for another country.” “Why didn't you?” To me this sounded like a great idea. Why reward Kathy for disrespecting me and our wedding vows. Kathy made as much money as I did, and sometimes a lot more when she sold a house. After I proposed, we bought the house she liked. I bought the house with all the money I had saved up, plus made payments for five years. It was my wedding present for us and it is paid off. She never had her name on the title, simply because we never got around to it. In this state, she'd still get half of the house and savings. I would be paying child support for young Joe, my son, until he turned eighteen. This might even continue until he was out of college. I once heard from a guy that since he went to college, he had to give the children the same benefits he had. Ya, guess what? I graduated from college with a History Major. And I found out I hated teaching. I enjoy what I am doing. Jim continued, “I let her know in no uncertain terms that I was mad. Lets just say there was some broken furniture in the house when she told me she wanted out! I was hit with divorce papers and a restraining order before I could say boo. Bottom line was, she was in control all the way! I went to the poor house and a one bedroom apartment if you want to get specific! Sitting alone at night I had all kinds of thoughts, __scenarios I could have tried. Do you know there are sixty eight countries you can run to where you can't get extradited from. But from those sixty eight countries, only three are iffy for countries to live in and two might be OK.” “Wow, You looked into this! Why would I have to worry about being forced to return?” All at once I saw Jim in a whole new light. Was he a little bitter? You think! Would that be me six months from now? “Oh, I don't know. Maybe some judge will issue a warrant demanding you bring the children back and all the money you took with you. All in the name of women's equality. You have to remember every time a perceived wrong has been committed, in our country, a new law is passed.” “OK, if I was going to run, where should I go?” I was thinking to myself, 'this has to be good.' This had taken up an hour of our time and Hank was long gone on his errand and the two perpetrators still hadn't shown their faces out of that room across the street. “Marshall Islands or Vanuatu Islands. You would have to love water, but I would recommend the Vanuatu Islands. It's between here and Australia. The people speak English as well as French and the native tongue. They are all Christian, the economy is good with the country only forty years old. Your biggest challenge would be to get in good with the government to make sure they never sign an extradition agreement. Another thing, do you own your own house?” “Yes I do. I bought it as a wedding present and it's paid off. It's only in my name! We never got around to putting it in her name. Maybe I'll take a loan out on it and let her worry about it.” “No, no, no! Defaulting on a loan is another reason they would try to drag your ass back to the good old U.S. of A. Tell you what. What's your house worth?” “A hundred thousand, give or take a few thousand.” I knew this was going to be good. “Let's go down to my bank. You stop at your house and get your title. If you don't know where it is, stop at the courthouse and get a copy. I'm sure my bank has a real estate agent with the ability to transfer a title. I'll take a loan out for eighty thousand and I'll sell it after I evict her ass. Oh, How I'm going to enjoy this. I might even have her sell it for me through her agency. Ha, ha, oh man, I can just see it now. On second thought, maybe I'd better have it insured as quick as possible” “Boy, you're one sick puppy! But this might just work. J.J., my little Joe has a passport as well as me. What else would I need to do?” “You need a visa from the county you're going to. I'll get on my computer tonight and find some phone numbers and forms from Vanuatu that you can fill out. You don't want to use your computer for this. You call in sick Monday morning and I will too. We will have to register your signature with the internet. We'll get together then and get your Visa figured out. Hay, there's Hank. Did you learn anything Hank?” “Boy did I ever! Apparently those two quit flirting with each other about a year ago, about the same time Lori was by herself on Friday afternoons. Today she finally started voicing her frustrations, mainly because I told her what we saw.” Jim was pissed! "Ya, that sounds about right. That was about the time our love life changed. First she was hot then she was cold. She went out on Tuesday nights with the girls. Then she became an unhappy shrew with me. Nothing I did was right. Including how I was wasting my education and I'd be nothing more than a Framer." 'I could feel my emotions coming on. My love was turning to hate!' “Hank, pick up your cell phone and call your wife. Tell her she has to act normal for at least the next week. Tell her you're getting a bonus if she will. OK! I'm going to call Russ and ask him not to say a word to his wife about what's going on.” Jim ordered. “I'll do it Jim. I don't know what you two have cooked up, but I bet it's a doozy.” “Thanks Hank. OK Joe, let's go.” Jim was ready to move. We got to Jim's bank by three o'clock that afternoon. Hank was going to stick around and see when the love birds showed their faces. Jim used what he knew about the loan officer. Ya, I know! The officer had just gone though a divorce like Jim had gone through. The application was halfway filled out before I got to the bank. I had gotten a copy of the title from the courthouse and that took some time. Then I had to co-sign at the bank. I had faith in Jim so I wasn't too worried. At four Jim got the text. The lovebirds were leaving Super 8. The mission of acting normal for a week was underway. How was I going to keep this all hush hush for a week. Act normal! Jim and I would figure it out Monday. What excuse could I give for feeling mad and depressed at the world? I know, I know! The light bulb just went on. “Jim, you are going with me to the bar for the next hour. It's too early to go home and you didn't give me that bonus that was promised to me. I think it's a good time to drown my sorrows today, don't you?” “Oh I get it. You are mad and hurt and you're not going to hide it. OK, I've got a thick skin!” Jim was laughing as he said it. “I promise, I'll talk to the Boss on Monday for you! Beers on me.” It was six o'clock before I made it home to face THE SHREW. “You are home early but it doesn't look like you've been working. What's wrong?” She asked when I came through the door. “You noticed! How about that! Nothings wrong except I'm thinking about quitting what I've been doing. The crew and I have been busting our butts getting this job done and now the Boss says he's over budget because he had to pay too much overtime. This stinks!” “Well, maybe this will wake you up and you'll look for a better job. You could go to night school and get a Realtor's license. I want to talk to you about something else. You know I always felt we had J.J before I was ready to be a mother. Well I'd like to have another baby before I get too old. I quit taking the pill last week and next month I could be in the family way. You don't want to go back to using rubbers, do you?” She looked so beguiling with that smile on her face that my face turned to astonishment, a look I couldn't hide. Who was this woman! I am starting to believe I never knew her. After what I saw this afternoon I could only believe she was planning to have someone else's baby and stick me with raising it. There's got to be a law! Oh ya, that's right. I don't want any more laws. Now how do I answer this, this 'thing'! “If I'm going out and getting another job, this might not be a good time. Right?” I could see this wasn't the answer she thought she'd find. I had always wanted more kids and now I was raining on her parade. She always got anything she wanted and here I was not giving her the answer she wanted. That 'thing' in front of me scrunched her nose and put her face into a pout and spoke before she thought, “I want a baby now. I don't want to wait. We have money. So quit worrying about your stupid job. You're my main man, aren't you?” “And what does that mean? Main man. Is there more than one of us?” I was looking right into her eyes when she had an, 'Oh, oh,' look coming into her eyes. “Ah, I misspoke. I didn't mean to threaten you. You're my man period. You know that.” “I hope so. I'm going out. I need time to think about what you just threw at me. Don't wait up!” Boy, did I have to get out of there. Going out to my pickup I looked at my smart phone. I thought I had heard it tingle once. Sure enough, there was a text. It was from Jim. “Say Joe, I think we need picture proof. Call me.” After what went on in the kitchen, I thought we did too! “Hey Jim, what are you thinking?” “Bill's got a wife, right?” “And a couple of kids. And a father that owns the business.” All at once I was thinking, 'Bill's not going to get away with this. Not if I can help it!' I have seen Bill's wife. What is he doing chasing mine? Bill's wife must be five years younger than mine. My 'thing', Kathy, my soon to be ex wife, I had always thought was nice, but I wouldn't say she was the pick of the litter. She had been flat chested when I married her. She went from flat chested to hippy with a small roll in the middle after J.J was born. Ya, Bill's toy, his 'thing', was definitely going to cost him. “What are you thinking? I'm in my pickup cruising. Where are you at?” “I'll give you my address. Better yet, I meet you at the Super 8 where we last saw Bill. Pull around back and we'll plan strategy.” “Ten-four.” Dorky or what. I would guess we've been working together too long. Ten minutes later I pulled into the Super 8. Four minutes later Jim pulled in. Whoopy, I'm starting to tell the future. If I couldn't joke about this, I'd shoot myself. “Joe, I looked up banks in Vanuatu and I got phone numbers for banks in Vanuatu. I think when you get the house money you should call a bank and get your money transferred there. Put enough into your checking account so on Monday you have enough to buy your plane tickets. Cancel all the credit cards that you share with your wife. Get a debit card and use it to pay off your credit cards. You know in today's world it's impossible to stay hidden forever. The biggest aid to staying hidden as long as you can, is to leave her as broke as you can. The bottom line is leaving no debts and leaving her broke. On second thought, load that debit card on Monday and use it for plane tickets and whatever else you need until you get to Vanuatu. Now for this, what is Bill's last name?” “Snailly. Ya I know. It should be snake for a last name. Maybe his wife will change his last name to depressed and broke.” “OK. Snailly. I'll go talk to the clerk that's on duty. Have you got a hundred dollar bill on you? ____Good! I'll be right back.” While I'm sitting here, I let it all soak in. Did I really want to do this? After talking to my delusional 'thing', ya I'm ready. Would J.J be ready? How soon should I talk to him? Do I really need proof to leave? No, this is for Bill! Got to remember that. Oh, here comes Jim. “We hit the jackpot. That kid has got a side business going. For five hundred bucks that kid will give us audio and video. We pay up front. I told him we'd be back Monday. Maybe you can get your money back from Mrs Snailly. The kid said the tape will be non-legal and if questioned will swear some unknown person took the film without the hotel knowing about it.” “OK, let's go have a beer. Hopefully that 'thing' I got at home will be asleep by the time I get there.” I wasn't about to tell Jim about the latest, the 'thing' that drove me out of the house. By eleven I was home and thinking all was quiet. It was except for the pis-t I heard from in the kitchen. It was J.J with a worried look on his face. “Dad, can we talk?” “Let's go for a walk.” I whispered back. Half way down the block J.J finally started speaking normally. “What's with Mom? Did she crack up or what? She was on the phone giggling and saying, 'now Bill' like she was high or something.” “It's something but it isn't a pill. My crew and I saw her and Bill go into a Super 8 room today. I'm going to get out of here as fast as I can. Would you like to come with me? Next week we could pick up a copy of your school records and take them with us. You like fishing. How would you like to live on an island? Tropical! Think you'd like that?” I knew he loved fishing. I didn't know if he would want to leave his friends. My fears were answered in a moment. “Fishing, water, all year round! Are you kidding? When can we leave?” “ I don't know. Next week? I have to get some long term Visas for us and buy two airline tickets. You'll have to keep this under your hat. If she thinks you're excited for some reason, she'll ask questions. Tell her you have a girlfriend. She's been lying to us for a year. We can lie to her for a week. All is fair in war!” The weekend passed in a haze. Saturday morning J.J and I told the 'thing' we were going fishing. It was a nice fall day and the fish were biting in our favorite fishing hole. We were home a little after dark and 'thing' was not there to greet us. She showed up a little after ten and headed straight for the shower and bed. “Enjoy!” I said under my breath. “Oh ya Dad. What you told me today, I almost wish I could stay behind when she gets evicted from this place.” “Don't worry, Jim will fill us in when he changes the locks. I know he's getting a perverted pleasure out of this. That reminds me. I need to get the phone service canceled and two new phones and numbers for us. We need international reception. Maybe I can get her phone canceled the morning we leave. That would be sweet!” Sunday I suggested to the 'thing' that she should come with us to a ball game out at the ball field. Of course she turned me down. She couldn't wait to get us out of her hair. I would guess we must be cramping her style. Say-La-Vie you dumb 'thing'. I must not be looking so mad at the world anymore. She was smiling anyway. Monday I slipped out of the house without waking her. I told J.J, I would pick him up after school unless he heard otherwise. Then I went to pick up Jim and we went out for breakfast. By nine in the morning Jim and I were at his bank looking for approval of Jim's loan and finalizing the house transfer. We were told to come back after lunch. I went to my bank and took out all but one hundred dollars out of the savings account. I then put all of the twelve thousand dollars into a new debit card. I also removed my name from our checking account. After that we went to Jim's place and looked for flights to Vanuatu. We found the fastest way there was to go to Australia then to Vanuatu. I was looking at basically thirty five hundred dollars for two people on a one way ticket. We bought them for the coming Friday. Jim and I went to lunch and then headed back to Jim's bank. The loan was a go, with the transfer to Vanuatu taking the longest. Jim's bank would not take the risk. Vanuatu Bank took the risk since I had been given an open end Visas for J.J and me. I left with a bank account number, in Vanuatu, that held eighty thousand dollars. It was time to pick up J.J from school. “Are we going?” That was the first thing out of J.J.'s mouth. “Oh ya, we're committed. I bought airplane tickets. We will be in the air for two days! Think you can handle it?” “Oh yes. For a fishing rod and a boat, I would do almost anything!” “Remind me tonight that I have an errand to run.” “For a boat? That's cheap!” always the Jokester. Things were quiet at home that night. By seven the 'thing' already was saying she was going to bed and 'read'. 'Right'. I left the house and called Jim. He would meet me at Super 8. Jim took the money into the hotel for me and we went home. One more thing on my list was done. The next morning I left the house early and headed into headquarters. I told the Boss I was quitting for personal reasons and I couldn't give my two weeks notice. “I heard some rumors that you were having some personal problems at home, but you don't have to quit. Why don't you take a month off and come back then. I've had my eye on you thinking you'd make a good foreman. I'm going to hang on to your bonus until you come back so you have something to cover you until the next paycheck. OK?” “OK.” I had spent twice as much last night than what the bonus was going to be. I'm thinking I don't need to raise a stink just when I'm trying to stay low key. A month from now he can look for me all he wants. Tuesday morning I was out of the house with my usual time that I went to work. I spent a little time with the old crew on site and swore everyone to secrecy. I asked everyone if they knew anyone that wanted to buy a pickup. One lad, Jose said, 'If the price is right'. I gave him the spare set of keys and told him I would transfer the title and get the title to him by Thursday. Then I went to J.J.'s school and asked for the records for J.J. They gave me copies of the records. I told the Principal that Thursday would be J.J.'s last day. After school I picked J.J. up and we went home. I knew the 'thing' would not be back to the house till she was done with her 'girls night' out. I hoped the Super 8's kid was on the ball tonight and earning his money. I didn't want to see the evidence but Jim volunteered and said he would make some copies. All I would need to know tomorrow is that he had the evidence we needed. By seven that evening I told J.J. I needed to get out of the house. “Can I come with you? I'm not feeling the love in this place either!” Jumping into the pickup J.J. Asked me? “What are you doing with this pickup, Dad?” “Got it sold. Eight hundred bucks. It was maybe worth twice as much, but we weren't going to leave it for her. She can keep making her car payments. She doesn't need my pickup. Besides if she loses her job, she has nine hundred miles to get back to her folks. Hope she won't have gas money. Serve her right!” I thought we were driving around, but the pickup seemed to pull me to the Super 8 area. Pulling into the restaurant across the street, we parked facing the hotel. “What are you doing Dad?” J.J asked. “That's a good question! Saying goodbye. Staring reality in the face! Making sure it's true? Maybe you need to see it too. I don't know.” All I knew was that I hoped we'd only have three more nights in that house! Ten o'clock a door opened and the love birds came out of one of the rooms. They jumped into Bill's car and drove away. “Do you want to have some fun Dad?” “What are you thinking J.J.” “I have a knife in my pocket Dad. I want to puncture some tires.” “No, no son, we don't need her spending money now. In the glove compartment is a valve stem remover. Let the air out of one of the tires and then put the stem back in. We'll see if she calls us.” As we left I saw Jim walking to the front of the motel. That night the 'thing' was late. So I asked, “Kathy, what did you all do tonight? “It was a bust. The girls wanted to go home early tonight and then I discovered I had a flat. Vickie stayed around and helped me change it. I stopped at a gas station and put air into it. We couldn't find a leak. Vickie was wondering if someone was messing with me? Oh, oh, she's worried! “Honey, why didn't you call me? I could have come down to where ever you were and fixed it for you. Where were you at?” Fake complete ignorance. That's me. “Oh baby, you know a woman needs to be able to do these things for herself. Changing that tire was really quite easy. It was the first time with my sporty little thing. Maybe it is a really slow leak and we missed it, or it fixed itself.” Ha, 'Right', she didn't want us to know where her car was. The next morning Jim called me. “It's a good thing you don't want to see the tape. Bill and Kathy bashed you and his wife for the three hours they were taped. Friday afternoon when you are gone and they're busy, I'm going to be ringing Bill's doorbell at his house. His wife has got to hear this.” “Have his wife go with you to Bill's Dad's place and share some more. Burn him but good! I want you to be really nice to her. Who knows, you might find the life you need!” Maybe Bill will put a gun to his head. Serve him right! I drove to a mall and found a cell phone outlet. Ten minutes later I was set up with new phones with international service and prepaid for five years. I know. That took a chunk of change. What's money anyway! Next was the courthouse, where I got the title transferred and I was set. Jose was getting himself a sweet deal. I needed to talk Jim into taking Jose to the airport to pick up the pickup Friday. Two more nights. That night I talked to J.J in his room. “Our flight is Friday morning at five o'clock. Can you tell your mother you are staying someplace tomorrow night so she doesn't get suspicious when you're not here Friday morning?” “Sure Dad. I'll come home right after school and pack my suitcase and take it over to Allen's. I'll swear Allen to secrecy. What time should I be on the street?” “Three in the morning or a little before. We have to go through checkout and all that good stuff. Make sure you set an alarm. We don't want anything to go wrong.” “I'll call Allen now and tell him we are keeping a fishing trip from mom and playing hooky Friday. I'll ask him if I can stay overnight so she won't become suspicious. What are you going to do Dad? “I think I'll have Jim call your Mom about eleven tomorrow night and tell her I'm as drunk as a skunk and passed out. I'm going there tomorrow night for a card game.” “O yes Dad, here's my old phone. This new one sure is neat. Good night Dad.” Thursday morning I went to the job site and told Jim he was having a card party and I gave Jose the title to the pickup. I told the two about picking up the pickup at the airport tomorrow and gave the house keys to Jim. “No Joe. Jose doesn't need to miss any work tomorrow. I'll run J.J and you to the airport and then I'll get new locks for the house, and collect the garage door opener from your ex. Then I'll have her pack her stuff and hit the road.” “That sounds just as good. OK, I'm going home to pack. See you later.” On the way home I stopped to cancel our cell phone service on the old phones and paid the early cancellation charge. I talked to the clerk about waiting to turn the phones off until tomorrow and for a fee I could do that too. I was thinking it was a clerk's fee but two o'clock tomorrow afternoon the service was history, just like me. Take that you 'thing'. Packing didn't take long. I could not change how I felt, but I still had tears in my eyes walking out the door and thinking sixteen years of my life wasted. Then I remembered J.J. It hadn't been wasted. It was a good thing Thursday night that I wasn't driving to the airport in the morning and when Jim called the 'thing'. I couldn't have driven home if I wanted to. At two thirty Jim was shaking me awake and pushing me towards the shower. He had me eat a roll and drink a cup of coffee and we headed out to pick J.J up. J.J was waiting by the curb ready to go. We said our goodbye to Jim and got checked in. Then it was one more cup of coffee and onto the plane. Goodbye U.S. of A. Chapter 2 Sara was folding a load of clothes when the doorbell chimed. 'Wonder who could be here at one thirty in the afternoon?' not realizing she was talking to herself. Opening the front door she saw a tall man with dark hair and brown eyes. He looked like he was an outdoors type and looked nice, but she didn't know him so she kept the screen door latched. “May I help you?” Sara inquired. “I'm here on behalf of a good friend. His wife works for your husband, Bill. Do you know where your husband is now?” Jim was feeling a whole lot of apathy all at once looking at her. He knew she should know but all at once he didn't like the errand. “I'm sure he's at work.” All at once Sara was filled with apprehension. “What's wrong?” “I hate to tell you this but your husband is, at this very moment, is on Broadway Street at the Super 8 with my friends wife” “No! This isn't funny. Who are you?!” Classic denial. Then suspicion. “You can't prove that! What gives you the right?” “It's not a wild accusation. I have a video here, with this CD, from this past Tuesday evening at the hotel. You need to face this or you will be living a lie, knowing this.” 'Oh no, is she going to cry.' Jim was thinking, liking the situation less and less. “Oh no, I'm not going to let you in. But I don't have a car, so you're going to put that CD on the porch and walk away. Hold it! I'm going to go get a pencil and paper. Don't walk away till I have your phone number.” Sara ran and in two shakes was back. “OK, name and phone number. 365-2704 got it. Jim Benter.” Jim barely pulled away from the street when Sara was out the door and walking the four blocks to her dad-in-laws house with the CD in her hand. One of the reasons she was hoofing it to her dad-in-law's was not only didn't she have wheels, but she didn't have a CD player either. Sometimes she felt more of a prisoner than a wife. Two years ago, when they moved back and Bill took over his Dad's business, she thought they would have more time together. Now it was less time. He said he had to show houses after hours. All she thought of was, 'this can't be, can it?' She was winded when she got to Floyd's house. She was pushing the door bell and panting at the same time. When Floyd opened the door, she shoved the CD in his hands. “Play this!” Floyd was ready to say something but changed his mind. “OK. Slow up Sara. We've got time.” Going into the living room he turned on the CD player and hit play. Then he turned on the TV. And they stood there for ten minutes till the shock made them sit. Sara was crying and Floyd was listening. For the next two hours until Sara said, “The kids! I got to meet the kids! They won't be able to get into the house.” “Let's shut this off and take my car. I think you and the kids are staying here tonight.” Floyd was thinking Bill needed a big readjustment and he didn't need his two grandchildren there. Floyd realized his life was changing once more. You change when it's demanded of you or you die. Two years ago it changed when Marjory was diagnosed with cancer. It was incurable. Oh sure, the doctors said they could slow it down but Marj was not interested in chemo. So Floyd called Bill. Floyd and Marj had adopted Bill when it was discovered Floyd was sterile from the mumps as a child and didn't realize it until Marj and him decided to have children. Being a mother was Marjory's dream so they adopted. Babies were impossible to find, unless you went outside the country, so they settled for Bill. Bill was five when they got him and he was a handful. Marj spoiled him, simply because Bill was so headstrong and demanded things his way. Marjory had read a book on child development that said a child had to overcome a bad experience with encouragement, blaming his behavior on the five years of not being in the child's life. Marjory was no longer with him since last year and now it was up to him. He called Marjory's brother, Jake, who owned and operated a gym on Broadway. Jake would help him out, or know someone who could. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bill was heading home from the office at six. He was overjoyed to think he had really pulled a good one off, again. Like another notch on his six shooter. Messing with a married woman made a man feel so superior. He was the Alpha Man Maximus, next to God. He had done the ultimate dastardly deed. If Kathy wasn't pregnant tonight, she would be next month. He had Kathy convinced this was the ultimate high, an unbelievable joke. Bill had her believing that in ten years she would be marrying him and they'd live happily ever after. What a dumb broad! Maybe he could get her to have two or three of those little rug rats before she wised up. It was too bad his wife couldn't have any more children. Although this was better. Let someone else raise them for him. Pulling into the garage, he noticed his Dad was standing at the door with two burly guys. 'Oh' Oh', what's up?' This didn't look good. “Bill, How despicable could you get. You can't be my son. No one this bad could have been raised by me. I need your wallet and your car keys. I'm taking the business back. You never paid a red cent for it anyway. You just used it like the company car you've been driving. I'm taking the credit cards, company phone and giving you five hundred dollars. That's more than you deserve. Say goodbye. Be warned, I'm going to carry a weapon for a while so don't come back for at least ten years. I would like to see you then, to see if you are a better person. It seems I failed in making you a decent human being. Maybe the world can change you. If you don't change, the world will kill you. Or some husband! These boys are driving you to the bus station. You can go anywhere you want. Just not here. Guys, take him away!” Jim had spent the morning getting ready for Kathy. He had invited the crew to knock off early and come to his new house for some beer and movie time. He didn't start the movie until they heard the garage door rolling up on its track. Jim was out the door leading to the garage. “Welcome Kathy. I was hoping you'd show up soon. Did you enjoy yourself this afternoon? I need your house keys and garage door opener. Let's leave the garage door up. You're only going to be here long enough to collect your personal belongings.” “What? _-_-_- What kind of sick joke is this? Where's Joe? What are you trying to pull here? Kathy was confused, but started to have a sneaking suspicion. “Joe's gone fishing. He sold the house and said to let you get your stuff out. You have twenty four hours to do that.” “I don't believe you. Get out of my way. I want to see Joe! “Be my guest. Everyone is in the living room. We just got started on a movie. Highly entertaining! Jim was still enjoying himself to the maximum. He was the hammer to his ex, and all women that ever did a man wrong. He followed behind Kathy just to see her reaction to her movie. What he saw he wasn't expecting. “No, no, oh no! What have I done? No Joe, no! Joe, where are you? Where's Joe? What have you guys done with him?” Kathy slumped to the floor like her legs wouldn't hold her. “ Come on men. Help me get her up. Russ, can you drive her to wherever she wants to go? Give us a call and we'll come pick you up.” Jim hated seeing women cry and this woman looked like she was ready to let loose. “OK. Come on Kathy. Man she's heavy. Kathy you have to help us. Use your legs now.” The men got her in the passenger's side of the car, Russ ran around the car and got into the driver's seat. “The keys Jim!” Jim still had them in his hands, minus the house keys. “Where are we going?” Kathy asked. “Where are you going? I'm going home to Naomi. Maybe she can help you get to where you need to go.” Russ didn't want to deal with her either. “My phone is not working. Do you know anything about that?” “Joe has had a big mad on since last Friday. I'm sure he canceled your service. Last Friday was when he saw you go into super 8 with your Boss. Man you're dumb! What do you think would happen?” “Oh no!------- I need to talk to someone. Could you take me to the office?” She needed to talk to Bill and make plans. This was not how this was supposed to go. “Sure, give me directions and point the way.” After A, go south, left on fifth, go two blocks, right here, she grabbed the keys and ran inside. After dialing the numbers on the office phone, she was confused when a stranger's voice she kinda remembered answered. “Hello?” “Hello, Is Bill there?” “No. This was the phone Bill was using. But Bill no longer works for me. Bill doesn't have a phone now since this is a company phone. Bill got on a bus this evening and he's on the way to Timbuktu. May I ask who's calling? Kathy shut the phone off and put it back in its cradle. Now she remembered who that was. “What am I going to do?” She mumbled. Then she knew. She had been played by a sweet talker and ass____! She went out to her car and got back in. “Can you take me to the Empire Mall? I'll only be there for a few minutes. Once there she went inside to the all night pharmacy. Going up to the counter she said, “I need the morning after pill.” And to herself she said, 'You stupid, stupid, stupid women. This could have been Joe's.' She paid $48.00 and took the pill with her. Getting back into the car she asked, “Can we go see Naomi now? I really need a friend.” “We can go talk to Naomi, but you will be talking only while I'm present. Got that!” “What, Why! Are you afraid I might contaminate her? Why would you want to infringe on my privacy? “Because you are messed up in your thinking. Anyone who would mess around with someone else, other than who you made a promise of fidelity to, for a whole year, has so many justifications to your actions that you have to be mentally sick! I don't need you to contaminate my wife with all your warped reality. My wife and I have an open dialog with no secrets. So, whatever you say to my wife you can say in front of me. Got that? “Oh, you men are all alike. All you want to do is control us!” “No, you're only saying that because you let some man talk you into going from stupid to completely stupid. While your husband was working to make your life nicer and agreeing to a car you didn't need, except to feed your ego, you were living in a world that feed that ego. You need to get yourself realigned in the world in which we live in. This isn't the ancient world of Hawaii where every man and woman had two to three spouses. This is a world in which a couple sign a contract of commitment to put the other person first in consideration and support. Did you consider that Joe would be OK with what you were doing? Yes you knew. That's why you hid it. That's why you're sick. You put yourself first. Do you know what Joe's been calling you this last week? Thing! Something that's less than a human being. Lower than lowest of the mammal world. No, that's not right! Something that hasn't been identified yet. Is it a pebble? No. Fecal matter? Maybe! Hard to tell. Must be a thing! So you see. I can't have some 'thing' that I don't know about being too close to my precious wife. You might be a bug that will contaminate my wife. Can't have that! I want what is best for her. You are not what is best for her. Better safe than sorry!” “Why you prick. You didn't mind flirting with me in the past! Where do you get off thinking you're better than me?” “ Because what we did passed the spouse test. Every time I kidded or flirted with you, Naomi knew about it and she shared if she was worried about something said or done that I might not have liked her to say or do. She and I worry and think about each other first. Did you put Joe first before yourself? No!” “You're mean! Sounds like you are afraid your marriage isn't strong.” “No, it is strong and it is going to stay that way. That is why I don't need you spouting la la land to her and making it sound enticing. How has your la la land turned out for you so far? No house, no husband, no son. You might not even have a job on Monday. All you have is a car. And that's something you might not even afford. Are you ready to eat crow Monday?” “I hate you!” “You can hate me all you want. You don't matter. All you are is a 'thing.' But there is hope. You might develop into something. Who knows. Only time will tell.” Russ was hoping he had planted enough reality into Kathy so she wouldn't be spouting too much justification for her actions to Naomi. He looked over at Kathy and saw she was staring out the window. They were pulling into the driveway of Russ and Naomi's place when Kathy spoke up. “Russ, can I ask a big favor from you? Can I stay with you? You know, temporarily?” “You're not going to spout to my wife about how much fun cheating is?” “No, I promise. The result of cheating is not fun.” “But cheating is. You're still sick Kathy! You can stay the night, but I want you out of here tomorrow!” “But where will I go?” “That you will have to figure out for yourself. If you can't afford an apartment with a car payment, maybe one of our friends might have an old car they will give you. Maybe Jim will rent you a room in exchange for cooking and cleaning. Kathy, you can take your body over there tomorrow to get your stuff and you can talk to him. You decide. All you have now is to worry about yourself. Now let's go inside and break the news to Naomi.” Talking to Naomi didn't go like Kathy had hoped. She took the pill and glass of water before she sat down with Naomi. Halfway through trying to convince Naomi she needed more than just a night, she became queasy and had a hot flash. She went to bed because Russ had sat right with them and started hinting it was bedtime. Kathy decided she'd talk to Naomi before Russ got up. That didn't happen. Russ had the coffee pot on and was sitting in the living room when Kathy got up. After breakfast it was, “Naomi we have to go! Your mom doesn't want us showing up late for lunch. You know it's a two hour drive. Kathy has things she has to do today, and she shouldn't be putting them off. Goodbye Kathy. You can call Naomi Monday night when you have news of how you made out. I'm locking the door now!” And just like that Kathy was out the door. Watching Russ driving away, Kathy sat in her car, and said, “I suppose I'd better go over to my house and find out for sure what I'm facing.” Meanwhile Russ called Jim, “We left Kathy sitting in her car. I think she'll be coming your way. Just a heads up in case you want to be gone.” “Oh no, I couldn't do that. She has twenty four hours to pick up her stuff, plus I have to protect my investment until I get it sold. I'm staying right here.” “Well she has no place to stay as of yet. I suppose she'll be heading to a hotel room. I hope she has enough room in her sports car for all her stuff. Talk to you later.” Jim had to think for a moment about what Russ had told him and then a smile spread across his face. This is going to be so much fun! He decided he'd leave the TV off and not play the CD. When the doorbell rang he said under his breath, “Show time!” Opening the front door he said cheerily, “Good morning Kathy. Hope you slept well last night. How's Naomi and Russ this morning?” Shooting daggers at Jim with her eyes Kathy stated, “They had plans they couldn't get out of today so I decided I'd come right away and pick up my stuff. Did Joe really sell my house to you? I suppose I'll have to go to the bank Monday and see what's in the bank and go see a lawyer about what I can do with a divorce.” “Sounds like a plan. I'm sure lawyers aren't cheap. I don't know if a lawyer can give you any return on the money he will be charging you. But for whatever that is worth, that's my opinion.” “Well, you seem to have the inside scoop. Fill me in hotshot! Lay it on me!” She so wanted to take that smug grin off of his face and smear his face in mud. “You asked for it, lady. You disrespected Joe so bad, all he felt for you was hatred. Didn't you see what your Boss was doing? You were his plaything, his perversion, his ego booster. By you buying into his bull, he was laughing and disrespecting you, and you were disrespecting Joe. And the whole world is laughing at you because you thought you two could get by with it. How dumb could you get? In broad daylight even. Jess Slues! Your Hubby went fishing! Permanently! Out of the country. Took J.J with him. He ain't never coming back. If you plan to hire a lawyer, you are wasting your money. And I don't think you have much of that unless you knew you were going to get caught. Have you got a stash somewhere?” “I have. It isn't much but I didn't buy completely into what Bill was feeding me. He said some pretty terrible things about his wife, making me think trouble in paradise couldn't be all her fault. I don't have enough to pay for an apartment and a car, but I have enough for a hotel tonight. I'll have to make a couple of trips to get all the stuff I want out of here. I want the bedroom set, living room set, and TV as well as my clothes.” “No can do! I bought a furnished house. I'll fight you tooth and nail before you take any furniture out of here! I'm not your Joe. I'm not someone you can run all over. You can live here for a thousand dollars a month in the spare bedroom if you cook and clean.” “I can't afford that! What do you take me for?” “A complete bull spreader. With your car, you would be spending less then two thousand a month. And you make sixty thousand a year. On second thought, fifteen hundred for the guest bedroom. Take it or leave it. No skin off my nose.” “That income is inconsistent as any Realtor will tell you. I might not make two thousand in one month!” “That's what your slush fund is for that you have in the bank. And you can spend the night here for free. Except you should start planning what we're having for supper in case we have to go grocery shopping. If you cook it, I'll buy it. But not all ready made. I mean cook! I can cook frozen pizzas as well as you can.” “I'm going upstairs to start bringing my stuff down. And you don't need to be looking over my shoulders while I'm folding my panties.” “That's all right girl. It's nothing I haven't seen. I'll be outside. “Ass hole! Don't remind me!” Going out the door, Jim had a thought. He walked over to the next door and rang the doorbell. A young man about twenty five answered, “Can I help you?” “Yes you can. Let me tell you a story and then you can tell me if you can help me. It all started a week ago this past Friday. Joe, who used to live in that house, _____-----, anyway that's the story. Now if Kathy would pay rent and if I gave her a key, I know she'll come some day while I'm at work and clean me out. Does your wife work?” “Yes she does. We'll keep our eyes out when we're home, but the person to talk to is the lady on the other side of your house. She's a widow lady that has all kinds of time on her hands. Give me your phone number and let me put it into my phone. If I see something odd someday I'll call you.” “Sounds good. I appreciate that. Thank you!” By the time Jim got back to the house, Kathy was downstairs making a pot of coffee. She got right to it, “I changed my mind. I will take you up on renting a room from you. If you would like me to make spaghetti tonight, I need a can of spaghetti sauce and a pound of hamburger. Could you run to the store for me?” “Why don't you plan a week of needs from the store so we're not running to the store all the time for food supplies. While you are doing that I'll get some cash out of the safe.” She didn't know but Jim had changed the safe combination. Jim also had the infamous CD locked in his strong box with his nine millimeter. The box could only be opened with his thumb print. The strong box was bolted to the cab, behind the seat of Jim's pickup. There isn't anyone getting to that box but Jim. When Jim came back to the kitchen, Kathy had a list made and Jim went to the store. Jim took his time getting the groceries on the list. He knew the house would be cased. Walking into the house, he found Kathy on the sofa reading a magazine. “Did you find everything Jim?” Jim noticed Kathy was kind of sweaty and out of breath. “Ya, I found everything. Had to look through the spices to find Turmeric, but I found it. Did you find the CD you were looking for?” “No, is it in the safe? You changed the combination.” “It's not in the safe and yes, I did change the combination. You know you're renting a room and not the house. You have no right in my bedroom unless you are changing the sheets on the bed or I invite you to come see me.” “Like that'll ever happen!” “Exactly! You are not appealing to me. But for you it might be easy since you are now a fallen dove. Oh, excuse me. I shouldn't call you names!” “Everyone is going to feel that way if that CD gets on the internet.” “Don't worry honey. Six months from now I'll give it to you so you can see if your attitude has changed.” “Don't honey me, you jerk!” “I will do my best.” Jim didn't know he could have so much fun exchanging barbs with Joe's 'thing'. “After supper I would like to drive to Lori's house or see if she would meet me. Before I give you any money, I need to find out if I still have a job. I've worked with Floyd before Bill took over but I'm not counting on anything after talking to him on Friday. He sent his own son down the road. Why would he keep me?” “Maybe because he knows his son. Maybe because he's pulled shit before. Those people don't last long in this world. Someday somebody will be going to jail because they shot him!” Tough times, tough love! You go Floyd!!” When Kathy left to go talk to Lori, Jim strolled over to the widow's house with the leftover spaghetti. Ringing the doorbell he waited until she answered. “Hello ma'am. I don't know your name but our neighbor said you live by yourself and I have some leftover spaghetti that's just enough for one person. I'm sure it's still good if you microwave it. Have you had supper yet? You have. OK. Would you want to put this into your refrigerator? “I would love to. What is your name? I'm Alice Crumpler. Come in.” “Thank you! I'm Jim Benter. I was not even thinking about buying a house until last Friday when your next door neighbor, who incidentally is also my friend, saw his wife doing something completely inappropriately. So I bought the house to help my buddy out. Let me share the story with you and I'll tell you what my problem is. Have you got a little time to hear this?” “I've all the time in the world. Let's go to the living room so we're comfortable. Then you can tell me all about it.” Alice could not believe a woman could treat a husband so shabbily. In her opinion, Kathy had to be gullible to the extreme. No one could be that stupid. Bill must have a silver tongue and be completely unscrupulous. Her last words for the evening were, “You be careful Jim. If she was able to be talked into what she did, she might be talked into doing you harm. Especially if she's desperate. Her Bill might not be gone for good.” Jim thought about that, and decided to always be as prepared as he could be. In the garage he flipped the back seat up in his pickup cab and opened his pistol box. He loaded his nine millimeter with shells and was about to put the pistol back in the box, when he changed his mind. Kathy wasn't back from her meeting with Lori so he carried the weapon openly up to the master bedroom where he put the gun into the drawer of the nightstand. He decided it was late enough, and being tired, went to bed. He thought he heard the overhead garage door open and then close. He had given Kathy back her garage door opener, so he knew she'd driven into her car's usual spot. Sunday morning after Jim got out of bed, Kathy was busy cooking breakfast. She was cheery and upbeat like this was a cozy and comfortable domestic normal thing. Jim wasn't used to getting pancakes, eggs and bacon. He thought this was surreal and put on, but decided he'd enjoy it as long as it lasted. To make small talk and because he was curious he asked, “How did last nights visit go with your workmate, Lori?” “It was an eye opener. Lori claims that Bill had been flirting with her and was recently putting the pressure on. I'm finally realizing that Bill is a no good SOB. Floyd called her yesterday and quizzed her about my work habits and if I had slacked off on selling real-estate. She told him what she knew, so I'm glad I tried to keep my thing with Bill out of the office. I think I might still have a job. Tomorrow will tell the tale. May I ask you something? Where is Joe and J.J.? Tell me for real! When will I see them?” “I don't think you ever will see them again!” When Jim said that he saw something pass in her eyes and an intake of breath like she had been hit with a blow to the body. “When Joe left, he took all the money he could. The biggest reason he left was he knew he couldn't stay married to you, with what you were doing, and he didn't want to reward you for turning on him and J.J.” “I didn't turn on him!” Kathy was still grappling with denial. “I saw the video. I saw you have unprotected sex with that man. Did Russ take you somewhere to get a morning after pill? Did your biggest high come from disrespecting your husband and pulling the wool over his eyes? You are just as sick as Bill.” “I didn't mean to do that!” She said that in a small voice and Jim believed her. “Whether you instigated the game or you played along, it really doesn't matter. At least in a husband's eyes! He no longer puts you on a pedestal or thinks you're something special. The worst part is, he no longer feels he's special because he has you! He's just the dumb smock that worked for someone that he would not want to write home to his mom about.” “Jim, would you do something for me if I asked you to? Would you kill that SOB if he ever contacted me again?” “I would if he ever walked into the house and I thought he was armed. I would enjoy opening the gates to hell for him!” She endorsed that thought with a quiet, “I would too!” After a few minutes of silent contemplating she said, “I need your phone number. It's not outside of reality that he will be back. I know now that he's a criminal of emotional manipulation. He needs that high to feel good about himself. I think he'll be back.” Off and on, for the rest of the day Jim and Kathy hypothesizes what would happen if Bill all at once reappeared. They decided if the code phrase was, are eggs breaking at home, Bill was there and she was in trouble. Jim convinced her about falling to the floor if he was walking through the door, and showed her how to wrench free if Bill grabbed her. The next day was the most traumatic Monday Kathy had ever faced. Kathy arrived at the office an hour before it opened for business, but Floyd still arrived before her. She knocked on the open door and Floyd said, “Come in Kathy. Sit down. I'm glad you came in early. Good sign you're ready to face the music. I need to apologize to you. I knew what he was and because his mom asked, I brought him back anyway. Do you think you can work here after all that's happened? “Oh yes Sir. Now more than ever, I need this job. Because of Bill and my own stupidity, I've lost everything! My husband, my son, my house and money in the bank. All I have left is a loan on a car that I still have to pay off. If you agree that we both were taken by Bill, I would love to work for you again.” “Good! You are a great agent and I'm glad you are still on our team. I'm hoping we have seen the last of Bill, but I wouldn't bet on it. He would never take 'no' as a child and I don't know if he will ever learn to accept a no. If you have any questions relating to work please come see me.” When Kathy got home that evening it was only five thirty since no customers were looking at houses that afternoon. As she was cooking for Jim, she was thinking about all the happenings that had led up to this. Floyd was right! Bill never took no for an answer. A year ago, Bill had been giving her the distinct impression that she had no choice but to comply with his demands. Kathy had convinced herself that it was her choice as well as Bill's that she had become involved. Now she wondered if she was a weak and submissive person who had always chosen the easy way out and had not stood up for her rights. She wondered how Joe and J.J were doing. It felt like they had died and she couldn't even grieve for them. With the domination of Bill taking over her life, Kathy was realizing just now that she had treated and pegged Joe into a friend category and she wasn't grieving the loss of Joe as much as J.J. Kathy realized she hadn't been in J.J.'s life for quite a while and he probably wasn't even missing her. Now she was fully realizing what she had thrown away this year and how impossible it would be to retrieve it. It was gone. Now she would have to treat it as out of sight, out of mind. And the only way that would happen is if she filled every minute of her time, so she couldn't dwell in the past. All at once, slicing the onions got to her, and she was bawling, and she couldn't stop. A half hour later Jim found her still crying but back to fixing dinner. Kathy spoke when Jim walked in. “Dinner will be a little late. I think what I have lost just hit me.” “You want to talk about it” “It's gone, it's all gone! And I have no one to blame but myself. Now the only choice I have is to stay sane, go on and build myself a new life. Would you want to build it with me? I'm not talking right now, but soon. A month, maybe two. But I know what I'm going to have to do!” “Wow! We will see, and we will talk about it.” Chapter 3 I realized, once we were in the air, and after I had talked to a stewardess, that I had made a costly mistake. We could have gone to Sydney Australia by way of Los Angles instead of Dubai. This mistake cost me four grand and an extra day of travel. Maybe the flights hadn't been available in that week I was leaving and Jim needed to get me gone before I changed my mind. This desire to get away and take J.J with me, might have abated and I'd have a second thought on what I was doing. Oh well, water under the bridge. I can only forge ahead! Dubai was interesting. Coming into land you could see all the man made island crossways, with wide enough strips of land to contain a row of two houses side by side. It was amazing! An older gentleman that was in our row of seats, that had an English accent, spoke up when he saw me staring out of the plane window. “This is one of the city's that is also a nation. It also wants to someday be the financial capital of the world. It draws a lot of tourism, and for many reasons. They even have a ski slope in a building if you want to go skiing. Most of the building of this city is done by imported labor. Jobs can be had here if you would want one.” I looked at J.J and he just shook his head. We had a four hour layover here, so J.J and I walked through the airport and looked at all the people from around the world. I could see that there were two classes of people here. The working class and the rich. Another eighteen hours and we landed in Sydney. From there we flew to Brisbane, which was just a hop and a skip by air. Then we had to wait two days for the next flight to Vanuatu. Going out and walking the streets of Brisbane was an adventure. The English dialect was nothing like a UK or our southern US dialect. After two days we could almost understand the people. When we got to Vanuatu, which was a three hour flight, we were told we were on the Island of Malakula. My money was at the capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila, which was on the Island of Efate. We flew into the city of Norsup which was the capital of Malakula. From there I found out that Norsup had a branch bank for the National Bank of Vanuatu. So J.J and I decided we would spend some time here and enjoy the Island and the people. The people for the most part were Melanesian with some Polynesian and European mixed in. The United States had been huge force here during the Second World War plus the French were here since the sixteen hundreds. The Island boasted of thirty plus dialects of Melanesian, plus French and English. Ninety percent of the people were from the Melanesian blend, ranging from light skinned to almost black. The other ten percent of people were Caucasian, Filipino and Chinese. Although the native people had been noted for cannibalism at one time, they were very friendly. Right from the moment we landed, young girls were making eyes at J.J. This Island's main export is copra and coconuts. Copra is the coconuts seed, used to make coconut oil. Beef exports as well as fishing and tourism make up the rest of the Economy. The rugged volcanic island had many walking paths and byways for the native people and tourists. Young children and teenagers latch onto J.J and me, chatting and teaching us their dialect. Soon they had us on boats fishing, making J.J feel like he was in heaven. It seemed but an instant when one week turned into two weeks and then into two months. We were renting a bungalow by the shore by then when one morning a boy ran up to me, asking if I was Joe. I assured him I was, whereas he handed me a letter. It was an invitation to one of the larger plantation owner's home for supper that night at eighteen hundred hours. The letter stated that casual attire would be appropriate and an escort would fetch me, but please respond. It looked like only I was invited so I wrote on the letter that I would be at the bungalow waiting and gave it back to the boy. Then I went uptown to find a barber and new clothes. That night at seventeen hundred hours the young boy returned and we took a leisurely stroll down the road, through his coconut trees and on up to his villa. It was a spacious home that had a lot of windows that could be opened up so a cool breeze would blow through. I was greeted at the door by what looked like a seventy year old man. “Hello, welcome. I'm Jack Montifor. You must be the Joe Kintrie, I have been hearing so much about. Do come in?” “Thank you. You have a lovely home here.” “That I do. Thank you. And what do you think of our spectacular Island if I may ask.” I could see this man was fishing. He was looking for information in a friendly kind of way. “The people are great. My son and I have enjoyed this Island immensely. I don't know if I ever want to leave it. I've got to have J.J enrolled into a school, but so far I have not found one. Is there a public high school for teenagers around here?” I'm sure he would answer my questions. “There are high schools here, but you need to send your son to Port Vila to a private school. We try to teach our children as much as we can but because of substandard learning for a number of reasons, your son would be bored. All he would grasp the first year would be learning one of the native dialects. Come, let me introduce you to some of the rest of my family.” Walking into the formal dining-room, I could see his family was waiting for us to appear. “Joe, I would like you to meet my wives, Halona and Ngana. These two young men are my sons, Hermanu and Jock. These are two of my granddaughters, Missy and Malana. This is Joe Kintrie. Let's have a word of prayer before we begin eating shall we?” My mind was racing trying to catch up to all that this meeting the family entailed. Being introduced to wives was a shock. Was this a normal thing here? The implications of being introduced to the family was complementary to me to say the least. Looking around I could see that Jack's family was biracial. Maybe half to a quarter Melanesian? Beautiful people! His sons and daughters were forty to fifty years of age while his two granddaughters were twenty to twenty five? Is this why I was invited? We had begun to eat the first coarse, which was soup, when Jack started his interrogation, “So tell me Joe, what did you do when you were on the State side?” “I was what we called a Framer. A crew of us would frame up the structure of a new house or apartment complex. We only worked in wood. Before I was married I taught History in a high school, since I majored in History in College.” “I noticed your wife isn't with you. Did she perhaps die? “No, she's fine as far as I know. But I left with J.J because I discovered my wife wasn't what I thought she was. If I divorced her, she would have been given half of all assets and my son J.J. would have had to live with her. J.J didn't want that.” “I see. I have a problem I hope you can fix. My son, Hermanu, has a daughter that has been married for a year. Your son has taken a liking to her and her for him. Hermanu's son, Kainalu, is a fisherman and is a friend of your J.J. Hermanu's daughter, Kahloni, has been spending time with them. Kainalu is afraid for them, because he knows what could happen if the two young people become too close. Do you know what happens if a wife is found being unfaithful in a marriage?” “No I don't.” “She will have her face cut. And the cuts are deep and washed in salt water. Do you know what happens to her lover? Of course you don't! He looses a testicle. That's for the first offense. Second time is the other testicle and the left index finger. The third time is not good! Do you think this is barbaric? What about a Muslim Sikh protecting his harem? Or what the Catholic Church did in the past when they made eunuchs out of boys so the boys would make a sweeter sound? I would suggest taking him to school. Malana will introduce and accompany you and J.J around Port Vila. Would that be alright with you?” Jack was hoping that laying it on thick about punishments for promiscuous behavior would stop cold, any further problems. “Most definitely. I would like to know how I can pay you back for your hospitality and looking out for me and J.J.” Joe was wishing at the moment that the punishments for infidelity in Vanuatu could be instituted in America. 'I'll definitely be sharing this information with J.J.' Joe was thinking. J.J had turned into a night owl and Joe hadn't worried too much about that until now. “After you get back from Port Vila, would you like some work in carpentry around Norsup? I would like a screened in porch on the south side of the house. I would pay well if you're good at this work.” “I would look forward to doing that. J.J may think differently about fishing everyday but for me it's getting old. I would love to go back to work. How do I get the tools and the lumber?” “We have an importer, Reeve's and sons, that arranges for everything that is shipped into our islands. He has catalogs for everything under the sun. You will have to plan and know what tools you need and what lumber you will need. He has a man that runs a collection point, packs a shipping crate, and sends it our way. I have a tape measure in a drawer. I'll get it and you can write measurements down. Tomorrow before you leave for Port Vila, you can stop at Reeve's and sons and order everything you will need. I will call Reeve and tell him to bill it to me. We can settle later when the porch is done.” “Tomorrow I will have a small plane take you, J.J and Malana to Port Vila. Say maybe eleven?” Jack was all for having his granddaughter escort me around the islands. It was nice of him, but I wondered what Malana's situation was, that she would take the time and do this.” With all the information down that I needed on the porch, I headed back to the bungalow to wait for J.J. “When J.J got home I started asking, “What did you all do tonight J.J.? “Nothing much. Hung out with some friends.” Typical answer from a teen. “Well I had an interesting evening on a couple of subjects tonight. For instance, if a married woman is ever found in a compromising situation, she will be cut in the face so that it leaves scars? Have you seen any ladies like that recently?” “Wow! Yes I have seen a few ladies like that. I didn't know why their faces looked like they did. That's terrible!” “That's not the worst. Can you guess what happens to a man that messes around with a married woman?” “I wouldn't even want to guess, but I'm sure you are going to tell me. Right?” “Well, according to my dinner host tonight, a man gets tied up. Then an upset husband can extract one of his family jewels from the offensive man. You haven't been doing anything to offend anyone, have you? I had a feeling that my host was telling me all this as a warning that we should heed. After all, we don't know the customs and practices of these people. Two hundred years ago they thought eating your enemies was the thing to do.” “What can I do! I like her and she likes me. I've never known someone like her. I can't be awake without being around her.” “How about finding someone more acceptable. How about thinking about finishing high school. I can enroll you in an International School in Port Vila and rent you a room at a student boarding house. You will be around people your own age, and they will be single and available to be friends. And if friendship becomes more you won't get shot. Maybe a shotgun wedding, but not shot! I'm going to Port Vila tomorrow. Want to come along and look over the school?” “What about clothes?” “We will figure all that out in Port Vila. We leave from the airport at eleven tomorrow. We have an escort that will show us around. But I want to be downtown by nine. I want you to meet me at the airport.” When Malana and Joe got to the airport, the next day J.J was waiting. J.J was awestruck once again when he saw Malana, much like he had been when he first saw Kahloni. “Who is that Dad?” “That's the granddaughter of the host of last nights dinner. I'll introduce you. Malana, I'd like you to meet my son, J.J. Malana has a cousin that runs a fishing boat and I was told you fish a lot with him.” “And his sister. Let's get on the plane. Are you going to stay in Port Vila Dad?” “No, I've got a job with Jack Montifor. He is Malana's grandfather. I'll be putting a porch onto his house while you finish out this years school.” Taking a plane to Port Vila was a half hour travel and they were soon in a car with Malana driving. It was that way all day with Malana driving. First to the bank for enough vatu (money) to carry around. Clothes shopping, school registration and boarding house, Malana knew where to go and who to talk to. Sometimes English, sometimes in the native tongue. All I had to do was pull my billfold out and open it to more vatu. After a while Malana was having fun, making a game of being in charge. Malana and I were to spend the night in Port Vila because it took all day to get J.J settled in. It would be a big adjustment for J.J where English wasn't the native language. But the International School had English classes and English School Books. The other students would teach J.J the local lingo of the blended languages. Again Joe reached into his pocket for more vatu for a month of spending money for J.J. “Make this last if you can J.J. We'll call each other. Let's keep in touch and stay out of trouble.” I felt like I was deserting J.J. Cutting yet another tie to the past and who I was. And hating Kathy more. After saying goodbye to J.J, Malana and I went out that evening for dinner. She talked about her life, maybe to take my mind off of mine, maybe to fill me in that her life wasn't all roses? “I have a little girl that's seven. I met her father one night at a dance here in town while I was a senior in high school. I'm ashamed to say, but it was a one night stand. I don't even remember his name. I went home in disgrace. Now I help grandpa do his books and help him oversee the plantation. Grandpa doesn't usually let me go off by myself so this has been a treat for me. When you look around you can see people looking at us kind of funny? It's because most of these folks think people should stay with their own kind. I'm a quarter of the native people around Norsup and it still shows. But the native people aren't comfortable around me either, not like my cousins. I think grandpa sees you as a way out of my dilemma. I know I do. Are you planning to stay on the islands? What made you leave where you're from? Wow! I kind of wondered if something like this wasn't on the old man's mind. But I didn't know Malana was of the same mind, until now. I had no plans of ever going back unless I was sure I could. But over the last two months, this island and these people had grown on me. Would I be happy spending the rest of my life here? That was the question I had to answer before I became involved with any of these island girls. Putting my hand over Malana's hand I tried to answer her as truthfully as I could. “I truly find you a beautiful and smart lady, but will I spend the rest of my life here? I don't know. I would like to ask you a question. Could you live anywhere but here? Could I go home someday with you by my side? And would you be happy doing that?” “I could. I would if you could love me like I need to be loved.” “Don't say that. I am still married to a woman that I gave everything to, everything she wanted, and she still had an affair for a year with someone else. Right now I have trust issues and you just told me you can get swept away by a sweet talker. But this is all immaterial. I'm still married and I don't think I can get a divorce if I wanted too. Not without giving half of the vatu that I brought to this place.” “Did you say your former wife cheated? And you didn't forgive her? And you left her! That is divorce here among native people. You are as free as you want to be. We could have a common law marriage. Maybe that's not the best thing, but better then nothing! As far as me being talked into cheating on a commitment, I wouldn't do that. I learned not to do what I did. Then it was also being young, drunk, and only once, not a year like you say. I will not let my one time mistake be held against me. I resent that!” This is what talking and communicating is all about. Dating is time spent understanding and agreeing to an unwritten contract towards the ability to coexist. The biggest issue that I face now is trust. Saying one thing and doing another is a trust killer. Another issue is Malana says she would go anywhere I go. It would be easy to leave now, or even six months from now, if she has said she would leave with me if I go, but then changes her mind. Saying she would go is one thing, but doing is another. I know! If I have doubts that she could leave, then I have to trust that she won't. Or believe that she might not and accept that. O what tangled webs we weave. “Malana, I am going to be working for your grandfather. Let's really get to know each other. I will need to feel completely committed before intimacy. Can you understand that?” “I understand and I agree. But you can start kissing on me anytime you want!” “I'll gladly agree to that. Now is there a place you would want to go or see after dinner? If she wasn't what she was portrayed to be, this was the time to find out. “I could show you some of the places teenagers went when I was here going to school, but I think I'd rather go somewhere quiet so we can talk, if that's alright with you.” “Sounds like a great idea. The only place quiet that I would know of would be my room or your room. We don't have a chaperon with us but I'm sure we are both adults” Now, looking back on that night, talking to Malana, became the first night looking ahead and not back to the good old US of A and Kathy. I was almost finished with Jack's porch and Jack was talking to me about me becoming an overseer for the plantation. Jack had cattle graze on the grass under the coconut trees, and with all the rainfall that we had on the islands, it was a constant battle to keep young seedlings from growing in the rows of the coconut groves. Overseeing the groves wouldn't be hard and I could see myself in that position. Malana is another topic that I think I am out of control about. I love her and she says she loves me. I want to commit and become intimate with her, but how do you express it to the world and express your commitment to her, when you can't get a marriage license? I can't believe four and a half months have passed since J.J and I came to Vanuatu. It seems like a century ago. J.J is doing great and is speaking the native tongue like he's been here all his life. He should be calling soon, saying he is on his way home. HOME, ya this is home. This feels like home. Ring, ring, as I look at my phone, I see it's Jim calling. Chapter 4 Jim stopped at the red light and waited, thinking back on Kathy and his history. Someone behind him laid on their horn, and Jim realized he had been lost in la la land again. Kathy had changed a lot these past four months and all for the good. The first step was facing what she had let herself become. “Jim, I am messed up. How could I think that anything I did was alright. I'm going to see a shrink. Maybe they can explain it to me.” “I think that's a good idea Kathy. You've been moping around here like your mind is somewhere else and you are crying in your room. And didn't you say Floyd let you have it because he has to look over your shoulder now to make sure you don't make mistakes. You have got to come to some conclusions and give your mind a rest. You can't go on this way!” “I know. You're right! Jim collected the second month's rent for the coming month and decided to invade her privacy and asked. “Are you seeing a psychologist yet?” “I have! For two sessions. She's gotten me to admit I was putty in that SOB's hands. Why, I don't know. The doctor suggested maybe I was feeling old? Maybe I needed more excitement? I didn't feel excited until the last six months. But six month ago I started feeling that Joe didn't care about me. I know. He didn't know. But I felt he should have known, therefore in my mind, he did know. Screwed up or what? Now I've read an article that says a spouse of a cheater doesn't want to know so he or she ignores the signs and looks the other way until the thoughts in the back of the mind come to the forfront. Sometimes that never happens and they just go a little crazy. What I do know is I need to move on. Would you want to go out to night? My treat. I asked you. OK.” “Sure. Do you want to go dancing or something after we eat?” “No. I don't know if I ever want to get wild and crazy at this point. Although being held sounds really nice. Give me a hug before I go change.” Every time Kathy would start talking about Joe she'd get sentimental and teary eyed. She didn't realize what was happening but she was transferring the feelings she had harbored for Joe and Bill to Jim. What he was thinking and feeling was becoming important to her. It was expedited by spending evenings together and cooking and cleaning for him. Her ingrained desire to please and be accepted by him. and him being around for her. HER! After realizing what she had become, how low she had fallen in someone's eyes, that was heady! Payment for the third month was debated when Kathy was giving the rent money to Jim. “Jim, here is the rent for this coming month.” “I almost feel like I shouldn't take it. You're buying the groceries now. And most nights you come in and snuggle. I didn't realize how I'd missed that. Just to touch another human being.” “Actually I'm trying to pay for the snuggles with groceries, But I'm getting way behind. Can I raise my rent for you Jim? I could always pay you more!” The innuendo was there and Jim blushed. He had been tempted to go on the attack and smother her under him a time or two, when Kathy slid into his bed at night, but he wanted her to be sure. “What's Doctor Judy saying nowadays about your personal life? She agrees with me, doesn't she? Jim was worried. Maybe Kathy was hearing only what Kathy wanted to hear. “She says everyone is different when it comes to healing the psychic. She also says it is healthy to try to fill your life for things in the future in order to put past disappointments behind you, as long as you learned from them. I've learned from mine and I want to go ahead and fill my life. Jim, you have helped a lot, and you keep helping me. Would you want to play rummy again tonight? I bet I can beat you this time!” When the fourth month's rent was due, Jim felt funny taking it. He had been loving Kathy for almost a month now, but he knew he wouldn't be able to make the payments for very long without the fifteen hundred a month she gave him. He was still making child support payments for his son and daughter. While his daughter was in college and over eighteen, he was still paying child support. His son, Brad, was a senior in high school and planned to go into the National Guards. He could see an end to the tunnel that he'd been walking, and with Kathy around it felt like bright sunshine at the end. Daring not to hope, Jim had been feeling like a pessimist. Something bad was bound to happen. In the middle of the month while Kathy was snuggling to Jim she made his head spin more than ever. “Jim, I don't want you to worry or think you need to do anything, But___ I think I'm pregnant. No, don't say anything. I want children and I want you to be the father. What part of you being in their lives is up to you. If you don't want to be on the birth certificate, I'll put unknown. Only one thing I'm asking of you! Don't kick me out and don't leave me. PLEASE!” What could Jim say. He felt like he was in a freight car being pulled down the tracks, not knowing which direction he was going and no choice on how fast he was going. He felt his first little twinge of resentment. He knew where she was coming from and she had expressed her wishes often enough, but the resentment was still there. He thought she fit in with his ex-wife category. Full steam ahead with no listening or asking. WOMEN! The thought that entered his head was, 'I need to go see that shrink.' Kathy continued talking, “I have so many amends I should make to people for all the pain I caused them that I don't know where to start!. I should talk to J.J and apologize for being the mother I had become, and reassure him I'm not replacing him with this baby. This baby is my second chance to do better. Not a chance to redo my mistakes. If Joe has a second chance I should make it possible for him to have it. When I realized what my responsibility was to him, I first thought of suicide as a penance. But that would be unfair to J.J and you. Plus I still want to kill Bill! So I guess I'd better give Joe a divorce. Does that make sense?” “Wow! Only a truly repentant person could think like that. What about this killing of Bill?” “If Bill would come to me on his knees and ask for forgiveness of me and ask me how he could help make matters right, then I think I could let him live. Maybe also demand about twelve thousand dollars that was Joe's right to take.” A couple days later at five p.m., he got a call identifying Kathy. “The eggs are breaking at home and I see a no-good SOB by my car. Don't call the cops. I'm taking him home and putting him in the house. Bye!” ___--_ Dam, He thought to himself, 'She really wants me to kill him. Is she crazy, or am I crazy to believe this is the only way.' His nine millimeter was at home in the drawer of the nightstand. “Hey guys, he yelled, I've got to go! Hank, would you come with me with your pistol? Let's go! The rest of you, lock up our tools and go home.” ~~~~~~~~~ Kathy walked up to Bill and said, “Took you long enough. Why haven't you called? You know what kind of pickle you put me in?” Bill's response was, “Me! What kind of dirt has Pop's got on me that he kicked me to the curb? He says if he sees me he'll shoot me. What the SAM HELL is going on?” “He video taped us once, when we were at Super 8, that's what's going on! Now Joe left me and you haven't been around. You walked out on me. Now, are you staying or are you going to take me with you?” “Oh, I'm staying. I will inherit it all if Floyd is dead. Then you can be my number one squeeze again. Are you ready to play girlfriend?” Kathy shuddered! She never realized how bad Bill was! 'BAD TO THE BONE' Was her exact thought. “Ya baby. Since Joe split we don't need a motel anymore. Fallow me home and get ready for a good time.” Bill didn't need to convince her anymore that he was bad. Now all she had to do was make sure she was worse then bad. She had spent fifteen minutes talking to him. Now if she could just drive slow enough to get Joe home before she got home. Ten minutes later she pulled into her drive and opened the garage door and rolled her car inside. Walking to Bill's old clunker she asked, “You wouldn't have some protection with you, would you? I got one of Joe's old buddies staying here to help me make house payments and keep me company. You don't mind, do you?” “Why you, you! Of course I mind! What did you think! I thought after me you wouldn't want anyone else. I got my own little pistol under my seat. That clown's going to be gone before he can shake a stick at you. Let's go hide inside.” Jim had pulled up in the alleyway behind the widows garage, fifteen minutes after she had called, and ran to the garage, yelling at Hank, “Hurry!” Running upstairs and grabbing his gun he said, “Hide in the living room!” Jim ran behind the kitchen counter facing the garage entry door. It was no more than a few minutes when he heard the overhead garage door open. Jim heard voices in the garage and then footsteps on the landing to the back door. The back door opened and Jim saw Kathy jerk and fall. Then Jim put two shots to Bill's chest. Running within three feet of Bill, Jim put one shot into Bill's head, execution style. He then called 911. “Come quick! I just shot an invader in my home. 786 Sunset St. is my address. He's dead, but my girlfriend needs attention.” Hanging up the phone he yelled at Kathy, “Please tell me he has a gun!” Kathy replied, “It's in his pocket!” She was still sitting on the floor, with ears still ringing and almost in shock about how fast things had happened. Jim grabbed a couple of paper towels and reached into the pocket where a bulge was showing. Picking up his right hand he started putting the pistol into it. “No, he's left handed!” Kathy screamed. Jim barely had time to change hands for the pistol when the ambulance was coming up the driveway with their sirens blasting and the cops right behind them. It was six hours later before the cops left and Jim found his way to the hospital. Kathy was fine, but feeling almost guilty. It was one thing to think about doing something and another to do it. Hank had collaborated their story, just like Jim had hoped. Jim picked up his phone and hit Joe's number on his cell phone. Chapter 4 1/2 “Joe, Bill's dead. I shot him as he was coming into your house. Would you be upset if Kathy and I would come to Vanuatu? “Not at all. If Kathy would give me a divorce here in Vanuatu, I'd be tickled pink! If she would sign a no contest clause, I would pay alimony for a year. You really will sell the house and move here? I've moved on and I hope she will too.” “Kathy has moved on as well, with me! Ya I know, but she's changed. She will be stronger if temptation comes knocking again. Anyway, what have you learned about going to Vanuatu? “J.J is in Port Vila going to school. Fly to the west coast of the U.S and then to Sydney. From there to Port Vila if you can catch a flight from Sydney. Or you might have to fly to Brisbane from Sydney and then to Port Vila. When you come, call J.J and he can show you two around.” Jim disconnected the phone and turned to Kathy, “How soon do you think you would be able to sell the house? Joe says he will give you a divorce if we go to Vanuatu. I'm sure we can find work there.” “Depends on the price. I'm going for 120 thousand but will lower it to 100 thousand if we have to move it fast. Is Joe actually ready to give me a divorce? I must not have meant too much to him!” “Women! They sure have an irreplaceable view of themselves. Women are led about by emotion while men are led by pride and convictions. Between the two the world's full of human rubble. Somewhere along the life of most everyone, a realignment and readjustment in right thinking takes place. After you dumped all over him, did you really think he would be pinning away for you. Get real!” “That's what I love about you Jim. You don't hold anything back, do you! Were you this way with your wife?” “No! And I think that might have been half of my problems. I pussy footed around her like I think Joe did with you. Wouldn't do that again. I'll fight with you to keep you on the straight and narrow. Showing you the door is a lot better if you fall off the band wagon then watch you make a fool of me. I hope you comprehend, understand, comprendere!” After selling the house and facing a grand jury, Jim and Kathy had the most difficult thing to do, learning to live in a new land with different laws and languages to face. They would learn what Kathy and Jim had sentenced J.J and Joe to when Joe took J.J and left the good old U.S. of A. The End, except for all the fun and games that would make up the rest of their lives! |
| This book is currently empty. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
