Chapter 22: What's the matter with you

She had emphysema and breast cancer, but like the fighter she had been all her life, she

claimed she was winning the battle.

Of course, I was all smiles showing off Lucas. Ma was holding him, but he looked a little

distressed at first. The plastic tubes, I thought. Abbey started tickling Lucas's chest and

giggling. She had bonded with him from the first day she saw him and, thereafter, had

spent every spare minute with him. She had him soon making baby smiles at his Nana.

Ma was delighted. What a joy I felt showing off my babies.

Finally, Ma handed Lucas to Abbey. ―He is going to be a very handsome young man,

Amelia. He'll be quite the honey pot for the young ladies. He looks a lot like you. You

went through a long and demanding process to have him. I admire you for that.

Congratulations, Honey.‖

―Thank you.‖

―Speaking of Adam, he usually visits me after dark. If you could be here on one of those

nights, I know he would love to see Lucas and Abbey.‖

―No, Ma. I don't want to see him. I know he and his family are probably having a hard

time. Some things never change. But, I'll keep my visits to the daytime. Please make it

clear to him not to show up when I'm here.‖

―Amelia, he is your...‖

―No, Ma. I'm serious; I just don't want to get involved with his problems ever again. I

have no respect for him, and the way he behaves and treats the children he deserves

everything he's got coming to him.‖

Abbey glanced over at me with an ugly frown on her face. She liked her Uncle Adam

who had always treated her like a princess. Pity he couldn't do that for his own kids. It

would have been wonderful to show my children off to him and see them playing with

their cousins, but I had too often experienced Adam draining my energy on every

occasion we met or talked. He was a taker (a bloodsucker). Giving, except for the

presents to my children, was an anachronism as it applied to him.

―Why do you hate Adam so much, Amelia?‖ Ma asked.

―C'mon, Ma, you know I don't hate him. I've just had it up to here,‖ I said raising the

horizontal palm of my hand to my forehead, ―with his troubles. All we ever mean to him

is our money, and he'll try to soak us for more and more of it whenever he can. And, I

don't need him around upsetting me emotionally, because that's what happens every

time.‖

It was time to leave. I wasn't really comfortable bringing Lucas to the hospital, so I kept

my visits short. My mother's doctor told me that it was not a good place to bring my

children, especially the baby because he was so little and a preemie.

I took Lucas from Abbey, and we all kissed Ma. ―Bye, Ma, we'll be in again tomorrow

morning. I love you. Keep up the good work. You're looking a little better everyday,‖ I

lied. I always hated leaving her.

―I'll be looking out for you. You've done well for yourself, Amelia, a good husband and

two fine children. I wish your siblings could have done as good.‖

Thanks, mama. That was a really nice thing to say.‖

She's up to something, I thought. Nevertheless, I leaned over, put my free arm around her

and gave her a hug. Then we left.

The next day was a scorcher. The 2005 summer was very hot one, and the temperature

was a blistering 99 degrees that day. It was late in the morning, and I was sitting on the

porch at the hospital, Lucas in my arms, with Ma, Abbey, and my other brother, Billy.

Ma seemed a little nervous and what happened in the next few moments explained why.

―Look, it's Uncle Adam,‖ screamed Abbey as she leapt from her chair and ran toward my

brother who was coming from the direction of the parking lot. I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was an obvious set up.

I looked directly at Ma, ―You set this up.‖ She just sat there looking very complacent. I

should have learned that she was never one to be underestimated when she went after

something she wanted.

I turned away in time to see Abbey leap into Adam's arms and watched as he whirled her

around, laughing with her as he had always done. I was surprised that he looked as well

as he did, a little on the thin side, but he still had his good looks. He put Abbey down and

came over to the porch, kissing Ma, shaking hands with Billy, who he usually treated like

dirt and called him ‗the Chink,' and then turning to me. My heart was racing. After all,

I'd not seen him in years, and our last conversation was pretty heated. We didn't hug, but

he reached out and gently took my baby out of my arms without saying a word and held

him. Lucas kept smiling and smiling and cooing.

―He's a fine looking boy, Amelia. Looks like his mother.‖

It was a bittersweet moment for me. I would have liked a relationship that was normal

with my brother, one where I genuinely wanted to hug him and be really happy to see

him, but it was way too late for that.

―Is that your van?‖ I said pointing toward the parking lot. ―Isn't that Susan and the

children?‖

I mentioned earlier, it was a stinking hot day. As I looked to where his van, with Susan

and the seven children in it, was parked out in the hot sun, I was filled with anguish for

all of them.

―Adam, it's stinking hot. What are you doing leaving your wife and children out there

like that?‖

―They wanted to stay there.‖

―Is that so? Well, I'm going to see about that.‖ I stepped off the porch and headed for the

van. Adam handed off Lucas to Ma and chased after me. Before I was half way to the

van, everyone jumped out. I was appalled. All of the children and Susan had on long

sleeve shirts and long pants. It was 99 degrees, for God sakes! Adam caught up with me a

second later.

―Adam, what's the matter with you? Why aren't the children wearing shorts, or short

sleeves and sandals in this stinking heat?‖

As we know, Adam was not one to be questioned about anything he did. However, on

this occasion he was almost cordial, and that told me that he was in a desperate situation

and was angling for our help.

―They never dress like that, Amelia. They are used to pressure like this. The heat doesn't

bother them.‖

I didn't know then the real reason Adam had the children covered up, but I was to find

out later. He didn't want anyone to see to see the abnormal development of his children's

bodies. In the court documents I was to read, all the children were described as having

badly bowed legs. Medical doctors would explain that part of the reason for their

condition was because they had been confined to their play pen for days and weeks at a

time. They did not get the proper exercise and nourishment they needed to develop

normally, they reported.

―Hello, Susan. Hello, children,‖ I offered as I walked up to each one of them, and gave

them all a hug. There wasn't much of a response. Susan, carrying Katherine, murmured a

hello and tried to smile, I'll give her that. It was like they were waiting for orders from

Adam on what to do next.

Abbey arrived with Billy who was carrying Lucas.

―This is your new cousin, Lucas,‖ announced Adam. The children gathered around Lucas

and immediately began to smile and giggle as they fussed over him and then talked with

Abbey who was having a great time being with her cousins.

Darn it! This was how I had always wanted it, our cousins, siblings and spouses playing

together, getting along, being family and supporting one another. Suddenly, it was over.

―Okay, time to go. Everyone in the van,‖ ordered Adam.

We waved goodbye as we watched them go. I was sad. Where were they going? Their

future, what? No future, more likely. Lost souls, drifting rudderless into a world that

could be tough to navigate even for the best prepared children?

―He's in serious trouble, isn't he?‖ I said to Ma after I had walked back to the porch.

She nodded and sighed.

I kept telling myself for the rest of the day and all that night that ―I WILL NOT get

involved, I won't.‖ It was my mantra!

A couple of days later, Ma was home from the hospital. I was there, at her place with the

children. Abbey was sitting on the couch, cradling Lucas who was sound asleep.

―You told me the other day that Adam is in serious trouble. What's been going on, ma?‖ I

hated myself for asking, but I couldn't help it despite my mantra. I expected I would

come to regret the question, and I did.

• • •

Once again, Adam was homeless and living between his van and Ma's apartment.

―He's in trouble with the law!‖ said Ma. She was sitting, propped up by lots of pillows,

on the chair she sat in day in and day out, fiddling with the television constantly.