Chapter 6 Book 2

Chapter 6

The Long Road Home

Part 3

By 3:30, Shane arrived to take me outside. Pushing the wheelchair and Grandma helped me with my sneakers while the nurse unhooked my I.V. friend, letting Dad follow us asking Shane about my night terrors and this grueling schedule. Telling Dad, it's worse some days than others. Dad restating the word "worse?"

Shane helped me out of the wheelchair, putting his arm around my shoulder as we walked around the hospital twice before Dad said he was going to lie down before he fell down. We laughed and made two more laps and we headed for the pool. Grandma stopped by to pick up my trunks and allowed Shane time enough to change into his; leaving Dad snoring away as we tipped-toed out of the room.

Grandma watched Shane and I jump into the pool while she opened her novel. We swam for an hour and played, tossing the football that Shane had brought from home. Grandma dried me off and helped me into my boxers while Shane changed into some dry shorts with a clean white hospital towel around his bare shoulders; telling my "nurse" that he would walk me back to my room. While she left word at the desk that we were back.

Shane wasn't shy or embarrassed when it came to nurses, doctors, or hospitals. He didn't bother with a changing room or a bathroom, just changed into his clothes in the same room as me like it was no big deal. I, however, blushed, knowing Grandma was no ordinary nurse. Neither of us said anything. It didn't matter how old boys got we didn't have different parts with our plumbing outside but instead inside like our female counterparts. Grandma just grinned like it was no big deal. In a way, it really wasn't. I had lost count of how many times she had seen me, my brother, and the Downing boys naked, or how many times she had bathed us all.

Like I said before, it wasn't Shane's first rodeo. He was my brother, and that's all that mattered, and most importantly, he wasn't embarrassed about it, unlike what would have happened if it weren't for my grandma and my foster families. For if it was up to my parents, I would still wear an Eskimo suit.

Dad was still sound asleep when we arrived back. Shane shushed me as he went into the bathroom grabbed Dad's shaving cream, and carefully put it in his hair and palms of his hands and a small dab on his nose. Stood back and yelled, "Fire! The rooms on fire!" Dad quickly jumped to a start smearing shaving cream all over his face. Just in time as Bishop Lanwall walked into the room. Doubling over with laughter I saw Dad covered in shaving cream. Dad blinked a couple of times, grinning telling Shane, he just earned himself a little payback. Shane said. "Bring it on, Dad." Tossing him his towel from around his shoulders while he laughed himself silly and gave me a high five.

Dad cleaned himself off while Shane set up the table so we could all eat together, helping my nurse with our trays. Shane's eyes hit the ground when he saw the size of my portions, with three cartons of milk and two glasses of fruit punch. Compared to everyone else's one of each. Grandma said to make sure I ate every last bite. Bishop said the prayer knowing how strict Dad was when it came to praying every noon and night. Not even he was that strict, but wasn't worth angering the mighty giant. It was what it was.

Mom stopped by around eight while Shane and I were on our last lap for the day, pushing the envelope of twenty-two laps around the floor and four laps around the hospital. Telling Mom that we were on our way back to the pool and to see if Dad and Bishop Lanwall would care to join us. Mom leaned down to check my temperature, stating I was still warm, but not as hot as I had been, and my nurse agreed said. That pool was a much better solution where they could cool me down faster and I could get a little exercise as well.

Dad thought it was a great idea as he quickly changed into his trunks and grabbed Shane's football under his arm, grinning, reminding Shane the game was on. As we waited for Bishop Lanwall to join us. Mom didn't bring a suit, telling us there was no way she was putting this into a bathing suit. Pointing to her semi-round belly. The nurse told her lots of pregnant mothers find the pool refreshing. Taking the weight off the back and feet, and it was very good for the baby and its mother. Mom declined, saying maybe next time, providing if they could even find a suit to fit her.

We all walked down the hall as if we were all going to the beach for a family outing with towels over our shoulders. Mom laughed at me, and Shane jumped in doing cannon balls as Dad and Bishop Lanwall slid gently into the water. Grandma had taken off the bandages prior so they wouldn't float around grossly in the pool. Telling us not to drown anyone while housekeeping cleaned my room and if Bishop Lanwall would like a roll-away bed instead of an old hospital cot; now that we had a bigger room that could easily handle three beds. He said that would be more welcome than sleeping all night in a chair.

We were all excellent swimmers, and there were plenty of people to watch our backs, but the "nurse" told Mom if we needed anything, to just push the button on the wall near the door. Mom watched her leave as we frolicked in the pool. It was men against the boys Dad chasing Shane to take the football away as he tossed it to me, and Dad and Bishop Lanwall tried to take it to get back before I reached our goal line. Mom removed her shoes and nylon stockings and set a clean white hospital towel near the pool and soaked her feet, moaning about how good it felt. Cussing Dad and Shane for splashing water on her, while she tried to stay dry unsuccessfully.

When the nurses returned to check on us and bring a suit for Mom to use, Mom was almost soaked. Telling Dad he earned himself some payback. Quickly slipping into the changing room and into a hospital swimsuit, made for expecting mothers, yelling and warning us we better not laugh, handing her wet clothes to the nurse to stick in the dryer and slid into the pool moaning how good it felt. Quickly grabbing me by the waist tickling me, taking the football threw it to the other team, Shane telling her that was so unfair.

Dad blocked Shane long enough to grab me and put me on his shoulders. To make the teams a little more even with Mom taking her place next to Shane while Bishop, Lanwall tossed me the ball. Mom and Shane overpowered Dad with a tickle to his ribs letting me fall back into the water. Dad said that was cheating as Mom quickly dunked him under with Shane's help. While Bishop Lanwall quickly gained the advantage by placing me on his shoulders, he handed me the football as we raced to the finish line before Dad resurfaced and left Mom and Shane behind.

It was nearly ten before we made it back to my room. Mom was doing her best to dry her hair and carrying her shoes in the other hand. Telling us tomorrow night she and Shane are going to win back all the points she and Shane lost. Dad said, "Bring it on," giving me a knuckle bump. Mom kissed both me and Dad goodnight, letting him grab a quick, hot shower before leaving with Shane. While the nurse prepared me for bed with clean fresh bandages and hooked me up to my I.V. friend. Telling Dad that so far, my fever was almost normal and had been most of the day because of the pool. Dad gave me a knuckle bump and turned on the game. Leave it to Dad to find one as we each cracked open a small bag of chips and cold orange soda.

Dad was out like a light before the game ended as I listened to two bears sleeping in a cave. I knew it was going to be another long night when the night nurse forgot to give me my sleeping pill. It didn't matter if I slightly dozed. I still dreamed of my father beating the crap out of me in the accursed boiler-room as I woke up screaming at 2:30 in the morning. Dad once again held me while the memory washed over me. Knowing it was going to be another long day.

It was almost 6:00 am when I woke again laying there watching the sun brighten the sky having to push the button for the nurses, but got no answer, as I lay there waiting. In some ways, it was the best night's sleep I had gotten in a long time. Considering my fever hadn't spiked at all during the night.

Yet it didn't help that I needed to pee like a racehorse and didn't want to wake Dad. Bishop like me was a light sleeper as he quietly helped me out of bed. So, I could do my business, considering the hospital container was full. It happens sometimes with nurses; they forget that you're even there being busy with other patients. I didn't mind; I had all the help I needed right here in my room.

Bishop closed the bathroom door telling me that he would find out what was taking so long, being careful not to wake my Dad. I sat there in the bathroom for fifteen minutes before the nurse came in, saying that my buzzer must have been unplugged. I nodded if that was fine, asking me if I would like my bath now or after breakfast. Saying I would rather do a few laps first and see how it goes. Considering I wasn't running a fever for a change, just needed to pee really bad.

We let Dad sleep while I and the nurse walked the hall. Dad joined me when I had made my fourth lap, letting the nurse attend to other patients. Telling her he would bathe me seeing how busy they were. Her face paled but said I would be fine; hearing over the speakers call a cold blue while Dad and I watched a bunch of nurses quickly running into a room four rooms down from mine. We knew better to stay out of the way, but we stood there watching for fifteen minutes. But for me, it seemed like longer as I saw from the corner of my eye a bright white light and two people and one of them was Jeff. Then they were gone.

I didn't have to ask. I knew that someone had just died, and I felt the empty hole in my chest where Jeff had been and hurt, knowing he had left me to face the hardships alone. Without even glancing at me, he continued on. He was just gone, and I was alone holding my Dad's hand waiting for him turn back into a monster. Even though he was nothing like my father, who has never shown me love or any kindness. Mr. Rothwell had when he forgets that I am not another foster kid, but a real person who could easily be one of his own children. It was the monster in him that I feared the most.

Today was a good day as we ate a late breakfast and Dad helped me into the tub, letting me bathe myself as he carefully attended to my back, being careful not to break open the hard scabs as he dabbed them with soap. While I only flinched over the more tender spots as he used a soft cloth and drenching me with warm water instead of cold. He dried me off and dressed me in my shorts and socks and helped me roll over. He asked the nurse to show the wound care instructions, eagerly anticipating my potential discharge this weekend as long as my fever remains stable. The nurse allowed him to apply ointment carefully on the larger wounds, providing relief and promoting healing, while leaving the smaller ones uncovered to allow them to breathe. Telling him this needed to be done four times a day, minimum, and every time I was cooled or bathed each day.

Dad was gentle, and he was kind and he got to know me other than a thick incomplete file with my name on it. We would laugh together, and we prayed together. We would walk outside instead around the floor with his arms around me. Grandma smiled as she watched me closely, knowing there was very little. She could prevent me from going home with the Rothwells, spending less time as my nurse. Letting Dad attend to my needs as a father should.

In some ways, like me, she liked the Rothwells, but underneath were so many dark secrets. She promised me that she would make sure nothing happened to my brother Aaron; hugging me tight in our private moments alone in the bathroom, letting the world on the other side hide us in its shadow as we wiped our tears; trying hard not to say goodbye.

My fever dissipated as my wounds healed everything was looking good to going home on Friday. But Mom and Shane had a score to settle, bringing Kerry with her to even the teams. Bishop Lanwall said he had other business to attend to, meeting us on our way to the pool. Asking Dad if he could manage not to drown me and if everything went well as planned. That he would see me Sunday before for a sacrament meeting. Shirt or no shirt, telling Dad; God will understand if I couldn't wear one and would prefer that I didn't. Dad shook hands, resting his hands on my shoulders. Then told the girls to kick their butts; he'll be waiting to hear the score.

Mom and Kerry did just that, using several moves that should have been called as cheating. Tickling us every time one of us had the ball or grabbed us around the waist while the other person tickled us. I never knew Shane had a tickle spot that he would lose total control. Even Dad had one just under his fourth rib on his right side or right behind his ears. That trailed down his neck. When our time was up, Mom said that following Monday, we should all go to the pool for family home evening at American Fork High School and stop for ice cream on the way home. Dad said that seemed like a good idea as we walked back to my room. Dad stopped at the desk, telling them I was back, and we were ready to prepare for our last long night.