Chapter 21-1 Book 2

Chapter 21-1

Facing The Monsters

Part 2

Even though I had to spend a little over forty-eight hours in the hospital to ensure that my injuries didn't get infected, but mostly Mom and Dad wanted to make sure that I didn't develop a high fever or have storm class episode like the last time I had come face to face with my parents. I was cool with that. I didn't even put up a fuss when I saw the nurse come in to draw my blood.

Well maybe a small one, but they knew from experience to expect a fight or simply sedate me before they went to work on me. The watch was hanging by a thread and mostly ruined. It was still blinking stating I needed help even though it didn't register a signal. Dad sighed and just cut it off said he would send the bill to my parents. I smiled as he placed it into his pocket so they could patch me up.

Mom nearly had a heart attack when she saw me completely naked behind a curtain for my privacy covered in blood from head to toe, but she was also proud as punch, hugging the stuffing out of me. Turning me completely around so she could see every scratch, bruise, and the seven stripes. It didn't matter that I smelled rank from the water in the ditch or I was absolutely filthy as if I had rolled in the mud mixed in with the blood, and clumps of dirt, and weeds in my hair.

Dad simply said. "My little Tiger was the most ferocious tiger he had ever seen." Telling Mom how by the time they got there. My parents knew they messed with the wrong boy, stating it with the biggest grin on his face, how they had to be carried away on a stretcher as I simply walked away. Dad didn't complain about the blood that would never come out of his clothes. Mom didn't either, they were just happy I was just alive. I simply closed my eyes and laid down on the gurney stating I was ready for a long nap. I barely even felt the needle of the I.V. go in, just took deep breaths, and relaxed letting them sedate me and Mom placed a warm blanket on me and kissed me on my filthy cheek.

When I woke up hours later, Shane had made himself comfortable in the bed next to me stripped down to his boxers, watching TV with an orange soda in one hand and a big bag of chips in the other. Dad was in the hall speaking with the doctor and my grandmother. Shane said. "Bro, you stink like something that crawled up and died." I laughed then groaned feeling every cut, stitch, and bruise. They had washed the biggest share of the blood and dirt off me, but Shane was right I did stink, and I was good with that too.

Grandma and Dad must have heard us as they came in with my brother right behind him. Aaron leaped onto the bed and hugged me said: "Pee-u, you stink worse than me." All it did was make me and Shane laugh even harder.

Dad took a seat next to me and then slid closer to Shane because I really did stink. Asking "Who's winning," opened a can of soda and took off his shoes and socks stretched out his long legs while the nurse rolled in the roll-away bed.

Dad told Grandma. "He's all yours, but please save some hot water for me." I grinned from ear to ear letting Grandma walk me to the tub with my best friend Mr. I.V. The nurse asked if I would like a gown and I simply growled and walked across the room the rest of the way. Shane stated that I really do have a cute butt and Dad second it giving Shane a fist bump. Grandma slapped it gently stating that it was all hers.

When I was satisfactorily clean, Mom came in and helped me on with my boxers, while Grandma finished drying my hair. I grinned from ear to ear seeing the brown dark water and the ring around the tub. Mom gave me several kisses telling me once more how proud she was and that she loved me. I hugged her back and kissed her cheek. Saying I loved her too.

Some monsters you can hate, but you can also love the same monster too. She didn't complain regarding my clothes that I left lying in an empty field. Clothes can be replaced, but people can't, especially the ones that you love. They will never be the Downings, but for now, they were the closest thing I could have as parents who sometimes love you and other times they won't. It's better to have some love than none at all.

It wasn't the last time we heard from my parents when my new caseworker number seven. The one that I remember most was Mr. Eliot Evens. When he arrived at the hospital handing a summons to report to Family Court in two weeks, my parents had brought up charges against me and the Rothwells in the sum of 250,000 dollars, for pain and suffering and medical expenses, and charging me for indecent exposure, and them unlawful monitoring of a minor without their consent. After finding out that the Rothwells had placed a monitoring device on me to track my whereabouts. That alerted the police and him to come to my rescue and other trumped-up charges. Dad simply ripped it up said. "In their dreams." Called in his own lawyer to represent me and the family.

I had learned that after the incident of the home visit that my last caseworker was fired for misrepresentation of a minor, providing drugs without an authorized prescription and consent from the Rothwells and my doctor. I wish I could say I felt sorry about Mr. Ding Bat, but I don't.

Mr. Evens was top drawer when came to social services. He reminded me of J. Wellington Wimpy. Generally referred to as Wimpy is one of the characters in the long-running comic strip of Popeye. Simply put the guy that loved hamburgers. With three strands of black hair sticking at the top of his head and a round his oval head. With a round body matching his short legs. Wearing a three-piece suit, dark brown eyes with long thick eyebrows, and a handlebar mustache. A very likable and book-smart person.

Aaron was sent to live with my grandmother and my Aunt Lizzy. My sisters were split up and sent to other relatives in another state until the Family Court could decide what to do about my parents. Without witness and very little proof regarding the fight, or the injuries on both me and Aaron and them. The police at the scene of the so-called fight found the knife, rope, and the cattle prod with both their fingerprints on it.

The clothing was tagged as evidence containing both my parents' DNA by their own blood. Confirming they had stripped me causing me to therefore to be indecent by their own hands. No other witness came forward to prove that it was indeed indecent exposure, so the Judge dismissed it. Stating they were my parents, it didn't count as being naked in front of them.

All the charges were dropped against me and the Rothwells, but in my parent's eyes, I was a force to be reckoned with. I knew sooner or later they would seek revenge and a rematch. I was released Monday afternoon with a total of ten stitches, everything else was superficial. Compared to the long list of injuries of my parents, it was almost laughable in comparison. Personally, Dad and I thought they completely deserved it and more.