Chapter 11-2 Book 7

Chapter 11-2

Arthur's Big Day

Part 3

Stringham nudged me, asking me if my friend Jeff was going to help. As always, I shrugged my shoulders and said. "He says he is, but so far he hasn't made an appearance all morning or last night."

Stringham said. "Well, we didn't need him last night, but he hasn't let us down so far." I nodded and closed my eyes as Rhoda changed places with Stringham and took my hand. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, asking me what I was thinking about.

I whispered. "Thinking how good you looked naked beside me last night."

I noticed her blush and squeezed her hand, saying, "That, and how my mother and grandmother are going to react once they see me with two of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. They are both marrying me for the second time in the same week. Then there is my husband Eli, who is going to floor them into a stuttering mess of words. He flashes his devilish smile and green eyes that make you want to melt into a puddle. But the best part will be when they find out that you're pregnant with my child. That will surely put them all into a fit. They will ask, 'How? When? How could you?' My sister Susan will most likely say, 'I told you it was going to happen,' while Becky, on the other hand, I am not so sure how she will react to the news. But most likely, she won't say anything, considering the fact that, in some ways, we have come to an understanding and have a truce between us. They will forget all about my disguise as Nate Carrion because they will be blown away by yours and Jackie's beautiful bodies and my very handsome husband Eli that would give every boy and man a serious hard-on when they see them naked for the first time, even Arthur here."

Arthur growled. "I hate you, women or nothing but whor―"

Watching his eyes light up as he gritted his teeth from Dr. Sar's bracelet, said, "Arthur, I am not going to tell you again to behave. He only asked you a question. Do you get a hard-on seeing his two beautiful wives and husband naked?"

Arthur scowled. "No, I do not."

She said. "Now, was that so hard? Now once we get to where we are going, you're going to behave and you're going to be polite. Actually, I would like you to. It would be best if you did so on your own, but if you don't well, let's just say you won't like what they will do to you there.

"I won't be there to guide you; it will be up to them, and you, how you get along. No more of this Mormo this and Mormo that. They just simply don't care what you say because they know you have been tricked into saying that. If you're a good boy and learn to obey, you'll be treated fairly. You might even get to come home and be with your family. But if not well, that's up to you. No God of yours is going to help you. Pray all you want … chant silly things, begging some demon to help you will get you nowhere. In time, you will realize that your Rothwell parents are just trying to help you, and they really do love you. I know you don't think so, but not everyone gets the care that you're going to get. So, make the best of it. Oh, look here we are. You would think you were living here as a king? Look how big it is."

Normally Landon would have driven us, but he had places to be like taking my mermaids shopping and making sure someone picked up my mother and the dreaded Paul and his family and my friends from Santaquin. I could only imagine Landon running around with his head cut off. Then again, he most likely had everything under control like he always does. I made a mental note to make sure I gave him a tip, a nice big tip. I didn't know the driver, and it wasn't all that important as I watched him help everyone out as Stringham and Dad quickly assembled my ride. I don't know why he bothered considering I could walk, but they insisted. For now, I was playing myself, so I thought.

Mr. Stringham introduced us as Mr. and Mr. Carrion and their son Nate and Arthur Carrion. Which surprised me because his last name was Millet. Arthur, however, made it known that his last name wasn't Carrion, but Millet, Dr. Sars laughed. "Of course it is dear, don't you remember Mr. and Mrs. Carrion adopting you, silly, silly boy? How forgetful he gets sometimes. I am Mrs. Dr. Roberta Sars … well, until tomorrow, it will be Dr. Roberta Stringham. If you haven't heard, I am getting married tomorrow. I have been Arthur's therapist for a while now, so I have all his paperwork."

She quickly handed a large thick folder and laughed. "I wasn't sure … Now, where did I put … here it is," pulling a large silver briefcase out of the car. How could she miss it, considering she was practically glued to it all the way over? She quickly put it in my lap, telling me to make myself useful. Tony sent Jenny and the girls to go look at wedding dresses. While Eli followed Tony and me, telling Jenny we would meet up at the dress shop around eleven unless we called. If not, wait at the restaurant where we were having lunch.

Jenny reminded him; "If you're not there by noon, I am coming to look for you." He waved as we walked up to the stairs as I took the scenic route, very glad my ride did all the work. Jenny yelled out the window. "Don't you dare stand me up, Tony? I have been waiting a very long time for this!"

Stringham said. "Women and their punctuality." Causing Dr. Sars to turn her head towards him as he quickly covered it with a beaming smile. "Which is one of the many wonderful qualities about you dear?" taking her hand and kissing it said. "Man, it's cold in here. Are you sure you have the heat on?" Which gave me a heads-up to start looking. As usual, Jeff wasn't around, but I pretended everything was fine and began noticing any oddities.

It was at that moment that I realized that I had neglected to shake hands with any individuals. How stupid could I be? With a burst of speed, I hurriedly approached them, executed a sharp turn, and compelled them to stop as I spoke. "Hi, I am Nate, Carrion, and I am Arthur's brother." Sticking out my hand the moment my hand touched theirs. My mind went wacky. As I saw the most horrible things, this person in front of me has ever done to the people she was supposed to be taking care of. I shook my head, trying to clear it, letting my eyes fall to her wrist, and bingo there it was, but this time there were symbols around the marking. Ok, that was interesting, it was even more different from the ones I had seen on The Good Doctor, Doctor Hayes. I looked into her eyes as they narrowed on me, asking me if I needed anything. I said. "Not from you, I don't!" I quickly backed up in my wheelchair and then took off, going as fast as my wheelchair would allow.

Tony said. "I apologize for my friend's rudeness. Do you mind if he and I look around a bit? That way, he won't disturb you. He has been a little ADHD ever since the car accident. I am Tony, by the way." He shook her hand, pretending not to notice her wrist. She said. "Please do. Maybe you might consider having Nate spend a few days with us."

Eli said. "Sorry, but he's getting married tomorrow," showing her the clipping in the paper and said. "My name is Eli," shaking her hand as he noticed the marking and quickly backed away and said. "I think I'll join them and raid the vending machine. If you could tell me where your cafeteria is." She pointed to the right and down the stairs.

Stringham fell back as we watched them go down the hall. Eli leaned in like it was a football huddle and said. "Well, I guess that means we are in very big trouble here boys, because you just met a very bad person. They are known as, a witch second on a pyramid of bad people. Even my father steps lightly around them. If there is one, there are more. If I were you, I'd rethink of putting Arthur here."

Stringham looked at me, and I nodded. "Very, very bad. They keep a dungeon of nice toys for the kiddies to play with here."

Stringham said as he asked. "Do you know where it is?" I shook my head no, and I cringed. "I would need Jeff to show me. Man, this ring packs a punch." Stringham asked Tony if he felt anything.

Tony shook his head and so did Stringham, Eli said. "Tony and I noticed the markings on her wrist; if your friend is right, we need to stop Arthur from being placed here."

Intrigued by our conversation, Dad returned to find out what we were talking about, and we gladly filled him in., he halted and inquired. "Are you sure?" Every one of us in the group nodded in agreement. He said. "Holy shit! How do we get out of here?"

Stringham said. "We don't. We have to locate if there is more or just her, but if Eli is right, we just found ourselves a nest of bad. Damn, I was really looking forward to a nice weekend; you are sure, absolutely sure?" He said as he looked at me.

I said. "Of course not, but if you saw what I saw and felt what I felt. You would be peeing your pants. Then again, this ring could be doing all kinds of voodoo hoo-do to me. Jeff, where in the hell are you?" I jumped when he sprung up behind me. I wanted to smack the hell out of him. I didn't bother linking, I said out loud. "Jeff, do your damn job like you promised us."

He leaned up against the wall like he had all day. I said, so they all heard me. "Ok, what do you want, Jeff?"

Jeff said. "Nothing much, just a little respect, a pat on the back every once in a while. How about Mr. Stringham going to church on Sunday, all three meetings, and?" He rubbed his chin, pausing as I had everyone looking at me like a Thanksgiving turkey. "Oh, you are waiting on little old me? Fine. Tell the old buzzard to empty his stash of cigars and that case of hooch he is saving for after his baptism tomorrow and I'll tell you everything you need to know."

I cringed as I repeated everything Jeff said, watching Stringham's face pale asking. "How? What? When he?"

I just shrugged my shoulders. Stringham said. "Fine! And it was one cigar, just one little … never mind." We headed for the cafeteria as Jeff snooped, and I pulled out a notebook and waited. We only ate or drank anything sealed in a can, and even then, we questioned it. Once I had gotten comfortable, I said. "Ok, Jeff let'er rip." Jeff filled me in as I drew lines and outlined the entire place. Once I was done, I tore out the pages and handed them to Tony and Stringham with exact numbers and locations, of people and hidden rooms that Jeff could see. I marked an X that was covered with hidden spells he couldn't go near.

Dad smiled. "Doesn't it just make you want to kiss him?"

Eli said. "Don't mind if I do," and laid a big fat one on me, taking my breath away when Mom, Dr. Sars, and Arthur came in to find us, needing Dad's signature and the check. The nurse slash witch gasped when Eli was kissing me; showing once again that they didn't believe in the soft and cuddly stuff.

Mom said. "It's alright, they are getting married tomorrow. He's Nate's husband."

She said. "Oh, I didn't know that. I didn't see the ring on his finger."

Mom said. "It's being re-maid for the wedding tomorrow. We are having the civil wedding for our non-members and family and the other the following Sunday." Stating she and Dr. Sars noticed the marking on each other's wrists, showing we belonged to the Satanic Church as I watched her slip something into her purse that looked like building plans.

She said. "I see; well, I just need your husband to sign and his tuition payment, and then we'll be all set."

Dad said. "O' didn't my wife and Dr. Sars tell you? We are just window-shopping for schools today. We will be making our final decision sometime next week, but what I heard so far is your number one on our list." Dad got up and shook her hand and waited for her to hand back Arthur's file. She gave me a hard look that said if only I could get you behind these walls, you would be mine. She quickly smiled, keeping her voice pleasant but stern. "Then I will be waiting for your call. I think we can help both your sons here."

I said. "Yes, you would like that wouldn't you, you big ugly― bitch―"

Tony slapped me across the face before I could say a big o nasty word said. "Apologize to the nice lady Nathan; you were being quite rude. I warned you about your tongue around the ladies. Sometimes he really tries our patients. Every school we try doesn't seem to help our little Nate. Go on, apologize, then make sure you keep a leash on your tongue, or there won't be any presents when the Great Pumpkin comes for Halloween."

Tony leaned in said as he whispered with his hand covering his mouth. "Ever since he watched, it's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. He thinks he is going to get presents just like at Christmas. He still believes in the tooth fairy and Easter bunny, so we humor him around the holidays ever since the car accident. He's like a little kid all over again. Sometimes, other times, he acts more like an adult than his parents have raised him to be. The Doctors say part of his mind has been scrambled a bit, but every day is a new adventure with our Nate, never knowing which switch has been flipped."

I quickly grinned as I spun around and around in circles like a crazy person. "Nate likes presents … lots and lots of presents." I drove up next to her, approached her, and extended my hand for a handshake. After she executed her move, I rapidly evaded and promptly expressed myself. "Sike … I am sorry pretty lady that you look like a big fat toad. Catch me if you can … wee."

I put it in high gear as Tony ran after me, cursing my name and yelling. "You get back here you little brat! When we get home! I am going to tan that little hide of yours.!"

I giggled into a high scream. "Not if you can't catch me!" As I vanished out of sight around the corner, I eagerly waited for the rest of the group to catch up, observing them gasping for breath as they hurriedly chased after me. Meanwhile, Dr. Sars was practically pulling Arthur along, while poor Arthur seemed bewildered, desperately attempting to make sense of the unexpected events that had just occurred moments ago.

Stringham found a pay phone and called back the limo and told us to pick us up three blocks from the school as Dad and Tony quickly explained what the hell had just happened back there. Arthur said. "Mom, I really liked that school. The nice lady said we could play all kinds of games, and I would have my own room and never have to see you again. I want to go back."

Mom grabbed his arm and said. "No, Arthur, it's a lie. There are no games, and the room they were really going to put you in was full of naked women wanting to have sex with you." She said that knowing how much he hates women and having sex with them. Personally, it sounded fun, if I could have all that. Then again, I already did.

Dad said. "Now what, Stringham?"

He said. "I don't know. I wasn't counting on that. Then again, it makes perfectly good sense; the best place to hide something that you don't want anyone to look at is in plain sight. With a downtown Mormon highway and Catholic Church right in the same damn town. Now where in the hell is our ride? It's freezing out here. I swear the moment I walked inside there, the temperature dropped 25 degrees. And I need a damn map.

"That's it I am … well, it's about damn time." Our limo pulled up at the curb Stringham asked. "What in the hell took you so long? And turn up the damn heat. I am wearing four pairs of long Johns and a sweater, and my big heavy coat and I am still cold. Tell your friend I do respect him. If I could give him a salary that he could spend, I would double it in a heartbeat. But next time he better be Johnny on the spot, or I'll kill myself, just so I can wring his bloody neck off his ghostly shoulders. Are you deaf up there? Turn up the damn heat!"