F Hemmingway - A family saga Volume Two

"Don…? Y-You…?" He was taken by surprise.

"Yeah… but that's not the juicy part… listen to this!" she said, gloatingly. "He's been b-banging Charity…!"

Gabe looked at her in consternation. Her eyes were pure venom as he gazed at her. He knew it was the truth; her only motive was revenge.

"You m-mean…?"

"I mean he's been…" She looked around; there were no students within earshot. "… Fucking her… is that plain enough?!"

"Christ!"

"You want to hear more… Dad…?"

"N-No!"

"Listen anyway!"

"That's enough, Marcy!" He turned away.

She persisted, following him, "Yesterday, Don and… another boy both had her… at the same time!"

Gabe had had all he could stand. "You're sure as hell not one to be telling tales…" he glowered. "How do you know all this?"

"The other boy told me… and last night… Don threatened both of us. He h-had a gun… too!"

"Yeah… so I hear!" he said dryly; then, "who was the other one?"

Marcy hesitated, not knowing whether to mention Ray's name or not.

"Well…?" he prodded. "What's his name?"

"Ray…"

"Ray… who?"

"D-Donahue…"

She turned and walked away from him, rapidly, as the buzzer sounded for the beginning of the third period. He watched her go, her lithe walk reminding him of the supple strength in her beautiful, curving torso… and he felt the throb in his loins, as he remembered her, the last time… wanton, passionate, exploding under him in ecstatic orgasm.

Damn her! She's a mean one… when she gets crossed!.. And, Don's had her, too? Her story about Don and Charity is damned hard to believe… but she must have been telling the truth… for only one reason… to get even with Don!

Thoughtfully, he walked toward the school office to ask for Charity's release from school. He knew the emergency warranted it… and after seeing Don in the hospital, there would be the rest of the day. He knew exactly how they would spend it. There was one thing that galled him: Don had had her first… But, hell… maybe I can use that little tale of Marcy's… That's it! Christ… its perfect!

Then, he was in the administrative unit asking to see Mr. Graves. Yes! This was going to be a very interesting day… after he had taken Charity with him to see Don.

"Wh-What happened… D-Don…?" Marcy asked, not wanting to break down.

"I flubbed it… trying to hit a liquor store… the guy shot me in the leg… but that's not important, Char… I was doing it, so I could get you away from here…"

"R-Robbery…? W-With a g-gun…"

"Yeah… it seemed like the only way to get some money, fast…"

"OOOoooh… D-Don…" she wailed. "I–I never w-wanted…"

"Like… come on, Sis… turn off the waterworks!" he choked. "The main thing is… it didn't work… so you'll have to split on your own…"

"I–I couldn't…"

"Damn it, Char you'll have to unless you want to stay and…" He offered, not finishing.

"Uuuugh! N-No…"

"Then split, now! Run like hell… hitchhike… try to make it to the communes in New Mexico! San Francisco's no place to go… stay away from there!" he went on, rapidly.

"Y-You mean r-right… n-now…?"

"Hell yes! Go out that door… and run… otherwise…"

"A-And leave y-you… here…?"

"Yes! Now, get going!" he snapped.

The determination on his face and the steeliness in his voice pushed her over the brink of decision. She knew she would have to do it. The alternatives, if she stayed, or hesitated were too much to contemplate. Suddenly, impulsively she leaned over and kissed him. "A-All right, D-Donnie… I'll g-go!"

"Split!"

His voice was like a starter's gun that galvanized her into action. She pushed through the door, and without a backward glance, walked rapidly down the corridor toward the main exit. Passing Gabe where he sat smoking, she increased her pace, knowing only that she had to gain the exit, the first door to her escape.

"Charity!" Gabe called. "Where're you going?"

Desperately, she broke into a run. Gabe jumped to his feet and pursued, catching her as she pushed through the big, plate glass door.

"Let m-me go!" she screamed, struggling to escape his grasp on her.

"You're not going anywhere!" he grated.

"OOOoooh!" Her wail was like that of a trapped animal.

The commotion brought several nurses to the scene.

"What seems to be wrong, Sir?" he was asked. Genuine concern was expressed.

"She's my daughter…" he panted. "Just been in to see… my son… all shot up in there! She just seemed to go to pieces completely hysterical…"

"Perhaps one of the doctors should see her?"

"No… she'll probably be all right… just needs to be calmed down…"

"A sedative would…"

That's it! Perfect! Christ… it's better than I'd hoped for! She just damned near ran out on me!

To the nurse, he said, "Yeah… maybe you're right… it'd calm her down…"

"N-NOOOoooo!" Charity screamed. "Y-You don't u-understand! I've got t-to get away…!"

"Yes… of course, my dear… just bring her this way, Sir… and I'll get one of the doctors to see her, right away!"

Then, she was half dragged into an examining room, her desperate struggles subdued and she sobbed to be taken to her brother. "I–I've got to s-see Donnie… you d-don't understand! Y-You don't u-understand…!"

A serious-faced young doctor diagnosed hysteria and ordered a sedative. Her hips was swabbed with alcohol, the needle pricked her… and she desperately wanted to tell someone — anyone — what a horrible mistake they were making, but who could she tell? Who would listen?

Dear God! There's nothing left… now! I'm… I'm t-trapped!

After a few minutes, she felt the euphoria of the drug working in her veins, relaxing her… making her drowsy… and she didn't want that! The feeling of absolute helplessness that swept over her left her feeling empty and alone. There was nothing she could do. The half-sleep drowsiness overtook her, vision and hearing were dimmed, but she was not asleep, yet. She wouldn't allow herself to go to sleep… not yet…not yet!

Gabe waited beside her, watching intently. There was plenty of time; he could wait. They would let him, the concerned father, take his daughter home, in an hour, perhaps. An hour would be a comparatively short time… compared to the weeks, months, years he had already waited. She must know that I found Dottie's letter… last night when I was blotto… and she and Don put me to bed! It was missing from my pocket…

Through a drug-induced haze of unreality, Charity felt herself being led to Gabe's old car, her legs obeying, automatically, but her mind was still, dimly, uncertainly, aware that what was happening to her was bizarre. She was, for all practical purposes, a prisoner, being led off to a cell from which there was no escape. The thought swept through her that she was as much of a captive as Donnie… and the ironic part was she had been reduced to this position by well-meaning people, the nurses and the doctor who had administered the potent sedative to her.

She balked at getting into the car, momentarily, but Gabe's strong hands forced her into the seat. "We're going home, sweetheart," he said, for the benefit of the nurse who accompanied them to the car. "Don't you understand…? We're going home, now… so you can get some rest!" He was all the concerned father, completely solicitous of her well-being.

"N-No… no…" she mumbled, "d-don't want t-to go h-home!"

"Everything will be all right… soon's you're tucked into your own bed…" It was the nurse smiling down at her with professional assurance.

Oh, NO! Her mind screamed it. You don't u-understand! You d-don't know… you couldn't kn-know… what you're sending me h-home to…!