Chapter 13
Pure Evil
I felt confident that Sunday and re-energized having spent the weekend with my mother and my brother. Every day I had worked hard practicing my talk and felt lucky to be given the chance to say a few words that meant a lot to me. I knew it was a rare opportunity for me to even be given the chance, considering I was just a foster kid and not part of the Rothwell family, but Shane insisted that I wasn't a foster kid, not any longer in his eyes. I was his brother as much as his three younger brothers Jared and Jason were as well as our baby brother Jonathon.
Shawn was no longer considered his brother, but a criminal that has destroyed our family. That he wasn't even allowed to be present and was home locked up inside my old room. Dad informed me that he had put me back with Shane, but in separate beds in my new room that would have been mine when Shane went on his mission, hoping to contain the situation. We all had our doubts if that would even work by taking the ringleader out of the picture, but my foster parents were at their wit's end. So, none of the bad boys who were here are considered family any longer.
I had chosen my talk on what it meant to have Shane as my brother, giving some funny stories we had done over the past two years and how close we had come, that God himself would say we were tied to the same knot. I felt lucky knowing I have had several brothers and sisters and as well as parents that I would count as my parents, but I also had some I wouldn't claim if the decision was up to me to include them in my life. My father, Jim, being one of them and most of my relatives that had never really been a part of my life, had chosen to ignore me and my brother Aaron while growing up.
I tried not to cry, but Shane really meant a lot to me, and I really hated to see him go. I knew when he came back after serving his two years, I wouldn't be living with the Rothwells. I would be facing the world on my own. So, in a way, I was saying goodbye as my heart ripped itself apart. Of course, I wasn't the only one who was sobbing by the time everyone gave their talk and piano solo from me and Kerry.
I was so focused on my talk and the solo piece I had chosen to play, I never noticed Officer Kenly's family and Bishop Earls until after the sacrament was over. They needed no introductions considering we all consider them family, but it was nice to have them here, regardless. Right away, Officer Kenly noticed Bishop Crawford and asked me to introduce them to him, but to did not indicate that he was a cop. However, I made the point to introduce Bishop Earl as my Bishop watching them eye each other as if it was a Mexican standoff. Almost immediately, they broke their handshake, watching Bishop Earl wipe his hand on his pants.
Bishop Crawford said. "So, you're Eric's Bishop. I wish I could say I am glad to meet you at last. Or that I am proud of his achievements which I have no doubt were ill-gained and not deserved, but I understand from the Rothwells feel differently what is going on. Nor haven't been allowed to speak to the boy alone or in private about his behavior, when it comes to doing things in his ward here.
"I find it quite disappointing that he refuses not to speak to me when I have invited him to clear his name before God and confess his crimes. Nor will he or Shane fellowship the other boys when it comes to projects or assignments that could better their and their parent's lives. Instead, they spit in my face and abuse the calling they have been given, every Sunday, spreading lies that disrupt the spirit from entering here and at home. To the point that the three boys Shawn, Danny, and Arthur, who I think highly of for all their good deeds and hard work. Are they no longer welcome here, or not allowed to be with family or friends that everyone is asking why?
"Yes, indeed, he is a disappointment, and now because of him and Shane, they have alienated the three boys that are not here on trump-up charges. I tell you if I had my way Shane would not be going on a mission. Instead, he and this problem this boy here was created would be brought up on charges and excommunicated. But the law and his caseworker and apparently you sir have a different opinion based on lies. And that so far has no proof that contradicts the truth these boys have been spreading in my ward. You should know sir I have written several letters to remove you from your office as Bishop. I look forward to the day when you are released and excommunicated for crimes against the church. Good day, may God strike you all down."
Bishop Earl placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled as if we were on a Sunday picnic said. "Well, that was one man that reeked with pure evil. If I didn't trust how Bishops are called, I would think he bought or bribed his seat as Bishop. You are right, son. I feel I need to take a shower after touching such a vile man. Yet today is not about taking on the giant or matching insults. Today is for Shane and how much you, your family, and God care for him and the good he will be doing, doing missionary work. But I promise you when the time comes, God will set things right and forsake this man for all the evil he is doing in his name. Now introduce me to this man I have spoken on the phone with several times. I would really like to meet Brother Sakes and your old scoutmaster Brother Niles."
The second Brother Sakes shook Bishop Earl's hand. It was like the room brightened, but when I blinked, it was gone, and they were both smiling. Something said more was going on, but Jeff wasn't here to tell me. But the spirit was so strong it made people gasp as they turned and looked in our direction. I saw fear, and I saw the joy in their eyes in the ones that had turned in our direction. It seemed as if time had stopped and sped up the second their hands parted.
It was the same when Brother Niles shook hands; I knew if I said anything that people would think I was crazy, but I tell you I had witnessed something so powerful that when I look at a new Bishop, I am among the first to shake their hand. Sometimes I find that light in their eyes and feel the spirit and at other times I don't, but it doesn't mean they are not good men it just means to me that I wait on the sidelines to see first what kind of deeds they do. Trust is earned, but when God or Jeff let me know, I can trust these men, I will do whatever they ask.
When I had met up with my mother and my brother, I felt drained, but in a good way. We didn't stay for the rest of the meetings after I had introduced my mother to all my friends she hadn't met at our group camp-out. Mom was shy mostly because Brother Sakes and Brother Niles didn't think real highly of my mother. Even after my mother apologized for her actions, they, like me, all thought it was an act. Warning her if it was, she would be the first one on their hit list if any harm came to me. Mom took it in stride, but I knew she was worried that my adult friends would make good on their threats and promised them that was never going to happen, having Bishop Earl and Officer Kenly back her up.
Personally, I was more concerned about my father doing me harm than my mother, having proven herself that she had changed and loved us more than words could say. I am not saying she was always perfect when it came to showing us affection, but neither did she alienate us or abuse us like she and my father used to do. I never had to defend myself from her after she made that binding contract and well into my adult life. My father and my sisters were the ones with whom I had to battle constantly.
Sometimes Mom would stand by and watch rather than interfere. Sad to say when my mother moved in with Susan, soon after her first child, we drifted apart, and more so when my parents dropped everything and moved to California. Our close relationship ended, and I knew my father and my sisters had something to do with it. Every time I tried to rekindle our relationship my father would demand that I leave. Even our phone calls stop to twice a year, to once a year. Except for the ones he and my sisters weren't aware of or secret visits, but even those became less and less, but I'll get into that and the reasons why later on.
My foster parents had invited us to supper after everyone who wasn't family or close friends with us had left with several of my double chocolate chip cookies. When people asked regarding the cameras, Dad simply said they are part of the security system stating that we had a break-in and several thefts and we had been vandalized several times being this far out that he installed them for our protection. When they asked about the bad boys, he would say they were currently visiting relatives out of State. Having to restate, Shawn was away at summer camp and wouldn't be back until after Shane entered the MTC. Shane stated that he and Shawn were never close, having to explain his reason for not being here or taking part in today's sacrament meeting. The rest of us knew the real reason, but why ruin a good day?
It was late by the time we got back, having Mom explain why we were gone and why we didn't attend church. My father growled that she should have told him beforehand so he wouldn't have to explain why we weren't in church. Mom growled back. "If he was home in the first place instead of cowering in some corner, she wouldn't need to explain anything." Earning her a slap across the face, having me step across the room in case my father wanted to go a few rounds. Instead, he backed away, yelling for us to get to bed, having Aaron leave the room so fast I thought his feet wouldn't touch the ground. I, on the other hand, I didn't move until Mom told me she would be alright, but the look in her eyes said differently, so I stayed nearby, but out of sight.
That's when the fighting broke out. I was there in two shakes of a lamb's tail, defending my mother against my father. Mom yelled for me to push the button, but instead, I took on the monster and ended the fight with him laid out on the floor gasping for breath and choking on the blood from his mouth and nose. Mom had to pull me off him before I killed him. The phone rang and four police cars pulled into the driveway, breaking the silence.
When I looked down at my watch, it was blinking. Somehow, during the fight, my father had torn the strap enough to break the wires; the first words out of my mouth were. "Mom, I didn't push it." Showing my watch band had been torn and crooked. Mom quickly opened the door while I grabbed the phone. Hearing Dad's voice demanding to know if he needed to come out there if I wasn't on the phone in two seconds, someone was going to die.
When Dad heard me, he sighed. I could almost see him slumping down into a chair. I gave him the quick rundown, telling him my watch activated when my father tried to tear it off my wrist. Officer Kenly didn't waste time telling Dad I was fine and hung up the phone, reached inside the drawer for a knife, and cut it off at the same moment, dialing in to cancel the alarm before more police cars showed up. Quickly took what was left of my watch and laid it on the counter and beat the crap out of it with his baton before answering the phone to cancel the alarm again.
It took us a minute to realize that he was dressed in a blue bathrobe and wearing pink fuzzy slippers; which caused me and Mom to laugh, having everyone else in the room turn around; and having him say "What?" making it even funnier. My father was the only one who didn't find it funny as he was handcuffed on the floor cursing the day I was born spitting blood onto the carpet. In some ways, I hated Santaquin because of how fast gossip flies in a small town, but I can say the police broke a new record. If I didn't know better, they took bets on how fast they made it to our house.
When they stood my father up, a small pin knife slipped out from underneath him, covered with blood. It was another officer who noticed that I was bleeding, pointing to my shirt where blood was seeping through. I gasped and quickly lifted my shirt, finding a small puncture wound just below my left kidney. If it had gone in deeper, my father could have killed me. When he noticed it, he smiled.
Mom kicked him so hard in the nuts that he fell to his knees. While Officer Kenly cursed, grabbed a dish towel, and told me to sit and hold it there. It was almost twenty minutes before I felt the pain, but for my mother's sake and my brother Aaron, I let on that it was just a scratch. It was almost an hour before everyone realized that my sisters were missing.
My father refused to answer where they were yelling. "A long away from you, bitch! And your immoral offspring!" Even though I hated my sisters, it didn't mean I would let anyone harm them. I had some hope they would come around, hope so small it was smaller than a grain of sand. I, on the other hand, knew if I died, they would mark it as a celebration. I stood and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, demanding to know where they were or I was going to rip his heart out. He told me to go straight to hell and spit in my face.
Even though I was injured, I slugged him so hard his breath left his body and came back with a second blow palm side out towards his chest and smiled when I heard a rib crack. I was about to break another when Officer Kenly stopped me, but I was fast and quick jumped in the air while my arms were pulled back behind me and kicked my legs and feet right into his chest, watching him fly thirty feet off the stairs onto the grass on his backside rearing up in pain and collapsing. Demanding once more to know where my sisters were, he coughed. More blood said. "Church house," and passed out cold, having the officer check to see if he had a pulse.
Mom knew my father would never harm them, so she attended to me first after finding out I hadn't killed my father, having mixed emotions, wishing I had and hoping I didn't. Even though I could wait for paramedics, I wasn't too serious just serious about needing stitches. Mom helped me to the car and broke the speed limit, passing the bus that was on route to see to my father's injuries. I kept telling her to slow down, but when I did, she put the pedal to the metal, plus it helped to have a police escort.
When the shock factor wore off, she was in tears, asking me why I didn't go to my room, telling me it should have been her. I squeezed Mom's hand as I waited for the nurse and the doctor. Telling her I promised that I wouldn't let my father hurt her. Having her hug me so tight I groaned and when I did, she cried even more. I was good as new after a quick nap while they x-rayed the wound and stitched it up. Telling Mom if it went three inches deeper, he would have punctured my kidney and could have died by the time they got to me.
Even though Officer Kenly was not happy that I came close to actually killing my father; he completely understood why and would have done the same thing if something happened to any of his children or his wife, but what I did didn't sit well when it came to defending myself when my father was already in handcuffs and unable to defend his self. Even my caseworker didn't feel that I was justified enough, but under different circumstances. I would have spent a week to a month in Juivey, instead, I was given community service of eighty hours and had to pay five percent of my father's hospital bill; telling me I was getting off easy.
My foster parents and my mother, on the other hand, felt differently stating I should have killed him and for nearly killing me. So, my sentence was reduced to forty hours and a hundred-dollar fine, which Dad paid. Telling them if it happens again, I better kill the bastard, but to make damn sure it was a fair fight, or he would personally tan my hide.
When they found my sisters, they were snug as a bugs in sleeping bags in one of the classrooms on the upper floor. With their suitcase packed and two bus tickets to Nebraska. It was obvious that my father intended to kill us and slip out of the State before anyone noticed we were dead. Yet once more he underestimated me and how fast the police would arrive at the door before he could have gotten away with it. Just because I no longer competed didn't mean I still worked out. My wound was quickly stitched up and having only to spend one night in the hospital, but I would be sore for days.
On the other hand, my father wasn't so lucky being handcuffed to the bed with four cracked ribs and a very sore jaw, and several bruises that made him look like a rainbow. Even his nuts would need ice for several days and would be peeing into a bag. Mom told him before we left him there to wallow in self-pity that he got off easy; asking him, "Who's smiling now?" If it wasn't for me stopping her, she would have slapped his face.
Telling her "he's not worth it, Mom. Besides, if you do it, you know they would terminate my visit." Then I leaned over and said loud enough for just for us to hear. "Touch us again. I will end you." Reached down and squeezed his hand in a vise so hard his eyes bulged. When he looked down at his hand after I had removed it, there was blood where I had jabbed him with a needle the size of a small safety pin that went halfway in. I smiled. "Small holes can hurt like a bitch." I turned around and grabbed Mom and left. Leaving the safety pin in the palm of his hand. I had no doubt when the nurse came in that they would think we did it, but I also knew most likely I would get away with it. Considering the safety pin came off him and they would need proof that I didn't do it.