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murielleSurvivor 2020
Individual Immunity Challenge 8: Making Fire
Anne knelt in front of the fireplace and tried to remember what she knew about building a fire.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw the snow through the window, it was really coming down, great big fluffy flakes, her favorite kind, but they were falling fast and as the wind blew them against the glass, she almost believed she could hear them hitting the pane. Mini was sound asleep on the sofa, curled up and snoring softly. Her wheels were parked on the rug beneath where she lay. Her eyes flicked under her lids and her little front paws batted at nothing. Anne wondered what she was dreaming about. Running? Chasing something that smelled good like the kitchen?
From a pile, by the back door, she’d helped herself to some outdated local flyers that she rolled up into thin straws and twisted and knotted then stacked under the grate. When she had a nice little heap she started to place kindling on top of them. She lit a match and watched nervously as it caught and burned. One by one she added more kindling, bigger bits of wood, and waited, holding her breath until the flames began to lick at the logs stacked neatly on the grate. Her patience was rewarded by the sound of crackling and the smell of wood burning.
Success, she thought as she leaned back on her heels. For a minute or two, she watched the now healthy flames flicking across the length of the logs. She gazed into them with a puzzled expression on her face. Never in her life had she ever been able to see all the things others claimed to see in the fire. It was a mystery to her. For years she’d believed her family and friends didn’t really see anything at all and only told her they did to torture her. Later, married, and camping with Ron, he would patiently show her every shape he saw, and she almost saw what he pointed to because she loved him and so wanted to share this with him, but even for her husband, she couldn’t see knights on horses, or windmills, or waterfalls, or a fifty-seven Chevy. Clouds were different, she could watch the skies all day and never tire of the creatures and creations they revealed. But fire? No. Not at all.
She shrugged and laughed as she got to her feet. Dinner was almost ready and Herb would be pulling into the driveway any minute. Only four weeks had gone by since the break-in, and yet, her life had settled into a welcome, gentle rhythm of routine and accomplishment. Friday nights he kept the store open late and she would drop by, pick up Mini, and have dinner waiting for him when he got home. It was such a treat for her to cook and their time together was always enjoyable.
This Friday was a special one. It was the first time since the break-in that Herb was going to talk with his grandson and she knew he was anxious. She understood what it took for him to send his only grandchild away, and what it cost his relationship with his daughter, Hannah.
~~~
Try as she might, she was never able to wipe from her memory the look of outrage and disappointment on Herb’s face when he saw young Teddy standing at the top of the stairs wicked glee etched on his own face as he told his pals about defecating into one of the garbage bags. She couldn’t erase the expression on Herb’s face from her mind any more than she could forget her own feelings of revulsion.
Herb moved fast. Faster than she would have believed possible, faster than Teddy, because just as the boy was about to bolt, though where he was heading she couldn’t imagine, Herb had him by the scruff of the neck.
Turning to the policemen, he said, “this boy’s got a mess to clean up, and then he’s all yours.”
Both men turned away, but she could see they were laughing, so too, were Derek and the tall boy. All she felt was relief that she wouldn’t have to face it.
“Should he be doing that? I mean, is it evidence?”
The officer who’d spoken to her before cleared his throat, “Oh, I think that’ll be okay. Andy, get some pictures of this mess, would you? Looks like we’re going to have some paperwork to do when we get back.”
Andy walked over to one of the vehicles and returned with a digital camera and began taking pictures of the garage, the boys, and the mess.
“Hey! I want my phone call!” Derek hollered.
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“We’ll talk about that when you’re back at the station. First, I’m placing you under arrest for breaking 'n' entering, vandalism, and anything else I can think of. Then I’m calling your father…”
“No man! Call my mother!”
“No. I’m calling your father. In fact, I’m going to call him as soon as I’ve read you your rights.”
And that’s just what he did, first Derek, and then the other boy she found out later was called Joshua Bear.
Herb brought Teddy back and shoved him hard toward the police.
“Lock him up and throw away the key.”
Andy led Teddy out to the car and they could all hear him telling the boy, “You have the right…”
Herb sighed. So deeply it seemed he exhaled a dozen years from his life. He looked tired. He looked old.
“Can you keep him for a few days? I’m going to try to get him into that military school I threatened him with the last time he screwed up.”
“Will Hannah go along with that?”
“Yes, she agreed after the last time, if he did anything like that again he’d be sent away. It’s gone on for too long. Too many excuses, too many allowances, it’s time for him to grow up.”
“We’ll keep them all in over the holiday. Hard to get anything moving this time of year, especially with our limited resources, but after that...”
“I know. He’s our problem.”
“He’s just a kid. I don’t want to see him in juvie.”
They watched together as the two patrol cars drove off and then she tucked her arm in Herb’s.
“Let’s leave this till the morning, shall we? I think we could both use a drink and then I’ll leave you to…”
“You don’t have to leave, you know.”
“Well, yes, I do, but I want to see you settled and then I’ll go back to the motel. And you’ll be open tomorrow no doubt.”
“Oh crap! Everyone will know. I don't want to deal with all that. I’ll call Jeff and tell him he’s on his own tomorrow. He can bring in his brother if he wants.”
The ride home was quiet after Herb made the call. Apparently, Jeff and his brother would be happy to take charge of things and, of course, he knew all about the break-in.
The military school didn’t happen. Couldn’t happen. There was protocol and their semesters were different, besides they were full and…
“They don’t want him.”
Herb had made the call as soon as they got back to his home. A friend of his from the army who was on the board or something, she didn’t quite catch it all.
“What am I going to do?” he muttered.
“Well, there’s always Outward and Onward.”
“What? Sounds like a hymn or something.”
Anne took a deep breath.
“During one of his sober times, Ron volunteered with a kind of outward bound school for troubled boys. Way up in the mountains, run by someone from a church we attended for a while, who was an ex-cop, phycologist, and outdoors enthusiast, and his wife who was a teacher. They started this school for delinquents and have had great success. They have very strict rules, not just for the boys, but for their families, but they are good. A lot of the kids grow up and go back and become teachers or volunteers. It was even great for Ron while he was there and willing to stay sober.”
“I need to know more.”
“Of course,” she took out her phone and when she had the number handed it to Herb. “His name is Stephen.”
“I can use your name?”
“Of course.”
~~~
Four weeks ago, Herb had met Stephen and another man at the police station the morning after the break-in and watched as they loaded the boy into their van and headed off down the road.
They didn’t speak about it much, but she knew that he was looking forward to talking to the boy today.
Mini began to bark as soon as Herb pulled up and Anne raced to get her wheels on so she could dash to the door to greet him. One look at his face when he came in the door told her all she needed to know about how the phone call had gone. He was ashen and grim.
“Look, should I just go? You look like you could use a night off.”
“No. Stay. I’m fine. He’s one angry little guy. I’ve never heard language like that from...anyone. They cut him off after just a few seconds and told him he’d be on restriction for another four weeks. I heard him screaming obscenities as they led him off.”
He sighed. “Did I do the right thing? I was so sure after talking to Stephen. He said he’d call later and fill me in, but I don’t know. Should I bring Ted home?”
Anne wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Let’s have supper and then we’ll have a good talk about it. Nothing is written in stone, Herb. You’ll do what’s best for your boy.”
“I’ll be right in, just going to wash-up first.” He gave her a pat on her fanny as he headed off to his room.
In the kitchen, she took the roast from the crockpot and set it on a platter, then arranged all the roasted vegetables around it. She placed it in the center of the table, retrieved the salad from the fridge, as well as a bottle of Herb’s favorite ale. She was satisfied. Everything looked fine.
They’d get through this, she told herself. They’d figure it out together. Maybe Hannah could come over for dessert and…
Mini started barking.
“Mini what’s wrong? Do you want out?”
But she knew that wasn’t it. She knew because she was running and pulling out her phone as she ran and she didn’t stop running until she came to Herb, lying on the floor in the bathroom clutching his chest.
To be continued…
Individual Immunity Challenge 8: Making Fire
Anne knelt in front of the fireplace and tried to remember what she knew about building a fire.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw the snow through the window, it was really coming down, great big fluffy flakes, her favorite kind, but they were falling fast and as the wind blew them against the glass, she almost believed she could hear them hitting the pane. Mini was sound asleep on the sofa, curled up and snoring softly. Her wheels were parked on the rug beneath where she lay. Her eyes flicked under her lids and her little front paws batted at nothing. Anne wondered what she was dreaming about. Running? Chasing something that smelled good like the kitchen?
From a pile, by the back door, she’d helped herself to some outdated local flyers that she rolled up into thin straws and twisted and knotted then stacked under the grate. When she had a nice little heap she started to place kindling on top of them. She lit a match and watched nervously as it caught and burned. One by one she added more kindling, bigger bits of wood, and waited, holding her breath until the flames began to lick at the logs stacked neatly on the grate. Her patience was rewarded by the sound of crackling and the smell of wood burning.
Success, she thought as she leaned back on her heels. For a minute or two, she watched the now healthy flames flicking across the length of the logs. She gazed into them with a puzzled expression on her face. Never in her life had she ever been able to see all the things others claimed to see in the fire. It was a mystery to her. For years she’d believed her family and friends didn’t really see anything at all and only told her they did to torture her. Later, married, and camping with Ron, he would patiently show her every shape he saw, and she almost saw what he pointed to because she loved him and so wanted to share this with him, but even for her husband, she couldn’t see knights on horses, or windmills, or waterfalls, or a fifty-seven Chevy. Clouds were different, she could watch the skies all day and never tire of the creatures and creations they revealed. But fire? No. Not at all.
She shrugged and laughed as she got to her feet. Dinner was almost ready and Herb would be pulling into the driveway any minute. Only four weeks had gone by since the break-in, and yet, her life had settled into a welcome, gentle rhythm of routine and accomplishment. Friday nights he kept the store open late and she would drop by, pick up Mini, and have dinner waiting for him when he got home. It was such a treat for her to cook and their time together was always enjoyable.
This Friday was a special one. It was the first time since the break-in that Herb was going to talk with his grandson and she knew he was anxious. She understood what it took for him to send his only grandchild away, and what it cost his relationship with his daughter, Hannah.
~~~
Try as she might, she was never able to wipe from her memory the look of outrage and disappointment on Herb’s face when he saw young Teddy standing at the top of the stairs wicked glee etched on his own face as he told his pals about defecating into one of the garbage bags. She couldn’t erase the expression on Herb’s face from her mind any more than she could forget her own feelings of revulsion.
Herb moved fast. Faster than she would have believed possible, faster than Teddy, because just as the boy was about to bolt, though where he was heading she couldn’t imagine, Herb had him by the scruff of the neck.
Turning to the policemen, he said, “this boy’s got a mess to clean up, and then he’s all yours.”
Both men turned away, but she could see they were laughing, so too, were Derek and the tall boy. All she felt was relief that she wouldn’t have to face it.
“Should he be doing that? I mean, is it evidence?”
The officer who’d spoken to her before cleared his throat, “Oh, I think that’ll be okay. Andy, get some pictures of this mess, would you? Looks like we’re going to have some paperwork to do when we get back.”
Andy walked over to one of the vehicles and returned with a digital camera and began taking pictures of the garage, the boys, and the mess.
“Hey! I want my phone call!” Derek hollered.
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“We’ll talk about that when you’re back at the station. First, I’m placing you under arrest for breaking 'n' entering, vandalism, and anything else I can think of. Then I’m calling your father…”
“No man! Call my mother!”
“No. I’m calling your father. In fact, I’m going to call him as soon as I’ve read you your rights.”
And that’s just what he did, first Derek, and then the other boy she found out later was called Joshua Bear.
Herb brought Teddy back and shoved him hard toward the police.
“Lock him up and throw away the key.”
Andy led Teddy out to the car and they could all hear him telling the boy, “You have the right…”
Herb sighed. So deeply it seemed he exhaled a dozen years from his life. He looked tired. He looked old.
“Can you keep him for a few days? I’m going to try to get him into that military school I threatened him with the last time he screwed up.”
“Will Hannah go along with that?”
“Yes, she agreed after the last time, if he did anything like that again he’d be sent away. It’s gone on for too long. Too many excuses, too many allowances, it’s time for him to grow up.”
“We’ll keep them all in over the holiday. Hard to get anything moving this time of year, especially with our limited resources, but after that...”
“I know. He’s our problem.”
“He’s just a kid. I don’t want to see him in juvie.”
They watched together as the two patrol cars drove off and then she tucked her arm in Herb’s.
“Let’s leave this till the morning, shall we? I think we could both use a drink and then I’ll leave you to…”
“You don’t have to leave, you know.”
“Well, yes, I do, but I want to see you settled and then I’ll go back to the motel. And you’ll be open tomorrow no doubt.”
“Oh crap! Everyone will know. I don't want to deal with all that. I’ll call Jeff and tell him he’s on his own tomorrow. He can bring in his brother if he wants.”
The ride home was quiet after Herb made the call. Apparently, Jeff and his brother would be happy to take charge of things and, of course, he knew all about the break-in.
The military school didn’t happen. Couldn’t happen. There was protocol and their semesters were different, besides they were full and…
“They don’t want him.”
Herb had made the call as soon as they got back to his home. A friend of his from the army who was on the board or something, she didn’t quite catch it all.
“What am I going to do?” he muttered.
“Well, there’s always Outward and Onward.”
“What? Sounds like a hymn or something.”
Anne took a deep breath.
“During one of his sober times, Ron volunteered with a kind of outward bound school for troubled boys. Way up in the mountains, run by someone from a church we attended for a while, who was an ex-cop, phycologist, and outdoors enthusiast, and his wife who was a teacher. They started this school for delinquents and have had great success. They have very strict rules, not just for the boys, but for their families, but they are good. A lot of the kids grow up and go back and become teachers or volunteers. It was even great for Ron while he was there and willing to stay sober.”
“I need to know more.”
“Of course,” she took out her phone and when she had the number handed it to Herb. “His name is Stephen.”
“I can use your name?”
“Of course.”
~~~
Four weeks ago, Herb had met Stephen and another man at the police station the morning after the break-in and watched as they loaded the boy into their van and headed off down the road.
They didn’t speak about it much, but she knew that he was looking forward to talking to the boy today.
Mini began to bark as soon as Herb pulled up and Anne raced to get her wheels on so she could dash to the door to greet him. One look at his face when he came in the door told her all she needed to know about how the phone call had gone. He was ashen and grim.
“Look, should I just go? You look like you could use a night off.”
“No. Stay. I’m fine. He’s one angry little guy. I’ve never heard language like that from...anyone. They cut him off after just a few seconds and told him he’d be on restriction for another four weeks. I heard him screaming obscenities as they led him off.”
He sighed. “Did I do the right thing? I was so sure after talking to Stephen. He said he’d call later and fill me in, but I don’t know. Should I bring Ted home?”
Anne wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Let’s have supper and then we’ll have a good talk about it. Nothing is written in stone, Herb. You’ll do what’s best for your boy.”
“I’ll be right in, just going to wash-up first.” He gave her a pat on her fanny as he headed off to his room.
In the kitchen, she took the roast from the crockpot and set it on a platter, then arranged all the roasted vegetables around it. She placed it in the center of the table, retrieved the salad from the fridge, as well as a bottle of Herb’s favorite ale. She was satisfied. Everything looked fine.
They’d get through this, she told herself. They’d figure it out together. Maybe Hannah could come over for dessert and…
Mini started barking.
“Mini what’s wrong? Do you want out?”
But she knew that wasn’t it. She knew because she was running and pulling out her phone as she ran and she didn’t stop running until she came to Herb, lying on the floor in the bathroom clutching his chest.
To be continued…
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I knew this was buildup to something!
Another cliffhanger!!!
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Thank you so much for this lovely comment. You put a huge smile on my face.
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I know, poor Herb. And he's such a great guy. (Oh no! Writer's guilt!)
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Thank you so much!
To be honest, I have to get used to the cliffhangers too. You think I'd be used to them by now, but every time I get to "the end" it's like someone slammed on the brakes without telling me.
Thank you for your super supportive comments. You will never know how much they mean to me.
*Hugs*
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Thank you so much, Alyce!
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Their romance is progressing much faster than I expected, probably because this is the fastest that time has passed in your story arc? Previously, it's been every day or few days, hardly ever as much as a week, and then suddenly it's a month!
During which time Herb's grandson has developed quite the attitude. I hope he didn't "sass" Herb into a heart attack, to semi-quote the TV show "24." :O
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Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. *Hugs*
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At first, I thought it was mostly shock and embarrassment. But apparently, it has been an ongoing issue, and that's even worse. As a parent (or someone in a parental position), you would worry enormously about pulling someone like that away from the brink of ruining their lives, and still know that your influence alone cannot save them. :(
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Gary hit the nail on the head when he asked me if there were things I'd change when I put it together. I'd go into a lot more depth about the grandson's issues and the daughter's issues and so, so much. But, that's for later. In this venue, we need to keep it manageable. I'm not a big fan of long, long entries so I try to restrain myself. :-)
But this has been so much fun not even with "the family" did I get to move through a story this way. It's been extremely gratifying.
Something I've really enjoyed is the smaller group this season. It was so much easier for me, time and energy-wise with only 19 initial players. Regular seasons do me in, fast. LOL!
I don't want to make him a sociopath or a psychopath, but he's got some serious issues and needs a lot more help than his parental units can offer him.
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But ahhhh what a segment this was. It was nice to find out more about Herb's life, but oof his grandson. He had to do something; I just hope he's able to work through it with his daughter and his grandson at some point.
I know we don't have many weeks left in this competition, so I hope you're planning to give us weekly installments until you're done! And I'm only half kidding, because I would totally read them!