Post by sandymarek on Jan 12, 2016 6:44:59 GMT -4
Story 8-Long Weekend Part 5
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“Heath” Nick then suggests “Why don’t we try one more thing before turning in?”
“What’s that?” Heath asks.
“A little wrestling,” Nick says, “You game?”
“If you are,” Heath retorts.
“I am,” Nick then insists, “And I think it will be good for you.”
“Nick,” Jarrod says leery, “Not sure about this.”
“It’s alright Jarrod” Nick notes “I’ll be careful. Ready?”
Shrugging “I guess” Heath answers.
While Jarrod grabs the popcorn next to them and takes it to the kitchen area, Nick quickly makes his move and shoves Heath down on his back, placing his full weight over him and taking hold of his hands and keeping them positioned on the floor. Heath not knowing what to make of it just lies there, watching Nick who asks, “You okay Heath?” while above him.
“I am,” Heath replies.
“The idea,” Nick informs him, “Is for you to try to break free and move me over the way I did to you.”
“Nick,” Jarrod cuts in with, “I don’t think he understands.”
“Heath,” Nick inquires, “Have you ever wrestled before?”
“Uh-uh,” Heath answers.
Nodding his head and releasing his hold on him, “Jarrod,” Nick then suggests, “Let’s show him.”
“Alright,” Jarrod replies, “Now watch what we do.”
Moving away at a safe distance Jarrod and Nick show Heath how they wrestle.
Starting they circle around with Nick and Jarrod trying to get a good hold on the other and as Jarrod is able to make the first move grabs a hold of Nick and knocks him down onto the floor. As he tries to pin him down Nick quickly breaks out of the hold and rolling over manages to pin Jarrod to the floor with Heath quietly watching as they move above about listens as Jarrod says, “You win Nick.”
Once they’ve finished and get up on their feet, “Heath,” Nick asks, “You get the idea?”
Nodding his head, “Think so,” Heath replies.
“Alright,” Nick suggests, “Let’s try it.”
Replying, “Okay,” Heath gets ready to make his move with Jarrod quietly moving back and Nick waiting patiently.
Doing what Jarrod and Nick did, Heath circles around and waits for Nick to make his move who lunges and knocks him to the floor. Nick patiently waits and watches as Heath slowly gets back up and goes after him again.
Observing, “That’s the idea Heath,” Jarrod says, “You’re getting it.”
Taking his body Heath throws himself at Nick, knocking them both down to the floor. At first, Heath is stunned by what he just did.
“Heath,” Jarrod asks concerned, “Are you alright? Is it too much for you?”
Shaking his head “No” Heath is taken off guard when Nick grunts loudly as he grabs hold of him and after throwing him off, places him in a headlock “Had enough Heath?” asking who learns that Heath takes his newly found strength and tries to wiggle free replying “Uh-uh” as they continue on.
Moving about again they continue rolling over and pinning the other until Nick finally gets to pin him down completely “Heath” he asks “Have enough?”
This time not saying anything “Heath” Jarrod cuts in with “Are you okay?”
Jarrod and Nick both wait patiently for Heath who just continues lying there, looking up at Nick over him.
“Heath,” Nick then asks, “Are you alright?”
Nodding his head, “Think so,” Heath answers, “Not do this before.”
“Did it scare you?” Jarrod wanted to know.
“Some,” Heath answers.
“How about we stop,” Nick insists, “And do some more another time. Think of this as just a practice round, a form of exercise,” as he gets up.
“Okay,” Heath replies.
Nick says “I have to hand it to you,” as he extends his hand to him “Heath, you did quite well for the first session against me and I’m pretty big.”
Jarrod adds “I’d have to agree Heath” also helping with getting Heath on his feet.
After he is back on his feet Jarrod suggests that he turn in, in which he complies. In between Jarrod mentioning reading him a story Nick says, “Now Heath, try not to think of anything while you are sleeping, maybe the nightmares won’t be there.”
Crossing to the bedroom door, “They always been there,” Heath remarks, “Won’t change.”
“Yes they will” Nick argues “You have us now. We will help with getting rid of them. The more we do together, the more it will help and the less you having them.”
“You think so?” Heath asks.
Nodding, “I do,” Nick states.
As Heath turns the knob to go into the bedroom Heath says, “Nick, you are like many that I met but you’re not like them.”
“Brother Nick,” Jarrod speculates, “I think Brother Heath just paid you a little compliment in his own way.”
“Coming from you Heath,” Nick smiles, “It’s nice to hear and no, I am not like all those others. Goodnight.”
Reciprocating, “Goodnight,” Heath goes inside the bedroom with Nick calling to him, “Oh Heath.”
“Yes,” Heath replies.
“You’re not so bad,” Nick informs him, “Keep that in mind.”
“Okay” Heath counters “You’re not so bad either Nick” as he closes the door behind him Nick smiling says “Go get some sleep.”
“Nick” Jarrod then brings up “You better get in some sleep, when the nightmares come we have to be ready.”
“You could always turn in” Nick suggests “And I could read to him. After all it’s my turn, seeing you did it last night.”
“Let me do it” Jarrod insists “I am the oldest; it comes with the territory.”
“How about” Nick suggests “If we both read to him together.”
“Okay,” Jarrod replies, “Let’s.”
Jarrod and Nick quietly wait for Heath to come out of the bedroom. Minutes later he comes out dressed in his nightshirt, while crossing to the cot and grabbing the medallion he now has in his hand he climbs in under the covers while Jarrod retrieves the book he is going to read to him.
“Nick,” Heath looking over him says, “I thought you were going to sleep.”
“Changed my mind,” Nick replies, “Thought I’d read a story with Jarrod here. Is that alright with you? Or do you not want me here?”
“I want you here,” Heath answers, “You could stay.”
“Good,” Nick replies.
While Nick gets settled in next to his Heath on his right, Jarrod after turning on the lamp sits on the other side of Heath and begins reading out loud.
In between they ask him questions of if anyone read to him while he was in Strawberry to which he mentions, “Both Mama and Aunt Rachel did but Hanna didn’t.”
“Is there any reason,” Nick wanted to know, “Why Hannah didn’t?”
“She didn’t read,” Heath answers.
“That would be a good reason,” Nick notes.
Returning to the story, Jarrod reads the first part of it which is called Castle-Building, while Nick reads the second part.
Heath lying there listens as they read.
In between they ask him random questions that come up of if he likes cats, to which he responds, “Like cats, like any animal.”
As Jarrod gets to the part of the father and the boy, Heath begins looking away and as he begins staring up at the ceiling Nick observing asks, “Heath, you okay?”
“I am,” Heath replies.
“What are you thinking about?” Jarrod joining in inquires.
Shrugging his shoulders, “Don’t know,” Heath quietly answers.
“Heath,” Nick urges, “Talk to us.”
Glancing over at Nick with his hands under his head “I don’t know” pausing “It’s just” pausing again “The little boy in the book and his papa.”
“What about him?” Nick asks.
“Wish I were Herbert,” Heath mentions.
Interestingly, “Why?” Nick asks while exchanging quick glances with Jarrod who also is listening to Heath.
“He had Papa,” Heath explains, “Did Father do things like that for you?”
“Yes,” Nick answers with Jarrod replying, “He did.”
“Must’ve been nice,” Heath comments.
“Heath” Nick then goes on to say “I know nothing we say or do now can change the fact that Father is no longer here and you didn’t get the same opportunity that we did of knowing him or being around him, but we could be the next best thing to his not being here. Just give us the change and the time and you’ll see what we mean.”
“I know,” Heath sighs, “I am. Sorry what I said.”
“No Heath” Nick answers “I think it’s wonderful hearing what you just said.”
“We want to hear what you say,” Jarrod adds, “And what you think.”
“You do?” Heath asks surprised as he looks from one to the other.
“Yes” Jarrod replies “We want to know what is going on inside your head, anything and everything. So, don’t feel sorry or bad about coming out with anything. We want to hear you. Okay?”
“Okay,” Heath says.
“Do you want me to stop,” Jarrod asks, “Or would you like me to read a different story? I could.”
“No,” Heath responds, “Continue, I want to hear.”
“You sure,” Jarrod asks with Heath replying, “I’m sure. Go ahead; read.”
“Well okay,” Jarrod says.
Going back to the page in the book Jarrod resumes reading where he left off.
In between listening of Jarrod mentioning the toy blocks Nick asks of Heath, “Have you ever played with blocks before?”
“No,” Heath answers.
“This may sound silly” Nick says “But would you like it if we tried to build a castle like the one in the book with blocks if I could get a hold of some?”
“If you like,” Heath replies.
“If I like” Nick pointing to himself says “If I like?” with Jarrod letting out a silent laugh as he listens to Nick and Heath “I don’t want to play with any blocks. I just thought that you would.”
“No,” Heath mentions, “Too big for that.”
Glancing over at Jarrod, “What’s with you?” Nick asks with Jarrod replying, “Nothing.”
“I put my foot into my mouth?” Nick asks.
Chuckling “Something like that. Here” handing him the book Jarrod says, “Your turn to read.”
Replying “Okay” Nick takes the book and begins reading from where Jarrod left off. As Nick continues reading and after he comes up on the word ‘kite’ he asks of Heath, “Hey Heath, did you ever build a kite?”
“No,” Heath answers.
“Nick,” Jarrod cuts in with, “We already discussed that earlier.”
A little surprised “You did?” Nick wanted to know with Jarrod replying “While you were busy getting your beauty sleep. When we get a chance, we will be building one and go fly it.”
“I didn’t know that,” Nick notes.
“Of course you didn’t,” Jarrod points out, “You were asleep now will you please go back to reading the story?”
Suppressing a grin Heath quietly looks from one to the other while listening to their banter and is taking it all in.
Glancing down at Heath Nick asks. “Heath you okay?”
“Uh-huh,” Heath answers, “Just listening to you and Jarrod talk.”
“Is that bothering you?” Nick wanted to know with Heath replying, “No, I like it.”
“You do?” Nick asks surprisingly with Heath answering, “I do.”
Jarrod then tells Nick to go back to the story in between he shakes his head and lets out a silent chuckle.
As Nick gets to the word heedlessly he stops and asks of Heath if he knew what it meant, telling him he doesn’t Nick explains the meaning of it. After finishing out the story Nick asks Heath what he thought of it and if he liked it to which Heath responds, “Some I liked, some I didn’t.”
Jarrod joins in with asking what parts he didn’t like to which Heath explains Herbert being mean to the cat.
“Thank goodness for his sister,” Nick states “Who rescued the cat.”
“Yes,” Heath mentions, “I liked the sister and the brother Joe.”
Going over other parts he liked Heath mentions that he liked how Papa helped Herbert with building the castle.
“Anything else?” Nick wanted to know with Heath replying “No, wasn’t much more to say about it.”
“Well” Nick clarifies “They are short stories; just a little something to read while trying to fall asleep.”
“I know,” Heath replies, “And it’s okay.”
“How about if we go onto another one?” Nick asks.
“If you like,” Heath replies.
“We like” Nick turning the page says “Here’s one” looking at the title “This one is called Truant or should I say The Truant,” and begins reading it.
After a few paragraphs Nick stops and asks of Heath, “Did you ever lie to your mama about anything?”
“Uh-uh” Heath replies “Always tell truth; never lie, lies come back to haunt you.”
“That’s true,” Jarrod confers, “They do.”
Scringing up his nose, “Just thought I’d ask,” Nick replies as he returns to the story he is reading. As he comes up on a boat he once again and asks of Heath, “Have you ever been on a boat before?”
“No,” Heath replies.
“Would you like to sometime?” Nick inquires.
“I would,” Heath replies.
“We’ll add that to the list of things for us to do together,” Nick mentions.
“The way we’re going,” Jarrod quips, “It might end up being a very long list.”
“True” Nick replies “But every time I read something comes up that we need to do.”
“We’ll have to find the time” Jarrod notes “To do all of them. Maybe you should go back to reading.”
Replying “Maybe I better” Nick goes back to reading the story. After finishing he asks of Heath how he liked it to which he yawns, “Fine.”
“How about if,” Nick suggests, “We do one more and call it a night?”
“That is fine,” Heath replies.
Nick then turns the reading to Jarrod who takes the book and begins reading the story called: The White Kitten.
In between reading Nick and Jarrod doesn’t realize Heath has fallen asleep. Upon closing the book and saying, “The end,” Jarrod calls out to Heath but not getting any response looks down and sees his eyes are closed, Nick joins in with calling out to him but after a couple times of calling his name, “He’s asleep,” Jarrod concurs, “I guess this third story did the trick.”
“Looks that way,” Nick notes.
“Well,” Jarrod says, “Let’s let him sleep,” getting up off the cot, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Exchanging goodnights they head for their rooms.
Saturday January 28, 1871
Two hours later roughly after midnight Heath while sound asleep in his bed begins moving his head back and forth, back and forth off the pillow and then after making crying noises, begins taking his hands and thrashing the pillow “No! No! No! Mama! Mama! Mama!” as he works on kicking off the covers.
Dropping to all four as he climbs out of the bed and onto the floor he also drops the medallion along with him. Looking about the dark room he says “Where are we? Is there a way out?” crawling around on his hands and knees he makes his way to the door “A door” he blurts out “Maybe we could make it. I think so. Let’s try it.”
Turning the knob “Look” he says “It opens. Let’s be careful. Not want anyone to hear us” and begins opening the door further and carefully crawls out into the main room. Seeing something dark lying on the floor Heath goes to see what it is, noticing that it’s a body “Jack” he calls out “Jack, is that you?”
Hearing the sound of Heath’s voice Nick immediately opens his eyes to find Heath over him, “Heath,” he quickly calls out.
Watching in surprise, Nick watches as Heath continues to come up to him and as he places his right hand on Nick’s left cheek he cries, “Jack, don’t be dead. Please Jack, don’t be dead.”
Realizing Heath is calling him Jack, Nick grabs hold of him underneath his armpits telling him, “Heath, I’m not Jack and I’m not dead. I’m Nick. Your brother. Wake up, boy,” as he places his right hand on Heath’s left cheek gently shaking him.
Not hearing Nick at the moment Heath continues crying, “We have to get out of here; not safe.”
“What are you talking about?” Nick asks of him who answers, “They’ll be coming for us,” looking about the dark room, “We have to hide.”
“Heath, you, we’re safe” Nick tries to encourage him “Everything is fine, come on boy, wake up.”
Just then the commotion outside his door awakens Jarrod who quickly darts out into the main room. Glancing up at him standing there “Stay back” Heath barks “Don’t come near us” trying to put his arms over Nick shielding him while tears are going down his cheeks.
“Heath” Nick tries to ensure him, “That’s Jarrod, he’s not here to hurt us.”
Getting down on one knee, Jarrod slowly works his way to them all the while carefully keeping his attention on Heath who continues crying “Stay back, I don’t want to have to hurt you, but I will. Keep back” looking around he looks for what he could use as a weapon.
Continuing to approach “I am not going to keep back” Jarrod softly but firmly tells him “Heath, no one is going to hurt you. You are perfectly safe, that is Nick there with you.”
Kicking at Jarrod as he is moving towards him “Get back” Heath yells “Get away from us,” as he keeps his arms shielded over Nick.
“Heath” Jarrod tells him “Stop doing that” as he continues moving towards them.
Swatting Jarrod away, “Stay back,” Heath yells, “Don’t come near us.”
Reaching and grabbing hold of Heath’s swatting hand, “No Heath,” Jarrod says, “I won’t stay back,” who is still swinging at him.
“Please,” Heath cries, “No, don’t take us. Don’t take us away. Please!”
“No one is taking you away” Jarrod tells him “You are perfectly safe. No one will hurt you” taking hold of his right arm “I am your brother Jarrod; I am Pappy” placing his left hand on Heath’s back, calling out to him as he gently runs it up and down in a circular motion “Heath, wake up! Come on Heath, everything is okay. Wake up!”
“Come on Heath” Nick joins in with “Wake up! Come on boy, everything is fine. Wake up,” as he continues shaking him awake.
Beginning to open his eyes and looking about “Where am I?” Heath asks, “Are you alright?” looking down at Nick who is holding onto him.
“I’m alright,” he assures him, “Are you?”
“Don’t know,” Heath mumbles.
“Nick” Jarrod asks “What happened” as he wipes the tears from Heath’s eyes.
“He came out here” Nick says “And gave me the biggest scare of my life.”
Getting up “I’ll be right back” Jarrod informs him and quickly walks away. Pulling out of Nick’s hands, Heath shifts to a sitting position wiping the tears going down his cheeks.
“Heath,” Nick asks, “Could I ask you something?”
“You could,” Heath replies.
As Nick asks, “Who is Jack,” Heath mentions, “He was in my unit.”
“What happened to him?” Nick wanted to know.
“Got shot,” Heath answers.
“Did he die,” Nick asks in which Heath nods his head.
“You must’ve seen a lot of people die, huh,” Nick speculates.
Gazing down at the floor, “I did,” Heath admits, “I don’t like it when people die. Why do they have to die?”
“I wish I could give you a good answer for that, but Heath, I can’t” Nick states “When you’re in a war, it’s just one of the unpleasant things that tends to happen. I mean no one likes that they die or if you have to be the one who does the shooting or the killing, but it happens. You just have to go with it. Sometimes, just to survive or to save others, okay?”
“Okay,” Heath replies, “Nick?”
“Yeah, Heath,” Nick says.
“Were you ever in a war?” Heath asks.
“I was,” Nick mentions, “And so was Jarrod.”
“Did you like it?” Heath wanted to know.
“No,” Nick counters, “Did you?”
Shaking his head, “No,” Heath answers.
“I don’t think anyone” Nick states “Really likes a war or being in one, but hey, sometimes it happens, whether we like it or not or whether we agree with it or not.”
“Mama told me that,” Heath confides.
“She did?” Nick asks.
“Uh-huh,” Heath explains, “When I got back after it was all over with.”
“You mean” Nick inquires “From being in the war and being in Carterson?”
“Uh-huh,” Heath answers, “And the medical place.”
“What medical place?” Nick wanted to know.
“Don’t know” Heath shrugs “Was there until I was ready to go home.”
Just then Jarrod returns with a glass of cold water and a cool wash cloth for Heath. In between Heath drinking the water Jarrod washes his face down and asks, “How’s that?”
“Good,” Heath admits.
After finishing Jarrod asks if he wants a second glass to which he declines.
“Heath,” Nick asks, “How did you get to this medical place?”
“What medical place?” Jarrod inquires.
“One I was taken to,” Heath informs Jarrod.
“Heath,” Nick says.
“Taken there from Carterson” Heath explains “Men came in and set us free, drove us there.”
“Were you sick or hurt?” Nick wanted to know.
“I was,” Heath mentions, “Taken there to see if we were alright, had to stay there until I was.”
“How many of you went to this medical facility,” Jarrod asks, “This medical place?”
“All that were alive,” Heath answers, “Not sure exact number.”
“Seeing it was a prison,” Nick speculates, “There must’ve been quite a few who died, huh?”
Nodding his head “A lot” Heath acknowledges “I saw the guards take some of them and stack them on top of the other and they would remove them by using a big wagon.”
Jarrod surmises “Once you were well enough they at this facility brought you home?”
“They did,” Heath notes.
“Your Mama must’ve been extremely happy,” Nick notes, “When you returned.”
“She was,” Heath answers, “So were Aunt Rachel and Hannah.”
“Heath,” Jarrod asks, “Do you think you could get back to sleep? It is rather late.”
“I could,” Heath states.
Helping him up Jarrod and Nick escort him back to his small room, before getting comfortable back in his bed he uses the bathroom real quick first. After handing him back his medallion and bidding him goodnight, they both exit the room and leaving the door ajar.
In between going into the kitchen and placing the glass in the sink Jarrod says to Nick, “We are definitely making progress with him.”
“I agree,” Nick notes, “This little outing is definitely helping.”
“The nightmares,” Jarrod says, “Will still continue but I think the more we talk, the safer he feels.”
“He finally has someone” Nick brings up “To listen to him and talk to him, no more being restrained or locked up in a box with no way out. Could you imagine what that must’ve been like for him, a boy with no one there to hear him?”
“It’s horrifying,” Jarrod admits, “But what happened to him in the past we can’t do much about we could only take each day and go forward with him, make his life better than what he had.”
“True,” Nick states, “And at least now he is beginning to adjust to sleeping in his own room, he’s just not ready to have the door closed while he’s asleep.”
“With being confined or locked in a box” Jarrod says “Who can blame him. Come on, let’s go back to sleep, he’ll probably be waking up before you know it.”
Exchanging goodnights, Jarrod climbs into his bed while Nick gets back in his bed roll. Closing their eyes, they fall back to sleep, a few minutes later Heath also falls back to sleep.
TBC in Story 9