Bad People

People thought he was a doctor because he was noble and wanted to heal.  He allowed them to think that.  He was merely watching and waiting.  The fact that he worked in crisis centers all over the state was not due to generosity or selflessness.  He was surveying.  Granted, he took delight in mending the broken and helping them get things back to order in their lives.  He had, after all, been given the same gift.  His step-father had taken him in, protected and loved him like his own and seen to it that he had everything he would need to succeed in all his life's endeavors; ALL of them.Ted understood grateful and humble. Since the night his father had been murdered over a few trinkets and some wadded up twenties, Ted had been forced to be watchful, mindful because bad people were everywhere.

The triage was buzzing like crazy tonight; full moon madness was in full swing.

"Aaaand let's take a look behind curtain number two...." he said to himself and stopped. A frail young redhead was curled up on her side,cradling a dislocated elbow and her young son, who had pulled loose a lock of her hair and was soothing himself by tracing it across his cheek.  His black hair covered the worry and fear that haunted his eyes.  Seeing the doctor, both curled tighter around each other. The chart named her Lillie; a lovely delicate name for one who had to be tough as nails to tolerate the thirty four broken bones and fractures; let alone the more than eighty stitches that claimed her body in the last thirteen months.  The boy was Joseph.  He was less marred; lucky to have minor contusions and surface scratches that still could be covered with Elmo and Cookie Monster band aids.  It enraged him to see this; to see her again.

"Hello Lillie." he said softly

"Oh hey Dr.Ted. I didn't know you were working tonight."

He chuffed. "Please don't tell me that you would have come in earlier or that you are just here to see me.  I will make sure you get my office number.  I'd rather see you that way.  Not like this.  What do we have today?  Hey Joseph."

"Hi Dr. Ted. I made a fan." The little fist produced an accordion folded napkin and waved it just under his mother's chin.

"Oh my. That IS handy Joseph.  Some days it gets hot as blue blazes in here."

"Are blazes really hot AND blue?"

"Yes sir they are."

Dr. Ted began his examination of Lillie for the second time in two weeks.  Tonight brought the dislocation, several bruises, a black eye, a boxed ear and angry hand prints around her throat.

"Lillie, what brought this on?"

"I fell"

"Lillie."

"Please Doc. I fell."

He grimaced and clicked his pen in frustration, writing her a prescription.

"Nothing hard." she warned quietly.  "That causes problems"

Ted shook his head and did as she asked, writing for ibuprofen and advising acetaminophen.

"What will it take Lillie? Please don't let him get to Joseph.  You're not protecting him.  It's a matter of time."

"I know Doc.  I'm trying; so hard."

"Can I help you?"

She smiled weakly.  "No charity."

"None."

"Thanks Doc. I have to go.  Shift ends soon. I need to get Joseph something to eat for school tomorrow and we will need to figure out  meals for the next couple of days."

Ted opened his wallet as he had each time she'd been here.  Ever since he'd seen the man's face, he'd been waiting. Ted had kept an eye on Lillie, taken special interest to ensure she was protected as well as her son.  The man was rotten to the core, incapable of compassion, understanding or love.  He was a junk yard dog.

"Please Lillie.  Be careful. Be safe.  this world would sorely miss an angel like you." He tucked the money in her hands, kissed them and stroked her cheek.  He tousled Joseph's hair and left them, frowning as they hurriedly packed up to return to the Hell they called home.

Not three days later, he yanked back the curtain to see Joseph balled up, floating in the abyss of hospital sheets and pillows he'd rearranged around himself.

"Joseph?"

"Dr. Ted!" the tears were instantaneous and the little boy all but flew from the bed to throw himself into Ted's arms.  The doctor encircled him and held his breath, dreading the words he knew would come from the little boy.

"He.. He... Hurt... She... toldmetorun...to hide  to hide TO HIDE. I waited and I waited... but there was no noise and I dint know where to go Dr Ted I don't know where mommy is." The child's voice was choked with sobs picking up speed where the truth was at its worst.  Ted pulled him as close as he could and rocked gently.  His hand stroked the boys hair and he kissed it tenderly.

His own memories came storming back.  The night his father was killed.  The police officer pulling the young Dr-to-be from inside a tiny cupboard where he had stacked toilet paper as the only wall of defense against a darkness more dangerous  than any shadow. Ted was about Joseph's age.  He understood that word: Hide.
It had saved his life from the angry monster with the tattoo on the back of his neck who had shot his dad over his wallet, his watch and his coat.  He had been robbing Ted's house when he and his father had come home from the movies.  They both heard the rustling.  His dad whispering for him to "wait" at first but then there was shouting and a popping noise.  Ted's dad yelled for Ted to hide ~Hide good and then more popping and then his dad yelled "I love you" and the fifth pop made it all quiet. Forever.

Ted stayed hidden.  Inside the little cupboard, he managed to stack rolls of toilet paper in front of himself to make it look like he wasn't there.  He heard the footsteps and the voice.  He heard doors opening and slamming.  He heard swearing and promises to not hurt as long as he never told.  Ted knew these were lies and so he kept hidden.  He was so scared he wet his pants.  He wanted to scream for help but bit into the paper roll  and cried until there were no more tears.  And he waited.  When the door opened, little Ted backed as far in to the corner as possible; disappearing.  The cupboard door shut then opened again.  Someone knelt down and looked between the rolls.  Slowly a hand pulled one away, then another and at last eyes met and Ted saw who would become his foster father and step-dad.  The man offered his hand.  He helped Ted get cleaned up before holding his hand and leading him out.  He never left Ted's side.  Not during the ambulance ride, not during the hospital stay, not ever during any questioning.  never.  Officer Tom, Dad, stayed.  He raised Ted and Ted was happy.

The boy in Ted's arms monkey- wrapped himself around the doctor's body.  Ted could feel him starting to twitch and fall asleep.  A ruckus began in the main lobby; a loud one.

"Where is my SON?" an angry man was slamming his fists on the desk and pointing hatefully at the charge nurse.

Ted pushed the button and stepped out holding Joseph.

"Sir.  Lower your voice." his own was low and soft but carried a warning that caused the other to regain himself.

"Joseph." he sighed and reached for him but Ted twisted away.  The man hesitated.

"Where is Lillie?" he asked.

"What's it to you?" the man sneered and reached again.  Ted put Joseph down and stepped in front of the boy.

"Where. Is. Lillie." Ted was a tall solid man whose mere presence commanded notice; with emotion involved, a whiff of fear was in the air.

"I dunno. I came for my boy. Hey Joey.  C'mere. Let's get somethin to eat, eh? I got off early.  I'm starvin! burgers or pizza?"  the man bent down to his haunches.  Ted fought with a vengeance to not begin kicking Joseph's father while he was down there.  Joseph stepped out and took it.  His other fingers up near his mouth as if to keep words in or a frightened cry.  The man smugly snatched it and stood. "Right. Well, we'll be going. Sorry for the trouble." The man turned and Ted caught his breath. He felt heat surge up from his gut to the top of his head.  His teeth began to grind so hard he thought he'd have nothing but pulp in his mouth if he tried to speak.

"Be careful."he muttered.

"Oh he will." Joseph's dad tightly said and yanked at the boy to hurry.

"I mean you." Ted said quietly.  "See you soon Joseph."

The boy turned and wiped the tear from his cheek.  He blew a kiss, threw a wave and mouthed "Help"

It took Ted three days to get what he needed. He hoped it wasn't too late.  He began by watching the house.  Joseph was up and was taken to school.  Not by the father of course but by some young girl in clothes a baby doll would have trouble fitting into. the father was usually nursing bad habits from the nigh before.  Ted made sure Joseph got home, had something to eat and did his work.  He asked Joseph to not tell. It was as if Lillie had simply disappeared.

The good doctor had given up his extra nights at the clinic to watch out for Joseph.  On that night,  he saw the man pull in and knew.  the car barely jerked to a stop before the man got out and swooped to the side then staggered to the front door. He beat it with his fists and began to shout.  Ted readied himself.  He felt the prick of cold sweat.  He felt his knees begin to shake and his spine fizzled just as it had that night so many years ago when he'd had to hide from this man; the man who'd killed his own dad had mistakenly become one.  Ted was certain because in all the years, after all the questions, Ted never told what the man looked like but he knew and all it took was one glance at the tattoo on the back of the man's neck when he bent down to scoop up the son he didn't deserve to bring Karma around full in the face.  No more hiding.

The shouting was muffled in Ted's ears as his pulse quickened and thundered through his body.  He walked brusquely up the steps and opened the door.  Joseph's dad had the little boy by the collar and was shaking him.  Inches from his face he was spitting while he hollered and threatened, his fist cocked and ready to throw.  He saw Ted and his jaw dropped.  He let the boy go who immediately ran and wrapped around Ted's knees.  The doctor never peeled his eyes off the man but knelt down and spoke softly to Joseph.  He hugged him and stood again.

"Hide Joseph." he said. "Hide good." He felt the lump in his throat; painful and sad.

The other man turned and faced him.  "You don't belong here."

"I do.  More than most."  Ted put his hands in his pockets and gently caressed the gun.

"You a do gooder?  Gonna save that boy?"

"Gonna save THIS one."

The man cocked his head.

"You told me to never tell. I didn't."

"What? What did you say?"

"You told me you wouldn't hurt me if I never told.  I didn't but you killed my dad.  You hurt me anyway."

The man's color drained into the floor.  He gasped as if choked by sawdust.

"You..."

Ted smiled genuinely.  "Yes."

The man backed up and began to stammer. "Look kid. You don't understand.  I didn't mean to do that.  Your old man just had to give me the keys and his money.  He just wouldn't stop coming at me.  I had to.  I HAD to."

Ted took a step closer and removed the gun so it was in full view.  The man began to wave his hands as if to push down a naughty dog.  "Hey hey don't come closer. Don't do this.  Don't rob Joey of a father.  Let me go. I'll be better. I'll get clean. You'll never see me again. Let me go man, I won't tell. Never."

"You're right."

and Joseph heard five pops ~ like firecrackers on Independence day. His eyes slammed shut and his tiny fingers plugged his ears. He imagined the fireworks and they were wonderful. When there was quiet, he heard  footsteps coming toward him; slow and deliberate.  The little boy backed in to the corner of the small space where he was hidden.  The door opened closed and opened again.  The man knelt down and peered in.

"Joseph?"

Nothing.

"It's okay Joseph.  You don't have to hide.  Come out here."

The little boy crept out and into the doctor's arms.

"What do we do?" the boy jammed his fists into his eyes and his voice hitched.

"We call the police and we get you checked out.  I know a good doctor."

"Better than you?" the boy sniffled. "Can you stay with me for a while? Until Mommy comes?"

"Yes. I will make some calls and I will see to that." and Ted felt the pang of loss for this innocent little boy.

Flashing lights and noise began to surround them.  Ted walked out with Joseph on his hip, his phone to his ear as he dialed his own hero.

"Dad?  Need some help..."

The police chief cleared his head from sleepy cobwebs and listened to his step-son as he began to tell.



A little bit longer, but I like the twist. You know I'm all about the twist. I guess because it is never EVER as it seems; whether a person you have known for years or a situation you stumble upon. Face value, is dangerous for both who presents it and who is witness to it.

I'm glad you came by to visit.  I enjoy your emails, comments and especially your company. I have a good one rolling around in my head, but must get it on paper first. I'll see you soon for some more good times. 
Have a good week.
Tess