Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors (79 page)

“What things?"

“Well, like rubbing the clitoris."

“Why?"

“Billy. I don't know everything."

He sniffed his index finger. “Penny's vagina smell good."

She sat on the edge of the table and laughed. “I've been told that before."

He sucked the finger. “Penny taste good.” He lurched forward, gripped her thighs and ripped them painfully apart, dumping her back on the table in the process. His head dropped to her crotch.

“No, Billy, damn it.” She clutched his hair but did not have the strength to budge him. His tongue, moving against her clit, weakened her resolve.

Suddenly his pants were around his ankles. He wore no underwear. He pressed his body so tightly against hers she could barely breathe. She felt helplessly pinned to the table. He plunged his penis deep inside her, humping like a dog on a bitch in heat. He not only filled but also stretched her vagina.

“No Billy,” she gasped in a hoarse whisper. She thought of the condoms in Mack's study. She wondered if she had created a monster. She would have to tame the beast. Then she could not think at all. Her brain seemed to boil like liquid in a magic cauldron. A stifled scream escaped her lips as he ejaculated.

Billy raised up but left his penis inside her. She was no longer struggling. “Billy hurt Penny?” he asked with alarm.

“No, Billy. You didn't hurt me."

“Billy fuck Penny."

“The nice word is sex or sexual intercourse."

“Billy fuck Penny good,” he beamed.

“No, Billy. You didn't fuck Penny good, but I will teach you to do that too. Remember that this must be our secret. You must not tell anybody."

“Billy not tell. Penny teach Billy read now."

She found a box of tissues and stuffed a handful in her vagina.

“Why you do that?” Billy asked.

“You know the white stuff that comes out when you masturbate?"

“Semen,” he smiled.

“Well, your semen is now in my vagina. The tissues will keep it from leaking out until I can get to a bathroom and clean up.” She took two more tissues from the box and wiped his penis, noting with amazement that it was still partially erect.

“That feel good."

“Put your pants on Billy. Now. I mean business."

She was zipping up her skirt when Mack knocked at the door.

“Shit,” she said.

“Excrement,” Billy corrected.

“Come in, Mack,” she called out. “You scared the crap out of me."

“Sorry,” Mack said. “Mary Lou just called me. It's your uncle. The rescue squad is taking him to the hospital in Charlotte. Let's go. I'll drive you."

Penny and Mack sat in the waiting room for over an hour while Mary Lou and other physicians worked with Uncle Amos. The only information received was that Amos suffered a massive stroke. Finally Mary Lou appeared, looking very tired. She sat beside Penny and reached for her hand.

“I have been telling Amos for years that a massive stroke was on the way if he didn't take better care of himself,” Mary Lou said gently. Seeing the blank stare on Penny's face she continued, “You didn't know about his condition?"

Penny shook her head.

“Many years ago Amos injured his left leg. This resulted in severe clotting and eventually phlebitis. One with phlebitis must be very careful of his diet and must constantly be on a regimen of blood-thinning medication. I prescribed an effective blood thinner for Amos, but when he discovered that rat poison uses the same ingredients, he refused to take it. I then prescribed heavy doses of aspirin, but he wouldn't listen. He has suffered three mini-strokes in the past four months. There was nothing mini about this one."

“He's been talking about death—planning his funeral and changing his will—but I knew nothing about him having these strokes,” Penny said. “How could he have them without me knowing?"

“They all came during the day while you were at work, I suppose,” Mary Lou replied, “and there were no visible aftereffects. Penny, he is conscious, but the stroke paralyzed the right side of his body. His speech is impaired. He tries to talk, but no one can understand him. He's frightened. You may see him if you like. I think he will like that, but please, try to be reassuring. Don't let him know how frightened you are."

Mary Lou led the way into the private room in which Amos Stone lay on a hospital bed with intravenous tubes attached to his arms. Several nurses and doctors hovered about, making notes, reading charts and checking monitoring devices.

Penny placed her hand on Amos’ left hand. He gripped it lightly. She smiled at him. “I didn't realize how much you wanted me to quit my job at the church and stay at home with you,” she tried to joke. “You didn't need to go to such extremes."

“Umph, umph, umph,” he responded.

“Well, at least you haven't lost your sense of humor,” she laughed.

Others in the room exchanged furtive glances.

“Um oove oou,” he said.

“I love you too, Uncle Amos. We'll lick this thing together, and listen to me, you hardheaded sweetie pie. From now on you'll follow your diet and take the medications Dr. McGee prescribes."

“Uck oou,” he replied.

“Uncle Amos! Such language!"

“Iaarie,” he said.

“What diary?"

“Iii laarie."

“What about your diary?"

“Urrn."

“You want me to burn your diary?"

“Uh huh.” The left side of his mouth attempted a smile.

“Okay,” she laughed, “right after I read it."

“Oo! Oo! Oo!” he replied, his left eye opening wider.

She folded his hand in both of hers. “I was just kidding. I won't read it, and if something should happen to you, I will burn it."

“Uh huh,” he said and he seemed to relax. “Eeeen oux. Urrn!"

“Burn what green box, Uncle Amos?"

“Isher."

“I don't understand."

“Isher,” he said again.

“Oh,” she replied. She leaned forward and placed her ear close to his mouth.

“Attic,” he whispered clearly.

“I've never been there,” she said, “but I'll look for it and if something happens, I'll take care of it. Okay?"

“Uh huh,” he said.

“Now you listen to me for a minute, Uncle Amos. I want you to get well. I need you to teach me about the greenhouses. I know you think you're dying, but you're a tough old geezer. You do what the doctors tell you and fight this thing."

“Iiii rrie."

“I can't ask any more than that,” she said as she stroked his hand.

One of the male physicians in the room touched her on the arm. “You really understand him, don't you?"

“Sure,” she replied.

“I've heard of that happening between two people who are very close to each other, but this is the first time I've actually seen it. Ask him if he is in pain."

“You ask him,” Penny replied.

“Mr. Stone! he shouted. “Are you in pain?"

“He's not deaf,” Penny scolded.

“Umpf um umm dess und udder."

“He wants you to take the needles out,” Penny interpreted.

“Amos,” Mary Lou explained, “we're giving you something to thin your blood, trying to prevent another stroke. Now you behave yourself."

“Ess amm,” he answered and Penny explained that he said, “Yes Ma'am."

Amos shuttered. “I love you, Penny,” he said clearly. His eyes froze.

“Oh, God,” a nurse said under her breath. She placed her hands tenderly on Penny's shoulders and led her from the room.

Ten minutes later Mary Lou and Mack joined her in the waiting room.

“He didn't make it, did he?” Penny asked.

“I'm sorry,” Mary Lou said sincerely.

Mack pulled the woman/child into his arms and held her tenderly. He silently cursed himself when he realized that even in this most solemn moment, her breasts against his chest, his hands on the curve of her spine, the smell of her hair, caused an immediate erection.

“I don't know what I'm going to do, Mack,” she said, “but I do know you need to find another secretary. I won't be back."

He stroked her hair. “Let me help you through this, Penny,” he whispered.

She did not reply.

Her tears did not come until after the funeral, until after the well-wishers loaded the house with food and flowers and sympathy cards, until the well-wishers, not knowing what else to do, left her alone to face reality, and until she entered his study and finally realized she would never again see his white head bent over the desk as he pored over obscure ledgers.

Late on the following Saturday afternoon, Penny found Vera Morgan, Billy's mother, cleaning the classroom in which Penny so recently taught Billy a major lesson.

“Mrs. Morgan, I'm Penny Swanson."

“I know,” the widow replied while pushing her broom.

“I'm Amos Stone's niece."

“I know,” the woman said as she changed directions with the broom. “He was an evil man."

“Mrs. Morgan! Why would you say a thing like that?"

“Shouldn't have,” she replied.

Penny picked up the dustpan and placed it on the floor for the widow to sweep the accumulated trash onto its rusty lip.

“You didn't know Amos like I did. He did evil things to me after Jason died."

“Jason was Billy's father?"

“Yes."

“What did Uncle Amos do?"

“Bad things. Evil things. I'm glad he's dead."

“You hated Uncle Amos?"

“Hated? Yes."

“Do you hate me?"

The old woman sat in a chair and looked at Penny a full minute before replying. “No child, I don't hate you. I feel sorry for you."

“Do you know that Billy and I are friends?"

“I know. He talks about you all the time."

“I have been teaching Billy some things like how to play basketball and to read."

“Billy is a good looking boy. If things had been different ... but they weren't."

Penny sat beside the woman. “He is a handsome young man—strong, muscular and that curly brown hair is beautiful. How do you keep it so curly?"

“It's natural. He got it from his father."

“And Billy is not as retarded as most people think."

“Billy's not retarded at all,” the mother stated.

“What?"

Vera Morgan studied Penny for a moment before proceeding. “Jason beat me every day with Billy watching. Sometimes I deserved it, but most of the time I didn't. Billy used to cry when he saw Jason beating me. Then Jason would beat him. One day Billy didn't cry anymore. God took Billy's mind away to another world, but left his body here."

“I know that Billy likes me, and he learns everything I try to teach him very quickly. Do you think that maybe God is bringing him back into this world now?"

There was a flicker of excitement in the woman's eyes. “I haven't thought about it. It could be, but no—I think not."

“Why not?"

“God saved Billy from pain by taking him to that other world. God punished me with Amos Stone, Pete Harlow and by taking away Billy's mind."

“Why would God punish you like that?"

“I did a bad thing."

Penny touched the woman's wrinkled hand. “Come on, Mrs. Morgan. It couldn't have been that bad."

“I killed Jason."

Penny was speechless.

“He was plowing the field down by the creek, getting it ready to set out the tobacco plants. I took him his lunch. I saw the tractor turn over. I saw him trapped under it, but I went back home. I didn't call for help until dark. He was dead when they found him."

“Mrs. Morgan, if what you say is true, you shouldn't tell anyone."

“Its true. I told everybody. Nobody believed me. He was a bad man. I'm glad he's dead. I'm glad Amos Stone is dead."

“What did Uncle Amos do to you?"

The old woman looked at Penny and shook her head. “Its best you never know, but maybe you can pay Amos’ debt to me."

“I'll do whatever I can,” Penny said.

“I'm an old woman. I have no savings. One of these days they're going to plant me behind the church as they did Amos. Will you look after Billy when I'm gone?"

Penny brightened. “Maybe by the time you go to your final resting place Billy will be able to take care of himself."

“Not the right answer,” Mrs. Morgan said as she stood up and resumed cleaning the room.

“Wait, Mrs. Morgan. I'll look after Billy if he needs it. I promise. Please let me tell you the reason I came looking for you today."

The woman pulled from her apron a pint of cheap whisky, filled her mouth, swished it around and swallowed. She put the bottle back into the apron pocket and sat down again. “I'm listening."

“Uncle Amos left me his farm and all those greenhouses. Every day the ripe vegetables need to be picked and marketed. New plants must be grown continually. There is so much work involved. It's hard work. I need a strong person to help me. I think Billy can do it. I don't know exactly what my financial situation is just yet, so I can't make a firm offer, but I'll pay him something."

“What does Billy say?"

“I haven't asked him. I thought I should talk with you first. I haven't seen Billy since the day Uncle Amos died. Does Billy understand what happened?"

“I told him, but I don't know if he understands."

“If Billy is willing to try, is it all right with you?"

“It can't hurt anything. He just wanders around town as it is."

Penny stood up and hugged Billy's mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. I'll try to find Billy and see if he wants to do it."

As Penny walked down the hall towards the exit stairs, Vera called after her. “A young girl like you should not be living in that big house alone. You need someone to protect you. Maybe Billy would be willing to move in with you. I know there is plenty of room for him."

“I'll see what he thinks,” Penny replied. As she walked up the steps a huge grin crept onto her face and she took the remaining steps two at a time.

Billy was sitting on the fender of her car. “Mr. Stone is dead like my daddy. Billy sorry. Penny angry with Billy?"

“No, Billy. I'm not angry with you. You're my very best friend."

“Billy not know what to do."

“Nobody knows what to do when someone dies, Billy."

“Billy watch funeral from pavilion. Penny pretty. Flowers pretty. Box with Mr. Stone not pretty."