by Roy Glenn
“That’s just it, Ms. Lawrence. She wouldn’t tell us or the police her name. She’s in shock, and she’s been talking with the counselor this morning. She was able to get your name and number out of her, but not much else.”
Me’shelle left school immediately and went to the hospital. The doctor on duty told Me’shelle that Brandy had been raped and she was still in shock. They allowed Me’shelle to see her, but only for a while, as Brandy had become very agitated and had to be sedated.
She sat at Brandy’s bedside, crying while she held her hand until the nurses forced her to leave. When Me’shelle came out of the room, two officers and the rape counselor were waiting to talk to her.
They sat and questioned a tearful Me’shelle for about half an hour, but there wasn’t much she could tell them.
“What relation are you to the victim?” the officers asked.
“I’m her aunt. Her father is my brother. Have you called her parents?” Me’shelle asked.
“No, ma’am. Yours was the only name I could get out of her in the state she’s in,” the counselor said.
“Can you give us the address and phone number of her parents?” the officer asked politely.
Me’shelle gave the police the information they requested and one went to try to call the house. Meanwhile, the counselor continued to ask Me’shelle questions she could not answer. When the officer returned, he informed Me’shelle that there was no answer at that number. They were getting off their shift, but had called in to have a car sent over to Bruce’s house.
When the doctor returned to check on Brandy, the counselor went back in with her. Me’shelle went to the pay phone to call her aunt. Miranda was horrified, but not surprised by the news. Me’shelle began to cry once again and Miranda tried in vain to calm her down. She promised to call Juanita, then they would come to the hospital. Then Me’shelle called Travis, but she got no answer.
Me’shelle sat restlessly outside Brandy’s room until the doctor and counselor came out. Before continuing her rounds, the doctor assured Me’shelle that Brandy was going to be fine physically. “But she may complain of a general soreness and aches throughout her body. She may also complain of pain in the specific areas of the body that were targeted during the assault. These pains may be the result of actual physical trauma, or may be a psychosomatic response. Both reasons are equally valid and real. We’ll keep her under observation for a while, but your niece is going to be fine. However, I strongly recommended that you talk with the counselor about what she could expect next.”
“Hi,” the counselor said as the doctor walked away. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. My name is Judith Franklin, and as the doctor said, I’m a rape counselor.”
“Me’shelle Lawrence,” she said and held out her hand.
“How are you feeling?” Judith asked, giving her a hug.
“I’m all right,” Me’shelle assured her. The truth was that she blamed herself for not doing more to get Brandy out of that environment. She thought about all the times she’d threatened to pack Brandy’s things and take her away from Bruce and Natalie, but never did.
“I’m going to assume that since you were the only person Brandy would tell us about that the two of you are close.”
“Yes, we are,” Me’shelle said quietly.
“I think it will be very helpful to Brandy for you to play an important role in her recovery.”
“I will. I’ll be there for her no matter what.” It was a commitment Me’shelle made to herself.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Judith said with a reassuring smile that seemed to have a calming effect on Me’shelle. She and Me’shelle sat down and Judith continued. “I want to take a minute to talk to you about some of the things that you can expect with Brandy.”
“Okay, Ms. Franklin.”
“Please, call me Judith.”
“Judith it is. And please, call me Me’shelle.”
“The first and most important thing, Me’shelle, is that although every survivor’s experience will be unique, many will have one thing in common: Rape Trauma Syndrome, or a cluster of emotional responses to the extreme stress experienced during the sexual assault. More specifically, it’s a response to the profound fear of death that almost all survivors experience during an assault.”
“I can’t even imagine what that must feel like or what she’s going through.”
“Well, the trauma that Brandy is experiencing generally occurs in two phases: the acute or initial phase, which usually lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the assault, and the reorganization phase, which can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months after the assault. Often, the end of the acute phase will overlap the beginning of the reorganization phase. Each phase is characterized by particular emotional and physical concerns that most survivors experience.”
“Like what?”
“In the acute phase, the survivor experiences a complete disruption of her life, responding to the fear of death she experienced. Survivors may display any of a number of contrasting emotional responses. A survivor may cry, shout, swear, or she may laugh nervously, which is called expressed style. Or as in Brandy’s case, sit calmly or be silent, which is controlled style.”
“Which one is better?”
“No response is inappropriate,” Judith said passionately. “Brandy may exhibit characteristics of both styles. Responses vary depending on any one of a number of external and experiential circumstances. Any emotion is appropriate because everyone has their own unique way of responding to events in their life.”
“What can I do to help her?”
“Just be there for her. Right now, Brandy’s initial response to the assault may be shock and disbelief. Many survivors may appear numb.”
“That’s what scares me. I’ve never seen her like that. Brandy is always so lively. Now she looks so distant.”
“That’s not inappropriate behavior. Actually, this response might provide an emotional “time-out,” so to speak. It could be a time for her to acknowledge and begin to process the experience. If the assault was particularly brutal, Brandy may experience an extreme shock response and completely block out the assault.”
“I know that can’t be good for her.”
“No, it’s not, but it’s something she may experience, and you have to be prepared to deal with it. Following the shock and disbelief most survivors initially experience, they may experience a variety of emotions. Brandy may feel angry, afraid, or lucky to be alive. She may feel humiliated, sad, confused, vengeful, or degraded and dirty. She may begin washing compulsively, particularly in the lower body, in response to feeling dirty. All of these responses are normal.”
“And these feelings, how can I help her deal with them without invalidating them?”
“Whatever a survivor is feeling is valid because they’re feeling it. It is how they express their reaction to assault.”
“Is there anything else that I can expect?”
“You may notice disruptions in her usual sleeping and eating patterns. Brandy may not be able to eat or sleep, or may eat more than usual and be unable to stay awake.”
“Should I sleep near her to let her know I’m there? I mean, she may have a horrible nightmare and wake up hysterical. She may even think that her assailant is there and just leave. Then what?”
“Survivors may report nightmares in which they relive the assault. Sexual assault is such a traumatic event that the survivor may dream about it in some way throughout her life. Oh my, look at the time,” Judith said when she glanced at her watch. “I have got to get going.” She stood up.
“Thank you for all of the information, Judith.”
“You’re welcome, Me’shelle. I hope that it’s helpful to you and your family. What Brandy needs most now is love and support. With that and time, I believe she’ll be fine,” Judith said and handed Me’shelle a card. “Please call me when she’s able to talk, or have one of the nurses contact me. And if you have an
y questions or I can help in any way, just let me know.”
“I will,” Me’shelle answered as the counselor walked away. She went into the room to check on Brandy, who was sleeping peacefully. Me’shelle made a commitment to herself that no matter what Bruce and Natalie had to say about it, Brandy was coming home with her. She had stood by too long and allowed too much to happen. It had to stop, and it had to stop now. After she checked on Brandy, Me’shelle went to call Travis.
Chapter Twenty-three
Early that morning, Travis surprised Jackie and Ronnie with the announcement that he had another job planned. This was just what they both wanted to hear. Ronnie had made some bad investments and had to dip deep into his reserve to cover his loses. Jackie was deep into her reserves as well, as her gambling losses began to pile up.
Travis had decided to tell them that this would be his last job. Since the first day he began thinking seriously about it, he knew that his decision to get out would have a profound effect on his relationship with Jackie and Ronnie. They knew something was going on with him, but up until this point, he was able to convince them his recent changes in behavior were all about him working again and nothing more.
And for a while that was fine. Jackie had gotten wrapped up in doing a little modeling and Ronnie seemed happy and content to be trading stocks again. But now, with their recent financial misfortunes, Travis felt responsible somehow and obligated to do this last job.
When Jackie and Ronnie arrived Travis laid out his plan to take the bank he had been surveying. “Alright, listen up. Our next job is going to be the taking of the First American Bank,” Travis said. He laid a diagram of the bank on the table.
The house phone rang, but Travis ignored it and handed Jackie a map of the area around the bank. “On Friday, this branch has a larger than usual amount of cash on hand to process payroll checks from the offices in the area. When the bank opens on Friday morning, there’s a small rush, which ends at approximately 10:15 a.m. Then there’s a lull that lasts until approximately 11:30, when the lunch rush begins. That’s our window. Our target time is 10:30. We will observe standard operating procedures as well as wearing standard operating gear, with business attire under our jumpsuits.”
Travis turned his attention to the diagram of the bank. “The security is stationed outside of the bank, supposedly as a deterrent to robbery. His standard patrol pattern is simple; he walks circles on the sidewalk around the outside of the bank. He goes into the bank every fifteen minutes for a period of time that never exceeds ten minutes. He will enter the bank here at the north door, and will exit here at the south door,” Travis said, pointing to the diagram.
The phone rang again, and once again Travis ignored it.
“Jackie will be positioned there and will advise on his entrance. Once he is in the bank, Jackie will move into position at the north door and stand by for the word ‘go.’ Ronnie, you and I will assume an ambush posture at the south door. When the guard exits the building, Ronnie will disarm and secure him while I cover. Once he’s secure, the word is ‘go.’
“Inside the bank there will be six people: five females and one male. There are four teller positions and three offices directly adjacent to them. During our target window, at least two of those positions will be manned, but all positions will be stocked.
“Once inside, I will cover the room, and, if it’s all right with you two, control the operation. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Jackie said.
“Ronnie?”
“You da man,” Ronnie said.
“All right. The timeline is two minutes. Once we’re inside, your first objective is to move everybody to the center of the room. Ronnie, you clear these offices while Jackie moves everybody out from behind the counter, but you’ll maintain your position behind the counter and prepare to go for the money in the teller positions only.
“Ronnie, in the first office you’ll find the bank manager. She will have a key on her waist; secure it. Once we have accounted for and have secured the guard, all six employees and however many customers are there, Ronnie will join Jackie behind the counter.
“You should have approximately one minute to get the money in the drawers and from the rolling cart, which will be behind the counter. Ronnie, that key will open the cart and any of the cash drawers that are locked. Take the cart first, Ronnie, while Jackie clears the teller positions.
“Jackie, once Ronnie has the cash from the cart, you will give him your bag, and you will exit the building though the south entrance and prepare for our escape. Ronnie, you proceed to take any of the drawers that were locked.”
This time his cell phone rang and Travis answered it. “Hello.”
By the time she got Travis on the phone, Me’shelle was crying again, and it was very hard for Travis to understand what she was saying. “Slow down, Me’shelle. Are you all right?” Travis asked as he walked away from the table.
Jackie looked at Ronnie. “Who the fuck is Me’shelle?” she said softly and with a bit of attitude.
“How the fuck should I know?” Ronnie answered.
Travis was only able to make out the words ‘rape’, ‘Jacobi Hospital’ and ‘please come.’
“All right, Me’shelle, just calm down. I’m on my way,” he said and hung up.
Travis turned to Jackie and Ronnie, who both stood before him with questioning eyes. “What’s up, Tee?” Ronnie asked.
“Who the fuck is Me’shelle?” Jackie asked.
“I gotta go, y’all.”
“You leaving? In the middle of plannin’ a job?” Ronnie asked in disbelief. “I don’t fuckin’ believe this shit. What’s so fuckin’ important that you got to drop everything and run out?”
“Who the fuck is Me’shelle?” Jackie asked again.
“I’ll answer all your questions when I get back, but I gotta go. Y’all can stay here if you want to or bounce. I’ll get with y’all later,” Travis said and left the house.
“Ain’t that a bitch,” Ronnie said.
“It damn sure is. And who the fuck is Me’shelle?” Jackie asked.
Chapter Twenty-four
When Travis arrived at the hospital, he looked around for Me’shelle. The duty nurse led him to Brandy’s room, where he found Me’shelle sitting quietly at her door. Travis sat down next to Me’shelle and the two sat quietly in the hallway holding hands. Me’shelle began to cry again, and Travis squeezed her hand a little tighter. Her thoughts were on Bruce and Natalie. Where were they, and why hadn’t either of them come to the hospital to see about their daughter? Probably off somewhere getting high.
When her aunts arrived, Me’shelle cried as she told them how Brandy was doing and what she knew. Travis stayed back and allowed the family their space. “Has anybody heard from Bruce?” Juanita asked.
“Nothing. The police said they were going to send a car by the house, but I haven’t heard anything else about that either,” Me’shelle replied.
“Him and Natalie are probably off somewhere getting high like they always do,” Miranda said, then she cried. “Can we see her?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to check with the nurses. They said that Brandy was very agitated and they had to sedate her. They wanted her to rest.”
Juanita started walking toward the nurses’ station. “We’ll see her.”
While Juanita went off to talk with the nurses, Me’shelle introduced Miranda to Travis.
“I’m sorry to have to meet you under these circumstances. Me’shelle talks about you and her aunt Juanita all the time. She has a lot of love and respect for you both,” Travis said.
Miranda looked at Travis and rolled her eyes. “Did she teach you to say that?”
“No.” Travis laughed a little. “She really does talk about the two of you all the time.”
Juanita returned from the nurses’ station. “We can see her now, as long as we don’t wake her. I promised to call one of them if she wakes up.”
“Aunt Juanita, this is Travis Burns
, the man I’ve been telling you about. Travis, this is my aunt Juanita.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I was just telling your sister that Me’shelle talks about the two of you all the time, and how she has so much love and respect for you both,” Travis said
Juanita rolled her eyes just like Miranda did. “Huh. So you’re the reason that Me’shelle can’t come have Sunday dinner with us old ladies anymore,” she said, looking at Me’shelle. “You know, the ones that she has so much love and respect for.”
“I guess I am,” Travis said softly.
“Let’s go see Brandy, Juanita,” Miranda said. Juanita followed her to Brandy’s room. Before they entered, she stopped and turned back to face Travis. “I guess that means that you have to come to Sunday dinner with her now, since she can’t seem to do anything without you,” she said.
“It may be the only way we get to see her again,” Juanita added then the pair disappeared into the room.
Travis turned around and reclaimed his seat. “That didn’t go well.”
“Yes, it did,” Me’shelle said as she sat down next to him. “I think they like you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“When they first met Trent, Aunt Juanita told him he had a big head, and Aunt Miranda, well, she didn’t even speak to him. They were both looking forward to meeting you. I told them that you were the perfect gentleman and that you know how to treat a lady.”
“I’d never have known it from that response.”
“They invited you to dinner, Travis.”
“So they can fatten me up for the kill. A punishment for taking their Me’shelle away from them.”
As the day wore on, Me’shelle left Travis sitting in the hallway while she went in the room to be with her family. When she came out and sat down, Me’shelle noticed two men at the nurses’ station. The nurse pointed in her direction and the two men came down the hall.
