The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Oh tell my father. I don’t care,” Frank scoffed at her.

  “Joe!” Andrea saw Joe standing in the door. She ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Frank moved to Dean. “You’re safe. She found someone else to molest.”

  “God.” Dean caught his breath and ran his fingers through his tossed hair. “I felt like I was on Space Mountain.”

  “I bet.” Frank shook his head and looked back to his father who comforted Andrea by the door. Joe didn’t look like he wanted the task, but he did it anyhow. “What is up with her?” Frank asked, then walked to the door and tried to be calm. “Andrea. You think you’re calm enough to sit your ass down and talk about this without stuffing Dean’s face into your breasts.”

  Joe winced. “Tact, Frank. She’s just concerned.”

  “Concerned? Not often do I feel sorry for Dean, but you should have seen what she did to him.”

  Andrea pulled from Joe’s hold. She wiped her hand down her face. “I am just very upset by all of this. I feel very sorry for him.”

  “Don’t,” Frank instructed. “Don’t. Dean is fine. Dean will do just fine without anyone feeling sorry for him. Of course now, because of the scene you made, the man’s dinner is cold.” Frank saw Henry sneaking back into the room. “Not to mention you frightened away Henry.”

  “I’m sorry,” Andrea spoke and walked to Dean. “Dean, I’m sorry I overreacted like that.”

  Just to be on the safe side, Dean stepped back in fear of getting pummeled again. “That’s fine, Andrea.”

  “Just to make it up to you,” Andrea sniffled, “I am going to send you some of my spaghetti. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow. Deal?”

  Dean nodded.

  “Good.” Andrea walked back over to Joe. “We’ll leave. Robbie? Robbie, dinner. Come now.”

  Robbie closed his eyes and silently whined, “All right.” He looked at Frank and Henry who raised their eyebrows at him.

  Andrea paused in the door before leaving. “Henry, do you mind walking up and getting the food?”

  “No, not at all.” Henry walked forward only to have his arm snatched back by Frank. “What, Frank?”

  Frank pulled Henry close cupping his hand over Henry’s ear and whispering to him.

  Henry gave a thumbs-up. “Got it, Frank.” He grinned and walked to the door and out with Andrea, Joe, and Robbie. Henry was ready to seize the opportunity and take advantage of her guilt like Frank wanted; so he asked what he thought would be the most important question of the evening. “Hey, Andrea? Do you think we can have some of those brownies?”

  <><><><>

  “All in bed.” Frank stepped down the last step of his stairs. “And early too. How about that? Dean, good job on washing Joey’s hair. I told you all you had to do was the squeak test and you’d know the soap was out.” He walked over to the couch. “How’s that sewing going?”

  “Good.” Dean held on to a stuffed animal, sutures in his hand as he repaired small gashes. “Only Ellen would think it enjoyable to slash a teddy bear.”

  Henry, who was sitting on the arm of the couch with his feet on the cushions, looked to Frank who stood behind the couch. “Ellen had a good idea. She’s always said she likes the way Dean stitches.” Henry looked down to what Dean did. “Good Job. I think El will have to judge.”

  Frank sighed, “If she ever comes home.”

  Henry ignored Frank’s comment and returned to Dean. “So, Dean, will it be the same way when you stitch someone?”

  “They won’t be fuzzy,” Dean commented. “But I guess I’ll still have to feel the gashes and follow it with ...” Dean sniffed. He raised his head and sniffed again. “Do you smell cigarette smoke?”

  Henry inhaled. “As a matter of fact, I do.” He swung his legs over the couch and stood up sniffing ... He followed the scent to Frank. “Frank?”

  “What?”

  “You smell like cigarettes.”

  “Ow!” Dean screamed, when he pricked himself with a needle. “Is that Frank who smells like smoke? Frank, were you smoking?”

  “Fuck no. I hate that shit.”

  Henry shook his head as he smelled him. “No, Frank, you really smell like it.”

  “Henry.” Frank palmed his hand over Henry’s head and moved him. “Get your nose off of me. It was Robbie. He was here, upstairs with me smoking that shit when I was putting the kids to bed.”

  Henry laughed. “Robbie wasn’t here.”

  “Yes he was.” Frank got defensive. “How would you know? Where were you fifteen minutes ago?”

  “Frank,” Henry sounded so annoyed, “I ran to my house for five minutes.”

  “That’s when he was here.”

  “In the five minutes that I was gone? Right. Dean, was Robbie here?”

  Dean shook his head. “No.”

  Frank scoffed, “Dean, how the hell would you know? You’re blind.”

  “I would think Robbie would say something to me, Frank.”

  “Well.” Frank fluttered his lips. “He doesn’t like you, so there.”

  Henry chuckled as he sat back down on the couch. “Right, Frank. If you’re smoking, why aren’t you admitting it. You smell like it. What’s the big deal? Own up to it. Just because it would be admitting a weakness, not to mention, it would really make you look like a hypocrite for getting on the people who do ...”

  “Enough!” Frank shouted. “Drop the shit. Robbie came in, ignored Dean, walked up stairs, annoyed me by smoking, and left. All right? Fuck. You people are on my nerves.” He took a deep breath. “Now ... the kids are asleep. It’s just us guys. You know what time it is. We’d better do this before Ellen gets home and intrudes.”

  Henry nodded. “We’d better. She might walk in any second.”

  Dean shrugged. “Then again, she might not. But do it, Frank. Do it now.” He set down the teddy bear. “I’m ready.”

  “Yeah me too.” Frank backed up. “Time to break out the adult stuff.”

  Henry started to stand up. “I’ll get it, Frank.”

  “No.” Frank held his hand up. “I’ll get it. Stay put and sit with Betsy Ross.” He walked to the kitchen, stopping inside and peeking into the living room first. He moved to the sink and opened the last drawer, reaching far in the back and pulling out a small bottle. Peeking out into the living room again, Frank took a drink, a long one, and then another. He replaced the bottle and ignored Henry who called out to hurry him along. “I’m coming,” Frank hollered back. He grabbed three glasses, holding them between his fingers then he picked up the plate of brownies. Smiling at them, he carried them into the living room and set them down on the table.

  Henry, like a kid, lowered himself to the floor by the coffee table. “Milk, Frank.”

  “I’m getting it. I only have two hands.”

  “And napkins. Andrea’s brownies are gooey.” Henry uncovered the plate. “Dean, we’ll make sure we tell you if you get chocolate on your face.”

  “Gee thanks, Henry.”

  “No problem.”

  “Milk, plates, and napkins.” Frank set them down on the coffee table and sat on the couch. He grabbed a glass, filled it with milk, and set it on the table in front of Dean. “Coffee table, twelve o’clock is your milk, Dean.”

  “Thanks, Frank.”

  Frank watched Henry serve up a brownie. “Give Dean two, Henry. He was the one stuck in Andrea’s boobs.” Frank took the plate and handed it to Dean. “These look good, Dean. Messy. Hey, I bet that was a scary thing being smothered by Andrea like that.”

  Dean shrugged. “I guess. It was more frightening not being in control.”

  Henry waved his hand at them. “That was nothing. I had a high price to pay for these brownies too. I had to sit with Andrea and have coffee and ... and listen to her stories about her teenage years.” Henry gave Frank his brownies. “And not to mention, I had to hear about how old she was, Frank, when she lost her virginity.”

  Frank cringed. “Ouch. Sorry,
Henry, but does anyone know what is up with Andrea lately? Dean, is she going through a change of life or something?”

  “Possibly,” Dean answered, “but I’ve never known a woman to get so happy when it’s a change of life. Wow, these are good.”

  “She’s gone,” Frank commented and ate a brownie. “Whoa, she did a good job on these.”

  Henry sat up perkily. “I know why she’s like she is.” He saw he had their attention. “Andrea is in ... these brownies are good.”

  “Henry!” Frank yelled. “Andrea is in what?”

  “Love,” Henry answered, “with your father.”

  “Oh she is not in love with my father,” Frank said.

  “Is too,” Henry insisted. “Head over heels.”

  “They aren’t even together,” Frank argued.

  “Yes they are,” Henry insisted.

  “No they aren’t. Did she tell you this?” Frank asked.

  “No.” Henry shook his head. “But I can tell. I guess they’re hiding it like you hiding your smoking. But I’ll bet they are. Frank, she waits on him hand and foot. She’s all giddy when she’s around him. Love. Bows down to him, in so many words but not literally, I don’t think. That’s really none of my business.”

  “Please. No woman waits on a man hand and foot.”

  Dean laughed loudly once. “Frank, have you see Ellen with Henry? She’s bad with him.”

  “You’re kidding?” Frank asked. “No way.”

  “Yes.” Dean nodded as he chewed. “Frank, everyone talks about how much control you and I have over her. Nothing. It’s nothing compared to what Henry has over her.”

  “Henry.” Frank looked at him. “Knock the shit off.”

  “I don’t control her, Frank,” Henry stated. “Did it ever dawn on the two of you that I am nicer than the two of you? Or maybe she just likes me better.”

  “Oh really, Henry?” Frank said with arrogance. “A little cocky are you? Well, maybe you’re not the nicest one anymore.”

  “I am too.”

  “Nope.” Frank shook his head. “I’m telling you that guy Danny is nicer. Dean, this guy is really nice, and he’s not all high strung like Henry either.”

  “You don’t say.” Dean knew what Frank was up to.

  Henry tried to ignore them. “Danny is not nicer than me.”

  “He is too. I bet El knows,” Frank told him. “Henry, it’s after nine. Where is Ellen?”

  “At Containment,” Henry answered.

  “Where’s the new guy?” Frank continued.

  “At ... at Containment.” Henry reached for his milk. “But I’ll have you know, Mr. Smarty Pants, she has a social skills class tonight.”

  Dean cleared his throat. “Frank, correct me if I’m wrong. I might be wrong but when you and Ellen were together and she was cheating on me, didn’t she use that excuse? That she had a social skills class? And that they ran over?”

  “I’m pleading the fifth, Dean.”

  “I thought so,” Dean said. “You’re saying that she was taken by this new guy? I’m a little worried, Frank. If I were Henry, I wouldn’t be so sure. She’s been around us for how long? We know Ellen. Someone new. Someone nice. Someone clean and ...”

  “Dean,” Frank interrupted, “you can stop now.” He snickered. “Henry left.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  JULY 28

  It was as if he could actually see the files he pulled from the filing cabinet. Henry watched Dean, thumbing through, his mouth murmuring as if he were counting or something then Dean would pull out a file.

  “Dean? How are you doing that?”

  “I’m remembering the names of everyone in Beginnings and counting files. Here. Who’s this?” Dean held the file out to his side.

  “Gerry Sanders.”

  “That’s one of who I need.”

  “Wow, Dean, this is really amazing.”

  “Who’s this?” Dean handed him another file.

  “Bill Trobino.” Henry looked at the name.

  “Good. Need him too.” Feeling the file cabinet, Dean closed it. “That’s everyone. Walk back to my lab and wait with me. Henry?”

  “That’s why I’m here, to wait for Frank with you.”

  “What am I in for today, Henry?” Dean grabbed his files and moved slowly to the door. He paused and then turned right.

  “Um ... you’re in for an interesting day.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you counting paces, Dean?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was Frank right? Or was I? Was it twenty-five Dean-paces or Frank-paces to the lab?”

  “Frank-paces. Wanna know how I know? I came here last night with him and followed his stupid chart. I walked twenty-five paces, turned left, and bam, I hit a wall. So we recalculated. I stayed up most of the night memorizing the steps from the lab to the file room and so forth.”

  “Do you think Frank’s pace map will actually help you then?” Henry asked.

  “Yeah I do. Hey.” Dean stopped and turned left. “I’m at the lab right?” He didn’t get an answer. “Tell me I’m at the lab, Henry, so I don’t walk into a wall.”

  “You’re at the lab, Dean.”

  Dean smiled and walked inside. “Too bad you didn’t come back to the house last night. You could have come with us. Josh watched the kids and Frank and I were here working. Actually ...” Dean shrugged. “Actually, I thought he was being stupid and I yelled at him, but it ended up being fun. We went to the Social Hall last night and threw darts.”

  “That couldn’t have been much fun, Dean.” Henry sat down on a stool. “It had to be a pretty lopsided game, especially seeing how Frank can see the dart board and you can’t.”

  “He made it fair, Henry. He put on a blindfold. Well. we both had blindfolds on to cover up for me throwing badly too. It took an hour to play a countdown game that should have taken five minutes. But, aside from hitting old lady Josephine a few times with the darts, all went smoothly.”

  “Who won?”

  “Who do you think?”

  “Frank.”

  “Exactly.” Dean walked to the refrigerator, felt the clipboard that hung there, grabbed the third sheet, and opened the fridge. He pulled out a rack and walked to the counter, setting down the rack of blood tubes carefully. “Here, Henry, could you compare the names on this sheet to these tubes. I think I grabbed the right rack.”

  Henry took the sheet of paper and started to compare.

  “So why didn’t you come back to the house?”

  “That’s one of the things I came here early to talk to you about. I need to talk to someone and I thought you could help.”

  “Sure.” Dean felt to his side, found a stool, and sat. “What’s up?”

  “Last night ... oh by the way, you grabbed the right rack.” Henry set down the paper. “Last night I went to Containment. I snatched Ellen out of there, Dean. I kind of fought with her and made her feel guilty.”

  “How was Ellen with that?” Dean asked.

  “Sad that I made her feel badly.”

  “Why did you snatch her out of there, Henry?”

  “See ... whoops, sorry, Dean. When I got to Containment, they were laughing and joking around, everyone listening to that Danny guy rattle on and use Ellen as a visual aid. I don’t know why I got like I did.”

  “Henry, simple, you were jealous.”

  “No.” Henry shook his head. “I’m not a jealous person.”

  “Henry, you are.”

  “No I’m not, Dean.”

  “You are a very territorial guy, Henry. How much more blunt can I be?”

  “Dean, you’re wrong,” Henry stated. “How can I be a jealous person when you and her don’t upset me?”

  “Can I be perfectly honest with you?” Dean asked.

  “Please.”

  “OK. Henry, you are territorial. Now you are only well and fine when the situation falls within the realm of your Henry comfort zone. Anything that happens out of bounds from that dr
ives you insane. It’s in everything you do. Mechanics, friends, life. That’s when your territorial tendencies come in. Last night was a prime example. Had she been with me, you wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But she stayed late at Containment and all over another guy, a guy who isn’t in your Henry rules. Therefore you got upset.”

  Henry grumbled a little. “I was a little upset last night, I was. But you know what, Dean? I refuse to let myself get like that anymore. I won’t.”

  “Can you though, Henry. You seem awfully threatened by the new guy. Ellen works at Containment.”

  “I’m just gonna have to trust the fact that he is just a Survivor right now. I have to trust Ellen.” He heard Dean snicker. “I trust her, Dean, and I won’t do that again. Mark my words, I won’t show my jealously again.”

  Ellen’s bright chipper entrance happened upon that lab as she shuffled in. “Morning! Or almost afternoon!” She giggled and set her phlebotomy tray on the counter. “Hi, Henry. Are you waiting for Frank with Dean?”

  “Yes. I’m helping them out today,” Henry replied.

  “Boy, I’ll tell you,” Ellen spoke loudly, “what a weight I feel was lifted off my shoulders, especially with people beginning to know you’re blind, Dean. They only have nice things to say.” She moved to the counter and saw the stack of folders. “Are these for me to work on?”

  “Yes,” Dean said. “I also have the rack out for you. Remember their virus strained blood is on the second shelf at the mobile fridge.”

  “Got it.” Ellen gave a thumbs-up. “Oh! Can I tell you guys a joke? I have a really cool joke. I laughed and laughed.” She snickered. “Can I?”

  Henry grinned. “A joke? Wow, it has been forever since I heard a funny joke. Dean, how about you?”

  Dean lifted his hand and let it fall with a slap. “At least one that hasn’t been told a million and one times. Shoot, Ellen, tell us your joke.”

  “Really?” She shifted her smiling eyes. “Good. Thanks. Oh gees, the pressure. I hope I don’t screw it up.” She rubbed her hands together. “Here it is. These two whales, Mr. and Mrs. Whale, were swimming in the ocean. The guy whale says to his wife, ‘Hey I hear a fishing boat and I know it’s the sailors that tried to stab me last year.’ Well the wife, being a wife mind you, says, ‘Oh how do you know?’” Ellen heard Henry snicker. “It’s funny, huh? So the husband insists that it’s the boat and he begs his wife, like a good husband should, to help him out. Against her will she says, ‘Oh, all right ...’ So the husband tells her, ‘When the boat comes near, I’ll go under it and rock it like mad. Then you, you snort at them blasting them with your water and when they fall out of the boat, you eat them.’” Ellen paused to laugh. “Here’s where it gets funny. So the wife ... the wife goes, ‘Fine, but get this straight, I have no problem snorting at them but I refuse, refuse to eat the fishermen!’” At the end of her joke, Ellen burst into laughter and so did Henry.