The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

“No.” Ellen chuckled “The anger subsided. I just want to see what his attitude is now.”

  “Want me to wait?”

  Ellen smiled. “Could you?”

  “Yeah. I’ll hang down the hall and look at the two new babies.”

  “I’ll be there in a minute.” Ellen waited until Joe walked away then she turned and went into the lab. “Dean?” she called out.

  Dean froze. He literally froze. His hands stopped, his head lifted, and he froze. After a second, he slowly turned around. Ellen was walking toward him. “Oh, my God.” He wisped out. “Ellen.”

  “Hey,” she spoke softly. “I want to talk to you.”

  “Is it about trying to kill me today? Because for some unknown reason, in a way, I understand.”

  “That’s good. I understand why I did it too,” Ellen said with a slight smile. “However, there’s something I don’t understand, Dean.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I love you.”

  Dean turned completely to face her.

  “Yeah, I do. Maybe somewhere it makes sense or there’s a reason for this happening but, despite it all, I still love you. I don’t understand why this is all happening or where I lost your love. Why did you suddenly divorce me? It has no logical explanation so please explain it to me.”

  Dean breathed out. “The divorce,” he said with almost question and his eyes widened. “The . . . divorce.”

  “Yes, you know the thing that just happened to end our marriage not an hour ago,”

  “Oh my God, El. For some reason I don’t even know why I . . .”

  “Skippy.” Her crass voice carried into the lab.

  Full speed, without hesitation, Dean turned.

  Confused. Ellen was totally confused and dumbfounded when she saw it. She looked twice from the door where Josephine stood and back to Dean who grinned.

  “Glad I found ya’, Skippy,” Josephine slurred some. “I’m an old woman. I’m waiting. Got to take advantage of it while I’m still kicking and can enjoy the freedom. Call it something I’ve been waiting on and you been promising.”

  Ellen’s mouth dropped open.

  “I totally forgot,” Dean said. “I am so sorry.” He stepped to Josephine.

  “That’s fine,” Josephine said. “Seeing how we’re both busy people, why don’t you put that special tool of yours to work and give me some relief?”

  “I can do that.”

  “Dean,” Ellen gasped as she watched him move across the lab.

  “Room Two?” Josephine pointed and when Dean nodded, with a slight toppling turn, she disappeared.

  “Dean.” Ellen tried to get his attention. “Dean.” But it was too late, Dean had left the lab. So frustrated, Ellen didn’t just grunt. She growled a noise that carried throughout the lab.

  “It didn’t go well, I take it?” Joe asked.

  Ellen shook her head.

  “I didn’t think so. I was surprised to see him walk out of here.”

  “With Josephine, none the less.” Ellen moved toward the door. “They’re having sex, Joe.”

  “What!” Joe blasted. “Get the hell out here. No way.”

  “I’m telling you. Room Two.”

  “I’m telling you that is absurd. Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “Room Two.” Joe walked out.

  “Joe.” Ellen hurried to catch him. “Joe, this is something I don’t . . .” She stopped speaking when she saw Joe, looking horrified, standing before the closed door outside of Room Two. She didn’t need to ask because Ellen experienced what Joe did, the voices of Dean and Josephine as they carried loudly into the hall.

  “Yeah, Skippy, that’s it,” Josephine spoke loudly. “You’re getting the hang of it now. Get it. Get it! This is goddamn phenomenal!”

  “Are you sure I’m not hurting you?” Dean asked.

  “No, not at all. It’s pleasurable pain. Keep going. Go. Go. Go.”

  “Just stop me if it’s too much.”

  “You’re almost there.”

  With a leading arm, Joe moved Ellen from the door. He paused to make a face of disgust. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. But until we find out . . .” He walked with her. “Come on. I’ll escort you home.”

  Long and loud, Josephine squealed out a ‘yes’ and she sat up fully on the table. “Good job.”

  “I have to say I’m impressed,” Dean spoke from the stool where he sat. He rolled back from the table. “You handled that well.”

  “I ain’t bleeding either.”

  “No you aren’t.” Dean looked at Josephine’s foot. “Son of a bitch.” From her big toe, Dean looked at the small instrument in his hand. “Remind me to tell Danny Hoi that this really did work. I could have given you some anesthetic.”

  “No way. I ain’t no chicken shit. Besides, that damn ingrown toenail been hurting so goddamn bad I wanted to feel it come out of there. You know what I mean.”

  “I think I do.” Dean chuckled. “Thanks for being a guinea pig.”

  “No problem. That’s the best ingrown toenail tool I ever seen.”

  “Well,” Dean snickered, “it’s for hard to maneuver surgeries, but it served its purpose in this test.” He stood up. “I think I’ll wash up and share this monumental occasion with El.”

  “You do that.” Josephine hopped off the table. “I want to walk around and feel the freedom.” She hobbled to the door. “Goddamn Skippy, when you said you wanted to pleasure me, you certainly found a way.”

  Dean was washing his hands and chuckling at her comment, but the second Josephine stepped out, he halted mid laugh and spun to the mirror to look at himself in question. “I told her I wanted to pleasure her? Oh my God.”

  ^^^^

  Hal spoke seriously with his hands folded. He stared out over the railing of the porch while he sat on the ice cold porch furniture. “What about some sort of virus? Something that attacks the brain. That could explain why the three of us are sitting outside as if it’s summer.”

  “Virus?” Robbie asked. “God, I hope not. If that’s the case, how advanced is Dean? He’s doing my surgery tomorrow.”

  Frank interjected. “Maybe it doesn’t affect the medical portion of the brain.”

  A slight smile hit Robbie, “Maybe.”

  Hal rolled his eyes at Frank’s comment. “Bet me if it’s a virus, it’s something Dean created. That would explain why he has it so bad.”

  “It could be Dean’s just mental now,” Robbie said.

  “Nah,” Frank commented. “Dean’s in the right frame of mine.”

  “Please,” Hal scoffed. “A sane man just hands his wife over to an insane man?”

  “No,” Frank said. “An insane man handed his wife over to a sane man.”

  “Frank!” Hal snapped. “You just said Dean was not insane.”

  “No, I did not.”

  “Yes, you did. Robbie? Did he or did he not say that?”

  “He didn’t, Hal. He said Dean was in the right frame of mind.”

  “Ha!” Frank taunted.

  “Same difference, Hal said childishly. “And I don’t think it’s insanity. It has to be something. If it wasn’t, why is Dad acting so odd and buying an oddball explanation?”

  “It could be something in the air or something we’re eating.” Robbie suggested.

  “Good God, then we’re all gonna get it and our top mind is not capable of curing it. Imagine Frank with it.”

  From biting his nails, Frank lifted his hand in serious thought. “What about aliens?”

  Both Hal and Robbie turned and looked at Frank.

  “Aliens?” Hal asked.

  “Yeah, not that illegal kind like Elliott Ryder. I mean space aliens, the little green kind. Not that they’re green, but what if it’s some sort of take over? We should check the back of everyone’s neck.”

  “Good God, Frank’s already been infected. He’s even more of a moron,” Hal stated.

  “Hal!” Frank snapped. “I’m fuc
kin serious.”

  “So am I. You’re a moron. Aliens.” Hal shook his head.

  Frank, almost in discovery, gasped loudly.

  “What?” Hal asked.

  “Oh!” Frank stood up.

  “What!” Hal yelled.

  “Oh fuck!”

  “What!” Again, Hal blasted.

  Robbie snickered. “I don’t think he hears you, Hal. Try a little louder.”

  “I got it.” Frank snapped his fingers. “The meteor that’s coming. What if . . .”

  Exhaling a groan, Hal sat back.

  “No, hear me out.”

  Robbie spoke up, “I’m listening, Frank.”

  “Thanks,” Frank said. “What about . . . what if the arriving meteor has something to do with it and it’s bringing something with it? Meteor dementia.”

  Very calm and very serious, Hal glanced at Frank. “Meteor dementia?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re an idiot, Frank.”

  “I resent that.”

  Mocking, Hal spoke, “I resent that. What the hell? A meteor? You are an idiot.”

  “I am not.”

  “Please,” Hal ridiculed. “Who was the one who never believed, despite how many times proved wrong, never believed that their tongue could stick to cold metal? Who was the one who always got their tongue stuck to the basketball hoop pole when they were a child?”

  Frank thought for a moment. “Who?”

  “You.” Hal pointed.

  “No. That was in a movie. Remember a Christmas movie where the little kid . . .”

  “No, that was you.”

  “I wasn’t in a movie about a kid at Christmas time.”

  “Frank!” Hal blasted. “You! You were the one who stuck their tongue to the basketball pole.”

  “I was?”

  “Yes!”

  “When was I in a movie?” Frank asked.

  “Easy.” Robbie calmed Hal before he could scream again. “You were in a movie many years ago, but you also did that in real life too, Frank.”

  “I did?” Frank blinked. “Oh, yeah I did.” He laughed. “That’s funny. Good thing it couldn’t happen now.”

  “It could if you stuck your tongue against metal,” Hal said.

  “No.” Frank shook his head. “It only works with a kid tongue. Grown up tongues don’t get stuck.”

  “Are you an asshole?” Hal asked. “Grown up tongues? A tongue is a tongue, Frank. If you stuck your tongue against the cold siding of this house, it would get stuck.”

  Frank scoffed, “Hal, no it wouldn’t. It’s not real metal and second, I have a fuckin grown up tongue. Hello! Weren’t you listening?”

  “I don’t believe so,” Hal stated. “You are wrong. Your grown up tongue would get stuck to the siding.”

  “No, it wouldn’t.”

  Hal huffed, “Would too. Robbie, tell him.”

  Robbie hesitated. He shifted his eyes from brother to brother. “Um, I have to go with Frank on this one.”

  “Which part?” Hal asked. “The grown up tongue argument or the siding?”

  “Both,” Robbie said,

  “Ha!” Frank gloated.

  “Will you stop?” Hal barked. “Robbie, you cannot be serious. Please, little brother, you know better.”

  Frank interjected, “He knows that I know.”

  “Yes, Frank,” Hal said snidely. “You know all. You’re Frank.”

  “I am.”

  “And you’re an idiot. Now, thank you very much. You’ve gone and affected our baby brother. Robbie, please tell me you’re just doing your typical take sides with Frank.”

  “Hal,” Robbie spoke soft and innocent. “You both pose really good arguments. It’s a tough call. Seeing how it’s a tough call, the argument should really be solved.” A sneaky, ornery grin crept across Robbie’s face as his eyes shifted from brother to brother. “And there’s only one way to find out.”

  ^^^^

  “I’m sure there is a very good reason for it.” Joe held his hand on Ellen’s back as they neared home.

  “It didn’t sound like any medical procedure I know.”

  “Still . . . it’s Josephine.”

  “True.” Ellen nodded.

  “And we keep records. At least I hope we keep records at the clinic. You can easily find out.”

  “What happens if it’s not the chip? What happens if Dean is . . . well . . .”

  “Crazy.”

  Ellen cringed.

  “Then we deal with it like all the insane people. You’ll have a new resident at Containment.”

  “Joe, we need him.”

  “We have you. If I may . . .” Joe turned Ellen to face him. “In my opinion, it doesn’t matter that Dean divorced you. I don’t give a rat’s ass about anything except the fact that you’re home . . . the doctor I trust is home and I’m ready to move on with more treatments.”

  “Then we’ll move on it.” Ellen smiled and tip toed up kissing Joe on the cheek. “I need to move on it.”

  “Really? Even after what I told you Dean said.”

  “Joe.” Ellen snickered. “We’re talking Dean here. Let me decide.”

  Joe winked. “You got it. While you’re at it, can you make sure that all goes well with Robbie’s surgery tomorrow? He’s going in his head, Ellen. I can’t take chances. I have Frank. One idiot son is enough.”

  “Joe, please. Frank is not an idiot.”

  “Oh yeah?” Joe turned Ellen in the direction of her home, “So why is he just standing there facing the house?”

  “I think the question should be why are Hal and Robbie just watching?”

  “No . . .” Joe started to walk again. “They’re laughing.”

  “Maybe it’s a game, Joe.”

  Joe only gave a cross look then headed to his sons. “Boys.”

  As if guilty, Robbie and Hal spun.

  “Dad.” Robbie grinned. “Hey . . . I’m going in the house now. Hal?”

  “Uh . . . yes. Let’s rest you up for surgery.” He gave a nod. “Father.” After turning and looking back at Frank who grunted, a chuckling Hal hurried with Robbie.

  “Frank?” Joe called him.

  “Hmm?” Frank said.

  “What the hell are you doing? Is something wrong with the house?”

  Slightly, Frank’s head shook no.

  “Frank?” Curiously, Ellen inched to him. “Why are you . . . oh my God!” She stepped back. “Frank, you big goof.”

  “What?” Joe asked then took a step. After a knowing ‘uh-ha’, hands behind his back, Joe stepped away. “I’m going in.”

  “Joe,” Ellen called him.

  “You take care of it.” Joe pointed. “I have to keep my head clear. I have a journal entry to make. This entry will be pretty basic. My sons are morons.”

  Over Frank’s grunts, Ellen watched Joe leave. “Okay, Frank. I’ll deal with it. Hold on.” she exhaled. “If you weren’t such an ass.” Shaking her head, Ellen couldn’t help but laugh when she looked again at Frank as he stood there in the freezing cold with his mouth open and his tongue stuck to the house.

  CHAPTER THREE

  January 31st

  As a father, there were two things that without a doubt, Joe was certain he knew when it came to his boys. One, he knew when they were up to something. Two, when they were scared. As Joe stood beside Robbie in the pre dawn hours of the clinic, he saw how scared Robbie was.

  Robbie joked. That was just Robbie but Joe saw through it. Robbie had tell-tale signs that he couldn’t hide. His pouty lips seemed to pucker and press against each other nervously in a swallow more often than normal. His eyes that didn’t shift quickly, but rather slow in a studying manner and his fingers gripped and released whatever he could grasp.

  His voice said one thing. His heart screamed another.

  It was all too reminiscent to Joe of another time in Robbie’s life. Robbie was nine and like the Robbie in front of Joe, he joked and kidded with his brothers. Joe recalled that da
y in the hospital room as they waited for them to come and take Robbie down. He watched his son do the same routine as he did just then, the lips, eyes, and hands. There wasn’t enough reassurance in the world that Joe could give that would take away what Robbie was feeling. He tried to recall what he had said to Robbie all those years back. Then Joe tried to recall which testicle it was that Robbie had operated on.

  “Dad?” Hal snapped a finger before Joe. “You’re being quiet, more so than Frank and his tongue is sprained.” Hal smiled in the afterthought.

  “Sorry,” Joe said with a partial smile. “I was thinking. Remember when Robbie had that operation when he was nine?”

  “I remember,” Robbie said.

  “Good,” Joe commented. “What testicle was it?”

  “Right,” Robbie answered.

  “O,” Frank interjected with a shake of his head. “Eff.”

  “No, my right,” Robbie replied.

  “O,” Frank looked insistent. “Eff.”

  “Wait.” Robbie reached his hand under the covers. “Hey, you’re right. It is the left. Thanks, Frank.”

  Hal slowly looked at Frank. “Why do you know that?”

  “It’s Wobbie.”

  Hal glanced at his father. “How long will he speak like? People will start to think he has his meteor dementia.”

  “Fa ew, Huh.”

  With a ‘hmm’, Hal nodded. “Wow,” He spoke less than enthusiastic. “That was threatening.”

  “Boys,” Joe warned. “Where here to give support to Robbie, not aggravate him. Dean said Frank should be able to talk by this evening.”

  Hal sighed out, “Sad. Here I was hoping it would last at least a week.”

  “Huh!” Frank screamed, trying to say Hal’s name.

  “Enough,” Joe scolded. “Frank, don’t talk. Not yet. You heard what Dean said.”

  There it was. Joe saw it again. He thought he spotted that reaction when he mentioned Dean’s name the first time, but he knew for a fact the second time Robbie did that ‘swallow in fear’ reaction.

  “Robbie?” Joe questioned. “What is it?”

  Robbie looked from his father to Hal to Frank then right back at Joe. He didn’t know how his father did it, but Robbie knew Joe saw right through him. “Dad.” Robbie’s voice cracked some. “I know this time tomorrow and even later on tonight, I could very easily be normal again, physically, but if I turn into a vegetable. . .”