by Doris Miller
An hour later, David beeps the car horn in front of his brother Kevin's house. Christine comes out of the house and heads towards David's car. She approaches David's car and hops into the vehicle. David then pulls off.
David and Christine shop around all morning, trying to look for a reliable doctor who might be able to help Dana.
As David and Christine sit in the car, David sees a doctor's name on his list that he wants to check out. He tells Christine, "I want to call this doctor right here and check him out."
"Okay David. Let's call him up."
David and Christine get out of the car and walk towards a pay phone. David picks up the phone receiver and dials the number. He speaks on the phone for a while. After he finishes speaking on the telephone, he turns to Christine and says, "I spoke to the doctor's secretary. The secretary said that we can come in and speak with the doctor this afternoon, around 1:00."
"Oh good. You have the address to the place?"
"Yeah it's right here. Let's go there now and wait around there."
"Okay." Christine and David walk back to the car. They get back into the car and head towards the doctor's office.
Christine and David soon arrive to the doctor's office. The secretary tells them to sign their names and take a seat in the waiting area. Christine and David sign their names and sit in the waiting area. They sit for a while. After a while, they're finally called on to see the doctor. They both go into the doctor's office towards the back. When they open the door, they see a male black doctor around his mid 50's. The doctor says, "Hello."
Christine and David say, "Hello," as David closes the door behind himself.
"Please, have a seat," the doctor says.
Christine and David both sit down in front of the doctor's desk. The doctor then says, "My name is Justin Ross. And you two are Christine and David Brown, right?"
"Yes we are," David says.
"So what can I do for you? How may I help you two today?"
David and Christine look at each other. David gently puts his hand on Christine's shoulder and tells her, "Go ahead."
Christine tearfully says, "Well it's not us Doctor. It's our daughter."
"Your daughter?"
"Yes."
"Well what about your daughter? Who is your daughter?"
"Her name is Dana. She's not here right now, she's at work. We thought maybe we can come in here first and talk to you about her."
"Oh yeah? Well what's the problem with her?"
"The problem Doctor, is that our daughter Dana has a very violent temper! I mean her violent temper is so bad that it causes her to do violent things!"
"Violent things? Violent things like what?"
"Killing people Doctor," David says. Doctor Ross shockingly looks at Christine and David as David tearfully continues, "See Doctor, our daughter Dana has a violent temper! She has been arrested many times before on assault charges! She's also been arrested for killing a few people!"
"What!"
"Yeah! She has two or more manslaughter charges against her so far! She's been in jail and in prison on those charges. She's also been arrested on several suspicious murder charges, but it couldn't be proven in court that she committed those suspicious murders, so the courts had to let her go. We don't want our daughter to commit anymore possible murders, Doctor! She's our daughter and we don't want her to wind up spending the rest of her life locked up behind bars or any institutions! That's what my wife and I are so afraid of! That's why we're here. We want our daughter to get some kind of help right away! She needs help as soon as possible!"
Christine starts to weep on David's shoulder as he puts his arm around her. Doctor Ross is stunned as he says, "I'm sorry to hear about this! I understand how you two must feel!"
"Doctor, is it possible for you to help our daughter?" Christine cries.
"Sure it's possible!"
"Please help her!"
"I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee anything! It's all up to the individual! I'll do my part, but the individual will have to do their part also! Now I have to ask you two some questions. Is she your only child?"
"No," Christine says. "We have seven other children. With Dana that makes eight all together."
"Well are your other children this way? Do any of them have a violent temper? Especially a violent temper that causes them to kill or have homicidal behaviors?"
"No Doctor," David says. "None of our other children are like this. Just Dana."
"Well has your daughter Dana ever gotten any kind of help for her violent temper before?"
"Yes. She has had counseling a few times before. The courts had ordered her to get some counseling. We even took her to counseling. The counseling worked for a while. Her violent temper seemed like it had went away, but after around several months, her violent temper seemed to have come right back."
"Wow, I see. Has your daughter Dana ever been in any kind of hospital or mental institutions before?"
"Yes she has. The courts had sent her to hospitals and mental institutions several times before in the past."
"I see. Has your daughter Dana ever been on any kind of illegal drugs or is she using any kind of illegal drugs that you know of?"
"No Doctor. Not that we know of."
"As far as we know Doctor, Dana doesn't use any kind of illegal drugs," Christine says.
"I see. Does your daughter Dana drink alcohol or abuse alcohol that any of you know of?"
"No Doctor, not that we know of either."
"Has your daughter Dana ever been on any kind of medication to calm her violent temper?"
"No. Dana has never been on any medication for her violent temper."
"I see. May I ask how did your daughter Dana wind up killing these people on her manslaughter charges?"
"Well," David says. "She killed both of these people in a fist fight that she had with them! One of the victims was a woman named Rose who our daughter had choked to death." Dr. Ross becomes stunned. David continues, "The other victim was a suspected rapist who Dana had gotten into a fight with! She punched the man in the temple with her bare fist! She gave him a hard blow to the temple and wound up killing him instantly! He died right there on the spot!"
Doctor Ross remains stunned as he says, "Man this is unbelievable! Your daughter sounds like a very strong person!"
"Yeah, she is! She's been a strong person ever since she was a baby!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes," Christine says. "She had a temper tantrum as a baby. When she had her temper tantrum, she would kick her legs around all wild and viciously, she broke mine and my husband's fingers a couple of times. Whenever she had kicked her legs all around, I was afraid to pick her up. I didn't want any more broken fingers Doctor. A broken bone is no joke. I would have to lift her up and hold her far away from me to keep her legs from being in contact with me."
"Really?"
"Yes. We just want to know Doctor, what can you do for our daughter?"
"I can try my best to help her. Now from what you two just told me, you say your daughter Dana has a violent temper, right?"
"Yes, she does," Christine and David say.
"Well it sounds to me like your daughter's violent temper causes her to have a murderous personality."
"A murderous personality?" David asks.
"Yes. It sounds like your daughter's violent temper causes her to kill people out of revenge or anger. Being that your daughter might have a murderous personality, I have to ask you two something going back to your daughter's childhood."
"Going back to her childhood?" David asks.
"Yes."
"Well what is it Doctor?"
"Have your daughter Dana ever been abused as a child?"
"Oh no doctor," Christine says. "None of our children had been abused!"
"We disciplined our children," David says. "But we never abused any of them! We treat all our children the same! It's just that Dana is the only one who turned out with a very violent temper!"
"I see. An
other thing I have to ask you two. As far as any of you two know of, has your daughter Dana ever deliberately killed anything when she was a small child? Like did she deliberately kill any animals, pets, or any other living thing that any of you two know of?"
David and Christine suspiciously look at the doctor, thinking about the maintenance man. They suspiciously look at each other. They look back at the doctor as David says, "No Doctor. As far as we know, our daughter hasn't deliberately killed any living thing as a child."
"No?"
"No! Why do you ask doctor?"
"Because that's a possible sign that a parent would have to watch out for! If a parent sees or knows of their child deliberately killing an animal, pet or any other living thing, then it's a possibility that the child might grow up to be a killer! And if that child grows up to kill or murder somebody, it's most likely that they won't have a guilty conscience about it either! Sometimes you can just look at a person's eyes and tell that they're a killer!"
"Look at a person's eyes?" Christine frighteningly asks.
"Yes! Have you ever heard of the term 'Eyes of a Killer'? I mean just by looking at a person's eyes could sometimes tell a lot about them. Just by looking at a person's eyes could sometimes tell that they're a killer. Killers seem to have a certain type of look in their eyes. It's hard to explain, but sometimes it's just the way their eyes might look. It might be the way their eyes look at you or look at any other person. Or it might be the way their eyes look at people in general." David and Christine stunned look at the doctor. Doctor Ross then asks, "When do you two think you can be able to bring your daughter in here?"
"Well she works all week long," Christine says. "Are you open on the weekend Doctor?"
"Yes. I'm open at times on the weekend. How about this Saturday?"
"This Saturday sounds great. She'll be here."
"Wait a minute Christine," David says. "What about the Community Center? Dana is still on probation. She still has to work at the Community Center on Saturdays."
"Oh she's on probation?" Doctor Ross asks.
"Yes. She's on probation on one of the manslaughter charges Doctor. She has to work at the Community Center on the weekends."
"Oh I see. I see."
"Yeah you're right David," Christine says. "We might have to speak to Dana's probation officer and tell her probation officer that she has a doctor's appointment this Saturday. If it's any kind of doctor's appointment, the probation officer have to excuse it."
"Yeah you're right Christine," David says. He then looks at the doctor and says, "Okay Doctor, our daughter will be in here this Saturday. We'll speak to her probation officer. What time will you be able to see her this Saturday?"
"I'll be able to see her around 9:00 in the morning. How's that?"
"That sounds good Doctor. She'll be here."
"Okay."
Christine and David get up from their seats. Doctor Ross gets up from his chair and says, "Just bring her in this Saturday and I'll do my best for her."
"Thanks a lot Doctor," Christine says as she and David head for the door.
"No problem. You two take care."
"You too Doctor," David says. "See you Saturday."
"Okay. Bye now."
David and Christine leave the office as Doctor Ross closes the door behind them.
Around that same noon, Missy sits in the adults' cafeteria inside the school. She is sitting at a table all alone. She looks around the cafeteria and sees everyone else sitting together in groups. She starts to get tears in her eyes, wondering why no one wants to sit with her or be her company. Several school workers see Missy sitting sadly alone. They begin to feel sorry for her. Russell says to Neil, "You know I really feel bad for Missy. She doesn't seem to have any friends here."
"Yeah, I feel sort of bad for her too. You know she's not even a bad person. Yet we're all treating her like she's done something wrong."
"You're right. Well I'm gonna go sit with her."
"Yeah me too. Come on let's go." Neil and Russell walk over to Missy. They start to sit with her.
"Hey Missy," Russell says. "How are you?"
"Yeah Missy," Neil says. "How've you been?"
Missy stunned looks at Russell and Neil. She is surprised to see them sitting with her. She is surprised to see anybody sitting with her! Missy then says, "Hey! What's going on?"
"Oh nothing much," Russell says.
Missy looks at him and asks, "Are you sure nothing much is going on around here? I mean for the past couple of days, people have been treating me like I had some kind of contagious disease or something! People were acting like they were afraid to talk to me or be around me!"
Russell and Neil get shameful looks on their faces as Russell says, "Well, it's not you people are afraid of Missy. It's your sister everyone is afraid of!"
Puzzled, Missy looks at Russell. She then looks at Neil and back at Russell and asks, "My sister? You mean Dana?" Neil nods his head yes. Missy becomes stunned as she asks, "Well why is everyone afraid of Dana? She doesn't work here,"
"No, but her sister does," Neil says. Missy looks at Neil as he says, "Missy, people were afraid to be near or around you, because they think that if they make a mistake and do something wrong to you, your sister Dana will come after them and they don't know what will happen once your sister Dana catches up with them!"
"Is that what everyone's afraid of or worried about?" Missy asks.
"Yeah Missy," Russell says. "That's exactly what everyone around here is afraid of and worried about."
"What!
"It's true Missy!"
"Really? Listen guys, Dana is not worried about my co-workers! She wouldn't care if I socialize with my co-workers! Dana is not worried about my co-workers, my social life or my love life! She's not worried about any of that at all, as long as I'm happy and as long as no one harms me! If Dana sees that I'm happy, then she is happy for me. But if she sees that I'm angry, hurt or upset, then she will become angry, hurt and upset. Then she will start to react on it. But as long as I'm happy and no one harms me, Dana wouldn't care about anything else!"
"Yeah?" Russell asks. "Are you sure Missy? I mean are you sure your sister Dana won't become angry or upset if she was about to walk in here right now and see us sitting here chatting with you?"
"No! Of course not! Like I said, as long as I'm happy, then Dana is happy for me."
Russell and Neil both smile as they apologize to Missy for shunning her. Missy smiles back and accepts their apology. They all eat their food together.
A couple of minutes later, other co-workers come in and join Missy at the table. They all give her a warm smile. They all start to apologize to her also. Missy smiles back at them. Soon, Missy is surrounded by smiling co-workers as she sits there at the cafeteria table.
The following Saturday morning, David pulls up in front of his brother Kevin's house and beeps the car horn. Christine comes out of the house. She closes the front door behind herself and walks towards David's car. As she approaches David's car, she sees Paulette, an old friend of hers. Paulette, a black woman around her late 40's, comes down the sidewalk. She sees Christine and approaches her. She says 'Hello' to Christine. Christine and Paulette give each other a warm hug. Paulette says, "I haven't seen you in a while Christine! Where've you been?"
"Oh I stay in Jamaica most of the time."
"You do?"
"Yeah. My children stay up here with my in-laws."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. You remember my husband David, don't you?"
Paulette looks inside the car and sees David. She says, "Hi David! How've you been?"
"I've been alright Paulette," David smiles and says. "How about yourself?"
"I've been okay. I was just surprised to see Christine because I haven't seen her in a while." Paulette then asks Christine, "So what have you been up to these days Chris? Where are you on your way to?"
"Well we're taking our daughter to the doctor this morning. She has a doctor's appoi
ntment."
"Yeah? Which daughter?"
"Dana, my oldest daughter."
"Oh yeah? Is she okay?"
"Yeah she's okay. We're just going to have a talk with the doctor that's all."
"Oh I see. Well I don't want to hold you up. Why don't we get together some time Christine and catch up on old times."
"Oh I would love that Paulette. I'll look forward to it."
"Well how about tonight, if you're not too busy?"
"Oh I wish I could Paulette, but I'm gonna spend some time with Dana and my other children all day today and tonight."
"Okay. Whenever you have the time, just call me. Here's my number." Paulette writes her number on a small piece of paper. She then hands the piece of paper to Christine.
"Thanks Paulette," Christine says. "I'll use it."
"Okay. Well let me not hold you up any longer. I don't want you to miss your daughter's appointment." Paulette gives Christine another hug and tells her, "See you later," as she walks off.
"Okay. By Paulette," Christine says as she gets into David's car. She closes the door. David then pulls off.
A few hours later, David, Christine, Sammy, Thomas and Missy are all sitting in the waiting area outside the doctor's office. Christine sits between David and Missy with her arm wrapped around Missy's shoulders. Missy leans against Christine's shoulder as Thomas and Sammy sit on the opposite side of her. Dana soon comes out of the office with Doctor Ross. Her family gets up and approaches her. Doctor Ross pulls Christine and David to the side and starts to have a private conversation with them. He tells them, "I couldn't quite get through to her. She didn't really say much, but I will keep trying to help her more."
"Thanks Doctor," David and Christine say. They all walk towards Dana. Christine asks, "So how do you feel Dana?"
"I feel alright Mom."
"Good." Christine looks at Dr. Ross and tells him, "Thanks a lot Doctor. We'll see you next week."
"Okay. Take care now."
"You too Doctor," David says as he and his family leave the office with Dana.
Around two weeks later, Christine and her family members start to head back to Jamaica. They are all at Kennedy Airport along with David, all of his children and David's brother Kevin. Christine and her family members start to hug and kiss all of her children goodbye. David gives Christine a big hug and kiss. Christine then gives Dana a big hug and tells her, "Now be good Dana. I'll call you all when I get home."
"Okay Mom, I'll be home," Dana says as she walks her mother to the departure gate. "If I'm not home, I'll be at Grandma and Grandpa's house."
"Okay Dana. Talk to you later." Christine gives Dana another hug and kiss. She then goes towards the departure gate. As Christine is about to go through the departure gate, she turns around and shouts, "GOODBYE EVERYBODY!"
"GOODBYE CHRISTINE," David shouts as his children shout, "GOODBYE MOM!"
Christine then goes through the departure gate along with her family members. They turn around and wave goodbye as they start to head down the long corridor. David and his children continue to watch Christine and her family members as they reach the end of the long corridor. Christine and her family members wave a last goodbye before they all disappear around the corner. David, Kevin and all the children turn around and start to leave the airport. They then head back home.
Chapter 24
Tony's Anger
