Chapter 112: Uncle Rogers

Maggie Lynn Griswold was 14 years old, almost fifteen. She was in the fifth grade at Rogersville Elementary. Her best friend was Jackie Logan. Jackie was 14 years old too, in the sixth grade. Both girls were neighbors in a nice neighborhood, a better part of Cleveland. Tonight, Maggie and Jackie had dinner at Jackie’s house. Later, around 8pm, they went back to Maggie’s house.

Now Maggie’s parents were out of town at a wedding and wouldn’t be home until tomorrow. Their Uncle Rogers, one of her dad’s brothers, was there to babysit. Now Uncle Rogers was about 46 years old. He was a big, fat guy who lived alone. Maggie used to say the only thing creepier looking than Uncle Rogers were his friends. Tonight, while Maggie was at Jackie’s having dinner, Rogers had invited his friends over for a party. He promised them something ‘special’.

Around 6:30 his three friends arrived: Mark, Joe and Leroy. All four had several things in common: Dope, crack, meth and alcohol. Since they arrived, the four had been watching NHL hockey while drinking, smoking pot and doing some crack. Unlike their own homes, this place had plenty to eat. Mark, Joe and Leroy kept bugging Rogers about his surprise. “You’ll see,” was all he’d say.

Then, a little after 8pm, his niece Maggie came in, along with her friend. As soon as they came in, he angrily called them over in front of him as the four men watched the TV. “Where have you been?” he demanded. The two girls stood there together, scared they were in some sort of trouble. “I, I, I mean, we were, we were having dinner at Jackie’s...”

“I told you to be home by eight o’clock. Now it’s way past eight! Well now, there are consequences to your flagrant disobedience young lady. For both of you!” Uncle Rogers was raging it seemed like. His face was all red, he seemed extremely angry. Maggie wondered- consequences? punishment? Is that what he meant? What kind of punishment? Oh God, if her parents found out, she’d be grounded for life! Then Uncle Rogers spoke again.

“Tell you what. I could give you a hard spanking, but you’re too old for that. Maybe. Or I could just tell your father. Whoa; you’d be cooked! Hmmm...” He looked at his friends, then turned back to her. All his friends were staring at her and Jackie. Four of the creepiest grown-ups you could ever meet. Uncle Rogers spoke to her again. “Tell you what. Each of us will tell you to do something. Like a play. You do one thing for each of us, and I won’t tell your parents and we’ll just forget this whole thing.”

Jackie stood behind and beside Maggie. Maggie was right- these guys were creeps. And they keep staring at her! She listened to Maggie’s uncle’s idea. Huh? Do what? Her and Maggie looked at each other. Maggie whispered, “I sure don’t want my parents to know.” Jackie shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t want to tell them either. Maggie turned back and said “OK, I guess.”

The four whooped and grabbed another drink, took a big hit of pot. Rogers turned to Leroy, said, “Leroy, my man. Why don’t you go first.” Leroy was black and looked homeless. Actually, Leroy was almost that way now. He’d just gotten released on parole six months ago. Physically he was in pretty good shape for 39 years old. His wild hair and just-as-wild beard, along with his ragged clothing gave him that homeless look. Leroy was grinning from the drugs and beers. He looked at the two girls. Leroy said, “Hold on. I gotta know something first. How old are you two?” One girl said fourteen, almost fifteen. The other girl said she was fourteen also. Leroy grinned even more. “Ah don’t believe it. You gotta prove it. My thing: Take off them shorts you got on.”

The two girls stood there frozen; eyes wide. Whaaat? Maggie looked at Uncle Rogers but he told her angrily, “You do what you’re told, girl! You do what you’re told or you’ll be in a whole lot more trouble!” Shaking now, the two girls fumbled with their pants button, then each slid their shorts off. They stood there, embarrassed beyond belief. Maggie asked if they could pull them back up now. Rogers ignored her. Instead, he said, “OK Mark. Your turn.”

The girls started to argue about having to take their shorts down. They said they couldn’t make them do this; that it was wrong to. On and on. Finally, Uncle Rogers said, “Tell you girls what. You only got three more things to do. Only three. Or, you can each take a shot of crack with the needle. That’ll make you really want to. Your choice. Do three more things, or take the needle, and I tell your parents. Both of yours.”

Maggie said, “I ain’t doing none of your drugs.” Jackie said her neither. They acted a little defiant, but still afraid of what might be next. Uncle Rogers stood, took a big hit from the bong, then leaned over and blew pot smoke in the girls faces. “Then keep quiet and do what you’re told. I’m your uncle. Don’t forget it.” The two girls stood there, scared, not sure what to do. They sure didn’t want to keep their shorts off. Yet, one man was using his phone to record them. He said something like, “You’re parents are gonna love to see this.”