Chapter 4

The Friday after football was over, Becky totally avoided him.

Wanda said, "Three pounds and I feel good."

Howie squeezed her butt and said, "You do feel good."

Wanda looked good. Now she looked more muscular than overweight.

"You look really good. I am very proud of you. I know it wasn't easy," he said.

The next Friday, the school gave out athletic letters.

The coach called out, "Howie Randolph, a letter and the conference champion patch. In addition, Howie was All Conference and Player of the Year in the Conference. He was also, All State and the 2A Player of the Year." Coach gave Howie two engraved plaques.

Howie saw that Becky didn't cheer much for him. Wanda came up and congratulated him.

At workouts Wanda said, "I am sorry about Becky."

"I don't know what I did? How did you do this week?"

"Four pounds and I ran three miles," she said.

"I didn't know you were running," he said.

"I wanted to surprise you," she said.

Howie said, "Next Saturday is the Christmas Dance at the country club. Would you like to go with me?"

She could only nod.

She went in and called her mother while Howie was in the locker room. "Mom, Howie asked me to the Christmas Dance at the country club. It is next Saturday night. Can I go?"

Her mother said, "That is wonderful. We have to get you a dress tomorrow. I am calling for a hair appointment for next Saturday. Wanda, I am really proud of you."

"Thanks mom. I have to get back," Wanda said.

When Howie got home his mother asked, "Would you go to the college's game with us tomorrow?"

"What's up mom? You aren't crazy about football."

"Janet and Ed are coming for lunch. Except for coming over here to see you, Janet hasn't been out since the guys jumped her. I would like for her to go to the game with us. If you were with us, it would help."

"Sure, I will go, but mom, the games are pretty bad. The college needs a new coach," he said.

Howie had a hard time getting to sleep. I don't understand. Becky acted like she really liked me. I felt it. She asked me to take her to the dance. What happened?

Howie was up at six running. He was usually back by seven. This morning he ran to the far side of the park and up on the tallest hill.

When he returned at nine, his mother asked. "I was worried. Is something wrong?"

"I don't know mom. I am getting a bad feeling, but I can't pin it down."

He showered, had breakfast, and worked on the papers from the Department of the Interior, his chief papers. Something was funny about the oil payment. He decided to ask the CPA about it.

At eleven, he helped his mother fix lunch.

At eleven thirty, the couple rang the bell.

Howie answered the bell. "Hi, come in."

Janet hugged him hard. She pressed her breasts up against him.

Howie looked at her husband. He shrugged. Howie kissed the top of her head and said, "How's my favorite jogger?"

She didn't let go. Howie put his arms down between her arms and his sides. Janet let go.

She answered, "I haven't jogged since."

Howie said, "Mom is in the kitchen."

Janet went reluctantly to the kitchen.

Howie and Ed were alone in the living room. Ed said, "Sorry. She won't leave the house. I can't get her to go talk to someone either."

Howie said, "I am sorry. If there is anything I can do, just ask."

Ed said very quietly, "She won't let me touch her. You are the only one she will touch. Would you talk to her?"

Howie said, "I don't know. I mean I would be happy to talk to her, but I don't know what I should say. I don't want to make her worse."

Ed said, "I understand. I wish you would try. I don't expect you to cure her."

Howie said, "I will give it a try."

Ed said, "Thanks."

Howard came into the living room. Howie nodded to Ed and went into the kitchen.

When Howie walked into the kitchen, Janet grabbed his arm. She clutched it desperately.

Howie said, "Do you want to talk?"

She smiled and nodded.

They walked to his room. Janet shut the door.

Howie asked, "How are your scratches?"

"The ones on my back aren't healing. I can't get medicine on them," she said.

"Ed could put it on," Howie said.

Janet shook her head. Then she smiled, "Would you put some on them?"

"Sure," Howie said. "I have to get the medicine."

Howie went down the steps quickly. "She wants me to put medicine on her scratches?"

Ed said, "Please do."

Howie got the four in one antiseptic cream and returned to his bedroom. He was stunned when he opened the door. Janet had completely undressed.

Janet asked, "Do you like me?

"If you kissed them, it might make them well," she said.

Howie kissed the scratch on the shoulder, then he put the ointment on it. He did the same to her breasts and her stomach. When he kissed the scratch near her sex, he smelled her arousal. She pulled his head to her sex.

Howie kissed it and said, "Now it will be all better."

Janet spread her legs wide and said, "Please."

Howie said, "No. That will not make it better."

"Yes it will. What do I have to do? Do you want me to do something?" She reached for his zipper.

He was hard as a rock.

He kissed the scratches on her legs and turned her over on her stomach. He kissed and put ointment on the scratches on her back. They were very red.

"Janet, I want you to talk to somebody who can help," he said.

"Now put on your put on your clothes and come down to eat with us," Howie said.

"Help me," she said.

"I need to get downstairs," Howie said.

Howie went down the stairs. "I put ointment on her scratches. The ones on her back don't look good."

Ed nodded. "She won't let me."

Howard asked Ed, "Did you know that Howie is the Medicine Man of the Kiowa?"

Ed said, "No."

Howie said, "Ed, Janet is behaving funny with me. I told her to talk to somebody who could help."

Ed bit his lip and said, "Do whatever it takes? I understand."

Howie said, "I wish I understood."

Janet came down the stairs and joined them. She walked toward Howie.

"Janet, sit with Ed," Howie said.

She nodded and sat by Ed.

Then she said, "Could you come by tomorrow and put more on?"

Howie said, "I will give Ed some medicine. Let him put it on you."

Janet said, "No. Only you can touch me."

Howie said, "Janet-"

Before he could say anything else, she said, "Please. I won't let anyone else touch me."

Howie looked at Ed who nodded.

Howie said, "I will do it Sunday, but you have to let Ed do it Monday. I have to practice football late." That was lame. Football has been over a couple of weeks. She has a killer body. If it wasn't for April, I probably would have been pounding her good.

Janet said, "I want you to do it every day."

"I will do it tomorrow, but Ed does it the next day or I don't do it tomorrow," he said.

Janet nodded.

His mom said, "We need to eat or we will be late to the game."

They ate. In the car, Janet sat in the back between Howie and Ed.

She moved against Howie's hip.

When they got out to go into the stadium, Janet grabbed his hand.

Howie said, "Janet, you are embarrassing me. Take Ed's hand."

Janet took Ed's hand.

Howie said, "I will be right behind you."

Janet turned and looked, then she nodded.

They sat in the parents' section, on the forty-yard line.

Ed said, hi to students he knew.

Janet asked, "Will you sit next to me?"

Howie said, "No, I can watch for you better, behind you."

She nodded.

Two minutes before half, Howie said, "If you are going to the ladies room, you better go now."

All of them walked to the restrooms. Howie said, "I will be out here."

When she went in, Ed said, "Do whatever you have to do. I understand."

"The only thing --"

Before he could finish, Ed said, "Please, don't tell me, just do what you have to do."

Janet came from the rest room to Howie, "I am ready."

Howie said, "We will wait for my mother."

She moved toward him.

"Don't embarrass me."

She stood beside him and waited. When his mother came out of the restroom, they walked through the crowded corridor to the stairs of the stands.

Early in the fourth quarter, they left.

On the way home, Janet asked, "Will you come over tonight to put the medicine on me?"

"I will come tomorrow morning, if Ed puts it on tonight."

Janet said, "That's not what you said before."

Howie said, "Take it or leave it."

Janet nodded.

While Janet was looking down, Howie mouthed, "Call me," to Ed.

About eleven, the phone rang. It was Ed.

"Janet took off her clothes and had me put the ointment on."

Howie asked, "Do you still want me to put it on tomorrow morning?"

He hesitated, "Please."

"I told her she needed to talk to someone and get help. Maybe you could try again to get her to go."

Sunday morning, a psychiatrist called Howie, "This is Dr. Benet from Sheppard Pratt. Janet is in the hospital. I expect she will be here five days. Janet and Ed signed releases so that I could talk to you.

"It is a voluntary stay, I can't force her to remain. A condition of her staying was that I call you and invite you to see her," he said.

Howie said, "You invited me. Do you think it is best for her for me to come?"

"No, I don't," he said.

"If you wish, you may tell her that I will see her after she has finished the prescribed treatment and not before," Howie said.