2nd Monday Evening: Part 1

2^nd Monday Evening: Part 1

Emanuel spotted Tony, Cosette and Laura waiting in front of the school. “We wanted to let you know your show was a success. Nearly all of the school is passing around your version of the story; not one of the old rumors” Tony quietly informed them when they got close.

“It helped that we made sure to correct anyone who was still spreading one of the old versions” Laura added.

“You said ‘nearly all’. I think I can guess some of the people who would want to hold onto the false rumors” Emanuel replied.

“Are you feeling okay big brother? You look kind of out of it.”

“Okay sounds about right.”

“Did something happen to big brother, big sis?”

“Manny got some difficult news during drama. Don’t worry Cosette; Kara and I will make sure he stays okay.”

“Just ‘okay’ my muse? We won’t stop until he feels better.”

Allison laughed softly. “Yes. Completely better. Right Manny?”

“If anyone can accomplish that, it’s probably you two.” He glanced over at the bus waiting area. “Our bus has arrived.”

Tony stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. “I know I’m not as good as your girls, but if I can help with whatever is going on, you’ll let me know, right?”

He chuckled softly. “Yeah. Promise.” He trudged off to the bus.

Tony waited until Emanuel was out of ear shot. “I’m completely serious. If you two notice something, call Cosette, and she’ll make sure I find out about it.”

“Manny’s promise wasn’t enough?” Allison asked.

“He’s been on the team since freshman year, right?” Kara asked. Tony nodded his head. “I take you have as well?” He nodded it again. She turned to Allison. “When you’re teammates of a sort with someone for that long, you know when something they said doesn’t sound right. That wasn’t a completely sincere promise. I know what his promises sound like, and that’s not it.”

“Exactly. There was no energy in his voice for it. Even when he had to promise something he didn’t want to, that energy was still there. Keep a close eye on him you two.”

“We will” they responded.

Allison turned to Kara. “Have you heard a false promise from Manny before?”

Kara nodded toward the bus. “Yes. The day of his mom’s funeral. He promised he was handling things okay, but I could tell he wasn’t. Only one other person could really tell.”

“Who?”

“You. I’m not sure if you remember it, but I know you were there. All of our parents were once close friends, and there was no way any of them were going to miss a chance to say goodbye to her.”

“I don’t remember being there.”

“I distinctly remember you going over to him and pulling him away to play for a little bit. I was annoyed at first, but got over that quickly when I saw his smile return for a little bit. I kind of wish I’d gotten up the courage to join you two.” She paused for a moment. “Do you really not remember?”

“Yeah. My non-school based memories of the last almost ten years are spotty sometimes; and I don’t always trust the ones I do remember. The trauma that I wasn’t dealing with for that decade was slowly doing some awful things to me.”

Such as? Kara ‘asked’ as they got on the bus and looked for Emanuel.

Do you remember seeing me around school at all the last three years? Our school may not be ‘small’, but it isn’t THAT big.

Kara pointed at the softly snoring Emanuel in the back. He has a wall up, I didn’t feel it earlier, but I’m sure of it. And no, I don’t remember seeing you around at all last year.

Did you ever notice a very plain looking girl in very baggy clothing?

No, but I do remember a few of the class bullies mentioning ‘that ugly, fat chick from the other class’ and how she was no fun to taunt anymore.

That ‘ugly, fat chick’ they were talking about was me. As soon as my breasts began to really start to grow, I wore nothing but clothing three sizes too large for me. I didn’t want to be noticed, and did my best to hide in plain sight. Allison sat down next to Kara, who had sat down next to Emanuel. I remember you very clearly.

Kara gently laid Emanuel’s head on her bare breast. Even with all those years of Kempo under my belt, I still could be very impetuous. That would have made it hard to hide, even if I wanted to. And I had no desire to hide even then. He’s not looking so good.

No, he’s not. And I’m worried that if it gets worse, even we won’t be able to help him. I was planning on making an appointment with an outside therapist to continue dealing with my own crap; I’ll strongly encourage Manny to do the same.

Good. I don’t want to lose the love of my life because his father decided to be an utter idiot. He’s too good of a man for us to let him suffer through this.

Agreed.

Kara glanced up. This is my stop. See you both tomorrow.

Maybe later today. I might need to call you over if this gets worse.

I’m sure when I explain what’s going on to my parents, they won’t make too much of a fuss if that needs to happen. She gently stood up, moving Emanuel’s head to Allison’s breast. You may want to wake him up.

I will. Allison watched as Kara bounded off the bus toward her very surprised looking parents. Heh heh, I bet they weren’t expecting her to still be topless. She glanced down at Emanuel. “Manny, my love, we’re almost home. Time to wake up.”

He opened his eyes, blinked when he realized where he was, and glanced up at Allison. “How’d I end up like this?”

“You fell asleep while waiting for us. Kara let you use her breasts as a pillow for a while; but needed to get off and let me become your pillow instead. Was your nap good?”

“Kind of. I still feel exhausted.”

Allison stood up and gently helped him up. “I’ll make sure mom and dad know what happened. If you want to go straight upstairs and nap before dinner, that should be fine.” She followed him as he slowly got off the bus. Not good. Hopefully a nap before dinner will help.

Make sure he eats something. I’m concerned that this could become full blown depression.

Me too. She stepped through the open front door, watched him shamble up the stairs, and stepped into the kitchen. “Mom?” she paused and glanced around. “Not in here. Maybe the living room or her office.”

A few minutes later she found her mom staring at the TV in the living room in shock. “Oh, there you are dear. Is Emanuel okay?”

“No. His dad did something awful, and he’s blaming himself for it.”

“Oh dear ... did it happen to involve one of the doctors at county memorial?”

“Yes. Please tell me if there’s an update it’s a positive one.”

She shook her head sadly. “There was just an update, but there’s no way it could be construed as positive. According to a reporter at the court house, both his wife and young daughter passed away from their wounds only an hour ago. The reporter said the trial was going on as that news broke; and the jury reached a verdict fast.”

“How many years?”

“Fifteen. If they’d survived, it probably would have been less; but with that news I’m surprised the sentence is that low.”

Allison was about to reply when a loud, sorrowful cry came from upstairs. “I’m sure that’s Manny, and he’s just found out. I need to be by his side.”

“Go. If you need to call Kara over, let me know.”

“Okay. Thanks mom.”

She dashed up the stairs and into his bedroom. Sitting on the bed, completely rolled up in a ball was Emanuel; his sobbing making his body shake with each wave. “They didn’t ... if I hadn’t ... all my fault ... all my...” he was babbling.

Kara, darling, come as quickly as you can.

As soon as I’m done explaining things to my folks, I’ll bike right over.

Allison walked over to him and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. “Manny, my love; I’m here.”

He glanced up at her, his eyes already red and puffy. “They didn’t ... they didn’t make it. Two counts of vehicular manslaughter; two counts of 1^st degree murder; one count of attempted murder. I could have prevented all of that. If I simply hadn’t...” he began.

“No. There was nothing you could have done to prevent this, short of incapacitating your father. You had no idea he was planning this.”

“But, if I hadn’t moved out, maybe” he rasped.

“I’m going to get you a glass of water. I’ll be right back, okay?”

He nodded his head. Allison rushed downstairs, and almost bumped into her mom in the kitchen, holding a glass of water. “How bad?”

“Very. Kara’s on her way.”

“I figured. I’ll set aside three plates for you.”

“Thanks mom. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’re psychic.”

She quickly made her way back up to his room, and closed the browser window with news story before handing the glass to him. “Drink my love; and then we can move to my room where we’ll be more comfortable.”

“Okay...” he replied softly, and began to take a few sips of the water.

She waited until he had drained about half of the water, and his ragged breathing had stabilized slightly. “Come with me, my love. Kara’s on her way, and will get here as soon as she can.” He nodded slowly. She gently helped him stand, and led him into her bedroom, laying him down in the middle of the bed. “I’m right by your side, my love. You don’t have to deal with this alone.” She pulled him close, and felt the tears begin again as he cried on her chest. “Let it out Manny. Don’t hold the sadness in; let it out.”

She glanced up as Kara appeared in the doorway, wearing a skirt and nothing else. “I came as quickly as I could.” Where do you want me?

On his other side. We’ll hold him as close as we can until most of the immediate stuff is out of his system, and then we can try talking to him.

Okay. Kara laid down on his other side, and cuddled in close. They both felt his breathing relax a little. That seems to have helped a little. Allison glanced up at the clock, his sobbing continuing in between unintelligible words.

Can you hear us, my pillar?

It’s no use Kara. Do you feel the wall he’s behind?

She focused for a moment. Yes, and it’s awful. I’ve never seen anything that strong, or felt anything that thoroughly filled with sadness and guilt.

Exactly. Only he can bring something like that down, and that’s not happening until we help him through this part first. She breathed in and out slowly as his sobbing gradually slowed.

It stopped?

Yes darling. He’s no longer crying. But that’s because he cried himself to sleep. And I doubt he had much left in the way of tears.

She glanced back at the clock as he started to stir again. What time is it, my muse?

Nearly six. “Manny? How are you feeling?”

“Horrible. My throat is dry and scratchy, and my eyes feel like all the water in them is gone.” He lowered his voice considerably. “And I can’t ‘hear’ either of you” he whispered.

She smiled gently and rolled him on his back so he could see both of them. “You cried yourself to sleep. I’d be very surprised if you didn’t feel like crap. And you have one heck of a wall up right now.”

“What do you mean?” he croaked. Kara sat up and handed him the nearby, half-filled glass of water; which he drained quickly. “I don’t have a wall up.”

“Yes my pillar, you do. Try to focus and see if you can ‘see’ it.”

He nodded his head slowly, then focused for a few minutes. Suddenly, his eyes went wide as if he’d been punched in the solar plexus. “Where did this horrible thing come from?” He went silent again, and a few minutes later dramatically rested his head in his hands. “And why can’t I take it down?”

“You didn’t intentionally put that up, did you Manny?” Allison asked gently.

“No. I’d never put up something so vile.”

How deep does your hurt go my love? To pull up that much pain, sorrow and guilt so quickly; I can’t begin to fathom it.

Neither can I Allison. Do you have any idea what we can do to help?

I think I have one idea. “Manny, do you trust me?”

“Yes. More than almost anyone.”

She smiled. “Good. Let’s go downstairs and into the backyard then.”

They each stood up, took an arm, and helped him down the stairs and towards the back door. Allison caught sight of her mother in the kitchen and nodded, then pointed toward the backyard with her free hand. Just letting my mom know where we’re going. She’ll make sure neither Dad nor Sarah interfere or do something stupid.

Stepping out into the backyard, Allison sighed with relief as she felt the grass in her toes. “So, what are we doing out here, my muse?”

She pointed to a spot under a nearby tree big enough for all three of them. “We’re going to help Manny vent as much of the pain, sadness and guilt that’s fueling that wall as he can. Did he ever teach you the colors technique?”

Kara smiled. “Yeah, years and years ago. I haven’t used it in forever though.”

“That’s okay; we spent some time using it yesterday. You could say it’s fresh in my mind.” She paused, helped Emanuel sit down in the right position, then motioned to Kara to do the same. “We’re both here for you my love. Remember; the bad color; the guilt, sadness and pain out, and the good color in.”

His eyes closed and his breathing grew slow and steady. “Black out, gold in.” He stopped a few minutes later. “It’s no good. No matter how much I try to drain it out, it refuses to leave” he exclaimed, his voice starting to become ragged and distressed again.

Kara, darling; rest one of your hands on his shoulder, and the other on his hand. I’ll do the same for the other side.

What’s your plan?

We’re going to give our love the strength he needs to cleanse that awful energy. “Manny, when you feel our hands on your shoulders and hands, try again. This time, take strength from us if you need to.”

“But...”

“We’ll be okay. Worst comes to worst, we’ll just need to nap for a little bit. Try again, but this time feel my own silver energy intertwining with yours.”

Kara smiled. “And my bronze as well.”

His breathing grew calm again, and Allison felt him begin to draw from her energy.

Suddenly they felt the ‘ground’ under the wall give way, and watched as the bricks began to fall into the earth. As the last brick fell away, they felt a huge blast of joyful energy. I can ‘hear’ you both again!