SHIMMER/DADDY'S GAME

Sara, Michael's teacher, visits his home to return his tennis shoes.  Unaware she walking into a trap where she will be accused of being a pedophile and rendered helpless in helping Michael.

 Two o’clock in the morning, looking away from my watch I saw my shoes neatly placed side by side, slightly under the edge of my bed.  Dad had asked about my shoes, wanting to know where my shoes were...

“It’s time boy!  Time to come home!”

Getting off the school bus I walked slowly down the dirt road leading to my home.  My side ached with every step I took.  Dad had thrown my prescription out the car window the same night the doctor had given it to him.

“Laid off from work, can’t afford this shit!  You don’t need it anyway do you boy!”

Opening the front door I slipped inside, hoping against hope that dad wouldn’t be there.

“Where the hell have you been?  Get your clothes off and get your ass in bed!”

Walking into my room I stripped down to my underwear and crawled on top of the covers, with my dad hovering over me.

“Where are your tennis shoes?  I told that son-of-a-bitch to send them home with you!”

  Shrugging my shoulders I pretended I didn’t know.  They had been left under my desk where Mrs. Hinkley had placed them.

“Stupid bastard wants to play some more!”

  Dad left the room and made a telephone call, I strained trying to listen to what was being said but couldn’t make out the one sided conversation.  Returning to my room he was lost in thought, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.

“Michael we are going to have a visitor in a little while.  When she gets here, I will allow you to break the rules of the house this one time.  I’ll be asking you some questions; you better give me the answers I’m looking for!  Broken ribs will be the least of your worries; I’ll break your little neck!  You answer only my questions, do you understand me!”

  I nodded my head yes.

  Mr. Edward’s walked into Mrs. Hinkley’s classroom; she was still at her desk.  He had become disgusted with Sara, the new school year had just begun and the meddling bitch had caused him more trouble than any he had experienced in his career.

“Sara, I just received a call from Mr. Wilson, he was very upset.  I instructed you to send the boy’s shoes home with him!”

“I returned them this morning, but he forgot and left them under his desk.”

“He’s still angry over what happened yesterday Sara, he’s continuing to threaten police action!  The man wants you to return the shoes in person with an apology!  He’s expecting you to assure him that everything is going to be all right!  We need to send a clear message that his son is safe in our school Sara!  Not only to him but to everyone in the community!”

“The man is abusing his son Paul!  What if he becomes angry while I’m there?”

“Don’t start with that shit again!  I told you this morning I had contacted his doctor, and I was able to track down the paramedics, all of them tell me the same story.  Your mistaken Sara!  You made this mess and it’s up to you to clean it up!  If you’re afraid of Mr. Wilson I’ll go with you!”

“No!  I’ll take care of it myself!”

  Reluctantly Sara took the directions to Michael’s house, retrieved his shoes and left the school. 

“I’m not going to get any support from Paul, he wants to stick his head in the sand and hope the whole thing just blows over.  I can’t fight this battle alone, I’ll drop these things off, apologize and get the hell out of there.”

  As her car pulled up to Michael’s house Sara looked at the old slat board home, with the slightly tilted front porch, a poor family not uncommon for this area.  From the porch she noticed two cinder blocks and three steel rods laying in the front yard.  “Your mistaken Sara!”  Paul’s words echoed in her ears as she knocked on the front door.  It opened immediately.

“Come in Mrs. Hinkley, we’ve been waiting for you.”

“Here are your son’s shoes.  I want to apolo----”

“Wait just a minute, let’s go into my son’s room, I want him to hear this.  He was the one that you were attempting to molest!”

“I would never harm a child Mr. Wilson, unlike you!”

“You arrogant bitch, what proof do you have?  I have never laid a hand on my son!  Let me show you how upset he is over what you did to him!”

“I don’t need to see Michael, Paul asked me to drop the boys shoes off, apologize and leave, that’s what I intend to do!”

“Michael needs to hear your apology!  If you don’t tell him I’m going to call the principal as soon as you leave!  I don’t have to put up with your bull shit!”

“If that’s what it takes for me to get out of here fine, take me to him.”

  I could hear every word that was being said.  Dad was trying hard to get Sara in my room and he had won.  Dad always won at the game, he was beaming as they walked in from his fresh victory.

“Sit up Michael!”

He removed the bandages from my rib cage, shoving me roughly back on my pillow.

“Look at what you did to him!  You caused this bitch!”

  Sara looked at the deep purplish bruising that had covered half of my chest.

“I never--- how can you even pretend that I had anything to do with this!”

“Take your hand and feel the breaks damn you!”

“I’m not going to touch Michael, I didn’t cause his ribs to be broken!”

“You do as your told or I swear to god I’ll put your ass in prison for attempting to molest my son!”  

  Sara made an audible gasp it was easy to see how frightened she was.  Her hand was shaking as she smoothed the hair from my face stroking my cheek with the back of her fingers.  Slowly she trailed one finger across my lower rib, her touch was so light it tickled, there was no pain.  Dad grabbed her hand and forced it down hard, directly over the breaks.  I screamed out in agony, Sara tried to pull her hand away but she was no match for dad’s strength.

“Stop it!  You’re hurting him!  Goddamn you let go of me!  I’m going to report you Mr. Wilson!”

  Dad threw her hand away from me and sat down.  Reclining on the bed he let one large arm circle my body resting his hand on my tender side.  The perfect position needed to squeeze and make his puppet talk on command.  In a perfectly calm voice dad spoke to Mrs. Hinkley.

“You better listen to what the boy has to say before you make that call.  Your whole future depends on what you do now Mrs. Hinkley.”

  Sara had started to leave but dad’s calm threatening voice halted her departure.  She should have kept going, I had no loyalty to her, she had told dad about Steven and me talking.  My pain was a result of her big mouth.  I would say what dad wanted me to say.  I didn’t have much choice in the matter but at least this time I wouldn’t mind.

 “Michael, did Mrs. Hinkley force you into the teachers’ lounge by yourself?”

His hand squeezed down on my side, “Owww, Ohhh! Yes dad!”

“Please Mr. Wilson stop, you’re hurting the boy, please just stop.  This isn’t necessary.”

“Michael, did she force you to take off your clothes, or did the slut remove them for you?”

I felt his hand tighten even more, “She took them off!”

“What else did she do to you Michael, tell us!”

The pain was searing through my contorting body, “She picked me up and rubbed my back and hugged me.”

“She kissed you boy, tell us where she kissed you Michael, it wasn’t on the cheek was it!  

“She kissed me on my neck!”

 I felt his hand pull at my side it wasn’t the answer he had wanted.

  “The mouth’ she kissed me on the mouth!”

  His hand relaxed, the pain started to subside.

“Mr. Wilson, please, for god’s sake stop this, I won’t tell anyone.  Please just leave the boy alone.”

“She told you some other nasty things she wanted to do to you didn’t she Michael, sexual things, things you didn’t understand and that’s when I came in!”

“Yes dad! Yes she did!”

Sara’s hands went over her mouth, unable to believe what she was hearing.  She stood there momentarily, like a deer trapped in your headlights, frozen.

“Who caused you to be in this pain Michael?  Who caused you to break your ribs?”

  Dad’s hand clamped down on me like a vise, I cried out in pain.  Sara ran from the room and out of the house in tears.  My screams falling silent as she closed the door to her car.

“Mrs. Hinkley dad!  S-T-O-P dad!  Mrs. Hinkley did it!  It was Mrs. Hinkley!”

  We heard the gravel flying from beneath Sara’s car as she peeled from our driveway.  Dad remained on the bed beside me for a while, talking to himself.

  “In such a rush to leave Michael, she sure was in a hurry.  She ran like the devil himself was on her tail.  I tried to be a good host, even let her join in on the fun I’ve been having with you.  She got tired of playing and ran away Michael.  Can you believe the bitch ran away and left poor little Michael here with his mean ole daddy?  Some people wouldn’t know a good time if it jumped up and bit them dead on their ass.  You’re looking paler than usual son but who gives a shit, she sure didn’t and I know I don’t.  Your just trash to me boy, garbage!  Maybe it’s time to throw you out, can’t keep trash in the house to long it attracts flies you know.  You think she’ll come back?  I doubt it, but if she does and brings the law with her it could be trouble.  We’d better make ourselves ready just in case.”

  Dad was talking at me not to me.  He didn’t expect a reply and he certainly wasn’t going to get one.  Standing me beside my bed he tightly wound the bandages back in place.  After helping me into my pajama’s he carried me to the kitchen dropping me in one of the chairs, I moaned as the shock wave went through my rib cage.  Dad started whistling as he proceeded to cut my hair.  The long locks fell to the floor little by little; satisfied he showed me my reflection.  The once shoulder length hair was now trimmed neatly around my ears.  Cleaning up the mess he boiled a pot of water placing a steaming cup of hot chocolate, on the table, in front of me.

“Don’t try to drink this!  Not a sip boy!  Window dressing, it’s just window dressing!”

  Dad went to the living room standing guard by the door.  He was sure Sara would return.  His warning about the hot chocolate was wasted breath.  My body had endured all the pain it was willing to tolerate for one day, it decided to shutdown.  I was moving forward; there was nothing I could do to stop the collapse.  My head contacted the cool surface of the table with a loud thud and remained there.  The last thing I remembered seeing was dad staring out the tiny window of the front door.

  Sara’s car slid to a halt in front of her home.  Her cheeks were flushed red with anger.  She paced through her house yelling at the walls.

  “His dad had forced the words from Michael’s lips, but the boy’s expressions truly accused me for his fate!  I have to do something, if I sit idly by Mr. Wilson will kill the boy before it’s over with!  He’ll press molestation charges if I go to the police, Michael will swear to whatever his dad instructs!  Who could blame the kid, what has he got to look forward to except more pain if he doesn’t do as he’s told!  Why did I take Michael into that room alone?  Paul can’t help he’d have to testify seeing me with Michael, and him without his clothes on!   Jesus, I have nowhere to turn!  Mr. Wilson planned this from the beginning, when I called him yesterday he must have suspected I knew!  He had me come to his home so the trap could be completed!  The bastard wanted to insure my silence; he’s enjoying torturing Michael and I’m left helpless!  Nothing I can do, except go to jail myself if I try to tell!  What damn good would that do!  I’ll call Paul; tell him what I know, leave the problem in his lap!  I can’t face the child again, not after this, not ever!”

“Hello.”

“Paul, this is Sara, I’m sorry for calling you so late, I need to talk to you about Michael!”

“I told you I don’t want to hear anymore about Michael!”

“Just shut up and listen, let me say what I have to say!  I went to their home this evening, as you instructed me to do.  Mr. Wilson starting hurting the boy right in front of my eyes.  Making the child accuse me of all types of atrocities.  He is being abused Paul, it’s going to lead to the child’s death!  You do what you believe to be right, as for me I will not be back at work; I’m resigning effective immediately!  I can’t perform my job knowing the things I know, may God forgive me for walking away from this child, goodbye Paul!”

  Paul listened to the dial tone long after Sara hung up.  The boy couldn’t be in danger; the doctor and paramedics both confirmed Michael’s injuries were accidental.  Not a sign of physical violence.  It was just an unfortunate accident.  Sara has always been very emotional over her classroom children.  Comes from not having any of her own I suspect, mother hen instinct.  The boy was extremely bashful, damn it there was no sign of child abuse, NONE!  What did she expect me to do?  If she wants to resign, good, better for her to resign than to bring this kind of scandal to our school.

  Dismissing the problem entirely Paul made the necessary calls to replace Mrs. Hinkley.  Tomorrow he would have a meeting with the staff.  Michael needed some room, the teachers would be given a hands-off order, the child needs a little time to adjust.  It’s been a rough beginning, the worse I can remember, we need to let the dust settle.  The boy must be traumatized after what Sara has put him through.  Hands off for a while that’s the best approach, let the wounds heal.

“Sara had said that Mr. Wilson was hurting the boy while she was there.”

  Paul replayed their conversation in his mind.  Sara was the only one actually accusing Mr. Wilson of harming his son.  The man had demonstrated a very violent nature when he was in the teacher’s lounge, but who wouldn’t given the circumstances.  Paul decided to go over to the Wilson’s, he might be able to smooth things over and it wouldn’t hurt to check on the boy for himself.

  A cold wet rag being applied to my face awakened me.  Dad was saying my name over and over, trying to resurrect me from the fog I had fallen into.

“Michael--- wake up!  Get up Michael!  We have a visitor!  Damn it boy!  I said get up!”

  My eyes finally focused, my body becoming rigid in my chair.  Dad eased the drink; he had prepared me earlier, into one of my hands.

“Go ahead, you can have this to drink now.  Your principal’s here, not a word boy!  I’ll do the talking!”

  Dad left me at the table to answer the insistent knocking on our front door.  Easing the cup to my lips I sipped the cocoa.  It had grown cold, but I enjoyed the sweet taste anyway.  I could hear the principal and dad talking in the living room

“I’m sorry to bother you so late Mr. Wilson, I stopped by to see if Mrs. Hinkley had returned Michael’s shoes as she was instructed.”

“She returned them!  The bitch said she was going to go to the law and accuse me of abusing my son if I didn’t keep my mouth shut about what I saw in the teachers’ lounge the other day.  I was going to call the police as soon as I put Michael to bed!”

“Please don’t do that Mr. Wilson, Sara is a good teacher.  This is the first time she has ever had any sort of trouble.  I’d hate to see her career totally destroyed over this one indiscretion.  Mr. Wilson, Sara would never molest a child I truly believe she had your sons best interests at heart.  It was an unfortunate incident that has gotten completely out of hand.”

“What do you want me to do?  I walk in and find my son naked with that bitch, and then she has the nerve to come over here accusing me of beating my son!”

“I’m asking you to let me handle Mrs. Hinkley.  There is no reason for any of us to involve the police.  Sara is obviously trying to deal with personal problems of her own.  Effective immediately Mrs. Hinkley is being placed on suspension, Michael will not have to worry about her bothering him again.  Her position is being filled by a substitute starting tomorrow.  I was hoping if I came by in person and apologized you might be willing to forget about going to the police.  I can guarantee you Mrs. Hinkley or any other teacher for that matter will be allowed close to your son.”

“Well, all I wanted was for that slut to be punished and Michael and I to be left alone.  It’s been hard enough trying to raise the boy by myself; I didn’t need all this extra trouble.  Keep her away from us and I’m willing to let things drop.”

“That’s great, thank you Mr. Wilson.  Where’s Michael?   I’d like to apologize to the young man in person.”

“He’s in the kitchen.  I was letting him enjoy a cup of hot chocolate before bedtime.”

  Dad and the principal walked into the room.  Dad stood behind my chair letting one hand rest gently on my shoulder.  The principal walked around the table so he could see my face.  I continued to sip the cocoa, as he talked not removing the cup from my lips.  It was a good excuse for not acknowledging his presence.

“Michael, I just wanted to apologize for everything that has happened.  I’m sorry, and when you return I’ll personally see to your safety.  No one!  And I mean no one will be allowed to harm or embarrass you again!”

  Dad motioned for the principal to leave the room and escorted him to the front door.  He wasn’t going to take any chances of me messing anything up.  Dad explained how tired I was and how important it was for me to get my rest so my ribs could heal properly.  The principal said how he understood and hurried out the front door.

  Paul smiled at himself in the rearview mirror of his car.  The meeting had gone extremely well.  Sara had been wrong about the abuse, the boy was hurting from his fall but Mr. Wilson was taking as good a care of him as possible.  The bitch probably had accused him of beating his child, trying to save her own ass no doubt.  Sara was a good teacher, but she wasn’t worth the kind of scandal this could bring to his school.  She could remain off for a while and if she wanted to come back to work, he’d have to think about that when the time came.  Paul decided he would definitely have his meeting with the remaining teacher’s.

  Dad joined me in the kitchen and instructed me to finish my drink.  It was time to go to bed.  I did as I was instructed and started to stand to go to my room.  He picked me up softly and carried me to my bed, laying me gently down pulling the covers up to my chin.

“A little reward for doing such a good job this evening Michael!  Don’t get the big head boy, you see how easily fooled they were.  I can do anything I want to you son; anything at all and no one will be able to help.  I’ll let you rest tonight, we can play some more tomorrow.”

  Morning came early and after I was dressed dad drug me off to school.  Mrs. Hinkley was gone, a substitute taught our class.  Steven resumed holding my hand as soon as I took my seat.  The teacher had walked over; removing his hand from mine, scolding Steven, keep your hands to yourself!  After recess the teachers were summoned to a short meeting with Principal Edward’s.  When our teacher returned she apologized to Steven, telling him he could hold my hand if he wanted to.  His hand never left mine again unless work or play dictated the need.  Something had changed, the teacher refused to look in my direction never asking me a question, I had become invisible.

  News travels fast in small communities.  Mrs. Hinkley had left her job after two days of the new school year.  The entire story behind Mrs. Hinkley’s departure never surfaced.  Everyone knew that a child named Michael Wilson was behind her leaving.  The children and teachers avoided me like the plague, except for Steven.

“I’m all you’ve got in this world boy, nobody gives a shit about you!”

“I had Steven, dad, you didn’t know about him, you screwed up ass hole!”

  Screaming broke the grip dad had on my mind.  His image was fading, the voice retreated.  The game was over for now.  I was covered in sweat when I rolled off the bed.  It was getting late and I needed to go over to Tricia’s.  

  The sun was high in the sky when I pulled off the road and parked.  This had become my favorite spot; it’s where I stopped after I had seen Corey for the first time.  Cruising through their neighborhood, his freakishly blond hair had caught my eye; it bounced as he ran across his backyard.  Long on top, evenly trimmed completely around his head.  The sides were shaved close, bowl cut, I believe was the style.