THE FREAK–Part 3 of 5
Introduction:
Trouble in Paradise before I take revenge.
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I stumbled into the kitchen around 10:30 Saturday morning. My eyes showed my exhaustion and what my eyes didnât show, my yawns did. I had just grabbed an apple for my breakfast when Carole plopped herself in my lap. âWhy are you so tired, J.J?â
âI was up late celebrating.â
âOh,â Mom asked as she walked into the kitchen. âWhat were you celebrating?â
âYeah, J.J., what were you celebrating?â
I leaned down to hug and kiss my little sister. âI was celebrating you getting a new sister.â
Mom laughed, but Carole asked, âIs Mom having another baby? â Then I laughed as Mom choked, nearly spilling her coffee all over her shirt.
âNo, this time youâre getting an adult sister.â
âI guess you asked her, then.â
âYes, Mom and she said yesâŠobviously.â
Mom came over to hug and kiss me, but Carole was still confused until I picked her up to hug her. âI asked Barbara to marry me last night. When she does sheâll be your sister-in-law.â I turned to Mom and explained how Barbara had almost fallen apart last night at the thought that we might break up when we graduated. âI couldnât sit there and watch her cry, Mom, especially when I already knew that I was going to ask her in another couple of weeks.â
âWell, Iâm not going to ask how you celebrated. Just make sure youâre careful.â I shook my head. There was no fooling my motherâŠdad either. I picked up the phone to dial the Gleasonâs number. Mrs. Gleason answered and I spent fifteen minutes listening to her tell me how thrilled she was for both of us. I knew then that Iâd sit through at least thirty minutes of the same when I picked Barbara up in half an hour.
I listened politely as the Gleasonâs extolled about what we should do with our wedding. I thought that was funny because all four of us knew that they didnât have any money to spend on it. This wedding was going to be on me. I felt blessed that I could afford the best for Barbara. She deserved it. I stood after being polite for forty-five minutes on the dot, explaining that we had a reservation for lunch and we had to meet with my family, too. They hugged and kissed us and I led Barbara down the stairs.
âDo we really have a reservation for lunch, Jack?â
âWellâŠ.â Barbara grabbed my arm and hugged me as we stepped onto the sidewalk. A few minutes later we pulled into the dinerâs parking lot. It was where we had our first real social interactionânot quite a date, but almost. We sat in the same booth, but this time around we ordered club sandwiches, mine with extra mayo, and Cokes. Unlike our first and even our subsequent visits, we sat togetherâvery closely togetherâso we could touch and hold each other while we waited for our food.
I knew that Barbara was impatient to make love again. To tell the truth, I was impatient, too, but we still had to spend time with my family. She knew and she understood, but, like me, she wasnât all that happy about it. None the less, we had our smiles in place when I opened the door around 2:00.
My parents were extremely pleased. I knew they loved Barbara and approved of our union. Noânot that union; the marriageâŠthe marriage!
There were hugs and kisses all around, but none like those from eight year-old Carole whose hug of Barbara might have killed her had I not intervened. We sat around the living room talking about when the wedding would take place. We already knew the whereâSt. Catharineâs. We talked about what Barbara would do in regard to her college and where we might try to find housing. That would be my priority when we went to Cambridge next week.
We stayed until four and left after Mom had invited Mr. and Mrs. Gleason to go out to dinner with our family tomorrow. âI think weâll go to Maneroâs. What do you think, Jack?â
âI think thatâs great and seeing that it will be Sunday night we can probably have some of their garlic bread, too.â
âI donât think Iâve ever heard of that restaurant,â Barbara told us.
âNot surprising,â I answered. âManeroâs is up in GreenwichâŠin Connecticut. We had an aunt and uncleâDadâs sister– who lived there a few years ago so we used to go there occasionally when we visited. Itâs a steak house and a good one, but as much as itâs known for its steak thatâs how much itâs known for its garlic bread. Youâll need to try some if only for self defense.â
âI donât think youâll want to kiss J.J., Barbara.â
âWant to bet, Carole? What did I tell you? I kiss your brother whenever I can.â And then she demonstrated as Carole giggled and my parents just laughed. We waved good-bye as I turned around in the driveway.
Barbara was once again snuggled up really close. âI really love your family Jack. The Gleasonâs are great people, but Iâve missed out on having brothers and sisters. Iâm glad weâre going to have a family.â
âIâm glad weâre going to do all that practicing,â I kidded. She gave me a little elbow to the ribs, but whispered that she agreed. I drove into the motelâs parking lot and a minute later we were alone in the room. It had been made up and cleaned. The bed was turned down and a small bouquet of flowers had been placed on the dresser with a note that said, âCongratulations.â We were both surprised, but pleased.
Barbara once again moved into my arms. âIâm glad itâs early, Jack. We can spend a lot of time kissing and touching while I figure out what I want to do with you. I would have laughed except I knew that Barbara was dead serious. We stood kissing tenderly as we slowly removed each otherâs clothes. Once we were naked we moved to the bed. Barbara pushed me onto my back so she could climb onto my torso. I wasnât huge physically, but thanks to the changes in my brain I had been able to sculpt my body to maximize my strength. As such, I had very little body fatâjust enough to promote optimal bodily functions. My legs were long with muscular definition from my crotch to my toes.
Barbara was about to kiss me again, but stopped and turned to look at my feet. She grabbed one foot and brought it up to lie across my other thigh. Then she did something that made me laugh. She held her tiny foot up to mine so our heels touched. My foot dwarfed hers. Turning to face me she said, âI never noticed how big your feet are. What size foot do you have?â
âFourteen double-E,â I responded. âI need large muscular feet in order to jump so high and to be able to maintain my balance while moving quickly.â
âYou have big feet. I wonder if thereâs a correlation between the size of your feet and the size of your penis. Could you have made it bigger, too?â
âYes, I could have made it twelve inches if I wanted, but why? You learned yesterday to rub your clitoris against my abdomen. You wouldnât be able to do that if my penisâŠmy cockâŠwas that long. That wouldnât be any good for you. Itâs seven and a half inches long and thick enough to get the job done. Thatâs all that matters.â
âIt sure is. I love the way it feels inside me, especially at the beginning when my pussy has to stretch to fit you. I had some doubts initially that youâd be able to get it into me. I should have known better, but I was a virgin. I just didnât know.â
âI do know one thingâif I donât get into you soon my cock is going to explode. Maybe we can do it three times tonightâonce now, once after dinner, and then later, like eleven or twelve. What do you think?â
âI think I need to get that condom on you.â She reached over my body, tore the packet open, and unrolled the latex sheathâall in a space of only five seconds. Then she positioned herself over me and dropped, impaling herself just a second later. âYou know,â she commented as she began to move, âthis gives an entirely new meaning to words like impale, spear, pierce, stab, and skewer. I feel like Iâve been skewered on you, but itâs a wonderful feelingâŠabsolutely wonderful. I love it almost as much as I love you.â She leaned forward then to kiss meâa kiss that seemed to go on forever. Then she broke it and got down to serious business, fucking me with incredible determination and strength.
She humped me furiously for more than five minutes before I began to feel tiny tremors running through her body. Those tiny tremors grew bigger and stronger with every thrust until they took over complete control of her body. She thrashed around wildly, moving from one side of the double bed to the other in just seconds. I would have cum earlier had I not been so wiped out, but I did cum eventually even as her tight cunt continued to grip me through her orgasm. She had collapsed onto my chest before my erupting cock ran out of semen.
We lay there together, my arms wrapped around her semi-conscious body, for some time before she began to stir. âOh, JackâI canât wait until we are married so we can do that every day.âevery single day. Are there other ways to do it? I want to try them all.â
âWell, thereâs doggieâso named because itâs how dogs and all animals have sexual relationsâstrictly forbidden by the Church as is every position other than missionary which is how we did it the first time. There are others, too. Ever hear of the âKama Sutra?â She shook her head to tell me ânoâ so I told her all about Indiaâs imaginative sexual practices.
âHow did you learn all about this?â
âWhere did I spend most of my time? The public library of course; it is truly amazing what you can learn there. I even read the entire Kinsey Report there one Saturday when I was in eighth grade. Truthfully, some of those positions arenât very appealing, but we can try as many as you want. We can buy the book after weâre married if you like.â She did like and we made love two more times that eveningâdoggie the first, which she loved when I reached under her body to caress her breasts, and lying on our sides with her in front of me with her top leg reaching back over my body. It was a slow and gentle mating after our frenzied sex earlier, but she loved it anyway. We finished the night by showering together before taking her home around 1:30.
I was up early to take her to Mass then we went to my house to relax with my family. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason came around three to meet my family and we left at five for the restaurant, roughly forty-five minutes away in Connecticut.
Dinner was great andâyesâwe had plenty of garlic bread, but that did nothing to stop Barbara from kissing me. I sent her home early in my Oldsâschool tomorrow.
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Barbara had decided not to make a big deal of her engagement. Her few close friends knew that she had a steady boyfriend–even knew who he was–but she thought a big announcement would be like bragging, something she usually despised. She went to her locker to put her jacket and purse away then selected her books for the morning and walked off to class.
She didnât quite make it. One of her fellow students noticed the ring and practically screamed. A large crowd gathered around Barbara wanting to know the details. Unfortunately, this happened in front of Sister Mary Patrick, probably the meanest man-hating nun in the school. âWhat is going on here.â she practically screamed, totally overreacting to the situation.
âBarbara got engaged over the weekend,â one of the girls squealed.
âThatâs absurd! Get into class now and get seated. We donât have time for silly things like that.â The girls moved into the classroom, but when Barbara tried to pass Sister reached out to grab her wrist. She pulled and twisted Barbara to her and as she did she grasped the ring with her other hand, pulling it off of Barbaraâs finger.
âThis is no engagement ring. It isnât even gold.â
âNo, Sisterâitâs platinum.â
âNonsense. Iâm keeping this in my top drawer with the rest of the cheap costume jewelry. Get to your seat. Youâve wasted enough of the classâs time already.â Barbara was near tears as she sat at her desk. She managed to get through the class and the next three, but returned to speak with Sister Mary Patrick before lunch.
âSister, may I please have my ring back. I promise you that I wonât wear it to school again.â
âSureâI know your type,â Sister Mary Patrick replied with a voice that dripped sarcasm. âYou shake your filthy ass and flash your tits and all the boys go crazy.â She grabbed Barbara strongly by the elbow and pulled her into the classroom. âI remember girls like you from when I was in school. Girls flaunting themselves at boys, acting like tramps and floozies.â
âButâŠIâm notâŠ.â
âShut your mouth, slut!â By now she had pulled Barbara in toward the closet and reached inside. A second later her hand reappeared and Barbara felt the first horrible sting. She looked at the nun in disbelief as she whipped the astonished student repeatedly. âYouâre a slut! A whore! A slag! A slattern! Youâre no better than a woman who sells herself on the street. I know what youâre thinking.â And using her most mocking voice she continued, âIâm going to tell. Iâll tell the principalâŠSister Mary Theresa.
âWellâŠgo ahead, whoreâIâve been beating sluts like you for almost twenty years and Iâm still here. She knows and sheâs done nothing about it. Sheâll do nothing about it now either.â She began whipping Barbaraâs back anew, but this time Barbara was able to push the older and much heavier nun away.
She ran to the door, crying and bleeding. âYou donât know my fiancĂ©e. Heâll eat you aliveâŠSister Mary Theresa, too.â Then she bolted out the door and down the hall. Stopping only for a moment at her locker she grabbed her purse, left the locker open, and ran to the parking lot. Less than a minute later she was off school grounds, driving as carefully as she could through the veil of tears that poured from her eyes.
Where to goâthat was the question. Mrs. Gleason would support the nun even though Barbara had done nothing wrong. She drove instead to Jackâs home, praying his mother would be there.
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I had just opened my poetry book to Poeâs classic, âThe Raven,â when the public address system blared. âMrs. Wohl, please send Jack French to the office immediately. His mom is on the phone and thereâs some problem at home.â I didnât have to be told twice. I was out of my seat, leaving my books behind, knowing that one or more of my friends would take care of them for me. I went down the stairs two at a time and less than ten seconds later I stormed into the office. Mrs. Cecil told me to come behind the counter to take the phone. âItâs your mother, Jack.â
âMom, what the problem?â
âJack, Barbaraâs here. Sheâs crying and incoherent. Something terrible must have happened at her school. You need to come home. She really needs you, Jack.â
I rung off and dashed out the door, running to the parking lot about a hundred yards away. I was in the Jeep and driving away in less than a minute. Thatâs when I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I would be doing nobody any favors if I crashed and killed myself. I slowed down, knowing that Iâd still be home in ten minutes or less. There was no traffic so I was able to go a few miles above the speed limit. The closer to home I got the faster I drove, my tires squealing when I pulled into the driveway. I ran into the house where I found Mom and Barbara in the living room. She was still crying and shaking terribly. The first thing I noticed was that her engagement ring was missing. âBarbara, honey, whatâs wrong,â I asked as I put my arms around her. I was shocked when she grimaced and gasped in obvious pain and my shock was even greater when I saw her blood on my hands. I stood and looked in amazement at her blood-soaked blouse.
Taking her hands into mine I then used my handkerchief to wipe the tears from her face. âTry to calm down, love. Tell me what happened. Mom, can you get her some water, please?â
Barbara took a couple of long drinks then told us in barely coherent sentences that were broken by gasps and heavy panting. âIt wasâŠSister Mary Patrick. Some of the girlsâŠthey crowded around me to see my ring then sheâŠshe grabbed my hand and âŠshe twisted it off myâŠoff my finger. My wrist really hurts. I tried to talkâŠtried just before lunch toâŠto speak with her, butâŠbut she called me namesâwhore and slut. She pulled me intoâŠinto her classroom and started to beat me. SheâŠshe told me sheâs been doingâŠbeating girls forâŠfor twenty years.â
âWhat about the principal?â
âShe told me, JackâŠshe told me the principal knows but hasnât done anything.â I was livid. Luckily, they were ten miles away and Barbara needed medical help or I would have driven to that school and killed both of them. Instead, I unbuttoned Barbaraâs blouse, gasping in shock when I saw the oozing welts on her back. Gently, I replaced the blouse and walked out to the kitchen to phone my lawyer.
Stanley Silverman had been my lawyer for years. He had been instrumental in forming my corporation. Thatâs right, I was incorporatedâmy investments were all owned by JJF, Inc. I knew heâd give me good advice. He was on the phone less than a minute after his wife Rebecca had greeted me. I settled my nerves and told him what had happened. âYou know where Cross County Hospital is in Yonkers, donât you?â He continued once I had agreed. âIâm on my way. Iâll have a friend from the Yonkers P.D. meet you in the ER. His name is Lt. Paul Flanagan.â
âYouâre getting an Irish Catholic cop for a case against some Catholic nuns?â
âDonât worry about that. Just take care of your fiancĂ©e. Iâll see you soon.â I hung up and helped Barbara to her feet as I explained to my mother what we were doing. I eased Barbara into the passenger seat of the Olds. It was much faster and more comfortable than the Jeep.
Cross County Hospital was just off the Cross County Parkwayâthus the name–only about ten minutes from my home with but one traffic light on the trip. I stopped in emergency parking at the ER and helped Barbara in. âWhatâs the rush, buddy?â It was a security guard who asked.
âMy fiancĂ©e has been whipped at her school. She needs attention.â I turned her around to show her bloodstained blouse. âDonât bother calling the police; theyâre already on the way.â
Barbara was shown to a screened off area where her blouse was removed while I gave what information I could at the registration desk. Rather typically, they were mostly interested in who was paying. I was there when a tall thin man in a grey suit walked in. âYou Jack?â
âYes, Iâm Jack French.â
âPaul Flanagan; whereâs your girlfriend? Stan gave me some preliminary info, but Iâll need to speak with her directly. I also have a photographer and a female officer on the way.â I finished the registration process by signing that I would be responsible for any fees then led the detective down the hall. I was sure that heâd seen everything in his years on the force.
Yonkers was a city of more than 70,000 people and there were murders and rapes that occurred almost every day. All the same, he did a double take when we walked in to see her.
Barbara was lying on her chest when Lt. Flanagan told the nurse to keep her blouse and bra for evidence. âAlso, I want you to wait a few minutes until a photographer arrives.â
âWe have a camera here for cases like this Lieutenant.â She returned with it a few minutes later and had taken three flash photos when the female officer and the police photographer rushed in. Once again several photos were taken. Barbara was asked to sit up, a towel over her breasts for modesty and privacy, so more could be taken from different angles. Then she was allowed to lie down for treatment. Lt. Flanagan asked her about the incident and Barbara, who was much calmer now, told exactly what had occurred from the theft of her ring through her beating.
I was watching Flanaganâs face as Barbara spoke and I was surprised at his reactions. I could see real anger in his eyes. I found out why later on, after Stanley Silverman walked into the area, attracted no doubt by hearing Flanaganâs strong voice. He sat by silently until Flanagan was finished. âHow much did the ring cost, Jack?â
âI have the receipt right here in my wallet. I got it from Harry Winston for $2,750 when I bought Barbaraâs Christmas presents. Itâs insured for that amount.â I showed him the slip of paper. He asked if he could keep it. Then he asked what we wanted to do. I looked at Barbara and saw immediately that she trusted my judgment. âI want these people in prison. Besides that, Stan, I want to sue, especially if we can find out if itâs gone on for years. I realize that nuns have been known to use corporal punishment, but Iâve never heard of anything like this.â
âI have,â Lt. Flanagan stated. âSomething similar happened to me when I was a kid, except then it was a priest. I never set foot in a Catholic church again.â
âIâm sorry.â It was the only thing I could think of to say. He spoke to and with Barbara until the doctor called an end to the interview. Lt. Flanagan, Mr. Silverman and I retreated to a small unused office we had been told was set aside just for situations like this. Lt. Flanagan sat at the desk expanding his notes while I asked Mr. Silverman a few questions. âStan, what is the waiting period on a marriage license?â
âNormally seventy-two hours unless a person can get a waiver.â
âWhat about blood tests?â
âNo, they went out after World War II.â
âHow do I get a waiver?â
âWhy?â
âI donât want Barbara going back to that school. If I marry her can she attend school where I live? When I proposed I promised to love, cherish, and protect her. Iâll feel a lot better if sheâs where I can help her.â
âOkay, I think I can help you on both fronts. When were you going to get the license?â
âEither this afternoon or tomorrow morning and I was hoping we could get married Thursday morning, why?â
âIâll put together a writ for a judge I know very well waiving the 72-hour period in favor of 48-hours. At the same time Iâll ask the judge for an order requiring the school district to enroll Barbara.â He took out a small notebook and wrote Barbaraâs full name and date of birth, adding my address. âThe law says nothing about a married woman or man attending school so long as the residency requirement is met. That hasnât stopped most school districts from barring married women, though. Schools do all kinds of illegal things until theyâre challenged. If I can get a judicial order weâll have the upper hand.â
âOkay, how about getting a short-term lease at an apartment or house?â
âI can probably help you there, too. You will probably have more success renting using your corporation than doing it yourself. I assume youâll be taking her to Massachusetts with you?â I nodded and he agreed. âThen we should use the same approach when you go there. Let me know what you plan to do.â
âFineâŠnext issue; how do we go about suing the school and the archdiocese and how does Barbara press charges against the teacher and the principal?â
Stan was about to answer when Lt. Flanagan interrupted. âYou might want to hold off for a bit on that. You ever hear of a Monsignor Moran?â
âYou mean that pompous ass whoâs the cardinalâs right-hand man? Yeah, Iâve met him. The first thing he ever told me was how he knew everything that happened in the archdiocese and that he was the real power. That was at a dinner last September about donations to refurbish the chapel at Dunwoodie. I made a sizable pledge.â
âHereâs what Iâm thinking. Letâs assume that this nun was telling the truth. Sheâs been beating and whipping girls for the last twenty years. The principal would have to know about it and if she knows then Moran would have to know, too.â
âDamn! Thatâs conspiracy and that would mean we could make a good case for a class action suit.â
âThatâs exactly right, Stan.â
âMind telling me what youâre talking about?â
âItâs simple, Jack. If someone knows that a crime has been committed or either knows or suspects that a crime is going to be committed, but doesnât report it to the police thatâs called conspiracy. Conspiracy is a Class A felony. Striking a student with a whip or a caneâthatâs a flexible stick like rattan or leather or bambooâcould be considered assault with a deadly weapon or, at least, aggravated assault. But, Paul, how do we get the evidence on Moran and the principal?â
âIâll need a warrant, but with Barbaraâs statement and the pictures I donât think that will be a problem. I canât send a sworn officer in to speak with them, but I could send Barbara.â
âAbsolutely not! Thatâs never going to happen!â
âOr, I could send you, Jack. As her husband youâll have a legal right to discuss her situation and to demand the ring back and action against the teacher. Thereâs another advantage to using you. Youâre big and strong. Youâre not likely to be intimidated. If you made a pledge with Moran youâll already have a legitimate reason for speaking with him. You can wear a wire. Weâll have a team nearby taping the conversation. Iâll tell you what to say and how to steer the conversation. When we have the evidence you and Barbara will have to testify before the grand jury. Donât worry about that. Itâs done in secrecy with only the district attorney or his designee asking questions. I think Iâd ask for you to go first. That way you can be in the room with her for support. Sheâll need it, Jackâall you can give her.â
We spoke then about some of the details, like how many girls had likely been beaten. The teacher had said something about dozens. That would mean that others besides the principal and Monsignor Moran also knew. How many other sisters? How many lay teachers? It would be interesting once the lawsuit was filed. Knowing Stanley Silverman there would be a huge press conference on the courthouse steps. Stan was nothing if not a publicity hound, but he did listen carefully to what Lt. Flanagan said. He knew we would have a much stronger case if criminal charges were filed firstâbetter still if there were convictions. Looking at my watch I saw that more than an hour had passed so I wandered back in to Barbara. She was asleep, lying on her stomach, when the nurse said she was okay to go home. She handed me three preions and gently shook Barbaraâs shoulder.
I saw that she was wearing only the hospital gown. While she was rousing herself I went downstairs to the shopping mall. This was the craziest situation I had ever seenâa hospital right in the middle of a major mall.
Once in Macyâs I spent only a few minutes selecting new clothes for Barbara. She dressed in minutes then I found the car and helped her in from the wheelchair to the front seat.
âWhere are we going, Jack?â
I knew that we had to talk so I pulled over to the side of the road. âBarbara, we need to make a few adjustments in our timetable.â She began to cry, thinking that I was breaking the engagement in light of what had happened. Just the opposite was true. I gently stroked her cheek as I explained. âIâm so sorry, my love. I didnât say that well. Tomorrow morning Iâd like for us to get our license. Mr. Silverman will get us a waiver so we donât have to wait seventy-two hours to get married. If you agree weâll get married Thursday morning at the Eastchester Town Hall. Until then I want you to stay with my family. You can sleep in Caroleâs bed. I promised to protect you and thatâs what I plan to do. We may have to put off our trip to Cambridge for a day or two. Lt. Flanagan has a job for me.
âI donât want you to ever go back to that school. Mr. Silverman says you will be allowed to attend school with me.â
âI think it will be a bit difficult living with your family.â
âI agree. You can get a little noisy from time to time.â She smiled for the first time since this mess had transpired and she moved over to kiss me. âThatâs why heâs looking for a short-term apartment lease for us. Itâll all work outâŠyouâll see.â I gave her a quick peck then pulled out onto the highway again.
âI donât want to sleep in Caroleâs bed, Jack. Iâm still afraid. I want to sleep with you where I know Iâll be safe.â I wondered how Iâd explain that to my parents, but it turned out just fine. I put Barbara to bed wearing one of my tee shirts and a pair of gym shorts that I had tied around her slender waist.
Later I helped her with a bowl of homemade chicken soup for dinner then I took two large suitcases to Mrs. Gleason so I could get most of Barbaraâs clothes. She wasnât happy, not believing that one of her precious nuns would ever harm a student. âI invite you to say that after youâve seen Barbaraâs back, Mrs. Gleason. I think you are a wonderful woman, but when it comes to the Catholic Church youâre deaf, dumb, and blind to the things they sometimes do. Barbara has a badly sprained wrist from when that nunâyour âgood Sisterââtwisted it and ripped her engagement ring from her finger and she has at least thirty welts across her back from being whipped. And, for what? Because she asked politely if she could have her ring back? I guarantee this: she will get it back and a whole lot more before Iâm done with them.â I got most of Barbaraâs things in the Olds before driving home around 9:30. I was glad to see her laugh when I told her I had no idea where we would put all this âstuff.â
We watched TV for about a half hour before I took a shower and prepped for bed. Barbara couldnât shower for a few days. Her back was covered with bandages and the painkillers she was taking made her woozy. I helped her to the toilet then we climbed into bed with me lying on my back and Barbaraâs head on my chest, her leg lightly draped over mine. It had been a long and difficult day. I was surprised at how quickly I fell asleep.
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I phoned the school office the following morning to let them know that Iâd be late. Mom signed the note I had written even though Mr. Silverman had told me that someone my age could write and sign as an adult. Dad had made us a good hearty breakfast of cream of wheat and orange juice with coffee for Barbara and hot chocolate for the rest of us. My sisters were very sympathetic toward Barbara, but Carole seemed devastated. Barbara looked at me and it was as though we communicated through mental telepathy. I confirmed with a slight nod.
âJack and I are going to get our marriage license this morning and weâre going to be married Thursday morning in a civil ceremony. Weâll have a formal ceremony later in a church, but we donât know which one it will be yet. Carole, Iâd like you to be my maid of honor. You get to stand fight next to me the whole time. Whoâs going to be your best man, Jack?â
âIâll tell my buddies when I get to school this morning and Iâll ask Eli. Heâs my closest friend. If he canât I guess it will be Dad. We kissed everyone good-bye even though we knew we were too early for the license bureau. Instead we drove around the community checking out the apartments. There were only two in Chester Heights, but we found an additional four in the Village of Tuckahoe that were in the school district. Checking the local newspaper I also found three houses for rent. We thought they might be better because they were furnished. I found a phone booth and called Stanley Silvermanâs office. He was already en route to the court, but his wife said he would get back to us later this evening.
Barbara and I were first in line when the office opened. We completed the form and paid the three dollar fee. While there we also checked on how to get married and were advised that a justice of the peace was always on duty from nine to five weekdays. That would suit our purposes perfectly. I dropped Barbara back with my mother, leaving her with a big kiss and drove to school.
It was lunchtime before I had a chance to tell everyone what the emergency was. I was seated at a table with my basketball teammates when I also told them about the wedding. âIâd like all of you to come Thursday morning. We wonât know the actual time until it happens because we might have to wait if there are others ahead of us, but Eli, Iâd like you to be best man.â
âIâd be honored, Freak, but someone will have to pick me up. You know I donât have a car.â I did know that. Eliâs dad ran a gardening/landscaping business and–unlike many of the other Negro families in the area who lived in apartments–he lived in a small house that I had visited many times. The house was always immaculately neat and clean and I knew his parents were strict. Boy, were they strict! One time back in junior high when Eli had cut his hair into a Mohawk, his mother had banished him to the garage until it had grown in again to something she considered presentable. He never did anything that foolish again. I had to agree with his mom. He looked like a fool until he finally had the opportunity to trim his hair to a uniform length.
As happy as they were for my impending wedding thatâs how angry they were when they heard about Barbaraâs injuries. They couldnât envision any scenario in which something like that could be considered appropriate. Even in our public school none of us could remember any time when a student had been struck by a teacherâby another student, sure, but not by a teacher.
Before I knew it the day was over and it was time for baseball practice. I phoned Barbara from the phone booth outside the cafeteria and we spoke for a few minutes. She assured me that Mom was taking good care of her. I told her that I loved her and ran out to my car to drive into the village to our field.
Tuckahoe High School had been built in the 1930âs on a plot that was really much too small. Looking at the schools we competed against anyone could see that they had three or four times as much land as we did. I didnât know why and I probably would never know the reason, but our baseball field belonged to the Village of Tuckahoe and was about three miles away. I skipped the bus because I saved almost an hour by taking my car. Today Eli and Tony joined me. We were in a jovial mood even though they teased me about giving up my freedom. They had met Barbara on several occasions so they knew what I was getting. I was also sure they were thinking about all the sex I was about to get, but they were good friends so they had huge smiles, but said nothing.
I walked in the door at 5:30 that evening to my usual greeting from Carole who always jumped up into my arms for a hug and kiss. That ceremony was a little shorter today because I needed to look after Barbara. I found her in the living room, sitting calmly and reading a book from the library. She looked better and when I touched her back I could see that one of the preions, an ointment that I had rubbed in this morning before replacing her bandages, had done a good job on her welts. Still, the doctor had told us the full healing process was likely to take several weeks, at least.
I know what youâre thinking. Why couldnât I use some of my special brain power to help her? I would have gladly, but I had never been able to help others that way, not that I hadnât tried. Two years ago Carole stepped into a big patch of poison ivy near our parentsâ bungalow way out in Long Island. I tried everything, but I was totally unable to relieve the stinging, burning, and itching sensations she had. Instead, I rubbed calamine lotion over her legs four times a day for almost a week.
I grabbed a quick shower so Iâd be presentable at dinner and after and dealt with my homework in the breakfast nook, finishing at nine. Barbara took a shower that was more a sponge bath as she still had to keep her injured back dry and I helped to dry her then carefully applied the ointment before affixing new bandages to her back. She turned to face me clad only in the gym shorts and wrapped her arms around my neck. âI love you, Jack. You make me feel so safe and secure and itâs nice to see that I have an effect on you, too.â She did; sheâd made me as hard as a rock in seconds. âI think Iâll be able to handle that rather big problem youâre having as soon as we get into bed.â
âWhat about my parents?â
âOh, Jackâyour mom already knows and if she knows so does your dad. She saw how you handled my body last night when you dressed me for bed and put two and two together. Weâre going to be married in two days. She asked me if you were taking care of me and I assured her you wereâthe very best of careâand then we both laughed. I donât think I can handle missionary yet, but I can take the top if youâll be careful about touching my back. On the positive side I wonât have to go to confession ever again. Maybe we can check out some churches on Friday.â
âNo, by then weâll be in my parentsâ bungalow out in Shoreham. It will do us some good to get away and relax for a few days. I can phone Lt. Flanagan late Friday morning. I think heâll have some info for us by then.â We brushed our teeth and climbed into the bed. She stripped my pajamas from my body while I helped her out of the shorts. I thought it might be better if she kept the tee shirt on, but she pulled it over her head, telling me she was much more comfortable without it.
She was readyâno, actually she was eagerâto make love, to show her love and to take mine freely. She lay on my chest, kissing my neck and my cheeks before her lips found mine. Her passion had never been more ardent. I wanted more than anything to hold her in my embrace, but I knew that would hurt my love terribly. Instead I moved my hands to her hips, massaging the tight globes of her butt as she drove her pubis into mine. Suddenly she stopped, broke the kiss, and lifted her body. I supported her by placing my hands on her shoulders, being careful to keep my fingers on the front of her deliciously sexy body. She spent almost no time running my cock into her slit and slowly easing her way down.
âHmmmâŠimpaleâŠspearâŠpenetrate; any way you say it, Jack, itâs the best feeling in the world. Push it into me, Jackâall the way. I canât tell you how much I need it.â She took the tee shirt and jammed the sleeve into her mouth then, hands on my shoulders she began the ride of her life. Her movements were frantic, demonstrating her terrible yearning. This was no slow loving intercourse. It was instead hard animalistic fuckingâsex at its rawest level.
She moved herself up and down my cock at an incredible pace–sweat falling from her breasts –until she threw her head back and growled like a feral beast as her body shook wildly. I was truly concerned for her safety as I was unable to grasp her torso without hurting her. I settled for her hips as I drove up–thrusting my spear deep into her slender body. Only when we were done did I realize that I had failed to use a condom.
âBarbara,â I whispered, âI forgot the condom.â
She leaned down to kiss me. âI think weâll be fine. My period is due in three days so Iâm not terribly concerned. Even if I become pregnant weâll be married and weâll be proud and loving parents. Donât you have any flashes?â
âNoâŠyou know that I canât control that. Maybe we should throw some clothes on and get to sleep.â Barbara agreed and soon enough we were under the covers and asleep in the same position that we shared last night. Little did I realize that weâd sleep like that virtually every night for the rest of our lives.
Wednesday was just the same except that we had a scrimmage against Mount Vernon after school. Because of that Barbara had driven us to school, returning later so she could follow our bus to the Mount Vernon field which was quite close to our house. I usually play center field when Iâm not pitching. Being early in the season each of our three pitchers was scheduled throw three innings. I started the game, relying on my mid-nineties fastball and slider. I threw three innings of one-hit ball while we took a two-run lead behind a double by Eli, single by me and another double by Tony two outs later. I shifted to center in the fourth inning, getting another single as we won by the score of 2-1. I drove back with Barbara, eagerly looking forward to tomorrowâs ceremony. The game had been a good preparation for our opener right after our Easter vacation.
My sisters had a huge discussion at dinner about what they should wear. Dad and I laughed, but Mom silenced us with a look. âThis is an important day in our lives and understandably we want to look our best. What are you wearing, Jack?â
âMy navy suit, white shirt, and the paisley tie that Barbara gave me for Christmas.â
âSo, youâre dressing up as you should. I know that Barbara will also dress up. It isnât every day that you get married. I know what Barbara is wearing and I think that the two of you will look great. Now leave the girls alone so we can plan what to wear.â
I usually knew when to shut up and this was clearly one of those times. I picked up a pork chop with my fork and when Barbara held out her plate I passed it over to her before being rewarded with a nice, but chaste kiss.
Once my sisters decided what they were going to wear the meal was like so many others weâd had over the years, loaded with animated discussion. Tonight, however, it was all centered on the wedding. My sister Marie told us that she had gone to the pharmacy this afternoon to buy flashbulbs and film for her Kodak Brownie. âIâm going to take a lot of pictures,â she told us with a huge smile.
Suddenly, Barbara had a somber serious expression on her face. âJack, we donât have any rings.â
âWe donât need rings to get married, but we do have some. They are a matching set to your solitaire as youâll see when you get it back. Okay, now?â She smiled again and threw her arms around my neck, kissing me passionately in front of my giggling sisters and smiling parents.
Turning to the sisters on the other side of the table she said, âYouâd better get used to seeing that. What did I tell you about kissing Jack, Carole?â
âYou kiss him as often as you can.â
âAnd he deserves it, too. How many boys do you think would rescue their fiancĂ©e the way Jack has rescued me? A lot of them would have turned tail and run, leaving me high and dry even though I did nothing wrong. Only crosses are permitted around your neck, but thereâs no school rule about wearing rings or bracelets. Iâm very lucky to have him and all of you, too.â That was my cue to lean over and kiss my future bride.
Rather than help with the dishes, Barbara, Carole, and I were excused so I could shine the shoes. I did Caroleâs and mine and then I got my first glimpse of what Barbara would wear. Her shoes were a silvery color. That was the only way I could describe them. Fortunately she had polish for them. I assumed correctly that it was squirreled away in the box with the shoes. Looking at Barbara I resolved to thank Mrs. Gleason the next time I saw her.
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That happened much earlier that I had thought. She and Mr. Gleason were at the house at eight the following morning, arriving just before my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dave with my cousins. We left the house at 8:35 in three carsâMr. and Mrs. Gleason with my parents and Angela, the cousins with Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dave, and my remaining two sisters with Barbara and me. Angela volunteered to get on line if necessary as we would be about ten minutes later due to picking up Eli.
Once down in the Village I turned right at the playground, the site of some really intense basketball games. So far as I knew, I was the only white guy to play there without hearing plenty of jibes and insults. Then again, there wasnât one other player who could keep up with me. After the playground I made another left and a right before pulling into Eliâs driveway. Carole squeezed out from the back seat and sprinted up the sidewalk. The front door opened just as she arrived and Eli scooped her up into his arms.
âHey there, Big C; I hear youâre in the wedding, too.â Then he hugged her, giving her a big kiss. Carole loved when he called her Big C, especially because she was by far the smallest in our family. Eli greeted us as he pulled the seat forward for Carole and squeezed into the front passenger seat next to Barbara and me.
âHowâs your back, Barbara? You really look beautiful; unfortunately, thereâs nothing special about you Freak. Did you comb that head with an egg beater this morning?â
âAt least I never had the stupidity to get a Mohawk.â
âOuch! That hurt! But it really is an honor to be with you this morning. I think all the guys and their girlfriends are going to be there, too.â
Barbara leaned over to kiss Eliâs cheek and laughed. âJack told me about the Mohawk. Wow, is your mother strict!â
âYeah, but looking at how some of the other kids behave Iâm glad she is. They have no disciplineâŠno self-control. I see nothing but trouble for most of them. Itâll be too late by the time they finally grow up. Enough of this negativity; where are you going for your honeymoon?
âWeâre leaving this afternoon for my parentsâ bungalow. Itâs not much, but weâll have quiet and privacy.â
âMore importantly, weâll have each other,â Barbara said as she reached up to kiss my cheek. I turned left at the light onto White Plains Road and less than ten minutes later I was parking in the Town Hall lot. Angela was right there first in line with two couples behind her. We took her place with an apology to those behind us. They assured us it was not a problem and that Angela had told them that she was holding the spot for her brother. I gave her a hug as we took our place in line.
We hadnât been there five minutes when I heard a clamor behind us. All of my school friends and some of Barbaraâsâno doubt the work of Mrs. Gleason–walked in. I was proud when I saw that they were all in suits and dresses. I would have walked over to thank them, but the door opened at that very second. Barbara and I walked in with Eli and Carole right behind us. I showed our license and our judicial waiver, and paid the fee, handing Eli the rings before a quick request to the clerk and stepping forward to meet the Justice. I shook his hand, slipping him a twenty that he calmly slipped into his pocket. He did laugh when he saw the crowd, but took charge, telling everyone where to stand. My family and Mr. and Mrs. Gleason had prime locations. Eli stood to my right; Carole to Barbaraâs left.
I had worn my navy suit as stated, but I was surprised to find it newly pressed as was my shirt AND tie. Barbara was stunning in a silver-white short-sleeved dress that was mostly form-fitting with a loose matching vest /jacket that ended at her waist over the bodice. Her coordinating heels were a great match and her diamond and opal jewelry set went with the outfit perfectly, as well.
I listened carefully to every word the Justice said, repeating word-for-word the oath of love and loyalty, forsaking all others gladly and loudly, proclaiming my love for Barbara, followed immediately by Barbara proclaiming her undying love for me. Eli produced the rings on time and Carole smiled broadly through the entire brief ceremony. It ended to nobodyâs surprise with the command to kiss the bride. I had intended a quick relatively chaste kiss, but Barbara grabbed my head, pressed our lips together, and held it for more than ten seconds before pulling back to whisper, âI love you more than I can ever say so Iâm going to show you every single moment of every single day.â We turned and walked out, making room for the next group of four people even as I slipped the clerk another twenty in trade for a legal-sized envelope with the typed documents I had requested.
Once outside Dad startled me by inviting everyone back to the house. âWeâll have deli meats and bread and a host of salads. Thereâs soda and beer and even the hard stuff and weâre hoping you will all come.â
When I reached home I learned that Mom had ordered everything including delivery yesterday while Barbara and I were getting our license. Two of our closest neighbors had taken the delivery and organized everything.
The house was jammed with people even though my parentsâ house is largeânot mansion large, but close. The living room alone is almost 600 square feet and when you add in the dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook, and my bedroom/family room at the rear the total was well over 1,000. I was standing with Eli, sipping a Coke, while Barbara spoke to a few of her friends from school. They told her that some absurd story had been created to explain her sudden departure. I overheard one of the girls refer to the nun as âthe troll.â It must have been a commonly used name because the other three nodded their heads in agreement.
I would have laughed had Eli not spoken. âYouâre a lucky guy, Freak. She is an incredible woman. Sheâs beautiful, intelligent, has a killer body, and itâs obvious that she is totally in love with you.â
âYouâre right, Eli. The day I met her was the luckiest day of my lifeâŠuntil today, anyway. There was no way I was going to let her get away from me.â He clapped me on the back and left to tickle Big C before grabbing a sandwich from the dining room table. Angela started the phonograph and as soon as I heard âSea of Loveâ I moved the latest Mrs. French to dance.
We held each other closely as I whispered, âCome with me, my loveâŠto the seaâŠthe sea of loveâŠI want to tell you how much I love youâŠ.â I was pleased when Barbara pulled me even closer to her body. The message was clearâI belong to youâeverythingâŠall of me.
I saw my sister Marie taking plenty of photos, spending Dadâs money freely. I knew she was on at least her third roll of film. We ate and danced and received the well wishes of our friends and family, but at 1:45 we disappeared upstairs exactly as planned. Once in Caroleâs room we changed our clothes and I was especially keen to check on Barbaraâs back.
There were signs of healing, but it was all too clear that she still had a very long way to go.
Ten minutes later we strolled downstairs dressed in jeans, casual shirts, and light jackets. Our suitcases and toiletries had been packed into the trunk of the Olds earlier this morning. We said our good-byes quickly, taking extra time to thank my parents, Eli, and Big C then we were off to our abbreviated honeymoon. We were on the Hutchinson River Parkway toward the Whitestone Bridge, making sure that I had the change for the tolls. The traffic heading eastbound on Long Islandâs limited east-west highways was terrible during the afternoon rush hour and our goal was to reach Suffolk County by 3:00. We actually missed that by five minutes, but we clearly had avoided the bulk of the traffic and all of the delays one could expect.
We had been on the road talking and joking and looking forward to our life together when I asked her what she had been discussing with her friends. âI told them how I had asked Sister Mary Patrick about my ring and how she had treated me and about my injuries. They werenât all that surprised. Elizabeth told me that she was beaten last yearâŠnot as many times as I was and for some minor transgression in class. She said that her parents were told that sheâd be kicked out of school and possibly excommunicated by Msgr. Moran if they complained so they said nothing.â
âIâll bet we can come up with lots of other girls just by talking to your friends and their friends and so forth. Mr. Silverman thinks we may be able to file a class action suit. That could involve hundreds of millions of dollars and Iâm sure it would get plenty of publicity. Itâs just like Moran to threaten the injured parties. Well, that wonât happen to us, will it?â
Barbara laughed. I loved hearing her laugh. âNo, it wonât because we already quit, right?â
âAbsolutely! Did I hear them call the nun a troll?â
âYes, thatâs what we call her. Sheâs short, maybe five feet two inches at most and she must weigh 250 pounds. Her breasts hang down to her navel and her nose is all misshapen and she has a beard. We know because one day in a weak moment she told us how hard it was for her to have to shave once a week. That was also the day that she condemned all men, telling us how the boys treated her when she was young. I gathered then that she hadnât changed much as she grew older. Sheâs also one of the teachers you mentioned. She never attended college and she brags all the time about how that shows how smart she is.â I thought about that, wondering whether that information might be of use to Lt. Flanagan.
We were about half an hour from the bungalow when a thought hit me. I had to laugh and I did until Barbara asked me why. âI just realized something. Today is my re-birthday. With all the excitement I completely forgot. I was struck by lightning exactly ten years ago today. I guess that makes me doubly lucky today.â Barbara laughed then, as I stopped at a light, she moved over to give me a long hot kiss. Several people honked their horns when the light had turned green and I hadnât moved an inch.
I drove up the lawn all the way to the back door of the bungalow. My dad had built most of it himself back in 1948. It was a simple rectangle with a galley kitchen right at the back door. I turned on the electricity right after carrying my kicking and laughing wife over the threshold. I left her to wander the house while I did the most objectionable job of opening the houseâclimbing headfirst into the crawlspace to turn the water on at the main. There were always plenty of spiders there and I had seen several black widows there over the years. That was why I ran a long stick around the opening and down the pit to where the valve was located. I also wore an old long-sleeved sweatshirt I had thrown into the trunk just for this purpose.
Barbara met me in the living room. âThis is really nice, Jackâ
âItâs better now than it was when it was built. There were no ceilings then and early in the morning there were comic books thrown from room to room and you could get hit by someoneâs sneaker, too. In spite of that, there was almost a rebellion when Dad decided to add the ceilings. Also, originally there were no doors to the bedrooms–only cloth drapes. I donât think that Mom was too happy with that. They only lasted one summer.â
âWhich is your bed?â
I pointed to the bedroom on the far right. âOver here on the right. I have the one by the wall and Carole has the one under the window. Iâve been thinking of buying a lot or two somewhere around here. The beach is great. Some days you can sit there and not see another person for miles. Iâll take you down there tomorrow. There are pebbles all along the north shore so walking barefoot is tough at first, but within a week or so your feet will get calloused and youâll be fine. Best of all is the water. Itâs great for kids because itâs usually calm and clean so itâs wonderful for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. Thereâs also a big rock about a quarter mile down the beach thatâs right at the edge of the water. You can walk down there at high tide and dive off and swim right back up the rock because of the way itâs shaped. Itâs pretty neat. Of course we have names for all these rocks. Iâll show you tomorrow.
âBut first, we have to check out the house. Iâll give you the easy job. You can make the beds. Weâre using my parentsâ room. While youâre doing that I have to check for dead mice.â The look on Barbaraâs face was priceless. âWe sometimes get field mice that come in during the winter. Every September we put out Mouse-notâs–essentially strychnine poison–along with a small cup of water which activates the poison. Thatâs the good part. The bad is that they often die here either in the storage compartment in the couch or behind it or under it.â
I found the sheets for Barbara while I made my search. Sure enough I found two that had been dead for some time. I picked them up using a rag and placed them into a brown paper bag I would throw out later when we went out for dinner. It was almost that time now. We had eaten several times at the party so a big sit-down meal was out of the question, besides we wanted to have plenty of time to make love. We agreed on a pizza joint we had passed on the way.
We split a small sausage pizza and a large Pepsi then bought two Pepsi six packs at the local supermarket, but no food. We agreed that weâd rather spend our time making love than cooking and cleaning.
It was when we had returned to the bungalow that I received the first shock of my married life. Rather than make the two beds in my parentsâ bedroom, she had made mineâa simple twin. âHow much room have we needed the last two nights, Jack? Hmm? The only difference is that neither one of us is going to wear anything.â
âNothing?â
âWellâŠIâm going to be wearing you and youâre going to be wearing me. We will have a blanket and a sheet. But I expect to feel you all night and when I feel that certain something special that Iâve come to loveâŠ.â I couldnât help but laugh. I wanted to take a shower, but Barbara was impatient. She stripped me in seconds then shed her clothes, as well. I did make her wait until I had checked her back. Almost all of her bleeding welts had scabbed over, but I would still have to apply the ointment and reapply the bandages before we retired. Otherwise I was afraid I would further injure my bride in my sleep.
Barbara pulled several dozen condoms from her purse. When I gave her a questioning look she laughed as she explained, âYour mom is a really prepared woman. She bought them for us while you were in school then made sure they were in my purse. You know that guys never go into a girlâs purse. Anyway, we have enough to get us through the weekend.â
I shook my head in dismay, but thought this would be a good time for a discussion that would impact both of us. I explained how I had made some changes in my portfolio to buy Searles Pharmaceuticals because they had marketed the new birth control pill. We talked about the pros and cons, ultimately agreeing that she would try it. I explained further that the pill was a sign of progressâmedically and sexually.
âIf we donât make some progress pretty soonâŠ..â I could take the hint, lying back on the bed so Barbara could climb onto my body. âTry touching my back, Jack.â
âI donât want toâŠ.â
âI know, but we have to experiment a bit. Ooooh! I guess Iâm not ready yet.â Barbara was kneeling between my legs, rubbing my cock with her nipples. Moving forward she gripped my organ and I began to worry those hard wrinkled nipples as our kiss began. After a shaky beginning Iâd learned to love Barbaraâs kisses. Just the touch of her lips to mine was enough to harden me to steel. She carefully tore through the wrapper and rolled the thin latex sheath down over the head and shaft. I could tell in an instant that she was more than ready, easily seeing the reflection of her nectar running down her thighs in the dim light as she gripped me and spread her legs to almost one hundred and eighty degrees. Seconds later we were in heaven, sharing our desire, our need, and mostly our love.
Barbara must have been practicing because she gave me some sensations I had never felt before, either that or she was saving something special for when we were married. Her pussy was vibrating around my cock, driving me crazy with lust. That, combined with her frenetic movements, brought us to a delightful, but unfortunately swift conclusion. I twisted her big clit as I drove into her with all my strength. Barbara screamed into the night as her body exploded with rapture. My orgasm was there, too. It took all my energy and determination not to reach around her to clutch her to my body.
Instead, I grabbed the muscular orbs of her ass, waiting for her convulsions to ebb. Finally, we settled together, a sweaty dirty mess. I pulled the condom off, resting it on a hanky that I used to wipe myself clean then I pulled the blanket over us. My final act of the best day of my life was to whisper, âI love you, Mrs. French.â Barbara kissed my cheek and we were gone.
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We rose early, showered and I addressed her backâs needsâapplying ointment and bandages–then we dressed for breakfastâjust jeans and sweatshirts and sneakers.
Breakfast out in this area meant going to a nearby deli for bacon and eggs on a roll. We also ordered sandwiches for our lunch. We were back to the bungalow in plenty of time for my phone calls first to Lt. Flanagan and second to Mr. Silverman. Lt. Flanagan told us that he had secured a warrant for both phone taps and for recording my conversations with the school principal and my least favorite monsignor. I made arrangements to meet with him at 8:00 Monday morning. I thought it would be the perfect opportunityâschool would be closed, but the principal and staff were scheduled to work. I had no idea how he had learned that, but I agreed. I knew that I would have no trouble meeting with Msgr. Moran. All I had to do was tell him that I wanted to talk about my pledge for the Dunwoodie Chapel renovation. I did want to speak with him about it, but the conversation wasnât one he would enjoy. I was going to renege after seeing how Barbara had been so terribly mistreated.
Mr. Silverman told me that he had met with a judge early yesterday morning and had been given a writ requiring the Tuckahoe School District to enroll Barbara French, nee Millard, a transfer student from St. Claudiaâs in Yonkers. Also, a second writ required St. Claudiaâs to provide me with Barbaraâs records. That visit would give me a legitimate reason to visit the school. Finally, he told me that he had met with a local real estate agent yesterday afternoon in regard to a short-term rental. He said that my reputation in the community would probably help in that regard because everyone knew of my character. I rung off, telling him weâd speak again Monday after my undercover work was done.
The whole purpose of using the bungalow was to give us some time to be alone together and, other than a few minutes spent with two of my friends on the beach, that was exactly what we had. If anything, our love for each other grew every time we made love that weekend and we made love oftenâa minimum of three times a day, taking time off only to rest, shower, eat, and walk on the beach. I had always loved the peace I had found on the beach and Barbara obviously agreed. We resolved to buy a lot in the area where we could spend our summers and odd weekends when not taking classes in Massachusetts.
Sunday was Easter and we agreed to attend some kind of church services. After reviewing the options we decided on the Lutheran church in nearby Rocky Point, mostly because there was a Lutheran church just two blocks from St. Catharineâs in Pelham. We closed up the bungalow after the enjoyable service, ate lunch at a restaurant on the way home and arrived at my parentsâ home around three that afternoon.
Of course, they wanted to know how Barbara was feeling. To that she only had a huge smile which made my mother laugh and my father red-faced. âMy back still hurts, but someone is spoiling me rotten and heâs always putting that stuff on me and bandaging my boo-booâs.â That was directed at Carole who laughed hysterically. She ran to Barbara and would have hugged her under other circumstances. Instead, Barbara hugged her, kissing her cheek. Then she whispered, just loud enough for all of us to hear, âIâm so glad youâre my sister now. I never had a sister before. Can you help teach me how to be a sister?â Carole beamed as she jumped forward to kiss Barbaraâs cheek and wrap her harms around her neck, carefully avoiding her back.
âWell, the first thing you have to do is run up to J.J. when he comes in so he can hug and kiss you.â
We all laughed, but Barbara said in all seriousness, âI think I have that part down cold.â
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Barbara insisted on coming with me to meet with Lt. Flanagan. He showed me the warrant and explained what I could and couldnât ask about then he told me to ignore that. âYouâre an amateur so if you make a mistake nobody will chew your head off.â His technicians fitted the âwireâ under my shirt, taping the transmitter to the small of my back. I had the writ requiring the school to give me Barbaraâs records and I had the document from the town clerk that certified that we were married. I was loaded for bear when we left police headquarters at 8:45. I followed the police department van almost all the way to St. Claudiaâs. We double checked the transmitter and I gathered all of the papers I would need, including a set of photos of Barbaraâs back. Unlike those that would be used as evidence, these were dated, but not labeled âYonkers P.D.â I walked the final two blocks to the school once Barbara had kissed me and wished me luck.
Once in the main office I approached the counter, asking to speak with the principal. âMay I ask the nature of your business,â asked the secretary, a woman named Virginia Gregory according to the name plate on her desk.
âIâm here to talk about Barbara Millard. Well, she used to be Millard, but now sheâs French. We were married last Thursday even though we had planned our wedding to be after the end of the school year. That was because of what happened here last Monday.â I saw the shocked acknowledgement in the secretaryâs face as she walked into the principalâs office. I could hear some hushed conversation before a woman who was obviously Sister Mary Theresa walked out. She was dressed in what could be best described as contemporary attire for a nun rather than the traditional habit.
âI donât believe that I should discuss anything about Barbara with you. You are not her guardian and we have privacy issues to deal with.â
âThen youâll be happy to see that I have come prepared. Here is my passport to identify me.â She took it, handling it like it was an angry rattlesnake before returning it to me. âNext is a notarized letter from the Eastchester Town Clerk certifying that Barbara and I were married last Thursday. I also have an order from the New York State Court of Appeals requiring you to give me Barbaraâs official records. She is withdrawing effective immediately.â Sister took the papers, scanned them quickly then practically threw them onto the secretaryâs desk.
âWhile Iâm here I demand the return of her engagement ring. Sister Mary Patrick wrenched it off her finger.â
âYou have no proof of that.â
âI donât think Iâd have too much difficulty with that. She did it in front of the entire class.â
âWhy are you concerned about that cheap trinket? It wasnât even gold and I doubt that it was even a diamond.â
âYou are rightâit isnât gold. Itâs platinum just like her wedding bandâŠand just like mine. I even have the receipt right here.â
âMay I see it?â I pulled a yellow form from my pocket and passed it over the counter.
She laughed as she tore it into tiny pieces then dropped them into my hand. âYouâre not as smart as you think, Mr. French. Whereâs your proof now?â
I carefully placed the tiny pieces into an envelope, sealing it with saliva from my tongue. âApparently, Iâm not quite as stupid as you think. That was a receipt for a tire I bought for my Jeep. BesidesâŠhow would you know it wasnât gold if Sister Mary Patrick didnât take it? While Iâm on the subject of Sister Mary Patrick Iâd like you to take a look at these photos that were taken at the Cross County ER Monday afternoon. How do you justify beating a student like this? I attend a public school. They donât get to select their students the way you do, but nobody has ever been struck by a teacher let alone whipped the way Barbara was.â
âYou think youâre so smart, donât you? You know nothing about running a school. We have more than four hundred students here. Parents send their daughters here because they want them to have discipline in their lives. So what if five or six girls take a beating every year? Fear of that keeps the others in line.â
âYou must be kidding. Youâre telling me that this is a long-standing practiceâŠsomething youâve condoned for years?â
âNot condoned, Mr. FrenchâI donât condone whipping the students. I encourage it. I did the whipping before Sister Mary Patrick began teaching here. Now Iâm principal and she does it. And she does a very good job of it, too.â
I shook my head in disbelief, but I wondered if I could get just a bit more information from this blabbing bitch. âIâm going to complain to the Archdiocese. Iâll find out whoâs in charge. You can count on that and Iâll file a formal complaint.â
âLet me save you the trouble. The priest in charge is Monsignor Edwin Moran, but he already knows and gives the practice his blessing. If you complain too strenuously youâll run the risk of excommunication. Then youâll burn in hell for eternity.â I almost laughed. I would have but for fear that I really might burn in hell for eternity.
âJust give me Barbaraâs records and let me get out of here before I throw up. You have no business running a school and less being a servant of Christ.â
âVirginia, get the papers then show Mr. French to the door. Lock it once heâs gone.â Sister Mary Theresa turned then and walked back into her office, slamming the door as she did. Mrs. Gregory had already retrieved the file and handed it to me as she walked around the counter. Once out in the hallway she looked around then placed a small piece of note paper in my hand. She opened the door and closed it without uttering a sound.
Only when I was away from the building did I unfold the paper and read itââI have info. Call tonight.â It was followed by her phone number. Five minutes later I rejoined Barbara and Lt. Flanagan.
âDamn, Jackâyou sure youâre not an undercover officer? I couldnât have done better myself. Getting a subject angry is an old police trick. It is absolutely amazing what people will say when theyâre pissed off.â
âLetâs hope that luck holds when I meet with the honorable monsignor.â Barbara joined me in the Olds as we drove to Dunwoodie where Monsignor Moran maintained his office.
Lt. Flanagan stopped us a few blocks away to tell us that a lengthy phone call had been placed from the school to the Archdiocese headquarters. âI think youâd find the conversation particularly revealing. They discussed the entire conspiracy and we were right. Theyâve been beating at least six girls a year for more than twenty years. In fact the practice dates back to the first year the school opened.â
Moran was forewarned, but I was forearmed. I told his secretaryâa priestâthat I wanted to discuss my pledge and was shown immediately into the big manâs office, even though he was only five feet five inches tall. I had thought last year that it was awfully ostentatious for someone who had supposedly taken âa vow of povertyââhis words, not mine. He stood to greet me and got right to the point. âI understand that you think you have a grievance against St. Claudiaâs School.â
âYou might say that. I was brought up to think that stealing was a sin. Isnât taking something that doesnât belong to you stealing?â
âYouâre an intelligent young man, French, but youâre inexperienced in the way of the world. Teachers in all schools–even yoursâsometimes confiscate items that are disruptive and interfere with the educational process.â
I smiled. This fool was going to trap himself with only a minimum of effort on my part. âYou and I both know that there was no reason to take the ring. Why didnât the teacher simply tell her to put it away? In her pocket or purse the ring would have no longer been a distraction. And once the nun had it, why not return it when the student promised not to wear it again? Why was it necessary to whip her?â
âIâm sure that you understand the need to maintain discipline in schools. Sometimes it is necessary to make an example of a student. In my experience such a whipping leaves one uncomfortable for a few days, but leaves no permanent damage. Itâs really nothing more than a mild spanking.â
I opened the envelope with the photos of Barbaraâs back. âYou honestly think that this is a mild spanking? Either youâre a liar or youâre delusional. How would you like to be on the receiving end of this? Iâm sure I could arrange itâa special present just for you.â
âYouâre treading on dangerous ground, Mr. French. People have been excommunicated for less.â
I laughed. I actually laughed in his face. âI just knew that youâd threaten me sometime during this discussion, but it wonât work. Those threats only work with someone who actually cares and I donât. Parents send their daughters to your schools and you beat them into submission because you donât really know anything about children or how to deal with them. This has been going on for ages even though the practice should have ended in the middle ages. That teacher is a criminal and the principal has done nothing and youâve done nothing. That makes you criminals, too. The teacher is a horrible excuse for a human being, but the two of you are worse–the most detestable examples of humanity Iâve ever seen. If anyone is going to burn in hell, itâs you.â
I wanted to get the monsignor angry and now he was furious. He swore at me and cursed me and made every justification imaginable for his actions and those of the teacher and principal, ending by threatening me again. âIt wonât work because we quit. We donât want any part of a religion that thinks it is acceptable to treat its believers in such a horrible inhuman manner. One other thing before I walk out the doorâhell will freeze over before I give you a stinking penny.â
âYou gave your wordâyour pledge.â
âYes, I did, but that was before I found out what kind of lying manipulative and sadistic bastard you are. Itâs too bad, actually, because I can use the tax deduction. But, maybe my next church can use the money. Barbara and I spent part of Easter in a Lutheran church. We enjoyed the service and we were welcomed like we were family. Best of all, thereâs one just up the road from St. Catharineâs. I imagine they could use two hundred thousand dollars.â
âYour pledge was for one hundred thousand.â
â
âYes, it was, but that was then. I suddenly find that Iâm in a really generous moodâŠjust not for you. I wish you luck, Monsignor. I think youâre going to need it.â
âWhat the hell does that mean?â
âYou figure it out. Youâre the one with all the answers here.â I collected the photos, turned and walked away laughing crazily as I strode through the door. The priest/secretary put a restraining hand on my arm, but a steely look on my face caused him to step back quickly. âSmart move,â I whispered just loud enough for him to hear. Had anyone read my eyes they would have seen someone willing to kill if necessary. Ten seconds later I was in the parking lot and a minute after that I was in the police van.
Lt. Flanagan spoke first. âGood job, Jack. He hung himself with his own words. No judge will ever accuse us of entrapment.â
âI find that most arrogant people just canât help themselves. They insist on putting their feet in their mouths at every opportunity. OhâŠI almost forgot. The secretary at St. Claudiaâs gave me this note when she escorted me from the building.â
I pulled the sheet from my pocket and handed it to him. He perused it for a few seconds. âShe probably gets off at four so if you can come to the station at five weâll be able to phone her. Iâll have a warrant to record the call by then given whatâs happened this morning.â
âI was hoping to drive to Massachusetts this afternoon, but Iâm sure I can change my appointment from tomorrow morning to afternoon.â We talked for a few more minutes until Barbara and I drove away toward home.
Once there I phoned the admissions office at Harvard, asking to speak with Mrs. Atkins. She was on the line after the third ring and I explained that I was working on a case with the Yonkers Police and, of course, that led to a host of questions. I began by explaining that I had asked Barbara to marry me. âYouâll meet her tomorrow and youâll see why we got married in a hurry. And, no, itâs not the reason you think it is. She was the victim of a brutal attack and Iâm helping the Yonkers police get evidence against those responsible. The crime is all the more reprehensible because school and church officials are involved, but Iâll explain everything tomorrow afternoon. I hope to drive a few hours tonight after the police are finished with us and weâll get into Cambridge mid-morning. Iâd like to meet with you after lunch if thatâs possible.â
âIâm free all day so come whenever you can. Okay?â I agreed and Barbara and I spent a few hours hanging out with my familyâBarbara and Carole starting a huge War tournamentâuntil it was time to pack a weekâs clothing and drive back to the Yonkers P.D. Of course, I had to listen to my mother remind me to drive carefully. I promised I would and weâd stop before dark.
I was on a phone that recorded the conversation by 5:00 when I dialed.
The phone was answered almost immediately by a young girl. âHi. Is your mommy home?â
âMay I ask who is calling?â
âWow, you have excellent manners. Would you tell your mom that John French is calling?â
âMOM! Itâs that kid you told me about.â
âHello?â
âMrs. Gregory, itâs John French. We spoke briefly at St. Claudiaâs this morning. Please call me Jack. Your note said you have some information for me.â
âI donât know if you can help, but Iâve just about had enough. The way they treat some of the girls is just barbaric.â
âI agree, but how do you know about these beatings? And I assure you that I can help you.â
âI pray youâre right. Every time Sister Mary Patrick beats a girl she files a written report with Sister Mary Theresa. Theyâre in a special file in her office. How can you help meâŠand the girls?â
I looked at Lt. Flanagan and he nodded. âMrs. Gregory, Iâm working with the Yonkers Police. I was wearing a wire when I spoke to Sister this morning and Iâm calling you now from their headquarters. If youâll hold on a second Iâll let you speak with Lt. Flanagan. Heâs running the investigation.â
I passed the phone to him and he spoke to Mrs. Gregory for almost fifteen minutes. âMostly,â he told her, âjust go about your business normally. It will take a few weeks for us to get everything together. For one thing both Jack and Barbara will have to testify before the grand jury. I think that will take place next week. Once the grand jury indicts weâll act quickly against Sisters Mary Theresa and Mary Patrick as well as Monsignor Moran and possibly others, as well. Do these reports have the names of the students who have been beaten?â
âYes, sir. Will I have to testify, too?â
âProbably not, but weâll want to know where that file is. Do you know how far back it goes?â
âIâve worked at the school for more than ten years and I know it was in existence then. Sister Mary Theresa told me and she showed me, too.â
âIâm sure weâll have a search warrant for the main office and for the classroom where the beating occurred, but it will be a help if we know where to look ahead of time. Can you come to the station house tomorrow afternoon?â
âYes, if I have to, but Sister always wants to know if any of the staff is contacted by the police. She says it reflects poorly on the school, but I think sheâs just being bossy and controlling.â
âI have your address here. Youâll be stopped on the way to work tomorrow morning and given a summons for a non-working taillight. It will be fake, of course, but it will give you a reason to come here. The officer will simply unplug the bulb from the socket and weâll plug it back in when youâre here. I want to thank you for your help. I just had a thought. Do any of the other staff members know about this?â
âAlmost all of them, unfortunately; Sister Mary Patrick likes to brag.â The conversation ended a minute later and Barbara and I began to leave.
âWeâll be in Massachusetts for most of the week, Lieutenant. We have to find a place to live while Iâm in college and we have to find a college for Barbara, too.â
âWhere are you going?â
Barbara couldnât wait to brag about me. âHarvard; and Jack has a full academic scholarship, too.â
âWow! I knew you were smart, butâŠ. Youâd better get going if youâre driving tonight. Thanks for one of the most productive days Iâve seen in years.â He shook our hands and showed us out to the parking lot. I drove us back on the Cross County Parkway to the Hutchinson River Parkway North. That changed to the Merritt Parkway and eventually to the Wilbur Cross once we were in Connecticut. We stopped at a motel on the Berlin Turnpike just outside Hartford for the night. I called Mom to let her know how things were going and after that I phoned Stanley Silverman. He was thrilled to learn there was a file with the names of everyone who had been beaten over the years. Oh boy! I could hear the cash register in his brain even from more than a hundred miles away.