Generation 2, Chapter 16

Robert picked up the mail after class, finding several letters from home. Smiling broadly as he tore open the one from Michael.

"Rob, can you talk to Dad and explain to him I'm not a little kid anymore? I don't need to be read to sleep every night. It's ok he wants to do stuff with me but maybe it's time we find something else to do. Do you have any ideas?

P.S. Gene is causing trouble again. Can you come home and pound some sense into him?

Michael

Shaking his head, Robert went into dormitory, shuffling through the mail and opened the next one.

"Robbie, How's Patricia? When are you going to bring her home? I'd love to see her again. You missed Paul's birthday he's such an adorable toddler. Gene may be right, he doesn't look like any of us. I enclosed a few pictures of the party. 

 

What do you think? Where did that black hair come from? I can't believe Mom would do something like this to Daddy! Hope you can come home soon. You're the only one who can talk sense into Gene. It took everything I could think of to keep Gene and Mom from screaming at each other during the party. Can't really blame Mom though, after all Gene was higher than a kite and in his underwear. But no one should have to listen to her insults; especially at a party. Their screaming matches are becoming more frequent lately. You would think at her age, she would know better. The person I feel sorriest for is Dad. He's always being pulled apart by those two idiots and it's only gotten worse sense Casey left.

P.S. We have a new baby brother. Tell Evie he's green, just like her.

Love,

Beverly



Robert could feel the old familiar frustration bubbling up inside him as he wondered what they expected him to do. Why did everyone think he could perform miracles when it came to Gene? It seemed like every break through he accomplished came with bumps and bruises. He was getting tired of being Gene's punching bag. He walked into the living room, sat on the couch as he opened the next letter.

"Hey Bro, how's it goin? Hope your woman's not a stark raving lunatic like Dad's bitch. When are you coming home? I need you to convince Dad to kick that bitch out. What's he waiting for? It's not like she loves him. Just look at Paul, isn't that enough proof for him? If that isn't enough you should have seen her screaming like an old banshee when Bryan was born.

Dad's not too happy I got pictures of the birth but someone had to be happy about the arrival of our little brother. I don't know how Dad's gonna manage with a toddler and two infants in the house. Oh did I mention, Mom's little brat was a boy they named Gregory? This one might just be Dad's, he kind of reminds me of Mikey. My skin crawls at the thought of them doing ... ugh, can you imagine? So have you and your girl done it yet? I need details, bro.

Can I come and live with you? The bitch wants me gone and I can't stand seeing what she's doing to Dad. So can I? Please!

P.S. I got arrested again. I'm sure Dad will tell you all about it. Cops took my fake ID card and it cost me a fortune. But if you let me come and live with you I promise I won't get into any trouble.

Leaning forward, he rested his head in his hands. How could he tell Gene no? He wanted a chance to be free from all the drama Gene inevitably would bring into his life. The four of them had been discussing pulling their money together and buying a house. They could just afford a small one bedroom house with the money they had saved. There just wasn't room enough for Gene, not to mention the lack of privacy, which they were still trying to figure out. He didn't want to bring his drug addicted, beer guzzling kid brother into the mix. Getting up, Robert decided to go up to his room and read his Dad's letter.

Sitting on this his bed he steeled himself for what he was sure to be bad news from his Father.
Dear Son,

I know this will come as no surprise. You have two new baby brothers, Gregory and Bryan. I've tried to convince your mother to get her tubes tied but as usual she refused to listen to reason.

I'm getting a little too old to want to be chasing toddlers around the house. I would much rather be planning for a comfortable retirement instead of worrying about paying college tuitions. It might have been different if she showed an ounce of interest in their wellbeing but she seems to have turned deaf to their cries and I'm being run ragged with the demands of two infants and a toddler.

Beverly does her best to help but I would much rather she focus on her school work. Gene as you may know is back to his old tricks and I'm afraid the babies as they get older and are crawling around will find his stash that he has hidden around here somewhere. With so much chaos going on, I have little time or patience to cope with Gene.

I just don't know how to help him and as long as he refuses help there's not much that can be done. As much as I hate to admit defeat, I'm at my whit's end with him. He is failing all of his classes and will not be graduating this year. He'll be eighteen in a few months and I have told him if he expects to continue to live under my roof that he would have to finish school and graduate. Be prepared for him to ask if he could come and live with you.

Gene and your mother got into a right old screaming match the other day. He was caught drinking in one of the bars in town. The cops confiscated is fake ID and brought him home. Your mother was livid and started right in on him. As neither one of them listen to me, I just let them hurl insults at each other and worked on keeping the kids clear of wherever they were at. I've pretty much given up on ever having a peaceful family life.

You may not know this but I've consulted with a lawyer about getting a divorce. The lawyer feels that based upon the evidence, your mother would get custody of the little ones, despite the fact she's not much of a mother to them. I'm still with that woman only because I can't leave those babies in her care when I know they would be neglected. I try not to see them as a mill stone around my neck but there are days I feel like I'm drowning.

It's heartbreaking to see the woman she's become when I remember the girl I once loved and married over twenty years ago. Please take this in the spirit it's intended. Don't rush into marriage. I'm sure Patricia's a lovely girl but people change for better or worse. I know the stresses of my abductions and Sydney's death played havoc on your mother. Be sure Patricia knows what she's getting into in regards to the aliens. It takes a special kind of person to handle it, I hope she's that kid of person.

Love,

Dad

Standing up to stretch, Robert wished there was something he could do to help his Dad besides offering his support. He knew his Dad would never leave that woman not if it meant leaving his kids behind. There welfare was more important than his own. Should he forget his plans and move back home to help his Dad with the little ones? Would Patricia wait for him?
  
      

Generation 2, Chapter 15

 

"Are you just going to stand there, staring at me all day?" Patricia asked as she stretched from her workout.

"Hmmm ... I'm enjoying the show," Robert said leaning back on the treadmill.

"You really should join me after all that running you did on the treadmill," Patricia suggested as he continued to watch her.

"I'll think about it. But I'd much rather stay right here."

"You'll regret it tomorrow when you're all stiff and sore."

With a lopsided grin Robert said "I know a really great girl who gives the best massages. So I'm thinking it's a win, win situation."

"You do, do ya?" she asked with a mischievous grin. "What if she refuses to massage your pore aching muscles?"

"Wouldn't happen," Robert said confidently. "This gal is much to sweet and kind hearted to watch me suffer."

"Robert you're really just too much," Patricia said laughing. Changing the subject she asked "How's your father?"

"He says he's ok but ..." he shrugged in frustration. "Wish he would just admit that he needs help. Casey thinks he's putting up a brave front and pretending everything's ok, when he's really falling apart on the inside."

"Casey's supposed to be starting college soon isn't he?"

"Yeah, he put it off until the second semester to stay home and help Beverly with the little ones until Dad came back."

"What about your mother? Surely she helped," Patricia asked astonished.

"My mother is a selfish cow," he responded without thinking.

"Robert that's a bit harsh. It must be difficult for her knowing that her husband can be taken at any moment, not knowing when or if he'll return."

"I suppose," Robert grudgingly agreed. "But she didn't have to go ballistic on everyone; especially on Gene. She just laid into him calling him every name she could think of, like it was his fault the aliens came and took Dad." Restlessly he moved away from the treadmill turning away from Patricia, the memories too vivid and hurtful. "You know what she said? That if it hadn't been for Gene beating me up that I would have been home for the aliens to take instead of Dad. That I should have been the one, that she could have handled that. She kept going on about how he's an evil little shit who schemed with the aliens to abduct Dad and break up their marriage. Told him it was his fault if Dad came back impregnated with another alien spawn. She had absolutely no empathy for Gene's feelings. She almost seemed to enjoy tearing him down."

"But that's, that's awful," Patricia stated at a loss for words. She moved closer to Robert, wrapping her arms around him, giving him what support she could.

He smiled faintly at her as he put his arms around her waist. "If it hadn't been for Casey volunteering to stay home, I would have dropped out of college." Someone had to stay home and keep things together until Dad came back. Mom was absolutely impossible, locking herself up in her bedroom when she wasn't taking her frustrations out on Gene. Gene was slowly drinking himself to death, having refused to go to rehab until Dad was home. He had tried to stop drinking on his own but he just couldn't do it. After hearing the things that their mother said to him, even Casey had begun to realize the damage her venomous words were having on him. No matter how they tried to shield Gene from her.  They couldn't be there all the time and he just wouldn't listen to them when they pointed out how Dad would want him to go and get help so that when he came back he would be better. It just fell on deaf ears. Without their father being there to deflect the worst of their mothers vicious tirades, Gene fell further and further into his drunken daze. She continued to steam roll over him until he was so deflated they all wondered if he'd ever find himself again.

"Oh God I'm so afraid I'm going to lose my brother and there's not a damn thing I can do to prevent it," he said out of despair as Patricia held him.

"Maybe now that your Dad is home he'll be able to talk sense into him," she suggested.

Shrugging Robert sighed "Yeah maybe but Dad isn't himself lately. It may just be too much."

"Surely after being abducted three times he's learned how to cope by now..."

"You just don't get it do you?" Robert said through gritted teeth. "No matter how many times it never gets easier. After experiencing it once I know the fear, the pain, the uncertainty, it's not something you can get over quickly if at all. I don't know how I'll react the next time the aliens take me. I just know that Dad is in a vulnerable place right now, where he feels his world is falling apart around him and he has everyone looking to him for guidance like he doesn't have enough to deal with. Casey says he's cooperating with the scientists that showed up again to study and interview him, just like last time. He seems to be alright, going to work, taking care of the kids but he's functioning on autopilot. He's not eating but Casey says he's gaining weight. Oh god that means, not again, this can't be happening." Robert stopped stunned with the realization he just had.

"What do you mean? What's happening again?" Patricia asked confused not comprehending why Robert looked so upset.

"He's pregnant. That explains the weight gain. It has to be that. The aliens did it again."

"Isn't he getting a little old?"

"Yeah," he shrugged "but that hasn't stopped my mom from having more. She's due in another couple of months."

Rolling her eyes she said "Your mom's not exactly sane is she?"

"That's the understatement of the year," Robert grumbled staring straight ahead of him wondering how his parents were going to manage two new babies.
 

"Hey it's going to be alright," Patricia said intruding upon his thoughts as she softly kissed his lips. "Sooner or later she'll have to stop, it's a fact of life."

Chuckling a little "It seems like once she turned forty she went over the edge and started popping out babies like there was no tomorrow."

"Mid life crisis maybe. She really should see a doctor."

"That's not likely to happen since she feels there's nothing wrong with her. It's the rest of us that need help."

"I really don't want to get old," Patricia stated.

Looking at her curiously he asked "I don't think you have a choice."

"I know but it seems like that all the older women in our lives, your mom my mom, all went bat shit crazy once they hit forty."

Smiling at her Robert couldn't resist saying "I'll have to keep that in mind and have a straight jacket available on your fortieth birthday."

"You sound pretty confident that we'll still be together twenty years from now."

"I certainly hope so."

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Later that evening Shon was attempting to study but his mind kept dwelling on the email he received. The second one in six months from the state prison. He stared at the page for several minutes before giving up the pretense. Closing the book he recalled the way his heart hammered in his chest after seeing the new email in his inbox. He debated with himself whether to open it or not, there was no doubt in his mind it was regarding his father, who was serving a 25 year sentence for attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Not once in the twelve years his father was in confinement had Shon visited him or had any contact with him. He refused to let that man into his life, not after the torment he lived through as a child. Stealing his nerves he clicked the email to open and instantly regretted it. If it had been from his father at least he would have known where he was, in prison where he belonged. Instead the email was from the parole board informing him that his father had been released for good behavior.

Good behavior? His father? Never! Shon's only memories of his childhood were filled with screaming and crying, never once had his father said a kind word to him or said he loved him. He shivered as he recalled the countless beatings he received during his father's drunken rages, while his father shouted at him that he deserved to be punished for ruining his life. Because of him, his father had to give up his dreams because of him he lost his jobs one after the other and finally he lost his wife all because of him, the son he never wanted, the son who should never have been born. Alone at night, huddled on the floor of the closet he was locked into every night, he would pray that he would die before he waked and be taken to heaven because he had done his time in hell. Shaking his head, he remembered how he had wished he had been like all the other kids, who only had to fear the imaginary monster under their bed, instead he had the worst monster of all, his dad.

Now that monster was out and wanting to locate him. According to the parole officer he wanted to make amends. Just how do you make amends for the terror he inflicted on a small child, defenseless to protect himself, who as an adult couldn't keep his heart from racing at the thought of seeing that person again. There were things that couldn't be undone or forgiven. He should never have opened that email he thought.

"Shon are you aright?" a low melodic voice asked him. He smiled at the sound, while shaking his head without looking at her. "Want to talk about it?"

"No," he said his voice harsher than he intended.  His eyes crept over to see her look down at her hands rebuffed. He felt like kicking himself for taking his bad mood out on her, when all she had done was offer to help. "I'm sorry Evie. I just received some disturbing news and it has me on edge. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Her mouth quirked up as she took a seat "It's ok. The offer still stands. If you want to talk, I'm a pretty good listener."

Staring straight ahead, Shon leaned forward clasping his hands. He was tempted to unburden his heart and tell all his darkest secrets, but he knew he couldn't open that pit of terror he had locked up deep inside him. Looking at her he knew he never wanted to burden her with his past, it was better to keep her at a distance. She would never understand someone like him, they were from two different worlds. "You wouldn't understand," he mumbled more to himself than to her.

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" she challenged leaning forward. "Do you think I haven't got a clue about your past? That I wouldn't understand the terror and fear you lived through as a child?"

"How could you? Our backgrounds are so different?" Shon asked stunned that she knew, as he had never told anyone, not even Sydney when they were dating.

Smiling sadly Evelyn told him "when we stayed with you and your grandmother, she spoke about you and what your father did. She knew then that I liked you, even before I realized it myself. She said 'Missie there's things you need to know about that grandson of mine. He's a good'un but he's too hard on himself.' She made me laugh and cry as she spoke but one thing was clear, she loved you."

"She shouldn't have told you," he exploded shifting to get up. Evelyn reached over and stalled his progress "she didn't mean any harm. She wanted someone to understand the scared little boy you were and the man you were becoming. She wanted the best for you and she made me promise to tell you how proud she was of you."

Stunned, Shon thought of his gramma and how much she had given up for him, to raise him, to give him a home where he was loved, he owed her so much because without her he wouldn't be where he was today. He was amazed that Evelyn, even though she knew his past, wasn't scared of him. "But what if I turn out to be just like my father?"

He asked the question that plagued his dreams, that caused him to decide that he couldn't chance ever getting married or having children. He never wanted to be the monster in a small child's eyes. He would rather die a lonely old man before becoming his father.

"You won't," she said confidently "just because your the child of abuse doesn't mean you'll automatically become an abuser too. You don't have to be. Just like I don't have to be like the aliens I come from. We can form our own destinies and be something better. You're grandmother knew it and was confident that you could rise above your past, you just have to believe it."

Smiling for the first time since he opened that email, he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. For the first time he felt he had a future, the one he dreamed of. He looked at Evelyn silently thanking her for the gift she gave him of knowing someone was capable of understanding him. He felt free to chase his dream, now he knew he didn't have to hide his feelings anymore and he had his gramma to thank for her wisdom in knowing him better than he knew himself.
 

Generation 2, Chapter 14 - Part 3

Casey seeing them come out lost his smile as he saw the condition of Roberts face. He stormed over to them, accusing Gene "I knew you were going to blow some day. Did you have to do it on my birthday?"

Gene instantly lost his smile and the familiar defeated look crept across his features. He felt Robert squeeze his shoulder reassuringly "Easy there bud," he heard Robert whisper in his ear.

"Congratulations little bro," Robert said loudly. Then lowered his voice so that only the three of them could hear, as others echoed him. "Calm down Case. Everything's alright"

"But your face," Casey began in concern "you look awful."

"Yeah well I've had better days," he shrugged. Smiling Robert raised his voice and started to sing happy birthday and others joined. Taking the opportunity to lean into Casey to whisper in his ear "don't make a scene. He's sorry, so don't give him a hard time."

"He's always sorry," Casey muttered giving Gene a cold hard stare.

Grabbing his arm Robert insisted "I mean it Case," looking him in the eye. "Do it for me."

Shrugging off his hand Casey said "Alright have it your way." He walked away to stand in front of his cake smiling at all the guests singing to him.

Robert scanned the room, noting his father leaning solemnly on the far wall watching the proceedings. Robert was sure he hadn't missed the altercation or his battered face. He smiled in his direction and received a faint smile in return. He felt a jolt of anxiety pulse through his body like he touched a live wire. He looked to his dad, who seemed to be having an identical anxiety attack.

William maneuvered his way through the crowd to Robert's side. "Are you alright?"

Nodding briefly, he asked "What's up? The air feels charged with electricity."

William smiled sadly "you feel it too? I was hoping it was just me. With everything that's been happening, this is the last thing we need."

"What are you talking about?" Robert asked confused.

"It's the way I always feel right before the aliens come."

"I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. How do you cope with all of this?" Robert asked putting his other arm around his Dad. "You look so calm?"

"I was thinking the same of you," William smiled. "Once right after you were born I was abducted. I made the mistake of falling apart. I didn't know what was happening to me. My body was changing. At the time I didn't know I was pregnant and I was anxious all the time."

"That's when mom insisted you see a doctor," Gene offered.

"Yep and as they say the rest is history."

Gene grunted thinking if his mother would have been a different person his Dad would never have met that evil Doctor in Aurora Skies. Then all their lives would have been different.

Looking across at Gene, William said "Son don't blame your mother. I was pretty messed up at the time and needed help. She just didn't know when to let go and let me heal."

"So what are we going to do?" Robert asked.

"About what? The aliens?" William asked "there's not much we can do, except hope for the best."

"I really don't like this feeling," Robert grumbled.

"I know how you can feel nothing at all," Gene replied.

"I don't want to know," Robert scowled at Gene. "I know the results of that kind of numbing and it's not for me."

Gene shrugged "I don't much like it myself," he said looking a the mess he had made of Robert's face.

Robert squeezed is shoulder "it's ok bro. I love you anyways." His simple statement brought tears stinging to Gene's eyes and he blinked fast to keep them from showing.

They watched Casey excitedly open his presents and when the last one was opened Gene spoke up. Clearing his throat he announced "Sorry Casey I forgot to get you a present." He looked directly at Casey, silently pleading for him to keep his mouth shut. "But I hope you'll accept this instead." he sighed drawing up the courage to go through with his decision. "I've decided to go into rehab."

The room went silent after his announcement. Casey smiled and walked around to face him. "That's the best present anyone could have given me," Casey said giving  him a hug happy that his little brother was finally taking steps to get help.

"Did you do this?" William asked gesturing towards Gene.

Shaking his head "no I had no idea he was going to do this. Although" Robert pointed to his face "I think this scared him."

"You are alright, aren't you?" William asked as he helped Robert over to the couch. Watching the pain flit across  his face as he sat down.

"Yeah I think so," Robert winced trying to get comfortable. "I think I have some cracked ribs."

"You need a doctor," William said firmly.

"So I'm told," Robert muttered. "Don't worry, Gene will take me once the party winds down. Besides he needs to face the consequences of his actions." He gave his dad a lopsided grin.

"You really do look awful."

"I've heard that too. Gene says I look like a hurt deer and don't call me Bambi."

Throwing his hands up in mock surrender William said "Ok, ok I won't but the similarity is remarkable."

"Why don't you do something useful like getting me a piece of cake," Robert requested.

As the party finally came to an end and the last guests left, Gene wandered over to where Robert was sitting chatting with their dad. "Are you ready to go?" he asked.

Groaning Robert complained "I just found a comfortable spot. I don't want to move."

"Too bad," Gene said grabbing his arm and helping him to his feet. "You need to see a doctor."

As they left William called after them to let him know what the doctor says. He felt somewhat guilty that he hadn't prevented the altercation from happening. With Jessica sulking in her room, someone had to act like an adult and take care of the baby, pay the bills and go to work. He tried to shake off the growing resentment he had that he was the one who always had to shoulder the responsibility. No matter the stress or anxiety, he never wanted his children to suffer. He never could wrap his mind over the fact that as much as Jessica like having children she never cared much for their actual welfare. She had always left that up to him, he had thought that maybe she was jealous that he had such a close relationship with all of them and he had tried to get her involved in their lives by directing them to her with problems. But the older they became the less she interacted with them. He's slowly come to realize that was her choice and he stopped trying to include her in their lives.

Shooing the kids off to bed and declining Evelyn's offer to help clean up, William spent the next couple of hours cleaning. He had so much excess energy from the growing anxiety he felt sweeping through him. He knew the aliens were coming, this time he knew they were back for him. His conversation with the aliens before they took Robert replayed itself in his head. They said they would be back for him and it was too soon for them to take Robert. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Pulling it out he answered "Hello?"

"Hey dad, they just took Robert back for ex-rays."

"What's taking them so long? It's been over two hours."

"There was a three car pile up and they had to help the critically injured first. Don't worry Rob's ok."

"I wish he hadn't waited so long to go in." William sighed into the phone.

"Yeah I know but you know how stubborn he can be."

"I know. Let me know as soon as you know anything."

"Will do," Gene said smiling into the phone then said "love you Dad."

"Love you too son," William said disconnecting. Once he put his phone away he looked around his surroundings. 'When did he decide to walk outside?' He must have come outside while he was talking to Gene but he couldn't remember why or when. Shrugging he turned to make his way inside when he saw the familiar light surround him and the strange tingling sensation he always had as the aliens took him up into their space ship.