Jonathan is
covered with bruises from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.
There doesn’t seem to be any space on his skin not bruised. His underwear is stained and has spots of blood in it. It looks as if Leo has literally beaten the shit out of him.
There doesn’t seem to be any space on his skin not bruised. His underwear is stained and has spots of blood in it. It looks as if Leo has literally beaten the shit out of him.
I am still so
angry and want nothing more than to have Jonathan suffer for what he has done.
Jonathan keeps blubbering and sobbing. “Do you have any idea why Leo beat you?”
I ask Jonathan. He nods his head up and down. A long piece of drool begins to
form on his lip and heads for the bath tub.
“I,I,I…….want to
be her friend and she doesn’t like me.” Jonathan blubbers. “Are you talking
about Crawford?” I ask. Jonathan nods his head up and down again. “How did her
tail get cut?” I ask. Jonathan turns his head towards the wall and begins to
rock back and forth.
“If you hurt her,
I’ll kill you myself,” I say lowering my voice. Jonathan’s sobs get louder and
louder. “I tried to take her out and her tail got caught in the door.” “So you cut it off?” I snap at him. He nods
his head no. “It got stuck in the door; it got stuck in the door.” He keeps
repeating until it’s a whisper.
Jonathan rests
his chin on his chest and hugs his knees to his chest. I can’t stand the sight of him anymore, so I
stand and walk out of the bedroom. I am going to make sure that Crawford will
never be in danger again. I don’t know how I am going to make that happen but
if I have to carry her around with me at all times I will.
I need to get out
of the house and clear my head. I reach into Crawford’s cage and take her out.
I am wearing a pair of overalls and I place her in my front pocket. Crawford
immediately crawls into a ball. I head down the stairs and out the door.
Days later
Jonathan’s bruises are still healing. His lip is split and his eyes are swollen
and slightly purple. He seems to be having problems walking. Jonathans Social
Worker has asked him what happened but Leo let him know if he talks that this
time he will be dead for real.
I am a little
afraid that Leo will do it. He told me that he spent time in Juvenile Hall
before he was transferred to Parsons. I have been keeping my distance from the
both of them.
Crawford on the other hand doesn’t leave my side; I even bring
her to rehearsal in my bag. Everyone in the chorus knows that I have her with
me. I am afraid that if Mimi finds out, it will be the end of Crawford at
rehearsals.
We are literally
days away from opening. The Director tells Mimi at rehearsals how “genius” she
is. She reminds me of Irene Ryan
“Granny” on the Beverley Hillbillies, right down to the walk. Her voice is more
Fran Dresher from the “Nanny.”
The cast cringes
and looks at each other during the run of “Anything you can do, I can do
better,” when Mimi gets to the “Anything you can sing I can sing higher” verse.
It’s clear to us that Frank Butler will win this battle for the first time.
Later during
rehearsal I am called over by the Walrus. “ It has been brought to my attention
that there is a rodent in your bag.” “Who told you?” I ask. “That is not
important, what is important is that animals are not allowed in rehearsal. I
gently protest “But Mimi has her dog with her at all times!” “You are not Mimi,
lose the rat or lose your job, it’s that simple.” He dismisses me with a wave
of his hand.
I walk over to my
bag and place it on my shoulder. I can feel Crawford move. I am happy that
rehearsal is done. Liz is waiting for me by the front door of the hotel. “What
did he want?” she asks. “Nothing,” I mutter. We walk out to the car together.
“Are we still on
for dinner this weekend?” Liz asks. “Of course we are!” I say. I know how to
make one thing and that’s Macaroni and cheese. I figure I will make a salad and
boil a can of peas. For dessert I will take pudding and graham crackers and mix
them together and top them off with frosting.
“Is Jonathan
going to be there,” Liz asks pulling out of the parking lot. “Unfortunately, he
lives there.” I say.
To be
continued…..
Geoffrey Doig-Marx holds all written and electronic rights to his writing "A Day in the Life". It can not be reprinted in part or whole without his written consent.
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