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-
- A "VACATION FOR" JESSICA - - - at the Masters Institute for Training
- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-
- The city of Ames, Iowa is a fairly quiet town. Especially as the
- sun is coming up on a Fall Saturday morning. Looking either way on
- Chestnut Street there was little activity. A dog barked out a morning
- greeting to the neighborhood and from somewhere, another answered. A
- car moved slowly up the tree lined street. With no other traffic in
- sight it slowed and started repeatedly as newspapers flew out of the
- window landing randomly on lawns and stoops. One had to notice the
- amount of trees and shrubbery present on the grounds of nearly all the
- neat single family homes in the neighborhood. Privacy was a thing to be
- desired for the folks on Chestnut. Typical was the Brown's home at # 47.
- A medium sized two story white colonial, black shutters, red front door
- and the neatly trimmed lawn bordered by the driveway which ran
- alongside and led to the two car garage at the back of the property.
- Most folks parked toward the back and entered and left by the side
- door. Michael and Jessica Brown and their childen had lived in the
- home for twelve years. Quiet people, they were well liked by
- the neighbors..............And on this morning they were up early !
-
- Across town at the Ramada Inn, three figures bustled about a shiny
- black van. With the sliding side door wide open a passerby might have
- noticed some unusual features. Behind the passenger seat was the
- usual Captain's chair, like any other save for the dark colored leather
- straps attached to the pedestal base,the arm rests and a sort of headrest
- affair...rather like a dentist's chair. Immediately behind the drivers
- seat was a flat body board, thinly upholstered in vinyl and mounted
- atop a wheeled carriage....like a stretcher. It too held several
- leather straps and hand-holds cut into the sides for carrying the
- board out of the vehicle. The occupents wore neatly pressed white
- uniform type shirts, dress pants and polished shoes. They looked much
- like ambulance attendants as the two men and one woman busied
- themselves. "We should have done this last night after we dropped off
- Carla" the woman spoke softly as she tossed two tangled bundles of white
- rope to one of the men who, in turn passed one on to the second man.
- "Who knew we'd get another call so soon and right here in Ames ?" The
- woman had climbed into the van and stood at the "body board" sorting
- and folding what seemed to be dozens of items...White, Black and
- multi-colored scarves...several sizes of cotton bandana type cloths and
- dish towels...three stacks of dish towels! "We were smart to use the
- laundromat here anyway" the woman smiled at her partners "We're ready
- for anything!" The larger man asked "Who is this one anyway, another
- wayward teen-ager for training"? The woman stopped her folding and
- sorting and picked up a clipboard. "Let's see.....No!....a woman,
- married...37 yrs old....Jessica Lee Brown." She read further.
- "oooOOOOoooo <giggle>.......signed in by her HUSBAND!...Sheeesz! what a
- prick HE must be <hehehehehe!> The man in front spoke "You never
- know...you have'nt met HER yet <hahahaha!> "Yeah" said the female "but
- it says here the husband says she'll be docile.......Oh and take off
- the straps, this is a "rope and rag" job fellas <giggle!> The three
- finished the task of getting organized, winding up with two small
- duffle bags on the back floor of the van. They ate a large breakfast
- then returned to the van. The larger man would drive, the other rode
- "shotgun" and the female busied herself in back. With the ceiling light
- on she zipped shut the special curtains and tucked away any loose items
- of rope or cloths. When the light was switched off the van was in total
- blackness though the sun was well on the rise. She climbed into the
- Captains chair and began to remove the restraining straps. She spoke
- quietly to herself..."Yessss! rope and rags...I LOVE IT!!" And the
- mysterious van rolled smoothly out on the thorofare. In classic
- contrast to the black paint were the only identifying letters "M.I.T."
-
- "Michael!!! Please tell me what's going on! I've showered, dressed
- in my running suit, made breakfast for us....Everything you asked and
- it's only 6:30 and it's SATURDAY!.........And why are the kids at my
- mother's?...........W H A T ' S T H E S U R P R I S E ?!?!?!?!?"
- Jessica dragged out the question and stamped her feet and shook her
- fists in little girl fashion. "Have some more coffee dear, you'll know
- soon enough" As Michael turned and left the room he said just loudly
- enough for her to hear "They'll be here anytime". "WHO?? WHAT?? WHO'LL
- BE HERE ANYTIME?????? MICHAEL!!!!!! Jessica shrieked in frustration and
- when no reply was forthcoming she plopped back into her chair.
-
- "According to the map, Chestnut is three blocks up on the right....
- Yep......Chestnut. Turn here!" "I know for Christ's sake!" At 6:38 the
- shiny black van turned the corner and all on board began to look for #
- 47. "Fifty three, one, forty nine.....Here! The large van swung wide to
- the left than sharply right as it quietly entered the driveway and
- stopped by the side door." "Keep the noise down...I think this is a
- surprise" The woman giggled again and the three attendents climbed out
- of the van and duffle bags in hand, softly walked to the front of the
- house and stood at the red front door. One of the men raised the
- knocker...............
-
- Jessica wasn't sure whether to be excited or frightened or both as
- she sat with her coffee cup in her hand. Michael had left the kitchen.
- KNOCKKNOCKKNOCKKNOCK!!....."OH!!" coffee flew out of the cup and into
- her lap as Jessica's hands jerked uncontrollably. She leaped up to avoid
- the hot liquid..grabbing at a dish towel as if trying to wipe it off
- "before it happened"! "They're HERE dear!" Michael's voice "sang" the
- announcement.....Jessica's heart pounded in her chest..she could SEE
- it! "WHO was here?" Michael entered the kitchen..."Sit dear!" His voice
- was stern but there was a trace of a grin at his lips. As she settled
- back into the chair the archway was suddenly filled by three figures in
- uniform...Strangers! an AMBULANCE SQUAD???? Jessica's mind raced for
- answers! Michael backed toward a corner, coffee mug in hand watching.
-
- The woman with the clipboard moved toward Jessica and stood
- practically on top of her....intentionally causing her to feel trapped.
- "Jessica Lee Brown....you are hereby instructed to accompany us. Your
- husband has made all the arrangements, I trust he's explained it all to
- you" NO! NO! He hasn't! Who ARE you people...? I'm NOT going with you!"
- There was fear in Jessica's voice as it cracked...her eyes darted
- franticly about the room. She tried to rise from the chair but as she
- nearly stood the woman nudged her chest hard and she fell back....the
- chair slid back against the wall and the female guard again pinned her
- into the chair. "Michael!! Tell them!!! OOOOOOHhhhhhhhhh! What IS
- this?? The woman now stood hard against Jessica's chair her leg
- between Jessica's as she towered over her soon to be captive. The
- feeling of confinement..of intimidation were too much for Jessica and
- she screamed out "PLEASE"!! Get OFF me!! and with two hands she PUSHED
- the woman away backwards. The woman pretended to trip and fell on her
- butt letting the clipboard fly over her head and hollering "OK THat's
- it...she's NOT docile.....we'll do it MY way!! < Unwittingly, Jessica
- had been goaded and trapped into resisting. Exactly what the attendants
- .....and Michael wanted > "Michael!!! her voice was pitifully hoarse
- and broken. Finally, from where he stood against the wall, her husband
- spoke so softly she had to stand still to hear him...................
- "Jessica dearest, for the longest time you've talked about things you're
- unhappy with..things about yourself. Although I love you, I feel there
- are things about you I would like to see changed also. With or without
- your cooperation I have made arrangements to correct ALL of these
- flaws." Michael put down his cup and walked closer to his wife and took
- her two hands in his as she sat on the edge of the chair. "Now, Jessica,
- these people are going to take you to a place where that will be
- accomplished. You will not know where you are. I neither will know
- where you've been taken. I do not know how long you will be held
- there." Michael drew up a chair next to his wife. "I have made a list
- of all the physical and emotional shortcomings I could think of and"
- <hehehehe> He unfolded five or six sheets of paper and Jessica could see
- writing on BOTH SIDES! Michael handed the paper to the woman
- <hehehehehe!> "And as you can see, it's quite a list dear!!! Our
- contract with the institution calls for your return home when THEY
- consider ALL of your problems corrected!" He stood up and went to pour
- another mug of coffee. "As for how long ? They say that depends
- ENTIRELY upon you......The large man stepped forward unzipping the
- duffle bag "Excuse me, but we've spent too much time here and we've a
- very long ride back..........Stand up Mrs. and cross your wrists behind
- your back" he spoke softly. "WHAT??? TIE ME UP???? You people are
- CRAZY!".............
-
-
- Jessica's Vacation #1b
- by Master Ken
-
-