A Meeting with Barbara Lang
Even though now Carrie had a lot going for her, she was successful in life, popular with her peers, strong and elegant. There are those who could say that she remained unlucky in love. However by this time she had befriended the local town sheriff, Robert Kelton and every evening after work when neither was busy or doing an extra shift, they would rendezvous at a nearby cafe have tea and talk. It was obvious to anyone that they harboured strong feelings for one another but Carrie remained in denial and insisted that the relationship was merely platonic and as for Robbie well he just remained patient.
One of her friends at school was a teacher named Rhonda Frasier Née Simard. Twenty years earlier Carrie and Rhonda had been schoolmates but not friends. Her daughter Veronica was a student there. As were George and Frieda Dawson's children Josh, George Jr and Freya.
When a new girl named Rachel Lang began her freshman year, it peaked Carrie's curiosity, there was something mysterious about her. She didn't know what it was, but she kept having this sense of familiarity or perhaps it was some sort of sibling connection at the subconscious level. Deciding to consult Rachel student file what she found was striking. Her father Ralph White was also Rachel's father. After she was sure she made plans to visit her next port of call Arkham Asylum the place where Rachel mother's was committed.
Carrie was familiar with Arkham Asylum during her last days her mother Margaret had been one of the patients there. She had visited her occasionally, the last time was in 1983 before Margaret passed away. During the last meeting both mother and daughter had reconciled their differences and prayed together one last time. Ironically Margaret's room was subsequently occupied by Barbara Lang the woman Carrie's father Ralph left Margaret for and the mother of Carrie's step sister Rachel Lang.
Arkham Asylum was spooky, to Carrie it felt a lot had changed over the years, for a start there were now more inmates and she found the environment quite intimidating. There was one burly inmate, perhaps an individual in his 40s, bald, who kept banging his head against a wall shouting "I don't know". This trip was not going to go very well, Carrie managed to find Barbara and approached her but before she could speak, she was suddenly grabbed from behind by another inmate called Billy.
"I knew you'd come back. We can still get married. I'll marry you. mean, to hell with them! What do they know? They don't know anything!"
"Let go of me" Carrie screamed in terror.
The panic momentarily triggered her telekinetic ability which she used the flex to fling, him across the floor in front of a terrified Barbara. Barbara had to be calmed down and then sedated by staff. The nurses asked Carrie to leave and consequently she would not be able to speak with Barbara this day.
She tried again the following day this time she had better luck. Professionally dressed and smiling she entered her cell and courteously introduced herself.
"Hello Mrs Lang my name is Carrie White" she said shaking her hand.
Carrie provided some feedback that she had on Rachel, Barbara was dismayed, it turned out that although Rachel was fine, she was lonely, withdrawn and awkward. Barbara worried whether Rachel was happy in the present foster home. The last time Rachel had said all was well. Carrie hadn't met Rachel's foster parents yet so she could not reply but she promised to find out all she could. It transpired that Rachel had exaggerated about some of the good things that she had going for her so as not worry her mother.
In the beginning Barbara was not so willing to open up the daughter of her husband's former wife but eventually warmed up to her. Carrie for her part felt like, as though it was like punching water with this woman. As the conversation progressed Barbara finally revealed that Carrie's father Ralph White was also Rachel's father, they were step siblings.
"Mrs Lang I'm sorry about what happened the other day but I have a question, I know this may sound strange, but when Rachel was growing up, did you ever see objects move by themselves? And did the doctors convince you it was all your imagination?"
"The Lord is with thee. No. I was crazy then. I thought she was possessed. I thought the devil was inside her."
"It's not the devil Mrs Lang it's It's a genetic recessive trait. The male is the carrier, when he combines with the right female, the trait surfaces in their offspring, usually in women. Scientifically it is known as consciousness affected physical phenomenon or CAPP, my father passed it to me and I am worried that he may have passed it to Rachel as well, for the moment there is nothing to indicate that there is anything serious, but I'm worried about the consequences if Rachel has these telekinetic abilities.
"You're worried? Are you very worried?
"Yes I am" Carrie replied "I am worried that if Rachel has telekinetic abilities and they start to emerge, she may not be able to cope. I'm afraid that Rachel may end up harming herself or others, she has to get help before the telekinesis starts to manifest itself"
"Holy Mary, mother of God. Pray for us sinners and at the hour of our death, amen"
Carrie could see that Barbara was now beginning to get stressed her frantic reaction told her everything she needed to know. Barbara turned back to her and spoke.
"You don't have any children's do you Carrie"
"No! No I don't Carrie replied sadly"
"Then you don't know. You will never, ever know how terrifying children can be."
"I was engaged to be married once, but I guess it wasn't meant to be, I know having children can be difficult sometimes even terrifying but I've always wanted to have children of my own, when I was a little girl I always wanted to have a sister"
Carrie tried to reassure Barbara as best as she could, she told her about her condition, about Prof Stephen King's the man helped manage her condition, about everything she knew about telekinesis or CAPP. It was usually caused by extreme trauma, but in some teenagers it could be caused by raging hormones and she promised to keep an eye on Rachel, do whatever she can to help her and ensure that she comes to no harm.
Even though her father had left her and her mum for Barbara, Carrie assured her that she harboured no grudge, ill will, or harsh feeling against her or Rachel.
After she had everything that she needed to know, the visiting hour came to a close and Carrie turned to leave. Before she did so she had one final question.
"Mrs Lang there is one more thing I need to ask you please"
"My father when he and you met did he ever speak about me"
"I'm sorry dear" Barbara's response was sullen but sympathetic
"I understand" replied Carrie sadly " I would like you to know that I hold, no animosity or any grievances against you and I never will, my mom was not easy to live with anyway, all I ask is a chance to be a sister to Rachel if both she and you let me"
"You have my blessings " said Barbara "Carrie! please keep an eye out on my daughter for me, make sure she's all right"
Tearfully Carrie replied "I will! I will! I promise!"
Just before she drove off Carrie just sat in her car and wept. There were times she thought that one day her father would come and rescue her. It was hard to accept that he didn't care for her. After having a good cry, she regained her composure wiped her eyes and drove back to school. It was time to let go and focus on Rachel Lang.
When she got back people could tell that she had been crying. Several teachers students including her friend Rhonda Frasier concerned asked if everything was all right. Josh Dawson a senior and the schools current top football player pleasantly but humorously said to her that if someone had upset her, just tell him and he'll go and beat the culprit up for her. That cheered Carrie up a little. The day was nearly coming to an end tomorrow Carrie would have to focus on Rachel and tell her the news.
The following morning when she came to work Carrie spent much of the time checking proper school procedure before revealing to Rachel that they were related. Once everything was in order she arranged an appointment for Rachel in her office and instructed her to come over at the appointed time. Before Rachel's appointment three other students also had a career guidance counselling session with Carrie and she had to focus on them first.
