Two Against Two

Chapter 14

December 22, 1990-4:50 P.M. CST

(Christine's PoV:)

"So, what do you want to watch on TV, Kevin, while we wait for our pizzas?" I ask, as I make myself relaxed in Dad's chair, while Kevin has made himself all nice and comfy on one of the sofas.

"I was hoping to finish Angels with Filthy Souls," he replies, with a hopeful expression.

"How about 'no', considering what happened earlier today. I was hoping you would pick something that was funny,"

"Well, you decide, then, Christine," my brother responds, pouting about not being able to see the rest of his movie.

I just roll my eyes and ignore my brother's antics, as I flip through the channels on the TV to find something to watch. "Seems like every channel on cable is showing Christmas Specials," I mutter to myself, when I finally land on a channel that is showing a rerun of an old black and white sitcom that I enjoyed watching in my younger years.

"Well, it looks like I got my brother hooked into this classic show," I say to myself, feeling amused. "Didn't know you were a fan of Lassie, little brother?" I state with question, smiling.

"I love the show, Lassie, because she looks a lot like Fred," Kevin replies.

"Who's Fred?" I ask, puzzled.

"The family's Collie, and my best friend in the whole world,"

"So, the family has a dog?" I'm shocked.

"Didn't you have a dog as a kid, Christine?"

"Actually, the family had a snow white cat named Sebastian, when we lived in Indianapolis. It died a few months before the move to Chicago, due to old age. One of my lowest points in my life," I reply, looking down, feeling sad.

"Sorry to hear that, Christine," my brother tells me, as he gives me a hug.

"It's okay, Kev, but thanks," I reply, smiling. "Do you have any stories to share about Fred?"

"Well, I can tell you that Fred is a black and white Border Collie. He has been a part of the family for the past five years. He's very smart, and he can hold a grudge, if you get on his bad side. Mom has him trained to alert her if any of us kids are causing mischief.

"Fred also holds a grudge against Buzz, but he also hates Uncle Frank with a passion, and he goes out of the way to torture Uncle Frank during his visits. Two notable incidents involve Fred leaving "a load of presents" in Uncle Frank's shoes, and pissing in Uncle Frank's face," Kevin says, while snickering at the last part.

I try to scold Kevin for his use of vulgar language, but I cannot stop myself from bursting out laughing about Uncle Frank being peed on. It seems like Fred joined the family about a year or two after I left home, and that explains the doggie door in the kitchen. That gets me to thinking: Why haven't I seen Fred during my return home?

"Hey, Kev,"

"Yeah?" he replies. He's back laying on the sofa, watching Lassie.

"Why haven't I seen Fred during my visit? I want to meet him,"

"Mom placed him in a boarding kennel, because of quarantine laws or something, and she didn't want to deal with the hassle of transporting a pet all the way to Paris,"

"Oh. He would have been helpful in dealing with the punks that tried to break in earlier today," I say to myself, turning my attention back to the television. I say to myself, sadly, "That's another thing I missed out on. The family getting a new pet…"

(Chuck's PoV:)

"Hey, Chuck! Get your lazy butt over here! I got an order that needs delivering, fast!" my boss yells from the kitchen.

I huff in frustration, as I get up from the table, where I was eating my mushroom and anchovies pizza. I head over to the kitchen window, where the two pizza boxes are waiting. I place the two pizzas into the thermal insulated delivery bag and head out the door of the Little Nero's to my beat-up junker of a car.

"Looks like the sun is setting a little early tonight," I say to myself, as I look up at the sky, which is a pinkish-blue at the moment, while the sun fades into the horizon. It will be dark soon.

I enter my car and start it up, as I take a quick look to see where these pizzas are going. My eyes bug out wide, when I see the address on the delivery slip. I thought the McCallisters went on vacation? But, hey, they're good tippers. So, it doesn't matter if they changed their minds, and decided to stay home, if it means I get a nice big tip out of it. I just grin, as I drive off towards my destination.

I soon arrive at the McCallisters' house. The house looks dark, save for one window, as I pull into the front driveway. I quickly slam the brakes, when I realize I'm about to hit the statue, again.

"Dammit," I mutter after hearing the statue clank against the payment. I get out of my car to check it for damage. "No damage, thank goodness." I sigh. I lift the statue back into a vertical position, grab the pizzas from the front seat of my car, and make my way up the walk to the front door. I then knock on the said door…

December 22, 1990-5:02 P.M. CST

(Christine's PoV:)

I lay back in Dad's recliner, half-asleep, patiently waiting for the pizza to come. I'm personally hoping the delivery guy is twenty minutes late, so I don't have to pay him. I'm suddenly startled awake, scared, when I hear a car screeching to a stop in the front driveway, followed by a loud clanking noise.

"What the hell was that?" I ask my brother, suddenly becoming scared, thinking the burglars have come back to hurt my brother and I. Interestingly enough, my brother is not scared, but annoyed, judging by the expression on his face.

"That noise is Barney the lawn jockey, crashing against the payment. Idiot drivers…" my brother mutters out.

I feel like I'm missing out on something. "Who's Barney the lawn jockey?" I wonder.

Suddenly, that's when I hear a knock at the door. A feeling of fear grips my insides, as Kevin and I head for the door in the dark foyer.

"Kevin, are you sure it's safe to open the door? It might be the burglars again," I ask, nervously.

"Christine, it's not the burglars, I assure you," Kevin replies.

"How can you be so sure?" I question.

"You're being paranoid now. I don't see any reason for them to come back, since we scared them off,"

'Think again, Kevin…' I say, in my head.

"It's the pizza guy. Or, have you forgotten about the pizza we ordered?"

I smack my hand against my head. The pizza, of course! How could I not think of the pizza delivery boy being the one knocking? I take a peek through the side window next to the front door, just to be safe.

"Looks like you're right, Kevin. It's the pizza guy,"

"Told you," Kevin snarks.

I unlock and open the front door. Standing there, is the pizza guy, looking all smug. The first words that come out of the pizza guy's mouth, are words I didn't expect to hear, "Christine McCallister, is that you? You're such a sweet sight for sore eyes," He's smiling wide, like he's struck gold, sending a sickening chill down my spine. First, the burglars, and now this guy.

"Do I know you?" I ask, feeling creeped out that this weirdo knows my name, somehow, and is trying to flirt with me. My body shivers in disgust, as I feel the urge to smack that smile off his face.

"Uh, we went to high school together. I asked you out a couple of times, and you ended up smacking me, afterwards. I left love poems in your locker, because I had a crush on you, my fiery rose," the jerk says, causing me to want to gag, as his mention of "fiery rose" makes me realize who the person is, which intensifies the feeling.

"Oh, god. I remember you now. You're Chuck Schmuck. You're the asshole, who followed me everywhere in school. Always flirting with me, and too dumb to take 'no' for an answer, which is the reason I had to smack you—which I'm not sorry for, because you were too stupid to get the point that I wanted nothing to do with a creep like you," I lash out, as my anger is beginning to bubble.

Chuck briefly frowns at being called "Chuck Schmuck", but quickly brushes it off. "I understand now. You're just not ready to admit how you really feel about me, Christine," He grins. I take deep breaths, trying to relax myself, while thinking if he's being serious or if he's just trying to get under my skin. "So, are you babysitting your cousin, while his family is on vacation?" he asks, being nosy.

"You can say that," I'm not wanting to give out too much information. 'Just give me my pizzas and leave,' I plead, mentally.

"She isn't my cousin, you dork. She's my oldest sister," Kevin chimes in.

My mind is crying, 'Oh, god. Kevin, what'd you tell him that for?'

"Sister, huh? Then, why haven't I seen you around? Like last night?" he asks.

"That's none of your business," I tell him, with my temper flaring.

"Are you guys in love, or something?" My brother has to chime in again, sending a sick thud down my stomach. I feel the urge to scream now.

"Uh, no, Kevin. We're not in love. Just stay out of this, okay?" I say, clenching my teeth, as I grip Kevin's shoulder, causing him to wince.

I'm glaring daggers at my brother, as a sign he should shut up and stop helping. At the same time, trying to restrain any more anger from building up inside of me from dealing with this clueless putz of my past.

"Your brother is a smart one, Christine. I'm sorry about the cheese pizza last night, kiddo. I'll try to make it up to you on my next visit, okay?" The bastard grins.

"Just give me the pizzas I ordered and be gone, okay?" I growl, because I'm getting sick of dealing with Chuck, and I'm hungry. After handing Chuck the money I owed for the pizzas, that's when it happens.

The stupid schmuck quickly hands the pizzas to my brother, and, from out of nowhere, kisses me on the lips. My body is shaking in disgust from being violated. I'm pissed off now, as I grab the jerk by the collar of his shirt, because that's the last straw. "You bastard pig!" I shout at him, as I drag him by the collar of shirt to his car.

The scumbag is whimpering like a baby now. "Christine, I was just showing how much I love you, is all!" he begs.

"I'll show you what love is, you sexist piece of scum!" I scream.

I wind back my right hand and punch the jerk right in his jaw, staggering him. I open the driver's side door and toss the piece of slime into his junker of a car. I grab him by the collar again.

"Please, no more…" he sobs.

"If you ever try to violate me again, harass me, come anywhere close to me, or even talk to me, I will get a restraining order! Plus, I will have my Dad and Uncle Buck hunt you down! The last person my Uncle Buck hunted down almost got a drill in the face, because he messed with my cousin!

"Oh, yeah… If you go to the cops about me hitting you, I'll be sure to tell them about how you tried to violate me, and that I punched you in self-defense. Cops don't take kindly to guys, who try to violate girls. My brother is a witness, too, and I'm sure he will back me up. Remember that, okay?" I sadistically smile at him.

"Now, get the hell outta here!" I slam the car door shut, not before hearing one last whimper. His car speeds out of the driveway and down the street.

"I hope the bastard gets pulled over…" I mumble, as I make my way back to the porch, where Kevin is still standing. Kevin and I then head inside the house.

Once we're inside the house, guilt soon hits me about how rough I got with Kevin. I kneel down to Kevin's level and say, "Kevin, I just want to apologize about getting rough with you and snapping at you. I didn't mean to. It's just that seeing Chuck again brought back some awful memories from back when I was in high school, and how he used to nag me to death to date him.

"I know your remarks were innocent, but you have to understand something about me: I just don't think rationally, when I go off the rails with my temper. I lash out at everyone, no matter if they're innocent, or not. I've been going to therapy for help about my temper, and it looks like I need more help with that. My job helped me tame my wild streak I had, when I was younger.

"Kevin, I'm going to share something with you that I've never shared with anyone else. The real reason I stayed away from home for so long, was mostly out of shame for my behavior towards our parents, when I was younger, and the fear of seeing Mom and Dad again. I'm just scared about how our parents are going to react, when they see me again. I'm afraid they're going to reject me, because they don't love me, anymore, since I ran away from home.

"I don't blame them, if they do feel that way, considering all the Hell I put them through over the last few years I lived at home. Every time I got the courage to come home, the fear of rejection always stopped me. I admit, I was truly angry about them keeping me away from Tia, and about other things, but therapy has helped me get over that anger.

"You may be wondering about earlier, about why I said I hold anger and resentment against them. I did, at one point, but now I say it to hide what I truly feel. The same can be said about not forgiving them. I did mean it, at one point, but again, it's just an excuse to hide my true feelings. It doesn't change the fact that I'm upset about the way the family has treated you.

"I know they probably blame themselves about me leaving home and think they're bad parents. Maybe it's time for my true feelings to come out. When Mom and Dad come home, I will ask them for their forgiveness, for being such a pain in the butt to them, and let them know they were good parents to me, so they no longer have to blame themselves, or no longer think they're bad parents,"

"I forgive you, Christine, and I'm sorry you had to keep your true feelings buried for so long. I'm sure Mom and Dad will forgive you. I'm going to follow your example and apologize to them about being a pain, and that I forgive them for leaving me at home," Kevin tells me. I just hug my brother, who returns the hug back.

"How about we dig into those pizzas now?" I smile.

"Yes!" Kevin shouts, pumping his fist…

(Time Skip)

December 22, 1990-10:30 P.M. CST

"It looks like it's time for bed, Kevin," I yawn, feeling tired, as I get up from Dad's chair and turn off the television.

"Okay, Christine," Kevin yawns, as he hops off the couch and heads upstairs.

While Kevin is upstairs, getting ready for bed, I make sure to check that all the lights are shut off, no appliances are running, and all the doors are shut and locked up tight. Once that's finished, I make my way upstairs to get myself ready for bed.

I check the main bathroom to see if Kevin needs any help. "Everything okay, Kevin? You need any help?" I say, through the door.

"Everything is fine, Christine, but thanks, anyway," he replies, sounding like his mouth is full.

"Must be brushing his teeth," I say to myself. "I'll be in Mom and Dad's bathroom, if you need me." I say, through the door again.

"Okay," he acknowledges.

I thought about sleeping in the attic tonight, but after what happened today, I decide to sleep in Mom and Dad's room. Besides, it's a lot warmer on the second floor. Once I reach Mom and Dad's bathroom, I start my nightly routine of showering, brushing my teeth… etc.

"Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I've got to go shopping for groceries first thing in the morning; I have to do laundry, make sure the house is cleaned up, keep an eye out for burglars out to kill me, break Chuck's nose, if he harasses me again…" I mumble out, as I put on a purple T-shirt and a pair of grey shorts to sleep in for tonight. I comb out my shoulder length hair and place it in a ponytail, before climbing into bed.

As soon as I get myself into bed and am about to flick off the lamp, I see Kevin, standing in the doorway. "Something wrong, Kevin?"

"Can I sleep with you tonight, Christine?" he asks me

"Sure. I don't blame you, after what happened today, and I'm sure your room is lonesome, without Jeff,"

"Thanks," he tells me, as he hops into bed with me.

"Night, Kevin. I love you," I tell him, kissing him on the forehead.

" I love you, too, Christine, good night," he replies. I soon hear him talking to the large picture of my parents and siblings on the nightstand, "Mom and Dad, I just want you to know I'm safe and not alone, because my big sister, Christine, is here watching over me, and she's really great. Tell my brothers and sisters I miss them. Mom and Dad, Christine wants you to know she's sorry about everything, and she misses her siblings."

I soon hear Kevin snoring, while I cry myself to sleep. "I wish I never let my temper get the best of me on the night I ran away from home," I whisper to myself, before I soon close my eyes to go to sleep…

December 22, 1990-11:15 P.M. CST

(Officer McClusky's PoV:)

I soon arrive at 671 Lincoln Blvd. and pull gently into the driveway. I would've arrived sooner, but the Police Dept. has been tied up all day, trying to suppress a small riot, which is finally under control.
"Damn Juveniles…" I mutter. I pick up the radio mike off the cradle and speak into it,

"Unit 23 to Dispatch,"

"Go ahead, Unit 23,"

"Unit 23 has arrived at 671 Lincoln Blvd. for welfare check of a minor left home alone,"

"Unit 23 acknowledged,"

I place the radio back onto its cradle and exit the police car, with a flashlight in tow. I sweep the area with the flashlight, looking for any suspicious activity, as I make my way up the walk to the front door.

I knock hard on the door. "Winnetka Police Dept.!" I shout. I wait, but no one comes. I knock louder and yell, "Winnetka Police Dept.! Is anyone home?!" I again wait, but no one comes. I'm frustrated now. "Hyper Mom must've miscounted…" I mutter, as I check all the doors and give a quick sweep of the premises to make sure they're fully secure and nothing funny is going on.

"Unit 23 to Dispatch." I speak into my portable radio, as I make my way back to the squad car.

"Go ahead, Unit 23,"

"Premises seems secured. Nothing suspicious to report. Relay to hyper Mom to count her kids again,"

I hear a snicker on the other end. "Unit 23 acknowledged,"

I make my way back to the car, when I decide to run a license plate check on the Ford Escort parked in the driveway to make sure it isn't stolen. "Unit 23 to Dispatch,"

"Go ahead, Unit 23,"

"I need a license plate run on an automobile. Plate number Charles-Mary-Laura-Eight-Seven-Five,"

"One moment, Unit 23…" There's a brief pause, before I hear, "Unit 23, Charles-Mary-Laura-Eight-Seven-Five is a 1989 Ford Escort, belonging to one Christine Miranda McCallister. 2323 N Cambridge Ave, Apt. 221, Chicago, Illinois. No reports of car being stolen. No outstanding warrants exist on one Christine Miranda McCallister, at this time,"

"Dispatch acknowledged," Preparing to return to patrol, I climb back into my car and drive away from the residence.

"Unit 23, report of burglarized home. 533 Lincoln Blvd.. Code 2."

"Acknowledged. Proceeding there now. Over and out," I chuckle. "Now, that's a call worth responding to…"

END