Bob ended up keeping Tina and Gene home on the one-month anniversary of the accident. Nobody was able function that day. Tina was just balled up in the fetal position on Louise's bed. She was still waking up at the moment of Louise's death but in most cases, she was now able to go back to sleep. The night before the anniversary however she was once again unable to get back to sleep. Bob had heard her crying. He tried to comfort her but nothing he said would do any good. Gene was at the table eating mayonnaise from the jar. The funeral food had finally run out and neither Bob had thought to go shopping. Bob gagged at the sight of Gene using his hands to shove mayo into his mouth but was again unable to say anything. Gene had been to several OA meetings. He seemed to get a good deal out of it but then abruptly decided he did not want to go anymore. He wasn't really participating in therapy anymore either. Bob recalled mention of a boy named Damon just a week ago. Now he suddenly wasn't talking about school at all. After a while Tina entered the kitchen looking as if she had not slept in six months.
"Gene! Stop that! It's gross!" Tina snapped.
"But I'm hungry!" Gene cried.
"Yeah, and Pop-Pop went to the store. He will be back soon. He will have actual food for you to eat." Tina assured.
"I'm hungry now!" Gene hissed.
"Gene" Tina whispered taking the jar from his hands.
"You are stupid, anorexic, bitch!" Gene shouted before kicking Tina's chair over and shoving her to the ground.
"Ow! Gene! Stop!" Tina cried.
"I fucking hate you! I fucking hate dad! You fucking! Fucks are the reason mommy left! Fuck both of you! FUCK ASS SHIT! FUCKING BITCHES!" Gene bellowed as he rampaged around the kitchen.
"Dad! HELP!" Tina cried from under the table.
"Gene" Bob mumbled weakly before exiting the kitchen and collapsing on the couch.
Big Bob returned from the store. He first set some supplies in the restaurant. Before walking upstairs to the apartment. He heard the screaming before he even got the door open. He entered the apartment to find Bobby lying on the couch with his mouth agape. In the kitchen Tina was cowering under the overturned table. While Gene stormed around screaming and throwing everything in the room.
"I told him to stop eating mayonnaise he just went crazy." Tina explained.
"GENE! STOP IT NOW!" Big Bob cried.
"YOU! YOU'RE THE FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT! WHO FUCKED UP MY DAD SO FUCKING BAD HE FUCKING KILLED LOUISE! YOU FUCKING RUINED TWO FUCKING FAMILIES YOU FUCKING PIECE OF FUCK! I FUCKING HATE YOU!" Gene ranted as he charged towards Big Bob in a rage.
"GENE!" Big Bob cried before slapping the young boy hard across the face.
"What happened? Where am I?" Gene asked confused.
"Gene you attacked your sister and trashed the kitchen." Big Bob explained.
"What? Why don't I remember?" Gene questioned.
"You don't remember? Gene it just happened?" Big Bob gasped.
"What no I was just in my room." Gene insisted.
"Gene, I think you need help. I am calling your therapist." Big Bob explained.
Bob did not budge from the couch. Gene's episode did not register in his mind. Nothing was registering to him anymore. If it weren't for Teddy, he would never make it to his meeting with the lawyer. The trial was now a little over five weeks away. Something Bob only remembered because there was a reminder not placed on the coffee table. Bob still had to prepare his statement, but his brain would not allow him to write the words. He was getting to the point where he had to be reminded to drink water and use the bathroom. Nothing was registering to him anymore. Big Bob raced through the living room tightly gripping Gene's hands.
"Bob! Gene had a temporary break. Doctor Elena wants us to bring him in to the hospital. Big Bob explained.
"That's fine" Bob muttered again forgetting what had just been said.
"Bobby! I am taking your son to the hospital!" Big Bob cried.
"Well, it's not like he'll get any help here!" Bob spat in a moment of clarity.
Gene was supposed to have a follow up on his arm. Instead, he was sitting on a metal chair in a frigid office. The chair alone with near everything else in the room was bolted to the ground. Everything on the desk was tightly secured as well. Gene was shivering but they had taken his clothes. He was given a gown and pair of socks to wear instead. Big Bob sat beside him voice shaking as he described the mornings events.
"Is this true Gene?" The doctor asked.
"Yes" Gene admitted.
"Do you feel angry often?" The doctor asked.
"No, I mean I didn't used to, but after Louise died. I just felt something boiling inside me. I tried to distract myself with music and with food. Mostly with food. I was starting to feel better. I was going to special therapy to deal with overeating. Then I met a boy I liked. My first real crush. We went on a little date with my sister and her I guess boyfriend. I was happy and then Damon asked me to go out again just us. But that never happened." Gene explained.
"Did he stand you up?" The doctor asked.
"No, I stood him up." Gene explained.
"You stood up your crush?" The doctor questioned.
"Yes" Gene admitted.
"Why on Earth would you do that?" The doctor asked.
"Because it's wrong!" Gene cried.
"What's wrong?" The doctor asked.
"Being in love. Being happy. My sister just died a month ago. A month ago, today. I am supposed to be miserable." Gene explained.
"No Gene you are not supposed to be miserable. You are always going to be sad, but you are also going to find happiness again. You need to." The doctor explained.
"But it's not right. I hate myself for it." Gene explained.
"Do you think that is why you attacked your sister?" The doctor asked.
"Yes sir" Gene replied.
"Gene you are very aware of your wrongs when your mind is clear, but this episode is worrisome. I would like to admit you for a few days. Just to get a feel of what is going on in your mind." The doctor explained.
"Do you really feel that is necessary?" Big Bob questioned.
"Unfortunately, because he attacked his sister and injured her it is mandatory. I am sorry." The doctor explained.
Tina returned to Louise's room and buried herself under the blanket. She wasn't hurt bad but there were bruises and cuts. She was just relieved Gene didn't nearly kill her the way Millie had done to Ollie Pesto. Ollie was doing amazing now and would be moved to a rehab facility on Monday. For that Tina was grateful. She sent her well wishes to the Pesto twins to distract from her own fear. Big Bob had called and said they were admitting Gene. Another social worker came and took pictures of her injuries and the mess in the kitchen. They had tried to talk to Bob but he was nonresponsive. They jotted something down and then stepped away to make a call. Curiosity had peaked in Tina, and she listened in. They had called another social worker. For a welfare check on Bob. Now Tina was fearing she would be taken from the family she had left. Louise was dead, Linda was gone, Gene was in the hospital, and Bob was too depressed to care for her anymore. The door opened and Big Bob entered the room. he took a seat on the steps of the bed and motioned for her to join him.
"Tina they are worried about your dad. They are coming tomorrow to do a welfare check and due to his state. You will most likely be removed from his care." Big Bob explained.
"I know" Tina whispered.
"Did they talk to you too?" Big Bob asked.
"No, I eavesdropped." Tina confessed.
"Oh" Big Bob sighed.
"I don't want to go to foster care!" Tina cried.
"You aren't going to foster care. I already spoke with my lawyer. I am going to take temporary custody of you and your brother. I should have done it weeks ago." Big Bob explained.
Linda locked the door to her room. She found the bottle of pills. She had already used the fist bottle and the second was half empty. She needed knew she was going to be needing more soon but her parents had only given her two hundred dollars. She wouldn't be getting any more money for another week. She just had to make the bottle last another week. She could do that. No, she couldn't. She grabbed the bottle and swallowed a few pills with a hit of whiskey. Another hit. Now she was feeling dizzy. Another hit only made the dizziness worse.
"Linda! What's wrong?!" Gayle cried bursting into the room.
"Door locked how you get in?" Linda slurred.
"I got a key made." Gayle explained.
"Just trying to feel good." Linda replied.
"Linda are those anti-depressants?! Mom said Dr. McCoy wouldn't give you a prescription and whiskey. Linda you can't mix anti-depressants with alcohol!" Gayle cried.
"And you can't tell me what to do." Linda slurred.
"Linda you are going to kill yourself! Do you think Louise would like that? You think she would like to see you like this?" Gayle demanded.
"LOUISE IS DEAD!" Linda snapped.
"I know Linda. I miss her too, but you can't just kill yourself like this." Gayle replied.
"I just want to forget." Linda moaned.
"Linda forgetting Louise died means forgetting she lived." Gayle reminded.
After the incident with Gene, Tina only wanted to spend time with Zeke. Unfortunately, Cheryl had to get dental work done. His dad had to drive her, and Zeke had to babysit his younger sister. Instead, Tina ended up going over to Susmita's house. She was surprised when Susmita called to invite her over. They had barely spoken since the accident. Even before they weren't really hanging out at each other's house's friends.
"How are you feeling?" Susmita asked awkwardly.
"I miss her." Tina sighed.
"What about with Gene?" Susmita asked.
"I am scared. Is he always going to be like this?" Tina asked.
"No, he is just grieving. Just like you are. Sometimes grief makes you do some crazy things." Susmita explained.
"Have you lost anybody close to you?" Tina asked.
"Just my grandfather two years ago. I mean I loved him a lot, but he was old and had been sick most of my life. It's not like with Louise." Susmita explained.
"My family fell apart." Tina whispered.
"I know Tina. I wish I could say something to make it better. I wish I could protect you. God, Tina I take all these AP classes, but I can't help my friend through the worst time of her life. I feel like such failure." Susmita ranted.
"Susmita you are not a failure. The only good thing about it being Louise is that I don't have to be the friend who is trying to comfort somebody." Tina sobbed.
"I didn't know her very well, but Louise was really cool. I like how she always looked out for you." Susmita said.
Bob tossed and turned on the couch. His head was spinning. He knew Gene was in the hospital and Tina was over at Susmita's. Big Bob was downstairs. He had no idea how much time had passed or why Gene was in the hospital. The days had been blurring together since Louise died but now the minutes and hours were beginning to blur as well. He felt himself dying inside more and more by the day. By the hour. He looked at the note from Teddy. The trial was in five weeks. Five weeks to prepare for the third worst day of his life. He could not get out of bed. How was he supposed to testify against the bastard who killed his baby girl. He jumped off the couch and stormed over to the window.
"FUCK YOU JIMMY PESTO! SEE YOU IN HELL!" Bob shouted.