Also thank you to all those who reviewed, don't let the fact that this is the end of the story stop you from offering reviews.
Realization
After that night, contrary to Jesse and Luke's wishes Bo continued
to see Kathy Sue. Though they were worried about him, there was nothing
his uncle or cousin could do. He was eighteen and Jesse couldn't forbid
him to see the girl no matter how much he wanted to. Jesse was old
enough to know this was a lesson Bo would have to learn for himself.
He just hoped he learned it before it was too late.
"Uncle Jesse, what are we gonna do about Bo?"
"Nothing we can do Luke, except keep telling him he don't deserve what she's doing."
"There's got to be something more Uncle Jesse, it's been weeks since she beat him and he ain't listening to us."
"Well now Luke, you don't know that for sure, could be more's getting through than you realize. I know it's hard, but all we can do is talk and pray that the Good Lord will help Bo see that he is a worthwhile person."
As Daisy stood outside the barn, she was shocked at what she heard.
Kathy Sue had beaten Bo and the way Luke and Uncle Jesse talked Bo
thought he deserved it. She couldn't believe that her baby cousin would
let a girl, let anybody treat him like that. Didn't he have any pride?
As for that little witch, Daisy'd like to show her what it felt like to
be beaten. Maybe she should talk to Bo, maybe he'd listen to her since
she was a girl.
During these same weeks, while Luke and Jesse worried about Bo, Bo
kept seeing Kathy Sue, believing that it was his fault whenever she got
mad at him. Continuing to believe he was worthless and lucky to have
her in his life. However as the weeks passed something started happening
within him. At night he would go out with Kathy Sue, listening as she
told him just how pathetic and worthless he was, believing every word.
He knew without a doubt that every time she would scream at him, he
deserved it. Every slap, every shove was his fault, he knew the truth,
but then there were the days.
In the daytime, Uncle Jesse and Luke kept telling him what a good person he was. Listing all of his good points, where Kathy Sue called him stupid, they told him he was smart. Reminded him of all the times he'd come up with ways to outrun the revenuers, a stupid person couldn't have done that. They'd remind him of the skills he had as a mechanic and a driver. Reminded him of all the ways he had helped his family and friends, things a worthless person wouldn't do.
Now after all of these weeks of hearing conflicting statements from those he loved, Bo began to doubt. He began to wonder if he really deserved the way Kathy Sue treated him.
When Bo returned home from his latest date, he was surprised to find Daisy still awake, sitting on the front porch.
Unknown to Bo,Daisy had spoken to Uncle Jesse and knew the whole story. She had decided it was time she put her two cents in and she knew just how to do it.
As Bo walked towards the porch he was surprised to hear Daisy crying.
"Daisy, what's wrong?" he gently questioned.
"Nothing's wrong Bo" Daisy said, trying vainly to hold back the tears.
"Daisy come on, I know something's wrong or you wouldn't be out here crying. Please talk to me, maybe I can help."
"I don't know Bo, I'm probably just overeacting."
"Well if you don't tell me what's wrong, how are ya gonna know if you're overeacting?" Bo asked, hoping she'd confide in him.
"Maybe you're right and since you're a guy you might be able to help.
I've been seeing Bobby Jacobs and well sometimes he gets mad at me. It
ain't never been a problem before, I can take being yelled at but tonight
he..."
"He what...Daisy what did he do to you?" Bo asked, obviously concerned.
Daisy couldn't help wishing he would be so concerned for himself. "Oh Bo, he shoved me and for a minute...I thought he was gonna hit me. He said he was sorry, promised it would never..."
"Daisy you can't go out with him again. I don't care what he says, it'll happen again, believe me I know what..." Bo trailed off as realization hit him.
"Bobby didn't really hurt you, did he?"
"No Bo he didn't, I heard Uncle Jesse and Luke talking today. I
know what Kathy Sue's been doing to you and I didn't know how else to
make my point. It's abuse Bo, what she does to you is abuse and it's
wrong. Oh baby, don't you know you don't deserve to be abused by anybody,
you deserve so much better than that."
Swallowing back tears, Bo wrapped his arms around Daisy, hiding his face in her hair, he lost the battle. As the tears flowed, soaking Daisy's hair Bo felt a weight lifting from his soul. Realizing that Daisy was right, he released all of the fear and confusion he'd been feeling, thanks to Kathy Sue.
"Thank you Daisy, I guess I needed that."
"You're welcome Bo, I love you cousin, I'd do anything for you, we all would."
A few minutes later they headed to their seperate room.
The next morning after breakfast found Bo sitting next to the phone,
trying to find the nerve to make the call he knew was needed. That's
where Luke found him thirty minutes later.
"Bo? Is something wrong?"
Bo looked up startled by Luke's voice, "Not exactly, Luke did Daisy tell you about our talk last night?"
"No, does that have something to do with why you're staring at the phone, like it's going to bite you?"
Bo chuckled nervously, "Yeah it does, Daisy made me see that the way Kathy Sue treats me is wrong. I know you and Uncle Jesse have been telling me the same thing, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."
Luke sat down beside Bo and put an arm across his shoulders in support.
"Bo you don't have to apologize, I don't care who got through to you,
I'm just glad somebody did. So...you trying to get up the nerve to call
Kathy Sue?"
"How did you know?"
"Just makes sense is all, she's been abusing you for months Bo, of course it's gonna be hard to end it. You are planning to end it aren't ya?" Luke asked, hoping he had read the situation right.
"Yeah Luke, you don't have to worry anymore. I realize I don't deserve
the way she treats me, but I'm...I'm scared to face her." Bo said softly,
not wanting Luke to think him a coward.
"Would you like me to stay?"
"Please?"
With Luke sitting beside him, keeping one hand on his back in a show of support, Bo dialed the phone with trembling fingers.
"Hello Mrs. Shelton, may I speak to Kathy Sue please?" A moment later
Kathy Sue came to the phone. "Kathy Sue, I've been thinking and well I
don't think we should see each other anymore. Why? Because..." swallowing
hard, Bo would've stopped there if not for Luke's hand on his back.
"Because I'm through being your punching bag, emotionally and physically.
The way you treat me is wrong Kathy Sue and I won't let you get away with
it any longer. Goodbye." Hanging up before she could say anything else
Bo collapsed into Luke's embrace.
"You did good cousin, you did real good. I know that was hard Bo, but it had to be done, now you can start to heal. I know it won't be easy for you, but you're stronger than you realize Bo, and we'll all be here for you. I want you to remember that and come to anyone of us, whenever you start to doubt yourself, or start thinking Kathy Sue was right. Will you do that for me Bo? For yourself?"
All Bo could do was nod, too choked up to speak, he was so grateful
for his family's love and support. He was especially glad Luke had come
home and realized something was wrong, and that he hadn't given up on him.
He knew Luke was right, and that it would be hard to recover. He knew
though, with his family to stand beside him, he would heal no matter how
long it took.
If you are in an abusive relationship, please get help now. Call the national Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or contact a local shelter.
A/N: I wrote this story because I had read some stories with similar characters, who were written in such a way that it was obvious we were supposed to admire their spirit. When one person mistreats another, whether it's a man towards a woman or a woman towards a man, that's not being spirited. It is being abusive and it's wrong.