Q is for Questionable Doubt
Charlie had some questionable doubts when Don had come home after his baseball practice all bruised and in pain. Don had brushed aside his concern by telling him t it was clashes with the boys during practice. Still, Charlie had his doubts and he wanted to find out. It was only after 23 years that he managed to pursue his questionable doubts.
Charlie was one for asking questions. He liked to know what was happening, not that he was a busybody. He didn't know how to be one. He just wanted to be in the know especially if he was there when something happened.
Just like he remembered that Don came home holding his stomach, Charlie wanted to know what happened to him.
Charlie came running to the door when Don got home. His face changed when he saw Don walking in awkwardly. He ran and stood in front of him, "What happened Don?" His face changed from curious to scared in an instant.
"Charlie, nothing. It's nothing. While practicing, I had a clash with another player, and I knocked into another while running." Don said adding that he had a rough game today.
With that, Charlie's face cleared, and he heaved a big sigh.
"What Charlie you think somebody beat me?" Don was being obvious without being obvious.
"No, no, why should anybody want to beat you?" Charlie quickly answered.
"That's it. I also collided with Robbie's hard head. It's nothing, just a bit sore."
What Charlie didn't know won't hurt, so Don kept the fight to himself, but not for long. His mother immediately knew something was not right.
It was a mother's instinct to know that something happened to Don. It was not just a simple clashing of bodies. She had a niggling thought that somehow Don had been in a fight.
That night she went into Don's room to confront him, and she was appalled to see the bruises on Don's stomach. Don had begged her not to tell, not a word to his father and Charlie.
After much begging from Don, his mother agreed. So Charlie was in the dark about the fight Don had with Bart's cronies.
If Don asked why Charlie was looking for Hogan, Charlie would have told him. It was all because of the ten dollars. But since both of them kept mum about each other's past doings, the subject never came to light.
Charlie started looking for Hogan Phillips, and he found that he was in the FBI files. He asked Don to get him the address instead of him getting it himself. He didn't want to get into FBI files using his authorization and risk Don finding out. He came clean with Don, but it was a bit difficult for Don kept asking why he wanted Hogan's address. Finally Don agreed but only at his convenience. Charlie said he didn't mind waiting.
Somehow now that he thought back, he realized it was a questionable doubt that Don was hurt during practice.
He was naïve to think so then, well he was young, and he believed. Now more than ever he needed to find Hogan to find the truth. He had given up his ten dollars, so that Don would be saved from a beating but now thinking back, he was not sure at all.
He was certain now that Hog did beat up Don up after his practice. It was a laugh that he needed to confront him now.
He believed that when a promised was made, you kept it, and moreover, he had paid him. Oh gosh he was so naïve to take the word of a bully. He had thought to keep Don safe then.
He remembered his mother had telling Don not to go to school the next day, but Don went anyway.
He remembered Don holding his stomach and he had offered to carry his backpack for him.
Thinking back now, he knew that Don was really beaten up by Barty's so called friends or cronies.
He felt the unfairness of it all. It was out of sheer jealousy that got Don beaten up.
Bart was jealous of Don's looks, his popularity with the other students of both sexes, and his ability to play games.
Wonder where Barty is now. Would he be jealous again if he met up with Don?
He doubted it, but it was a questionable doubt that lingered in his mind.
Tbc