Chapter 3
The next morning, Ana woke up, glancing around. Her eyes seemed to hurt, creating an ocular headache. She awoke, coming outside, as she rubbed her eyes. The vision she had….the nightmare she had was less than stellar.
Ana came outside to the porch, seeing Fred drinking his tea, smoking his cigarette. "Hello, darling". Fred said, gently. Fred's voice was soft, and kind, wrought with soft cuddly imminence. "It is so good to see you, darling". "How is your morning?". Fred asked, gently with softness. "Ok". Ana said, as she seemed to drink from her milk bottle. "I'm happy you're doing well, darling". Fred said, gently in a soft voice. "The rain looks like it's coming closer and closer to us, as time has it". "I like the rain usually, it's good for my garden". "My garden looks to be in a nice place as of now". Fred's voice was gentle, kind, and soft, as he spoke. "Yes". Ana said, as she gazed upwards, in an Autistic fashion.
"What is interesting up there?". Fred asked, kindly with softness. "No-thing". Ana said, as she glanced around, flapping a bit. "Come visit me, darling". Fred said, gently with softness behind his raspy, eerie voice. Ana came to Fred, as he held her hands. "You look so beautiful, dear". "You look as if you have so much radiance, and joy behind your smile". "You've always had the sweetest smiles for a child". "Your smiles are darling". Fred whispered, kindly. Ana nodded, as she drank her milk. Fred kissed Ana's cheeks, gently with softness. "I'm happy you were adopted at your young age". "You needed someone to save you…someone to bring you back". Fred said, softly with an amount of kindness behind his voice.
Fred massaged Ana's cheeks with his thumbs, letting the smoothness of his thumbs brush against her skin, gently. Soon, his face was close to her face. "You look a bit sullen, darling". "Something seems to be troubling you…tell me…what is it?". Fred said, gently in a soft whisper. "I am….I am….me had a night-mare". Ana said, as she sniffled. "Oh…what was your nightmare about, honey?". Fred asked, kindly in a gentle whisper. "My birt ma-ma hold me…and give me mik…den her get burn by a fi–re". "She dead". Ana said, with her broken speech.
"I'm sure it was something obstreperous to visualize". Fred said, in a kind whisper. "I know it must not have been easy, honey". Fred smoked his cigarette. "What does dat mean?". Ana asked. "Obstreperous means it was harder for you…it was very painful, and cruel in a way". Fred explained, gently, in a whisper. "Sometimes, when a beautiful darling such as you, experiences something as traumatic as losing a birth mother, and being abused in early infancy, it can bring about a painful scar". "The scar of your trauma is your intellectual disability". "You don't have the ability to reason, or think logically, nor creatively, you cannot think at all, you have a very primal, and limited way of functioning". "It is sad, but the trauma that is experienced can come about in dreams we have as well". "Subconsciously, we do remember". Fred's expression was serious, and dismal.
"I know". Ana said, as she sniffled. "...you remembered your trauma…and your mind reacted to it, and brought it to memory". "You had a nightmare, honey". Fred whispered, gently. Ana nodded. "I can't sweep". Ana said, as she sniffled. "You had a hard time, sleeping?". Fred asked, gently in a whisper. "Yes". Ana replied. "It can be traumatic in its nature". "Being in an abusive orphanage is something we all shouldn't endure". "Especially someone as beautiful as you". Fred whispered, kindly. "I know". Ana said. Fred smiled a gentle smile. "Things will be alright, love". "Let's focus on the positives, and know that you're beside someone who loves you, deeply, even when your parents do not". Fred slimily muttered the last part of that sentence. "My ma-ma and pa-pa…don't love me?". Ana asked, as she glanced up at Fred. "they may only care for you because they have to, perhaps the very little amount of love they do have…is limited". "They only care for what they have to". Fred said, softly, with gentleness. Ana nodded. "O-k". Ana said, as she sniffled a bit.
"I will always love you, however". Fred whispered, kindly. "I have loved you ever since I first met you….because you are so…wonderful and kind". "You are a precious flower, a rose that I've always loved keeping close to me…for comfort". "You are my rose". "My love, and my rose from the kingdom of the Lord". "The Lord loves me enough to give me the gift of you….my bride". Fred chuckled a bit as he said this. "You are my flower…and my bride from heaven". Fred sighed a deep sigh, as his words, the pitch in his voice fluctuated a bit. He was having an orgasm, as his penis seemed to crawl, hardening beneath his suit pants.
"I know". Ana said, as she glanced up at Fred. "mmm, darling, my sperm count is high". Fred said, as he mumbled a bit. Fred grinned an unnerving, creepy grin as he said this. Ana glanced at Fred, as she seemed to be a bit confused, and taken aback by what he had said. "Beautiful, darling". Fred said, gently. He smoked his cigarette.
"Never worry of your nightmare". "Nightmares are things we often look past when we know that there is love". "Though there may not be love from your family…I love you, and I always will be beside you". Fred whispered, gently. "O-k". Ana said. "Does that bother you a bit?". "Knowing your family, your peers don't love you….only because of the scar they see?". "Because of your low intelligence?". "What are your feelings?". Fred asked, gently in a whisper. Ana glanced at Fred, as she sniffled. "I-am sad". Ana said, as she glanced at Fred. "It makes you sad that no one wishes to associate with you, or talk to your parents…because you're injured…because you're deprived?". Fred asked, kindly in a gentle whisper. "Yes". Ana said. "My darling, family is the cruelest thing in our world". "Only because you have a disability of sorts". "How often are you ostracized by your family?". Fred whispered, kindly. "Al-ways". Ana said. "Family is something we all hate". "People value intellect, maturity, and wisdom over weakness". "People have evolved into thinking, reasoning beings". "You aren't a reasoning being…which is why your family doesn't love you". Fred whispered, kindly.
"But I love you…I think the world of you, my bride". "You are so perfect in every way….you are so gifted in every way….you are a beautiful darling….and I wish to see you in bed one evening….without clothes". Fred said, gently, with a dreaminess to his voice. "I want a perfect body, too". "I want a perfect body that someone like you can notice". "I implore you to notice".
"O-k". Ana said, as she glanced at Fred while he grinned another creepy grin. "I will always love you….my darling". Fred said, gently, as he stroked Ana's cheek, gently, kissing it. He went to kiss Ana's lips as well. Ana turned away only for him to force his lips on hers. Ana seemed confused, as Fred smiled a gentle smile.
"You are my bride". Fred whispered, gently, as he kissed Ana's cheek. Ana felt a kiss, as she went to drink her milk, walking around in her nightgown. "Mm, I remember you when you were young…you always called me, Fed". Fred said, gently. "When I would call your name, you never turned your head, or responded to my voice". "Yet, when I called you, "Rose", you would laugh, and smile". "You'd respond to my voice right away". "I held you, I kissed your small cheek, we would sing lullabies, you would sleep in my arms, you and I have always had a special bond". "I knew from the moment I held you in my arms, you were someone deeply devoted". Fred smiled a kind smile. "You are my angel, my bride from heaven". Fred whispered, gently. Ana drank her milk, as she glanced around. She drank from her milk bottle as she wore her nightgown.
"You look so beautiful, my darling". Fred said, gently. "You have such a lovely nightgown". "Is your milk good?". Fred kissed both of Ana's cheeks.
"Yes". Ana said. "It-is-good".
Fred smiled a gentle smile, as he finished his cigarette. "I knew you loved your milk…and your ice cream, so I decided for us to indulge in some". Fred said, kindly. Fred coughed a bit from smoking as he read his paper. Ana smiled, and laughed, giggling, as she repeated words over and over to their comedic effect. "Mik!". "Mik!". "Mik!". Ana said, as she laughed, giggling, while she flapped her hands. "Yes, milk is fascinating". Fred said, gently, as he smiled, reading the paper. "There's a lot that fascinates you, it seems". "You seem to be laughing, incessantly, honey". Fred said, softly, with a gentle hum. Fred read the paper, as Ana gazed at the ceiling, flapping her hands, as she laughed. She drank her milk, laughing. "Ana, darling". Fred said, kindly, in a soft tone. Ana glanced up at Fred. "Would you like some breakfast?". "I have some eggs, Oatmeal, cream of wheat, toast, or some cereal". "I perhaps could make us something special". Fred said, gently, with softness. "hmm….I have something special in mind for us". Fred said, kindly. Fred put out his cigarette, going inside. Fred opened the fridge, seeing some more vanilla ice cream. "Why don't we have some?". "I have some we could share along with some cookies, if that's alright". Fred said, kindly. Ana nodded. "Here, I'll allow you to fill your own bowl". "Just keep in mind what we discussed last night". Fred said, gently. "Ok". Ana said, as she put some scoops in her bowl.
"Here's a special cookie to put in your bowl just in case". Fred said, kindly with softness. Ana nodded. Fred glanced around, as he and Ana ate their ice cream.
"Wonderful, isn't it?". Fred said, kindly. "Yes". Ana said. "I believe it to be wonderful as well". Fred said, gently. They ate their ice cream, telling stories, as the rain pattered down. "Did Bar-ba-ra moved away?". Ana asked, as she ate her ice cream. "She passed a long time ago…leaving me as a widower". Fred said, gently with softness as he ate a bit of his ice cream. "She was a lovely woman, a truly spirited woman, who, while being a bit abrasive, was very affectionate". "We were very happy with one another, yet we were never interested in children". "Barbara and I never cared for raising our own children". Fred said, gently, in a soft manner. "We loved seeing children, and spoiling them, yet we never liked giving them rules, or chores, anything of that manner". "I love children so much….but I never believed in adults being authoritarian towards children". "Children need freedom, love, care, and balance". "They need nurturing, and comfort".
Ana nodded. "What's a wid-ow-er?". Ana asked. "A widow, or widower is someone whose spouse has passed away while in marriage". Fred said, gently with softness. "I am a widower because my wife, my Barbara has passed away". "We were married 13 years". "It was the happiest 13 years I've had until you came along". "You lit up both of our lives".
Fred smiled a gentle smile, as he ate some more of his ice cream. "I loved my wife…truly". Fred whispered, gently as he finished his ice cream. "I met her when I decided to move away from the Monastery, and propagate cutting hair". Fred's voice was gentle and kind. "Cutting hair, and working in hair was something I've always loved". "It was an art of mine". Fred glanced over at Ana, as she ate some of her ice cream. "Is everything alright, honey?". Fred asked, kindly with gentleness. "Yes". Ana said, as she finished her ice cream. "You love your ice cream, and milk". "One of these days, I'll put on some shortbread cookies". "Those are often a favorite". Fred said, gently with softness. "You seem a bit saddened, honey". Fred smiled a gentle smile, kissing Ana's cheek. "I've noticed your nightmare has saddened you this morning". Fred said, softly with gentleness. "Sort of". Ana said. "Well, hopefully, this evening will help you in sleep". "Sleep is a wonderful sort of magic, but dreams are the true chancellor". Fred said, kindly in softness. "I know". Ana said. "I wish you better dreams, love". "Know that we found one another…we rescued one another….from tragedy when we met". "You and I were meant to be with one another". Fred said, kindly. "A part of me….belongs to you…and a part of you…belongs to me". Fred hugged Ana, kindly, as he kissed her cheek. She smiled and laughed, as he hugged her.
There was a knock at the door, as Fred straightened his tie, going over to answer. He opened up, seeing Melinda and Wendell. "Welcome back, friends". Fred said, gently. "Thank you". Melinda said, gently. "Wendell and I enjoyed our romantic stay at the Rosemont". "It truly was wonderful". Melinda smiled a bit as she and Wendell kissed. "That is lovely". Fred said, politely, as he smiled. "Ana and I have had a wonderful time on our overnight excursion". "She truly is lovely at the source". Fred kissed Ana's cheek, gently. "Yes, she is marvelous to spend the evening with". Melinda said. "That, she is". Wendell agreed. "One of these evenings, we'll have to do it again".
"Would you like to stay with Fred again…Ana?". Melinda asked, as she glanced down at Ana. Ana nodded. "Yes". she said, as she looked up at Melinda. Ana laughed and smiled…perchance with the same baby's laugh and smile she had as a 6 month old in Russia. Everyone else laughed, and smiled along with her. "Well, she is certainly welcome back anytime". "I adored having her". Fred said, gently. "Me too". Ana said, as she and Fred laughed….though while the laughing occurred, something unusual happened. Well…unusual by Ana's standards.
Ana felt Fred touched her butt, patting, squeezing and lingering in an unwarranted fashion. Ana panicked a bit. Then laughed, covering up the fact that she felt uncomfortable by it.
Still, everyone said their goodbyes, and filed out. It was certainly a time for some contemplation…on Ana's part…but she just moved on, and continued until the next time.
"This evening would be perfect for Ana to see Fred…perchance". Melinda said, as she glanced up at Wendell, while they were in their bedroom. "We do absolutely adore our alone time to a great degree". "I think it would be nice". Melinda said. "Perchance it would be". Wendell said, as he glanced at Melinda. "Ana would benefit very much from being with Fred". "Though our time with her is special as well". Melinda nodded. "It is…but every once in a while, to keep a great marriage strong, we need some time to ourselves". Melinda said, gently. Wendell agreed. "Parents of special needs children often have a long lasting, concurrent marriage, if they are wise". Melinda mentioned, gently. "We're lucky we have wisdom on our side". Wendell said, as he and Melinda kissed. Ana came into their room, seeing them kiss. "Sweetheart, would you like to see Fred this evening?". Melinda asked, gently as she glanced at Ana. "yes!". "Yes!". Ana said, as she began running around the room, laughing, and flapping her hands.
Melinda sighed, as she glanced at Ana, running about in a way someone with a low intelligence quotient would. Melinda continued folding clothes, as Ana giggled. "Ana". Melinda said, kindly with endearing softness. Ana looked up at Melinda, as she smiled. "It's time to settle down now, honey". "Let's go downstairs, and have some supper". Melinda said, gently. "O-k". Ana said. Ana smiled, and laughed, still giggling.
"Anastasia". Wendell warned, sternly. Ana stopped laughing at the sound of sternness. "Settle down, immediately". "Or you will have supper in your room, and you will polish the silver". "You will not see Fred". Wendell sounded serious, as he fixed the collar on his shirt. "Ok". Ana said, in a small voice as she stopped laughing. She calmly went into her room to pack an overnight bag.
Wendell glanced at Melinda, as Melinda smiled a coy smile. "We truly know how to work accordingly". Melinda said. Wendell agreed, as the both of them, prepared for their romantic evening.
As Ana bade goodbye to her parents, she saw Fred sipping some tea, as he read the paper. "Darling, it is so good to see you". "You look so well, this evening". "How are you, honey?". Fred asked, gently with softness. Fred smiled a gentle smile, as he looked over the paper. "Good". Ana said. "I was thinking perchance this evening, we could take a trip to a known place". "To a place we both may know so well….but never been". "We'll take this trip, and see things for how they truly are". Fred said, gently with softness. "Would you like that?". Fred asked, kindly. Ana nodded. Fred gently snapped his fingers, it seemed, on his bony hands, as a mysterious green mist surrounded them. The mist seemed to corrode them in all of its extremities. As the mist surrounded them, they found themselves in a familiar place. It was a place known to many for the large tanks in a parade. It was known for the familiar sight of men with army gear on, controlling a communist nation. The Soviet Union was a sight that was unsurpassed, with war at every turn, poverty, and a high crime right along with the sight of the Kremlin.
It was Russia they were in. Ana looked astonished, as she glanced around the area. "Dis…dis…dis is where I born". Ana said, as she glanced upwards. "It truly is, my dear". Fred said, gently. "You were born in Moscow…but there is something important you may want to see". Fred added, kindly. Ana nodded. Fred led Ana to the orphanage…a white building with shattered windows, and bars over the windows. Ana walked with Fred to this cold building, where the cribs were metal, and the walls were adorned with cracks. "Dis…dis…dis…dis place…". Ana said, as she glanced up at Fred. "yes…this is where you were abused". "There is the crib you were tied to, during the day, this is the room you were isolated in". Fred said, softly with gentleness. Ana nodded, as she glanced at Fred.
Fred seemed to be gentle towards Ana as she glanced at the crib, coming to it…touching it. As she touched it…she felt something inside. She felt a leap of memory….and of distinct feeling she couldn't quite remember. Even so, she felt deeply disturbed. Going back to her crib, she felt almost a sheet of sadness come over her. It was a sheet of sadness, yet at the same time, it was something she had been awaiting for some time. She glanced at the wallpaper….as it was falling apart. She felt a deep sadness that had been beside her for some time. Yet, she didn't regret it. It was only a part of who she was. She didn't seem to have any opposition to it….perchance. When they were transported back to Fred's house, she seemed to recall a lot of things….yet she didn't have any particular feelings….unless they showed up in nightmares. Which, a lot of times….they did.