And love
Chap 53 Safety
Reagan mantra
Eddie and Jamie have decided to teach and train their family in some self-protective measures. Jamie can teach much of what they want the girls to learn; Eddie can pitch in as she remembers a lot from her NYPD days.
The 1st tactic will be the traditional Reagan mantra – Please don't hurt my family! They are using the barn, as physical activity is in play. Eddie, Jamie & Cassie demonstrate. They have prepped Cass for her part. They have Mal & MR sit on a bench along the barn wall.
"Girls, watch closely what we do," Jamie tells Mal and MR. He and Eddie Walk about 15' away, stop & turn around. Jamie grabs Eddie around the neck and chest; he yells at Cassie "Put that gun down, now!" The girls see that Cassie is holding a squirt gun.
"No, don't you dare hurt my momma!" Cassie shouts.
"Put that gun down, you little twerp!" Jamie shouts again. "I'll shoot her, believe you me!" He attempts a fierce scowl – actually he rather likes this position!
"Ok," Cassie leans over and places her gun on the ground. She stays close to her gun, and says "Please don't hurt my family!"
Eddie immediately drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Jamie is startled, Cassie quickly picks her gun up, aims and says BANG, BANG." Jamie drops to the ground, wounded or worse. Eddie and Cass scamper out of the barn & out of sight.
Eddie & Cass come back into the barn and sit on a bench, Jamie does also. They are in a triangle; Jamie begins to talk. "Ok, let's talk through what we just saw."
J: Mal, what did you first see?
M: You had momma in an embrace. Not a hug!
J: MR, want did I say?
MR: Put your gun down you twerp!
J: No, actually I said, "Put that gun down, now!" Now, don't feel bad; MR. Part of what we are learning is 1) How to be an accurate observer, and 2) To be precise in what we tell the police. That will help them arrest the proper suspect. This takes practice and paying close attention to the situation that we are in. You will not get most of this right the first time.
They spend 1 hour practicing the mantra; switching roles as they go. They learn:
They must say the mantra PRECISELY, CORRECTLY every time,
How to drop straight down, like a sack of potatoes,
When the perp is down; hurt, dazed or dead, their next move is to RUN LIKE HELL TO SAFETY!
It is not their job to arrest anybody. It is their job to get themselves, and their companions to safety!
Weapons. In this exercise we used a gun (water gun). Mother and I will probably be carrying a real weapon, you will not. At least until you get older.
"Mommy, do you carry a gun?" Mal asks with big eyes.
"Not right now, sweetie. I did when I was training to be a policeman. Daddy and I think that it is a good idea for me to start carrying again. What do you think of that?"
They think about it for a moment, then they all nod, thinking that it's a good idea. To protect the family.
ASP
Eddie starts with the 2nd lesson. "The other thing that police officers carry for a weapon is an Asp. It used to be called a baton, or night stick," She has an asp for everyone; the smallest, and lightest for Mary Rose.
"Now, in order for the asp to be effective in self-defense, you must know where to strike your assailant," Jamie says.
He and Eddie spend a good hour and a half taking turns practicing with the girls; being the assailant or his/her intended victim.
"Remember our #1 goal?" Dad emphasizes. "Hurt or disable the bad guy so you can run to safety!"
"What if he gets up and comes after me?" Cassie wonders.
"Your phones will be programmed so that when you press and hold #9, an emergency message will be sent to mom and me, as well as grandpa Frank. You should do that when you start to run. If you are able to hold your phone up, press speaker and talk – do that. But DO NOT compromise your running. Understand?"
"Yes, daddy!"
They alert Frank, then practice. Grandpa is tickled pink that Jamie and Eddie are taking this step with their family.
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SELF-DEFENSE
Tactic #3. "Dad and I are going to talk over the various forms of marital arts; looking for things appropriate for young girls. Then we will talk with you about which forms we think might be good for each of you to learn," Eddie declares.
"When we have some idea of where we'd like to go with that, we will talk it over," dad adds.
Cassie especially doesn't know what to say to all this. To have her safety be a family priority, and to really have her opinion matter – it is unknown territory. She is continually amazed! And she loves it! She thinks of something.
"Dad, when you were a boy, did your family do this for you?" Cass questions.
"Yes, especially the family mantra – please don't hurt my family."
"What about fighting, and stuff?" She presses.
"Well, my brothers did that."
"Joe?"
"Some, mostly Danny. He was more into that sort of thing," Jamie casts a glance at Eddie.
"Ah . . . do you think uncle Danny might help us with this part?" Cassie wonders out loud.
Mal speaks up, "We have been talking about this – the family mess, you know. Us girls I mean."
"Yeah, we don't like it!" Mary Rose exclaims.
Eddie looks to her husband, a tear trickling down her cheek. 'These girls are absolutely amazing!'
"I think that would be a wonderful thing to ask him," Jamie chokes out.
Eddie nods, she can't speak.
"I will do that," Cassie determines.
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SUNDAY DINNER AT GRANDPA FRANK'S
Following their usual pattern, Jamie sits with the girls and continues their journey through the family photo albums. Various family members stop by and greet them. Except Danny.
Eddie helps Erin and Linda in the kitchen. "Linda,
"How is Danny's recovery coming along. We all are quite concerned; any good news?" Eddie inquires.
Linda pauses from her current task, "I'm afraid we have stalled. Danny is so concerned; being a detective was his goal, like forever. If he doesn't get back to that-
She clasps her hands over face and starts to sob. Her shoulders shake with emotion.
Erin and Eddie swiftly move into a three-way embrace. They hug her firmly.
"We are here for you," Erin soothes.
"I think you will hear some good news at dinner Lin," Eddie adds.
"What?" Both sisters-in-law ask.
"Wait and see," Eddie has a twinkle in her eye. She gives Linda an extra squeeze, then turns to her dinner prep.
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AT THE TABLE
After Jack offers the blessing, food is passed and they begin to eat.
"Uncle Danny?" Cassie begins.
GRUNT He doesn't even look up.
"Mom and dad are teaching us girls some safety things," Cassie starts.
"Like Please don't hurt my family," Mary Rose adds.
She gets a slight look up, and a nod. "Good."
"Daddy told us that you taught him to fight and stuff," Mal inserts.
"Really. Yeah, your dad always was the softie. I needed to toughen him up, you know. I wanted him to be able to defend himself," the last words faded away. He stared at his plate.
Linda grasped his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Please, uncle Danny?" Mary Rose pleaded.
"Please?" Mal adds.
"Will you," Cassie voices.
Silence. The table pauses, all eyes on Danny and his nieces.
Slowly he lifts his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Ok, since you asked so nicely." His smile grew as he replied.
"Thank you, uncle Danny," Cassie releases. Her sisters nod vigorously.
Eddie lets out a breath.
Jamie grins, "Thanks, brother!"
Frank, Erin and Pops smile at each other.
Linda slumps back in her chair, in relief. 'Good news, indeed!'
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NEXT SATURDAY
As Danny Reagan enters the Long Island home of his 3 nieces he shouts, "Are you ready for action, young ladies?"
He hears a chorus of YES from somewhere upstairs.
"Well, let's go! We need to do warm-ups. CHOP, CHOP. Daylight is a wasting!" The drill sergeant shouts. He heads for the back door and out to the barn.
The girls follow, dressed for exercise. Smiling, for now.
"They don't know what they have unleashed," Jamie tells Eddie.
She grins, "I think they will give him a run for his money. My bet is on our girls."
"My money is on my big brother."
"Oh yeah? How much Mr. Reagan?"
"Dinner, dancing, and more!"
"More?"
"Let your imagination run wild, my love." He winks.
"Are you up for that, sport?" She smirks.
"Yup!" He sweeps her into his arms and heads for their already prepared Jacuzzi tub.
She squeals with delight all the way.
They will do the MORE first.
They are really going to like these self-defense lessons.
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TBC