A Thousand Rainbows by Mike Williams
- 11 -
Brian and Bjorn had a few minutes to themselves during the ride back to 2410 West Brunswick Road. The minivan's radio was tuned to the classical music station.
"New deputy picked up the photo's," Bjorn told his partner. "He said something interesting: A cartoon is the only place where you can drop an anvil on someone's head, and they'll just get up and walk away."
"Too bad the rest of the world can't be like that," Brian reflected. He liked the old cartoons.
"Hmmm," Bjorn pondered. "He's new to the area. I invited him to join us for Thanksgiving dinner. He's a friend." Bjorn used their secret code word.
"Good. That will even out the table. Eight people."
They were silent for a moment.
"Have you and the boys talked about what happened this afternoon?" Bjorn asked.
"A little," Brian replied. "They're pretty upset about what happened to Paul. I wish I could just put the whole afternoon out of my mind."
"You can read all the horror stories you want in the paper, and it's not quite so bad as long as the headline says it happened somewhere else. It's different when it hits so close to home," Bjorn said. "I feel ... I don't know ... violated, like someone hurt me personally. I'm so angry all I can think of is putting a bullet in that thug's head and leaving him to rot."
Brian had rarely seen his partner so upset. "How about you, me and the boys kick the soccer ball around while there's still some daylight? I think it would do us all some good."
Bjorn turned to his partner and smiled. "Good idea, lover. That would take the pressure off, help me work off this anger. I don't like it, and I'm not comfortable with it."
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The outdoor exercise helped everyone work off much of the anger they had felt over the attacks on both Paul and the Panther quarterback. They had decided that they would just kick the soccer ball around the backyard, rather than engage in a serious competition.
As the sun set, the temperature dropped, promising a night which would see frost settling over the landscape. Everyone grabbed some logs on their way back into the house. Jason and Josh prepared the fireplace, then headed for the showers.
In the kitchen Brian and Bjorn fixed a simple dinner of chef's salad, chips and dips. They carried the food and beverages to the family room where the boys were already seated on cushions, gazing into the rising flames.
"Dinner is served," Brian announced as he set the bowls down on the coffee table. The boys didn't look up right away, but continued gazing into the fire. He looked to his partner.
Bjorn glanced at Brian, then turned to the twins. "Something you guys want to talk about?"
Slowly the boys turned to face the adults. "I'm sure this is just as hard on you ..." Jason began.
"... As it is on us," Josh finished.
Brian and Bjorn sat down on the couch. Bjorn thought for a moment before speaking. "I don't think there is an easy way to talk about it. Maybe what a sheriff's deputy told me this afternoon sums it up. He said, `A cartoon is the only place where you can drop an anvil on someone's head, and they'll just get up and walk away'."
"That sounds like a good idea," Josh observed.
"It took me a moment," Brian responded. "But I realized that what he's saying is that we live in a real world, where people sometimes encounter unpleasant situations. And other people may be unwilling participants or witnesses to those situations."
"Just like we were today," Jason said.
Bjorn took up Brian's line of thought. "Right."
"What's going to happen to Paul?" Josh asked. "Is he going to be alright? Did the deputy tell you anything about him?"
"And what about the other player?" Jason added.
"He couldn't tell me much," Bjorn replied. "Only that they had both been rushed into surgery as soon as they got to the hospital. We'll just have to trust the doctors and nurses, and hope that their injuries aren't too severe."
He took Brian's hand and held out his other hand to Jason. They all joined hands and said a silent blessing over their dinner. The rest of the meal passed in relative silence.
The remainder of the evening was a quiet one at the Connor-Larkin household. Brian spent the evening in the kitchen preparing apple pies that he would deliver to the nursing home after church on Sunday. Jason and Josh were upstairs in their room, reading. Bjorn was in the den, working on the studio's books and arranging some of the week's photo's, both his and Brian's. He finished his bookkeeping about a quarter to eleven and went up to the kitchen for a pot of tea. Brian was just taking the last of eight pies out of the oven. The entire kitchen smelled wonderful.
"Such a labor of love." Bjorn inhaled deeply and smiled at his partner.
Brian smiled back. "Just doing what I love to do ... and giving something back to the community. If the photo business ever goes south, we'll turn the house into a restaurant and serve the vegetables from your garden and my apple pies for dessert." He paused and became serious for just a moment. "I just had a thought."
"What's that?"
"Well, we could make a video on how to make the best pies in the world, maybe a whole series of cooking videos."
Bjorn was getting an idea too. "Why don't we put the it all on DVD, so it'll be like having your own teacher right there with you in the kitchen?"
"I like the way you think, lover." Still wearing his oven mitts, Brian wrapped his arms around partner. "Are you heating enough water for more than one?"
"Lots more, if anyone wants some." Bjorn glanced toward the ceiling, then back to Brian. "How are they doing?"
"It's been a quiet night. I know they're hurting for Paul, but they're tough. We'll get through this," Brian replied. He released his lover and went back to his pies.
Glancing at the wall clock, Bjorn said, "Late news will have all the info. I'll bring the teapot and meet you there." He gave Brian a kiss on the back of the neck and left the kitchen with the tea service.
Brian was nearly finished cleaning up from the baking when Jason came slowly down the spiral staircase and sat down near the bottom.
Brian gave his son a smile. "Hi, sport. You coming to join us for tea and the late news?"
Jason tried to smile back at his father. "Yeah, I can't go to sleep without knowing what's happening with Paul."
Brian gave a quick glance up the stairs. "Mind if I ask where your brother is?"
Jason looked at the floor, collecting his thoughts. "He ... well, he cried himself to sleep. Please don't tell him I told you. I don't want to embarrass him."
"I promise I won't tell him or Bjorn."
"He's really upset about all this. I might have done the same if I wasn't so worried about Paul."
Brian reached into the cabinet and retrieved another mug. "Well, Bjorn's waiting for us in the den. Let's go."
He helped his son to his feet, gave him a quick hug before they left the kitchen.
In the den Jason took a seat on the couch between the two adults. The tea was just finished, and Bjorn poured for all three of them. The last show of the evening's primetime line-up was just ending. The TV channel broke in with a teaser of the late news to come.
"Good evening. A high school football game turns violent. The Channel 5 Late News is next."
The three sipped their hot tea, paying little attention to the commercials that preceded the news. Then the TV came to life with a dramatic theme. An off-camera voice introduced the program. "The news leader ... for all of Cascade County ... Channel 5 News ... the late edition ... with Tim Farmer, news ... Ron Lindsay, sports ... and Lisa Crowder, weather."
"Good evening. A high school football coach is in custody tonight, and the team's starting quarterback is in critical condition at Bridgewater General Hospital. Channel 5's Ron Lindsay has more on the story. Ron, what can you tell us?"
"Tim, it was the first game of post-season play for both the Bridgewater Academy Mustangs and the Franklin High School Panthers. It was the Panthers' first appearance in post-season since Head Coach Gordon Murphy took over the football program ten years ago. After being tied 3 to 3 at the end of the first quarter, the Panthers opened up the game in the second quarter and led right up until the last minute."
The view changed from the studio to a tape of that afternoon's football game, as the sports anchor continued his rapid-fire commentary.
"This is the play that turned it around for the Mustangs. Less than a minute to go. Franklin leads 24-17. Panthers are deep in Bridgewater territory, threatening one more touchdown. Here's a short pass, intended for Panthers wide receiver Buzz Newkirk. But it's intercepted by Bridgewater's Rusty Graham, who takes it 70 yards before being tackled at the Franklin 15."
The view switched back to the studio. "But on the Franklin bench Head Coach Gordon Murphy was less than thrilled and unloaded his frustrations on Panther Quarterback Alan Bradley. This footage was shot by a spectator in the stands, and we must warn you ... it is quite graphic."
The view switched to an amateur video of the coach punching the quarterback in the face and the quarterback going down after taking several blows. The three watched in silence, oblivious to the sportscaster's comments, and only being jolted back to reality when the screen switched back to the studio.
"After being separated from Bradley, Coach Murphy was ejected from the game and taken into custody by Bridgewater Sheriff's deputies in the locker room. Latest word on Alan Bradley is that he's in critical condition at Bridgewater General Hospital."
The view switched back to a videotape of the last play of the game.
"Back to the game, only seconds to go. Bridgewater Quarterback Paul Miller executes this magnificent pass to wide receiver Erik Duval in the end zone. Touchdown Mustangs with one second left and the score 24-23 Franklin. The point-after attempt looks like a kick which would tie the score and send the game into overtime. But the Mustangs risk everything, and Miller converts the point after for two. Mustangs win 25-24."
The view was back to the studio. "But the drama is not over yet. Our video crew was there to capture the celebration in the end-zone which turned violent. Again, we must warn you that this footage is particularly graphic."
The TV screen switched to the all-too-familiar scene of Paul being beaten by Franklin fullback Randy Carter, and the sportscaster continued his commentary.
"That's Panther Fullback Randy Carter, taking out his frustration on Bridgewater quarterback Paul Miller."
The tape showed Paul going down, and the scene switched back to the studio. The sportscaster wrapped up his commentary.
"Latest word on Miller is that he too in critical condition with a broken jaw and internal injuries at Bridgewater General. The District Attorney's office is considering charges against Carter, and a spokesman for the Scholastic Athletic Association says its executive board will meet on Monday to consider sanctions against the entire Franklin High School athletic program. Back to you, Tim."
The next few minutes of the newscast was devoted to comments from outside sources ranging from the governor to the mayor to some randomly selected people around town.
"And we'll be back with more news in just a moment." And the screen went to commercial break.
Brian turned to his son. "How are you holding up, sport?"
Jason looked down at his tea, then to his father. "It hurts just as much watching it on TV as it did seeing it in person, maybe even more."
"Maybe watching the late news wasn't such a good idea after all," Bjorn said.
The three sipped their tea in silence, but paid no attention to the commercials. After a moment the commercial break was over, and the newscasters returned to the screen. Tim Farmer's expression was somber.
"We have an update on the condition of those two football players injured in this afternoon's playoff game.
Jason automatically reached for his father's hand as the newscaster continued his report.
"A spokesman for Bridgewater General Hospital now says Franklin Quarterback Alan Bradley died as a result of injuries he suffered late in the game. Alan Bradley was 17. And the District Attorney's office issued a statement just moments ago, saying Panthers Coach Gordon Murphy would be charged with Bradley's murder. Murphy is currently being held without bail at the Cascade County Jail; he is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday. Turning to the weather, Lisa says there's good news in store for skiers. Lisa?"
Bjorn pointed the remote at the TV and switched it off. All three were silent for several minutes; only the ticking of an antique clock broke the stillness.
"What about Paul?" Jason was shaking.
Brian put his arm around his son. "He's alive, Jason. Critical, but he is alive. And he needs our support and our energy to pull him through. He's gonna be alright."
Jason turned to his father with tears in his eyes. "When do you think we can see him?"
Brian shook his head sadly. "I don't know. Let's give him a few days to rest up. I know how much you guys look up to him, and I know he was really taken with you two last night. But we gotta give him some time to heal. Think you'll be OK with that?"
Jason looked down at his lap. Brian could see the tears rolling down Jason's cheeks, and the boy leaned into his father's shoulder, sobbing. After a moment he gathered himself together and looked up into his father's face. "I'll be alright. I think I'll just go up to bed. I love you, Dad."
Brian kissed his son's forehead. "I love you too, sport."
Jason turned to give his father's partner a good-night hug. "I love you, Bjorn."
Bjorn returned the hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I love you too, Jason. Good night."
Jason broke the embrace and left the room. He climbed the spiral staircase and walked slowly to the bedroom, where his twin, his lover, was already fast asleep. Jason quietly stripped off his clothes and slipped between the sheets and, just as his brother had done earlier that evening, cried himself to sleep.
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to be continued in Chapter 12