The Ripples of Ann Arbor

By Len Marshall

The Ripples of Ann Arbor begins in the beautiful State of Michigan USA. Kathy, a very shy seven year old girl sat quietly in the back of her grandmother’s car. Her parents had tragically been killed in a horrific car accident and Kathy was in the car when they died just four days earlier; now she was waiting for the funeral service. Checking her fingernails she looked for any remaining blood that had not been scrubbed away by her Grandmother. The ripple of that day would stay with Kathy for the rest of her life and continue to spread to every part of her existence.
In this incredible story the plot unlocks a tragic story, set against a lifetime of despair and adversity to face her demons. She embarks on a trail of destruction that just cannot stop leading to a really surprising ending.
Just like the Ripples of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AG Books
• Release date: Apr 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781785388446

Book preview

BANKS.

Chapter 1

It was unseasonably warm for October in Michigan. The leaves had already changed colour, but most were still on the trees. Halloween was only two weeks away, but that was the furthest thing from Kathy’s mind as she sat quietly in the back of her grandmother’s car, checking her fingernails. Dried blood had been stuck under them for two days after the accident. Although Kathy was only seven-years-old, she had a pretty good grasp of what death meant and the dried blood was the last remnant of her parents’ lives. She wanted to save it but her grandmother took a scrubbing brush and cleaned it away before the funeral. Kathy sat in the bathroom afterwards and cried as she gazed at her clean fingernails.

Her grandmother, Betsy, had barely said a word to Kathy since arriving in town for the funeral. It’s not that Betsy didn’t love her grand-daughter; the situation was just as overwhelming for her as it was for the child. She hadn’t just lost her only child, Kathy’s mother, Elizabeth, but she now had to raise another child. She felt guilty for feeling burdened with this responsibility but, at the same time, she felt that after suffering years and years of a terrible marriage to Kathy’s grandfather together with the problems she had had raising Elizabeth, she deserved a break and some time for herself.

Betsy had been just like her daughter Elizabeth when she was younger. She had wanted to travel the world and be a dancer; she still had the slim dancer’s physique. She had met Kathy’s grandfather, who was ten years older, and moved in with him at the age of eighteen with the promise that he would take her on the adventure of a lifetime.

She was pregnant with Elizabeth by the time she was nineteen, and the only adventures he ended up taking her on were the many hospital trips she took after yet another beating. She wanted to leave him but with no education or job skills, she felt akin to a modern slave. She considered leaving him and moving back to her parents, but this was also out of the question. Instead of just one person abusing her, she would have a whole house full of family members who were either physically or verbally abusive. At least with Kathy’s grandfather, there was only one person and there were times when he could be pleasant to be around, although those moments were few and rare.

Kathy’s father, Jan, didn’t have any family still alive on his side that could take care of her. His mother had died when he was a teenager and his father had Alzheimer’s. He didn’t even know whose funeral he was at. Kathy had an uncle on her father’s side, but he had drug problems, so he probably didn’t even know what had happened. The Dutch family cousins on her dad’s side of the family hardly spoke to Betsy or Kathy. In fact, they pretty much ignored everyone.

Now that the funeral was over, they were driving to Betsy’s house where Kathy would live. It was a long and quiet three hour drive to Kalamazoo which gave Kathy time to think about how she would no longer be anywhere near her school friends in Ann Arbor and would have to start all over.

Ann Arbor was home to the University of Michigan, one of the foremost research universities in the United States. It was Kathy’s plan to progress to university after high school. The university was the life blood of Ann Arbor’s economy, employing about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in the medical centre where it was Kathy’s ultimate aim to study and her parents had spent every dollar they earned to make this wish a reality.

With so much going on in the last three days, she hadn’t had time to really think about how difficult that might be. As she sat quietly in the car, it began to dawn on her that she would probably never see anybody from her old life again. Kathy thought about her old school and her friends and how she would never get a chance to take care of Skittles for the weekend. Skittles was a big fluffy, black and white rabbit.

Skittles was the class pet shared by everyone and each student had to take him home for a weekend so they could learn to be responsible. Kathy figured this would have been her big chance to prove that she was old enough for a dog. She had had only had two more weeks to wait, then it would have been her turn. She wondered if she would ever get a dog.

Kathy stared out of the window and watched the parade of interchangeable, picket fenced houses go by until she finally saw the three-legged deer ornament that let her know she was at her grandma’s house. It wasn’t her grandmother’s ornament, it belonged to the house next door, but all the houses looked alike in this neighbourhood to Kathy. After the car stopped, she didn’t want to get out but could tell by Betsy’s expression and mood that this would not be a good time to voice her objections. Kathy was terrified of going to a foster home and, although she never felt her grandmother cared much for her, she knew it would be easier on her if she caused as few problems as possible.

There before you is Kalamazoo in its entire splendour, said Betsy.

They began to unload the car.

Take your luggage upstairs and go into the first room on the right, that will be your room from now on, Betsy told Kathy as they walked through the doorway.

Kathy knew where it was. It was her mom’s old room. The few times they had come to visit, her mom would take Kathy into her old room and tell her childhood stories. The stories always seemed so amazing that Kathy used to wish that she lived in the same room as well. Now that she did, the room no longer seemed so magical.

Kathy sat on the bed and looked around her new room and thought about the stories her mom had told her. Pictures, awards and memorabilia of her mom’s youth still decorated the room’s light blue walls and white classic style dresser. Her grandfather’s picture hung proudly over the fire mantle. Betsy had never changed a thing in the room. As much as she hoped for change, it was hard for her to adapt to it. Her husband had been dead for two years. She had hated him, but she still had the majority of his stuff. Now her child had also gone.

Two hours passed before Betsy entered the room to find Kathy still sitting on the same spot of the bed with swollen eyes and the unopened luggage on the floor in front of her.

Have you been sitting here the whole time? Betsy asked. Kathy didn’t say anything, she just sat there silently. Betsy could see the pain in her eyes but didn’t really know how to respond. Her family and husband were not the sympathetic types, but she promised herself she wouldn’t make the same mistakes she had made with Kathy’s mother and would at least try to give Kathy a better childhood. She sat next to Kathy and gently put her hand on her shoulder.

I am only seven, she thought.

How about I come up here and help you unpack after we have dinner? Does that sound good to you? Betsy asked Kathy.

Kathy gave a little nod as relief washed over her. She thought that her grandmother might have been mad at her for not putting her clothes away. She remembered stories from her mom about how crazy her grandma would get when she left a mess in her room. She didn’t seem much like the person her mom always talked about though.

It was a quiet dinner, like sitting with a stranger who you knew was suffering. Both felt the same way. Kathy didn’t eat much; she just played with her food, waiting to be excused back to her new room.

I thought Mac n Cheese was your favourite? Betsy said.

Kathy shook her head, It was when I was younger.

Well, what’s your favourite now?

I like chicken strips and sushi.

Sushi? Yuk.

When I was a child, I didn’t even know what sushi was. You kids really are worldlier nowadays, Betsy said. She could tell from the look on Kathy’s face that she didn’t understand. Worldlier means that you’re more learned and experienced about the world around you, that’s a good thing. When I was young, we didn’t have the internet and a hundred channels that bring the world to you. What with Snap chat, Twitter, Facebook and cell phones.

She continued, My family, friends and the small neighbourhood I grew up in, that was my world. I didn’t know it could be better and I didn’t know it could be worse.

Betsy smiled at Kathy, "You’re a bright girl with a lot more knowledge than I ever had growing up. I admit that this is very rough for me as well. I’m going to need your help and patience to make this work.

Do you think we can help each other through this? Let’s face it, love, we are all alone now and I really need you, Kathy.

For the first time in her life, Kathy felt like she was needed for something. She nodded with a smile.

Great, maybe you can help me with the dishes and afterwards I’ll help you unpack, Betsy said.

I don’t need help unpacking. I can do it myself but I’ll still help you do the dishes, Kathy said. She just wanted more time alone to get used to the situation.

The doorbell rang just as Betsy finished the last of her dinner. Kathy was able to manage a few mouthfuls but didn’t have much of an appetite.

Well, I wonder who that could be? Betsy said as she left the dinner table to answer the door.

Kathy sat at the table, not in the mood to meet or see any more people. She had seen enough that morning at the funeral. She could hear her grandmother speaking to someone, it sounded like another lady. Betsy’s tone appeared cheerful as she invited her guest in.

Kathy, come here please, I’d like you to meet someone, Betsy called out.

Standing in the hallway were Betsy’s neighbour, Carla, and her seven-year-old son, Tim. Carla looked to be almost fifty, around the same age as Betsy. She was a little plump and had a natural smile that looked like it always played on her face. Tim had been a surprise pregnancy. He had two older sisters, one was eighteen and in college already and another was seventeen and in her last year of high school. Tim’s father had died from cancer when he was only two years old. When Betsy’s husband died a little over two years ago from health problems related to his heavy drinking, Carla and she had bonded and become best friends.

Tim stood there looking at Kathy with the same wide, open smile his mom had. He was big for his age, tall and chunky. He had short, light brown hair and deep blue eyes and his bottom two front teeth were missing which made him look goofy, Kathy thought.

In contrast, Kathy was petite and shy. She had her father’s golden locks which were still tied in a ponytail from the morning. She had a round face and sad blue eyes which were accentuated by the actual pain she was feeling inside. Tim thought she looked fragile and scared as she kept her head down to avoid eye contact.

Well, aren’t you a beautiful little lady, Carla said as she walked over and knelt down to be level with Kathy.

Do you mind if I hug you? Carla asked as she spread her arms out invitingly. Kathy didn’t say anything, just kept her head down. People had been feeling sorry for her for the past three days and it hadn’t been making her feel any better, it just reminded her of her situation.

Carla wrapped her arms around her lovingly and whispered, You poor baby.

Come here, Tim, Carla said as she waved her son over.

Kathy, this is my son Timothy. We only live two doors down and anything you need, you can come over and we’ll help you. Isn’t that right? she said in a southern drawl as she turned to Tim.

Tim nodded and put his hand out to shake Kathy’s as he stared at her with his big goofy smile. Kathy wanted to