Restitution

By June Kelley Pierce

Mary’s teacher suddenly appeared as a few children began to stray from the straight line she had originally formed. She ushered the children back to their places until it was time to board their bus. Too many goddammed rules as far as I’m concerned, he thought. Mary seemed unconcerned with the rules for the most part, and he laughed when she twirled her skirt and bounced around anyway. She was some little tease! He could hardly breathe with excitement as he watched her. He’d been patient, waiting and watching, intent on her next move. Nervously, he began to pick his teeth with the toothpick he’d found on the seat. It wasn’t long before he dropped the toothpick, and his hand slid down to his zipper. Suddenly, he was aware that there was a knock on the driver’s side window. It startled the hell out of him and embarrassed him. His face turned bright red. He struggled to gain composure as he rolled down the window.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781532096488

June Kelley Pierce

June Kelley Pierce is a retired Special Education teacher with a Master’s Degree in both Education and Special Education. She also has as an Undergraduate Degree in Sociology and Psychology. A native of Northern New York, Pierce has made her home in the Mid-Hudson Valley. This is Pierce’s fifth novel. She has four others to her credit—her first book, Keeping Secrets, its sequel, Restitution, Misunderstood and Neglected Cries. In 2019, Pierce published her first book of poetry, Painful Truths: A Memoir in Verse. Two years later, Pierce published her firt book of short stories, If Only, a combined effort with her brother, Bill Kelley. She has also published a series of eight books for children, each focusing on a different social skill, along with a life-skills guide for parents and teachers on the topic o bullying. Pierce is a folk artist and restorer and has worked in the Hudson Valley for the past forty years.

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Copyright © 2020 June Kelley Pierce.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-9649-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9867-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9648-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020905613

iUniverse rev. date: 04/23/2020

Contents

Chapter One   The Plan

Chapter Two   Dora

Chapter Three   Fed up

Chapter Four   The Film Star

Chapter Five   Waiting and Wanting

Chapter Six   A Short Excursion

Chapter Seven   Healing

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine   Love Comes ’Round

Chapter Ten   Decisions Made

Chapter Eleven   Was Happiness possible?

Chapter Twelve   The Prize

Chapter Thirteen   Disappointment

Chapter Fourteen   The Interviewing Process

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen   A Home for Bella

Chapter Seventeen   Jimmy the Jerk

Chapter Eighteen   The Contract

Chapter Nineteen   Bella’s Introduction

Chapter Twenty   A meeting with Jimmy

Chapter Twenty-one   Scruffy comes home to Lenny

Chapter Twenty-two   A Piece to the Puzzle

Chapter Twenty-three   A Surprise Visit

Chapter Twenty-four   Scruffy’s Surprise

Chapter Twenty-five   Lenny Falls Ill

Chapter Twenty-six   A Disappointed Sherry

Chapter Twenty-seven   Meeting Lenny

Chapter Twenty-eight   Discovery

Chapter Twenty-nine   A Disguise Unveiled

Chapter Thirty   Investigating

Chapter Thirty-one   An Excuse

Chapter Thirty-two   Missing Sherry

Chapter Thirty-three   Following Lenny

Chapter Thirty-four   Lenny’s Surprise

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it

–Margaret Thatcher

CHAPTER ONE

THE PLAN

The doors flew open of Pine Grove Elementary School, and the flurry of excitement made Lenny’s eyes dance as he watched the third, fourth and fifth graders line up for their designated buses.

Lenny quickly parked his car where he was out of the bus lane. It was a stroke of luck to have such a good view of the children getting ready to catch the bus, but, more than that, for him, Lenny recognized an inner excitement of his own. This was his favorite parking spot, and he liked to come twenty minutes earlier than dismissal to secure it. For the last couple of months, it’d been his routine while on his mail route, since the first time he saw little Mary Sanders get out of the car with her mother. His eyes closed in remembrance of another girl, years ago, who resembled Mary in many ways, but that ended. This girl was different, though–more playful and carefree. She taunted him with her flirting and her sassy, take-charge attitude. Just the kind he liked, he thought, and he closed his eyes, while the familiar urge went through him.

Mary’s teacher suddenly appeared as a few children began to stray from the straight line she had originally formed. She ushered the children back to their places until it was time to board their bus. Too many goddammed rules as far as I’m concerned, he thought. Mary seemed unconcerned with the rules for the most part, and he laughed when she twirled her skirt and bounced around anyway. She was some little tease! He could hardly breathe with excitement as he watched her. He’d been patient, waiting and watching, intent on her next move. Nervously, he began to pick his teeth with the toothpick he’d found on the seat. It wasn’t long before he dropped the toothpick, and his hand slid down to his zipper. Suddenly, he was aware that there was a knock on the driver’s side window. It startled the hell out of him and embarrassed him. His face turned bright red. He struggled to gain composure as he rolled down the window.

Ya, whatta ya want? He said, sitting up straight, hoping his bravado would side-track the guard from Lenny’s initial intention.

Sir, if you’re here to pick up your child, then you’d better park in the A lot and sign the register with Mrs. Foster, the traffic guard said, looking straight at Lenny with her I mean business look!

All right then, I’ll do that, Lenny said, rolling up the window and revving his engine in recognition of what she had said. He spotted the A lot but had no intention of signing anything! Son of a bitch! I can’t see a damned thing from here! He shut the car off and jumped out to get a better view of where he would have to stand. Leaping over the curb, he boldly headed to where the buses were pulling in. Not to look too conspicuous, he began to talk to one of the bus drivers.

Hey, you look familiar; did you graduate with Davey Sutton from Aldrich High?

No, sorry, never heard of him; you from around here? I’m pretty new on the job—three months now, since I moved from Illinois. Don’t think I’ve seen you before. What luck, Lenny thought. The next thing he knew, the driver had turned to face him and began to talk, non-stop!

You picking up your daughter? he quizzed.

No-o-o, my niece. I’m Emery Dean, by the way. Just visiting my sister for a few weeks and thought I’d do her a favor. It’s nice to meet you! Lenny said enthusiastically, and they shook hands. Guess I’d better pay attention though or I’ll miss her.

Sure thing, the driver said, and Lenny turned his head toward Mary. Lenny pulled his cap down just above his eyes. He was feeling pretty good about his new phony name and his new bus driver friend–as long as he didn’t talk too much. He wondered if he should have come in a disguise of sorts and not just the cap. He’d have to think about that, but he had no intention of tracking Mary for too much longer. He’d have to be clever in the weeks to come until he had an opportunity to talk to little Mary, one on one. The traffic guard had looked at him with some concern. It didn’t help that he lost his temper and appeared curt. He’d be remembered for sure, now. Rules always get in the way!

I’ll be paying attention to more details in the future, he thought, as he laughed to himself, thinking of what he had planned for little Mary.

I guess my new bus driver friend got serious about his duties and began to usher children on the bus. Lenny took this opportunity to edge closer to where Mary was standing. He remembered to put his sunglasses on, and he looked up as she grabbed her bus driver’s hand and pranced up the steps. He walked quickly to his car and slid out of his parking spot in time to get behind the bus. There she was—looking out the window right at him, as his luck would have it! What a beauty! He waved, and she smiled back. Little tease! he thought. He didn’t know why, but those blondes with curly hair—he had to possess them; like little dolls, pulling at him, making him think about all the things he could do; if only he could have Mary for a few hours. He must, he thought. He will! He could hardly wait until the bus stopped at a red light; he dropped his hand to the front of his pants so no one would see the boner he’d gotten, just watching her bounce up the steps–and soon–into his arms.

Relief came but not satisfaction. Lenny licked his lips as he thought of each move he would make. She would love it and would love him because he was so lovable—of course. As Mary’s bus slowed down and came to a stop, he could see a young woman, who was obviously her mother, anxiously awaiting the bus. She looked uptight–a looker–but not his type. He suspected she was a rule-maker, not a rule-breaker. He’d had a lifetime of that and no more! He was in charge now.

As Mary was about to step off the bus, her mother closed in and blocked his vision.

Fuck! Get out of the way, Lenny said, exasperated, pounding the steering wheel.

Her Mom quickly kissed Mary on the head and walked her to the front door.

Soon, he thought—SOON!

CHAPTER TWO

DORA

It had been a long time since he’d had any fun, but Lenny couldn’t help but think that, with a little patience on his part, everything was about to change. He had a new plan that didn’t include his present situation.

He had taken in a woman who he thought might meet his needs and have room for potential. Dora wasn’t much to look at, but she was fun at first. She was up for anything, and there was the promise that she was going to get her kids from her ex-husband and they’d be one happy family, all living together– Dora, Lenny, and those two sweet looking little girls. They were the perfect ages– six and eight.

Five years later, Dora had gotten dumber and lazier, and he’d gotten sick of putting up with her shit. There’d been all kinds of promises that she’d get custody of her kids, but the months rolled on and every time a social worker visited their house, Dora was half in the bag, and all hope fell away. The courts closed the door on visitation with Dora’s drinking and unwillingness to help herself and attend AA. The last time she had to appear before family court, the social worker was upset with her drunken behavior at 10:30 in the morning. Dora had sneaked a couple of beers when Lenny was showering, and, by the time she arrived, she was slurring her words. Mrs. McKinny, her social worker, told her to clean up her act or she could forget about ever having her children back. Even her dirt-bag husband, Doug, looked like Mr. Clean compared to her. She was getting to be extra baggage, Lenny thought, and her hygiene was getting worse. It was becoming intolerable, and he was getting angrier by the minute.

You’re some fuckin’ mother, you are! Lenny said enraged. "Even my mother raised me when my father walked out on us, but you’re a worthless bitch and a drunk on top of that!" he told her, throwing the shoes he’d just tripped on at her head. They had just gotten home from court.

Hey! Stop that, Lenny! and she laughed as she took a swig of the last bottle of beer she’d been nursing.

Lenny–completely out of patience–grabbed her by the hair and, in her efforts to get away, she tripped and fell to the floor, screaming and crying.

That was the last beer! Damn you, Lenny! Stop it! You’re being a real bastard! He’d tried so many times to knock some sense into her, but she’d beg and cry and finally pass out or just lay there and let him hit her until he felt like stopping. Dora’s resistance to him made him all the angrier. Just looking at her made him want to pound the shit out of her, and so, he usually did. If nothing else, it gave him some relief. Afterwards, he’d shower, get into clean clothes and cruise the neighborhood until he’d calm down.

One of Dora’s big problems was that she was too easy, and now she was nothing more than a worn-out old hag. He needed someone young and fresh with a little fight, and he licked his lips and smiled.

Lenny returned an hour later, more content, but Dora interrupted his thoughts, and he noticed her whining had stopped.

Come on honey, lay down beside me; I’ll make you feel real good, she said and began to take her clothes off. He looked over at her with contempt. She’d stripped naked, lying on the bed–like that skinny hag was some kind of ‘come on’ or something!

Enough to make me puke, he thought, but he wasn’t getting it anywhere else right now, so why not? It was the only thing she was good for anyway!

He would think about little Mary, and, as he looked at Dora, he turned away in disgust. He thought only of how small and lively Mary was. But then, Dora called out and the next thing he knew she was unzipping his pants and he had a hard on. Dora was laughing, thinking she was responsible for it. He hated her for that! Quickly, he threw her down on the floor where he felt she belonged and slammed into her, knocking her head against the nightstand. She cried out, and he covered her mouth and gave her what she wanted. She was the lowest level of humanity! He took her in disgust to please himself. When he was finished, he rolled over and promised himself that tomorrow would be a new day. Looking at her drooling mouth and her scalp bleeding into her greasy hair he decided—this scenario was finished! Dora wouldn’t be leeching off him any longer.

Stupid, stupid bitch! He thought, as he sat in the chair next to the bed. Dora stayed very still for a while, and, then she slowly got up after a few minutes and staggered to the nightstand for her cigarettes. She sat on the edge of the bed and lit one. She touched the blood on her head and said nothing. Suddenly, she began to dance around the bedroom, laughing hysterically and Lenny’s head turned toward her. He wanted to stuff that cigarette down her throat and kill her right on the spot. She had no idea how close he came to doing just that. He’d had it. This was it! She had to go! He wanted her out of his life—dead, if he couldn’t do it any other way. He jumped up, and she jumped back, knowing his mood had gotten to a dangerous level. She would try to talk him down, appease him in some way….

W-what? Why’d you scare me like that? she said, taking a big puff and leaning against the dresser.

Pick up all this shit you’ve got laying around this place. You’re some mother-fuckin’ slob, you know that? he said.

Stop pickin’ on me, Lenny. You hurt me! Didn’t I make you feel good…didn’t I honey? Dora said, but as she started toward him, he stood up and gave her a good backhand, that sent her reeling against the dresser, and she nearly fell over.

Jeezus, Lenny…what’s your problem, anyway? she said. stubbing out her cigarette in her hand and tossing it on the dresser.

"What’s my problem? You’re a drunken slob and you’ve got your shit all over the place! I can’t stand this god-dammed mess with dishes always in the sink from the morning before. What in hell do you do all day anyway for Christ’s sake? This whole place smells like a chimney with all the smoking you do. Give me those cigarettes!" he said, as he grabbed the pack off the nightstand near the bed. She lunged forward to get them out of his hands, but he was too strong and fast for her. Lenny laughed at her struggle and, then, violently pushed her out of his way. Knocking her hard this time against the door, she fell to the floor with a thud!

Lenny never looked back as he went to the kitchen and crumpled up her cigarettes into the trash. He could hear her stupid begging in the background, and it droned on and on. All he could think of was how he’d like to drag her ass out and kick it good. In fact, he’d like to tie her to the sink and make her do the dishes, but he didn’t want to even touch her –NO! He’d do the goddammed dishes and replace the dishcloth and towel.

Lenny collapsed on the couch for a few minutes when he finished, more relaxed. He’d gotten himself in some damned fix, letting Dora freeload off him for this long, but that was just about coming to a finish now.

He thought back to the last time he felt like this and he’d tried to slap some sense into her, hoping she would leave, but, instead, she fell down the stairs. He panicked, thinking he had killed her. He slapped her face and even found himself putting cool cloths on her head, but she didn’t come to for over an hour. He was both disappointed and relieved. He’d never killed anyone with his bare hands but wanted to many times. Of course, he had killed animals—the weak, wimpy ones, that would have been killed anyway, and he had to admit, there was a thrill to the kill, but, more so, to the chase.

Dumb bitch! he thought, as he remembered that day. At first, she lay there, and he got madder and madder that she might be trying to fool him. His foot flew to her ribs, and he gave her several hard kicks to the side. She still didn’t move. So, he sat in a chair and let her lay there, as he tried to