The Serpent and the Walking Stick 2: Book 2

By Lucille Delgado Bridges

The saga continues for the Delgado family, and the battle between good and evil had taken a deadly turn. Only a miracle can help this unfortunate family to recover from the evil that had overtaken them from every direction. Even more incredible miracles from God will be brought to life as witnessed by the author in book 2 and the final episode. This unbelievable true story will shake the ground beneath you and leave you stumbling with anger and a need for revenge. There are many lessons to be learned about the what ifs in life. And why we should always trust our instincts when danger leaves us with no escape. You will find yourself laughing out loud over some of the bizarre and unimaginable turn of events. You will also realize that God does have a sense of humor and a way of getting His point across as a warning for those who choose to harm the innocent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781643495415

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The Serpent and the Walking Stick 2

Book 2

Lucille Delgado Bridges

ISBN 978-1-64349-540-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64349-542-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64349-541-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2018 by Lucille Delgado Bridges

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Life at the Farm

Some Angels Have Paws

The Ultimate Sacrifice

A Damaged Life

The Healing

The Demons Within

Miami, Florida

Stormy Days

Sent from Heaven

Pandora’s Box Opened

Be careful of the negative facts told in front of your children.

They may one day write a book about it.

God loves the dysfunctional family.

It gives Him something to work with.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Whom, without His grace and mercy, I would not have lived.

He loves and protects us not because of who we are but because it’s who He is!

Amen

This book is written in the honor and memory of:

The additional memory of man’s best friends:

Tippy (1958)

Cracker Jack (1958)

Susie (1959)

Lady (1959)

Prince aka Killer (1961)

Missy (1961)

Pete-a-wheat (1963)

Although many of those listed above have long past away, along with others described in this book, their memory will forever be archived between the pages of

The Serpent and the Walking Stick.

From the Author

In this final episode of The Serpent and the Walking Stick 2 , it will no doubt affect you in such a way as to leave you wondering how anyone could endure such a life. As the author, both seeing and living this true life story, it still leaves me stunned but not shaken.

It hasn’t been easy bringing my past back to life again. It was a difficult eight years spent in writing this book, and another eight years prior to its creation. I have to give God all the credit for helping me through the most critical chapters and bringing this dynamic and complicated puzzle together. Amazingly, I could feel His presence with me as I pecked at my computer key board in search for the right words.

I don’t see myself as a writer and have never looked at myself as ever being an author of anything. I have no degree, have never finished school and have not formally progressed beyond my ninth-grade education for a diploma. I believe this unbelievable life I had experienced, and the constant presence of my Lord and His many miracles, must not be kept a secret any longer.

I have no children, and my branch on our family tree ends with me. This book was only intended to be a record for my siblings’ children from the very beginning and for their heritage. I had never intended to get this book published until after the passing of my four siblings and niece; all in only three years.

Fortunately, my Lord intended for The Serpent and the Walking Stick to be brought to the public for all to know that He is still in control and will always be. It was the power of the Lord which had inspired me to publish this oversized two-part novel.

It seemed like Satan would work overtime in his attempt to stop this book from ever being finished. I had endured three computers crashing, and the last one only the day after this book was finished, and enough copies were successfully burned to disk before all was lost.

This is my very first and, most likely, my last attempt at writing. I wish to thank CFP Publishing, Literary Agent: Justine Muller, Publication Specialist: Seth Oakman, Editing Department, Typeset Artist, Artist and Cover Design and the many specialists involved in bringing this book to you. I thought I would have to endure a long list of rejections, but my first attempt was with CFP, and they welcomed me with open arms.

I hope you had a chance to read book 1, as this is a continuation of this heart-pounding saga that, I promise, will not disappoint you.

1

Life at the Farm

Alma was taken to a doctor in Saginaw to see if she could be helped for her depression and irritability. Louis was afraid of what the diagnosis would be, but they were prepared to deal with whatever the doctor would find and hoped that it wouldn’t end up being a tragic end for Alma.

Being deaf since she was an infant had resorted in a tragically difficult life for Alma. She was never able to understand many of the normal and common changes in her surroundings or even her own body, like most other individuals. But today, she was happy, and she was sure that life was only going to get better for her.

Alma enjoyed the peace and tranquility of living on their forty acres in Michigan’s dense forestlands near Marion Springs. She was glad their neighbors were not within sight of their newly built block home. She never felt comfortable around people and especially around strangers who were not her immediate family. She didn’t even feel safe or comfortable around her family either. She sadly remembered her early life as a child, growing up in her abusive home with her parents. Sadly, her life had gotten even more abused when she was forced into an arranged marriage to a man she had never met or knew anything about.

She thought back on how much her life had changed for the better when she had met Louis. I am the luckiest woman alive having Louis, she thought as she sat at the giant dining table occupying the majority of the room, sipping on a cup of coffee.

She loved her new strong house and finally felt safe from any tornado or floodwaters that would destroy this one, like the last two homes they had.

They still haven’t been able to save enough money to have the power lines brought to their home, and living without electricity didn’t bother her as much as it did their children. She wished their neighbors would sign the easement forms to allow the power company to tie into their power pole so they could have electricity also, if only for Christmas.

She would be glad when Lucille got home from school. She didn’t know why she always felt the safest whenever her youngest daughter was around. Most of the children had moved back to Saginaw where life was more civilized or they got married. Betty was away most of the time with her new job babysitting for a couple of school teachers whose children were too young to attend school or got home before their parents.

Lucille was more like her and preferred to be a hermit and didn’t seem to need the social life, like her older siblings. After Lucille’s kidnapping with her sister and two brothers only three years ago, she seemed to have aged beyond her years. Her near-death experience with her tonsillectomy last year had only enhanced things even more.

I wish I understood God and had learned how to read and write. Maybe I will be able to understand all of the reasons why they are all still alive today, thought Alma. I’m so glad that we had moved out here and away from all of the dangers that had once plagued us near that Tittabawassee River.

Life here would be perfect if only Diana hadn’t married Leo. I wish he would just go away and get out of all of our lives forever, thought Alma as she patiently waited for Lucille to come rushing through the door any minute now.

When Lucille returned home from school, she found her mother sitting at the ginormous dining table and smiling widely with an oriental cone of incense burning in an ornate holder in the center of the table. Large beads of perspiration had formed on her mother’s face, and she was delighted in her misery from her severe hot flash.

Look at me! Motioned Alma happily when she pointed to the perspiration running down her face.

What’s wrong with you? Lucille asked.

It’s called menopause, and it’s normal for women to go through this at her age, replied Louis as he happily emerged from their bedroom with a huge smile on his face.

Lucille didn’t understand the meaning of that word and why they were both so happy over it. Her mother was burning up with what appeared to be a very high fever, and she could only remember her fever of 113 that had landed her in the county hospital in a coma and quarantine.

Louis could see the concern in his daughter’s eyes and the lack of understanding that had left Lucille very confused over this new situation with her mother.

The doctor said that your mother is going to be just fine, and all of her problems will be a thing of the past in due time, stated Louis with a big smile.

Why does she have that good-smelling stuff in that little holder smoking up the place? Lucille asked.

It’s called incense, and the doctor said that it will help your mother to feel better. He called it aroma therapy, and it does make the house smell good, stated Louis.

Lucille was happy to learn that her mother was not a candidate who was fixing to be locked up over what the family had to endure for the past few years, and this was considered to be normal. She began to wonder if perhaps her grandmother was going through this thing called menopause and that was why she was always so mean. She decided that it wasn’t menopause but just sheer meanness, which was her problem.

Alma did get better, and the weight gain that was a big part of her depression had become a minor concern. Louis would keep Alma in her favorite incense, and it was always such a pleasure to come home from work or school each day to be greeted with the wonderful floral fragrance of the orient. Louis had also bought Alma a beautiful large black forest cuckoo clock as a trophy for recovering from her severe depression. She seemed to be both happy and relieved to learn that she was not losing her mind and that life was a good thing after all.

Alma treasured her new cuckoo clock, which annoyed Lucille to no end whenever the little blue bird would make its noisy appearance on the hour-and-half hour.

Lucille was happy that Betty came home to stay for a while. She will be going back to her babysitting job when that family had time to fix up a separate room for Betty, and she wouldn’t have to sleep on the sofa anymore. Up until then, life had been lonely for Lucille, and she would manage to stay busy working on clearing the land, and in time, it was beginning to take on the appearance of a well-manicured park. At least around the house, she would always keep Susie and Lady’s graves neat and orderly with fresh wildflowers whenever she could.

Hey, BB, do you want to go squirrel hunting after we finish our chores? asked Lucille with excitement in being able to take any gun she wanted without permission. Her father never got the chance to teach Lucille how to shoot the shotgun or rifle. She taught herself by watching and learning from Joe and Junior whenever possible. Although he did take the time to teach her how to break down the weapons, clean, oil, and reassemble them carefully. This she didn’t enjoy as much as hunting, but she understood that this was a very important part of being a responsible gun owner and user.

No, I can’t shoot squirrels with my 30-30! It will blow a hole clean through them, and there will be nothing left to cook! Betty replied with a proud grin for having the privilege of owning such a powerful rifle as her new Marlin.

You can use one of the other guns and leave your Marlin at home. Better yet, why don’t we take your Marlin into the woods and do some target practice. You have owned that gun for over a month now, and you are yet to fire it! replied Lucille.

I don’t want to, and I want to keep it new, stated Betty with a look of disapproval at her little sister for even suggesting that she should shoot her new rifle.

I believe you’re afraid of your own rifle! said Lucille.

No I’m not, and I can shoot it whenever I want! I just don’t want to shoot it now. So back off! shouted Betty, and she walked away and left Lucille standing alone in the middle of the backyard.

Oh, yes, you are afraid of it! stated Lucille, and she knew that Betty didn’t hear her. But she felt good about getting the last word in, even if no one heard it except herself.

Lucille followed Betty into the house, and they finished their remaining chores in sweeping the floors. They didn’t mind sweeping and mopping the floors after their father had finished laying their black-and-white checkerboard vinyl floor tile that their mother had chosen to go inside their lipstick-pink house with the dark forest green interior walls.

Joe and Junior said that they would be home today and will be staying for the whole weekend. Maybe we can all go hunting together this afternoon when they get here, stated Lucille with excitement over the entire family being together again.

We’ll see when they get here, replied Betty.

An hour later, Joe and Junior arrived with their cousin Don from Saginaw. They hadn’t seen any of their cousins in months, and it was a real treat to learn that Don had brought his new shotgun that his father had bought him last Christmas. Lucille was disappointed that she no longer had a gun to go hunting with, but it was fun just being with everyone in the woods. There were several missed shots at a squirrel or two, and no animals were harmed that day.

Hey, Betty, put your hands up! shouted Don as he put the end of his shotgun at Betty’s stomach and squeezed the trigger.

Everyone’s heart stopped as a reaction to the unexpected and irresponsible act! Betty paled and began to physically tremble and tried desperately to hold back her tears from being surprised and frightened.

Lucille began to yell at Don for being so stupid in pointing his shotgun at her sister and squeezing the trigger. You stupid fool. Didn’t your dad ever teach you to never point a gun at anyone? If I was your dad, I would take it away from you and sell it! shouted Lucille, and she didn’t care if he never liked her again.

Don’t get your dander up! It’s empty, and I shot the last shell at that red fox squirrel a few minutes ago and never reloaded when we decided to stop hunting.

Joe and Junior were both angry at Don for what he had done, and Junior took the shotgun away from him to see for himself. When he opened the shotgun, he found a shell jammed in the firing chamber, and it could have easily went off and killed Betty that very moment.

Asshole! shouted Betty, and she took Lucille by the hand and left their two brothers arguing with Don in the woods. They would never hunt with anyone else again and had learned a valuable lesson in assuming that all gun owners knew what they were doing when it came to handling a gun. Betty never got to fire her 30-30 Marlin that day, and Lucille felt that her sister was pleased about that. They both agreed that it was a miracle from God that Don’s shotgun had jammed, and Betty’s life was spared that day.

Joe and Junior drove Don back to Saginaw, and he never returned to hunt again. But their friendship as cousins didn’t end, and everyone was sure that Don had learned his lesson that day also.

Alma had made a large pitcher of Kool-Aid in anticipation of having all of her children home for the weekend. Kool-Aid was a real treat, and even if they didn’t have any ice to cool it. Having anything with sugar in it was a welcome change, and Betty would always add a couple of extra spoons in her glass to make it stick to her taste glands.

It’s warm in here, and let’s take our drinks outside, suggested Lucille, and when they got out the door, Betty tripped on the end board on the back porch and stumbled into the yard. She kept her balance and didn’t fall. But she did manage to spill her entire glass of oversweetened Kool-Aid into the dirt.

Come on, I will help you build another glass of liquid sugar, stated Lucille, laughing at Betty’s clumsiness. They were determined to turn this day into something other than the disaster that started with hunting with the boys.

They sat quietly on the two tree stumps located in the backyard that was commonly used for splitting wood, decapitating chickens, or to just sit on when suddenly they saw the most beautiful butterfly land in the red sugar-stained sand left by Betty’s spilled drink.

Oh, wow! Will you look at the size of that butterfly! I have never seen anything like it! It’s as tall as a dinner plate standing on end! said Lucille in awe at the sight of such a rare and unusual find.

I’m going to catch it because no one would ever believe us if we told them how big that butterfly is! stated Betty, and she slowly got up from the stump and began to carefully approach the giant butterfly. When she came within reach, it swiftly flew up over the tall treetops and out of sight.

Dang, I’ll bet we could have sold that thing for a fortune! Maybe even for enough money to build Mom a real kitchen and an indoor bathroom! said Lucille with disappointment.

I don’t believe that butterfly would bring that much money! replied Betty.

That is a monarch butterfly, and they don’t normally get anywhere near that size! replied Lucille, and she wondered what freak of nature would cause a common butterfly to reach such an enormous size.

They were both sick over missing the catch-of-a-lifetime when twenty minutes later, another enormous butterfly was seen on the sweet red spot in the sand.

Look, Betty, this is freaky! said Lucille when the two girls saw another dinner-plate-size butterfly." But this one was not the monarch that had paid them a visit earlier. The magnificent black swallowtail, with its colorful blue smudge and white spots, was joyfully fanning its wings up and down.

Let me get this one. You missed that last one, and I’m not going to let this one get away! whispered Lucille, but it too flew away before she could get within ten feet of it.

The two girls agreed that there was something mysterious about this area, and they would have to make it a point to check out these woods more carefully.

If the butterflies are that big, I wonder how big the bears are around here? suggested Betty.

I don’t know, but I’m not going into those woods without a gun and a knife from now on! said Lucille.

For the next two days, they watched for the ginormous butterflies to return. But they never saw them again, and they would soon learn that the butterflies were not the only freaky giants that inhabited the dense forest that surrounded them.

A few months had passed and Lucille was surprised to come home from school and find that they had another dog. Isn’t that Uncle Art and Aunt Mary Lou’s dog outside? asked Lucille.

Yes, and she is our dog now. Her name is Missy, and their children had abused her so badly that they were going to take her to the dog pawn place and get rid of her. Motioned Alma.

I don’t want any more watchdogs! They will only end up dead like all of the rest of our dogs, and we have Pete-a-wheat, and what do we need with another dog? shouted Lucille.

She is my dog, and I couldn’t see her being put into a cage and locked away! She reminded me of myself, and I had to rescue her from the same kind of abuse that your father have saved me from. All she needs is love and someone to understand her, and she will be a good family dog. Is that too much to ask for? I will take care of Missy myself, and you won’t have to bother with her! Motioned Alma with a tone of anger.

I’m sorry, Mom. No, it’s not too much to ask for, and I will take care of her for you. I guess I still miss Cracker Jack, Tippy, Susie, and Lady, and I’m just being selfish now, replied Lucille sadly and feeling guilty for upsetting her mother, and she walked out the door to get acquainted with their new dog.

Missy was temporarily tied to a large tree in the backyard, and when she saw Lucille approaching her, she quickly hid behind the tree. Lucille stopped a short distance away and began to call her out from behind the tree. Here, Missy, come here, Missy, she called out.

The young black and tan German shepherd reluctantly came out from behind the tree and began to crawl on the ground toward her new master with her tail tucked tightly under her. Well, hello, Missy. My name is Lucille, and I’m going to be taking care of you for my mother. She seems to think that we need another dog, but I think she is wrong.

When Lucille reached down to pet the top of Missy’s head, she immediately responded with ducking her head away and pinning her ears tightly to her head as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Wow! You really have been abused! I’m not going to hit you, so you don’t have anything to worry about in that department. All you have to worry about is how you are going to manage to stay alive around here, stated Lucille as she sat down on the ground beside the frightened dog and continued to gently stroke the top of her head and speaking in a soft and soothing voice. Lucille would give Missy a treat of a dry nugget of dog food to help reinforce a link of trust between them.

Every day Lucille would work with Missy. It took nearly two weeks for Missy to finally be convinced that she was not going to get slapped or kicked. With a lot of patience and understanding, Missy would no longer crawl along the ground, squint her eyes shut, or lie on her back and expose her belly and throat, as a gesture of submission to Lucille. She now knew the meaning of love and being loved. It was difficult to understand how anyone could abuse an innocent animal.

She learned that Missy was a Christmas gift to her cousins when she was only a young puppy. The boys wanted a hunting dog and were disappointed in getting a German shepherd puppy instead. Her abuse started that very Christmas morning and never ended until she was given a new home with the Delgado’s and a family that would love and care for her. Missy never knew how to play in the long first twelve months of her life, and she was reluctant to tumble in the grass with Lucille.

Pete-a-wheat’s overexuberance in play could no longer be ignored, and Missy quickly joined in. She soon realized that she would not be punished for having fun. Chasing and play wrestling with her young master was expected of her, and she found enjoyment in this kind of physical contact sport. She didn’t like to cower away and to always feel like she must crawl to her former master’s with her tail tucked tightly under her. She remembered how she would always get yelled at, slapped or kicked if she didn’t. But her new master would only praise her and would give her a treat when she didn’t cower or crawl, and this was confusing to her. She loved her new home and this family who had shown her a new way of life, a good life, and a life that she could only dream about and now is a reality and she would be forever grateful.

Lucille enjoyed hunting, now that all of their rabbits had disappeared, and the only meat served anymore was chicken in soup. She decided to go hunting for squirrels or, hopefully, a rabbit, just to have a change of eating something different. When she returned home from school, she noticed the large crew from the Consumer Power and Light Company was busy cutting down a wide section of their trees to make a path for the power poles and line to come through. She was happy to finally be able to have electricity at last.

Missy was excited when her young master had returned home from school so she could go hunting. She enjoyed going into the woods and track game for her new best friend and had become a very valuable hunting companion to Lucille.

Come on, Missy, let’s go hunting, said Lucille after changing into her hunting clothes. She was dressed in her red flannel shirt and warm blue jeans tucked into her knee-high oversized boots that was laced to the top. She filled a quart jar with water and screwed the lid tightly on it before tying it to her belt around her waist and a red bandana around her neck for emergencies. She would often tie the bandana around her upper leg just above the knee when it was too hot out to wear around her neck. Her dad told her to always be prepared, and a bandana could be a lifesaver if a tourniquet was ever needed. She was so disappointed when her dad gave her the large boots that he had bought at St. Vincent DePaul’s used store for her.

But with a little newspaper tucked into the toes, she realized that she would one day grow into the brown leather boots. She took her loose hair and piled it on top of her head before putting the red cap on to hold her hair in place. She carefully loaded the .410 shotgun and headed out the back door. She passed by the mirror on the wall just above the wash pan resting on top of the dresser in the kitchen and realized that she no longer looked like a girl. She could easily be mistaken for a boy, although she didn’t care because she was going to hunt in the opposite direction from where the linemen were working on the tree removal. She never had to worry about running into anyone in their woods, so she didn’t put much effort into her appearance. And at nine years old, she didn’t really care.

She was lucky and had managed to bag two squirrels for supper. She knew that her father would be happy with her for bleeding them both with her pocketknife before tying them to her belt. She had managed to work her way to the back west corner of their forty acres, and she was now hot and tired. Lucille would just take the shortcut home and cross the area where the power company crew was working.

Hey, little boy! shouted one of the men when he spotted Lucille walking home with her squirrels and shotgun in hand.

Lucille stopped when she was called and politely acknowledged him. She didn’t like being called a little boy, but she realized that they had no way of knowing that she wasn’t a boy. She was too tired to get into any conversation, and she needed to get home and skin the two squirrels for supper.

I see you are a hunter, and would you like for us to build you a hunting blind with all of these big tree branches for the wild rabbits and game to hide in? With a couple of small game blinds, you won’t have to traipse all over these woods in search of rabbits to hunt! said the nice workman.

Oh, yes, and that would be great! We sometimes get tired of eating chicken and squirrels all the time, and we all like rabbit a lot more than squirrel meat! replied Lucille, and she took her bandana off from around her neck to wipe the perspiration from her brow. A cool breeze came rushing at her through the cleared path, and she quickly removed her cap to let the refreshing dry air rush over her head. Suddenly, her growing dark hair fell past her shoulders blowing in the breeze. She hesitated and brushed her hair from her face before tying the moist bandana to her thigh and over her faded jeans instead of her neck.

Hey, that’s not a boy. It’s a little girl! shouted the second workman standing next to the large truck.

Well, little girl, we will build you a blind that will last you several years! In one year, you will be surprised at how many rabbits will be living in there, stated the first man with a big smile.

Thank you, sir. I could use all of the help I can get, Lucille replied and ran away toward her house. She was excited about the new small game blind that the workman was going to build her, and she couldn’t wait to tell her dad the good news!

Hey, I see you have a new dog! I sure hope that this one doesn’t die from lead poisoning like all of the rest of your dogs! said Leo as he began to approach Lucille sitting in the backyard with Pete-a-wheat and Missy lying beside her.

I can shoot a shotgun and rifle as good as you or anyone can now! So you better not ever think about shooting Missy, or you could get the same treatment back in return! shouted Lucille with anger at Leo for his hated remark concerning Missy and also by making his unannounced appearance much too often.

What makes you think that I would waste a bullet on that coward? You should get yourself a real watchdog instead of one that would hide in the bushes and watch you get ripped off instead, stated Leo laughingly.

No one was aware of Louis standing behind them. He was pleased to see Lucille taking an interest in Missy, and he didn’t want Leo to spoil it for her.

Hi, Dad, I didn’t hear you coming, said Lucille, and she would always be surprised at how quietly her father could walk up behind someone without being heard. Even in the fall, when the dry and brittle leaves had all fallen, he could move through the forest undetected when hunting small game, she thought to herself.

Your sister is in the house, and she was asking about you. You should go inside and say hello to her, stated Louis.

Yes, Dad, she replied and headed toward the house with Missy and Pete-a-wheat close at her heels.

Now that we are alone, it’s a good time to get a few things off my chest. For some reason, Lucille feels that you are responsible for shooting Susie and Lady. I have tried to convince her that she may be wrong, but now I’m beginning to have second thoughts about it. I don’t want to believe that a family member would do such an evil thing as that to another family member. If Missy should end up getting shot to death, just like our other three dogs, then I would have to believe that you were indeed responsible for the killings and the theft. I don’t want my little girl to get hurt anymore, and I hope you will understand why I am telling you this. If Missy should die by any other way than natural causes, well then, I will be holding you responsible for her death, and you will be forever banished from this family. I will no longer pay your electric bills when the power company turns your lights off or bring food for you and your family when your cupboard is bare. I will also sell the old house that you are now living in rent free, and you will have to take your family somewhere else to live, stated Louis with a disgusted look on his face.

I had nothing to do with shooting your damn dogs! Don’t go around pointing your finger at me without any proof! If you want a good watchdog, then I will get you one! shouted Leo in return.

I’m not asking for another watchdog! I’m only trying to keep the one that we have alive! Just remember what I have told you, and as long as Missy stays alive, then you will have nothing to worry about. Louis had said all that he needed to say to Leo, and he turned away and walked back into the house.

Lucille had overheard the entire conversation between her father and Leo through the screened door. She was glad to learn that Missy was now safe for the time being. She knew that Leo wouldn’t risk losing her father’s support, and having to get a job was the last thing on his agenda.

Hey, Diana, did you notice anything different around here? asked Betty with excitement.

Yeah, I see you had gotten another dog. Now I can rest better, knowing that you have some protection out here in these boondocks, replied Diana.

Well, that’s true! But that’s not it! We have electricity, and I thought that you would have noticed it by now! stated Betty.

Hey, this is great! When did this happen? asked Diana with surprise.

They did it all this week. They ran the power line in and voila—let there be light! After going for over a year without any power, our neighbors to the west had let the power company tie into their lines. They realized that we have been living without any electricity for all this time and didn’t know it. They thought that we had tied into our neighbor’s line from the east since they never heard anymore from the power company. Now I can’t wait until Christmas! Just so we can decorate the tree with real lights once again, stated Betty.

Yeah, and our neighbors seem like nice people. Mrs. Pretzer is going to have a baby, and she is so excited. Maybe Mom and Dad will let me babysit for them, so I can earn some money too. But I only wish they would tie their dog up when they go away. Because that thing scares me every time I have to walk past their house on my way home from school, stated Lucille.

That big ole collie doesn’t scare me! He never comes onto the road, and he will always stop at the edge of their property. It’s almost like that dog thinks there is an invisible fence there, and he can’t cross through it, replied Betty.

Well, I’m not going to worry about that dog anymore. All I know is that life can only get better now that we have electricity again! I love it here, and I don’t ever want to move! I’m going to spend the rest of my life here! I like it at the edge of the world, and I can shoot Dad’s guns without having to worry about hitting someone’s house or some neighbor! Life is great, and I only wish we had moved here sooner! stated Lucille with excitement.

Life was fun once again at the Farm now that school had started. Betty and Lucille would often spend the weekend with Diana and the children. Leo was rarely at home on weekends, and that was the way they preferred it. Diana began to suspect that her husband was seriously cheating on her, and her suspicions were later confirmed by a former girlfriend. Her jealousy had soon diminished, and she found herself wishing that he would move out of the house for good and ask her for a divorce, but unfortunately that day would never come.

Diana was constantly complaining about the mice in their house. So Lucille made it a point to catch as many snakes as she could find and turned them loose under their house.

The snakes had always taken care of the mice problem when we lived here. That was until the last flood had washed them all away, stated Lucille, and she was glad to help in any way she could.

I wish you hadn’t put all of those snakes under our house! If the mice can find their way into this house, then so could those snakes! Don’t tell Leo about those snakes under the house, or he would have a fit. When he is unhappy, I’m always on the receiving end of his fists, and he is terrified of them, and so am I, said Diana.

They won’t come into the house. Have you ever seen any snakes in the house before? asked Lucille.

No, but that doesn’t mean they won’t start coming in, replied Diana.

Just trust me, and you will see that the mice will all disappear, stated Lucille.

I just don’t understand why you have never been afraid of those long and slimy snakes when everyone else is, stated Diana.

They’re not slimy! I will go out and bring you one to hold, and you can see for yourself.

No . . . no don’t do that! I will just take your word on that! replied Diana as she shivered at the thought of touching a snake.

No one knew that the simple act of putting the snakes under the house would one day reveal an important key to learning the deep, dark secrets and capabilities that lay beneath Leo’s dangerous surface.

Hey, Betty, guess what. I found something that will really blow you away! stated Lucille, and she could hardly contain herself any longer.

What did you find? Betty asked, and she was curious because she had never seen her little sister this excited, not even at Christmas.

Come on, I’ll have to take you there because no words could ever describe what I am about to show you, and we will have to keep it a secret for now! stated Lucille as she took Betty by the hand, and they both ran out the front door and rushed eastward down the long and dusty Ithaca Road. They turned a sharp right onto an old hunter’s trail that stopped abruptly and only a short distance from the main dirt road.

Lucille, we have been here a dozen times, and there is nothing exciting on this old trail, stated Betty with a look of disappointment in her eyes.

Well, that’s what I thought until Missy chased a squirrel into those thick bushes just over that little hill over there, stated Lucille while she pointed at an impassable route through the thick underbrush.

We will need a machete to get through that! stated Betty.

No, we won’t. Come on and follow me, stated Lucille when she lifted the thin branch of thick leaves to reveal a passage that led down an eight-to-ten-foot-deep clearing. In the center of the large cleared area was the largest tree trunk that the girls had ever seen. The massive roots that extended from the base of the trunk were raised approximately four feet above the ground.

Wow, how did you ever find this tree? It is totally hidden below the ground level, and the end of the limbs looks like a thick mass of impassable bushes from above ground! stated Betty with her mouth open wide with surprise.

Like I told you, I didn’t find it. Missy did! Have you ever seen anything so big? Just look at those branches. They are bigger around than any tree trunk in Michigan, and each of them must be at least sixty or seventy feet long or more! This tree is so big and heavy that it had just sunk into the ground, and it looks like the end of the roots had pushed the dirt upward and made the little hill that goes all around the whole outside edge and above ground level! stated Lucille, and she was still in awe of the massive tree.

Do you think this is one of those unexplainable giant freaky things, like those two butterflies? I mean look at this thing! stated Betty after she climbed on top of the huge root and placed her arms outward in an effort to hug the trunk of the giant freak.

Lucille climbed atop the root next to Betty and stretched her arms outward and touched Betty’s fingertips with her own. Look, we barely made a dent in circling the circumference of this tree! I believe it would take six or eight men, fingertip to fingertip to go around it!

I wonder why no one had found it from the air. I’m sure some small plane had flown over this forest at one time or another, and someone would have certainly seen it from above, stated Betty.

I had thought about that myself and had come to the conclusion that it’s not that much taller than all of the other trees in this forest because it is so deep below ground level. From above, it probably looks like a whole cluster of trees instead of only one ginormous tree! This place never fails to amaze me, and it feels almost magical to sit under this tree. Look, there are only dead leaves under here, and there are no other trees or weeds of any kind growing under its canopy! said Lucille as she sat down on the lower end of a root and looked up at the massive branches that canopied over them. I have been here a few times with Pete-a-wheat and Missy, and I just couldn’t wait for you to come home so I could show it to you!

We should name this tree! Maybe we should call it the hanging tree! stated Betty.

No, I doubt if anyone had been hung from this tree. I wonder how old it is. Perhaps we should give it a magical or mystical name. I wish I knew what this tree may have seen over the hundreds of years that it had been here. Maybe we should call it the witness tree because if it could talk, I’ll bet it would have plenty to say! stated Lucille before she realized and made known to her sister that perhaps this tree isn’t as old as it looks.

You are right. This tree may be no older than any of the other trees in this strange forest. Remember those freaky giant butterflies? I don’t think they were old, and they grew huge! There must be something that is making the insects and this tree grow into giants, stated Betty with a hint of fear in her expression.

Yeah, and I think we better get out of here! We should go home and arm ourselves! said Lucille, laughing at her statement as they were in no hurry to leave.

Lucille didn’t like having to go to Saginaw to babysit for Diana. It was going to be a long weekend, and she would rather stay at the Farm and work all day instead of having to deal with Leo.

Louis would always feel that Diana would only be safe with Leo on a weekend if one or more of her younger siblings were around.

Lucille reluctantly said goodbye to her mother and the two dogs before climbing into the car with her dad. He was going to drop her off at Diana’s house before going to the hardware to pick up a few supplies.

Like always, Leo was drunk, and Lucille wondered who he had ripped off in order to be able to buy the beer that he seemed to always have around. Before the sun would set, a fight would always start with Diana, and Lucille would have to stop it with either a knife or a baseball bat in her clutches. On this particular day, it was a cast iron skillet that had sent Leo fleeing out the back door!

Leo won’t be back tonight, and he will most likely stay gone for a week. So I don’t think that you have anything to worry about, stated Lucille with a smile.

He will be here tomorrow because Hockey is supposed to come and pick him up at noon. They are supposed to go to the fights, and Leo won’t miss that on a bet, replied Diana sadly.

We will just have to deal with him tomorrow and let’s hope that he had sobered up, and I will keep this skillet handy as a reminder! Just in case he had forgotten! Smiled Lucille.

Diana was busy in the kitchen cleaning up the breakfast dishes, while Lucille was putting the dishes away when Hockey’s car pulled up and parked.

Dang! I have lost track of the time! Is it noon already? asked Diana as she rushed to the window and noticed that Pat and their two small sons were coming toward the steps, followed by Hockey.

Lucille liked Pat, and little Hockey Junior was anxious to go into the den to play with Pancho. Well, hello, Lucille. It has been a couple of years since our last meeting. You certainly haven’t changed much except in height, stated Pat with a smile as she pulled up a chair and sat down.

It’s good to see you again, replied Lucille.

I can’t stop thinking about how you had bloodied Leo up that day, and he sure got what was coming to him! Was that the last time you have had to put him in his place? asked Pat with a big grin on her face.

No, actually it wasn’t, replied Lucille.

You’re awful quiet, Hockey. What in the world had happened to you? Did you get into an accident or something? asked Diana with concern when she noticed the great multitude of cuts and bruises on his face, hands, and arms.

No, it was no accident, and I’m sure Pat will tell you all about it after we leave. He shyly looked away and walked toward the door to meet Leo.

What in the hell happened to you? shouted Leo, pointing to his swollen black eye and the many injuries that Hockey could never conceal.

I don’t want to talk about it! Hockey replied.

Did you go back to that bar after we all had left last night and get into a rumble without me? Leo was curious and wanted to know all of the details on who Hockey had tangled with last night. He knew that Hockey was no small fry and could handle himself if pushed.

No, I didn’t go back to that bar! stated Hockey.

Then let’s get going, being you don’t want to talk about it so we can get a good parking spot. Red wants everyone to park behind the barn this time. If there is no more room there, then we will have to drive back into the woods behind his place and walk in. He doesn’t want to draw any unwanted attention and to have the locals raising their eyebrows and have him shut down. If you know what I mean, stated Leo.

As bad as I feel today, I sure don’t want to walk any further than I have to, said Hockey.

Do you have any money? All I have left is about thirty bucks, said Leo.

I have about fifty dollars, and that is about all, replied Hockey.

Well, I’m just going to have to lay back on the betting and put all that I have on Killer, and he has never let me down! stated Leo with excitement.

I wonder what kind of fights they are going to. I thought they were going to the coliseum to watch the boxing or wrestling matches. What kind of fights do they have on a farm? asked Lucille as she watched the two men drive away and out of their sight.

Well, I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but I guess it will be safe to tell you. They’re going to a dogfight down at old Red’s barn. He has a large pit dug out in the middle of his barn, and that is where he holds the pit fights about once a month, stated Pat.

Isn’t that against the law? How can anyone do something as cruel as that to those poor and innocent animals? Those dogs could get hurt, said Lucille, knowing this had only made her even angrier at Leo and Hockey for supporting such a terrible thing as this.

Slow down, kid! Remember that you can’t tell a soul, or my name will be mud all over the place. Now, to answer your question. Yes, it is illegal, and one day, Red will get caught. I only wish they will bust the whole bunch together, including Hockey and Leo. But right now, all we can do is hope for that day to come, stated Pat.

What will the cops do with the dogs if that should happen? asked Lucille.

I don’t know the answer to that question. They will probably end up being destroyed. Most of those dogs are trained to attack every dog they see or is put into the pit with them. That is a problem that their owners will have to deal with. All I know is that big dog of Red’s named Killer will definitely be put down. He isn’t satisfied in just winning the match. He usually ends up killing the other dog, and most of those guys don’t want their dogs to fight him. That dog knows only hate, and Red trained him from a small pup. No one can get near him except Red, and even he has a healthy respect for that dog. That is why they draw straws to see who is going to fight who. I had gone there with Hockey once, and I didn’t like what I saw that day. That is why I have never gone back there again, said Pat.

Lucille’s face flushed red, and she suddenly got a sick feeling in her gut. I don’t feel too good. I think I’m just going to walk outside and get some air for a minute, she stated as she slowly slipped on her coat and headed for the door.

Is she going to be okay? asked Pat when she noticed her paleness and the sick look in her eyes.

Yeah, she just loves animals and hates to see anything bad happen to them. She just had a bad weekend, and what happened to her last night doesn’t help the matter, said Diana.

I’m sorry. I didn’t know. What happened last night? asked Pat.

Well, let me start in the beginning, stated Diana with sadness.

I see that little walk must have done you a lot of good. At least your color is back, and you no longer look like a candidate for the Grim Reaper! stated Pat with a large gentle smile.

I’m feeling much better. The cold fresh air felt good, and thank you, replied Lucille.

Diana had brought me up-to-date on what had happened last night. That damn Leo! I’m glad you’re back because I would like you to hear all about what happened to me and Hockey last night. Maybe you can learn something about men before you grow up and do something really stupid like we had done, stated Pat.

"Hockey came stumbling in at about three o’clock this morning and got me out of bed to cook him a meal. I told him that I wasn’t getting in that kitchen at this hour, and if he wanted a meal, he could go to an all-night diner and pig out. He was drunk and tried to pull Leo’s tactics on me. He started making his demands and slapped me around pretty good. He had never done that before, and he really pissed me off! So I fixed him a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs. I intended to make him good and sick! Because I knew he would drink a whole bottle of wine with it, just like always.

"By four o’clock, he was good and drunk and went straight to bed. He always sleeps in the raw, so he stripped down to nothing and flopped into bed just before he passed out. So I went right to work and rolled him up in the top and fitted sheets and tied off both ends. He looked just like a giant Tootsie Roll in a plain white wrapper. He moaned and groaned a little, but he was still pretty out of it! I was so mad that I went back into the kitchen and broke the handle off my new broom and waited until the sun came up. I wanted him sober enough to know what was happening to him and by whom!

He was starting to come around a bit and tried to struggle his way free. So I started talking to him, and the more I talked, the madder I got! He made his second mistake when he started threatening me! His first mistake was when he struck me! I went after him with that broom handle and pounded every part of his body that bulged up from that sheet! I told him to never come home, drunk or sober, and think that I will stand still and become his punching bag! I’m sorry, Diana, but I’m just not going to live like you.

Weren’t you afraid of what he would do to you when you untied the sheet? asked Diana.

Sure I was, and I had no intentions of releasing him until he was good and whipped! The more I talked, the madder I got and the more I beat him! Believe me! I had plenty to say, and he could do nothing but listen! After an hour, he was good and sober! In fact, he was begging and pleading with me! He made me more promises than he did before we were married. He had ‘yes, dear, this’ and ‘yes, dear, that’ until I was sick of hearing it anymore. At eleven o’clock this morning, I had finally let him out and with a warning. I told him that this is only a small sample of what I would do to him if he ever came home drunk and tried to thump me around again! He should be grateful that I had only used a broom handle. He also understands that the next time he decides to take Leo and his evil grandmother’s advice, I will be using his Louisville Slugger, and then he will be sure never to forget again!

Diana began to laugh aloud. I would have given anything to have been there, and I wish I had thought of doing something like that to Leo the first time he had beaten me. Maybe things would be a lot different today, stated Diana.

It’s not impossible, and he has to go to sleep some time! In fact, I will be more than happy to volunteer my services and do the beating while you do the talking, suggested Lucille with a touch of humor as she held the broom in her hand and sizing up the handle.

I wouldn’t try that on Leo if I were you! He isn’t cut from the same piece of cloth as my Hockey. Leo would kill you, for sure! He has this thing about getting even with everyone that pisses him off. Now, my Hockey, is a follower and not a leader, like Leo. It’s a good thing that I’m not a criminal or a murderer with a deep dark secret because Hockey would sing like a bird to the cops should they put the squeeze on him. In fact, it would be very difficult to shut him up, and that is why I was comfortable with working him over. Leo and his grandmother had been pushing him toward that for some time now, and I knew that it would only be a matter of time before Hockey would start on me.

Thank you for including me in your girl talk. Although I have already decided never to get married when I grow up, said Lucille with a grin.

Can I go hunting after breakfast and get us a couple of rabbits or some squirrels for dinner? Missy needs the practice, and she is antsy to get in the woods and do some exploring, said Lucille as she was clearing away the dishes from the table.

No, not today because we’re going to kill a few chickens for dinner when Diana and Leo gets here with Betty. I told them that I would make us a big pot of my special chicken-and-vegetable soup for dinner today, replied Louis as he had thought about giving Alma a well-deserved day out of the kitchen.

It was Saturday, and Louis didn’t have to work tonight, and Alma was looking forward to the break. Lucille was never so glad to see Betty as she was today. It seemed like a normal day, and no one would have imagined that this day would end like no other day in their life. Hi, Diana, what’s in the bag? asked Lucille when she noticed Diana carrying a plain paper bag into the kitchen and placed it onto the table.

Black beans. Leo picked and shelled us some black beans from his mother’s garden yesterday. We had plenty, and he suggested that we should bring some here today, replied Diana with a smile and was pleased that Leo would be thoughtful enough to do something nice for her family for a change.

The entire family took a part in killing and cleaning three plump hens for dinner. Diana was always careful in removing the entrails and making sure that the gall was intact.

Leo carelessly ripped the entrails out of the second chicken and tossed it into a bucket to be buried later. Hey, be careful! We don’t want to break the gall and contaminate the meat! shouted Diana as she took the bucket from Leo and began to examine its contents.

Good, I found all three galls! stated Diana with concern about the small sac that stored the bile and poison from the liver.

We have so few chickens left that we just can’t afford to waste a single hen, stated Louis with a smile and his unwillingness to waste a morsel of food for any reason.

"I’ll grab a shovel from the