Fina the Trilogy

By John S Bartolotta

Three tales of individuals searching for peace. Each having their own fears and compulsions. A gripping story full of romance, chills, surprises, twists and thrills. An exciting, entertaining, tense saga. A young girl experiences an horrific event, causing her to be sent to a Children's home, from which she escapes into an adventure leaving

• Language: English
• Publisher: Story Teller- US
• Release date: May 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088164129

Book preview

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ebook-John_Bartolotta_-_Compiled_Book_-_Editing_-_April_6_-KA(_Without_Track_changes)Paul HendricksEditor202023-04-04T07:51:00Z2023-04-06T12:31:00Z2023-04-06T12:31:00Z18032913187605Aspose156344022007816.00005186a4c444564fd1a088b20c7a9868766f426834a031a9c397adc8017816b8e5

Fina

Trilogy

John S. Bartolotta

Copyright © 2023

All Rights Reserved

ISBN:

Dedication

I dedicate this book to My Christine.

Without her support and encouragement

it would not have happened.

She is amazing. Thank you My Love,

For coming back into my life,

freeing me to create these pages.

Acknowledgment

I want to thank my family and friends that have read and critiqued my stories, edited and liked them as well as appreciated and favored them. Motivating me to publish them.

I will always be grateful.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Part One : Fina

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Part Two: Faux

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

Part Three: Facsimile

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

ebook-John_Bartolotta_-_Compiled_Book_-_Editing_-_April_6_-KA(_Without_Track_changes)Paul HendricksEditor202023-04-04T07:51:00Z2023-04-06T12:31:00Z2023-04-06T12:31:00Z18032913187605Aspose156344022007816.00005186a4c444564fd1a088b20c7a9868766f426834a031a9c397adc8017816b8e5

Part One:

Fina

1.

It was the summer of 1951, and the heat was above average. Lucas and Genine Smiter were blessed with a baby girl, and they named her Fina. She was small and frail, yet lovely. Lucas was the building super, and Genine was a factory seamstress. She worked until the day Fina was born, starting labor pains at the sewing machine, just making it to the Bellevue hospital on East 26th Street.

Genine was very happy. Her first child was a girl. Prior to the birth, she set up the small bedroom in the two-bedroom apartment on the first floor of the three-story building at E 7th Street. It was directly across from Thompkins Park Square.

Lucas wasn’t a happy man and liked to drink, causing him to be very vocal, loud, and hurtful with things he said when he indulged.

Genine feared him, as he changed after Fina was born. It was as though he resented the baby. Trying to make the best of things, Genine took Fina to the park, strolling and making friends with other young mothers. The park was a mixture of various people. The local residents, a growing number of beatniks, and the homeless. It was best to be with others when in the park.

The summer and fall passed, and as the weather began to get colder, Genine spent days at home with Fina. Lucas did his daily chores in the building, but when he finished, he would come into the apartment and drink, demanding attention from Genine, who was busy caring for Fina and her own chores. When the baby was asleep, he would force himself on Genine, who submitted to him reluctantly, with fear of what he might do if she refused. He was crude and selfish. Each occurrence was worse than the previous one. That’s the way it was for years.

When Fina started going to school, Genine wanted to go back to work just to get away from him during the day. Fina knew that things weren’t right, and she, too, was in fear of this disgusting man she knew as Father.

The evenings and weekends were a combination of verbal abuse and accusations, with him falling asleep from a drunken stupor. Years passed, and Fina hated him; he smelled awful, and how he looked at her made her feel uneasy. Her Mom would never leave them alone together. Then the violence began.

It started one day when he was looking for his Scotch bottle. He had finished it the night before and must have forgotten in his delirium. He accused Genine of hiding it. He started throwing chairs around the small dining area. Genine tried to explain to him that he had finished it while pushing Fina behind her.

His anger grew, and he slapped her across the face, immediately causing a welt. The blow was so loud Fina started screaming. Protecting Fina from his assault, Genine endured multiple blows until he exhausted himself and stormed out of the apartment.

Genine lived in fear every day, as she had dreams of leaving him, but with no education and a teenage daughter. How would they survive?

Fina was 13 years old, living in a nightmare. She prayed every night that he would just die and finally give her Mother some peace. Fina’s only escape was school, and she was a good student. Going home, she never knew what to expect.

Her Mom was losing weight. She shook when she talked; she was timid and frail, not well. Her Father was worse than ever. One night as she slept, she was awakened by her mother's screams. She ran into the living room and saw that he was on her Mom, holding her down, forcing himself on her. Fina screamed at him to stop, and his eyes became the eyes of an animal. He pushed her Mom onto the floor and came at Fina. She didn’t know what to do as he grabbed at her, tearing at her pajamas, slobbering on her as he violated her in the most grotesque way. Fina vomited as he fell over, spent. Genine struggled to get up and ran to the kitchen. Grabbing a large Butcher knife, she stood over him. Then plunged the long blade deep into his chest. His eyes opened wide in surprise as Genine continued stabbing him repeatedly. Fina went into shock.

2.

Police from the 10th Precinct arrived at the scene. Genine was arrested and taken away. Fina was incoherent and taken to Bellevue Hospital on 26th Street.

Weeks later, Fina started to interact with doctors and nurses. She remembered nothing of the horrible night, her mother or her father. She didn’t even remember her name.

Genine was charged with second-degree murder but, due to her condition, was hospitalized at the Women’s House of Detention, an 11-story building on Greenwich Village Ave. Notorious for cruelty and abuse of prisoners, most being subject to harsh personal examinations on entry to the facility. 90 days after her incarceration, Genine passed on.

Fina was doing better, and the staff was deciding where to send her in conjunction with Child Services. A Youth home in Rhinebeck, New York, specializing in Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Fina was antisocial and spoke to practically no one. The doctors worked with her but couldn’t break through. Her tragic experiences plagued her. She was isolated. She had nightmares, waking up screaming and trembling. Doctors tried medicating her, but she only pretended to take the tablets after observing the actions of others. As time passed, she became self-sufficient while maintaining her distance from others. She attended classes that were provided, arts and crafts, and some exercise. She attended group chat every morning after breakfast. Six to eight youths sat in a circle with a psychologist named Agnes Greenbaum. Each youth spoke or remained silent. Fina never spoke. She only listened while others vented, cried, had fits of anger, or told their tales of woe. All of which Agnes would handle with a soothing, almost put-on voice. Fina didn’t like her. She felt that Agnes wasn’t truly caring enough for the patients. It was just a job to her. On nice days patients were allowed to go outside on the grounds. A beautiful property of about 18 acres of well-maintained natural peace. Fina longed to escape. She needed her freedom. She felt stifled and controlled.

Being out in the air stimulated her. The mundane life inside made her feel like a prisoner. So one day in the month of May, she went for a stroll around the property. There was always an aid watching the groups, but she managed to slip away.

Coming to a part of the surrounding wall, there was a large Maple tree, growing with one long branch extended over the wall to the outside. She tried to climb it, struggling to make it up; she gazed at freedom and made up her mind. She would pack a few things that night, and the next day she would flee from this confinement.

She was 16, almost 17. She needed to be free to live her life. Back in her room, she packed some clothing into a pillowcase and wrapped it in her jacket. The next day the orderlies announced they would go outside after Breakfast. Fina excitedly ran to her room for her things. On the way, Doctor Wilcox stopped her in the hallway.

Good Morning, Fina, Where are you off to in such a hurry? It’s a beautiful day. Aren’t you going outside with the group?

Fina stopped in her tracks. Putting her head down, she said, Good Morning Sir, I just wanted to use the restroom before going out.

Wilcox replied, Oh well! I don’t want to keep you, but I would like to speak with you at the end of the day, OK?

Yes, Sir, absolutely. Doctor Wilcox was a tall man with salt and pepper hair, and horned-rim glasses, about 40 years old. He made her feel very uneasy during their sessions. He would sit very close to her and, on occasion, put his hands on her knees, making her skin crawl, but most of all, the look in his eyes was like the way her father looked at her, bringing chills down her back. Just another reason to escape. Fina scurried away. Getting to her room, she retrieved the jacket and wrapped the pillowcase. Suddenly there was a knock on her door, and it opened. There stood Doctor Wilcox.

Fina, are you feeling OK? He asked as he approached her, smiling with a piercing look.

Fina was rigid as he neared. She became anxious. What does he want? She thought. As he got closer, he took her hand, telling her, It’s Ok, Fina. You can trust me. His grip increased. She tried to pull it free, and he grabbed her, pulling at her and trying to embrace her. She kneed him in the groin, and he let go. Running across the room, she got to a large bookcase and stood with her back to the shelves. He was angry and aggressive as he came at her. Fina’s hand found a heavy metal bookend and smashed it into his face, causing him to stagger. It seemed to give him strength. She hit him again and again. He reached and tore her blouse as visions of her father raced through her mind. She hit him again and again, bringing him to his knees. Again she struck, and he fell on his side, again and again, until he was unrecognizable.

Her heart was beating in her chest. She was blinded by the wretchedness of this so-called Doctor. She peered down at this revolting creature and wondered, How many others has he violated? A feeling of power churned deep inside of her. Her body surged with adrenaline, with intoxicating pleasure. The exhilaration fulfilled her, and she liked it. Panic filled her. Now more than ever, she had to flee before anyone found him. She grabbed the pillowcase, and its contents, wrapped it in the jacket and, holding it close to her body, joined the group to go outside into the gardens, she lingered a bit, then slowly made her way to the path leading to the tree of independence.

3.

Rineback was a historical farm town with German influence since 1686. Tod Burkheart, a 30-year-old man, tall, bearded, with long brown hair tied behind his head and mesmerizing green eyes. Tod was born and raised on a family farm. Generations of Burkhearts worked on the land sustaining a living through the years. Now it was Tod. He was hard-working and very spiritual. His gift was that he inspired people in his commune's way of life. His now family consisted of 14 young men and women who were out on the streets for one reason or another, searching for the answer