A Cry for Help
By: Digitalice
Chapter, 1
Disclaimer: I don't own the Thunderbirds or the characters past, present or future.
Movie Verse.
Spoilers: If you didn't see the movie.
NOTE: Rated M, due to drug use and language.
Ages are as follows: Scott 24, John 22, Virgil 20, Gordon 18, Peggy 16 and Alan 14.
Please R & R
Peggy threw her book bag on her bed alongside the suitcase that was placed there by Kyrano.
Heaving a sigh, she plopped down onto the bed and laid back. It had been a long day. Lady Penelope, with Parker, had picked her up at the boarding school she attended outside of Chicago IL. They then picked up Alan and Fermat, at Wharton Academy in Massachusetts.
The island she and her family lived on is located in the South Pacific. The villa is very spacious and beautiful. Decorated to the tilt with artifacts Jeff Tracy collected from all over the world. The furnishings inside, and alongside the two pools, were the most up-to-date modern items. The villa also held a secret organization called, 'International Rescue.' Her father and four brothers, with the exception that Alan is in training, flew the fabulous machines called The Thunderbirds. When called, IR responded, and often the 'missions' were dangerous.
Two other families' that lived with the seven Tracy's were, The Belagant's, Tin-Tin - Alan's age, Onaha and Kyrano. Tin-Tin did her schooling via the Internet from the island. Onaha prepared the meals and did the housework. Kyrano was a highly regarded botanist and took care of the various species of plant life that surrounded the villa, and helps his wife. They moved to the island after Kyrano was rescued by the Tracy's, 'IR,' after an illegal diamond mine collapsed in their hometown in Malaysia.
The Hackenbacker's included, Fermat - also Alan's age, and his father Professor Hyram 'Brains.' Brains joined Jeff in forming International Rescue, due to sharing his vision of creating the most technically advanced machines and rockets to perform global rescues, when local agencies were unable to help. They became acquainted through Tracy Enterprises, where Brains was an engineer and worked there designing spaceships for the organization. Brains son, Fermat, has a stutter, and this is a trait he shares with his father. Like his father, Fermat also is extremely intelligent, and will most likely become like him.
Chicago was about nine and half-hours behind island time. She was picked up at 8:00 am, and was thankful that Alan and Fermat were packed, and ready to leave at 9:30 am after they arrived. It was nearing 7:00 p.m. island time.
Looking up at her ceiling, she realized she lost a day - not to mention that she was picked up a couple of days earlier then she wanted, no thanks to Alan, Fermat and their fathers.
As much begging and pleading she did, Alan and Fermat didn't want to wait another couple of days. This ruined Peggy's plans to go in to Chicago that weekend with friends to celebrate summer break. The hard reality of a spoiled weekend set in when Penny showed up at her dorm very early that morning. This resulted in a not so warm reception.
Staring bleakly at the ceiling, she didn't notice the figure standing in the doorway.
Alan was holding a piece of paper in his hands and gave her an all to serious look that she had never witnessed on him before. "Hey."
"What's wrong?" She bristled visibly while sitting up. Alan was not on the list of winning the 'favorite' brother award for the moment and he was well aware of this when he noted the silent treatment she gave both he and Fermat on the way home.
"You didn't read Gordon's letter?" he answered uneasily while walking towards her.
She shook her head questioningly.
Alan walked over to her dresser and picked up the semi-hidden envelope. He handed it to her, and sat
down next to her.
Sighing in annoyance, Peggy glanced at Alan while she opened the envelope. Looking down, she began to read it.
When you have finished reading this letter, eat, flush, or burn it immediately!
I 'overheard' John talking to Scott, and got caught by Dad. Needless to say, I have less of an ass, if you know what I mean. And it wasn't only Dad, but Scott and John gave it to me, as well.
What I overheard was that John had tapped into your e-mails that you two had been sending back and forth, along with the ones you sent to me. This happened early this week, and John took it upon himself to go as far back as to when you returned from Christmas break. Alan, once you have read your e-mails, you should delete them... hint... hint.
I'm writing this to tell you, so you don't think it was me who told Dad.
Peggy, you are basically dead. Dad hasn't fully recovered from your doings, and even called your school. If you have half the nerve as you proved you had while away, I suggest you leave the island. I left enough money in my top-drawer, just call my cell when you get to where you will live/hide for the rest of your life, and I will send more.
I'm sure you get the picture, so no need for me to write more.
Do not ...I repeat ...do not let this get out that I said anything to you, or I 'will' be killed and then would not be there to help you guys out.
Your very - frightened for your lives brother, Gordo.
Peggy dropped the letter to the floor and looked over at Alan. "Dammit all to hell, Alan!" She shot at him angrily and stood up and began to pull at her hair. "Fuck! This is just great!"
Alan sat in stunned silence as he kept a weary eye on her. She proved to him before that she could 'pack-a-punch' and he was certainly going to stay out of arms reach. His hand began to curl unconsciously into fists at his side.
Alan was a lot like their older brother Scott, hot tempered and arrogant at times. Peggy was more like John, even-tempered and quiet. She often kept to herself. She could count the number of friends – acquaintances - as she called them, on one hand, and she liked it that way.
"What all did we write to each other anyway?" He questioned, not keeping his eyes off of her.
She threw her hands in the air in a questioningly manner. "You mean... what didn't we write?"
She continued to pace around the room. She had to think this through and had to think fast before the rest of the family returned home.
Running her hands through her long, dark brown hair, she reflected back. "God... Dad knows about me going into Chicago at night," she mumbled out loud while wincing.
Some things she was grateful she didn't write in her e-mails and one was of the job she took while using her fake I.D., showing she was 21. Even the owner of the Chicago nightclub, didn't believe that she and her three friends could be that age. Their I.D.'s were made by what some students called a professional. When finished, they were very convincing. Making good money - cash only, while working just a couple of hours at the nightclub during the weekends, was too tempting.
It had started out while they were stoned and drunk one Friday night, and what started out to be for fun for the four of them, turned into a weekend routine. Having four beautiful, talented, young girls working his club, made the owner a happy man. Sara, Tara, and Susan, were all involved with Peggy in the drama department, and all took the same music courses and dance courses.
The owner, 'Mic' as he was called, ran a 'safe' club. And if anyone 'touched' his employees, they were immediately thrown out. All the girls had to do was to blow their whistles, and the bouncers were quick to respond.
There was even more to Peggy than she let on. She and her friends acquired an expensive drug habit. They often accepted beer and/or shots while they worked, and if a customer offered some other means of getting high, they accepted that as well. No sex was ever involved or allowed. The four stuck together to keep safe.
This all started after returning from Christmas break. She didn't go home during Spring break; instead, she stayed behind using the excuse of doing make-up work for her failing classes. This of course was a blatant lie.
Sara, Tara, and Susan talked Peggy into leaving her room to hang out with them. Much to her protests, she relented and went. 'Thank heavens I didn't tell Alan about my job, Gordon especially, he would have killed me, then left the rest to everyone else. John... Man that would be bad.' She shuddered at the thought of them finding out. She just mentioned to Alan, that she was meeting other students at clubs, which allowed teens.
"Peggy...?" Alan was standing in front of her, waving his hand trying to get her attention.
"God! I can't believe this shit!" She cried out while punching her fists into the air. She bent down and picked up her letter, she placed it along with Alan's in the shredder then plopped down in the chair next to her desk and seethed inwardly.
After what seemed like an hour, a light tapping on the doorframe broke the two out of their reverie.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" The firm, but soft-spoken words came from their father as he entered the room.
Peggy's face immediately paled and a trail of fear ran down her spine as he neared them.
"A simple 'hello' would have been nice when you guys got home." He continued as he eyed the two.
"Sorry Dad. Penny said all you guys were out." Alan explained uneasily as he glanced over at Peggy.
"Since Thunderbird Five was destroyed by the Hood this past spring, John will - on occasion, take my position while things are being monitored here, using the island satellites."
Peggy stared, seemingly undaunted at Jeff, as she wasn't fully aware of the whole situation that happened that spring. Jeff took note of her expression and made a mental note to talk to her - alone, on the subject.
After giving Alan his welcome home hug, Jeff walked over to Peggy and pulled her up from her chair. He cringed as he embraced her gently. As much as he hated to hear it, Penny was correct. Jeff could feel Peggy's ribcage, as he ran his hand over her back.
He lifted her chin up to get her to look at him and began to study her features. The dark circles -under her eyes, visibly stood out against the pale, thinning complexion. Her eyes were what bothered him the most. There seemed to be nothing behind them. A dense void that seemed endless and frightening replaced the sparkle and life they once held.
Jeff's sigh was thick with pain as she pulled away from him. Upon John's discovery - and the call Jeff made to her school, Jeff's temper would have been in full rage by now if the situation were different. That will have to put that aside for now. The ocean separated them for miles from the State's. For now, they will sort things out – as a family, if it wasn't already too late.
"You guys go ahead and change," he instructed while glancing back and forth at the two. "Peggy, I want to talk to you in my office after you have changed. Is that understood?"
Peggy nodded numbly as she watched Jeff head out her door.
He turned to face her, as he stood in the doorway then added pointedly. "Don't take too long."
"Shit." She murmured as she stood like a frozen statue, looking out into the empty hallway.
She shook her head then grabbed her suitcase. "Fuckin' great!"
"I think that's just the beginning Peg," said Alan. He knew they were all mad at her lack of communication with them. Although he was grateful their father didn't pick them up and now he knew why.
Alan watched as she dumped her clothes out on her bed.
"What Al?"
"Um... How much weight have you lost?" Even with the bulky uniform on, the weight loss was noticeable to him.
She waved him off, "Nothing... A couple of pounds, maybe." She knew she would be repeating this over and over. Penny asked her that about a million times, on the way home.
'Yeah, right.' He thought to himself. "You know that they all know stuff now. Peggy, I fail classes, not you. Just wait until they hear you failed three classes. God! Gordon's going to have a field day with that one."
Peggy shot him an annoyed look. Thinking back, she had been failing the classes since the second semester had begun. She got a hold of her report card after the third quarter and changed the three failure marks to 'B's. Sending this report by mail using the preprinted envelope provided by the school, she thought she was safe. Having known a student in the office, was a benefit. This student, however, forgot to mention that the grades were also sent via e-mail as well.
John had also found out about the fake e-mail account -that Peggy set up in their father's name, to elude any information she didn't want him to know about. The medical reports that were forwarded to their father after his request earlier that week were disturbing. Along with the number of canceled follow-up appointments with the schools M.D. set Jeff on a razors edge.
She dropped out of her Drama and Music courses, and had replaced them with a free hour, thus giving her three hours of free time to do whatever she wanted. The classes she dropped out of, along with her medical condition, was something she didn't want her father to know about. She set up the fake account to go to her, in which she would send a reply in his name.
A sickening pit began to form in her gut, "I'm going to change ... so if you don't mind...," she looked at him and pointed to her door and was relieved that Alan took the hint.
Closing and locking the bathroom door behind her, she reached inside the bag, and pulled out the box that contained her stash of drugs. She then proceeded to turn on the bathroom fan to drown out any noise she may cause.
She snorted a 'pick-me-up' before leaving the schools campus and was coming down from it.
After putting the lid down on the toilet seat, she sat down on it and pulled out a small plastic pouch that contained a half gram rock of cocaine. She looked around inside the box and found the razor blade and piece of straw she cut to size to use to snort up the cocaine with. Cutting a small opening in the bag over the counter of the sink, she was careful not to dump all the contents out causing some to fall into the basin of the sink.
She cut a small amount off the rock with the razor. 'This is going to be one hellova summer.' She thought as she cupped her hand around the tiny rock so she wouldn't loose any of it as she chopped it up. The blade danced precisely on it making it more and more into a fine line of powder. She was being careful not to chop too fast so that someone might hear the tapping that the blade caused on the counter.
She picked up the straw, placed it in her nose and pinched the other side shut and bent over the counter to snort up the coke. It was a bigger line than she normally did, but that didn't matter at that moment. She figured she would be up all night anyway due to the time difference.
Leaning back against the toilet, she mentally berated both Alan and John as she continued to sniff and wipe her nose with the back of her hand.
She used her finger to wipe up any remaining coke and rubbed this on her gums. She could feel the instant rush the coke caused in her chest along with her gums going numb.
Breathing out a grateful 'ah', she put the rest of her cocaine inside the box and pulled out the vanity to expose an opening in which she only knew of. This is where she will hide the drugs and come back to when needed.
Satisfied - after looking around, that everything was put away neatly, she headed out of the bathroom then the bedroom and proceeded down the hallway - tapping her fingers along the stone wall, all the way down to her father's office. Pausing only once, as the alarm went off around the villa alerting the occupants that the Thunderbirds were approaching and calling in to land.
Shit!
Jeff looked up briefly as Peggy walked into his study, which was now Command and Control Center.
All the windows around the villa had been covered with a high temperature, corrosion resistant, shielding that had electronic, and controlled expansion grades of nickel/cobalt alloy metals. The reason for going through such precautions is because the windows would be protected from the extreme heat that is produced from the engine thrusters on both Thunderbird One and Thunderbird Three. It also protected the secrets of Tracy Island from any prying eyes from above, or on sea. This feature was activated when the study became Command and Control Center and remained in effect until all Thunderbirds returned back to base.
Brains too, was seated next to Jeff and offered a warm smile as Peggy waved to him.
She headed towards a chair to sit, but the speed of the cocaine made her jaw clench and every muscle seemed to want to tense up. She had to remind herself to relax, but it didn't take long before she tensed up again, so she kept moving around the room. The feeling felt like a tsunami, each wave getting stronger causing a rush of blood to the head and a sensation of being off balance.
The villa shook slightly as the retros of Thunderbird One fired up to get into a horizontal position above the island. The floor began to vibrate as the bigger pool -at the far end of the villa, pulled open underneath the villa to accommodate Thunderbird One. The shaking and vibration exasperated the jitteriness Peggy was feeling.
She picked up a couple pieces of ivory in an attempt to look interested and to conceal her shakes, but all she managed to do is knock over a couple other antiques onto the glass shelf.
Without even having to look at Jeff, she could hear the grunt of impatience in the back of his throat as she fumbled with the pieces and called out her feeble attempts of apology.
Brains walked over and helped her set everything back onto the shelf. On noticing her sniffling and rubbing her nose, he offered his handkerchief. She scrunched up her features as she looked at his offering.
He noted the hesitation and smiled knowingly. "N-n-n-not used. I p-p-promise."
"Thanks. And you won't want it back... believe me," she assured as she blew into it. "Allergies, I suppose." Chronic allergies as they would joke. She thought to herself.
"Are you okay?" Jeff queried with concern.
His tone caught her off guard. She spun around to look at him. "Yeah... fine."
Jeff, however, was not convinced. He motioned her to stand next to him. She complied without hesitation and she walked over and stood next to him.
Keeping a studied eye on her, he reached down and pressed a button under the desk without even looking at it. Within seconds, a hand identification system pad slid out, which could only be used by those senior members of IR. "De-activating Command and Control Center," he stated as he pressed his hand firmly to it.
Suddenly the room began to move. The array of sophisticated computer equipment disappeared into the rotating floor and was replaced with Jeff's familiar study. The protective shielding also recoiled back exposing the serene views of the ocean through the floor to ceiling windows that encircled the study.
Jeff had Peggy sit in his chair behind the desk as he sat himself on the edge of the desk. "You won't have any problem with Brains taking a blood sample, will you?"
The tension in the room became palpable as she looked over in confusion at the blue spectacled scientist then back to Jeff.
"Why..? I said..."
"I'm not asking," he interrupted with a defined determination in his tone.
'Need not say anymore.' She slouched back in the chair and exposed her forearm and waited with as much controlled patience she could muster up as Brains gathered everything together.
'Just fuckin' hurry up.' She turned her head as the needle punctured her skin. 'Never seem to get used to this. Feels like the vein is being sucked into the vile along with everything else.' "Is this really necessary?"
"If you would have followed up with the school's doctor..."
Jeff was cut off by the familiar 'whoosh' the mural – that depicted the family, which had replaced the five familiar faces attired in the flight suits that everybody around the world was familiar with, made as Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon practically fell out from behind it.
"I told you Dad wouldn't kill her." Gordon whispered in his normal cheeky manner as they stood and watched while Brains finished up.
Scott, on the other hand, spared Gordon a brief glance of warning as he walked over to stand next to Jeff.
Peggy stood and held on to her arm as if it was going to fall off. She frowned then smiled at her brothers, but the smile quickly faded as she could hear snorts of shock and sighs of disappointment, they made, as they looked her over. 'Dad's perfect soldiers.'
Jeff gave her a gentle push in their direction and sat back down on the corner of his desk.
"Jeez, Peg. I'd give you a hug, but I'm afraid I'll break ya." Gordon said as he neared her. His statement mirrored everyone else's expressions.
Brains hastily made his way out of the study to join his son Fermat in the comfort of his lab.
"Dad?"
Jeff looked over at his eldest and knew what he wanted to know. He warned them before approaching the island, and now looking at her dressed in normal everyday clothes, she looked even thinner.
He pulled out a scale from his desk drawer and motioned for her to stand on it.
"Come on, Dad... this is nuts!" She exclaimed incredulously, backing away from him.
Scott picked her up and placed her on the scale. Within seconds, everyone swooped around her to get a look at the number.
"Thanks, Scott." Jeff said with controlled anger as he too looked down towards the scale.
Peggy's shoulders dropped while she closed her eyes. She waited with baited breath for the inevitable onslaught of God only knew what. It wasn't that she lost the weight on purpose, the drugs, job and school schedule kept her very active. Although, the drugs (speed), was the main reason. She just wasn't hungry thus hardly ate. Even when her stomach protested its emptiness, she felt numb and ignored the hunger pangs.
You could hear a pin drop in the room as mouths gaped open then shut. It was Virgil who spoke up first.
"Whoa... You dropped twenty pounds in less than a month?" He muttered with bemusement then put an arm around her.
"Huh? Twenty..." she looked down disbelievingly.
"Are you making yourself vomit as well?"
Peggy quickly turned and looked at John. "What? No!" She shook her head vigorously as she backed off the scale. Definitely feeling out numbered, she scratched nervously at an imaginary itch on her arm. With her heart pounding through her chest, she added. "That's a horrible thing to ask. What the hell is the matter with you?"
Gordon glared at her and stabbed a finger in her direction. "You mean... what the hell is the matter with you?..."
"Enough!" Jeff's warning thundered throughout the room leaving a quiet wake in it's aftermath. If looks could turn into a machine gun, Peggy was sure she would have been blown through the wall. The Air Force steel emanated from Jeff's stance and it was intimidating to say the least.
"Is this why you didn't want any visual communication with any of us?" Jeff continued.
Unable to find her voice, Peggy shook her head then shrugged.
"You weigh 98-lbs. Do you think that is normal for a young, 5'7", female?" His temper was about to boil over when no response was made. His tone picked up-tempo as he went on. "Didn't the school's doctor weigh you the last time you were in there just recently? You weighed 122 then, right? In fact, your weight had been fluctuating up and down all year, am I correct? How could that be?"
Holding up her hands in defeat, Peggy looked down at the floor to conceal the tears that stung behind her eyes. "Yes... yes she did," she choked back her emotions. "Look... It's just stress... new school... bad year. I don't know. I promise that it's not on purpose. I'm not making myself vomit..." She looked him square in the eye and pleaded. "Can we talk about this some other time?"
Jeff changed his composure and relented all the while keeping the same authoritave tone. "Damn right we are. In fact, tomorrow, after breakfast. We are all going to sit down and have a family meeting."
He turned to his sons. "Onaha has a light dinner prepared and ready. We will all get something to eat," he looked back at Peggy. "Then I want you to get some rest. You look and sound horrible, and trust me, you will need the sleep. Now go!" He pointed towards the entryway and without further instruction, they all piled out of the study.
Jeff rubbed his forehead feeling a new crease that etched deeply on it. 'What is going on?'
After dinner, Peggy raced to her room to avoid any further confrontation with her family. She needed/wanted to be alone.
After doing another line of coke, she headed out onto her balcony.
"Hey... Are you okay?" Alan's booming voice startled her.
"Shit... A little warning would be nice," she quietly scoffed, "It's only around noon or so in Chicago... How the hell does Dad expect me to just fall asleep?"
"I know. Me too. Still, are you okay? I heard Dad yelling earlier," he asked cautiously. "Have you been drinking?" He could smell the booze that lingered in the air around her.
Peggy smiled over at him, "Found Scott's beer. I felt like I needed a drink, so I grabbed his six pack."
Alan stood dumbstruck as he watched her as she pulled a can out of its hiding spot and gulping the contents down.
She threw the can over the edge of the balcony that faced the jungle. Pulling out another one, she looked back at Alan who sat with his mouth dropped open. "Sorry Al... Would you like one?" She asked while gesturing over to the last can that she kept hidden.
Shocked by her gesture, he didn't know what to say. "Urm... uh no thanks."
He was completely lost at this point, and the silence drew on, as he continued to watch, with amusement, as she managed to gulp down the can that she held.
"How many?" He barely whispered.
She held up three fingers. He whistled low which she chose to ignore. She wanted to chew him a new one for the trouble he got her in. But she bit back her anger and took it out on the can she held as she crushed it. Popping open the last can, she looked over at Alan. He was an ally and one brother you wanted/needed on your side. She could count on him for just about anything.
She looked back out over the ledge. "Tomorrow... After breakfast..."
"Huh?"
"The shit will hit the fan then. Dad has this 'family meeting' planned after breakfast," she offered, then belched.
"Gross...!" He flinched with disgust.
"It comes from being around you guys all the time. So don't give me that shit," she hissed at him.
Alan watched as she chugged the last can of beer down. "Plenty of practice, huh?"
"I guess you could say that." Her speech slurred slightly. From the beer and speed she had, the effects were starting to hit her. She stumbled then slung the can over the edge to rest with the others. They listened to the sound the can made after it hit a couple of boulders below, causing a 'pinging echo' sound throughout the jungle.
"Don't you think someone will find those?"
"Why do you think I'm throwing them far off as if they were thrown off of Gordon's balcony."
"You thought of everything."
Peggy stood back and grinned, "Have to in order to keep ahead of you guys."
Alan rubbed his eyes thinking he was having a weird dream.
Peggy was dangling over the balcony rail.
Alan thought he should mention something to someone. It would be out of the question to talk to their father... Scott would skin her, then leave the rest for their father. John and Virgil would go right to their Dad. He sighed, 'maybe I'll put a bug in Gordon's ear. Obviously, drinking was something she was too familiar with.' He reached over and pulled her back up, "Stay on 'this' side of the balcony, please."
She let out a deep sigh; "Shit, Al... I'm in deep," she paused, "Fuck!"
Alan stood speechless for a moment; "You better use a lot of mouthwash and get into bed... It's not going to be that bad tomorrow..."
"Ha! Alan, you only know half of it... If Dad or the other's find out... Shit! When Dad's done with me, the other guys will... holy shit!"
Confused, Alan swallowed hard, "Okay... Okay, calm down. Find out what, anyway? They know..."
"Forget it..." Peggy cut him off and looked at him, her expression full of regret. She then snorted out a laugh, "Look whose telling me to 'calm down.' That's rich..."
Alan thought it would be best to leave her alone. He headed back into her room and paused to look back at her. "I'm going to bed... See you in the morning."
"Night," she mumbled and decided to head back in. 'One last trip to the bathroom for the evening anyway.'
Emerging re-energized from the bathroom and dressed ready for bed, Peggy picked up her binder that contained her drawings and sat at the head of her bed.
After turning on the nightstand light and grabbing her etching pencils, she glanced through the drawings until she reached the one she had yet to complete and began to finish it.
On seeing her light on, John peered through the doorway. "Hey. Feel like company? I won't ask any questions, I promise. I brought my own entertainment." He proved this by holding up a book he had been reading.
She looked up and considered this. "Yeah... sure." She watched him carefully as he plopped down in the recliner that was next to her bed.
She proceeded to scribble until she felt him over her shoulder. She quickly closed her binder. "You promised."
"Just wondered," he said, making it obviously clear how disappointed he was as he sat back in the chair.
She quickly found the page she was working on then looked back at him. "Sorry. It's just... it's not finished."
"No sweat." He smiled inwardly. He then found himself thinking back on their childhood in Florida.
Flashback:
Jeff Tracy was sitting at the dinning room table lecturing John on his fighting at school. One particular bully, named Jim, always gave John a hard time. John had fought back this time, giving Jim a really bad black eye. This earned him a three-day suspension from school.
Lucy Tracy, their mother, was a couple doors down visiting a neighbor with Alan. Everyone else was outside.
Peggy, who was barely seven, was told never to leave the yard without supervision. Playing outside, she crouched down under the dinning room window looking for anything she could find to fit into her pockets. She popped up on hearing the conversation between her Dad and brother. Peggy hated whenever any of them were in trouble, and this time she would have to come to John's rescue.
"Dad, I was only defending myself," John defended quietly as he stared at the floor. His long blonde locks covered his eyes. He was thin for his age of 13 and quiet. Being labeled a 'sissy' at school didn't help.
Nobody dared to say this out loud, if they didn't want his older brother, Scott, to deal with. John always ate lunch by himself or with Scott and his friends, if they weren't occupied with the girls.
Jeff looked intensely at his second son. He loved his son's gently and nurturing side, he was a lot like his beloved Lucy. But he was afraid the other kids his age saw this as weakness. And at certain moments, Jeff felt guilty for thinking the same. John was definitely a 'mamas boy' as quoted by Jeff's father, who was truly a 'mans-man'. 'Toughen him up Jefferson, or you will have problems' his father would often tell him.
Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he continued in a stern but low tone, "I know that John, but fighting back is not the answer to resolving all of your problems. It just makes them worse, and nothing gets resolved. This isn't the first time that we have been over this."
Jeff was just about to say more, but stopped when he could hear his daughter ran through the house calling him. She sounded really excited about something.
John then looked up to see his little sister with the biggest smile plastered across her face.
"Daddy... Daddy... Johnny... Look what I found." She held a garden snake up to her Dads face.
A much-started Jeff Tracy looked down at his daughter and shook his head with bemusement.
Covered from head to toe in dirt, she had on a pair of Gordon's coveralls that nearly hung off her shoulders. Every pocket was overflowing with objects from all over the yard. She wore Scott's baseball cap, that was too big, and it was hanging off the side of her head.
Jeff looked away and mumbled, "I can't believe it. I have six sons." He then turned to look back at her as she continued to wave the snake at him.
John overheard his Dad's comment and smiled. He knew what his sister was up to, and was grateful for it. He will be getting out of this lecture, because of her.
"Sweetheart... Where on earth did you find that snake?" Jeff was looking at the snake she was holding and watched her as she went over to John to shake it in front of his face.
"Outside, under the bush," she replied excitedly, she pointed in the direction of the bush. "Can I keep him Daddy..? Please? I named him s-s-s-s-s Sam."
Jeff and John chuckled as she was trying to imitate the hissing sound of a snake.
Jeff shook his head, and continued laughing. He was almost afraid to ask his next question. "Sweetheart, what else is in your pockets?"
Peggy went through every pocket with the free hand she had. Out across the table in front of Jeff and John, were the contents of the yard. Some big rocks and little rocks mainly. She found an old slingshot, a couple of pennies, an arm off a doll, a top to a beer bottle, some flower buds and cigarette butts.
Sitting back in his chair, Jeff breathed out a sigh. "Well young lady... I see you have found an interesting collection of artifacts." Taking a closer look, he raised his eyebrows, "Where did you find these?" he queried, pointing to the cigarette butts. He knew the top to the beer bottle was the brand he drank, although how it ended up in the yard, he would yet find out. In the meantime, he and his wife never smoked.
"I found them in the back of the garage," she offered. She was still emptying her pockets out.
Jeff shot John a questioning look. John shook his head and shrugged. 'I guess I'll have to ask my oldest son since he may regrettably know.' Jeff thought.
Jeff looked back at Peggy who was hissing at her snake. She had such a grip on it that the eyes were actually bulging out of its head.
"Peggy, we have to take the snake back outside and get you cleaned up before your mother gets back. She'd faint if she saw the sight of you and Sam." Jeff thought a moment about how his wife would react if she knew her 'princess' was playing with snakes.
John chuckled at the mental picture his Dad made of their mother.
"Daddy... Nooooo... I want to keep s-s-s-s Sam," she pleaded.
"Sweetheart, what if Sam is a mommy and her family is looking for her..? You wouldn't want anything to happen to them if they did not have their mommy, would you?"
Peggy pouted and shook her head no.
Jeff stood up and motioned to John to follow them outside.
Nearing the bush where she had found the snake, Jeff had noticed Scott coming up the driveway. "Scott, I want to talk to you after I help your sister with her bath."
"About what?... I didn't do anything," Scott questioned worriedly, as he stood in front of them. He then glared at John who must have tattled on him about something.
"Daddy... There's a 'bad' magazine in the cabinet, in the garage. The people are not wearing clothes." Peggy said. She was putting the snake back under the bush, then watched as it slither away.
Jeff raised his eyebrows, "Thank you for letting me know, honey."
Jeff looked back at Scott who was as white as a sheet. "As I said son, I want to 'talk' to you. Why don't you find the magazine your sister mentioned, and anything else that may be stowed away in the garage and bring them to me," he ordered sternly.
Slouched over, Scott dropped his head as he walked towards the garage.
"John, go to your room for the rest of the night and think about what happened today. I want you to come up with a better alternative on how to handle the bullies, and let me know what you came up with. As for our conversation, it is finished. No punishment, 'this time'." He then took Peggy's hand and turned in the direction of the house.
John nodded, then looked at Peggy who was smiling at him. John mouthed a big 'thank you' to his sister.
She turned to walk with her Dad.
A huge grin appeared on his face as he looked towards the garage. 'As for Scott,' John thought. 'He is on his own, this time.'
John was in his room that he shared with Scott. Lying on his bed, he noticed a small figure out of the corner of his eye, standing in the doorway.
Peggy, who was now in her pajamas and her hair still damp, walked in and laid next to her brother as she played with the doll she had named, Isabelle. "You 'k' Johnny? I love you," she whispered as she placed her head on his chest.
"I love you too sis, and thanks again...You really got me out of a bad one tonight," he softly mumbled as he put his arm around her small frame. "How do you do it? I mean... How come you scream your head off at the tiniest spider, but you can walk around the yard with snakes?"
She shrugged, "Spiders have too many eyes looking at you. S-ss-s-s Sam had only two."
John smiled as he registered her response. He knew his sisters' shyness and he knew exactly how she felt since he felt the same way. He was worried she would be bullied at school as well. He pitied the kids who would dare try.
Peggy rarely played with any of the other kids in their neighborhood. Their mother would have to take her to the playground to get her to play with anyone else, other than her brothers. She would also get upset anytime Peggy came in covered from head to toe with dirt as she dug in the yard for who knew what.
Their mother would put dresses on Peggy, who in turn would take them right off. 'I can't climb the tree in this dress mom'. Is the sort of things she would always say. Isabelle, was the only 'girl' item she would pick up.
"Thanks again, Peggy." John said as he looked at her. He smiled at the tiny face that was now sound asleep, and soon John was too.
End flashback.
'Sweetheart, what if Sam is a mommy and her family is looking for her ... You wouldn't want anything to happen to them if they did not have their mommy, would you?' This quote of his father's' floated around in John's head. "Dad had 'no' idea how profound those words would be," He mumbled low. It was just a few months after that confrontation with Jim that their mother had died.
Peggy's sniffing had caught John's attention. He tossed a box of Kleenex in her direction. "You have been doing that all night. Do you want me to get you something?"
"I got it." Gordon said as he entered the room. "I don't want to be kept awake all night hearing her snorting, sneezing and blowing her nose. God only knows there's enough snoring going on around here at night." He looked at John and winked.
Offended at the hidden accusation, John put his book down. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Gordon put his hands up in defense. "Back off there bro... No need to get your space undies in a bungy," he flat out grinned and looked at Peggy. "Dad wants you to take these. ...Sinus stuff, I think. Oh, and I think he said something about helping you sleep as well." He then made himself comfortable at the end of her bed and opened up a comic book he brought with him.
John muttered under his breath as he sat back in the chair all the while keeping a weary eye on the prankster.
Peggy looked at the two pills and contemplated on whether to take them or not. She knew that they wouldn't help the type of sinus problems she was having, and they most certainly would ruin her buzz if she fell asleep not to mention any drug interactions they might produce - not that it ever bother her before. 'Here goes nothing.'