Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips sadly and slowly walked up to
the Sloan's residence. Their task was not going to be easy and
very hard to do. They had not found enough evidence to charge Mr.
Thomas for physically abusing Steve. It was bad enough that they
would have to tell Steve's parents but facing Steve and telling
him that Mr. Thomas was not going to pay for hurting him like
they promised they would. Detective Parker knocked on the door as
he led out a big sigh.
"Detective Parker, Ms. Phillips nice to see you. Please come
on in," said Katherine when she opened the door.
"Nice to see you too, Mrs. Sloan," answered Ms.
Phillips as she stepped inside the house followed by Detective
Parker.
"How are you doing today, Mrs. Sloan?" asked Detective
Parker slowly.
"Fine thank you," answered Katherine. "What can I
do for you?"
"Is your husband home?" asked Detective Parker slowly.
"We would like to speak to both of you if we could."
"Yes he is," answered Katherine slowly. "Is there
something wrong?"
"Please we would really like to speak to both of you
together," answered Ms. Phillips slowly.
"Yes of course. One moment please," answered Katherine
as she stared at both Ms. Phillips and Detective Parker.
"Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable."
Katherine left to the room with concern.
A few minutes later Mark and Katherine reappeared.
"Ms. Phillips, Detective Parker, I understand you want to
speak to Katherine and myself." said Mark slowly. "What
is it that you want to talk to us about?"
"Yes we do," answered Detective Parker. "But first
may I ask where Steve is at the moment?"
"Steve is upstairs in his room asleep," answered
Katherine. "Why? What's going on here?"
"I'm sorry to wake him but will you please get him?"
asked Detective Parker. "This is very important."
"Not until you tell us what this is all about,"
answered Mark firmly.
Ms. Phillips and Detective Parker looked at each other for a
minutes before Ms. Phillips finally said, "Dr. Sloan, Mrs.
Sloan, we came to talk about the case against Mr. Thomas."
"What about Mr. Thomas?" asked Mark sternly.
"It looks like we are going to have to drop the case against
Mr. Thomas," answered Detective Parker slowly. "There
is simply not enough evidence against Mr. Thomas."
"What?" yelled Mark and Katherine angrily.
"What do you mean there is not enough evidence against
Frank?" demanded Mark. "He physically abused
Steve."
"Dr. Sloan, Mrs. Sloan please calm down and let us
explain," said Ms. Phillips calmly.
"Let you explain what?" yelled Mark angrily. "That
Frank Thomas is going to get away with physically abusing my son.
How do you want me to explain that to Steve?"
"We just now got Steve to go back to school without being
afraid that Frank Thomas or somebody else is going to hurt
him," added Katherine angrily. "And now you have the
nerve to tell us that he is going to have the opportunity again
to abuse him when he returns to school. This is just so
unbelievable," she said with tears coming down her face.
"Dr. Sloan, Mrs. Sloan, please calm down," said Ms.
Phillips calmly. "Detective Parker and I will talk to
Steve."
"Talk to me about what?" asked Steve uneasily. He had
heard yelling coming from downstairs and got up to investigate.
Then Steve saw his mother crying. "What's wrong mom?"
asked Steve with concern. "Why are you crying?"
"Steve please come down here," said Mark gently.
"Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips need to talk to
you."
Steve stared at his dad and then looked towards his mom who was
busy trying to wipe the tears off her face. "Does it have to
do with why mom is crying?" he asked slowly.
"Steve, please come down here and we will explain why your
mom is upset," said Detective Parker gently.
Steve continued to stare at everyone before he slowly limped
downstairs with his crutches and made his way to where his mom
was sitting. "Why are you crying?" he asked as tears
formed in his eyes and hugged his mom.
"I'm fine Steve," answered his mom as she hugged him.
"Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips would like to talk to
you. Please listen to them it is very important."
"Okay mom," Steve answered unconvinced. He turned
around to face Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips. "What did
you want to tell me?" he asked softly.
"Steve do you remember when Detective Parker and I talked to
you about making sure that Mr. Thomas was going to pay for
breaking your leg and hurting you?" asked Ms. Phillips
gently.
"Yeah," answered Steve slowly. "You said Mr.
Thomas wouldn't be able to hurt me again and you would make sure
he would go to jail. Why?"
"Well Steve it seems that Detective Parker and I don't have
enough evidence to say that it was Mr. Thomas that was hurting
you," said Ms. Phillips calmly.
Steve just stared at Ms. Phillips for awhile without saying a
word.
Mark, Katherine, Ms. Phillips and Detective Parker all stared at
each other. They weren't sure that Steve understood or heard
exactly what she had said.
After a period of silence Ms. Phillips gently asked, "Steve
did you hear or understand what I said?"
Steve looked at his parents, Ms. Phillips and Detective Parker
with a very cold stare. He finally answered in a very quiet but
angry voice, "I heard you. Detective Parker and you are like
my mom and dad, they don't believe me either. You all think that
I was lying when I said it was Mr. Thomas that was hurting me.
You also think that just because I was fighting and talking back
to Mr. Thomas, that I was being really bad and deserved to be
punished. Now you're going to let Mr. Thomas come back to school
so he can finish punishing me. Just like my mom and dad, they
also want to see me being punished by Mr. Thomas by making me go
back to that dumb old school. Mr. Thomas was right when he said
that nobody would believe me. I hate you all and I'll never
believe anything else you to say. You're all liars."
"Steve that's not true," Ms. Phillips and Detective
Parker said together with surprise. Mark and Katherine were too
shocked to say anything.
"Steve please listen to me," said Detective Parker
firmly. "Your parents would never do that to you. They would
never put you in that kind of danger and especially never let Mr.
Thomas come near you again. We all believe you that it was Mr.
Thomas that was hurting you but there is just not enough evidence
to prove it."
"I don't believe you anymore Detective Parker,"
answered Steve angrily. He looked over to his parents and Ms.
Phillips. "I don't believe anyone of you anymore and I'm not
going to listen to anything you have to say." Steve started
to limp away with his crutches towards the stairs.
"Wait Steve," Mark finally said. He got up and quickly
walked over to Steve. "Look at me Steve," his dad said
firmly.
Steve glared at his dad.
"Your mother and I love you very much and we certainly don't
want anyone including Mr. Thomas to hurt or punish you. What Mr.
Thomas did to you was wrong and he should pay for what he did to
you. If Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips can't do anything to
Mr. Thomas, then my lawyer, Mr. Nathan Birch will. Mr. Thomas
will pay for physically abusing you and I will see to it that he
ends up in jail. Do you understand me?"
"Then you don't believe Mr. Thomas when he said I was being
real bad and needed to punished?" Steve asked with tears in
his eyes. "And you won't make me go back to school if Mr.
Thomas comes back to school?"
"Steve, your mother and I never believed Mr. Thomas when he
said you were being real bad and needed to be punished,"
Mark said gently as he picked Steve up and held him tightly.
"But we were going to talk to Mr. Murphy to find out why you
didn't want to come to school anymore. And also why you were
having nightmares and fighting at school with your friends. That
didn't sound like you so your mom and I wanted to find out why
that way we could help you. And I promise you if Mr. Thomas comes
back to school you will not go back to that school again but a
new school. Okay?"
"Okay dad," answered Steve as he laid his head on his
dad's shoulder. "Dad why isn't there enough evidence against
Mr. Thomas so he can go to jail? I'm scared that he will find me
at my new school and that he will hurt me again."
"Steve look at me," said his dad gently. "Mr.
Thomas is not going to come near you ever again. I promise you.
Do you hear me? I won't let him hurt you again."
"Okay dad," answered Steve slowly. "But why isn't
there enough evidence against Mr. Thomas to put him in
jail?"
"I don't know Steve," answered his dad. "But why
don't you ask Detective Parker or Ms. Phillips why they don't
have enough evidence against Mr. Thomas," as Mark looked
over to Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips.
Steve picked up his head from his dad's shoulder and looked over
to Detective Parker and slowly asked, "Detective Parker why
don't Ms. Phillips and you have enough evidence to send Mr.
Thomas to jail?"
"Well it's because Jarrad and Greg are lying to us,"
said Detective Parker. "They said it was both of them that
caused you to break your leg and not Mr. Thomas. Jarrad and Greg
said it was an accident and didn't mean to hurt you but only
trying to get back at you for getting them into trouble for
fighting. Ms. Phillips and I tried to get Jarrad and Greg to
change their minds but they won't. Also the bruises on your arms,
shoulders and your back could have been caused when you were
fighting with Jarrad and Greg. At least that is what they said.
Until we can get Jarrad and Greg to change their minds or find
somebody that seen Mr. Thomas hurt you in anyway there is not
anything we can do. It is Mr. Thomas, Jarrad and Greg's word
against yours. I'm so sorry Steve."
"But Jarrad and Greg are lying," cried Steve. "It
was Mr. Thomas that broke my leg. I'll make them tell you the
truth and I will beat Jarrad and Greg up until they do."
"Steve that is not the answer," said Detective Parker
slowly. "The judge will say you beat up Jarrad and Greg
until you made them say what you wanted to hear and that will not
count in court. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes," cried Steve. "But it's not fair. You need
to make them tell Ms. Phillips or you the truth. Mr. Thomas is
probably hurting them too and making them lie for him. They are
probably scared of him."
"You maybe right Steve," said Detective Parker.
"But we can't make them tell us the truth because like you
said they are too scared. We're sorry. If anything changes we
will let you know. We promise." Then Detective Parker turned
to Mark and Katherine. "Ms. Phillips and I are so sorry. If
there is anything we can do please let us know," and with
that they walked out the door.
"Dad make Jarrad and Greg tell you the truth," cried
Steve after Detective Parker and Ms. Phillips left.
"Please."
"Shsh Steve everything is going to be all right,"
answered his dad gently and as he rubbed his back. It will be all
right. Mr. Frank Thomas is going to pay for hurting you. You may
not see it now but at the end when Mr. Thomas has to answer to
God for hurting you, he will pay. I promise." Steve kept
remembering his father saying over and over again after he found
out that Mr. Thomas not going to pay for physically abusing him.
Mr. Birch, his dad's lawyer did not feel that they had a good
case against Mr. Thomas and felt that Steve should not be
permitted to testify against Mr. Thomas. He felt that Steve could
not handle the defense attorney's questions and the confrontation
of seeing Mr. Thomas again. His parents agreed with him. So the
case was dropped. Then all of a sudden Mr. Frank Thomas face
appeared.
"See I told you that nobody is going to believe you,"
laughed Mr. Frank when he had called the new school pretending to
be Steve's father. "Now I am coming after you for telling
all those lies about me. Do you hear me," yelled Mr. Frank
Thomas angrily.
Steve woke up with a start and shaking all over. He remembered
that Mr. Frank Thomas never paid for physically abusing him.
"But that is going to change," Steve thought to
himself. He got up out of bed and showered and dressed. Steve
walked over to his dresser to where his gun lay. Steve reached
for his gun and quickly loaded it. He was going to make sure that
Mr. Frank Thomas paid for what he did to him. Steve walked out of
the beach house and into his truck and headed straight for the
hospital.
**********
Mark, Amanda and Jesse came out of the station in disgust. They
had thought that maybe Steve had changed his mind and reported
for work.
"Where can he be?" asked Mark desperately. "We
have to find him."
"Mark, I hate to think this but do you think that Steve
might have gone back to the hospital to get even with Mr.
Thomas?" asked Jesse slowly. He didn't know how Mark would
react to his question.
Mark stared at Jesse for a minute before slowly saying, "I
sure hate to think that Jesse but I have a feeling you're right.
Let's go back to the hospital and find out." Mark, Jesse and
Amanda got into Mark's car and drove back to the hospital.
**********
When Steve got to the hospital he walked to the nurses station.
"I need the room number to Mr. Frank Thomas?" asked
Steve to Nurse Haney.
"Oh good at last," answered Nurse Haney with relief.
"Mr. Thomas has been asking for your father or you. He is in
room 532."
"Thank you," answered Steve slowly. He walked down the
corridor until he found the room. Steve slowly opened the door
and looked in.
Mr. Thomas lay sleeping on his bed and did not hear Steve come
in.
Steve slowly walked to the bed and pulled his gun out from his
waist. He put the gun next to Frank's head above his left ear and
pulled the trigger back but did not shoot.
Frank opened his eyes at the sound of the trigger being pulled
back and stared at Steve in horror.
"I'm going to kill you, Mr. Thomas very slowly and
painfully. Like you hurt me all those years back. Do you
remember?"
"Please no Steve," begged Frank. "Give me a chance
to explain. That's why I came back. I want to tell you why I
physically abused you and ask for your forgiveness. Please let me
explain."
"No," yelled Steve angrily but quiet enough not to be
heard or interrupted by anyone. "You got away once with all
your fancy talking and you're not going to do it again. So shut
up and listen. We are going to do this my way."
"Please don't do this," cried Frank. "I'm begging
you, please don't hurt me until I explained to you why I hurt
you."
"I said shut up," yelled Steve angrily. "Now get
up out of bed. We're going for a little trip. Now move."
"I can't," cried Frank desperately. "I need a
wheelchair. I'm paralyzed from my waist down."
"Well then I guess I am going to have to kill you
here," Steve said with a smirk on his face. Steve aimed his
gun at Frank's head.
"Please no," cried Frank desperately.
Steve pulled the trigger back when Mark, Jesse and Amanda came
rushing through the door.
"Steve, son please put the gun down," begged Mark.
"This is not the answer. Please listen to me." He
slowly began to approach Steve with Jesse going behind Steve.
"Get out of here dad," yelled Steve angrily. "I'm
through listening. Mr. Frank Thomas is going to pay for what he
did to me and you're not going to stop me."
"Please Mark do something," begged Frank. "Give me
a chance to explain."
"Shut up Frank," yelled Mark angrily. "You're just
making matters worse by your begging and crying." Then he
turned to Steve gently and calmly said, "Steve remember what
we talked about when we realized Frank was not going to pay for
physically abusing you?"
Steve began to remember but he kept trying to forget. He was
sweating and shaking with anger and only wanted to kill the man
that had abused him many years ago. He only wanted revenge.
"I don't want to remember," yelled Steve angrily.
"The only thing I want to remember is that Frank Thomas
physically abused me and got away with it. Now I am going to kill
him, so get out of here. I don't want you to see this."
Mark saw Jesse right behind Steve and ready to pull Steve's hand
straight up. He silently shook his head no and Jesse remained
where he was at until Mark gave him the signal to move.
"Please son listen to me," begged Mark as he continued
to approach Steve. "You don't have the right to take
somebody's life. That is up to God not you. Remember venges is
mine says the Lord. God will see to that Frank is punished for
abusing you," finished his dad as he put his hand on Steve's
shoulder and with the other hand reached for the gun.
Steve stared at his dad with tears coming down his face and
slowly released the gun. Mark handed the gun to Jesse and held
Steve tightly while Steve cried uncontrollably on his dad's
shoulder. Mark led him out of the room with Frank yelling for a
chance to explain.
**********
Steve was asleep in an unoccupied hospital room with Mark, Amanda
and Jesse at his bedside. Jesse had given Steve a sedative to
sleep. But Steve still moaned and groaned in his sleep.
"I can't stand this," yelled Mark angrily. "How
dare Frank come back into our lives. Hasn't he ruined our lives
enough that he has to come back and do more damage, especially to
Steve. Maybe I should have let Steve kill him that way he would
be out of our lives for good."
"Mark, you really don't mean that," said Amanda with
surprise.
"Yes I do," yelled Mark harshly.
Amanda and Jesse stared at Mark in shock.
Mark looked at Jesse and Amanda and saw a look of shock on their
faces. "No I really didn't mean it," he answered in
disgust. "It just that I hate to see Steve so upset again
after all these years."
"Mark why don't you let Steve see him?" asked Jesse
cautiously.
"Didn't you see Steve," said Mark with surprise.
"Steve would have killed him if we didn't stop him in
time."
"I know Mark," answered Jesse slowly. "But if
Steve talks to Mr. Thomas and listens to what he has to say,
maybe Steve will be able to put this nightmare behind him."
"I don't know Jesse," answered Mark slowly. "I
don't know if I could face seeing Frank Thomas again much less
try to convince Steve that is the right thing to do."
"But Mark, Jesse is right," replied Amanda slowly.
"Steve and you need to talk to Mr. Thomas even it just to
tell him how you both feel. You can't begin to heal if you don't
at least confront Mr. Thomas now. Remember Mr. Thomas has only a
few days to live and when he is gone there won't be anymore
chances. And Mark, Steve needs you to help him see that it is the
right thing to do so he can put this nightmare behind him if not
I think this would destroy him. Are you willing to take that
chance?"
Mark sat silently for what it seemed like an eternity. "Of
course you are right Amanda," he finally said. "But I
will need Jesse's and your help to convince Steve and believe me
it is not going to be easy trying to convince him."
"You have it Mark," said Jesse and Amanda together.
They all sat silently while they waited for Steve to wake up.
After a couple of hours Steve finally began to stir.
"How are you feeling Steve?" asked Mark when Steve was
fully awake.
"I have a headache," answered Steve slowly. "But
other than that I'm okay. How long have you three been
here?"
Since I gave you the sedative," answered Jesse slowly.
"Do you want me to give you something for your
headache?"
"No that's okay," answered Steve slowly. "All I
want to do is go home and forget about Frank Thomas and this
whole nightmare." He started to get up out of bed when Mark
put his hand out to stop him.
"Wait Steve," he said slowly. "We need to talk
about Frank Thomas and about what happened in his room. I also
think we should go face Frank Thomas and tell him how we both
feel and what he did to both of us."
"I don't want to talk or see Frank Thomas ever again,"
said Steve very sternly. "All I want is for him to stay out
of my life for good." Again Steve started to get out of bed.
"But son that is not the answer," insisted Mark calmly.
"You won't be able to put this behind you until you have
come to terms of what Frank Thomas did to you."
"But I have come to terms with it dad," Steve answered
angrily. "Ever since I was eight years old and Frank Thomas
physically abused me."
"But Steve, you haven't come to terms with it,"
answered Mark calmly. "Because you almost killed Frank
Thomas today and no matter how much you want to deny it you
cannot forget that."
"Dad if I ever see Frank Thomas again I will kill him and
this time you won't be able to stop me," said Steve harshly.
"Now let it drop."
Mark looked to Jesse and Amanda for help.
"Steve, your dad is right," began Amanda slowly.
"No matter how much you don't want to see or talk to Frank
Thomas that is all the more reason that you should. Because Steve
this will eventually destroy you. Please listen to your
dad."
"I don't have to listen to anybody," yelled Steve
angrily. "Just all of you leave me alone," and he
stormed out of the room.
Mark and Amanda started to go after Steve but Jesse stopped them.
"Please let me talk to Steve by myself. Maybe I can get him
to listen to me. Please?"
Mark and Amanda looked at Jesse for a few minutes before Mark
finally answered, "Okay Jesse. Just please convince Steve
that what he is doing is only hurting himself more. He really
should and needs to go talk to Frank Thomas."
"I will Mark," said Jesse as he gave Mark a reassuring
hug. "Please don't worry."
**********
Jesse went out quickly to try to catch up with Steve. "Hey
Steve wait up," he hollered at Steve in the parking lot.
Steve turned around and saw Jesse running to catch up with him.
"Leave me alone Jesse," he said firmly. "I am
tired of talking about Frank Thomas."
"I know you are Steve," answered Jesse as he reached
Steve. "But just give me a chance to talk to you about Frank
Thomas and if after we talk and you still feel the same way, I
promise that I won't bug you anymore about it. Please?"
Steve looked at Jesse and sighed heavily. "All right,"
he answered slowly. "Get in. I don't want to talk
here."
"Thanks Steve," answered Jesse as he got into the
passenger side of Steve's truck. "Where are we going?"
"Oh I don't know," answered Steve. "How about the
beach house and we can walk along the shoreline?"
"Sounds all right with me," answered Jesse with a
smile. "Let's go."
Steve and Jesse didn't say anything until they arrived at the
beach house.
They went directly to the back and quietly began walking together
along the shoreline.
"Okay Jesse what did you want to tell me about Frank
Thomas?" asked Steve quietly and with little emotion.
"Not so much that I want to talk about Frank Thomas,"
answered Jesse. "But I want to talk about you," as he
stopped and looked at Steve.
"What about me?" asked Steve taken by surprise.
"Steve do you remember how you felt when Mr. Thomas first
started to abuse you?" asked Jesse slowly.
"Jesse that is exactly what I am trying to forget,"
answered Steve firmly.
"But that is just the point," replied Jesse. "I
don't want you to forget, I want you to remember. Steve stared at
Jesse strangely. "Please bear with me." Steve nodded
his head in agreement. "How did you feel?"
"I was shocked," answered Steve slowly. "I don't
know I guess I was hurt."
"Why did you feel hurt Steve?" asked Jesse slowly.
"Because he was suppose to be my dad's friend,"
answered Steve raising his voice. "How could one of my dad's
friends abuse me like that?"
"Steve was he your dad's friend or your friend?" asked
Jesse slowly.
Steve in a louder voice answered, "He was my teacher and my
dad's friend."
"Steve, I know he was your teacher and your dad's friend but
was he your friend too?" persisted Jesse in a calm voice.
"Yes he was my friend too," shouted Steve angrily.
"How could Mr. Thomas abuse me like that. He was suppose to
be my friend and not suppose to hurt me. Why did he have to abuse
me? I would have done anything for him if he would have just
asked. Why did he have to abuse me?" he cried out in pain.
He looked at Jesse with tears in his eyes and asked again,
"Why?"
"I don't know Steve," answered Jesse quietly. "But
that is why I think it is so important that you go see Mr. Thomas
and ask him that very question. Even if it's just to set your
mind at ease. And Steve you won't be able to do that much longer
because Mr. Thomas is dying and doesn't have much time. Please go
see him?"
Steve stared at Jesse with tears coming down his face. "All
right," he answered in a teary voice.
Jesse reached out and hugged Steve. "It will be all right
Steve. You'll see."
"Thanks Jesse," said Steve with a slight smile.
"Anytime," said Jesse with a smile on his face.
**********
Mark and Amanda were in the doctor's lounge waiting to hear from
Jesse and Steve.
"Why this whole nightmare again?" Mark asked angrily.
He paced back and forth angrily. "Why did Frank have to come
back into our lives and upset Steve all over again. He just
couldn't let this matter die away. No he had to reenter our lives
again and attempt to destroy Steve's life again."
"Mark why don't you go see Mr. Thomas by yourself and ask
him that question?" asked Amanda calmly. "Maybe if you
know what Mr. Thomas wants you can convince Steve to go see
him."
Mark stared at Amanda for a few minutes. "You're right
Amanda," he said with a smile. "That's a great idea.
Thank you," as he gave her a hug.
"Your welcome Mark," she said with a smile. "I'm
glad that I could help."
**********
Mark walked slowly down the corridor. What was he going to say to
Frank after all these years? The last time he had seen Frank
ended up in a shouting match with nothing being resolved. He
remembered the argument as if it were yesterday.
"Frank how could you do this to Steve?" asked Mark
angrily. "He is only a little boy who adores you."
"Mark, I didn't do anything to Steve," pleaded Frank.
"I don't know why Steve said I did. You have to believe me.
Please?"
"I'll tell you what I believe," yelled Mark angrily. I
believe my son because he would not make up something like this.
You broke his leg and you beat him constantly in school for two
weeks. I will see to it that you end up in jail for physically
abusing my son."
"Mark, I didn't do anything to Steve but only tried to
protect him from Jarrad Willis and Greg Dalton," replied
Frank sternly. "They are the ones that broke his leg not me.
Besides Steve was beginning to fight at school everyday and
always getting into trouble. I tried to help him and this is all
the thanks I get."
"You tried to help him," yelled Mark angrily. "And
how dare you say Steve was a trouble maker. Get out of my house
now before I do something I will regret."
"All right Mark I'll get out," yelled Frank angrily.
"I thought coming over here to settle this matter would help
but I can see that I was wrong. But remember this Mark, I will do
anything to stay out of jail even it takes you to court for
slander. You got that." And he slammed the door as he left.
That was some thirty odd years ago and again he was meeting with
Frank Thomas to discuss Steve's abuse. Again what would he say to
Frank after all these years.
Mark finally arrived at Frank's room and he hesitated outside the
room. He drew a deep breath and slowly let it out. Mark slowly
opened the door and walked in.
Frank looked up and saw Mark walk in.
"I'm giving you one chance Frank to tell me why you came
back and upset Steve all over again," demanded Mark sternly.
"And it better be good."
"Mark, I'm so sorry that I have upset Steve but I came back
to apologize to him and to you for what I did to both of
you," said Frank weakly.
"To apologize to Steve," yelled Mark in disbelief.
"Do you have any idea what you did to him?"
"No," answered Frank slowly. "But I can imagine
what I put him through and you."
"You can imagine," said Mark in disbelief. "How
dare you say you can imagine what you put us through. First you
put me through pure nightmare. We were suppose to be friends and
the way you repay our friendship is by physically abusing my son.
Second my late wife, Katherine and I trusted you to teach Steve
and to help by being his teacher and his friend but no instead we
had regain Steve's trust after what you put him though. So how
dare you say you can imagine what I went through."
"Okay Mark, I can't imagine what you went through,"
cried Frank. "But I can imagine what Steve went through
because Mark I was physically abused by own parents.
Mark stared at Frank in shock and in anger.
"That's right Mark, I was physically abused as a young
child," he cried with tears coming down his face. "But
Mark, I have changed and that is why I came back to tell Steve
and you. I have received counseling and even went back to the
church. I know what I did to Steve and you was wrong and I can't
take that back. But I am willing to do anything to get yours and
Steve's forgiveness. And Mark it's not because I'm dying. I
didn't know I was dying until a couple of weeks ago. I began
looking for Steve and you for a couple of years now. Also I have
talked to Jarrad Willis and Greg Dalton and we are working
together to work things out. Mark, I'm here to do the same with
Steve and you. That is if you let me?" Frank stared at Mark
with tears coming down his face and a pleading look of
forgiveness.
"I don't know Frank," Mark finally answered slowly.
"I just don't know if…"
Mark was interrupted by the opening of Frank's door and Steve
standing there at the entrance. Mark quickly walked over to
Steve. "Are you all right?" he asked with concern.
"I'm only here to ask Mr. Thomas why he physically abused
me," Steve answered very slowly and trying very hard to keep
his emotions under control.
"Steve, I'm so sorry that I abused you and put you through a
nightmare," cried Frank as tears continued to come down his
face.
"I don't care how sorry you are," yelled Steve angrily.
"I want to know why you broke my leg, beat me and threatened
me for two weeks? You were suppose to be my friend. You took me
to baseball games and played catch with me. I trusted you as a
teacher but most important as my friend. Why did you have to
betray my friendship and trust for you?" he cried as tears
began streaming down his face. "Why?" Mark put his hand
on Steve's shoulder for support and strength.
"I couldn't help myself," Frank cried out. "I was
physically abused myself as a young child by my own parents for
ten years.
"Then you should have known better," cried Steve
angrily.
"I know I should have," cried Frank. "But back
then I didn't know I could have gotten help. All I knew is that I
had to make someone pay for my suffering. I know that is no
excuse but that is the only one I have. But Steve, I have
changed. That is why I'm here. To ask for your forgiveness and to
give me a chance to try to make it up to you. Please let me
try?"
"No," yelled Steve as he wiped away his tears.
"You're never going to get the chance of hurting me again.
I'm going to say this once and only once. Stay out of my life and
never come back. Because if you do you will be sorry." Steve
then turned around to leave.
While Steve was talking Mark realized the only way to help Steve
now was to forgive Frank, himself. And also help Steve to forgive
Frank before the hate would end up destroying them both. He had
to help Steve realize that before it was too late.
"Wait Steve," said Mark quickly.
Steve stopped and turned to his dad. "What?" he asked
sternly.
Mark walked over to Steve. "Listen to me, son. I know that
Frank has hurt you very badly and I also know you have every
right not to forgive Frank for what he did to you. But Steve if
you don't you cannot completely heal until you have rid yourself
of all that hate. That hate will eventually destroy you."
"But dad that is why I went to counseling," answered
Steve sternly. "I have rid myself of all that hate."
"Have you son?" asked Mark slowly. "You tried to
kill Frank earlier today and right now you threatened him again
if he tried to see you. That doesn't seem to me that you have
gotten rid of that hate. Yes you went to counseling when you were
young but Steve there is more to it than that. Counseling was
only the beginning and coming here and telling Frank how you felt
and listening to what he had to say was the second step in
healing. But Steve the third step is the hardest thing to do and
that is to forgive Frank for what he did to you. Until you are
able to do all three, Steve, you cannot rid yourself of all that
hate that you feel inside and Steve that hate will eventually
destroy you." Then Mark turned to face Frank and said,
"Frank, I forgive you for what you did to my son and my
family." He walked over to Frank and shook his hand.
Steve stared at his dad for a few minutes before he cried out,
"I can't dad. I'm sorry I can't," and he ran out of the
room.
"I'm sorry Frank but it is going to take Steve sometime to
forget," said Mark with disappointment.
"I know Mark," answered Frank. "But at least I was
able to get your forgiveness and if time holds out your
friendship again."
"You'll have it," answered Mark with a smile. "But
I need to go find Steve," and he left Frank's room.
**********
Steve didn't stop running until he got to the elevator. He
punched the elevator to go down but when it opened Steve was
headed the other way to the chapel. He went in and sat on the
nearest bench. Steve began thinking of all what his dad had said
and did in Frank's room. He also remembered how Jesse and Amanda
were there helping him to realize what he was doing to himself
and to his dad. Then Steve began praying, "God if you can
hear me please help me to forgive Mr. Thomas for what he did to
me. Help me to get rid of this hate and anger that I feel inside
of me. Help me to be strong like my dad and show me the love that
it takes to forgive, like you forgave your enemies. Steve sat
silently for a few minutes before he felt peace come over him. He
smiled, "Thank you God," and he got up and left to find
his dad.
"Dad," said Steve as he entered the doctor's lounge. He
knew that his dad would be their asking Jesse and Amanda for
their help to find him.
"Steve are you all right?" asked Mark as he came over
to his son. Amanda and Jesse quickly stood next to him.
"Yes dad I'm," answered Steve with a smile. "Would
you, Jesse and Amanda like to join me to go see Frank?"
"Yes, we would," answered Mark as he looked at Jesse
and Amanda. Jesse and Amanda nodded in agreement. They were
uncertain to what Steve was going to say or do but the smile on
his face told them that everything was going to be okay.
The End!
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