|
Chapter 162 - The Cobbler Always Wears The Worst Shoes
More than a week later Mary and Mason still had no news from Theda but then she suddenly appeared at their place and said that she's ready to discuss Mason's plan. They discussed the details: when and where Sophia and Theda exchanged their looks. The easiest place was Capwell's house. After all Theda needs was staying inside of the estate. But Sophia had to make up and ride to her destination along with Mary and Mason. The plan looked simple in words but in reality it does require much of preparing.
Mason went to his father's house to inform Sophia about their plan. Sophia was very happy that her father's case finally moves forward, she beamed.
"Oh, Mason, I just remembered. Theda asked me for my family albums!" Sophia exclaimed suddenly.
"I can take them to her if you want," Mason volunteered.
Sophia nodded and went up get albums.
Mason wandered through the empty atrium and then peered into the living room. There he saw Charlie who hunched in the corner of the sofa.
"Hey, little brother! How are you?" Mason asked.
Charlie just sulkily shrugged and said nothing.
"In no mood?" Mason suggested. "Why?"
"Boring", the youngest brother muttered and turned away.
At this point Sophia looked in the living room.
"Mason? My albums," she said and then saw Charlie. "What are you doing here? You already must be at the doctor."
"At the doctor?" Mason stiffened.
"I didn't go to him".
Mason quickly took Sophia aside. "What's wrong with my brother?"
"He goes to the therapist. The separation from his mother is too great a burden for him."
"Or may be my father still suspects that he has schizophrenia. Am I right?"
"No, you're not. Mason, your brother really needs help".
"Yes, of course. As far as I remember I'd given the same help almost at the same age. It's no use. Charlie's too smart to open his heart a stranger".
"Do you have a better person? Or maybe you'll talk to him? Probably, you can understand him better than others".
"Too good," Mason muttered.
"Just try, okay? It's not about CC only. I'm very concern about Charlie's mood swings. He often looks sad, just sits and stares into space".
Mason nodded. Yes, it's was familiar to him. In such moments he fantasized that he will run away, become a famous cowboy and find his mother. And then he avenges his father for their separation. These plans were so naive and he knew it even back then, so he hated everybody around even the more due the fact that all he can was to believe in tales. Probably, Charlie hates all of them now? And cherishes his plans to escape and make himself?
"Let's go," Mason walked to his brother and took his hand. "Let's go for a walk".
"Where?" the boy looked up immediately.
"Somewhere. We can wander through the park or go to the beach. Just unwind".
"Okay," Charlie jumped off the sofa and ran ahead Mason. "As long as I do not go to a wacky doctor".
* * *
Mason and Charlie choose the beach and walked on the sand in silence. In spite of his eloquence Mason had no idea what to say to his youngest brother. Rather, he could say many words but they would not give any relief to the boy. May be these words were not existed after all.
Charlie was silent. He's dragging his feet though the sand and looking over to ocean waves. Then he suddenly stopped.
"Mason, look!"
Mason looked up and saw the surfers: ragtag colorful team of boys with the youngest one about the same age as Charlie.
"I want to do that! Please? Mason, can I'll surf too?"
"Not now, Charlie. And you need to learn it first. I'll ask Ted, he would give you a few lessons".
Charlie immediately sulks and kicks the nearest pile of sand.
"Lies, all lies!" he muttered bitterly.
"Hey!" Mason took the boy's shoulder and made Charlie face him. "When have I ever lied to you? Ted would happy to teach you".
Charlie said nothing, just looked away.
"Today I'm in the place of your doctor, so let's talk", Mason said gravely and gestured to the small hill nearby.
Charlie resignedly shuffled and sat down on the hard sunburned grass. Mason sat next to him.
"I do not understand why all these stupid conversations going on," Charlie said through clenched teeth. "I'm not ill, I'm just fine".
"We both know that this is not true", Mason sighed. "You are certainly not ill; you're just not accustomed to living with your father yet. The doctor's supposed to help you deal with it".
"Help to become accustomed to living with my father? I hardly ever see him after all. He doesn't care about me. And I do not care about him!" Charlie's eyes angry twinkled. "And what's point? My mother will take me soon, that's all".
Mason clenched his teeth.
"Charlie, she will not take you. She cannot. She is ill".
"My father said it too but it is not true. She's just angry and wants to punish me. But I became good now and she..."
"Stop it. Charlie, just stop. Look, our mother is really ill. She cannot take care of you. Do you understand?" He turned the brother's face to him but Charlie looked away. "She loves you. And she brought you here not as a punishment. She just decided that you will be better here".
"Then why she never brought me to my father earlier?"
"She had her reasons. Now they are not around".
Charlie said nothing again. Mason tried to take his arm but the boy threw his hand off.
"Get out! I don't want to see you again! Never!"
"It is not true," Mason said softly.
"It's true!" Charlie jumped up. "I'll do anything to get back to my mother. I'll sell, give, steal anything! I don't care about all you! I do not care if all of you die tomorrow!"
"It will not return you to your mother too," Mason said hardly. "Once I was used just like you... the naive boy who believed that his mother will come back if he would be good. No, she'll not. Bear in mind. Period".
Charlie turned white, his face painful contorted. Mason waited that he attacked him with fists and almost wanted this but his youngest brother just started crying. Like a small boy languishing in pain. And Mason suddenly realized that he just acted like a scoundrel. It's not his rival for the love of his mother but the helpless boy in front of him. And Mason did hit him where it hurts. Scratched any hope.
"I was really a bad doctor," he said, painful smiling and handed the handkerchief to Charlie. "Come on, lets' eat ice cream".
Charlie obeyed. They ate two large portions of Charlie's favorite strawberry chocolate ice cream in the beach cafe and then Mason took his brother home. Charlie did not yell, cry or resist. He obediently had been doing all he was asked. Like a puppet. Mason did not like it. Really did not like it. But what he could do? He'll not go down to apologize. It even would not bring anything good. He just told the truth to Charlie. And his brother will take it sooner or later.
Mason returned Charlie to the house of his father, nodded vaguely at Sophia's questioning sight, took her family albums and drove home. To Mary and his children. But he's sick at heart and feels bad. He's not able to help his youngest brother and just blew it.
|
|