Part 418: Big Sister
October 17th, 2009
Eddie pulled his vehicle into the parking lot of the big Barnes and Noble bookstore. He calmly got out of his car and proceeded to the front door. He wasn’t use to finding this area, as he didn’t drive down here much but it was a special night. The patrons were sill flocking in, as the speaker had already been in full swing giving her speech. Eddie smirked as he walked up to the door. He didn’t need to hear her great speech.
He’d heard it many times before.
“What I went through, no one should go through,” Jilly said over the loud speaker, “This incident pretty much scarred my life. I never thought I could trust again, laugh again or love again. But the one thing I had to remember is that it was not my fault. I didn’t ask for it and no woman would have. Whoever believes rape is a joke, those are the sick ones. But this sort of act if it has, God forbid, happened to you, does not need to destroy you. You are the victim and you are the one who needs justice. It happened to me. But I overcame it and so can you.”
The crowd then erupted in a round of applause and cheers. Eddie stood at the background, clapping for the deaf woman. He cared for Jilly a lot. She was there for her mother when she was alone in a dark and damp mud laced cell, being held at gunpoint. He considered her a big sister and she filled the role perfectly. He looked forward to talking with her again.
The night was growing long. It was already borderline till closing for the bookstore but Jilly was always there for her fans. They were more than that; they were people who looked to her for guidance and she never turned them away. The young woman who was buy her side couldn’t stop crying but she felt she had to tell the deaf woman her story. “My sister was raped,” she wept, “She was left for dead in a parking lot and she stayed there for a few hours. People actually walked by and no one stopped to help.”
Jilly took the woman’s hand and squeezed it as she listened.
“My sister . .she . . .she thought about killing herself. She kept saying it was her fault and then she just happened to find your book in a hospital waiting room. It gave her the courage to continue. Now she’s married and has a baby on the way.”
“That is such wonderful news,” Jilly was almost in tears, “ You want me to sign a book for her?”
“Oh, please,” the woman held it to her.
The deaf woman signed the book and dedicated to her sister. She then gave her a hug and kissed on the cheek. “Bless your heart.” She whispered.
The patrons and fans began to disperse from the bookstore. Jilly picked up her bags and got ready to leave. Her feet were killing her, not to mention she was hungry. The bookstore manager then walked over and touched her on the shoulder. “Miss Lambert?” the manager said, making sure she could read her lips.
“Thank you for hosting this event.” Jilly said, shaking her hand.
“It was our pleasure. You’re not a New York Times best-seller for nothing,” the woman then pointed toward the front, “By the way, there is a young man here to see you, said he’s going to take you to dinner.”
“Is this young man handsome?” Jilly giggled.
“I guess I’m not at liberty to say,” the manager replied with a smirk, “Since he said he was your little brother.”
“Eddie?” the deaf woman’s face lit up.
She turned the corner and then looked past the magazine rack. The young man was indeed Eddie Trascal; her adoptive little brother. He was calmly reading a Maxim magazine, then looked up. His smile brighten at the sight of the deaf woman. “EDDIE!!” she laughed as she ran to him and embraced him.
The young man laughed he held onto her. “Damn good to see you, sis.” He whispered in her ear.
The restaurant was almost empty. It was one of the fancy balcony restaurants in Los Angeles. Jilly even giggled that Eddie remember to wear a sports coat because they weren’t going to let him in without one. The head waiter escorted them to a table overlooking the lights of the city. Jilly ordered a dry martini and Eddie ordered a simple diet coke. The deaf woman joked that she’ll buy him his first drink on his twenty first birthday. “Speaking of which,” she giggled, reaching into her bag, “ I’m so glad you came to get me tonight, because I’ve been holding onto this for you.”
“Holding onto what?” Eddie smirked.
She slowly picked up a small object, wrapped in paper. “Happy Birthday.” She smiled.
“Thanks, Jilly,” he smiled, taking it.
Eddie calmly began to unwrap the present. It was a small souvenir from London. It was a snow globe that showed the various buildings of Parliament and Big Ben. The young man smiled and shook it, making the small bits of white dance within the water filled gift. “I love it, Jilly,” he grinned, “Thank you.”
“London was wonderful,” she smiled, “I hope to go back there one day.”
“Did you have a lot of fans there too?”
“Readers, Eddie.” She winked, “Actors have fans. I have readers.”
“You say tomato.” He winked back.
Jilly giggled, holding onto her mouth to keep from laughing in the normally quite restaurant. Eddie did always have the ability to make her laugh. She then smiled again, patting him on the hand. “So, fill me in on everything,” she said, “How is school? How is your mother?”
“Mom’s fine,” he said, sipping his coke, “ She’s still in Japan, running the business end of things. Luckily she promised she’d be home by December.”
“Oh, yeah, our Flight 815 Christmas bash,” the deaf woman smiled, “We never miss it.”
“You gonna make it, Jilly?”
“Of course. Now tell me, how is school?”
“School . . .is. . .uh . . .interesting.” he said, scratching the back of his head.
“What do you mean, interesting?” she raised an eyebrow, “ I don’t recall school ever being interesting for me.”
“I . . .have a girlfriend.” He finally admitted.
Jilly eyes went wide and she practically gasped. “YOU LITTLE SNEAK!” she playfully slapped his hand, “You didn’t mention that in the last postcard you sent me!”
“I felt it was something you’d like to hear in normal conversation.”
“Oh, my goodness, yes!” she said, slapping her hands and rubbing them together, “Tell me all the details about her. Spare me nothing.”
Eddie then began the long tale of how he met Bonnie and what they had been going through the last few weeks. He told her how she surprised him on his birthday with a cake that she made from scratch and it was surprisingly good. He told her of their Getting To Know You Jaunt and their first date. Jilly listened to stories about attending football games together and going for simple drives in the moonlight. Then Eddie coughed as he finished his diet coke. “I think I love her, Jilly.” He whispered.
“Have you told her that?” she said, sipping her martini.
“In passing. I’ve said, Love ya. But I haven’t told her I love her. Because . . . .I’m afraid of what happens when she hears I mean it.”
“Maybe she means it too.” The deaf woman took his hand, “Don’t run away from love, Eddie.”
The young man slowly winced his face, as his eyes began to form up. “I remember . . .Seth from the Island,” he whispered, “He was worried . . .Tanya would no longer love him when he told her that he was forced to kill people. How . . .do I even dare . .tell Bonnie the truth about what happened to me?”
“Don’t be haunted by the past, Eddie,” Jilly told him, “If there is anybody who knows about letting go, it’s me. You have the strength, Eddie, I know it. You can do this and Bonnie will be there for you.”
Eddie took both his sister’s hands and held them; gently kissing her fingers. Jilly had given inspiration to many abused and battered women to over come their pain. There wasn’t any reason why she couldn’t do that for Eddie too. Bonds of family were necessary made from blood.
After the dinner, Eddie drove Jilly back to her hotel. The streets were flooded with lights and various cars working to get home. The young man turned through the various street corners as he continued on. The deaf woman by his side stared out into the city lights. Eddie then gently rubbed her arm. “Have you talked to Jack lately?” he asked.
“Not for a while.” She said, continuing to stare at the window.
“Kate’s back.” The young man whispered.
Jilly looked at him abruptly. “Really?” she gasped.
“Yeah, been on the run for a while,” Eddie said, pulling toward a nearby street, “John has taken her in. Even gave her false papers, so now technically she’s his sister.”
Jilly sighed, looking at the dashboard. “That’s nice,” she whispered, “Kate deserves the quiet life.”
“So do you.” Her adoptive brother quickly commented.
Jilly reached up and gently took his hand. “I’ve always appreciated you looking out for me, Eddie,” she smiled, “But I’m happy with my life now. Me and Jack still see each on occasion, but . . .he’s got a problem letting go. He’s been pining for Kate for a long time.”
“Well . . .I would have liked to see you and Jack together but . . .if you’re comfortable with it, then I am too.”
“I hope all our little kids in our family can grow up to be as mature as you.” She giggled.
Eddie smiled as he turned right into a parking lot. Jilly looked around and realized they were not at the hotel; they were at the beach. The deaf woman looked around and back to Eddie. “Eddie, why did you bring . . . . .” she covered her mouth, “OH, no, Eddie.”
“One more time . . .for old times sake?” he smiled.
“I can’t,” she whispered, “I’ll become addicted.”
“You deserve it, Jilly. Just one more time, okay?”
Jilly didn’t want to this but the prospect of what was about to happen was too tempting to resist. She shook her head in agreement and then got our of the car. Eddie then got out of the vehicle on his side then took her hand as they walked along the sideway toward the peer. The two adoptive siblings stepped out onto the wooden structure and made their way outward a little ways. Eddie then stopped when they reached a part where the water where it crashed into the pillars below. The young man looked at his sister’s face. Jilly took a deep breath and then held onto his hands. “Close your eyes.” He whispered
Jilly closed her eyes and held onto his hands. Eddie took a deep breath and concentrated. The deaf woman twitched slightly, then the sound began to fill her ears. The sounds of the crashing waves below her; the cars from the nearby street; a helicopter above and even the low hum from the street lights.
Jilly could hear it all.
The deaf woman started to cry and laugh at the same time. Eddie smiled as he was able to give her this special joy. What a few people didn’t know that was before Watchman left the planet, he altered Eddie’s electromagnetic field. It allowed him certain gifts; tactile telepathy, and the ability to recognize shifts in barometric pressure. When he touched someone and concentrated, they were able to join nearly as one. At that very moment, Eddie was allowing Jilly to hear through his own ears.
Jilly has always been a woman of faith. She’s constantly believed in miracles, which enable her to accept Eddie's gifts. She had mistaken that she could hear Eddie’s voice briefly back on the Island. The truth was she wasn’t mistaken; she DID hear him. Eddie hadn’t mastered his gifts at that time but now he had. As she continued to hold onto him, being overwhelmed by the sound of the waves, the cars and the street hum; she continued to cry and laugh.
It was the sound of her own laughter she enjoyed the most.
Eddie pulled his vehicle into the parking lot of the big Barnes and Noble bookstore. He calmly got out of his car and proceeded to the front door. He wasn’t use to finding this area, as he didn’t drive down here much but it was a special night. The patrons were sill flocking in, as the speaker had already been in full swing giving her speech. Eddie smirked as he walked up to the door. He didn’t need to hear her great speech.
He’d heard it many times before.
“What I went through, no one should go through,” Jilly said over the loud speaker, “This incident pretty much scarred my life. I never thought I could trust again, laugh again or love again. But the one thing I had to remember is that it was not my fault. I didn’t ask for it and no woman would have. Whoever believes rape is a joke, those are the sick ones. But this sort of act if it has, God forbid, happened to you, does not need to destroy you. You are the victim and you are the one who needs justice. It happened to me. But I overcame it and so can you.”
The crowd then erupted in a round of applause and cheers. Eddie stood at the background, clapping for the deaf woman. He cared for Jilly a lot. She was there for her mother when she was alone in a dark and damp mud laced cell, being held at gunpoint. He considered her a big sister and she filled the role perfectly. He looked forward to talking with her again.
The night was growing long. It was already borderline till closing for the bookstore but Jilly was always there for her fans. They were more than that; they were people who looked to her for guidance and she never turned them away. The young woman who was buy her side couldn’t stop crying but she felt she had to tell the deaf woman her story. “My sister was raped,” she wept, “She was left for dead in a parking lot and she stayed there for a few hours. People actually walked by and no one stopped to help.”
Jilly took the woman’s hand and squeezed it as she listened.
“My sister . .she . . .she thought about killing herself. She kept saying it was her fault and then she just happened to find your book in a hospital waiting room. It gave her the courage to continue. Now she’s married and has a baby on the way.”
“That is such wonderful news,” Jilly was almost in tears, “ You want me to sign a book for her?”
“Oh, please,” the woman held it to her.
The deaf woman signed the book and dedicated to her sister. She then gave her a hug and kissed on the cheek. “Bless your heart.” She whispered.
The patrons and fans began to disperse from the bookstore. Jilly picked up her bags and got ready to leave. Her feet were killing her, not to mention she was hungry. The bookstore manager then walked over and touched her on the shoulder. “Miss Lambert?” the manager said, making sure she could read her lips.
“Thank you for hosting this event.” Jilly said, shaking her hand.
“It was our pleasure. You’re not a New York Times best-seller for nothing,” the woman then pointed toward the front, “By the way, there is a young man here to see you, said he’s going to take you to dinner.”
“Is this young man handsome?” Jilly giggled.
“I guess I’m not at liberty to say,” the manager replied with a smirk, “Since he said he was your little brother.”
“Eddie?” the deaf woman’s face lit up.
She turned the corner and then looked past the magazine rack. The young man was indeed Eddie Trascal; her adoptive little brother. He was calmly reading a Maxim magazine, then looked up. His smile brighten at the sight of the deaf woman. “EDDIE!!” she laughed as she ran to him and embraced him.
The young man laughed he held onto her. “Damn good to see you, sis.” He whispered in her ear.
The restaurant was almost empty. It was one of the fancy balcony restaurants in Los Angeles. Jilly even giggled that Eddie remember to wear a sports coat because they weren’t going to let him in without one. The head waiter escorted them to a table overlooking the lights of the city. Jilly ordered a dry martini and Eddie ordered a simple diet coke. The deaf woman joked that she’ll buy him his first drink on his twenty first birthday. “Speaking of which,” she giggled, reaching into her bag, “ I’m so glad you came to get me tonight, because I’ve been holding onto this for you.”
“Holding onto what?” Eddie smirked.
She slowly picked up a small object, wrapped in paper. “Happy Birthday.” She smiled.
“Thanks, Jilly,” he smiled, taking it.
Eddie calmly began to unwrap the present. It was a small souvenir from London. It was a snow globe that showed the various buildings of Parliament and Big Ben. The young man smiled and shook it, making the small bits of white dance within the water filled gift. “I love it, Jilly,” he grinned, “Thank you.”
“London was wonderful,” she smiled, “I hope to go back there one day.”
“Did you have a lot of fans there too?”
“Readers, Eddie.” She winked, “Actors have fans. I have readers.”
“You say tomato.” He winked back.
Jilly giggled, holding onto her mouth to keep from laughing in the normally quite restaurant. Eddie did always have the ability to make her laugh. She then smiled again, patting him on the hand. “So, fill me in on everything,” she said, “How is school? How is your mother?”
“Mom’s fine,” he said, sipping his coke, “ She’s still in Japan, running the business end of things. Luckily she promised she’d be home by December.”
“Oh, yeah, our Flight 815 Christmas bash,” the deaf woman smiled, “We never miss it.”
“You gonna make it, Jilly?”
“Of course. Now tell me, how is school?”
“School . . .is. . .uh . . .interesting.” he said, scratching the back of his head.
“What do you mean, interesting?” she raised an eyebrow, “ I don’t recall school ever being interesting for me.”
“I . . .have a girlfriend.” He finally admitted.
Jilly eyes went wide and she practically gasped. “YOU LITTLE SNEAK!” she playfully slapped his hand, “You didn’t mention that in the last postcard you sent me!”
“I felt it was something you’d like to hear in normal conversation.”
“Oh, my goodness, yes!” she said, slapping her hands and rubbing them together, “Tell me all the details about her. Spare me nothing.”
Eddie then began the long tale of how he met Bonnie and what they had been going through the last few weeks. He told her how she surprised him on his birthday with a cake that she made from scratch and it was surprisingly good. He told her of their Getting To Know You Jaunt and their first date. Jilly listened to stories about attending football games together and going for simple drives in the moonlight. Then Eddie coughed as he finished his diet coke. “I think I love her, Jilly.” He whispered.
“Have you told her that?” she said, sipping her martini.
“In passing. I’ve said, Love ya. But I haven’t told her I love her. Because . . . .I’m afraid of what happens when she hears I mean it.”
“Maybe she means it too.” The deaf woman took his hand, “Don’t run away from love, Eddie.”
The young man slowly winced his face, as his eyes began to form up. “I remember . . .Seth from the Island,” he whispered, “He was worried . . .Tanya would no longer love him when he told her that he was forced to kill people. How . . .do I even dare . .tell Bonnie the truth about what happened to me?”
“Don’t be haunted by the past, Eddie,” Jilly told him, “If there is anybody who knows about letting go, it’s me. You have the strength, Eddie, I know it. You can do this and Bonnie will be there for you.”
Eddie took both his sister’s hands and held them; gently kissing her fingers. Jilly had given inspiration to many abused and battered women to over come their pain. There wasn’t any reason why she couldn’t do that for Eddie too. Bonds of family were necessary made from blood.
After the dinner, Eddie drove Jilly back to her hotel. The streets were flooded with lights and various cars working to get home. The young man turned through the various street corners as he continued on. The deaf woman by his side stared out into the city lights. Eddie then gently rubbed her arm. “Have you talked to Jack lately?” he asked.
“Not for a while.” She said, continuing to stare at the window.
“Kate’s back.” The young man whispered.
Jilly looked at him abruptly. “Really?” she gasped.
“Yeah, been on the run for a while,” Eddie said, pulling toward a nearby street, “John has taken her in. Even gave her false papers, so now technically she’s his sister.”
Jilly sighed, looking at the dashboard. “That’s nice,” she whispered, “Kate deserves the quiet life.”
“So do you.” Her adoptive brother quickly commented.
Jilly reached up and gently took his hand. “I’ve always appreciated you looking out for me, Eddie,” she smiled, “But I’m happy with my life now. Me and Jack still see each on occasion, but . . .he’s got a problem letting go. He’s been pining for Kate for a long time.”
“Well . . .I would have liked to see you and Jack together but . . .if you’re comfortable with it, then I am too.”
“I hope all our little kids in our family can grow up to be as mature as you.” She giggled.
Eddie smiled as he turned right into a parking lot. Jilly looked around and realized they were not at the hotel; they were at the beach. The deaf woman looked around and back to Eddie. “Eddie, why did you bring . . . . .” she covered her mouth, “OH, no, Eddie.”
“One more time . . .for old times sake?” he smiled.
“I can’t,” she whispered, “I’ll become addicted.”
“You deserve it, Jilly. Just one more time, okay?”
Jilly didn’t want to this but the prospect of what was about to happen was too tempting to resist. She shook her head in agreement and then got our of the car. Eddie then got out of the vehicle on his side then took her hand as they walked along the sideway toward the peer. The two adoptive siblings stepped out onto the wooden structure and made their way outward a little ways. Eddie then stopped when they reached a part where the water where it crashed into the pillars below. The young man looked at his sister’s face. Jilly took a deep breath and then held onto his hands. “Close your eyes.” He whispered
Jilly closed her eyes and held onto his hands. Eddie took a deep breath and concentrated. The deaf woman twitched slightly, then the sound began to fill her ears. The sounds of the crashing waves below her; the cars from the nearby street; a helicopter above and even the low hum from the street lights.
Jilly could hear it all.
The deaf woman started to cry and laugh at the same time. Eddie smiled as he was able to give her this special joy. What a few people didn’t know that was before Watchman left the planet, he altered Eddie’s electromagnetic field. It allowed him certain gifts; tactile telepathy, and the ability to recognize shifts in barometric pressure. When he touched someone and concentrated, they were able to join nearly as one. At that very moment, Eddie was allowing Jilly to hear through his own ears.
Jilly has always been a woman of faith. She’s constantly believed in miracles, which enable her to accept Eddie's gifts. She had mistaken that she could hear Eddie’s voice briefly back on the Island. The truth was she wasn’t mistaken; she DID hear him. Eddie hadn’t mastered his gifts at that time but now he had. As she continued to hold onto him, being overwhelmed by the sound of the waves, the cars and the street hum; she continued to cry and laugh.
It was the sound of her own laughter she enjoyed the most.
posted by Jason | 11:21 AM
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