Uncaged

By Wes Leigh featuring the contributions of Rob the Scribe

 

This is a work of fiction intended solely for the entertainment of our readers; any resemblance to any real people or places is purely coincidental. Readers who would like to chat are encouraged to contact us at weston.leigh@protonmail.com and robthescribe@protonmail.com.

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Chapter Twenty-One

 

A line of vehicles left the Sheriff's Department. Three SUV's with deputies driving each one followed by a sedan driven by assistant district attorney Susan Daniels, who was bringing a search warrant, freshly signed by a judge who was known for signing anything that came across his desk. And finally a second sedan with Dr. Patrice Montgomery, eager to dredge new confessions from the boy who had been kept secluded for weeks with a sexual predator—correction, an alleged sexual predator.

͠ ͠ ͠

"Auntie!" RJ shouted from the living room.

"What is it, sweetie?"

"There's a bunch of cars pulling up at your gate."

Auntie came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She walked to where RJ stood, looking through the curtains, and joined him. She looked out the window and the blood drained from her face. Closing her eyes, she began praying.

RJ looked up at Auntie in alarm. Her aura was flashing all around her, blue and green and orange lights, darting here and there. But as she prayed, the darting colors faded and were replaced by a soft white glow that grew brighter and brighter with each passing moment. Auntie began smiling, nodding her head. A single tear rolled down her cheek and she whispered, "Yes, Lord Jesus. Yes, yes, yes."

She opened her eyes and saw RJ watching. She patted him on the shoulder and said, "Everything's gonna be fine, sweetie. The Lord is my Shield!" She turned and walked into the kitchen, coming out with a broom, and headed out the front door.

RJ ran for the back door, searching frantically for his mother and Roderyk.

͠ ͠ ͠

Auntie marched down the lane leading to the front gate. "Take your hands off that lock!" she yelled.

The deputies looked up, surprised. One dropped the chain he had been holding for another deputy, who held bolt cutters.

Auntie stopped on her side of the gate and glared at the deputies. "This is private property, posted no trespassing in accordance with the laws of this state. You are guilty of attempted breaking and entering."

Susan Daniels stepped forward and handed the search warrant over the top of the gate. "This warrant gives us the authority to enter this property and look for any evidence of a crime. You can't stop us from coming in. You can unlock the gate yourself, or we'll cut off the lock."

Auntie took the warrant from Susan and opened it. She began reading, then stopped and pointed at the page. "This warrant is for searching Meyer Farm. It doesn't specify an address. Y'all have the wrong place."

Susan Daniels shook her head. "What are you talking about? You're Ruth Meyer. This is Meyer Farm."

"No, it ain't," Auntie replied. "This is Magnolia Farm. I've never heard of any Meyer Farm round about these parts, and since you failed to specify an address, I'm fairly certain this warrant is invalid." Auntie handed the papers back to Susan Daniels and said, "So you folks get yourselves out of my roadway. You're blockin' access to Magnolia Farm, and we got eggs to package and deliver later today."

"We're not wasting any more time on this," Susan declared. "We're coming in. We're collecting evidence. And if you interfere, I will personally prosecute you for interfering with a police investigation."

Auntie shook her head slowly from side to side. "Bless your heart, sweetie. You think you know so much. You stand here with men at your side with guns on their hips, and you think it gives you the right to force your way in here." Auntie eyes seemed to lose focus as she looked all around her. "If only you could see what I see! You think you have me surrounded, but the armies of God are surrounding you! You will not enter here. You will leave, defeated."

Susan blew out her breath. "Cut the lock off," she ordered.

The deputies reached down to comply.

Auntie spun the broom and brought it down with a loud whack on the top of the gate.

The deputies jumped back, surprised.

"Leave that lock alone," Auntie ordered, her voice soft and low, but commanding.

One deputy pulled out a taser and pointed it Auntie. "Back away from the gate right now. That's an order, ma'am."

Auntie stood her ground, holding the broom up, ready to bring it down again.

"MOVE AWAY FROM THE GATE NOW!" the deputy yelled.

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"MOMMA! RODERYK! Where are you?" RJ screamed, panicking.

"We're in here," Roderyk replied, sticking his head out of the grain storeroom where Rachel had been helping him inventory their feed supplies.

RJ ran up, panting. "Hurry. Sheriff's men at the gate. Auntie went to meet them."

"What?" Roderyk cried. He ran out of the barn with Rachel and RJ on his heels.

They ran for the front gate, where they saw Auntie standing with a broom raised in one hand, the other pointing at the men and women standing on the other side of the locked gate. Two sheriff's deputies held small boxes they were pointing at Auntie. A third deputy held a gun.

"AUNTIE!" Roderyk screamed as he sprinted for the gate.

Auntie swung the broom in an arc above her head. One of the deputies fired a taser. Crackling sounds of electrical discharge filled the air. Auntie continued swinging the broom. A second deputy fired his taser. Auntie dropped the broom to the ground, looked up into the sky, and collapsed to the ground.

Roderyk slid to a stop next to Auntie's crumpled body, scooping her up into his arms. "Auntie!" He turned and shouted to Rachel, "Call an ambulance!"

Auntie opened her eyes, blinked, and smiled at Roderyk. Her voice was a mere whisper, but clear and unwavering. "It's time you took over here, my boy. I've prepared the way, now you follow it."

"No, Auntie. Please don't talk that way. We'll get you to a hospital. It'll be fine. You'll see."

She reached up and touched his cheek. "There's no call for all that, my boy. I've finished my work here, and now it's time I move along."

Roderyk began weeping. "No. No, Auntie. I can't lose you. Not now. I can't lose anyone else. I need you. I love you."

She smiled and said, "Don't you see? I know all that, boy. But do you know how strong you are? Especially with the good Lord working through you? Now hush up. Dry those tears. And let me go. It's time, and you have everything you need now."

She closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed and stopped. Her smile made her face glow.

RJ and Rachel stood to one side, clutching each other, sobbing.

Roderyk rocked Auntie slowly in his arms, weeping.

͠ ͠ ͠

Driving to the funeral home in Auntie's old pickup, Roderyk stared through the windshield with unblinking eyes. He hadn't cried all day. He couldn't cry. His heart was frozen.

Rachel stared out the other side at the summer grasses turning a lighter green in the Georgia heat. Just when you thought your life was settling down, something like this happened, and it all fell apart again.

RJ sat between them, his head bowed, crying softly.

They pulled into the parking lot of the funeral home. It was full, with cars parked in the streets as well. Only one space remained, reserved for the family of the deceased. Roderyk clinched his teeth. That would be the three of them, he supposed.

They climbed out of the pickup, to be greeted by the funeral director's assistant, who led them through a side entrance into a private room. Soft music played. The furniture was comfortable. The colors of the room were muted and pleasant. Vases of flowers gave off sweet scents. The assistant picked up a small box from a side table and handed to Roderyk, saying, "As you requested, sir."

Roderyk nodded and took the box, holding it in one hand.

͠ ͠ ͠

Pastor James wiped his eyes with his handkerchief before speaking. "This is hard for me," he admitted. "Many a time, I've stood her in front of grieving folks, speaking what words of comfort I could find, reminding them of God's love even in a time of loss. But it's especially hard for me today, because Auntie Ruth Meyer was a dear friend whom I will miss so very much. Since I find myself at a loss for words today, I would like to read something instead. It's a short poem, written by ten-year-old Anthony Jacobs. He's one of the youngsters in our church. He grew up in our church and knew Auntie all his life. Little Anthony wrote about what Auntie meant to him, and he shared it with me. Now I'd like to share it with you."

Pastor James took a slip of paper from his shirt pocket and unfolded it. He saw Anthony sitting a few feet away. "I wonder if you'd like to read what you wrote, Anthony?"

Anthony nodded shyly, then stood up and walked up the steps of the platform to stand next to Pastor James. Pastor James pulled the microphone from the podium and held it down for Anthony to speak into.

Anthony took the slip of paper and read, in his pure child's voice, "When I was scared and needed a friend, there was Auntie. When I was hungry and wanted a snack, there was Auntie. When I was alone and needed a hug, there was always Auntie. I will sure miss her hugs, but I guess Jesus is getting hugs from Auntie right now, and that makes me happy."

Several people sobbed, hearing that. Anthony seemed unaffected by it all, walking back down to sit next to his parents. Pastor James returned to the podium and began reading the eulogy. "Ruth Ada Meyer was born in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, on April 3rd, 1942 ..."

͠ ͠ ͠

At the gravesite, surrounded by the members of Riverview Community Church, the employees of Magnolia Poultry Farm, and hundreds of neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, Auntie was laid to rest in the dark Georgia soil.

Roderyk, who hadn't been able to shed a tear all day, walked forward at the end of the ceremony and opened the box he'd been holding. Reaching inside, he took out a single magnolia blossom, Auntie's favorite flower, and placed it on the coffin.

As though that simple act gave him permission to cry, his body began shaking uncontrollably as tears poured from his eyes. Rachel and RJ ran to his side, taking him in their arms and hugging him. Jasmine, Amber, Michael, Anthony, Sarah and all the other youth from the church rushed forward and surrounded them, hugging them, weeping and sniffling.

Pastor James looked on, tears falling down his own weathered cheeks. "If we weep much, it is because we loved much."

͠ ͠ ͠

Roderyk sat on one end of the couch, Rachel on the other. RJ stretched out between them, his head in Rachel's lap, her fingers combing through his hair. RJ's legs were thrown across Roderyk's lap. Without thinking much about it, Roderyk was absent-mindedly caressing RJ's calves and feet. All three were silently watching the news broadcast.

"Funeral services were held this morning for local businesswoman Ruth Meyer. Owner of Magnolia Farm, Ruth Meyer, or Auntie as she was known to friends and family, was respected throughout the community for her donations to charities and her community service. Ruth Meyer died from complications related to a confrontation with sheriff deputies last Tuesday. Deputies used tasers to subdue Ms. Meyer when she refused them access to her property. Sheriff Duggan maintains that his officers used proper force during the incident, but residents of the county have been in an uproar over the incident since body cam footage was made available. County Manager Jean Upshaw had this to say."

The view cut to a woman standing at a microphone. Reporters were shouting questions, which she ignored. She leaned in and said, "Pending an investigation by external agencies, we have suspended the deputies involved in the unfortunate incident with Ruth Meyer. Sheriff Duggan is on administrative leave. Undersheriff Rhonda Jackson is in charge at this time." Reporters continued to shout questions, but the county manager turned and walked out of the room.

The view cut back to the news anchor. "Fallout from the death of Ruth Meyer could have lasting consequences on the trespassing laws of the state and the way those laws are applied to law enforcement officials."

Roderyk punched the power button on the remote control, turning off the television and filling the room with welcome silence. He closed his eyes and leaned back into the couch, wishing he could turn off his mind and the whirling thoughts inside. Why did you do it, Auntie? Why did you fight them? Don't you know how much I needed you? Don't you know how much I loved you? He closed his eyes tight, fighting to keep the tears at bay.

Rachel studied RJ's hair. It was a beautiful shade of dark, dark brown, almost black but with auburn highlights here and there. He got his hair color from his dad. It had been one of the first things that attracted her to that man. Thankfully, RJ had her eyes. She loved his eyes. She loved his hair too, though he needed a haircut. It was getting too long, so she should make arrangements for getting him to a barber soon. Auntie had done a terrific job when she cut his hair a few weeks back. Rachel sobbed. It would have been wonderful to have Auntie here to cut his hair this weekend.

RJ missed Auntie so much. Her delicious food. Her silly laugh. Her funny jokes. Her cookies. She always had cookies waiting for him, hot and fresh from the oven, whenever he finished his chores for the day. He missed her so very much. He knew his mom was hurting too, from the way she twirled his hair in her fingers, from the sighs and sobs he heard every now and then. Roderyk's hand was warm where it rested on RJ's leg. Roderyk must be very sad too. It was his Auntie, after all. But when RJ thought a bit more, he realized she was everyone's Auntie. She loved everyone and let them know how much she loved them.

RJ saw a flash of light in the front window. Sunlight reflecting off a car windshield perhaps? He sat up and saw another flash. Walking to the window, he looked outside. Turning around, excited, he said, "You guys have to see this!"

"What is it, sweetie?" Rachel asked.

RJ motioned with both hands, urging them to come to the window. "Look at this! Hurry!"

Rachel stood up and walked to the window, then gasped.

Roderyk joined them, looking through the glass to see a long line of cars driving slowly down the lane to the farmhouse to join the cars already parked all around the house and the barn. People stood silently in front of the house, holding hands, hugging. Pastor James and his wife. The members of the church. The employees of the farm. Neighbors. Friends. People from nearby towns who knew Ruth Meyer, whose lives had been blessed by her touch.

And all around the base of the ancient oak tree were magnolia blossoms. As each car stopped and the passengers got out, they carried magnolia blossoms in their hands and dropped them around the tree, covering the ground in white blooms, filling the air with lemon scent.

Roderyk, Rachel and RJ walked out of the farmhouse, looking around in wonder as the crowd continued to swell with each new car.

The members of their church began singing:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

 

The music swelled as more voices took up the song, and finally Roderyk felt he was able to wish his Auntie farewell.

͠ ͠ ͠

The next day, a car stopped at the farm entrance and a short, blonde-haired boy got out. RJ was carrying a bag of trash out of the barn at the time and saw the boy standing there, waiting. RJ's shoulders slumped slightly and he ducked his head a bit, recognizing right away who the boy was.

The figure at the gate waved desperately, trying to get RJ's attention.

RJ sighed and dropped the bag he was carrying. Heading for the gate, he decided he might as well get this over. As he neared the gate, he said, "Hey, Mickey."

Mickey mumbled, "Hey, RJ. Ummm, I'm really sorry about what happened to your Auntie. I mean, I know she wasn't your aunt, but she was really nice to me when I came out that time, and I know she meant a lot to you and everything ..." Mickey stared at the ground, embarrassed. "I'm sorry is all."

RJ nodded. "Thanks."

Mickey pointed back over his shoulder at the man driving the car. "My dad is sorry too. He didn't like the other deputies who did that to your Auntie. He's gonna testify against them during the investigation. He said he might get fired, but you gotta do the right thing no matter what happens."

RJ shrugged. "Yeah."

Mickey sighed. "Look, RJ, I'm sorry about all the other stuff too. I told my mom to back off and leave you guys alone, and I'm sorry about what I did and how it got you in trouble and how all this other stuff happened because of what I did and—"

RJ held up his hand. "Stop, Mickey. It's okay. I get it. You're sorry."

Mickey was struggling to hold in the emotions he was feeling. "There's just one more thing I gotta say, RJ. I don't understand why you love him and he loves you. Maybe I don't need to understand. All I know is I support you, RJ, because I love you too. And I want my best friend back." 

RJ stared at the smaller boy, studying his face, frowning as he realized how much he missed Mickey's stupid jokes and how much he wanted his best friend back too.

From the barn, Roderyk and Rachel saw RJ talking to someone, another boy, at the farm gate. They watched as the two boys approached and hugged. The hug lasted for half a minute, then the boys began slapping each other on the back, laughing, and pushing each other. They talked some more, and the other boy climbed into his car, while RJ waved. When the car drove off, RJ turned and walked back to the barn.

"Who was that?" Rachel asked when RJ reached them.

"A friend," RJ replied cryptically.

"Is everything okay?" Rachel asked.

"Everything's great," RJ replied with a smile. "Just great."

͠ ͠ ͠

Three months later ...

"These are yours," Rachel said, lifting the science and math textbooks out of the box and handing them to Roderyk. "Are you sure you're ready to be a homeschool teacher?" she asked, teasing Roderyk.

"I'm sure," he replied, glancing sideways at RJ. "If the student doesn't cooperate, we'll make him stay after school and clean up chicken poop!"

RJ rolled his eyes. "I have to do that anyway."

Rachel laughed and pulled out the history and social studies books. "And these are mine. I hope you enjoy having your mother as one of your teachers."

RJ shrugged. "You'll be a lot better than old Mr. Anderson. He had everyone falling asleep in class."

"You'd better not fall asleep in my class. I'll throw a shoe at you!" Rachel said, smiling to show she didn't mean it. "And last but not least, English Composition. Did you call Erin Masters like I asked you to?"

"Yes, Mom. She's coming next Wednesday to look through the textbook and put together a class syllabus, whatever that is."

"It's an outline for the entire year. It covers everything you'll learn. She's going to show Roderyk and me how to do it for the classes we'll be teaching too."

RJ nodded. "I know we joke around a lot, but I'm really happy that you guys are homeschooling me. I think it will be fun."

"And hard work, my boy. We're not taking it easy on you. If anything, we're going to push you even harder."

"That's okay," RJ replied. "I'm looking forward to it."

Rachel looked at her watch. "Oh, no. We have to leave. We don't want to be late. Where's my purse?"

"I think I saw it on your dresser, Mom."

Rachel ran out of the room, while RJ turned to Roderyk and motioned him to come forward. "Is my tie straight? I don't know how to do this kind."

Roderyk knelt down in front of RJ and adjusted the tie slightly. "You did just fine, handsome."

RJ smiled. He loved it when Roderyk called him that. It made his cock stiffen. RJ leaned forward and kissed Roderyk on the lips. "I think I'm ready to do it. I want to try tonight."

Roderyk looked surprised. "Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes. I can get three fingers inside, and it doesn't hurt."

"I'm still a little bigger than that."

"It's okay," RJ insisted. "I really want to try."

"Are you sure? We don't have to do this, you know."

"I know, but I want to. We've done everything else lovers do. You're my boyfriend, and I want you inside me, tonight."

Rachel came out of the kitchen carrying her purse. "Are you boys ready to go?"

"All set," Roderyk replied standing up and pulling the truck keys from his pocket.

͠ ͠ ͠

The governor picked up a pen and looked around the room. He beamed, excited as always to be in the public eye. "Welcome, everyone. As you all know, we're here today to sign into law the Magnolia Act, a new piece of legislation I am proud to affix my name to. I am confident this law will bring about much needed changes in the way law enforcement interacts with the citizens of our fair State. Now, I know it's a bit unusual, but before I sign, I would like to invite the family of Ruth Meyer to speak. Ruth was the owner of Magnolia Farm, for whom this law is named."

The governor nodded at Rachel, who cleared her throat and spoke. "Auntie taught me how important it is for all of us to stand up for what is right. She rescued me when I was in trouble, and she was always like a mother bear protecting her cubs."

RJ spoke next. "Auntie showed me what it means to give yourself to others. She didn't just talk about Jesus; she listened to him and followed his example."

They both looked at Roderyk. He took a deep breath and said, "I came from Germany, where I was imprisoned by my past. Auntie saw the cage I'd built around myself, and she broke me out and set me free. I thought I was coming here to help her, but she ended up helping me. She showed me the importance of standing up against the demons that attack you." He paused, looking at the reporters standing around them. "I don't mean to say the police are demons. They aren't. They're just trying to do their job, but sometimes they get carried away and go too far. We're all human. We all make mistakes. I forgive them for what they did to Auntie. We all do." Rachel and RJ nodded to show they agreed with Roderyk. He sighed and said, "Forgiveness sets you free from whatever cage you find yourself in. Don't hold onto unforgiveness. Set yourself free. Forgive."

The three of them hugged. Roderyk kissed Rachel on the cheek and RJ on the forehead.

The governor beamed and droned on for several more minutes about the importance of holding the courts and law enforcement accountable and preventing good families like this from having to endure such a tragedy in the future. And all across the nation, debates were sparked about what this new law would mean, how it would change the way officers of the law interacted with citizens, and so on, and so on.

When it was over, they were escorted into a room where the governor shook all their hands and thanked them for coming. "Sorry if I was a bit presumptuous. I don't even know if the three of you are related, so I hope it's okay that I called you Ms. Meyer's family."

Roderyk shook his head. "No, that's fine, Governor. We are family."

"Ah, you're married then?"

Roderyk glanced at Rachel, who chuckled. Then he looked at RJ, who stared back with love and adoration.

Roderyk said, "Not yet, but perhaps soon."

͠ ͠ ͠

They walked down the hallways of the capitol building, their footstep echoing off the walls. RJ walked between Roderyk and Rachel, holding their hands. "Do you think Auntie is watching us now? Do you think she's happy about this?" he asked.

Rachel swung RJ's hand in her own. "I think she'll always be watching you," Rachel said, "as your guardian angel."

RJ smiled joyfully, then glanced nervously at Roderyk. "I hope she doesn't see everything I do."

Rachel and Roderyk snorted and laughed, as RJ slid his arms around their waists and pulled them close.

 

The end of UNCAGED, Chapter Twenty-One