This Old Mansion

By: John Bowling
(© 2013-2014 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 6
"Screams in the Night"

Dateline: Sunday, June 9, 2013, 5:00 A.M.,
Manny narrating

Our farm is forty acres with fields and some groves of assorted pine, oak, and maple trees. There is a stream that runs through it, with a spring-fed pond on George's property line. His cattle would often come to drink there, along with deer. There were small fish and frogs in it. Down M115 a short way, where South 29 Mile Road intersects, is the big pond called Woodward Lake. That lake is tiny compared to Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac around which the city of Cadillac had grown, and they are miniscule when compared to Lake Michigan.

Our pond is not sufficiently large for swimming, but is large enough for a half dozen adults to walk out and submerse. We do that sometimes, when it is warm, and we consider 75ºF warm, especially when winters could get down to -20ºF. We did, however, hire some divers to check for, and clean out any glass and metal that was in it, to make it safer for wading in with bare feet. They left some of the tree limbs that were near where the stream exited for the fish to hide in. The fishing was not bad, though not as good as Woodward Lake, which the owners seed to make fishing better. I've heard there is probably a stream that flows through the old hotel property. We will have to check that out. We are expecting a major event over Independence Day related to the old mansion.

The long, mostly straight stretch of M115 running generally along the north of my forty acres, was usually empty in the wee hours of the early morning, about the time we were getting up for the morning chores. It was mostly flat land, and there were just some minor bends in the road, so drivers could see car headlights coming from the other direction with plenty of warning. On rare occasions a car would go by, and this morning was no exception, except the early dawn was rent with the sudden squeals of tires as brakes fought to reduce speed. Then the heartbreaking crumpling and tearing of metal.

Cliff and I had completed dressing. We were in a habit of getting up, dressing, taking care of the animals, and then handling our protuberances in the large shower before proceeding with our routine for the day. Today, I was just about to step out to do the morning chores of the farm animals, with Cliff right behind me, both of us performing the preparations in the typically still, partly sleepy, prior to dawn, mode of five A.M. Just as I stepped out of the door, I became fully awake with the coolness of the near dawn air and the sounds. Sure of only that there was an accident, I grabbed my mobile phone and a flashlight, dialed 911 as we ran towards the highway and the shining of headlights at weird angles.

"What is your emergency?"

"A noisy car crash on M115, at South 29 Mile Road near Woodward Lake, with at least two cars."

"Is anyone injured?" As a scream echo out in the dead quiet of night.

"Sounds like it. I live here, I just heard the crash, and am running to where exactly it is located. I just arrived at the scene, so I can't tell yet, but I see some people inside the cars. And they have to be hurt the way the cars look. I'm going to see if I can get them out, so I'm putting the phone on speaker and putting it into my shirt pocket so we can still talk." I again gave her the location and made sure she knew that help and an ambulance were needed on the highway.

Cliff and George came running up right after me. Cliff and I were opening doors that could open, and helping people out, the little ones first. As they were struggling with one door, Steven Miles, with the Sheriff's Volunteer force, ran up from the other side of M115 and helped. Mabel and JT were also running up. We managed to get two children out, one teen, and two adults, most unhurt other than bruises. There were still people stuck inside by doors that we could not open. Cliff ran to get crow bars out of one of our sheds. Luckily, no gas was burning yet, but there was a faint smell of it, so it was a matter of time.

Heloise came up and shepherded the rescued people away from the cars, along with Mabel, to protect them in case something worse happened, while JT took pictures of the damaged cars. Cliff and Steve went to work with the crow bars to open up stuck doors, and, just as the fire truck and ambulance arrived, they popped the last door with a squeal of bent hinges. They stepped back to let the firemen and paramedics direct getting the last people out, and I thanked the 911 operator, and turned off my phone.

One child could not stand when they got him out, his left foot collapsing as he tried, screaming loudly. We helped hold him up so there was no weight on his leg until he could be laid in the ambulance. Another boy, who looked just like him, was crying and trying to help. Heloise and I did our best to comfort those who were having problems with the shocks of the accident and with their injured friends and family.

There were three adults who were also injured, two unconscious and one with a broken arm. They were taken to the hospital, along with the boy with the leg problem, leaving the other boy I thought to be his twin, along with a potential older brother, a girl of about twelve, and an adult woman here with the assortment of residents. Leaving the accident in the hands of the fire department and the sheriff’s deputy, along with the state police, Heloise announced that she was taking them into the house to get them warmed up. A state policewoman and the Sheriff went along to ask questions.

Most of the ambulatory people did not have jackets on, so they quickly got the survivors into our house, which was the closest, along with Steve and Heloise helping.

As they were taking them inside to warm up, the Sheriff asked why they had forced the doors to get people out.

"It's about saving the people, not some hunk of mechanical trash."

"That may interfere with our investigation of the crash."

"So you would let the people die so you can have a better analysis of what happened? A human life is worth a lot more than some investigation!"

"Not if we could help it. We would take pictures before to help with the analysis."

"Will these do?" JT showed him the pictures he had taken on the phone I had given him yesterday. On the early ones he had used the flash, and by then the sun was up sufficiently for suitable pictures. "I can email them to you, including the one that shows the deer that got killed."

"The pictures will help, along with the ones we have taken. Good thinking, young man. Thank you!"

JT sure caught on quick on how to use the phone, as was obvious from the pictures, and now he had a furry little thing rubbing up against his leg. He noticed the kitten down there, and reached down to pet it. It followed him into the house. Inside, where the light was better, he noticed that it was a mostly yellow kitten. He fed it and said: "There you go Yallow cat." He now had a little pet cat that Ranger sniffed and barked at, until the little guy took a swat at him, missing, then Ranger just walked calmly away. JT got a saucer of milk for the yellow fur ball.

"Manny," Heloise suggested, "Why don't you and Cliff get your farm chores done while Mable and I make breakfast for everyone. I know this is rough on everyone, and some good food and coffee will just hit the spot."

"Sounds good to me. JT can show you where the fixin's are."

We started the chores, and a few minutes later, JT came to help finish them, just as Heloise was directing setting the table, giving the young ones something to do. Everyone sat down to scrambled fresh eggs, bacon, and tender buttermilk biscuits. The officers refused breakfast, but did take coffee, and most went back out to the crash site.

Heloise spoke up: "They have taken the others to the hospital to check them out and help fix things. There will probably be more officers and news reporters here soon to talk to everyone. For now, when these guys finish their questions, why not go in and watch some TV."

"Depending on what happens at the hospital, the rest of you may have to stay somewhere for the duration. Manny and I have unused queen-sized beds in our three spare bedrooms that we can offer for now, and we have some sleeping bags if needed. Also, I'm sure other neighbors can help out. We will also drive you into the hospital so you can visit and find out what's going on. First, though, someone should call and check on the injured." Cliff offered and proceeded to make the call.

We determined that the deer had run across the road, got hit and one car then slammed into the other car. The two families had been traveling on vacation, and both returning home. Fred Lavine and wife, Doris, were both taken to the hospital in critical condition where the air bags on their older car inflated improperly, along with Darren, one of their eight-year-old twin sons, injured with a crushed left foot where a front bucket seat had snapped its mounts and landed on his foot. He was not otherwise injured. The other adult taken to the hospital was Hank Cararra, with a broken arm. Not injured, and now in the warm house, were Hank's wife, Stella, and twelve-year-old daughter, Misty, Darren's twin, Jeremy, and their older brother, fifteen-year-old Lucent. He was holding and comforting Jeremy, and comforting himself as well.

Cliff arrived at the hospital only to find that the conditions of the injured were not yet known, and they recommended a visit in the afternoon when the victims were likely to be able to talk. While they stayed busy watching TV, a news crew arrived with video cameras, preparing reports on the crash while officers questioned each of the people about what they saw and remembered. Hours later, after another call, they were allowed to visit the ones in the hospital. Fred and Doris were both in ICU, with major concussions and damaged internal organs, and not expected to survive. Darren would survive although his crushed his left foot had to be amputated. Hank had a broken arm that was set, and a cast was placed on it. He was ready to be released, if someone could pick him up.

They all went into town in two cars, to pick up Hank, and to visit with and get further reports about the others. As soon as the rag-tag bunch walked in, a Nurse at the desk threw up her hands and asked JT: "I know you, did you come back to regale us with more outlandish stories of your life in the mountains?"

"Na, I gots'ta tell you that you wield a wicked stabber, ah ... needle."

"You're just lucky I didn't use a horse needle!"

"Nooo... Remind me to never come back here!" They hugged and she told them where to locate the others in their parties.

The Doctors allowed them to see Darren, who was just waking up after his surgery. Jeremy had trouble keeping the tears back that were welling up; they flowed down as fast as a river. Lucent, who was leaking himself, told him they would have to put him on an IV just to replace the Niagara Falls squirting from his eyes. The Doctor let them know that they would be keeping Darren sedated so he would not hurt his stump, even with the metal 'cage' that kept it separated from anything that would possibly touch it. He also told the rest of us that their parents, Fred and Doris Lavine had both died of their injuries that morning. They preferred that the boys not know for a day or two.

Lucent asked the doctor: "Our parents died, didn't they?"

"Yes, young man, they did. And I know that is rough. Would you like to talk with a priest or psychologist?"

"No, our family has not been that religious. And I'm relieved. I know we are going to be a lot better off than having to continue with them. They were really abusive, not physicaly, but in an ultra-conservative, domination way."

"I'll have our staff psychologist speak with you and your brothers. Perhaps there is something that can be done."

The three boys were not sure how to take it. The accident had been shocking, with Darren's foot, and now this. Lucent knew he would now have to be the adult in their family, like a father to the twins, but he was not ready yet for that. Cliff spoke with them, saying:

"Guys, let Manny and me help as much as we can. You can stay at our place for now, and once Darren can get around reasonable well, we'll discuss your future."

"But, two guys?" Lucent asked, but with a sly smile.

"Why not?" from Jeremy.

"Dad hated guys like them! He hated lots of things he considered weird. He's gone now, so maybe his hatreds died with him. OK, let's at least get through Darren's healing. And I think we should take Cliff and Manny up on their offer. I will do my best to be nothing like Dad was."

"Yea, I like that JT character, even if he is mean."

"I am not mean, and if you keep saying that, I'll have to hug you gently till you give up." JT responded.

"That should take years. Especially when the two terrible teenybopper twins are twerking together!" Lucent said, giggled, and rolled his eyes up in exasperation.

"Do I gotta hug you, too? Us farm boys are really strong and I won't be gentle with an old foggy like you."

"What monster are you going to back that up with, kid?" Lucent poked his finger into TJ's shoulder.

"Yallow cat, of course."

"Oh, no, not the claw baby!" Lucent wrapped his arms around JT and hugged him gently, and got hugged back tightly. Their levity helping them all forget the problems for now.

Mrs. Longfield showed up as they were leaving to get suitable clothing for the teen and twins. She asked: "Look, we don't have any other place for now, and the boys need someplace to stay until they can go home. Are you two willing to take these three on even though the new home project still needs lots of work? You've done decent with James, I mean JT, so far, and we have no other place on short notice."

"Yes, we offered them a place until they are at least eighteen. That will be their choice, if they have somewhere else they can stay. As brothers, they do need to be kept together. Are you changing your mind about gay couples caring for kids?"

"Only when there is no other choice. And it is still a trial experiment. The doctor has said that Darren must stay close by until he is fully healed, and then there is the fitting of a prosthesis and ongoing physical therapy. Also, they don't really have a place to go to with their parents gone."

"So let them stay at our place where good food and excellent care is available to them."

"You, as their temporary guardian, should check with a lawyer, and get them signed up with SSI benefits. In fact, that JT kid should be getting that as well."

"If they do qualify, we'll set up individual accounts for them to use as college funds. The new home for kids without parents will cover all of their normal living expenses. And we'll see about getting their belongings from their old place, and what they want to do with their parent's house!"

"Speaking of JT … he has expressed that he wants to go visit his old home and try to find out what happened with his mother. I will need paperwork so that I can take him on a trip back to his original home. We will check on his mother and the status of the place they lived. I'm planning on about twelve days to do that."

When they left, only Darren was in the hospital. It would take a few more days of healing before they would release him, and then he would have to be close by for regular check ups, twice a week for two weeks, then once a week for another month. Jeremy insisted on being with him every day for as long as the hospital would let him.

Later, they took Stella and Hank Cararra in to rent a car, and their family would be heading for home. They went to a medical supply center, and got Darren adjustable crutches and a regular wheel chair on the day they took him back home. Those were items they would need to have available later for the group home.

Hank told them: "Thank you for what you've done for us, and the other family. We do need to get back home. Our pastor might have a few words about your life style, so we need to make sure we are not exposed any more."

Arriving home after all that, they let the boys settle into bedrooms while supper was being prepared. After their meal of a large home-made pot roast of beef with potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions, they retired to the living room. The phone rang and a technician, Hank Stevens, from Masterful Works offered to drive there to get Darren fitted for a prosthesis, once his stump had healed sufficiently. He had taken Doc Magellan's data and created an initial socket, and would do a cast as well as try the socket, and would fit that to a foot with a high tech ankle. If necessary, he would take it to a machine shop in Cadillac, a relic from the days of abundant automotive industry use. They still maintained some local work. There, his laptop would feed the CNC machine with the proper data to make a perfect fit.

A week later, Darren was released, but still needed the 'cage' to keep from bumping his stump on things. He did, often, bump the cage, until he got used to the crutches and wheelchair. Then with the cage, the jars set up vibrations that irritated him. Darren went online to select the foot he preferred. They told him to ignore the price, and go with what he liked. It was already paid for.

Heloise created the picnic for the kids that JT had requested, and they combined it with a party celebrating Darren's release from the hospital. He was getting around on crutches and in his wheel chair. Jimmy Hernandez, thirteen, and Sheila Krouse, fifteen, locals whom JT met at the party, soon became close friends around his own age. Along with the twins and Lucent, he now had friends, only now it's time to go visit his old home, before we can be ready for the Independence Day celebrating and official introductions to the old mansion-like hotel. Initial work is going on there to prepare it.

JT and I were out riding our horses, and came across the old depot, and, of course, JT was instantly in love with it. We stopped and looked around, and heard the whistle of the freight train as it was approaching. It kept getting bigger as it quickly approached in its travel with its loaded cars going down towards the towns to the south. We sat there and watched, even though the horses were jittery. We had to keep them reigned tightly in, and patting their necks while we spoke softly to them. JT was almost as excited as they were, but in a completely different way.

"Can we take the train and go down to my old home? I got'sta visit."

"We can, but there are no passenger trains that normally run there."

"How do my new great aunties, Helen and Dot do it?"

"They have an expensive contract with the railroad companies, and travel between Chicago and here. They also own the tracks in this area, so they have worked it out. Going down to the Ozarks would mean getting approvals from a lot of other companies, and I don't know how close we could get, so part of the way would have to be driving. And when they are here next, they are planning on having trips to Cadillac and Mesick by train, giving you lot's of opportunity to ride the rails. Are you becoming a little hobo?"

"What's a hobo?"

"That's what they used to call the guys who would hop a freight and go for a free ride somewhere."

"Well, I've ridden in lots of cars to get here. Does that count to make me a hobo?"

"Probably, but for this trip, the train is out. How about we just drive down to a city near your old home and go from there? We do have to speak with people down there to see if there is anything from your old home that is your property, and bring back what you want to keep."

OK, Cliff here, I'm taking over on the moderation.

The three of us are set to make the trip, Manny and yours truly sharing the driving and making the little guy behave. He's not bad, just a handful at times, and he is a little excited about going back, for a visit. He kept emphasizing that it was just for a visit.

We got set up for JT to visit back home in the Ozarks. George would be taking care of other kids and things with help from Grant and Jason, who had come here as soon as he graduated. Jason was now living, and lusting, of course, with Grant in one of our spare bedrooms. Jason came earlier, driving, then the Aunts saying he wanted to 'help out' and they helped themselves to lots of private time together. Reminds me of my early days with Cliff, trying to find out how many ways and times we could 'do it' before we were totally exhausted. And the two of them were sometimes at it for hours. We did respect their closed door, knocking only when a meal was ready. At least now, older couples like us, not having the 'newness' and the stamina of teens, could get by with just one, or maybe twice a day. OK, occasionally three times.

We begin an Internet search of the area his old home was in, first with mapping, and got the travel approval paperwork from the MDHS, along with his birth certificate so we could take JT.

"See this? It says right here I'll be twelve on July 8, so I got'sta start acting like it."

"That's for sure. You are now almost a teenager and almost a Yankee, JT, so you better get the last of your rebel country bumpkin and southern boy out of your system."

"That was mean, Dad Manny! I 'member Swan Cave Road. I wanted to go see the cave, but never got there."

"That looks like it's just outside of Sparta, Missouri, along Swan Creek Valley Road.

"Let's drive to Saint Louis, and then by way of Springfield, Ozark, Sparta, and then Chadwick, all of them in Missouri. Swan Creek Road is near Sparta, and Swan Cave Road is near Chadwick. We'll get a local map when we get there."

"How did you ever get way up here to cold country?"

"After I got back home, and noticed the cabin was burnt up, I tried finding Mom. She was nowhere around. I rode to the closest neighbors, and they had not see'd her. They had a phone, so we called the Sheriff, who had not heard anything, and suggested that we have a group get-together to search. He would send some deputies to organize the search early the next day.

"I went back with my neighbors, and we went through the mess of the cabin until it got too dark. I got some papers in a plastic bag, and put them in my backpack. The next morning, we got back to the cabin mess, and we spent three more days searchin' without finding another trace. They then took me into Chadwick, and had social services assign me to foster care. They would not let me take my horse, so I had to sell it. The money was put into an account for me,  That year, I was moved seven times. The last family told me to get lost, and I had to hitchhike. Over the next three months I got lots of rides, was raped at least twelve times, and got an occasional meal. And now I gots some nice guys as parents.

"'K, you meanies, Pops and Dad, time to eats, and I want poke salit. I 'member seeing that sign, so we're close."

We went to a local restaurant, what I would call a hole in the wall, with just a counter and stools. It needed a freshening, with all the faded paint.

"What'll it be? The blu' plate spec'l? Best be, all we got. 'Possom with taters."

"Yea, with poke salit if you have it. Now I knows I'm back home!"

"The kid here may be used to 'possom but I would rather have something more normal."

"Jus' what I 'spect from a couple of yanks? I ofen had to hunt my own food, so 'possom was ofen. Ma liked it."

The waitress got us some chicken instead, but TJ loved his 'possom. "Just joshin ya, yank. What ya doing with this here local varmit?"

"He almost walked into my place up in Michigan, said they threw him out. Does he look thrown out?"

"Looks good, but could be a throw'd out rascal!"

"That's for sure!"

"Hey, stop that, or I'll just stay here. Ma'am, you want a rascal around to get you more 'possom?"

"I'm way too ol' to handle ya."

"Then I guess I'll stick with the yanks. Thems both been nice ol' cusses."

"We came down to gather up anything of his that he prefers to keep. By the way, where is that cave that the Swan Cave Road was named for?"

"No telling. I done hear'd it was lost years ago, when the old man found it and then died without revealing it's where 'bouts, back in the twenties."

"Well, rascal, I guess we'll have to find a spare month or two to do a good search."

We finished eating and stopped at the Springfield office of DHSS. We had had phone and email conversations with the office in Jefferson City, so they were expecting us and had the paperwork prepared so that MDHS could take over his case, and they did not insist that he stay there. We then went to the sheriff’s office and requested that they go out to his old home with us, and also got copies of the title to the property, with James Toro now listed as owner. After driving to JT's old place, with a deputy, we arrived. The house rubble was still there, charred and mostly fallen to the ground. We found the spot where the paperwork had been, and did a thorough search of everything, and found a metal box buried under a couple of big, half-burned, logs, and a loose board in the floor and lots of other rubble.

This picture is of the cabin before the fire.

Even though the key was nowhere to be found, we, along with the deputy, managed to get it open. It held a few papers, mostly singed along the edges. One was a brief, hand-written will that had been witnessed by a neighbor.

The note said: "I leve my stf to my son jmmy tooro, jne tooro" followed by "I attest to this: that June Toro wanted to give her son, James Leo Toro, all of her possessions, Fred Smith"

The deputy knew the neighbor, so we went to speak with him and confirmed that he had signed the document and that June Toro was JT's mother. Apparently, June was Chinese, and his dad an African and French mix, which provided him with his darker skin.

"They were both good people, but his Dad got chased away, apparently with some cocked up story about having robbed a gas station when he was right here at home. If you are watching over the boy, he's a good kid, and will grow into a fine man. His dad was a fine, educated man, but you know how some folks are. They have since found the real culprit, and are no longer looking for his dad, Terrell Lucas Toro."

JT thinking about everything that's happened.

We found nothing else of value in the house rubble, except for a few items of jewelry that belonged to his mother. We put those in the box, which we put in a safe place in our rental vehicle, and thanked the Sheriff, who then went back to his regular duties. JT wanted to wander about, and we spent the rest of the day walking over the property.

"Manny, I want to find out what happened to my Mom. I don't think that she died in the fire. I would know if that happened."

"None of them, the Sheriff or the neighbors saw her that day. Did she ever meet people, in church or did she have friends? No one we've talked to have seen anything of her."

"No, she was always here, and being Chinese, no one went out of their way for her other than the closest neighbors who would take her to the stores when she needed to go. I guess I was the last one to talk to her, that morning." Manny and I partially kneeled down to be face to face with TJ. He was just at the awkward, for us, height where standing next to him would have us looking down, yet fully kneeling reversed that level. We hugged him at the same time, for several minutes.

We went and talked again with the closest neighbors, and they still did not remember seeing her. While doing that, we stopped at the mail box which was crammed full, and had a note from the post office. They were holding the rest of the mail, and we needed to go pick it up. We stopped there and gave them a forwarding address. So now we have a couple of bundles of mail for JT to go through. We went back to our motel room and sorted out all the advertisements, leaving just a couple of dozen envelopes. The next morning we went searching for the elusive cave, and never found it. It's probably there but without a guide we could not locate it.

We did see some awesome scenery.

We bought a solid new box with a key lock, put all the paperwork, mail, and money into it. Given the paranoid nature of the government, the only safe way to get the box and contents to JT's new home intact was by driving it back home ourselves. That way, the TSA could not open it, and the contents 'mysteriously' disappear into the pockets of a tempted, low paid, government employee, or be 'confiscated'. I suspected the money was old and very valuable to a collector, or even with the value of gold and other metals, and any place where it would go under a scanner they would make us open it up. Sorry, I do not trust the agents to be fully honest with that kind of temptation, even though there are some who are honest. We went back to the car, and JT said: "You are going to a lot of trouble to get that box back home."

"Yes, we are. In addition to the papers, there were some old coins and paper money. They could be worth a lot of money to you, and we want to make sure it arrives at your new home safely."

We did get home without incidents, though taking longer than I wanted to take. We arrived, tired from the trip, just a day before the crew from Chicago was due to arrive.

Events while we were gone included a major one for Darren; two weeks after his release from the hospital, his cage came off, and the technician brought everything to him and did the final fitting. For Darren's future benefit, the foot or the socket could be replaced independent of each other, so if he outgrew them, with either height or weight, they were easy to replace. And new designs or special sports styles could be used and swapped as desired. It would take him a while to get used to wearing it, then walking, and finally running.

When we arrived back, he was just getting used to walking with it, and was still using the crutches. Jeremy was with him, often more interfering, out of concern, than helping him. The two of them enjoyed being with each other as any twins would.

Jason and Grant were fully engaged in their relationship, acting like newlyweds. I recommended they wait for a while before they get married, so they could know each other well.

Grant asked me: "Do you have any idea how stimulating a gymnast is? Beyond his beautiful body, he's awesome with positions and actions that regular guys can't even begin to perform."

"Grant, I am sure he is, but you have to make sure that you both can get along with all the little things, like habits the other has that may irritate you. Just give it time to be sure."

We checked on the animals, who had been well cared for, and made sure we were prepared for tomorrow's meeting.

To be continued...

Author's note: A big "Thank You" to Gerry Young for his excellent editing. He eliminates a lot of hiccups my addled mind and misguided fingers smudge onto the page.