Trey Comes Calling
by: E Walk
(© 2010-2011 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 11

Confinement

When I returned to the house, I turned on the radio to a news station to see if there was a report of the fire.  I listened for a short time but there was no mention of the fire.  I was checking to see what I could fix for dinner when the phone rang.

“This is Ed Parker.”

“Dad, it’s Jordy.  How soon are you going to get here?  You need to tell them that I need something to eat.  They won’t even let me have ice chips anymore.  You‘d better get here soon, or I‘m going to walk out.”

“Jordy, I‘ll be there as soon as Mr. Evans calls me.  If he doesn‘t call within the next half hour, I’ll come to the hospital.  There’s a lot happening around here.”

“Well there isn‘t anything happening here.  Come and entertain me.”

I had gotten Jordy’s backpack and was getting ready to leave when the phone rang. “This is Ed Parker.”

“Ed, I just now got up.  Bart is going to be okay.   He is going to be in therapy for an extensive time.  We’ll have to arrange for a nurse to stay with him when he goes home.”

“Jack, the boys and I were informed by some of the boys’ friends when I took them to school, that the Richards’ house was on fire this morning.  I just checked the news and there wasn’t anything about the fire.  I’m on my way to the hospital, now.  Jordy is threatening to walk out.”

Jack laughed, “Tell Jordy that he’ll look pretty funny wearing a hospital gown hitch hiking a ride to Papillion.  Tell him he may need to flash the drivers to get picked up.  I’ll talk to you later tonight.  In the meantime, I’ll see if I can find out anything about the fire at the Richards’ house.”

“See you at dinner time.”

I was headed out the door when the phone rang again.  I debated about answering it but then I thought it might be something about the fire.  “This is Ed Parker.”

“Ed, it’s Kathie Walton.  Do the boys know that their home was destroyed by fire?   Do you know where Bart is?  I can’t reach him at his cell phone.”

“Kathie, the three youngest boys were told by some of the neighborhood children that their house was on fire, when I took them to school this morning.  I’m sure that Trey has heard about it as well, but I don’t know that for sure.  As far as Bart, he had open heart surgery last night.  He’s been in the hospital the last two nights, so neither he nor the four boys could have had anything to do with the fire, because none of them have been at the house.”

“Speaking of the house, Mrs. Richards was here last night wanting to take the boys.  She smelled like a brewery and I sent her away.”

“Thanks for the information.  At least I know that the boys are safe.  I’ll talk to you later.”

When I got to the hospital, I went directly to Jordy’s room.  He was sound asleep,  Sarah, who was his nurse, motioned me to join her at the nurse’s station, “Mr. Parker, Jordy was getting ready to leave the hospital this morning.  He was so worked up that he pulled out his stomach tube and was attempting to take out his IV tubes when we stopped him.  He is very heavily sedated, right now.  I would guess that he won’t be awake for several hours.  You might want to go do some errands.  If Jordy wakes up before you return, I’ll tell him that you’ll be back about lunch time.”

“Thanks, Sarah.  Do you know anything about Mr. Richards?”

Sarah went on a computer, “We don’t have anyone on this floor by that name.”

“He had open heart surgery, last night.”

Sarah punched some more information into the computer, “Mr. Richards is still in the intensive care ward and there’s a red flag that means he’s not permitted to have any visitors.”

I threw up my hands, “Oh, great! I drove ten miles to get here and no one wants to talk to me.”

Sarah sniffed, “I’m sorry you think that I’m a nobody.”

“Sarah, I appreciate you being so open with me.  I’m just frustrated right now because there are too many things for an old man like me to handle.”

Sarah laughed, “Mr. Parker, for an old man, you sure do keep busy.  I’ll call you when your grumpy son wakes up.”

I decided to drive by the Richards’ house on my way home.  There was only a shell remaining and the area was cordoned off with yellow tape.  There was a police car and the fire marshal’s car in front of the house.  I decided that I wouldn’t stop, and went home to fix some lunch before I went back to the hospital.

When I pulled into the driveway there was a police car parked in front of the house.  As I exited my car, two policemen approached me.  One of the officers, Officer Benson asked, “Are you Mr. Parker?”

“Yes, is there something wrong?”

“We have a report that you were seen in the vicinity of a fire that destroyed a residence last night.”

I took a deep breath, “What is it that I supposedly set on fire?”

The other officer, Inspector Jackson, laid it on the line, “Mr. Parker, we had a call saying that you were seen at the Richards home last evening at about eleven o’clock.”

“Then I must have been sleep walking.  I was no where near the Richards' residence last night.  I have been there one time.  That was when I picked up the three youngest Richards boys because their father and step mother were fighting which caused Mr. Richards to wind up in the hospital.  I was here all last evening with the three youngest Richards boys and I didn‘t leave the house until this morning when I walked them to school.”

Inspector Jackson remarked, “Sir, I’m afraid that we’ll have to ask you to come to the police station so we can get a copy of your fingerprints so the police can see if there any matches found at the Richards’ house.  If you don’t come voluntarily, we will have to place you in handcuffs and take you forcefully.”

I was trying to maintain my composure.  “Officer Jackson, quite frankly, I think you people are completely unjustified in your request.  I’ll go with you so you can take my fingerprints, but I can assure you that you’re wasting your time and mine.  I have a son who is ill and is in the hospital.  I can also assure you that I will be contacting the Mayor’s office and my city council representative, and lodging a complaint against the two of you and the police department.  Are you going to follow me to the police station or am I following you?”

Inspector Jackson was a little rattled by my outburst, “Look, Mr. Parker, we’re only doing what we been told to do.  Take Hogan to Magnolia and go across Cornhusker to American Way to the police station.”

I climbed in my car and deliberately went a different route to get to the police station.  I was sitting waiting for the two officers to show up.  When they got out of their cruiser, I asked, “What took you so long? You’re wasting my time.  Let’s get this fiasco over with so I can take care of all the people I need to take care of.”

I knew that I hadn’t made friends, but I didn’t care.  I was fingerprinted and Inspector Jackson reminded me, “Mr. Parker, I advise you not to leave town.”

“Mr. Jackson, why would I leave town when I haven’t done anything wrong.  I have papers appointing me as the temporary guardian of the four Richards boys.  Mr. Richards wants his sons  to have nothing to do with their stepmother.  By the way, you never said who accused me of being at the Richards’ residence at eleven o’clock last night?”

Inspector Jackson answered, “The caller refused to give a name.”

“Was it a male or female voice?”

“Mr. Parker, I don’t know.  The dispatcher’s memo didn’t identify the sex of the caller.”

I turned and started to walk out, “Gentlemen, you might want to tell your chief that he runs a pretty shoddy operation here.   I’m going to let everyone know what is happening and I’m going to consider taking the city and the police department, you two specifically, to court, for accusing me of something that I didn’t do, based on an anonymous phone call.  I hope you enjoy your demotions or terminations when I get through spreading the word of this obvious case of police harassment.”

Inspector Jackson started to say something, but I just walked away.  I didn’t even go home; I drove to the hospital and was greeted by a sight that would have made me throw up had I eaten any lunch.  Jordy was being restrained by three straps. Sarah appeared, “Mr. Parker, Jordy was threatening to take his life.”

I took a deep breath, “Sarah, who made the decision to restrain him like that.”

“The head nurse made the decision.  She has a call into Doctor Holly and Doctor Reiberg.”

I went to the head nurse, Mrs. Hayes, “What authority do you have to order that Jordan be restrained?”

“Look Mister, I don’t know who you are.  What right do you have to confront me like this?”

“I’m Jordan Parker’s father.  Since when does a nurse have the authority to have a patient restrained like Jordy is?  Have you called his psychiatrist to see what should be done?  I want a complete list of the medications that Jordy has been given.  I have the feeling that he is not receiving all of his psychotic medications.  I want the list now and I want to speak to the hospital administrator.”

I went back to Jordy’s room and released the restraints from him, “Jordy, I’ll get you out of this place, if you insist.”

“Dad, the voices are driving me out of my mind.  They’re threatening to kill me.”

“Jordan, listen to me.  The voices aren’t going to kill you.  I don’t think the hospital has been giving you all the medications that Doctor Gordon has prescribed for you.  I know you want to go home, but until you can eat, you need to be under constant medical care.”

“But Dad, the voices are getting louder and the pain isn’t going away.  I can hardly talk with all these tubes down my throat and they won‘t let me eat.”

“Jordy, you’re getting all the nutrition that you need in the I Vs.  They aren’t going to let you waste away to nothing.”

Sarah knocked, “Mr. Parker, the hospital administrator is here.  Do you want to meet in here?”

“Jordy, I’ll be right back.  I need to get this mess squared away.”

I’m not going to bore you with all the details of the meeting with the administrator and others, but it soon became apparent that Jordy had not been receiving all the psychotic medicines that Doctor Gordon had prescribed.  The pharmacist’s excuse was that they didn’t have two of the drugs in stock.

I looked at Mr. Martin, the hospital administrator, “How can you call this a full service hospital when Jordan has been here for three days and you still haven’t gotten all the medicines that Doctor Gordon has prescribed for him?”

The head pharmacist, Mr. Jouracek  was totally red in the face, “We were not anticipating that Jordan would be with us more than a few days like most people who have their appendix removed.”

“Well, you assumed wrong.  I brought all the medicines that Jordan has been taking.  Why did you not use them until your supply could arrive?  Seeing what medications you haven’t been giving him, that may well account for his suicidal threats.  He has tried suicide twice before, but he has been receiving excellent care and counseling and has been stable for almost three years now. Maybe he should be transferred to the Nebraska Medical Center since you people are still operating under chaotic conditions with moving into a brand new facility that isn‘t even finished yet. I can assure you that Jordan will show a marked attitude improvement if he is on the proper medications”

Doctor Holly arrived, “What’s the problem  Mr. Parker?” 

“Dr Holly, you, of all people, should be aware of Jordy’s past suicide attempts.  The hospital has not seen fit to order some of the drugs that Jordan needs assuming that he would be leaving in a day or two.”

Doctor Holly was upset,  “Mr. Martin, I want all the medications that Jordon needs to be available as soon as possible.”

That sent people scurrying,  Doctor Holly walked to Jordan’s room with me.  “Jordy, I apologize that these people have not been giving you all your prescribed medicines.  The problem will be resolved by dinner time tonight, even if I have to get the medicines myself.”

“Doctor Holly, when can I get out of here?  I feel like a prisoner.  Even when I wasn’t strapped in the bed, I’ve felt like everyone is out to get me.”

“Jordan, if you were to leave now, there’s no telling what would happen, since your bowels have shut down.  Bear with us, we’re doing the best we can.  I realize that you really want out of here, but believe me, I’ll make sure that you are receiving the best care possible even though you may not think so.  I need to get back to the office.  I left patients waiting to come see what was happening here. I’ll be back later this evening.”

After everyone had departed the room, Jordon looked at me, “Sorry Dad.  I had a really bad attack just before you came.  I want out of here so bad.  I realize that they are only doing what they think is best for me.  I’ll try to be a good patient.”

“Jordy, I need to go so I can pick up Trey’s brothers.”  I decided to not tell Jordan about the fire and my encounter with the police.  That would give him more things to fantasize about.

When I pulled into the driveway, the door was open and I knew that I had locked them.  Trey was sitting at the counter,  “Trey, what are you doing home?”

Trey frowned, “Mr. Parker. I had two policemen visit me at the high school today.  They said that they had a report that you set fire to our house last night.  I told them they were full of manure because you were at home taking care of my three brothers.  I informed them that I had been to the hospital and you were here when I returned. I assured them that you didn’t leave the house after I was here.”

“Trey, we can talk about this later, but now we need to go pick up your brothers, in case your stepmother is lurking to try to pick them up.  Let’s go the back way, just in case.”

When we walked in the gym door, Officer Benson and Inspector Jackson were standing there with Mrs. Richards.  I looked at Trey, “I think, I’m in trouble.”

The officers and Mrs. Richards didn’t see us at first but the three boys came right to where Trey and I were standing. All three boys were holding a piece of paper.  Tommy handed me his paper. “We all got a hundred percent on the spelling tests and we got all the bonus words right.  You owe us each a dollar.”

The conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Richards screaming, “Officers, that's the man who I saw at the house when I was going home last night.”

Trey stood in front of me. “Officers, that woman is lying.  Mr. Parker was home all evening with the boys.”

I was seeing red, “Officers, that woman was at my house last night demanding that I give her the three boys.  The bad part was that she smelled like a brewery.  Besides, her husband specifically asked me to not let her have the boys.”

Trent said, “She ain’t our mother.  She doesn’t think we’re as good as her other kids.  She doesn’t really like us.  She keeps telling us that we’re stupid.  She doesn’t even like our Dad.  She blames us for our Mother taking her husband from her.”

Mrs. Richards showed her true self.  She slapped Trent on the face, “Officers, now can you see what that Parker person has done.  He’s brainwashed my poor children.”

Trey went and pushed Mrs. Richards, “Listen you old witch, we aren’t going to ever live with you.  You don’t think we are worth the ground we walk on.  Mr. Parker had nothing to gain by setting fire to our house.  It’s my fault that he’s even involved.  He has problems of his own and he doesn’t need to listen to the garbage that this witch is spouting.”

The conversation was interrupted when Inspector Jackson’s phone rang.  “This is Jackson. … Mr. Parker’s prints were not found in the Richards residence, but a gasoline can with Mrs. Richards’ fingerprints was found on the grounds of the Richards’ residence. … Yes sir, she's standing right here as we speak. … Yes sir, she’s trying to leave, but Benson has her restrained. … Sir, after what has happened, I think that you and the Mayor might want to talk to Mr. Parker.  He’s probably going to make what happened to him public and I don’t think you and the Mayor would want that. …  Yes sir, I’ll tell him.  We’re on our way to the station with Mrs. Richards, now.”

The boys and I watched as the two officers and Mrs. Richards departed.  Timmy looked at me, “Mr. Parker, what’s going to happen to us, now?”

“Timmy, after today, I have no idea what’s going to happen next, but I intend to let people know that I am not happy about what has been happening.  Let’s go get a snack.  I haven’t even had lunch today.” 

To be continued... 

Editor's Notes:

Mrs. Richards is a nut job, isn't she?

Poor Jordan, when a person needs psychotropic medication and doesn't receive it, the body and mind can have serious issues. 

Medicine is not an exact science, by any means, but Doctors have learned a lot about the mind and the things that can go wrong. 

There are people who can be perfectly functional and stable, as long as they continue receiving their medication, but if it is interrupted or discontinued, very bad things can start to happen. 

I am very pleased to see that E Walk is bringing some of this information to us.

Many people fear the mentally ill, simply because there is so little information available as to what issues are involved and what can be done to improve their situations.  People usually fear the unknown.

We definitely need to show people that someone who is mentally ill, has a disease, and is not evil, in any way.  That person just needs the proper treatment. And above all, they need love and understanding.

I am ready for more.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 03/25/11