Breaking Brooklyn (10 page)

The next morning, I awoke to my mother
standing over my bed.

“
Why is this cat in your
room?”

“
Because it’s mine! You told me I
could have him.”

“
I told you it was a neighborhood
cat. That you could play with it as long as it stayed
outside.”

“
But Tom is mine. He wants to be
with me!” I pleaded.

“
Explain that to the two police
officers downstairs who want to question you about a breaking and
entering charge!”

I looked up at her. “Breaking and entering? I
just opened a window to let Tom get away from Molly. She stole him
and kept him prisoner! ”

“
Well, get your ass downstairs and
start explaining this shit. This is a bad day to have the police at
the house.”

There was never a good day to have the police
at our house. It always ended badly. I cautiously walked down the
steps, feeling the weight of what I had done growing. It made my
knees buckle and my heart race.

The officers’ demeanor was pleasant when I
first walked into the kitchen.

“
Are you Jack?” asked the really
tall officer.

“
Yes, yes sir,” I
answered.

“
We received a call from Ms. Baker
about her cat being stolen.”

I looked at the officer and, in a respectful
tone I said, “It’s not her cat. She stole Tom from me.”

“
She stole the cat from you?” the
tall officer questioned with a puzzled look on his face.

My mom tried to stay out of the conversation,
but his stocky partner asked, “Is this true, ma’am?”

My mom probably thought it was no big deal. It
was a matter of a little boy and a stray cat. How much trouble
could anyone get into really?”

“
Well, it’s a stray cat. It
doesn’t belong to anyone. Jack has been taking care of it and he
thinks of it as his cat.”

“
Oh, I see,” the tall officer
responded. “Well, here’s the thing, we’re going to talk to Ms.
Baker to see if she’ll let it go. Technically, however, its
breaking and entering since the cat was in her home and Jack opened
the window and took the cat out of her apartment. If she’ll drop
the charges, then we can chalk this up as a big misunderstanding
and move on.”

My mother gave me a sad look, and then shook
her head as the officers left to speak with Molly.

“
What have you gotten yourself
into now?” she said in a condescending voice.

I didn’t know. I had no idea what could
happen. By this time, Grandpa Bob was starting to stir.

It didn’t take long for the officers to
return. Their demeanor had changed as they walked stridently
through the back door. Both turned their attention toward the bony
man stumbling down the steps with bloodshot eyes.

“
What the hell are the police
doing here?” Grandpa Bob asked in a scratchy voice, the kind you
get from a long night of drinking and smoking.

“
They’re here because Jack is
being accused of breaking into Molly’s apartment and stealing her
cat,” my mother explained.

The tall officer with dark sunglasses perched
on top his head asked, "You're Sam's ex-wife aren’t you?" Then he
looked at his partner, pressing his bottom teeth against his upper
lip.

"That was a long time ago," my mother
replied.

"Well, I am sorry to inform you that Ms. Baker
would like to press charges. This is a very serious crime, Mrs.
O’Malley.”

“
Breaking and entering!” my
grandfather slurred interrupting the officers. Then he looked at
me. “Jack, when did you start breaking into places? You’re not that
kind of boy!”

“
Grandpa Bob, I didn’t, I just
opened the window to let Tom out!”

He waved his hands in the air as he shuffled
across the kitchen, finally finding the table and chairs on the
other side. Plopping himself down in one of the old Windsor spindle
back chairs he shook his head and cried out, “I can’t believe it!
Why in the world would you do that?”

The stocky officer interrupted. “Ms. Baker had
a few other things to mention as well,” he stopped to sip on his
coffee, his stubby little fingers barely gripping the Styrofoam
cup. “She said that Jack runs wild throughout the neighborhood
doing whatever he wants. That he is not being properly supervised.
She said that Grandpa Bob here is the neighborhood drunk and you
parade men in and out of the apartment all hours of the day and
night. After reviewing both of your criminal records as well as
what we’ve observed today, I’d be inclined to believe
her.”

My grandfather and mother looked at the
officers, wondering where they were going with all of this. Then
they heard the words they were dreading.

“
Ma’am, Child Protective Services
is on their way. They should be here any minute.”

When they arrived they consulted with the
officers, then interviewed Ms. Baker, as well as some of the other
neighbors. I was then told to start packing my bags. Grandpa Bob
was stunned. He just shook his head while he sat at the kitchen
table staring at an empty cup of coffee.

My mother didn’t even protest. I think she
felt this was a great opportunity to get me out of her hair. The
Child Protective Services Officer tried to tell her how she could
go about getting me back, but I could tell she had stopped
listening way before the officer finished talking.

Everyone from the neighborhood saw the
officers walk me to the Child Protective Services van. From the
corner of my eye, I could see Molly standing there, black book in
hand, with a satisfied look on her face.

I glared at her, shooting an angry grin as she
held Tom in her arms.

“
You fucking bitch!” I screamed
inside my head. “I will make you pay for this you stupid cunt! I
will fucking destroy you!”

Molly and Tom’s figures became smaller and
smaller until they eventually disappeared from sight, I lowered my
head and daydreamed about the evil things I wanted to do to Molly
Baker.

Brooke

Chapter ten

“When you love someone, truly love
them, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of
yourself that you give to no one else, and you let them inside a
part of you that only they can hurt-you literally hand them the
razor with a map of where to cut deepest and most painfully on your
heart and soul. And when they do strike, it’s crippling-like having
your heart carved out.”
~
Sherrilyn
Kenyon

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/2/2014 at 11:35 pm:

I'm sorry, Tyler, but I can't do
this anymore.  It's too hard.  I can't separate my
feelings for you from helping you with your book.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/2/2014 at 11:37 pm:

What do you mean? I don't
understand.

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/2/2014 at 11:38 pm:

I have fallen in love with
you.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/2/2014 at 11:40 pm:

That's ridiculous. You have fallen
in love with the idea because you know it can never
happen.

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/2/2014 at 11:42 pm:

You’re an asshole, Tyler! I am
done with you! You are a poison!

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/2/2014 at 11:45 pm:

Brooke we are both married. There
is nothing I can do about that right now.

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/2/2014 at 11:48 pm:

I can't do this
anymore!

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/9/2014 at 9:40 am:

WTF, did you really unfriend me on
Facebook!  I have done nothing but been a good friend to
you.  And you do this and call me a poison! I thought you were
my friend.

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/9/2014 at 9:48 am:

I am. You hurt me, Tyler! You hurt
me bad.  I have shared things with you that I have not shared
with anyone.  You know me better than anyone.

It's hard for me to be this close
to you. I love you, Tyler.  The thought of not being with you
is too painful.  And every time I see one of your Facebook
posts it brings back the painful feelings.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/9/2014 at 9:50 am:

Brooklyn, you are my best
friend.  I need your help to finish my book.  You are the
only one who can help me.  You know my story inside and
out. 

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/9/2014 at 9:58 am:

I have an appointment with a
therapist to try and work through my feelings for you.  I want
to see what she has to say about this. 

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/16/2014 at 9:12 pm:

I've made some changes to the last
chapter and I need your input bad :-)

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/19/2014 at 9:14 pm:

Why aren’t you answering my
messages!

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/19/2014 at 9:16 pm:

My therapist has instructed me to
distance myself from you.  She said that I have a tendency to
let people use me.  I'm sorry.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/19/2014 at 9:18 pm:

Brooke, this is crazy! This
therapist doesn’t know me.  I'm not using you!

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/19/2014 at 9:20 pm:

All you ever want to talk about is
the book.  My life with Jack is falling apart and all you care
about it your stupid book. You never ask about me or how I'm
doing. 

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/19/2014 at 9:23 pm:

I'm so sorry :-(  you're
right.  I'm just so wrapped up in this story.  It's my
way of validating my existence. To matter. 

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/19/2014 at 9:24 pm:

You do matter, Tyler!

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/19/2014 at 9:26 pm:

If I died tomorrow I don't think
anyone would really ever know I existed. 

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/19/2014 at 9:28 pm:

What are you talking about! 
Your girls will remember you and I will remember you!

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/19/2014 at 9:30 pm:

I know, but I'm talking about a
greater purpose.  I want the world to remember me when I
gone.

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/19/2014 at 9:33 pm:

That's a shallow way to think,
Tyler.  It’s more important to be loved deeply by those who
are closest to you than to be remembered by people who don't even
know you. Focus on making a lasting impression on your
daughters.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward
8/19/2014 at 9:35 pm:

I know :-) You're right, but I
want both. I want to leave something behind that people will
remember me by.  Something that keeps my memory
alive. 

Facebook Message from Brooklyn
Page Napier 8/19/2014 at 9:36 pm:

I don't need that, but I guess I
understand.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward 8/19/2014 at
9:39 pm:

That's why I need your help,
Brooke.  I need you to help me.  I can't do it without
you. Please help me.

Facebook Message from Brooklyn Page Napier
8/19/2014 at 9:42 pm:

I will help you, but I just need
some time to work through my feelings.  I have to disconnect
my feelings for you from the book.  I need to make it
impersonal.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward 8/19/2014 at
9:44 pm:

Okay deal!  I'm so happy that
you will be helping me finish the book :-)

Facebook Message from Brooklyn Page Napier
8/26/2014 at 10:09 pm:

I looked at the new version of
your ending and I'm not sure I buy it.  It needs more
development.  It feels rushed.

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward 8/26/2014 at
10:11 pm:

What didn't you like
specifically?  I need details so I know what to
rework. 

Facebook Message from Brooklyn Page Napier
8/26/2014 at 10:13 pm:

Let me re-read it tonight while my
boys are at baseball practice. 

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward 8/26/2014 at
10:14 pm:

By the way how are you
doing?

Facebook Message from Brooklyn Page Napier
8/26/2014 at 10:15 pm:

I'm alright, I met an old friend
from high school for a drink.  I think he's got a thing for me
lol

Facebook Message from Tyler Ward 8/26/2014 at
10:16 pm:

What!  Brooklyn, you’re
playing with fire. 

Facebook Message from Brooklyn Page Napier
8/26/2014 at 10:18 pm:

I know, but he's so nice to
me.  He genuinely wants to know how I'm doing. He makes me
feel happy.