Final Straw
Putting on the Trenchcoat
Although I was convinced Mary was using some kind of brainwashing technique on me, I still followed her prescribed course.
The uncomfortable feelings were there large as life, but I was now fully aware of what she was trying to do.
My brain had stumbled across a long forgotten memory of a television show,
where a woman and her daughter used such tricks to gain control over someone to steal his money.
I was convinced Mary and Karen had used this method to gain control over my brother. I began monitor his behaviour
closely. Every time Mary bellowed his name, he jumped up as though he had been startled,
and ran to the source of the call. I needed to be sure before I made my move. In truth, I wanted to be wrong about them.
I managed, during one of the conversations with Mary, to get her to reveal a little of herself.
She showed her vulnerability as she told me of a man she loved, but couldn't have. Her bottom lip quivered as she spoke of him,
but it didn't last. She proceeded to give me a rocket for daring to probe. I had obviously trodden on dangerous turf by
bringing out a human side of her.
The Last Night
I'll never forget the last night I stayed in the house in Blackrock.
True to form, I made my way to bed at eight thirty. I dutifully dropped into the half sleep.
The "screen" appeared and with it a series of questions. I knew not the source of the questions and wasn't conscious enough
to be able to identify it. The one thing I realised, is that those questions were not mine.
They began by asking me who I loved.
"My mother," I replied, " and my daughter." The questions became insistent. "In order to become a medium you have been told you must leave your
present life behind haven't you?" "Yes". "It is wrong then to love your mother and daughter isn't it?"
" You use women for sex don't you?" "Yes" I replied. " It is wrong to have sex isn't it?"
I became distraught and tormented as I wrestled with the questions. Then, " What do you think of Mary?" " She reminds me of Medusa" I answered.
Of course, Medusa is a mythical woman with a nest of vipers on her head. I'd given myself away. Suddenly, a nest of vipers appeared to appear at my feet.
"What do you do with a nest of Vipers?" " I stamp on them" I shot back. Then I woke very quickly. As I did so, I felt threatened by the sight of something
rushing towards me. I shut my eyes and cringed back in fear. When I dared to open them, the room was silent. I dropped back into a restless sleep.
Day of Decision.
When I awoke later that morning I felt empty and confused inside. I was totally devoid of the ability to make even the most simple of decisions, like whether or not I could love my mother.
The dogs and I made our way to Dublin Bay. The sea was raging onto the shore as a storm abated. I walked with the dogs, not knowing what to think. Scared almost out of my mind, I made my way back to the house,
before asking if I could see Mary, because I desperately needed help. When I saw her, I explained my confusion. I didn't know whether I should love my mother or daughter. I didn't know whether I should be celibate.
I couldn't make a decision. Mary laughed as she told me it was ok to love my mother, ok to love my daughter and that I didn't need to be celibate. She then told me my mind was now empty and I should go to my room to rebuild it
with those thoughts.
As I lay on my bed, analysing and rebuilding my shattered mind, I began to piece things together.
Dim in my memory, but definitely there, was the sound of someone leaving my room in a hurry.
Thinking back to the television show, I remembered a scene where the subject had woken unexpectedly.
In order to give the two women time to escape, one of them had fluttered her fingers over his eyelids,
causing him to shrink back in fear. It was clear to me that the same thing had just happened to me.
I trailed downstairs and saw Steve in the kitchen. I asked him if I had completed the programme. he assured me I had.
Then I asked him if he'd been through the same thing.
He nodded that he had. It was all I needed to confirm my suspicions. What the heck was I supposed to do now ? I returned to my bedroom
for the remainder of the day, tossing the possibilities around in my head. Eventually, I took the dogs for an extended walk along the bay.
The wind howled, but I didn't care. The rain swept in from the Irish sea, but I took no notice. For two hours I wrestled with my decision,
before returning the dogs. When I returned, Mary was in foul mood.
Final Request
She sat glowering in her bedroom as I was ushered in to see her. "We need money" she snapped. "I know you've given some to your mother. You
must call her and ask for it." I pleaded with her. I told her I didn't want to call my mother because it was all she had. It made no difference to Mary,
she wanted me to make that call. So I did call. My mother listened,
as I asked her to promise to send me the money when I asked her to. It was clear she was upset, finally asking
why my brother hadn't told her he was getting married.
I told her why he'd estranged himself from her these past thirteen years. Telling her to trust me, I asked her once more if she would agree to send the money.
She agreed with a choke in her voice. Returning to Mary, I told her my mother had agreed to send the money when I asked for it to be sent. "Good" she snarled, swinging
agilely from her bed, "Phone her back now and tell her to send it". I refused,
explaining her distress at Steve's failure to communicate and that I feared she would suffer a stroke if I did. With that,
I left Mary in an extremely angry mood and returned to my room. The final act was about to begin.