Blowing Up

Dr Hekyl and Mrs Hyde

As I lay on my bed, I heard the three of them talking quietly. I couldn't make out what was said, but I knew it couldn't be good news for me. After half an hour or so, I was called downstairs. I walked into the living room and sat down. As soon as I did, Steve exploded with anger. "How dare you tell our mother why I don't contact her?" He raged. Well, all I could do was apologize to him if he felt I was out of order, explaining as I did, that if he'd addressed the problem, I wouldn't have had to say a word about it. Within a few minutes, all seemed to be well again. They began to laugh as they talked about my behaviour during the past week or so. My piety and humility amused them. I sat and listened as Mary roared with laughter as she recounted my confusion regarding celibacy and love. I laughed along with them. Without warning, Mary whipped round and spat, " If your mother has a stroke tonight it will be your fault". I said nothing as I got out of my chair and headed upstairs. So close was I to completely losing my temper, that I feared for her safety. Once in my room, I put on my coat and headed out once more. I knew I wouldn't stay in that house another night. I walked along the bay once more, deciding how I was going to approach the nest stage. Three hours later, at about ten thirty, I'd made up my mind.
Rescue Mission
I approached the house and knocked on the door. Much to my relief, Steve opened it. Calling him outside, I began to talk to him. I explained I knew that an attempt had been made to brainwash me and that it had failed. I was leaving for the UK and wanted him to come with me. The fact there wasn't even a penny in my pocket didn't trouble me. I knew I could rely on the British Consulate to get me out of this hole. All Steve wanted to do was to get me back into the house to talk with Mary. At first, I refused, not wanting to speak with her again. Finally, I realised my best hope of getting Steve out of their clutches was to confront them. Confront them I did. Mary explained away the comment about my mother as a joke and told me to forget about it. No matter what I said, she denied everything. She claimed I'd put myself through the question and answer sessions as I explored my inner self. She had no part in it except to show me how to do it, she claimed. Tiring of it all, she then announced it was a matter between brothers and left the room with Karen. Steve and I talked for another hour until I too tired of a conversation going nowhere and made ready to leave once more. As I left, Mary appeared at the top of the stairs and whined " Nick please don't go, I'm sorry if I upset you, stay please." It was all too much for me as I let rip at her, accusing her of violating my person and screaming that I would never spend another night under the same roof as her. It was midnight as I left the house for the British Consulate.
Night and Day
I knew the British Consulate was a couple of miles towards Dublin, so began to walk. It was a cold, damp, miserable night. I cared not a jot, as I walked briskly towards my goal. It was Saturday night, so the bars were full and noisy as I walked through Blackrock. After about an hour and a half, I happened on the Consulate. I'd walked past it once, before realising I'd gone too far. retracing my steps to get there. There was an armed guard on duty at the heavily fortified gate. I told him I needed help from the Consulate to get back home. His response was like a slap in the face. "The Consulate won't be open again until Monday morning !" "What would happen if I tried to get in?" I asked, half jokingly. " I'd have to restrain you " came the reply. Assessing his build and height, not to mention his weapon, I decided against such bravado. Next stop, Blackrock police station at three o'clock, where I reported the activities of the previous week. Disinterest prevailed as I was shown the door. Tired and disconsolate, I made my way to a church where I slept fitfully in the doorway. By six, I became too cold to stay there, so decided to head back to the house, to try once more to convince Steve to come with me. Making my way to the shed beside the house, I curled up on the floor to wait for daybreak. It came, but there was no sign of activity from the house. At eight thirty, I tapped on the French windows, causing a dog to bark. Steve came and let me in.
Home James
We drank coffee as he explained he'd had no sleep. We talked, with me trying to convince him, he'd been brainwashed too. After a couple of hours, Karen came into the room. I looked at her and said, " I know you and your mother tried to brainwash me. I know how you did it and I believe you have done the same to my brother." She turned an ashen white and began to shake, before leaving the room.
For the next two hours I kept on trying. Steve was unmovable, denying the obvious. Short of cracking him across the head and dragging him out, I knew I had to admit defeat. I asked Steve for money to get me home. he went away, returning with about sixty dollars, saying it was all he had. I left then and headed for Dun Laoghaire, (pronounced Dun Leery), the nearby ferry port. The crossing was extremely rough and cost me all but a dollar to travel. Arriving in Holyhead on the Welsh coast at four thirty in the afternoon, I had to decide how I was to get to a place of safety at least two hundred miles away.