Christmas Youngblood

"Thank you so much. It was very kind of you to give me a ride," Alice said to Rory.

"Now you’re sure you’re going to be okay? I’d feel really bad if you ended-up stranded."

"I’ll be fine. My friend, Amy, lives just across the field here," Alice lied.

"Okay kiddo. Go straight to your friend’s house. It will be dark in an hour or so. I hope everything turns out okay for you," Rory said.

"I’ll be fine. Really." Alice opened the passenger rear-door and gathered up the two overflowing bags of wrapped Christmas gifts. With the bags in her hands, she nudged both passenger side doors shut with her butt. Alice walked a few steps then turned around, smiled, and said, "Thanks again for the ride. Merry Christmas, Mr. Kind."

"It’s Rory and Merry Christmas to you too."

Rory Kind slipped his ruby red 2000 Ford Escort into gear, drove steadily back onto the rural road, and gave a cursory honk of the horn. Within seconds, he was out of sight as the winding road glided to the left and down a slight hill.

Fifteen year old Alice Youngblood entered the trampled, dying corn field trudging the heavy bags in her arms. The cold night air took her breath away as a slight breeze rattled the bags she carried. As dusk rapidly approached, Alice emerged from the corn field and crossed the street directly in front of the home at 1632 Riverbrook Road. She walked up the front porch steps and rang the door bell.

"Alice!", a stunned Perry Isem said when he opened the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Merry Christmas, Perry."

"How did you get here?", asked Perry.

"I hitched a ride," Alice said. "Some nice guy gave me a ride to the field."

"That sounds very dangerous, Alice. Didn’t your parents ever tell you not to get into a stranger’s car?"

"I needed to see you, Perry. Can I come inside? It’s cold out here."

"Sure, come in."

Alice came into the huge living room and set her bags down. She unzipped her heavy, gray Old Navy jacket and set it on the couch.

"Alice, why are you here?", asked Perry.

"I came to give you your Christmas presents."

"Alice, I told you, we cannot see each other anymore," Perry lamented. "Look everything that happened between us was a mistake. It never should have happened."

"I just sneaked-out of my Mom and Dad’s house to come see you and all you have to say to me is that, ‘It was a mistake’. I hitchhiked a ride with some guy that I have never met, just so I could give to you the Christmas presents I bought for you with the money I saved from babysitting…and all you tell me is it’s a mistake", said Alice as she bit her lower lip, so that she would not cry.

"Look, Alice,…you’re only fifteen. What happened between us…should not have happened. You’re, well…too young…entirely, too young."

"Don’t do this to me, Perry… not now, not ever…please," pleaded Alice. "I came all this way, just to celebrate Christmas with you. I bought gifts for you, Caleb, and even Mrs. Isem. Don’t you want to unwrap my gifts and see what Santa brought you."

"Alice, listen to me, be serious. We never should have had an affair. You were our babysitter, for Christ’s sake."

"What are you saying? I said, I even bought a gift for Mrs. Isem and you know I really didn’t want to do that. You told me, we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. Just you, me, & Caleb. You said that you were going to get a divorce from Mrs. Isem. You lied to me. All of it was a lie," sobbed Alice.

Alice grabbed her jacket and began to put it back on. "You can have the gifts. I don’t care, but there is something really important that you do need to know, Perry Isem. I’m pregnant. So, try explaining that to Mrs. Isem or to anyone else for that matter."

Perry stood up from his chair and grabbed Alice by the shoulders. "Tell me you’re kidding, Alice."

"I’m pregnant, Perry. I used an at-home pregnancy kit this morning and the result was positive."

"Alice, we need to have a serious conversation here about this. We need to make some serious decisions."

"You used me, Perry. I have nothing else to say to you."

"Alice, you cannot have the baby. We need to discuss other options."

"I don’t know about any of that right now. All I know is, I’m pregnant with your baby and you’re throwing me away like a sack of garbage," screamed Alice as she fought to keep her composure. She did not want Perry Isem to see her cry. She shook free of Perry’s grip and started to make her way towards the front door.

Perry grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around towards him. "Alice, I can get into a lot of trouble. Please, you have to listen to me. You cannot have the baby."

"Where is your wife, Perry? I’m sure she would just love to hear some Yule tide news," said Alice sarcastically.

"She went to the store with Caleb. They should be here anytime now."

Alice sat down in the rocking chair near the front door and stared at the family aquarium in the large, living room. The movement and colors of the fish allowed her mind to escape temporarily.

"Alice, I am going to take you home. I will call you tomorrow. Maybe, we can get some ice cream and go to the mall, but most importantly, we need to talk…alone," urged Perry.

Alice continued to stare into the fish tank. "Mr. Isem, I think I’ll stay until Mrs. Isem and Caleb come home," replied Alice. "I really would like to see their faces when they open their Christmas gifts."

Perry opened the closet and brought out his green, winter parka. He studied Alice as he zipped his coat. Alice was still transfixed by the aquarium. Finally, Perry said, "Alice, we need to go."

Alice slowly turned her face towards Perry and said, "I think I’ll wait for Mrs. Isem to come home."

"Unfortunately, Alice, that is not an option," Perry said. "Get up and come with me, Alice." Alice sat motionless. Perry crossed the room and with one swooping motion, he lifted her out of the chair. Alice’s feet kicked-out and slammed into the aquarium. Water flowed onto Perry and Alice as the aquarium crashed to the floor. The rush of water sent the Christmas tree sprawling to the floor. Fish jumped collectively on the floor to some unheard special holiday dance as they gasped for their next breath.

Alice shrieked, surprised by the attack of Perry. Intuitively, she pounded with her fists on Perry’s chest. Perry covered Alice’s mouth with his left hand, while slowly dragging her towards the fire place. Perry’s fear took control as he panicked. He could not let Alice destroy his life. He could not let her tell his wife. Alice kicked and clawed at Perry to no avail. He was far too big and strong for her.

As Perry dragged Alice to the fire place mantel amidst the water and Christmas tree, he grasped with his right hand the fire place poker. Everything was happening too fast. He had no time to think. He only knew he had to get rid of Alice. Alice was going to destroy his whole life. Suddenly, Alice’s fingers scratched across his cheek and into his left eye. A burning pain blinded him as he dropped the poker. Alice stood up in an instant and punched him solidly in the right eye. Perry slipped in the water and fell backwards. The back of his head smacking the mantel as he fell to the floor. Alice quickly tried to compose herself and raced for the front door.

As she stood, Perry knocked her legs out from under her as she went sprawling onto the downed Christmas tree. Pine needles ripped into the palms of her hands and face spurting blood onto the nativity scene. Perry dove onto the back of Alice, pummeling her with his fists. "Merry Christmas, Alice. You will never forget your last Christmas," screamed Perry as he grabbed her hair from behind.

Barely conscious with blood flowing into her eyes, Alice felt her head being pulled back as Perry tugged on her long, brown hair. She felt his hands stiffen as he was going to slam her head forward into the floor. She heard a loud bang and felt Perry’s grip on her loosen as he then fell away to her right. A large, blood-filled, gaping hole contorted his face. Alice turned and saw Rory Kind with a gun in his hand.

"What happened?", asked Alice.

"He will never hurt you again, Alice."

"Where did you come from?"

"I just had a bad feeling about this situation, so I turned around and saw you come into this house. I figured, I just hang-out awhile to see if you were going to be okay," Rory exclaimed. "Come with me now. We need to get you some help."

"Thank you so much again, Mr. Kind."

"It’s Rory…let’s go."
************************************************************************

"I don’t understand what happened officer," sobbed Carole Isem.

"We’re not quite sure either yet, ma’am. We only know that your husband, Perry, is dead. We have an All Points Bulletin out on a ruby, red 2000 Ford Escort, license number LCM-156. This vehicle is owned by a registered sex offender and pedophile, Rory Kind. He was seen leaving with a young, teenage girl. That is the only information we have at this time. We would greatly appreciate it if you could help us identify the girl".