Nataanii

Chapter One


August 12th, 1984:

Bill Matthews sat in Therapist Dr. Talbot’s office waiting for her to come in. He wasn’t sure what she had to tell him but the feeling of not knowing was filling him with trepidation. When the therapist walked in, Bill stood with his bright, blue eyes big and wide.

“So what’s the news you called me here for?” He asked.

The therapist half smiled and motioned for Bill to sit down.

“What is it doctor?” He asked.

“Well, Mr. Matthews, Cameron and Susie are now eighteen and well, neither you nor I can make them come to therapy any longer. However, I will tell you this, from the many sessions I have had with them, I feel strongly that both girls will need to stay up under a therapist. Being diagnosed as a Paranoid Schizophrenic along with being a manic depressive is—extreme for them. There are times when their behavior will be—sporadic, violent and so to cope with that, I’m going to advise you to keep them on Dilantin 500. It will help them through their illness. They have agreed to continue with the medication, so it should be no problem.”

The therapist handed Bill two prescription. He looked at them as tears filled his eyes.

“Please make sure they don’t miss a dosage.” She said.

“H—how did they get like this?” Bill asked.

“Well, Mr. Matthews,” she said, “their mother burned up your wife’s parents’ home—with your wife
and her parents’ in it. She herself was diagnosed as being a psychotic before going off to prison.
Basically, it’s genetics that makes up the main reason for Cameron and Susie’s illness.”

Bill broke into tears with his head in his hands. The therapist patted his shoulder.

“I understand your sorrow,” she said, “but as long as they stay on this medicine, it should be just fine. Don’t worry about running out, when you do just call me and I’ll have you come pick up a prescription for a refill.”

“Well—well can’t you admit them into a psychiatric hospital or something?” Bill asked as he wiped his tears away. “I mean should they be—home with this condition?”

The therapist nodded.

“Mr. Matthews, we only can admit them if we found that they are a danger to themselves or others. This medicine should help them so that their condition doesn’t progress to that level. Trust me; they’ll be fine with Dilantin.”

Bill’s chin was trembling. He looked up at the therapist and bit down hard on his lower lip.

“O—ok, I’ll get this filled now.” Bill said.

She smiled and stood to her feet.

“Good, but first you have to sign some papers and then you can go from there.”

Bill followed her out of the office but his stomach felt like they were in knots. Despite being told that everything would be alright with medicine, Bill still had deep, dark feelings, feelings that scared him greatly.

Nataanii

PART TWO OF THE STORY:

November 27th, 1997:

Bill was in the kitchen fixing the last dishes for Thanksgiving dinner while his daughters Cameron and Susie and his son Corey were in the living room watching television. Bill was excited by the fact that his other daughter Josie, was coming home from college in less than an hour. He was proud of her, majoring in law just like he did. She was his baby girl. As Bill pulled out the glass dish of macaroni out of the oven, Corey walked in with a cigarette in his mouth and smiling.

'“Christ dad, you’re cooking like it’s gonna be our last mean or some shit.” He grinned.

Bill laughed and sat the dish on the long, brown table in the corner of the kitchen.

“Don’t you think I have to?” Bill asked. “This is gonna be the last Thanksgiving I have with you in the house before you move to Los Angeles in February.”

Corey patted him on the back.

“Aww dad, it’s just two years.” Corey said between puffing on his cigarette. “Besides, I’m twenty-six, it’s time to spread out and see the world.”

Bill stared at Corey.

“Can you take Cameron and Susie with you?” He asked.

Corey laughed and walked to the door of the kitchen.

“Oh they can’t be that bad.” Corey said.

Bill scoffed.

“Corey, starting on yesterday, they have said they refuse to take anymore of their medication.” Bill said. “So yes, it is that bad.”

Corey smiled.

“Well better for you to deal with that than me.”

Bill laughed and sat down at the kitchen table. He heard his front door open. It was Josie. Bill stood and gasped. She looked refreshing with her long, back length black hair and smooth brown skin. It seemed to Bill that she had grown taller since he had last seen her. He just knew she had to have been five feet ten now. Her brown eyes were bright and sparkling. She had even lost weight since he had seen her, regaining the hourglass figure she had once before. Bill walked up to her and hugged her close.

“Daddy!” Josie yelled. “Oh I missed you.”

Bill laughed and pushed her back from him.

“I know I’ve missed you too.” He said. ‘Look at you, you look great!”

“Thanks dad,” she grinned.

Corey walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her.

“Hey kid, how’s New York treating you?” He asked.

“Great, you wouldn’t believe how big Times Square is.” Josie said. “The whole city is beautiful.”

She looked at Corey and raised her left eyebrow.

“You’re still smoking aren’t you Corey?”

Corey looked away and cleared his throat.

“Go away squirt.” He grinned.

She laughed and sat down beside Cameron and Susie on the sofa and stared at them, smiling.

“Hey Cam , Susie, how are you two?” She asked.

Cameron rolled her eyes and looked at Josie.

“It’s Cameron, NOT Cam , get it right.” Cameron said.

Susie looked at Josie and half smiled.

“So Josie, are you still tricking to pay for your tuition?” She asked.

Josie looked away from Susie and scoffed.

“Susie, cut it out.” Bill said.

“Well, I thought since I’ve been away for a year, you two would be happy to see me.” Josie said.

“Why would we be happy to see you?” Cameron asked. “We can’t stand you, you bitch.”

Bill grabbed Cameron by the arm and pulled her off the sofa.

“Cameron, if you can’t cut it out, I’m gonna ask both you and Susie to leave.” Bill said.

Josie stood and walked towards the staircase.

“No dad, it’s ok,” Josie said. “I’m—I’m going to go upstairs for a while.”

Bill frowned and watched Josie dash up the stairs.

“You girls are a class act,” Corey said. “Jealous and evil.”

Corey ran upstairs after Josie and found her in her old bedroom, sitting on the bed crying. He walked
in and sat behind her on the bed.

“Hey, you alright kid?” Corey asked.

“No,” Josie said, “They’re not gonna ever let it down are they! After all these years, they still think
I’m the reason their mother is in prison!”

“So what!” Corey yelled. “You know it’s not true kid, they are—fucked up in the mind. They’re just
jealous of you. Both of them are high school dropouts by choice, they work at minimum wage as housekeepers. Here you are in NYU, majoring in law. You have your own car, your own apartment. They’re jealous girl. Don’t let them get you down.”

Josie looked at Corey and smiled.

“Thanks Corey,” She said. “I’m so glad you’re my brother.”

Corey hugged her close.

“No problem girl, that’s what family is for.” He said.

It was six in the afternoon when Bill and his family sat down for Thanksgiving dinner. Bill could still feel the tension in the room between his daughters but he had hopes he and Corey could help clear the air.

“So the acting job I got in Los Angeles is going to be a lead role this time.” Corey said as he piled mashed potatoes onto his plate. “It’s playing yet another horror character in a horror flick but—hell
it’s good money, I’ll take it.”

Josie laughed.

“I know it’s gotta be fun though,” Josie said, “and you’re working with Christina Ricci, that’s cool. I kind of envy you.”

Corey scoffed.

“Please, I envy you sis,” Corey said. “You’re gonna be the one making all the bread girl. You’re a triple threat too—beauty, brains and a top earning career—damn.”

Bill laughed.

“Yeah, my baby girl is slowly pulling her way to the top.” Bill said.

Josie smiled and lowered her head.

Nataanii

PART THREE: Sorry, I had to seperate it into 3 parts in order for me to post all this on here.

“Oh please, I don’t like to brag or be bragged about.” She said. “I just like to think I’m blessed.”

“Please, how are you blessed?” Susie asked. “Anybody can go to college, but it takes a real woman to finish, which I doubt you’ll ever have the courage to do.”

Bill sighed in anger.

“Yeah, well you would definitely know about not finishing Susie,” Corey said. “It took you two years just to finish the eighth grade.”

Corey burst into laughter as he took a sip of his wine.

“Way to crack on your own sister Corey.” Susie said.

“Yeah, well you started it Susie.” Corey said. “When are you going to lay the hell off of Josie huh?”

“Enough,” Bill said.

“What!” Susie yelled. “You’re going to choose this—bitch over your own sister!”

“Josie’s my sister too Susie!” Corey yelled.

“Enough, both of you,” Bill said.

“Yeah, please Corey,” Josie said, her head lowered. “It’s enough that Susie doesn’t have manners but don’t you stoop down to her level.”

Susie looked at Josie and grunted.

“I may not have manners,” Susie said, “but at least I’m not an undercover whore like you are! What, did you get that from your slutty mother!”

“ENOUGH!” Bill yelled as he slammed his hand down on the table. “Enough dammit! Everyone shut up! I’m sick of this—this bickering! Susie, I want you out of my house—Now!”

Josie stood with her eyes filled with tears.

“No dad, I’m leaving.” She said. ‘I refuse to stay here any longer. I should’ve never come home in the first place.”

“Well why did you?” Susie asked. ‘No one wants you here. You ruined my life, Cameron’s life and
Corey’s life the day you and your Yankee bitch mom came into dad’s life. You’re NOT our real sister and you never will be! In fact, Cameron and I both HATE you.”

Josie broke down and cried as she ran to the front door.

“You are such an ass Susie!” Corey yelled.

Josie ran out the door of the house and over to her black Nissan. Corey ran after her and grabbed her arm.

“Josie, please don’t go,” He said.

“Why!” She cried. “Why shouldn’t I go! Every since I’ve been born, they’ve hated me! Why! I had nothing to do with their mom leaving! Why do they hate me! What did I do!”

Josie fell to the ground on her knees and Corey picked her up and held her in his arms.

“I—I don’t know kid,” he said. “I—I don’t know why, you know? They’re just—they’re just idiots. I’m sorry Josie—really.”


Bill threw down his napkin on the table and stared at Susie and Cameron. His face was a bright shade of red.

“Susie, I want you out of my house now!” He yelled. “Now, you hear me and don’t you come back until you’re ready to apologize!”

“You are such a fool!” Susie yelled. “You care more about her then you do us don’t you!”

“What!” He yelled. “That’s the dumbest thing you have ever said! Why would you think something
like that! What, because I’m pleased by the fact that she doesn’t disrespect me the way you two do!
She treats me like a daughter is supposed to treat her father! Or—or is it because she has actually done something with her life that makes me proud! Those are things you two never do!”

Susie scoffed.

“She’s your damn favorite isn’t she!” She yelled. “She’s your little—pet and we’re scum in your eyes aren’t we! Admit it dad, she’s your favorite!”

Bill looked down at the floor and blinked heavily. He wanted to answer according to his feelings but was too afraid of the consequences behind it.

“Admit it dad!” Susie yelled. “She’s your—”

“Yes!” Bill interrupted as tears filled his eyes. “Dammit, yes ok! Yeah she is and do you know why! She’s my favorite because she shows me more love than you two EVER do! So yes she is! There are you happy now Susie!”

Susie threw the glass of wine at Bill, staining his crisp, white shirt.

“This isn’t over daddy,” Susie said. “This isn’t over by a long shot. You want a FLESH AND Blood family, well you’re about to get one.”

Susie looked at Cameron and motioned for Cameron to follow her.

“Now, if you will excuse us, Cameron and I have got some work to get to.” Susie said before she and Cameron walked to the front door and stormed out of the house.

Bill sat back down in his chair and rested his head on the table. Feelings of guilt and sadness filled him. He felt less than a father for what he said to Susie, but the secrets of his feelings had been longing to get outfor years. Little did he know, the revealing of his feelings would lead him and his family down a road of destruction and horror.