Subj: Taken to Task, Part 2
Date: 6/18/00 12:32:38 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Carol H. Monterosso
Willie awoke the next morning feeling stiff and sore; he could hardly move his limbs without inhaling deeply and bracing himself for the waves of pain that undulated throughout his muscles. He was sure that even his bones were bruised.
Pulling the covers up to his neck, he noticed that
the fireplace was still burning brightly. He didn't think to start it
last night; he was too petrified to think of his comfort. All he wanted to do
was disappear into the floor and never be seen again. But someone thought of
it. Was Barnabas trying to be nice so that he'd let him..."No! I won't let him
do this to me!" Willie thought. "I sure as hell won't let any man rape me. No
sir! I'm not sucking him off, either. He can go to Hell as far as I'm concerned."
Laying in bed contemplating his immediate future, Willie knew he'd eventually have to get up, dress, and venture downstairs. Besides his daily routine of cooking, cleaning, and running Barnabas' errands, he was still involved in the restoration of the Old House. He enjoyed that work very much. Using his hands to sand a piece of wood into silky smoothness, stain it the exact color used in the 1700's and seamlessly join it with the parent piece gave Willie immense self-esteem and pride in his work. He WAS capable of doing something worthwhile.
He couldn't help it if most of the townspeople thought otherwise. They knew he had changed tremendously since his employment by Barnabas Collins. Still...and there was always that...still...you can't change a leopard's spots. He usually went about his business in town as quickly and quietly as possible. He didn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers. Once in awhile, it would've been nice to stop in the cafe for coffee without being cautiously surveyed by the customers. Or a drink at the Blue Whale without the bartender wondering if he was going to start a fight. Little did anyone know that he wouldn't hurt a fly much less a human.
He led a lonely life. He was a lonely man. He had no one other than Barnabas. Maybe people did get the wrong idea about two men living together in a grand old house. Well, that was there problem, not his. Willie knew he was all man. He just didn't have the opportunity to use his manly skills. Maggie was surely out of the picture. And, Carolyn...she was pretty...pleasant and nice to him but the rich, fun-loving, party girl wouldn't consider Willie a part of her dating circle. And that hurt. Just knowing he'd never be her equal, or anyone's equal, bothered him more than he realized.
He knew he was a good person. He was a loyal and true friend. He was a steady worker that took pride in his craft. He took care of Barnabas. That was the clincher: just how far does an employee go to please his employer? He thought they had become friends but it had become obviously one-sided. It wasn't like this a few weeks ago, Willie thought. Then, everything was normal; he could come and go as he pleased without Barnabas controlling every moment. When did the change occur that made him a raving sex maniac?
Ever so slowly, Willie rolled out of bed. He flinched when each muscle or joint moved. Seeing himself in the mirror was disheartening. He looked like hell. For the first time in his life, he had said NO and meant it but look what happened. It was easier to say YES to a life of decadence.
He had slept later than usual and was concerned that Barnabas hadn't checked on him. He could've died during the night from internal bleeding, he thought. Didn't he care enough to see if he was still breathing? The house was eerily silent as he came down the stairs. Warming rays of the sun streamed through the drawing room windows. He went into the room, closed his eyes and let the warmth of the sun penetrate his body to ease his wounds. It felt so good. He remembered long ago days in the Caribbean with Jason. They had succeeded in a jewelry heist and were celebrating their good fortune at a local hotel. Wine, women and song were on the menu that evening while sleeping late and sunbathing on the shore were daytime activities. They had the good life until the police got wind of their whereabouts and off they went like loose kites in the sky. Always one step ahead of the cops!
"Willie, we have a guest," Barnabas said from the foyer. Willie shook his head to dissolve the pleasant scene in his head and saw, of all people, Reverend Trask standing next to Barnabas. He had his arms folded over his chest and his hand held his personal bible.
"What's he doin' here?" Willie incredulously asked. The last time he saw Trask he wasn't looking too good. Didn't his skeleton still lie in the cellar? How did Barnabas conjure a living, breathing Trask? It was incomprehensible how this man of God stood before him.
"He's here to teach you manners, Willie. On how to obey your Master!"
to be continued........