What is wrong with Andrew?

I tried watching Blade Runner this morning, but Daryl Hannah just screamed the entire time. Stupid, Desmond.

Maybe I’m not a movie person.

So I rolled over and found To Kill A Mockingbird. I opened the book and was surprised that the first sentence was not a bird telling us how it died. Like the bird was dead, and telling us a story from the grave, where all birds go, I think, eventually.

They don’t let us out much. The People. I think they think we like it simple, but it’s really them who want it simple, The People.

Remember Splash, with John Candy and Eugene Levy? Neither do I, but Desmond keeps yanking on my sleeve and asking about it. Where are The People when you need them?

Daryl Hannah.

Remember Tom Skerrit?

No, no.

Daryl Hannah.

She was in Steel Magnolias with Tom Skeerit.

Great movie.

Heard it’s about a play, or based on one. Time to go to church.

***

No one’s pulling my chain. Jesus Christ. What a guy. The Pastor spoke a lot about him. You’d think the guy was crazy. Desmond doesn’t think so. Desmond says the opposite. Desmond is pissed off. Desmond says. The People push him up the ramp.

I remember a time when there were no ramps. Don’t know what they did then. I hate to think what they did then. So disgusting. Bet Pastor Bob never saw that coming.

I remember when Pastor Bob was a young man, like Daryl Hannah and Tom Skerrit in Steel Magnolias. That was when I saw the movie. Then The People came.

I ask for tacos, and for once in my life, Desmond does not have an opinion. Makes you wonder.

The clouds are many today. Big fluffy ones and thin straight ones. Ones that look like mom and dad. Others look like a snake. Makes you wonder.

Jesus Christ. My pants. Desmond.

***

The People, characterized in the media as a group of quacks that kidnap folks who should be on medication and promote The People as an alternative, what that alternative is, I have yet to discover. I have been with them for 8 weeks, and we travel in three minivans. There is not a state in the lower 48 we have not already visited, and when we come across someone in front of a Walmart or CVS, we “expose” them to the harms of medication, talk them into a new life, and if they are “willing,” stay with us. By us. The People started when Pastor Bob Karpinski met Marge Karpinski about ten years ago. I still have not gotten an exact time. They don’t really believe in that either. Rumor has it, though, that Marge was not always Marge Karpinski, but Marge Finch and Marge Louis. That Pastor Bob had an affair with Marge, and blamed the entire escapade on a drug called Ropinirole, which supposedly can increase your desire for sex and gambling. It was created for restless leg syndrome, but now has the warning label on it regarding sex and gambling because Pastor Bob successfully sued the pharmaceutical company. From what I can gather, which isn’t a whole lot, this was about ten years ago. Court documents span over a great length of time, and there is no evidence that Bob got a massive payout, but it was enough to buy three minivans, well, one in the beginning, and to save face, “saved” Marge from her brainwashed family. I’m currently in a van with Marge, Bob, and two gentlemen named Desmond and Wes. Wes is eating, and Desmond has spilled Coca-Cola on him. Before that, they talked a great deal, well, Desmond talked a great deal about Daryl Hannah’s entire career. Wes soaked both up. Desmond is in a wheelchair, never says why, but my guess is Polio, while Wes, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a word from, but he reads occasionally, as he did at the motel. I help him when I can, and hopefully, when all the pieces are together, they’ll get the proper care. For now, I must keep my notes to a minimum. It took me two weeks to get to where I am now since I met them at a church basement meeting in Bellevue, WA. I definitely believe Bob and Marge have bad intentions, but I have yet to discovr their alternativ to pharmaceuticls.

Andrew, May 16th, 2006

***

My son, Andrew, age 15, has been missing for four months. I don’t know where else to put my thoughts, so I bought a journal. First one, ever.

My son, where are you? I’m scared of the reports in the news of The People, and how crafty they are in avoiding the law, and the fact that it seems that they are hell-bent on organizing a cult within a cult. 60 Seconds said they pose as this anti-big pharma group, but are medicating individuals to a point of no return. I may already be past that point. I am afraid. He’s run away before, and we’ve never found him. He’s always come back. I don’t know what to do.

Jess

***

I can’t believe it. It’s just too good to be true. Wow.

Look. Why is Mom so sad? Maybe I should say something. Look. Desmond and Wes. Look. Look. Why is everyone so sad? Where is Pastor Bob going? Where is Mom going? Where are they taking me? Where are The People?

Movie time. No.

No.

***

What is wrong with Andrew? Where is Desmond? Where are The People? I’m all alone again. This is a painful feeling. My hand is shaking, like anger. I want to hit. I want to hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. I hit. They hit. They hit. Stop. Stop. No more. Stop. Stop. No.

***

“Mam’? Can you come over here when you have a second? I understand.”