Winter Season

Where does it hurt?

Oat turned at the end of the porch and flipped them off, turned to leave and fell down the steps as Oscar slammed the door behind him.

Esther went with him to the bathroom. After he washed his face, “let me see.” She took her finger and gently pushed at his nose from his fore head to the tip of his nose. “Tell me when it hurts.”

“The tip is a little sore.”

Then she went down the right side.

“No.” When she made it half way down the left side of his nose, he flinched in pain.

“Yeah.”

“Your nose isn’t broken. I think he stuck his finger up it.”

Oscar smiled, “all of that and all he did was stick his finger up my nose?”

“Sweetheart, he was drunk.”

Oscar touched the left side of his nose, “yeah that hurts.”

She kissed the tip of his nose. “I’m sorry.”

He hugged her, holding her close. “Thank you so much.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

He looked deep into her eyes, “you did more than you will ever know.”

The doorbell rang and it was Chet. “How are you?”

They all sat in the living room. “Disturbed.” Oscar shook his head.

Esther took a deep breath, “Oscar, I think you really need to considered getting a restraining order on Oat.”

He looked confused, “why would I do that?”

“Please forgive me, but your brother is a piece of work. I have no doubt that he will try to get an EPO on you.”

“He’s spending the night at least in jail.” Chet spoke, “his blood alcohol was three times the legal limit. The Amanda Law has changed EPO’s and DVO’s. Siblings can’t get them on each other.”

“But your county attorney might sign it anyway just to get Oat out of his face.”

“No, I don’t see that happening. James’s wife was a victim of domestic violence by the hands of her first husband. He is too aware of the consequences to do that.”

“I still say you need to put ink to paper in some form to keep this from coming back to hurt you.” Esther encouraged. “What about an assault charge?”

“And say what,” Oscar was getting annoyed, “that he was so drunk that when he tried to break my nose all he managed to do was poke his finger up it? How embarrassing!”

Chet looked at Esther wild eyed, “what?”

“He swung at Oscar twice and missed. When he figured out a direct hit wouldn’t work, he lunged at Oscar pushing him backwards on the couch. I got him off and pinned him to the floor. Oscar’s nose was bleeding. I don’t think it’s broken. I think all Oat managed to do was ram his finger up Oscar’s nose. Oscar told him to leave, that he couldn’t come back. As he was leaving, he fell down the steps.”

“The arresting officer said that he has a scratch on his forehead, his nose and the palm of his right hand. He also tried to fight the arresting officer and was cussin’ you every breath. There was a Jack Daniel’s bottle and two empty fifths of Jim Beam in the floor board of his truck.”

Oscar let out a long sigh, “now what?”

“I want you to go to the ER and have that nose checked. Tell them I sent you and make sure they fax me a copy of the report.”

“Why the ER?” Oscar was exasperated.

“Esther, help me.” Chet implored.

“I’ll do my best.” Oscar just stared at her. She wasn’t even sure that he saw her. “Honey, I want you to be protected. I don’t trust your family as far as I could pick any of them up to throw them. Please,” she held his hands in hers. “Protect yourself.”

“Will you come with me? This is so embarrassing.”

“You know I will,” she gave him a reassuring smile.

“Esther, I’m going to need your statement.”

“Of course.”

Winter Season