Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 09:59:58 EST From: Freda Whaley 904-944-0550 Subject: One Leap over the Moonies p.08 Message-Id: Part Eight Sam's wife-to-be was a pretty little thing. She had dark almond shaped eyes and short black hair. She didn't say much. Just that she was pleased to be one of the chosen ones. Sam told her that he was pleased too and wondered what she would think when he didn't turn up for the wedding. No matter what Al and Ziggy said he had to do, he had no intention of showing up. He still wasn't feeling so hot. He was sure he was running a fever. And it was hard to breath. His chest hurt all the time. He was pretty sure he was getting pneumonia. He had asked about seeing a doctor and was told to wait until after the wedding. He didn't think he was going to be able to wait that long. Sam and about fifteen other young men were taken into the supply building where they were handed white pants and tops to wear for the ceremony. As Sam was handed his he slumped to the floor. The buzz of voices around him made no sense and then he knew only darkness. His fellow Moonies bundled Sam into their van and drove him into town. He was dumped at the entrance to the Emergency Room of the town hospital. Sam started to come out of his faint as he was put on the sidewalk. He was still in a haze as he saw his companions leave. He looked around as hospital workers came out and over to him. "It looks like another one of those kids from that Cult. He's pretty out of it. Let's get him inside." The pain, fever and the problem with breathing made Sam very combative. He wasn't aware of what he was doing. In his mind he was seeing monsters trying to hold him down. He gradually became aware that Al was speaking to him. Blurry-eyed, he looked at his friend. "Take it easy Sam. Ziggy says you're going to be okay. You've got pneumonia but you're going to get the care you need." Sam suddenly realized that he couldn't get any air in. He knew his lung had collapsed. It didn't take the medical workers long to figure out the same thing. Sam was rushed to the operating room and a long needle was inserted into his chest cavity to draw out fluides so his lung could re-inflate. He was put on a respirator and admitted to intensive care. This was one time Sam would have been more then happy to be unconscious, but he was wide awake as they settled him into bed. He realized that Al was still with him. Unable to talk he gave a pleading look to his buddy. "I know Sam, but you're going to be Okay. Ziggy says you'll be on this respirator for two days and then you start to improve. Just take it easy." That was hard for Sam to do. His hands were tied down to keep him from pulling the respirator tube out of his throat. That was very scary for him. A young woman came over to Sam carrying a clip board. She was very well built and Al was having his usual good time making remarks about her anatomy while all Sam could do was glare at him. "How are we feeling today?" She was hovering over him. Sam wondered why people always used 'we' when they meant 'you'. "I know you can't talk to me but do you feel up to writing down some answers to some questions I have?" Sam nodded his head yes. To his relief his hands were set free. When they were finished the nurse knew who Sam was, where he lived and how to reach Mr. Preston. She reached over to re-tie his hands. He jerked them away but she was insistent. She "tut tuted" as she gently held down one arm and then the other. She fastened the straps and brushing the hair away from his forehead said, "Now young man that's not so bad. We can't have you pulling the tube out in your sleep can we?" Sam was thinking some pretty nasty thoughts as she left the room. About three hours later Jonny's father showed up. "Jonny, are you alright? Don't worry son, we'll get you through this." Sam tried to reached for his father's hand. It was all he could do with the respirator in. He was glad to see this man and saddened to see how worried he'd been. He hated to be the cause of such unhappiness. Mr. Preston reached over and held Sam's hand. Two days later the respirator was removed. Sam was happy to be able to talk. He smiled as Mr. Preston entered the room. "Hi 'dad'." Mr. Preston tried to smile but gave up, looking any where except at Sam. "The doctors say you can come home tomorrow. Would you like that?" "Sure dad. Ah...Dad, I want you to know I didn't go back to them on purpose. It was a mistake on their part. I don't think they meant to do anything wrong, I...I guess they thought they were helping, but it wasn't my idea to go back." Jonny's father gave him a puzzled look. "Well, son, if that's the case, why didn't you just leave and come home? Were they holding you captive?" "No sir, but once you're at their camp it's hard to leave. I don't expect you to understand. I don't think I understand it myself. I'm.....I'm just glad to be back with you. Sam was getting a little worried that Mr. Preston still wasn't looking at him. Finally Mr. Preston turned and looked at him. "Son, I don't believe you really want to leave them." "But...." "Don't son. This is hard enough. If you hadn't gotten sick you'd still be with them doing God knows what. I've got the paper work back from my lawyer today and you'll be going to St. Mathews this afternoon." "St. Mathews?" Sam didn't like the sound of this. Al had been watching all of this from the corner in the room. He checked the hand link, not liking what he was seeing. "Oh, oh Sam. St. Mathews is the local mental hospital." Sam's eyes widened in fright. "Dad, please, I promise you. I don't want to be in that cult. I want to go home. With you." he was openly crying now. Mr. Preston turned and shaking his head he left the room. Pulling the IV loose Sam started to get out of bed. "Sam, what do you think you're doing?" Al had seen what Sam had been through with the shock treatment and everything. Dr. Beeks had warned him that Sam might have problems from it. "I'm not going to a mental hospital. I won't go and that's final. You tell God, Time, or whatever to leap me out of here." He jumped as two large orderlies came into the room. He started to yell as they headed for him. "No, I won't go. Get away." As weak as he was they didn't have to much of a problem putting him back into bed. He forced himself to quite down as they strapped his hands down. "Please...I'm okay..please don't tie my hands." He was completely ignored. They double checked to make sure he wasn't able to get the straps undone and left him there. Trying to calm Sam down Al moved over to the edge of the bed and got down on eye level with him. "Look at me Sam. Good, now you listen to me." "Please Al...I...I can't go through with this." "Calm down. It's not going to be like last time. Ziggy says they just talk to you. A little family counseling. "Are...are you sure Al?" "Sure I'm sure." He smiled at Sam. "You'll be out of there in no time." Sam was a little calmer when the nurse came in with a sedative for him. "This won't put you asleep. It'll just help you relax a little." Sam took it without a fight.