Prodigal Son
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Peter Caine sat on the raised platform and read the morning paper. A cup of steaming coffee was by his right knee. Every now and then as he read, a hand would reach down, pick up the cup and it would disappear behind the shield of newsprint only to be put back in it's resting place after a few seconds.
"You remind me of Dad when you do that," a familiar voice disturbed his repose. "Only Dad wouldn't be reading a paper written in Chinese."
The paper shield came down to reveal a broad grin, "Kelly, it's been a long time."
"I went to your apartment, but they said you moved out a year ago."
"Has it been that long?" Peter quipped. "And where have you been all this time?"
"You know I've been away at school," Kelly responded. For a few minutes there was silence between them, until Kelly finally broached the subject she had come to confront her brother. "Why didn't you write and tell me?"
"About what?"
"Why didn't you tell me about Mom?" Kelly questioned. "Why didn't you let me or even Carolyn know that Mom was in trouble? Or Dad?"
"You know Paul can't be reached, and I didn't want you and Carolyn to worry. Besides, that was six months ago. Mom's fine."
"How can you say that? That madman nearly blew her up."
"That same madman buried my father alive," Peter reminded Kelly. "Look, let's not dwell on that. I was able to get her out of there before the bomb blew. My Pop has been visiting with her ever since."
"I'm sorry, Peter. I didn't come here to argue," Kelly suddenly went silent and subdued.
"Kelly, talk to me. You wouldn't be here unless there was something going on. There's more and I can tell, so spill it."
"Mom told me you took the brands, that you're a Shaolin priest now. I thought you'd always be a cop."
"Things changed," Peter said quietly, remembering the very last case he had worked on. There were too many hands tied by the law and not enough compassion. And even cops who abused the system were allowed to run free, the system being too afraid to prosecute them because there just wasn't enough manpower to replace them. That case had been a fiasco, and even if he did have Jody's support, all that came out of it was that the guy was suspend for a year, and transferred to another precinct. The guy should have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law, even if he was a cop.
"Peter, are you all right?"
"Yeah, just thinking about my last case."
"Do you regret becoming a priest?" Kelly asked.
Peter thought on Kelly's words for a minute or two. "How can I explain this. When the temple was destroyed, I thought I lost my chance of ever becoming a priest. It's what I wanted when I was a kid, to study nothing but Shaolin principles. That's what my father was training me for, and at the time I wanted to be like my father, a priest. But I didn't fully understand what that meant. I had a lot of other dreams, too. When the temple was destroyed, I thought that dream was also destroyed. All I thought about was getting revenge on those who I thought murdered my father, but that didn't happen when they sent me to the orphanage. I was so filled with anger, and bitterness. I tried to wipe the teachings of my father from my mind, but not all of it went away. Then I met Paul, um Dad. He gave me a second chance. Since my father's temple had been the only one in America and was gone, I dismissed ever becoming a priest. So, I discovered I could fulfill another dream that I had as a kid, and that was becoming a cop."
"But I thought being a cop was all you ever wanted to be. Dad was so proud when you followed in his footsteps. I can't see you being a priest."
"Kelly, did you ever stop to think why I never took the Blaisdell name, why Paul and Annie fostered me instead of just adopting me?"
"I just thought it was because you were too old."
"No one is too old to be adopted by another family. I chose not to be adopted because of something that happened to me while I was at the orphanage."
"What was that?"
At that moment, a Chinese boy came in and handed Peter a note. Peter took it and read the script. The boy moved to stand by the door, as if waiting for a reply.
"Oh boy. Kelly, we're going to have to continue this conversation later. I've got to go. My Pop needs my help. Mrs. Wu just went into labor and I need to bring some herbs to help her. We'll talk more when I get back."
"That might take hours."
"You don't know Mrs. Wu. This is her third kid and every one of them came out in just a few hours. My Pop helped her through her second two years ago."
Peter was pulling down herbs from the shelves and placing them in a large basket as he glanced at the list of herbs and supplies that had accompanied the note.
"You look like you could use some help with that."
"I'll be fine. Mrs. Wu is just up the street. I'm just learning this stuff. I'm lucky to be able to read the labels. That's why you saw me reading the newspaper, to help practice with relearning Chinese. I can speak it fluently, but reading it is another story."
"Congmang! Congmang!" the young Chinese boy stated.
"Okay, I'm hurrying. Go tell my father I'm coming," Peter said, then continued his conversation with his sister when the boy left. Peter continued to look for the herbs that the two older Shaolin needed. "My father and Lo Si are the ones who really know what herbs will work. They just want me to take the supplies to them. Tell you what, I'll come over tonight and we can talk some more."
"Actually I was hoping you'd help me with finding an apartment. I'm transferring schools."
"Sure, I'll help you when I get back. Does Mom know you're back in town?"
"Not yet. I wanted to see my big brother first."
"Well make sure you call Mom. She'll have a fit if you don't."
"Okay brother, don't take too long."
Peter gave his sister a quick peck on the cheek then headed out the door, carrying the basket of assorted jars, bottles, and other supplies from the list.
Continues with Part 7
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2006.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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