Inspiration 35

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Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Anyone who has ever parented a troubled teen must claim this promise. I know I do. I pray for the Holy Spirit to guide my children every single day, and they are grown. Notice that this does not say they will not stray or give you fits! No! It promises that they will come back to the Lord. 

One teen in this story that was raised right really goes off the deep end, but what will her fate hold?

"Yeah," mused Scott wistfully as he looked at Cherie chatting with Lucy, Lydia, and Setera. His thoughts strayed. Cherie, Lydia, and Setera are bad enough, but with Lucy added to the mix, those girls are real trouble waiting to happen. Lucy is a catalyst...

Finals finished, the Gautiers and the Reynoldses flew to Los Angeles to celebrate Lucy Parks's seventeenth birthday with Dupree and Lindsay's family. Roxanne was home after her second year at the University of Florida. In addition to the family, Lydia brought Darren.

While they were there, the teenagers visited a club supposedly designed for underage young people from sixteen to twenty where Lydia tried to teach Darren to salsa. Roxanne met several of her friends and disappeared for a while. Cherie reluctantly danced with a few guys just to be sociable. Although the club atmosphere was festive with glow sticks, a glittering hanging ball, laser lights, and loud music, she was feeling down because she had yet to receive a letter from Scott. On the other hand, Lucy was lively. She danced with dozens of young men before Roxanne returned and ushered her sister to the restroom.

"What's up with that?" asked Darren.

"I don't know," Lydia replied.

Cherie said, "Whatever it is, Roxanne is handling it. You two go dance."

As Lydia took Darren's hand to go back onto the dance floor, a couple of guys with the traditional surfer look, long sun-bleached hair and dark tans, walked up. One of them said, "Hey, baby. We've been watching you dance. You are hot. Those legs are killer legs. We'd like to dance with you here and away from here." The guy reached into his pocket. "We've got a little something to keep you smoking all night. What d'ya say?"

Lydia's green eyes grew round as a full moon. Darren stepped between the young man and her. "The lady's with me. She says to take a hike."

"Little boy, I didn't hear a word come from her mouth."

"See if you can hear what's coming from my mouth," snapped Cherie. "Get lost!"

"My, my. Maybe you'd like to come along with the lady with the legs. I bet you could be a lot of fun too."

Lydia said softly, "We wouldn't like to go anywhere with you, and we wouldn't like any of your drugs."

"Hmm. Does this little boy really keep you satisfied, beautiful? I'd like you to wrap those legs around me."

"You need to walk away now," Darren asserted.

"Or what?"

"You really don't wanna know."

The guy laughed. "I don't think you're capable of hurting anybody."

"Let's walk outside. Legs, go find Lucy and Roxanne."

The guy looked over his shoulder toward one of his friends. "Lucky man's here with four women, and he won't share."

"Nope. Not a one of 'em. You ready to go outside?"

"Sure. Let's go."

"Darren!" said Lydia, grabbing his arm.

"Let go, baby," he said gently. "I've got this."

As Darren and the guy walked toward the exit, Cherie dragged Lydia toward the restroom. They found Roxanne screaming at Lucy. "Are you insane? You will stop this now, or I will tell Dad and Mom."

"Rox," interrupted Cherie. "Can you two argue at home? Darren just went outside to fight with some guy who came on to Lydia."

"Jeez!" shouted Roxanne. "Kids! Come on!" She hauled Lucy behind her and the other two followed her out the door...

When he was not at the beach preparing for the surfing competition, Scott researched the new drug, Super X, a combination of methamphetamine and ecstasy on steroids.  Excessively elevated serotonin levels led to total abandonment of and disregard for inhibitions. Elevated blood pressure often resulted in strokes even in young, healthy people, and racing heart rates frequently caused fatal cardiac arrests. Many users could not handle the crash afterward and had to use something to pull out of that. This drug was devastating to the body with frequent or extended use. Scott realized even his one experience had potentially dire consequences. He had had sex with Mariella more than once and had not used protection. He felt sick. Whatever it takes? How can I ever explain this to Cherie? Does she even care? All I know for sure is that this supplier has to be stopped. Tainted batches have gotten through. Yet, that will only be a drop in the bucket. Scott felt he could use a little pick-me-up, so he headed to the beach.

The competition was challenging and exciting. Heath was good. Scott could not understand why he risked such talent using drugs. When it came to the finals, Scott really was battling Heath for first place. Heath was better. He took home the trophy, but he brought the party back to the beach.

Scott was a good loser. He toasted his roommate's success. Then, he looked around for Mariella. She did not seem to be at the party. Tara was there in her usual form, surrounded by men. That girl is here, too. Scott determined to put his mind at ease.

Scott watched for a moment. Ah, Tara seems to be supplying this party. How much does she know? Maybe I should hook up with her. That girl just got one of those little blue demon pills from Tara. Scott watched as the girl popped open a beer and started to take the pill. He felt compelled to stop her, so he walked behind her and closed his hand over hers.

"Wait," he said. "Is that just for Heath, or would you consider another partner?"

"I'm not exclusive to Heath," replied the girl as she turned around. "Do I know you?" she asked a little confused as the bonfire flames flickered on Scott's face.

"Go with me and find out."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

"I'm safe here."

"No, you're not. Trust me, Lucy." Scott dragged Lucy Parks toward his motorcycle with the Super X still clasped in her hand...

29

Lucy in the Sky

When Scott got to his motorcycle, he spun Lucy around. Her pupils were dilated to the point of obscuring any sign of her irises. "Lucy! Look at me!" Scott commanded. "You might be tripping balls, but you're not that far gone. Look at me!"

Lucy focused on the man who held her in an iron grasp. "Scott?"

"You got it."

"What are you doing here?"

"Right this minute, I'm taking you home."

"No!"

"Oh, yeah. How could you do this kind of garbage? Are you trying to kill yourself?" Scott pried the Super X from her hand and put it in his pocket. "Good God! This one's a pink lady. The bluebirds are bad enough. These are much stronger. Do you really enjoy being treated like a piece of meat in a pack of hungry dogs?"

"I only had one dog in mind until you came up. Did you enjoy being a hungry dog with Mariella?"

"That was business."

"Tell that to Cherie."

"She doesn't care. Now, hush. You're going home."

"You can't make me go anywhere."

"Watch me." Scott picked Lucy up bodily and put her on his bike, fluidly cuffing her right wrist to the rear seat bar. He retrieved his spare helmet and put it on her and sped off before she could scream.

His thoughts were rampant. Cherie's cousin. Will this make headlines since her dad's a famous musician? Am I gonna blow my cover? I hate this shit.

Lucy pounded Scott in the back and screeched over the roar of the motor, "Let me off here!"

Scott pulled over. "Lucy Parks, you have now assaulted a federal agent, but I won't arrest you. I'll let Dupree and Lindsay do whatever they think they should do. But, you won't hit me again."

Scott took another pair of handcuffs from his saddlebag and snapped Lucy's left wrist to the seat bar.

"Scott Ball!" screamed Lucy.

"Right now it's Beckham. Now, shut up or I'll gag you, too. And be still before you cause me to wreck."

Scott pulled up to the gate on the driveway to the Parks's Malibu home. "What's the code?" he asked Lucy.

"Fuck you!"

"Okay." Scott pushed the call button.

"Yes?" Dupree Parks's voice responded.

"Mr. Parks, this is Special Agent Scott Baldwin. You know me as Scott Ball. I have Lucy on the back of my motorcycle, and you need to see her right now."

"Come in," said Dupree. The strain in his voice was easily detected. He waited on his porch as Scott stopped the bike and cut the engine.

"She's handcuffed," observed Dupree.

"Yes," replied Scott, taking off his helmet and then Lucy's. Scott continued, "I'm undercover again. This time I'm trying to bust a drug supplier who's been selling tainted Super X." Scott reached into his pocket. "Lucy was just about to swallow this." He showed Dupree the pink lady. "She's obviously high on something else right now."

Dupree took his daughter's face in his hands. "What are you on, Lucy?"

"I dropped some acid."

"I see. And you were gonna mix it with Super X? Even if it's not tainted, it could kill you. And that would kill me because I love you." His voice was choked. "How long have you been using?"

"A couple of years."

"How many men have you slept with?"

Scott cringed.

Lucy shrugged.

Dupree looked broken. "Lucy, have we ever made you feel unloved?"

"No."

"Then, why?"

"The experience."

Lindsay came outside. "Dupree, how bad is it?"

"Bad. Call Dr. Stegman. I want her in rehab tonight."

Dupree turned to Scott. "If she's not under arrest, can you uncuff her and come inside? Let's talk."

An hour later, Lucy Parks was on her way to rehab, and Scott Baldwin was in a chemistry lab watching as a scientist with the FBI analyzed the pink lady. In addition to its normal chemical composition, the scientist found traces of strychnine...

"Tara, how many pink ladies did you distribute?"

"Only one tonight. Why?"

"Come with me, please."

Tara looked confused and started off with Scott.

"Hey, man! Hold up!" called Heath. "We were just about to party."

"With what?" asked Scott.

"Man, I took a bluebird. I'm ready to swing."

"What did you take, Tara?"

"The same. You want one? A threesome could be interesting."

"Not yet."

"Man, where have you been?" asked Heath.

Scott smirked. "Handcuffing Lucy Parks."

Heath scowled. "Scott, Lucy's my girl."

"Really? Then, why are you about to party with Tara?"

"Lucy knows I party."

"So? It's okay for you, but not for her?"

"Where's Lucy?" Heath demanded.

"Hospital."

"What did you do to her?" Heath shouted, panicking.

"Nothing." Scott gave a little nod. Suddenly, local officers cuffed Heath and Tara...

Are you gonna hold me?"

Scott sighed. "Not if you go to rehab. That's where Lucy is. Her dad insisted."

"Does he have to know I'm the one who corrupted his little girl?" Heath's face etched with worry lines.

"Are you afraid of Dupree?"

"You bet." Heath nodded vehemently. "He's rich now, but he was once a Vice Lord. Those ties never fully die."

"Maybe you should meet the man. If you want to date Lucy, do it the right way. Besides, if you get clean, you'll have a better shot at the title and the girl."

"I won't blow your cover, man. A trip is one thing, but somebody gave Lucy poison. You've got a deal...

Thirty days later, Lucy Parks came home from in-house rehab, but she would still be in out-patient aftercare. Dupree and Lindsay invited Scott to dinner because he had, for all practical purposes, saved Lucy's life. Lucy begged to invite her boyfriend, amateur surfing champ, Heath Ainsworth, who had also just been released from rehab. Heath and Lucy had decided to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings together. Dupree reluctantly gave in for he wanted to meet the boy.

Dupree watched Heath. He had seated his daughter's boyfriend next to himself at the head of the table and beside Scott, but across from Lucy who was seated next to her younger brother, Marley. He wanted to sum up Heath's character.

Heath was five-feet, ten-inches tall and weighed about a hundred seventy pounds. He had light brown, sun-streaked, nearly waist-length hair and blue-green eyes. Lucy looked like an islander with her deep bronze skin tone, long dark wavy hair, and cat-green eyes. She was thin and tall like her mother at five-foot-nine and one hundred ten pounds. Dupree could easily understand the physical attraction between them. He even thought they could make beautiful grandchildren for him one day—if they get their lives straight.

Dupree had learned a lot from Raiford Reynolds over the years. He had learned and mastered Ray's convicting, silent stare—the one that had made him cave during interrogation years before. He had also learned a great deal from his father-in-law, Raiford Gautier. He had the same capacity to love and forgive as Raif.

Dupree asked, "Heath, where's your family?"

"East coast. Connecticut."

"How did you start surfing?"

"Vacations to Maui."

"So, your family has money?"

"Old money, yes. My great-great-grandfather on my mother's side started a publishing house, and my mother still runs it today."

"How long?"

"How long have I been surfing?"

"Is there something else that question could refer to?" Although he was interrogating the boy, Dupree did not change his line of vision.

"Yes. How long have I been interested in Lucy? How long have we been seeing each other?"

"Okay. How long?"

"I started surfing when I was six. I met Lucy about a year ago, and we started dating last summer."

"Hmm. Are you the one who gave my daughter drugs?"

"Daddy!" Lucy intervened.

"It's all right Lucy," said Heath, looking across the table at her. "It's time to be honest." He turned back to Dupree. "Yes, but not the poison. I swear."

"Honesty is good," assured Dupree. "Have you had sex with my daughter?"

"Daddy!" Lucy interrupted again.

Dupree turned his glower toward her, and she fidgeted uncomfortably. She looked toward her brother who stared silently at his food.

Heath answered, "Yes."

"Safe sex?"

"Not always."

"I think you should be tested for Chlamydia."

"I don't have an STD."

Dupree gave a half-frown, one corner of his mouth dipping. "I hate to be the one to tell you, but you do."

"Daddy!" screamed Lucy.

"What?" Dupree snapped. "Lucy, what do you think the Zithromax was for?"

"Really?" asked Lucy

"Were you listening to anything the doctors said or just trying to placate us and bide your time until you could come home?"

"I was messed up, Dad."

"I know you were. Yes, darling, they diagnosed you with an STD, and you'll have to tell anyone else you've been with."

"I haven't been with anyone else."

A heavy silence fell over the room. "You said you had," Dupree said softly.

She looked at her hands in her lap. "I said that to upset you because I was mad."

"It wasn't funny."

"I'm sorry."

Dupree turned back to Heath. "Heath, are you ready to be a father?"

"No."

Scott wanted to crawl under the table watching this exchange. The only difference between this and an interrogation by Raiford Reynolds was the lack of physical violence. Scott shivered.  I'd rather have the bruises and stitches than the humiliation.

Dupree sighed. "Heath, I know you're a Yankee, but I'm from the South, and I'm old-school. Yes and no should be followed by ma'am or sir. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now, Heath, if you were in my place, what would you do to you?"

"Kill me."

"Hmm. Are you still using?"

"No, sir. I just got out of rehab too."

"Are you gonna sleep with Lucy again?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Do you want to?"

"Yes, sir. I…"

"Yes?" Dupree prompted.

"I think I'm in love with her."

"You think?"

Heath began to fidget. He folded and refolded his napkin in his lap. "I've always been pretty selfish. I'm confused, but I know Lucy's the reason I'm clean. I want to have a chance with her. That won't happen if I'm using. I also want to be a champion surfer. Drugs won't help that either. That's as honest as I can be right now."

Dupree rested his elbow on the table and placed his chin on the palm of his hand. "Hmm. Heath, would you be willing to go to church with us?"

"Do you want me to?"

"I'd like it." He held up a stiff hand. "It's not a deal breaker, and just your choice."

"I'll think about it," Heath said.

"I also like your honesty. This is how it's gonna be. If you want to date Lucy, you'll have to start by coming here to the house. When I see that I can trust you, both of you"—He looked toward his daughter—"You can go out. If you even take one too many aspirin, it's over. If anything physical develops again, you will play it safe. You will see a doctor tomorrow, and you will inform any other girls you've been with. We've already put Lucy on birth control. That does not mean we condone promiscuity. It means we can't trust her not to have sex. We would rather be safe than sorry. Can you live with those conditions?" Dupree dropped his hand to his lap...

Cover by Christopher Chambers

Another couple--Lucy & Heath and one "intimidating" father--Dupree.