| General Fiction posted July 14, 2024 | Chapters: |
...13 14 -15- 16... 
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Brian and Julia's first real encounter
A chapter in the book DUEL with the DEVIL
DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 15
by Jim Wile
| Background A brilliant young chemist creates a new opioid with unknown benefits and pitfalls. |
Recap of Chapter 14: It’s Brian’s turn in group to discuss his history. He relates his story so far. Originally, he didn’t want to say what the precipitating event was—the death of his cat through his neglect and the subsequent overdose—but Raffi encourages him to share this because he may find it cathartic and because it’s good for the group to hear each other’s stories. During the telling, he catches Julia’s eyes and reads in them a deep compassion for his story. When it’s over, Raffi explains that the medical profession needs to take a hard look at their opioid prescription policies in light of the dangers they can pose. He asks Brian to stay behind when the rest leave.
Chapter 15
When we were alone, Raffi said to me, “Brian, I want to thank you again for opening up to the group today. I appreciate your candor in describing a very painful situation.”
I just nodded.
“I see a lot of myself in you when I was your age. You seem like a very intelligent kid with great potential for success in life if you can avoid the traps that lurk in your way. And if you happen to become ensnared in one, you’ve got to find a more constructive way out. There are two things you can do. One: you can make sure to avoid putting yourself in a situation where you are tempted to give in to your indulgence, and two: you can confront it head-on and try to find a solution to it.
“Your problem seems to be the unrelenting pain from your auto accident. Pain can be an extremely important motivator for behavior. So can pleasure. But pleasure isn’t the opposite of pain. No-pain is the opposite. Pleasure is its own entity, but unfortunately, pleasure seems to mask pain, not eliminate it. Therefore, it isn’t a very good antidote to pain because of the risks associated with it.
"Where you get into trouble is when the same substance can provide both pain relief and pleasure, and then it becomes difficult to know which is the stronger motivator—the lessening of the pain or the increase in pleasure. You begin taking it for one reason, but the other reason gradually overtakes it as the primary motivator. And that’s what seems to happen with narcotics like Oxy.”
I digested what he said for a while, and it made a lot of sense. That seems to be what happened to me. If only there were a way to make the pain stop that didn’t give you such pleasure at the same time.
“You started by saying we are a lot alike. Did you have a similar problem when you were my age?”
“In Cuba, my father was a doctor. My mother didn’t work outside the home. She was much younger than my father and very beautiful—a trophy wife, you might call her. When they fled to America in the ‘70s, life was difficult for them at first. My father couldn’t practice medicine as a doctor because he didn’t have a license in the US, so for a period of time, he was an orderly in a hospital. My mother became a hotel maid. They were poor when they had me.
“My father had difficulty learning the language and consequently was never able to get his license to become a doctor in the US. But that didn’t stop him from doctoring in our neighborhood. One time he botched a procedure, which led to the death of one of his patients, and the authorities got involved. He was arrested and jailed for involuntary manslaughter for a period of years.
"As a maid, my mother didn’t make enough to support us—I also had two sisters by now—so she began inviting men into our home who she took up with and who helped support the family. Her latest was a cruel man—abusive to both my mother and me—and I would often defy him. At around age 12, I began drinking to soothe the pain of my situation. My mother kept a stash of those little drink bottles that hotels stock the mini-bars with. I thought she wouldn’t miss a few.
“It didn’t take too long until I was hooked on alcohol. The source of pain may have been different from yours, but the result was the same. I drank way too much one evening and suffered alcohol poisoning and nearly died, but following that, my mother made me seek help from our priest, and to make a long story short, he set a new path for me that helped me escape from the path I was on. But in the process, I learned something about pleasure and pain—the so-called carrot and stick—that substances like alcohol and narcotics can provide.”
“So, you became a counselor to help others?”
“Yes. It’s become a way for me to confront the problem of addiction head-on and hopefully help others in the process.”
“Well, you’re good at it.”
He nodded his thanks.
“Can I ask you something else?” I said.
“Sure. I may not have the answer, but ask away.”
“That girl, Julia. She gives off vibes of ‘leave me alone.’ Do you think it would be okay if I went up and talked to her?”
“I think it would be great if you did. Part of what helps the healing process is getting out of your own head so much and opening yourself up to others. I think it would benefit both of you.”
“How should I do it?”
“Humor is always a good icebreaker. She could probably use a few laughs.”
“Thanks, Raffi.”
“Good luck.”
Humor, huh? Problem was, I wasn’t naturally a funny person. What could I do to make her laugh that wouldn’t make me look like an idiot in the process? Then I thought of a joke Daddy used to tell. It was actually a silent joke that was acted out, but seeing as how she was a violinist, it would be perfect for Julia. I decided to try it out on her.
During free time today, Julia was in her usual spot near a corner, reading, with her back facing the room. I walked over to her. There was enough room for me to pull another chair around to face her, so I did. Without a word of greeting, I sat down. She looked up, and our eyes briefly met, but she quickly resumed reading. Silently, I began, and she looked up again.
Picture me as a conductor holding my baton and conducting an orchestra in a solemn piece when, all of a sudden, my nose starts to twitch with short sniffs. A frown comes over my face as I look at the first violin, sitting to my left, and while I’m conducting away, I mouth the words, “Did you fart?”
I switch and become the first violin, sawing away, and shake my head, no. Switch back to me conducting and sniffing. I turn to the first viola in front of me and mouth, “Did you fart?” As the first viola, sawing away, I shake my head, no. Then, conducting and sniffing again, I look at the first cello on my right. “Did you fart?” I mouth. As first cello, I shake my head, no.
As the conductor once more, completely baffled by where this smell is coming from, while still conducting and sniffing, I turn to the first violin again on my left and mouth the words, “Did you shit?”
As the first violin, with eyes averted and a guilty look on my face, I nod my head.
Julia, who had been watching the entire performance, stared at me for a few seconds. I saw her face tense up as she tried to keep it straight, but then the corners of her mouth turned up. She started trembling, and finally, she erupted with laughter. When she eventually stopped, she had such a pleasant smile. It was the first time I’d ever seen her smile, and it melted my heart. She was adorable.
“Did you just make that up?” she asked in a lilting voice.
“Naw, my Daddy used to tell that joke, or act it out, I guess. That was always a favorite of mine. He was a funny guy when he wanted to be.”
“You know my father’s a conductor, but I couldn’t tell him that joke. He wouldn’t find it funny. He has no sense of humor that I could ever detect.”
“Well, that’s a shame. We used to joke around a lot in my family. That’s one thing I really miss about my folks.”
“You were lucky… you know, I meant before…” she trailed off.
“Yeah, I know what you meant. I was. We were a happy family. I take it your family isn’t very fun-loving.”
She became wistful. “Yeah, I wish there was a little more laughter. Any really. Everything is so serious all the time. We never do anything spontaneous, just for fun. How about your sister? Is she fun?”
“Yeah, she can be. We usually get along pretty well. We have a similar sense of humor and enjoy the same shows and stuff. I think she’d probably be a bit more off-the-wall, but she’s had to serve as a parent for me, so she has to maintain a certain level of maturity. I don’t know.”
“I never had a sibling. I kinda wish I did. It gets lonely there at home with no one to goof around with. We never had a pet either. I always wish I had a cat, but… oh!”
She stopped suddenly.
“It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Don’t worry about it.” She looked stricken, so I quickly changed the subject. “Hey, I could go for a snack. Feel like getting a soft-serve cone with me in the cafeteria?”
Her face eased. “Okay.”
We got up and headed there together.
 Recognized |
CHARACTERS
Brian Kendrick: The narrator of the story. At the beginning of the story, he is 12 years old and in 6th grade in Kernersville, North Carolina.
Francine (Fran) Kendrick: Brian's older sister. She is 18 at the beginning of the story and goes to junior college, where she studies law enforcement.
Chloe: Brian and Fran's cat.
Sandi MacReady: She is a pretty blond and Brian's crush in high school.
Derek Shafer: Brian's best friend and lawn mowing partner.
Josh Bennett: Sandi's boyfriend. He's the center on the high school basketball team.
Don Robbins: A high school acquaintance of Brian's. He is a rich kid who throws a summer rave party when his parents are away.
Rafael Ortiz (Raffi): Youth therapy group leader at the rehab facility.
Julia Entwistle: One of the six members of the youth therapy group at rehab. She is 16 when we first meet her, plays the violin, and is addicted to barbiturates.
Alphonse: One of the boys in the youth therapy group. He is a cutup.
Henry: Another boy in the youth therapy group. He is also a cutup.
Alex: One of the girls in the youth therapy group.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Brian Kendrick: The narrator of the story. At the beginning of the story, he is 12 years old and in 6th grade in Kernersville, North Carolina.
Francine (Fran) Kendrick: Brian's older sister. She is 18 at the beginning of the story and goes to junior college, where she studies law enforcement.
Chloe: Brian and Fran's cat.
Sandi MacReady: She is a pretty blond and Brian's crush in high school.
Derek Shafer: Brian's best friend and lawn mowing partner.
Josh Bennett: Sandi's boyfriend. He's the center on the high school basketball team.
Don Robbins: A high school acquaintance of Brian's. He is a rich kid who throws a summer rave party when his parents are away.
Rafael Ortiz (Raffi): Youth therapy group leader at the rehab facility.
Julia Entwistle: One of the six members of the youth therapy group at rehab. She is 16 when we first meet her, plays the violin, and is addicted to barbiturates.
Alphonse: One of the boys in the youth therapy group. He is a cutup.
Henry: Another boy in the youth therapy group. He is also a cutup.
Alex: One of the girls in the youth therapy group.
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