Chapter Five: Rise Of The Stepson
“This mountain of a man who becomes even larger when wearing his huge afro wig – which covers his receding hairline – and his large beard must look like the mythical Bigfoot monster as he towers over them. Standing mere inches from them, Henry shuffles towards my sisters, turns around, and sits down next to them on the bed. Breathing hard, he whispers, “There is nothing to be afraid of. People do this all the time.” Seizing one of their hands, he says, “Here, touch it. It’s okay. Let me show you how easy it is.” He then takes one of their tiny hands and places it on his penis exactly where he wants it. “See, honey, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
Chapter Fourteen: The Room Where It First Happened
“After finally reaching the top of the stairs, my stepfather pauses. He sees it – the door to my oldest sister’s bedroom. What he has desired all day is four feet away from him. The room where she is alone. Where there is no one in there to save her. Where there will be no interruption. He knows she is helpless – helpless to scream., helpless to fight back, helpless to stop him. A quick glance to the left and he sees the three baby girls’ bedroom door. He pauses and smiles and thinks, “Soon.”
Chapter Twenty-One: The Parent-Child Contract
“When fathers first pick up our newborn babies, we hold a divine being of our own creation – and cradle him or her in our arms. It is an extraordinary feeling that can only be described as miraculous. If this is what it feels like for me, a man, a father, what must it feel like for a woman, a mother? My goodness.
Chapter Thirty-Two: And Then There Were Seven
“Nicky, it was horrible. When it first happened, we were in kindergarten or the first grade, about five or six years old. The house was empty except for us three baby girls. All three of us were told to sit on the couch and wait until we were called into the bedroom. First, he called Sharon. After a while, he called me in. After he was done molesting me, he called in Teresa. Whenever he desired us, we were in their bedroom with him, alone, for about thirty minutes at a time. As soon as I was in their bedroom, he had me stand in front of him while he sat on the bed. A bottle of lotion, baby oil or Palmer’s cocoa butter would be next to him.”
Excerpt of Chapter Forty-Eight: No Sanctuary For This Old Man
Henry looked up at me. His eyes were shining bright, full of life, a grin stretching from ear to ear. It was as if laying eyes on a long-lost friend. But what he saw looking back at him was not friendly. I looked down at him with pure hatred in my heart. The creature was cornered. He was mine. At first, his shit-faced didn’t recognize me. Staring at him, I allowed the moment to linger silently a few moments as his grin never faded. Then his eyes began to widen as he realized he was focusing on a past he believed he had long left behind. A past that was now rushing toward him at 200 plus mph. “Ah, there it is…comprehension, understanding.” Now that I had his full attention, I slowly, quietly, and methodically said…Henry. Lee. Perrin.”