Chapter 9: Max’s Parents
“Do you realize what you’ve done?” boomed Mayor George as he watched Betty’s body being taken out of the room. “I can’t tell Betty’s parents what happened, they’ll go absolutely insane! I know those two, they are good people who cared more about their children than anyone else in this damn town.”
Mayor George looked away as a tear rolled down his cheek. The whole police force stared back at him, not sure what to do next.
“Sir,” an officer said from the audience. “Who are we?” Mayor George cut him short and announced,” I know what we must be done here. Get a car for me, boys. I’m going to pay a visit to their house. The truth must be told now."
Mayor George sped over to the house, getting there in almost record time. He ran up to the door and knocked frantically. Betty opened the door and asked, “Oh Mayor George, what a splendid surprise, what seems to be the problem?”
“Betty, I have some serious news to tell you,” said Mayor George in an out of breath voice. “Your daughter Betty, she’s dead.” “No, no, no, no! This can’t be happening!” Adult Betty screamed. The Mayor continued, “She ran off, outside the town limits, and a sniper had to take her down. Accidentally he hit her in the head, turns out he only had one shot.”
Betty was weeping now and through sobs screamed, “Just get the hell out of my house! Get out now!” Betty ran to the phone to call Adult Max. She tripped running and fell to the ground. She got up quickly and tried to hold back her sobs so she could call Max. He picked up the phone, “What is it dear? Couldn’t it have waited until after work, I still have a lot more milk to deliver.”
“Max! Our daughter Betty, she was killed!” she screamed, almost not being able to talk. “That can’t be! Betty’s a great girl! She would never do anything wrong to have this happen,” her father shrieked.
Betty finally stopped crying, and was then able to tell Max, “Mayor George told me Betty was shot in the head. By a sniper, because she was trying to escape the town just like Max did.”
“This is Max’s fault! He made his sister want to leave, and now look what happened!” Max yelled. Betty didn’t reply for a long time, but finally said, “It’s our fault Max. We’ve spent all this time blaming others, but the real reason we lost our kids is our fault. No other family has ever lost one child. We’ve had one escape, and the other die.”
“Don’t you dare say something like that Betty. We did all we could do for them, but both of our children knew their lives were made for greater purposes. We couldn’t have stopped them even if we raised them again. I’ll be home in bit, I still have to finish delivering the milk.”
Betty made dinner and before she knew it Max was home. She put out two plates, not saying one word to Max. They ate, but when dinner was finished neither of them moved. Betty looked at her husband trembling, Max finally announced, “Betty I don’t have anything more to live for.” Betty looked back, she was pale as a ghost. “Well, maybe we should just stop living then. I mean now that both of our kids are gone I don’t have a purpose at all, either. I’m useless now Max.” Max grabbed Betty’s hand and whispered to her, “You’re not useless Betty. I need you, I love you, you’re my only reason for living now.” She broke away from his grasp, “If you truly love me, you’ll end your life with me.” “No! Betty you can’t die, you’re my all. Please Betty you can’t I’m begging you.”
Betty slowly shuffled towards the front door, looked back and muttered, “Well if you can’t support my decision. I guess this is goodbye.” Max watched as his wife walked out the house. He burst into tears and screamed out at the top of his lungs, “No Betty, you can’t!” That was worst day of adult Max and Betty’s life.