The Checkered Life of Erik Cantrell

Chapter Twenty-One: Taking Life Back


“I can’t believe you went to the jail to visit him?” Joey ranted. “What are you crazy? That’s it. You must be crazy.”
“We are to visit those in prison.”
“Yes, but not necessarily the Sim who attacked you.” Joey’s voice cracked. “What were you thinking? Are you trying to scuttle the criminal case against him? Is that it? You want him to walk free? Erik, he nearly killed you.”

“I know. But he didn’t, and Father James and my Therapist both thought it would further my recovery. You should have seen him, Joe. He wept like a baby almost the whole time. He kept saying how sorry he was, how much he loved me and how much it hurt him when I shunned his advances. That he never meant to allow his temper to get the better of him. That he was very sorry and could I ever forgive him?”
“And you said what, to all of this? Did you remind him he almost left your wife a Widow and your SIX children without a father? You know Kayleigh will likely never marry again.”
“No, I simply told him ‘I forgive you’.”
“You’re crazy, that’s what you are. I think he rattled something loose in your brain while he was busy pounding it against the chicken coop. You know they found your blood and bits of hair on the coop, right? They’ve got this Sim dead to rights. Erik, don’t interfere. Let Law Enforcement do their job.” Joey began to pace back and forth. The two stood just below the steps to Erik's house.
“I’m not interfering in the least. He’s already been arraigned and they determined to hold him until the trial begins in the Spring. Besides, I told him I wasn’t in control of what the D A decided to do. That I had no influence over that. It was out of my hands. They didn’t need me to press charges. I’m not a dummy, I thought that might be his angle in asking me to come see him. Instead, he just wanted me to forgive him.”
“So, have you been keeping up?”
“Keeping up?”

“Come on, I need to see you in action. Show me what you’ve learned from your Sensei. Come on, I know you have your Training Bot out back. Erik let’s go, don’t be shy. Kayleigh says you’re getting really good. So, show me.”
"Hi-Yaaaa! Erik hollered as he lunged at the training bot. Joey watched in amazement as Erik jumped up and struck the machine with his feet. Erik just appeared to fly in the air.
"Yaaaah! he cried out again, as he batted at the rods, left, right, left, right. He jumped up, twirled in the air and jabbed his right foot at a bar.
"Oh, man, I don't ever want to cross you again," Joey said, astounded.

“Okay, okay,” Erik panted. “I’d better quit for now. I have to get ready to go. I’m still not supposed to get myself worn out. Hope I saved some energy for tonight.”
“Tonight? What’s tonight?”
“Now, whose acting like a dummy? What day is this?”
“Sunday.”
“What happens on Sunday nights?”
“Can’t be Vespers, that’s on Saturday nights …”
“Come on, Joey. Really? I bet you haven’t even been watching, have you.”
“Oh, haha” Joey laughed.
“The Starlight Accolades,” they chorused together.
“Gee, do you really think you have a chance?” Joey teased.
“As good as any other time. If I don’t win, I'll buy each of you a steak dinner. But you had better watch and take notes so you can tell me what I said. That way I'll know you watched.”
“You’re on, Bud. Okay, I’ll get out of your way.” Joey left the backyard, via the Loggia. A short time later, Erik heard a noise behind him, he thought Joey forgot something, then he turned to find a stranger in his backyard. For a moment he nearly panicked.

“Who are you and what are you doing in my backyard?"
When the Sim leaned in to kiss him, Erik’s training kicked in and he reacted by rote. He caught the guy's arm, batting it away in a clean swift movement.
"Now, if you don't mind this isn't a public park, it's a private home. Mine. Show yourself out, please."

Erik checked himself out in the mirror. He had a refreshing shower and donning his new suit, he gussied himself up. Glancing at the clock it was just after six o’clock. “Honey, I’m outta here. Kids go to bed when your mother tells you. Love you, bye. See you tonight.”

Erik arrived a few minutes after six o'clock. He quickly and quietly slipped into the PBP Studios and took a seat doing his best not to make a commotion, or otherwise disrupt the Show in progress. Sims were, nonetheless, surprised to see him. The Mixologist quickly put herself in position to snap a number of shots. Thorne Bailey got up and took the empty seat next to Erik.
"Hey, Buddy," Thorne said, "you're looking much better. Glad to see you here tonight."
"Thanks," Erik murmured.

Shortly after Erik arrived the winner for Best Song was announced. "And the winner is … Erik Cantrell!"
Erik pop up from the seat, noticing how fatigued he still was from his workout. Joey was quite a task-master, whereas Aaron, knew better how to help Erik pace things. "Thank you. Thank you, Thank you," he said to the ovation he received. "I just want to say, I'm very touched by your warm welcome, and for this wonderful showing of appreciation." When the applause died down again, Erik continued, "I do know some of you may think I'm nuts, but I did forgive my attacker. I could do nothing less. Yes, I'm taking martial arts classes and I'm coming right along. I pity the next Sim who's affections are unwanted." This elicited a few chuckles. "Speak softly, but carry a big stick. Well, I'm six foot two. That's pretty big. I'm learning, rapidly, to be that lean, mean fighting machine. Colonel Golden, my father-in -law is actually impressed." Erik bowed his head for a moment of quiet reflection. "I've never been a fighter, but I have learned how to make a fist. Never again. Oh, and it seems he stole my wedding ring, too. Thank you, goodnight everybody."