Week 17: A Message from the Chaperone

As we were traveling on the interstate we came across a road block. Someone had placed several vehicles across the road. Purposely placed them all in a line perpendicular to the direction of travel. One of the cars had red X’s painted on the windows. Inside I found an envelope with “Mr. Taylor” written on it. It was from the chaperone.

…

Mr. Taylor,

I am doing you a favor. I am granting your son a chance in this dangerous new world. A long and incident free life with me as his protector, his new father. That is what you call an “upgrade” for Matthew.

If you disagree with me then perhaps I should remind you of your previous experience taking care of someone else; my son, Caleb. To think Caleb would have been much better off if he had never met you. He would have stayed in that hotel room and I would have saved him two days later. Instead I had to hunt you down in West Palm Beach and then clean up the mess that you made of my son.

You obviously can not take care of anyone other than yourself, and as I recall you can not even do that very well. I believe when we first met you already had one foot in the grave. In fact if I had not saved you and nursed you back to health then you would be dead. Now doesn’t that just eat you up inside? If it weren’t for me you would be a zombie right now.

So do us all a favor and go back home.

Yours truly,

Mike Grainger

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand

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