Novelette: Envy Is A Terrible Thing
By Charles Peters
Copyright 2019
All Rights Reserved
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This story is fiction.
Any resemblance to any real people or places or things is not intentional.
Chapter 4
Harry ran down to where his father was walking with Elliot on the beach. Victor and Jack had stopped back at an ice cream shop after Elliot had docked his boat.
Harry asked, “Where are Victor and Jack?”
Jerry said, “They stopped at the ice cream shop.”
The Dockhere Ice Cream Shop was off the docks in a section with a wooden sidewalk that was called the Boardwalk. There were several shops, restaurants, and arcades along the Boardwalk. Above that area was the Boardwalk Campground and the Boardwalk Motel. Off to the side of that was the Boardwalk Carnival that was a small amusement park with rides and a tidal wave pool.
Stewart walked up with his cane. “Is everything okay. Someone said Victor was swimming out toward the middle of the lake.”
Elliot said, “Victor is okay. He is getting ice cream with Jack.”
Stewart asked, “What happened?”
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Harry said, “Yeah. What? Did Jack breakup with Victor? Is that what the conversation was about that sent Victor over the edge?”
Jerry looked at his son. “Son, I love you, but please stop talking stupid. Victor is straight.”
Harry said, “But something happened. Victor didn’t just suddenly decide to swim out toward the middle of the lake.”
Elliot said, “It was a misunderstanding and an overreaction. Victor had turned and was swimming back toward shore when we got Jack and Victor into the boat.”
Stewart asked, “Is this like when Victor overdosed on the pills? Did Jack say something that caused Victor to try to kill himself?”
Elliot shook his head. “Victor was not trying to kill himself. It was like when stress gets to Victor and he takes off running to relieve the stress. He was in the lake and so he took off swimming.”
Stewart asked, “But what triggered the stress?”
Judy walked up. “Is Victor okay?”
Elliot said, “Yes. He is getting ice cream with Jack.”
Judy said, “I want ice cream. Come on Stewart.”
Stewart said, “I am not sure we should bother Victor right now.”
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Judy asked, “Why?”
Stewart said, “This may have been like the pill overdose incident but dad isn’t saying. He is not explaining.” Stewart cleared his throat. “Dad. What happened when you and Victor went to Atlanta two years ago. Victor changed after that trip. He hasn’t been the same. But you will not tell us why. Please. Tell us why. And be honest to what happened today. Victor again tried to kill himself. Didn’t he?”
Elliot said, “Victor is okay. And as far as what happened two years ago, I am not going to talk about it.”
Judy asked, “Is it that awful?”
Elliot said, “It is what it is.” Elliot looked at Jerry. “Thank you for being there for Victor.”
“Sure. I am glad I was overreacting.”
Jerry and Harry walked back to Jerry’s things on the beach. Harry asked his father, “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“No. There is nothing to tell.”
“Would you tell me if there was?”
“No. I wouldn’t. It is their business. It is none of your business.”
Harry stared into his father’s eyes. “You have been crying. You were that upset. So there is something to tell. Tell me.”
Jerry looked around. He saw Ellen. She was loading the golf cart up when Elliot walked up. Jerry said, “I may tell you later but not now. And if I do tell you, you have to be discreet. Understand.”
Harry nodded.
Elliot asked Ellen, “Why are you getting our things ready to leave the beach?”
Ellen asked, “Where are our children?”
Elliot said, “Victor went to the ice cream shop with Jack. Stewart and Judy walked down to join them.”
“Is Victor okay?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. It was just a misunderstanding.”
Ellen said, “You raced to get the boat to rescue Jack and Victor from the water. People were watching and becoming alarmed at Victor swimming out toward the middle of the lake. Jerry was scared.”
“I do not know what to tell you.”
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Ellen said, “You need to tell me what is going on with our son. We need to go home where we can talk in private.”
Elliot took his phone out of his pocket and called Stewart. “Hey Stewart. Your mom and I are going on back home from the beach. You come on home when you all are finished at the Ice Cream Parlor.” Elliot cleared his throat. “Is Victor okay?”
“Yeah. He is clowning around like nothing happened.”
“Thank God, nothing did happen.”
“If you say so. Love you dad.”
“Love you too.”
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