Chapter 14 - Mark Gets His

The tension between Sister Kate and Ken in the car on the way back to the hospital was insurmountable.

Ken spoke first as he drove through traffic. “Sister Kate, please I don’t want animosity to come between us. We have to work together.” He waited for a response. Sister was sitting austerely looking straight ahead out the car window and wasn’t responding. “Sister, please I said I was sorry! Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

Sister’s ire was still up when she finally spoke. “Susan just told me in the car that she soiled herself during that terrible spanking you gave her!”

Ken released a frustrated breath and his hands tighten around the steering wheel. He’d hope that she wouldn’t have found out about that unfortunate incident! “That’s true. It was from the small amount of oil that we injected up into her rectum and of course my hard spanking prompted her to have a small mishap.” Ken turned his head to see Sister’s frowning face shaking from side to side. “Sister, I showed an infinite amount of compassion! I helped her take care of that as soon as I saw what had happened.”

“We both tried so hard all afternoon to help that young girl keep her dignity! And that had to happen! Your temper had to happen!”

“You’re absolutely correct! You’re not saying anything that I haven’t already told myself ! My behavior was inexcusable!” Ken waited a few moments before speaking again. “This ugly situation could of been avoided if I’d,” he expelled another long breath, “only listened to what you had said earlier in my office before Susan arrived.”

“I don’t remember. What is it that I said?”

“You said that Susan was more pliable than Shannon if gently coaxed. I was too abrupt with her at first with the enemas. She responded uncooperatively with that approach. However, when I tried again in a gentler persuasive manner she became cooperative.”

“That’s true, I remember, now. Yet, I can’t help but think that perhaps that beating you gave her may have had something to do with her being more cooperative!” She said sarcastically.

Ken could tell that Sister was still very vexed with him. The current state of affairs between the both of them would only get better with the passing of time. There was a charged silence as the car moved up and down side streets to avoid red lights on Main street.

Sister finally spoke. “It’s reasonable for me to assume that you didn’t maliciously set out to plan it’s occurrence. However, it has always been a difficult thing for me to understand, Dr. Cummings, why a strong man, any strong man would take advantage over the weaker sex by using brute force.” She debated whether she should tell him this but she was beginning to feel a little pity for him. “I don’t know why Susan said it, but just minutes ago on your behalf, she informed me how terribly unruly and uncooperative she was and did in fact provoke you beyond your limits. She also said that you had the opportunity to send her home without me finding out about this and that you forfeited the chance of doing that because you wanted her to have the exam.”

“That was big of her. I don’t deserve it.” He was very glad to hear that Susan had shared those thoughts. Perhaps, she had in fact forgiven him and that there was a chance that he had not blown the opportunity to have a lasting relationship with her. He also hoped that Sister Kate upon hearing those comments from Susan that she too would forgive him. It was very important to him that he redeem himself in Sister’s eyes and that he would one day reclaim the respect he once had from her.

By the time Ken and Sister Katherine got back to the hospital it was almost 7:00. They both went up to maternity to visit Connie Peruzzie to see how she was getting on with her labor.

When they arrived they were glad to see Dr. Peruzzie, Vincent her husband, at her side helping her with her Lamaze breathing.

“How’s our beautiful mother to be, doing?” Ken asked as he went up to Connie’s bedside. He gently picked up her hand and she managed a smile when he gave one of his engaging dimpled ones.

Vince was smiling. “She’s almost seven centimeters dilated now, Ken!”

“Oh boy! It won’t be long now! Hang in there Connie!” Ken continued to give her encouragement as Sister Katherine wiped her perspiring face.

Ken stayed a while but Sister decided to stay a little longer. Ken made her promise him to call him at his home in the event if Susan called her or vice versa. It didn’t matter to him how late or how early, he wanted to be informed directly on how Susan was doing.

“I promise doctor.” She said. Her face showed signs of fatigue.

“Another thing, don’t stay here too late. You look exhausted. We both have had a very tough afternoon. Go home and get some rest.”

“I promise that too.” She answered.

Before he left he used the opportunity to ask Vincent if Mark was still at the club and if he had been acting accordingly. He knew that Mark had been drinking heavily lately.

“He was still there Ken, when I left. It appears your brother was tying one on. The other doctors and I had to hoist him off some big brute he tried to pick a fight with. He was ready to brawl with this motley looking hillbilly of a guy right there at the bar!” Ken lowered his eyes in worry. “Ken, I hate to think what would of happened if we hadn’t been there! This guy was a mean bastard and by far bigger than Mark!” Vince turned towards his wife to rub her back. “Is Mark OK, Ken? He doesn’t seem himself these last few months.”

By nature, Mark had been hot tempered and out spoken but he always kept it under control, especially at the hospital. But the past few months he wasn’t even able to do that! It was true what Vince had said. Mark was definitely ‘not himself.’ His brother had become harshly disillusioned after Maureen, his ex fiancee, gave him up for a richer and much older man. Maureen’s husband was none other than Bruno DeLava a feared man in the community because of his mob connections. That was the beginning of Mark’s unstable behavior. His attitude had become cynical, hard, and caustic. Almost every Friday’s and Saturday nights he was coming home late and very drunk. Especially on the weekends when he wasn’t on call at the hospital. Ken was worried about him. Not only was he drinking too much but he wasn’t eating properly and suffering from continuous irregularity. In addition to that he had heard rumors that he was sleeping around with some of the local prostitutes. It appeared that his brother was on a self-destructive path.

Ken had also heard repeatedly that Mark was giving the nurses and other staff members a difficult time by displaying a vile temper. Just recently Ken was ushered into Mother Superior’s office. She impassively informed him that Mark was habitually using foul expletives. Explaining how such language was inappropriate in a hospital setting. In addition he had called one of the student nurses a bitch and a whore. He explained the situation to Sister and persuaded her not to go to one of the hospital’s administrators, Fr. Ryan. It took a lot of persuasion and a lot of his influential charm to get her to understand. He promised her that he would sit down and have a good long talk with his brother.

He wanted badly to help Mark by doing just that. For the past month or so he had made several futile attempts to talk some sense into his brother. Mark had just acted hostile towards him and told him in plain English, “That it was none of his damn fucking business and that he could go straight to hell.”

Ken had heard Mark come in around 3:00 am Saturday morning from his carousing. Soon after that he heard Mark vomiting profusely. Ken wanted to go to him and help him but he knew he wouldn’t be received with open arms. Stay put, he said to himself and try to talk to him in the morning.

When Ken left the house the following late Saturday morning to make hospital rounds Mark was still in his room. Ken thought it best to let him sleep it off. Mark was already gone for the day and evening when Ken returned home. Ken knew from the pattern that Mark wouldn’t be back till very late.

It had gotten very cold and windy outside and Ken had lit a fire in the intricately carved mantle of the Victorian fireplace that he had proudly stripped and refinished himself. On either side of the fireplace were bookshelves filled with books that went as high up as the ceiling. The house in which the both brothers lived in was, in fact, a restored old Victorian home built back during the old mining days. Originally it had been Ken and Ann’s dream house when they got married. The couple had admired the large, spacious rooms with inlaid wood floors, high ceilings with hand carved moldings. In addition there were stain glass windows in almost every room.

He was sitting comfortably in his favorite leather arm chair, absorbing the warmth of the fire reading medical journals. At least he was trying to read. He was having a very difficult time concentrating on anything this weekend. All of his waking thoughts were of Susan. How was she? Did she hate him? Was she hurting? Did she forgive him for the physical abuse he had unthinkingly given her? He was debating with himself to whether or not he should take the liberty of stopping by her house on Sunday, the next day, to see how she was doing.

It was about 10:00 PM when Ken heard a car pull up the drive. He looked out the window and saw a taxicab drive away amidst the blowing leaves down the long driveway and Mark stumbling up the front stoop. Ken was surprised to see his brother home so early and glad too that he had enough sense to leave his car in town and take a cab home.

His disheveled, hefty six foot one brother came staggering into the living room with his jacket slung lazily over his shoulder singing, ”Never on Sunday,” and looking boyishly handsome as ever. His wavy dark brown hair was all tousled and his shirt tails were hanging out of his trousers. His blazing blue eyes were blood shot and he reeked of alcohol. It appeared to Ken that Mark had been crying because his eyes were swollen. But he wasn’t sure. By the sound, look and smell of him it was apparent that he was ‘drunk as a skunk.’

“So you’ve decided to come back and join the living.” Ken said sarcastically still sitting in his chair.

“Well, if it isn’t my wonderful big brother.” He slurred in his deep husky voice. Mark stumbled over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a straight whisky. He turned sluggishly towards his brother as he gulped the hot liquid down his throat. “What the hell are YOU looking at?”

“Who me? Oh, I’m just watching my brother get healthy again.” Ken said derisively. Ken detested what he was witnessing. “Where have you been Mark?” Ken asked angrily.

“None of your fucking business!” He garbled his words again and was having a laborious time trying to stand on his own two feet.

Ken was annoyed and ashamed. “Were you down by the red light district again?” Ken asked angrily.

“What if I was? What’s it to you? You should join me sometime. You haven’t had a good fuck in quite a long time brother dear. You need it as much as I do.” He said defiantly still muttering his words.

Ken put down his reading matter and leaned over in his chair. “Are you my brother? I don’t know you anymore.” Ken was sickened and disappointed by his brother’s behavior. “Mark, I hope for your sake that you’ve been using condoms!”

“Always the big brother watching out for me, huh? I don’t need for you to watch over me. Damn it ! I don’t need anybody.” Mark made a wavering gesture at his brother and wobbled to one side. He looked like he was ready to fall over onto the hardwood floor at any moment.

“Mark, please come sit by the fire and let’s talk a while.” Ken thought he’d try some mild persuasion and made a gesture to help him into a chair. “Here, let me help you.” Mark savagely pushed him away.

“Get away from me! I don’t want to talk! I don’t want to sit down and I DON’T want YOUR FUCKING HELP!” He yelled huskily.

Ever since they were kids Ken was always there to help his kid brother. Either with sports, homework or to help him fight the school bullies. It was 20 years later and it appeared nothing had changed.

Ken thought, perhaps if he could sober him up with some caffeine. “I’ll get you some coffee.” Ken left the room to go to the kitchen. When he returned he found Mark at the fireplace with both his hands on the mantle with his back hunched over and his head bowed down between his extended arms. He was shaking uncontrollably and sobbing softly. As soon as Mark heard his brother enter the room he immediately stopped his display of overwrought emotion and wiped his face with the back of his hands.

It was breaking Ken’s heart to see his brother tormenting himself like this. Nothing was more heart wrenching than to hear and see a grown man cry even if it was due to intoxication. Ken placed the mug down on the coffee table and calmly walked over to him. He stood along side of him in front of the warm blaze and placed his arm around his brother’s shoulder to comfort him. This time Mark didn’t push him away. Ken was very much aware that all this pain and anger had been bottled up inside his brother for months.

“Easy now, big guy. Let it all out, if it will make you feel any better. Don’t try to keep all in. There’s nobody here to see or hear you but me.” Ken said with understanding. Mark being the macho guy he was had no intention of weeping again in the presence of his brother.

The reflection from the fireplace flames on Mark’s damp face and swollen eyes made him look even more pathetic. Mark lifted his face and mumbled, “I saw her tonight, Ken.”

“Try not to think of her.” Ken said sympathetically as he rubbed and patted his brother’s upper back.

Mark stared into the flames. “She was coming out of a limousine with that decrepit old man she married. That bastard looks like Methusala himself. He’s old enough to be her great- grandfather! How could she?” He shook his head from side to side. “How could she?”

“He’s also rich and powerful enough.” Ken said in a matter of fact voice.

Mark was oblivious to what his brother had just said. “What does she see in him?” He stumbled on his feet as he raked his fingers through his hair. “Ken, you…you should of seen her! God, how I loved that woman! I would of given her the world if she had only let me.” With still his arm around his brother’s shoulder Ken reached into his trouser pocket and handed him his handkerchief. Mark took the handkerchief and pulled slightly away from his brother’s side as he blew his nose. Mark was beginning to regret that he had broken down like a sniveling woman.

Ken thought bitterly to himself. I doubt if the entire ‘world’ would make that heartless bitch contented.

Ken tried to get Mark to look in his direction. “I’ll tell you what she’s sees in him, Mark. She’s only sees his millions of dollars. She’s a selfish, self centered, vain, shallow, bitch. She’d sell her very soul, if it meant money in her pocket! Your lucky she’s no longer a part of your life. She’s not worth all this misery and agony that you have been putting yourself through these past couple of months. Furthermore, all this bull shit is affecting your job as a doctor. Is this what you want to happen after all your hard work of study? You’re going to let it all go down the tubes over an unfeeling, insipid broad who’s not worth the time of day?”

“Don’t call her a broad! I loved her! I still love her!” His speech was still slurred.

“Mark, THAT’S NOT LOVE!! How could you possibly love a woman with such a rotten character? You want a woman that will reciprocate your love and see you as a human being and not just a person with a large bank account.” In the past it usually was Mark who would terminate a relationship. Now, that it had happened the other way around Ken secretly felt that Mark’s acute distress was due to the fact that his ego had been badly deflated and that he was mistaking it for love. However, Ken was not about to express to Mark what he really thought, not when he was in a vulnerable state of mind!

“She’s so beautiful!” Mark cried.

“Beauty, that means SHIT! Who gives a damn! What good is it? The outside package fades! It’s what’s inside the package that lasts a life time, Mark!”

Ken went over to the coffee table to pick up the hot mug of coffee and tried to place it in Mark’s hand for him to drink. “Mark, try drinking some of this coffee.”

Mark started rubbing his stomach with one hand while he pushed away the mug of coffee with the other. His facial expression was one of repugnance. “No I can’t! Ken, I think I am going to be sick!” He exclaimed distortedly.

“What ever you do, don’t get sick on the floor. I don’t relish the thought of cleaning up after you.”

“Oh shut the hell up! Your not going to have to clean up anything.” He garbled.

“Mark, come sit down. You look like your going to topple over.” Mark teetered over to the sofa and plopped down. Ken went and sat himself on the coffee table opposite his brother.

Mark began to speak ‘out of his hat’. In a dim attempt to sound determined he said, “I’m going to go to her. I’m going to ask her to leave her husband. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do. I can make her happy, not that old man. I give you ten to one that old bastard can’t even get it up long enough to keep her satisfied!”

Ken looked at his brother in absolute disbelief, “WHAT ARE YOU, CERTIFIBLY INSANE? Where the HELL is your brain tonight, in your FUCKING ASS?” Ken hoped to God it was the alcohol that was making him talk foolishly stupid. “Mark listen to me very carefully!” Ken began to speak slowly and deliberately. “You mess with her and you’ll be walking around with your dick in your mouth! Her husband is a powerful man, Mark! He has powerful friends in this state! They don’t call him ‘Bruno the Butcher’ for nothing! MARK DO YOU HEAR ME!” Ken was incredibly livid. “DAMN YOU, Mark. LOOK at me when I’m talking to YOU,” he yelled! He visualized his brother hanging somewhere from some meat hook!

Mark lowered his head and didn’t want to really listen to this lecture. Ken was leaning over trying desperately to get eye contact with his brother. He placed his hands on Mark’s shoulders and began to shake him hard to help him come to his senses. “MARK ANSWER ME! CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Ken wanted to make positively sure that he was getting through to him!

“YEAH, YEAH, I HEAR YOU! I’m drunk Ken not fucking deaf!” Mark yelled back as he annoyingly pulled his shoulders away from his brother’s hands.

“Promise me now that you will dismiss this unimaginable stupid idea from your mind. She’s HIS wife now! Don’t go anywhere near Maureen if you value your life! Promise me, MARK !”

“Yeah, yeah I promise.” Despite the fact that he was drunk, Mark knew his brother was right about the powerful DeLave family. It was a known fact that they were capable of doing heinous, detestable acts of violence against people who provoked them! Hell, it was a known fact that they did horrendous things to people that didn’t provoke them!

A few minutes passed by to give Ken a chance to cool off. In an effort to keep his voice calm and even he asked, “Mark have you eaten anything tonight?”

“I had some fish. It tasted funny. I didn’t finish it.” He said laboriously, while still rubbing his stomach.

“That’s terrific. You’re going to burn a hole in your empty stomach with all that alcohol that you’ve pumped into it.”

“Damn YOU, stop trying to act like my mother!” He barked back huskily!

“Well, Mom isn’t here to take care of you, wise guy! Unfortunately, I’m the one who IS here! Someone has to be responsible for you! Ken stood up quickly. “I’m going to make you something to eat Mark and you’re going to eat it if I have to cram it down your damn throat!” Ken stood up and turned to go to the kitchen.

“Ken, for Gods sake leave me alone! Can’t you see I’m sick! The last damn thing I want is food!” Mark had a pained look on his handsome face as his large frame shakily stood up. He was bent over at the waist in pain with one hand on his stomach and the other hand up and over his mouth . He made a mad dash for the downstairs bathroom. He got there just in the nick of time to vomit his guts out. Ken was right behind him. Ken got down on one knee and held his brother’s head while Mark knelt in front of the commode regurgitating. Ken remembers from his fraternity college years that this was commonly known as toilet hugging drunk or as some fraternity brothers referred to it as praying to the porcelain God.

“Mark how much alcohol did you consume tonight?” Ken was worried about alcohol poisoning.

Mark leaned back on his legs and wipe his mouth with the back of his hand while Ken leaned over to flushed the toilet.

“I don’t remember. I lost count after the tenth drink.” Mark answered. Ken just closed his eyes in exasperation.

“For crying out loud Mark, you’re a doctor! You know perfectly well what an abundance of alcohol can do to your body?”

“I don’t care anymore! I don’t give a damn what happens to me!” He said despondently.

“You fool, YOU better give damn! What about Mom and Dad and our sisters? What about me? We all care about what happens to you! Don’t you care that all this self indulgence can hurt your family? Damn it, this pity party that you have been giving yourself for the past few months is going to STOP NOW ! Do you hear me Mark?”

Mark didn’t answer him. Instead he just continued to heave profusely into the toilet. Ken continued to hold his head. Before the next wave of vomiting would occur Ken got up to open the bathroom window. A few minutes passed before Ken spoke again.

“Do you feel better now?” Ken asked gently.

“A little better.” Mark answered. “I’m going upstairs to give myself an enema.” The vomiting had helped sober him up a bit.

“You think that’s wise? You might become badly dehydrated.”

“I think I can capable of making a decision about giving myself a fucking enema!” He barked back at him.

“Fine, Mark but your going to need some help with it.” Ken said.

“Hell, Ken, I know how to give myself a damn enema without any help! I was an RN before I became a doctor! STOP trying to be my fucking nurse maid!”

“Let me at least prepare the solution for you.” Ken said as he helped Mark up off the floor. They proceeded up the stairs. Mark was having a difficult time with his footing. Ken than placed his strong arm around his brother’s lean waist and wrapped Mark’s muscular arm around his own sturdy neck. They looked like two huge football line backers trudging up the winding staircase.

Mark spoke as they wobbled slowly up the staircase. “Strong, mature, and compassionate Ken. All my life I’ve tried to be like you big brother.”

“For Christ’s sake Mark, you don’t need to be like me! Just be yourself.” He paused a moment. “Mark, you’re my brother. I love you. I want my brother back. The one I knew before Maureen came into his life. You were and still have the capability to be a good doctor and a decent fellow if you only put your mind to it!”

“Yeah, yeah! Knock it off with the fancy speeches!” They were almost to the top of the stairs. “I don’t want the folks to know about this, Ken. You haven’t said anything to them? Have you?” Mark asked his brother while mounting the stairs.

“I only told them that you broke up with Maureen and that you’ve been holding your own. Don’t worry Mark, I won’t spill the beans about your extra curricular activities.”

“I wouldn’t want Mom to know about the whores I have been keeping company with. It would only get her upset.” He said sheepishly.

“Mark, you have been using protection? Haven’t you?” Ken asked.

“Yeah, yeah, sure of course. I’m no dope.” They reached the top of the staircase and Mark unsteadily retrieved different color condoms from his trouser pocket. “See, I have every color of the rainbow. This one glows. You want any?”

“I don’t think so little brother. I am not in need of a condom right now.”

“I’m sure you will be, REAL soon.” Mark smiled elfishly knowing what he discovered the day before in Ken’s office.

“Let’s concentrate on you at the moment, all right? You go and strip and I’ll prepare the enema bag in my bathroom. After you’re finished, if you can’t eat anything than I want you to at least try to get some fluid into you.” Ken wondered what his brother meant by his last remark.

As he left him at his bedroom door Ken turned and said, “Mark, when was your last bowel movement?”

“Fuck you! Stop playing doctor with me.” Mark answered belligerently.

“OK, I can see that you want to continue to act like an ass hole?”

“Well, if you must know, DOCTOR, I had a bad case of the runs a while ago. That’s why I came home early.”

“It’s no wonder with all that poisonous swill you have been pouring into your body! You haven’t been eating right either! Your whole system is out of whack.”

“The Great Doctor Kenneth Cummings has spoken. Thanks for your free diagnosis.” Mark answered mockingly.

“Oh SHUT up and get yourself undressed. I’ll be back in few minutes.”

Ken rolled the enema bag on an IV stand into Mark’s own bathroom adjoined to Mark’s bedroom. Mark was only in his white boxer shorts standing in front of the toilet looking very pallid.

“I hope to God, you didn’t put in one of those deadly holistic remedies that you’re infamous for!” Mark said rebelliously while still holding his stomach and staring uneasily down towards the bottom of the toilet. Ken thought to himself, where have I heard that one before? “Don’t fret so! I only used the white pure soap in the solution. Just like dad use to make.” It was visible to Ken that his brother was having abdominal pain and preparing to retch again.

“Your as bad as Sister Kate and somebody else I know. I may not have been an RN like you Mark but I do know how to prepare a good hot enema.”

“Yeah, yeah what ever you say.” He answered tiredly.

“Mark, are you all right?” Ken thought that perhaps this was more than a case of excessive drinking. “Mark, why don’t you lie down for a while and hold out on the enema for just a bit.”

“I’ll be OK as soon as I clean out my stomach.” There was agony in his voice.

“Mark, I want you to call me if you need any help.” Ken said adamantly.

“Yeah sure, when HELL freezes over! NOW WILL YOU please get the HELL out of here so I could have a little privacy!” Mark detested the thought of his big brother hovering over him like a damn nurse.

Ken went to his own bedroom across the hall. Every so often Ken would stop to listen if Mark was all right. After some time went by he heard his brother throwing up again. He knocked on his bathroom door. “Mark, are you all right?” There was no response. “I’m coming in Mark.”

He found his stud of a brother kneeling in front of the toilet butt naked puking his brains out. The enema bag was still hanging from it’s pole near the commode and appeared to have been partially used. Ken decided to help his brother whether he wanted it or not. Ken went to get a pair of rubber gloves and than got a low stool to sit on and placed it along the side of the commode and his kneeling brother.

Mark turned is bowed head over the toilet to the left towards Ken. “What the hell do you think your doing?” Mark asked defiantly while wincing in pain.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going to give you the rest of this damn enema.” Ken said sternly.

“Like hell you are! I can do it myself!” He said indignantly.

“Now, don’t go and tell me you’ve suddenly gone shy! Because we both know that you don’t have a shy bone in your body! We’re both doctors for crying out loud. Believe me, you don’t possess anything back there that I haven’t seen before. Besides, you’re not capable of doing anything at the moment. Now, shut the fuck up and let me help you!” Ken was incensed with his brother’s obstinate attitude.

“Yeah, you and what Army?” Mark barked back.

“Listen tough guy, I could beat the crap out of you when we were kids and I can do it again, if need be. Now, cooperate or I’ll beat the SHIT out of you now, instead of using a God damn enema!”

He knew his brother was good on his threats. “I think I’m going to be sick again, Ken.” Hoping that perhaps it would discourage his brother from going through with this absurd idea.

“Fine, you stay in that same position with your head over the can and concentrate on that end and I’ll concentrate on the other end.” Ken said callously. Mark was in agony with his stomach and didn’t have the gusto to go into combat. Being totally incapacitated, he was virtually at his brother’s mercy!

Ken saw that the inflatable nozzle was already lubricated. He proceeded to lubricate his brother’s backside.

“YOU don’t need to DO THAT, Ken! Damn you! I already took care of THAT!” He yelled.

“I thought I told you to SHUT the HELL UP!” I’m in charge!” Ken continued to gently put his lubricated gloved finger up Mark’s rear end. He inserted his finger in and out for a few moments.

“For Gods sake Ken, STOP! I’m getting a boner!” Mark was embarrassed. It made Ken remember fondly of Susan’s arousal during her enema and exam. He smiled to himself.

“I’m not looking at you and this does absolutely nothing for me. I won’t tell if you won’t.” Ken than gently twisted in the nozzle up Mark’s rectum.

“I hope you are having fun, Kenny boy?” Mark grunted.

“Yeah sure, it’s just the thing I like doing on a Saturday night. It’s what every red blooded all American male dreams of doing. NOW, I don’t want to hear another fucking sound from your mouth except to hear you breathe in and out!”

Once the enema nozzle was securely in Mark’s backside Ken inflated the nozzle. Mark began to grunt. “Damn you Ken. Do it slowly, SLOWLY!”

“Shut your mouth! I’m going as slow as I can!”

After that was done Ken opened the clamp and the flow of hot soapy solution began to fill his brother’s bowels. “Ohoooooooo,” Mark moaned. “DAMN YOU KEN, you made it TOO FUCKING hot!” Boy, that too sounded recently familiar.

“You big lug, STOP your complaining! You’re acting like a big baby!” Ken said impatiently.

After about one minute went by Mark’s tight muscular thighs and buttocks began to flex in discomfort and he began to grunt and moan very loudly, “Ken STOP! The cramps are getting bad!” Ken wasn’t fast enough for him. “Damn you Ken! Can’t you stop for just one fucking minute!” His nasty rhetoric was accompanied with laborious breathing.

Ken said very slowly in an exaggerated condescending voice, “OK…, stopping…. the flow….., come on big guy, stop carrying on!” Ken began to massage his brother’s lower back and shoulder blades to help him to relax. “Try to relax and take deep breaths for me. The cramps will subside, Mark, if you only allow the breathing to work.”

“You don’t have to tell me what to do Ken! DAMN YOU, I know what the FUCK to do!” Mark was angry as hell that he was being forced to summit to his brother’s care.

“Fine, shut the hell up and DO IT!” Mark’s stomach began to make a loud gurgling sound and all the hard muscles in Mark’s powerful large legs began to tighten up and his huge toes began to curl. Ken stopped and than started the flow again after Mark recovered from the last wave of cramps.

“KEN, I’m going to be sick again!” Mark’s powerful large back arched upward as he began to heave. Ken stopped the flow to hold his brother’s head over the toilet. Mark stopped vomiting and than began to sweat abundantly. Ken leaned over and flushed the commode and than went to get a cold damp cloth from the nearby sink. By this time Ken was beginning to believe that this may be a case of food poisoning. He suddenly remembered what Mark had said about the fish he had eaten earlier this evening and the diarrhea he said he had experienced.

He returned from the sink to gently wiped his brother’s forehead. He said soothingly, “It’s OK Mark. You’re going to feel a lot better once all that garbage empties out of your system.” When he knew his brother was finished heaving he started the enema flow again.

“No more Ken! I can’t take anymore!” He pleaded in low husky voice.

“Hang in there, Mark. It’s just a few more ounces left in the bag.” Ken said encouragingly as he massaged his brother’s upper and lower back.

“Mom gave better enemas than you ever will! She knew when to HELL TO STOP!” Mark bellowed.

“Yeah, well I’m not Mom! You’re stuck with me, pal! So stop your damn whining!” Ken said curtly.

Once the entire 2 quart bag was in Mark’s insides Ken asked him to hold it for 5 minuets. Ken reach underneath to massage his brother’s abdomen. Mark protested through clenched teeth, “KEN, it’s worse when you do that massaging. Damn you, STOP!” Ken immediately stopped what he was doing.

After about 3 minutes went by Mark said in a breathless voice. “Pleeease… Ken I can’t hold it anymore!” He begged.

“You’re acting like a pussy! Come on big guy, you can do it.” Ken said encouragingly. “Try panting like a dog.”

“I’m not panting like any fucking dog!” He began to grunt and moan loudly. “I really mean it Ken! I have to use the can, NOW!” He moaned and groaned. “YOU FUCKING BASTARD. YOU want to see me BEG don’t you? Give me a break why don’t you!” Ken saw that his brother’s whole body began to tremble and sweat copiously.

“OK, OK, let me help you up.” Ken put his arm around Mark’s well defined waist as he put Mark’s strapping arm around his own brawny neck to get him up off the floor.

“I’d like some privacy, if you don’t mind!” Mark said indignantly.

“I’ll be right outside the bathroom door. Yell, if you need me.” ken paused a moment. Do you want me to deflate the nozzle?”

“I can handle it from here!” While bending over at the waist and showing a voluminous stomach in considerably discomfort he grunted. “Now get the FUCK OUT OF HERE!” Ken could hear the urgency in his brother’s voice.

As he left Mark’s bedroom he could hear him grunting and moaning as thunderous torrents of enema fluid and bodily waste were expelled. Ken hoped that perhaps this unpleasant experience would teach his brother a lesson and prevent him from drinking excessively again. Ken returned to the bathroom with a rinse enema that Mark administered himself.

When Ken came back to Mark’s room he heard the shower running. He went in the bathroom to clean up the equipment and light a few candles.

The shower water stopped flowing as Ken was leaving the hot, steaming bathroom. After a few moments went by Ken thought he heard what sounded like his brother’s cry for help. “KEN! KEN!” Mark cried out. Ken came rushing into the bathroom. Wrapped in a white towel around his lean muscular waist Mark was leaning his huge sturdy build against the sink looking like death and trying to make a weak attempt to stand up. Ken was just in time to prevent his brother from hitting his thick skull against the hard, bathroom tile floor. He caught his huge body under his arm pits as Mark slumped towards Ken’s solid chest.

“Mark, what is it?” Ken was alarmed at his brother’s white pallor. “It’s OK Mark! Hang in there buddy! I got you!”

Mark’s eyes began to roll back towards the back of his head as he feebly whispered, “KEN, I think the lights are going to go out!” With that declaration, Mark passed out cold into his brother’s arms. Ken than slung his brother effortlessly over his broad shoulder and strong back like a sack of potatoes. He than quickly walked into Mark’s room and bounced him gently onto his back and into his bed. Ken propped Mark’s head up and than his feet with pillows. He went and got some smelling salts and a cold wet towel. He worked on him for a few moments to revive him back to a conscience state. Ken became frightened. He didn’t like the way his brother looked. “MARK, CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Ken yelled as he rubbed Mark’s feet and wrists. He began to slap him lightly on either side of his face. God, Ken thought he looked as white as a sheet. His brother was coming around after what felt like an infinite amount of time had passed.

“What the hell happen?” Mark asked in a groggy voice.

“You passed out on me! I want you to lie still and don’t move. Mark, answer me! CAN YOU HEAR ME?”

“Yeah I can hear you! For Gods sake, stop yelling!” Mark replied in a cranky daze.

“I’m going to get my bag and cell phone. So help me Mark if you try to get up from this bed, you’ll have me to answer to.” He said excitedly.

“Does it look like I’m going anywhere?” He asked weakly.

Ken came back swiftly and took his brother’s blood pressure. It was dangerously low. He than called a friend and a doctor who owned and worked at an all night clinic just a few blocks away from the house.

“Come on, come on pick up!” He said impatiently as he nervously waited on the phone.

“Hello, Hillsdale Clinic. Dr. Michael Jonson speaking.”

“Mike? Ken Cummings here.”

“Hey Kenny! How’s it going? What’s up?”

Ken spoke rapidly and with anxiety. “Mike, I need for you to bring me a few IV bottles to my house right now. My brother Mark is badly dehydrated and he needs fluid pumped into his system immediately.”

Mike spoke seriously. “I’m hanging up right now Ken. Have the front door opened.”

Putting down the phone Ken looked carefully and seriously down towards his brother.

“Damn you Mark! You scared the hell out of me!” Ken began to once again to gently pat Mark’s good looking face with the cool wet wash cloth.

Mark weakly pushed his brother’s hand away. “SHIT, stop coddling me! I’M OK.”

“Yeah sure, like HELL you are!” Ken left the room to get a glass of cool water for Mark to drink during which time Mark made an attempt to get up from the bed only to slump back down on the pillows. “Whooa, make the room stop spinning.”

Ken had just returned in time to see what he was trying to do. “Why you son- of- a- bitch! I told you NOT to try to move your fucking carcass from that bed!” Ken was concerned but still furious with his brother’s stubbornness. First Susan’s stubbornness, now his brother’s.

Mark began to chuckle and gave his brother a mischievous grin. “Is this the great bedside manner I hear about all the time from people at the hospital? Well Ken, I guess it’s all a crock of shit.” He said weakly.

“Quit your griping and lie still! I think on top of everything else that you may have a case of food poisoning. You said that you had the runs before. How many bouts of diarrhea did you have?

“I was in the men’s room quite a number of times, I think.” He said weakly.

You’ll be OK as soon as I get some fluid into you.”

“I scared you, didn’t I?” Mark began to laugh quietly.

“Yeah, you scared me all right, wise guy! I can tell that you’re overjoyed with glee. Now shut that ugly cake hole of yours!” Ken was furious!

Ken went to pick up the glass of water and tried to place the glass to Mark’s pale lips while helping to lift his head off the pillow. “I want you to try to drink some fluid for me, Mark.” Mark weakly lifted his hand to push the glass away. “Please Mark, for me, try to drink something.” Mark drank the whole glass only to bring it back up again.

Mike arrived in 3 minutes flat. Afterwards, Ken made an unsuccessful attempt to insert an IV needle into Mark’s vein.

He yelled, “ Jesus, Ken! Not only do you SUCK at giving enemas but you SUCK at finding veins as well! Why don’t you lacerate my fucking arm some more why don’t you?” He snarled.

“You big lug! If only you would lie still for a moment I would be able to fine your damn vein!” Ken shouted back.

“Ken stop, let me do it. You’re too overwrought.” Mike said calmly as he took the IV needle from Ken’s hand. Ken agreed with Mike and gladly relinquish the needle to him. Moments later, Ken made a sigh of relief when he saw some color come back to his brother’s face.

“Well I’m glad there’s someone here who knows how to put in a fucking IV needle into a person’s arm!” Mark cuttingly said.

Mike began to laugh as he patted Ken’s back. “He’ll be all right, Ken. He’s being his charming self again.”

Mark was fast asleep when Mike and Ken left the room to go down to the kitchen and make themselves a pot of coffee. Ken told Mike about his brother’s declaration about going to see Maureen and how worried he was that his brother would do such a stupid act.

“Ken, I hope you convinced him. You don’t want to mess with that hateful family. About a few months ago one of the younger children broke his arm. They brought him to the clinic. The kid yelled out when I had to set the arm. These two huge intimidating grease ball types came rushing into the exam room! I swear to God Ken, I thought they were going to nail my knee caps to the floor! I hope for Mark’s sake that he has enough sense to stay away!”

It was 1:30 in the morning when Mike left the house. “Thanks a lot Mike.” Ken said appreciatively as he saw him to the front door.

“Oh, you don’t have to thank me. I was glad to be of some help. I think Mark will snap out of it now, Ken. Try not to worry about him. He just needs to grow up a little. It happens to all of us. Things have a way of working out. You’ll see. Just remind him to stay away from the DeLava’s if he knows what’s good for him.” Ken thanked him again and said good night.

First, Ken made sure all the doors were locked and shut off all the lights. He than checked on Mark by first taking his pulse than feeling his forehead for possible fever. Ken was relieved that his brother was in a deep sleep upon entering his room because he knew that Mark would protest to such formalities. He than replaced the empty IV bottle with a new one and went to bed.

It was 8:00 AM Sunday when Ken heard Mark getting out of bed. Ken poked his head in. “Mark, where do you think your going?”

It was true! Mark didn’t have one inhibited bone in his body. He was standing there buck naked and towering over the IV pole. “I need to take a leak, Ken. If that’s OK with you? This bug juice is going right through me.” Mark began to roll the IV stand along side of him as he walked unclad towards the bathroom.

“I’ll get you something to urinate in. Get back into bed.” Ken ordered.

Mark had had it with his big brother’s bossy ways. “I’m NOT using any fucking urinal, Ken! I’m using the can! Hell, I AM NOT an INVILID!” He yelled.

“Well let me help you get there.” Ken said calmly. It was too early in the day to yell back at him.

“Like HELL YOU WILL! If you were a gorgeous, voluptuous, nude, red headed nurse I’d consider it. “But you’re NOT!” Mark took an exasperated breath. “DAMN IT, Ken! Do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Knock it off with the nursemaid shit! OK?”

“OK! OK! What does my charming brother want for breakfast this fine morning?” Ken didn’t feel like bucking heads with him.

“Surprise me, why don’t you?”

“Are you sure you’re OK?”

“Yeah, I’m sure!” He barked impatiently. “Now will you please go make me my damn breakfast! I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! If I remember correctly that’s a sign that the patient has made a full recovery!”

It was an hour later when Mark was sitting up in bed with his dark brown, curly hair all rumpled. He was shoveling in his mouth; scrambled eggs, bacon, hash brown potatoes , biscuits dripping with butter and fresh strawberry preserves.

“Slow down Mark! There’s more where that came from.” Ken said as he pored each of them another cup of coffee. “Here wipe the jam out of your cleft chin.” He said as he handed him a napkin. “Sometimes I think you’re a reincarnated Viking. You certainly have the table manners of one.”

“I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” He said with a mouthful in his mouth.

“It’s no wonder, with all that muck that came out of your stomach last night.”

“This is real good Ken, thanks.” A boyish grin appeared on Mark’s face. He pondered for a moment before speaking. “I guess I’ve been a real pain in the ass haven’t I Ken?”

“Yeah, a real pain in the ass.” Ken replied.

There was another long pause. “I guess I wasn’t, what you call a very cooperative patient either.” Mark said quietly still impishly grinning.

“Yeah, you can say that.” Ken took a breath. “Besides, I’ve had some valuable practice with obstinate patients recently. What’s one more or less.” He was fondly thinking of Susan. “Something tells me Mark that one day soon you’re going to get a uncooperative patient and you’ll know what the hell it feels like.”

“I doubt that day will ever come.” Mark laughed out loud.

There was silence in the room as they finished their breakfast. It was difficult for Mark to say he was sorry. “Ken?”

“Yeah?

He slightly hesitated. “For what’s it’s worth. Thanks.” Mark lowered his eyes.

“Oh, forget it. I’m sure you’d do the same for me if the circumstances were in reversed.” Ken never forgot how his brother was there for him when Ann died. He had handled all the funeral arrangements and had stayed up late with him many nights consoling him before and after she was gone. Mark was like a rock in his life when he needed him the most.

“Ken, I’ll……… I’ll clean up my act.”

“Yeah, sure you will.”

“No, I mean it. I’ve behaved very badly. You were right about my feeling sorry for myself. From this moment on, things are going to change at home and at the hospital. You’ll see.”

Ken thought, Mark could be agreeable when he wanted to be, even sweet. Ken also knew that once his brother made up his mind about something he usually did it. He remembered the day that he announced to the entire family that he was going to get his nursing degree along with a M.D. By God, he did in fact get both! He surprised everyone! At the time Ken always suspected that his brother’s motive was wanting to get to know and get closer to the young pretty student nurses.

“You think you have that bitch out of your system now?” Ken asked earnestly.

“Yeah, I… I think so.” Mark replied.

“That’s fine Mark. Don’t ever scare me like that again or I really will beat the shit out of you. I’ve already lost a wife. I don’t want to lose my only brother as well.” Mark lowered his face when he heard Ken say that. He was ashamed and guilty that he had put his brother through last night’s ordeal. “Besides, I knew you would come to your senses, sooner or later. You’re just a little confused about what you want from life. We all go through it at one time or another.”

“I guess I don’t know what the hell I want. Perhaps what I do want doesn’t really exist.” Mark said reflectively.

“It exists. Be patient and if by chance someone special comes along try not to let it slip away from you. In the mean time remember three things: be happy, try not to hurt anyone and hope that one day soon you’ll fall in love.”

“Since when has my big brother gotten so wise?” Mark said cynically.

“It’s got nothing to do with wisdom. It has all to do with survival.” Ken thought he should add something else. “Listen to me, Mark. I want you to promise me something.”

“Yeah, yeah, what is it you want me to promise?” Mark was expecting a tiresome lecture from his big brother.

“The next time you’re feeling low or you start thinking about that woman, come to me first and will talk about it, go to a movie or something, OK?” Ken thought it was worth mentioning it again since he saw that his brother was so agreeable. “Whatever you do Mark, don’t go anywhere near Maureen. It would be very unhealthy for you if you did.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that. I won’t approach her. I’m smarter than the average picnic basket.” Mark remembered once in the emergency room that a man was brought in who had been badly beaten at the cruel hands of Delava’s henchmen. The man needed 9 operations of plastic surgery to restore his face back to a semi-normal state. It was ironic about what his brother had said about a certain part of his anatomy being severed. That same man that was brought into the ER that evening almost had his genitalia separated from the rest of his body. The police had gotten there just in time to prevent that from happening.

“You got a deal, big brother. But you have to promise me something as well.”

“What?”

“You make great breakfasts Ken but you give lousy enemas. Having the advantage of being an RN at one time, allow me to show you one day how it is done properly before you give an enema to your next victim.”

Ken started to laugh. “You and Sr. Kate, (and someone else he was thinking of ) must be in cahoots. Sure I promise.” In his opinion he gave good enemas but he thought it best to pacify his brother and go along with him. “You better show me before long because I think one day soon I just might have to give another enema to someone else.” Mark gave his brother a questioning look. Mark thought to himself. Who could he be thinking of?

Ken was thinking of none other than the beautiful Miss Susan Sheridan.