Helping Jerry - Part II
A Vision Quest episode
Previously on Vision Quest - Trevor and Bradford meet a troubled couple, Rosemarie and Jerry, while eating dinner at a local restaurant. Jerry was a Navy SEAL who lost all of his comrades in Vietnam. Because of this, he's suffering from PTSD. As we learn about Jerry’s tragic story, he and Trevor bond. Without going into details, the brothers tell Rose and Jerry they may be able to help. To read part one, click here.
The brothers got breakfast from the Red Lion and brought it back to their room. They were on the phone with Roosevelt. Bradford took a sip of his coffee.
“Good morning, Roosevelt,” Bradford said.
“Hello, how can I help you this fine morning, Mr. Strand?”
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Brad?”
“At least one more time, sir. What do you need from me today?”
Jerry’s story upset Trevor alot. He was aware of the fact that some missions ended in soldiers being lost, it had happened to him as well, but nothing came close to what Jerry went through.
Trevor took the phone and in a hushed voice said, “We have a Nam Vet with PTSD. Pretty bad.”
Trevor explained the details about Jerry to Roosevelt. Even on the phone, Roosevelt could tell it was serious.
After a long pause, Roosevelt said, “Kirk Booth was just in here the other day. He is starting up a clinic in Philly for PTSD.”
Trevor’s mood improved immediately. “Sergeant Booth, he’s perfect. I just talked to him a few months ago when I left the SEALs.”
“Yes… that is why I mentioned him.”
“We’re in the middle of nowhere, at Great Sacandaga Lake. The closest city of any size is Albany or Syracuse.”
“Well, I would not be surprised if he was involved with more. He was setting up a complex business plan for his clinics. I will call him back and let you know.”
“I want to help this guy. He’s really on the edge. There’s a wife and a little girl who need him. I want to move fast,” said Trevor.
Roosevelt switched into action mode. “I am on it, Mr. Strand.”
They hung up the phone. Bradford looked directly at his brother. “Trev, you know he won’t let us down. No one is better than Roosevelt with this kind of stuff.”
“I know that,” he smiled a tentative smile. “Let’s go for a ride around the lake. I need a distraction.”
The loop around the lake took about thirty minutes. They rounded a bend and saw a few small islands with bright green trees that contrasted with the blue water. Bradford enjoyed riding. The drone of the engine allowed him to think. He could tell Trevor was very upset. Even though he trusted Roosevelt, he hoped he would come through. When they got back from the ride, there was a message waiting.
“We are good to go, boys. Sergeant Booth is starting a clinic in Albany soon. The trust will cover any costs as well,” Roosevelt said.
Beaming, Trevor said. “Thanks Roosevelt, that’s great news.”
“We were fortunate that Sergeant Booth was starting his clinics… he asked about you, Trevor. I told him both of you were doing as well as could be expected. He was happy to hear about your motorcycle journey and thrilled he could help.”
“Well, I’m sure I’ll be talking to him as we set this up. I’ll let him know more about what we’re doing then.”
After they hung up the phone, Trevor suggested. “Let’s tell them the good news at dinner tonight.”
Trevor and Brad walked out of their room toward their bikes. “I can’t wait to tell them,” Trevor said.
“Yep, Roosevelt came through again.”
They rode down a winding road past the Conklingville Dam to the Webb’s house. It was a cozy ranch-style from the 1950s, nestled among the pine trees. A white picket fence framed the front yard, creating a contrast with the red brick exterior.
They walked up to the front door and knocked.
“Come in fellas, dinner’s almost ready. I hope burgers and sweet corn are okay,” said Rosemarie.
“Rosemarie, that sounds great,” Brad said.
She sighed. “Come on, it’s Rose.”
“Okay, Rose it is.”
“Jerry’s on the deck with Jenny.”
They were sitting at a picnic table. Jenny had brown hair, like her mother.
“Hey guys,” said Jerry. “This is my daughter, Jenny.”
“Hi Jenny, I’m Trevor. This is my brother, Brad.”
She shyly said, “Hello Mr. Trevor —”
He bent down and offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. How old are you?”
“I’m four.”
She reminded him so much of his own daughter, Faye. He felt a lump in his throat and quickly got up. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”
Brad attempted to change the subject. “That’s quite a view of the dam.”
“It’s one reason we picked this house. We sit out here often just because of the view,” said Jerry.
“Daddy and I take walks together down there… we like to watch the water rush out the bottom.” She smiled for the first time. “It’s like our special place.”
“Well, we have some news to discuss before dinner,” Bradford said.
Rose looked at her daughter. “Honey, please go turn on the TV. The grownups need to talk.”
“Awww Mom—”
In a stern voice, Jerry said, “Jenny, please.”
She pouted as she walked away.
Bradford briefed Rose and Jerry on the details of the sale of Pizza Land, the relationship with Roosevelt, the law firm, and the deep contacts they have. They didn’t talk about the accident, they simply said they were on a motorcycle trip and wanted to see if they could help people.
“That’s quite a story,” Rose said. She smiled. “Millionaire brothers come to our rescue?”
With an even voice, Bradford explained. “Well, we’re a team, but Roosevelt is our point person since he and the firm have many, many contacts.”
Trevor leaned forward and spoke softly. “I have some good news for you. Sergeant Kirk Booth, a former SEAL, is opening a clinic for PTSD. He has several locations across the country. He and I go way back and he heard about you and your comrades.”
Jerry looked away, his eyes fixed on the dam.
“He told me you and your team saved an entire village, over one hundred people. You’re a hero… you won the Silver Cross.”
“Honey, is that true?”
Jerry didn’t turn his head. He muttered. “I don’t deserve a goddamn medal. They all died.”
“Sarge told me what happened at the river. You did everything you could, Jerry, you guys saved many, many people.”
“No, goddamn it, I should’ve died, too.”
Trevor spoke slowly and evenly. “Roosevelt is starting a clinic nearby. You can get help.”
Jerry’s eyes were ablaze as his voice grew louder. “No, I don’t deserve it.”
“Jerry, calm down. It’s okay,” Trevor said.
“Honey, please calm down.”
Jerry’s face grew red as he stared toward the dam. Suddenly, he stood up, knocked over his chair and jumped over the railing, running into the woods toward the dam.
Jenny ran onto the deck. “What’s going on? Where did Daddy go?”
Everyone followed Jerry into the woods until they reached the dam. He stood on the edge; it was a two hundred foot drop to the rocks below.
Rose spoke first. “Jerr, what in God’s name are you doing?”
Sobbing, Jerry said, “Don’t come any closer. I don’t deserve to live.”
They were all standing about ten feet from Jerry. “Everyone back up,” Trevor said. “Give him some room.”
Trevor turned his attention to Jerry and in an even tone said, “Jerry, nothing will be gained from this… step back… your family loves you.”
“It’ll be better if I die. I'm too much trouble, I keep losing jobs—”
He paused, took a deep breath, and continued. “I have life insurance. If I die, Rose and Jenny get over a half a million dollars.”
“Daddy, no, I want you… please don’t jump.”
“Look Jerry, that plan won’t work,” Brad said. “I’m a lawyer. No insurance company will pay out a claim because of suicide.”
That made him think, but only for a bit. “No! It’s too hard. I don’t deserve to live. I should have died with everyone else.”
“You have your family. They love you. Do it for them,” Trevor said.
His face was bright red as he raged on. “You could never understand what I’ve been through. You didn’t lose your best friends. You’re a millionaire, riding fancy bikes around the country… You have NO IDEA!”
Trevor felt anger well up in him, but took a deep breath… then another. “You’re wrong Jerry, you have something I could never have again. You’re lucky.”
“Lucky… you say I’m lucky. What do I have that you don’t?”
Bradford watched his brother closely as Trevor softly spoke. “You have your family. I lost mine—”
His voiced cracked. “My whole family… in a car accident… my wife Laura gone. My little girl Faye gone… she was only two.”
“My God,” said Rose.
Bradford took over for his brother. “We were in a limo that I setup on our way to celebrate the sale of Pizza Land. The accident took my family to. My wife Jill and my son Timmy… he was eleven. The truck came out of nowhere. Everyone died except for Trev and me.”
“You think I can’t understand what you’re going through?” Trevor exclaimed. “You lost friends in Nam. We lost our whole family, our whole world. I would give up all of my money if I could have them back.”
“I know you’re going through lots of shit,” Brad said. “If I could change places with you right now, I would… you are an ex-SEAL. Get your act together and take care of your family. You’re lucky to have them.”
Rose and Jenny were both crying. “Please, Daddy!”
“Jerr, we love you. We can get through this together.”
Finally, after what seemed like ages, his shoulders slumped and his face softened. He walked over to his wife. “I’m so sorry, Rose.” He knelt down and faced Jenny with his arms outstretched. “I’m so sorry to put you through this, honey.”
He walked over to the brothers. “Trevor, Brad, I didn’t know what you—”
Trevor held out his hand. “It’s okay. Let’s go back to your house and talk.”
Back at the deck, they sat around the table in silence. Rose spoke first, looking back and forth at the brothers. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you. I was so insensitive.”
“You had no way of knowing,” Brad said.
“Me too. I feel like such an asshole.” Jerry said.
“Neither of you knew about our situation. You need to focus on your family,” Brad said.
“Jerry, what you’re feeling is normal,” Trevor said. “We’re just starting to understand this PTSD stuff. You’re lucky. This clinic Roosevelt told us about is leading edge.”
“Who is this Roosevelt guy?” Rose asked, smiling.
“We’ve known him ever since we were little. If it weren’t for him… well, let’s just say he is helping us, he can do the same for you,” Brad said.
“I want to meet Mr. Roosevelt,” Jenny said.
“He wants to meet you, too honey, I told him about you.”
Trevor took a deep breath. “This is going to be very hard. Hard for all of you.”
He looked at Rose. “We experience things in battle no human should have to. We come home and have to live a normal life after seeing all of that horror. I have nightmares too, and I didn’t go through what Jerry did.”
“You have nightmares? I thought I was the only one.”
“You will learn there are many people like you… us. Some have even lost buddies like you did. It helps to talk about it… together.”
Trevor handed Jerry Roosevelt’s card. “Call him. He’s expecting it. There’s a clinic in Albany, where all of you will meet.”
“That’s not far at all, Rose said.”
Jerry looked deep into Trevor’s eyes. “We’ll do it, I promise—”
“We all promise,” said Rose.
Rose’s face softened as she looked at Trevor. “How are you boys coping with your loss? You’ve lost everything.”
“Well, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Roosevelt is a tremendous help,” said Trevor.
“He’s helping us get through this. Trev and I are taking a year, riding around the country and sorting all of this out together. If I didn’t have Roosevelt and Trev… I don’t know what I’d do.”
Trevor looked at Brad and smiled. “We call it our Vision Quest. We’re fortunate to have great wealth and contacts, so we’re looking for people to help.”
“Well, thank God you came into our lives, we won’t let you down,” Jerry said.
Trevor smiled. “I know you can do it. After all, you are a Marine.”
Brad and Trevor were in their room packing their bags, ready to hit the road for their next adventure.
“So, what do you think, Brad? We’re really helping people with this Vision Quest of yours.”
“That’s true for sure, but I’m still thinking about Jill and Timmy all the time. I thought I’d feel better than I am.”
Trevor stopped packing and looked at his older brother. “Brad, this is going to take time. It’s only been a few months.”
He sighed. “I know. I was just hoping I’d feel different by now.”
“Well, look on the positive side. We’re helping people, we have great bikes and we’re seeing parts of the country we always wanted to visit.”
“Yeah, I know—”
“Besides, what are the alternatives? This is better than sitting home, wallowing in self-pity.”
Bradford smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. Plus, I get to spend time with my little brother.”
“Well, let’s get going. It’s quite a ride to Lake Champlain.”
“Got it, and thanks for smacking me around.”
Smirking, he said. “Well, it’s a big job, but someone has to do it.”
Thanks for reading the final part of Helping Jerry. The next episode will be will be published soon.
For more information about Vision Quest click here.
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Beautiful story, Scott. Your writing is really moving forward! I see the progress. I feel the dedication. Keep at it! Can't wait to see where you take us next.
Thanks so much Sharron for the encouragement. it helps!