Helping Marc - Part II
A Vision Quest Story
Previously on Vision Quest - On their ride to Lake Champlain, Trevor struggles with intense feelings of anger that arise in his mind regarding the accident, despite being aware that it was not his brother's fault.
Trevor and Brad meet Bill Ides and his teenage son Marc. Bill runs a campground on the shores of Lake Champlain and, while checking in, they notice a confrontation between Marc and some dangerous looking characters driving a black Trans Am.
To Read Part I, click here.
Years ago, when Trevor and Bradford camped, it was with a small two-man backpacking tent. Now they had a large tent they could stand in that was designed for six people. It was downright spacious for only two men.
Roosevelt had mailed the brothers two additional items for their quest. A pager would allow Roosevelt to send a short message to the brothers indicating that he needed to speak with them. He also sent them a device that would convert any phone to a speakerphone. This would make phone conversations between the three men much easier.
Trevor removed the tank bag1 attached to his bike and carried it into the tent. He preferred it because it gave his bike a lower center of gravity. He then removed his 9mm Bretta pistol that he kept in the bag and placed it in the holster attached to his belt.
Bradford entered the tent and said, “Do you think we really need that thing?”
Smirking, Trevor replied, “You know that old saying, it’s better to have something and not need it, than to need something and not have it.”
“Well, keep it hidden.”
“I always do, big brother… I always do.”
Once everything was unpacked, the brothers took a walk around the campsite. They proceeded down a wood chipped trail that wound around the shore past a marina with surprisingly large boats and toward an area with trailers lined up in three neat rows.
Next to one trailer sat Bill’s truck. A bit to the right, Bill and Marc were hard at work chopping wood and throwing the split logs onto a large pile. They were both shirtless, and the sweat glistened on the muscular bodies.
When Bill noticed the brothers, he smiled and put down his axe. “So, you fellas settled in?”
“Yes,” Trevor said. “Marc was a big help.”
Marc smiled and said, “No problem… happy to help.”
Bill looked at the pile of wood. “Well, that should do it son, I think we have enough. Let’s call it a day.”
“I’m outta here.”
“Be back by seven. I need your help at the campfire tonight.”
“Aww, Dad I —”
“Marc, seven please.”
Marc went away in a huff.
“So how old is your son?” asked Brad.
“Eighteen.”
“Tough age,” said Trevor.
“Yeah, and with his mom gone… it’s hard for both of us. Hey, I could use a beer after all that work. Care to join me?”
Trevor and Bradford quickly agreed and followed Bill back to the trailer. He went in and returned with three ice cold bottles of Budweiser. They sat down on logs that were arranged around a roaring campfire.
“This place is great, thanks for getting us such a nice site. The view of the lake is great,” Trevor said.
Bill smiled. “No problem, happy to help.”
The fire crackled and popped. Trevor liked Bill and decided to ask about Marc. After a bit he said, “If it’s not too personal, what happened to you wife?”
“No, it’s okay. Her name was Staci. She died of a brain tumor about ten years ago… Marc was only eight.”
“That’s a lot to deal with,” Brad said.
He took a sip of beer. “Yeah, she was in hospice for almost a year. Marc was never the same after that.”
“That’s tough,” Trevor said.
“It was tough on both of us, but more so with Marc. As soon as he could drive, he ran into these boys… bad boys. They’re involved with drugs. Ever since then, I can barely control him.”
Trevor and Brad exchanged glances. Now what they saw earlier made sense. They said nothing to Bill, but Trevor decided to look for an opportunity to help.
“You mentioned a campfire,” Trevor said.
Bill’s mood improved. “Yes, it’s tonight. Three bucks each and you can have all the burgers and hot dogs you can eat. You guys should come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” said Brad.
After they finished the beers on their way back to the campsite, Trevor mentioned his plan to Brad about trying to help Marc. “I think the Navy would be good for him.”
Brad was skeptical. “If his own father couldn’t control him, what makes you think you can?”
“Well, I have to try.”
Trevor wasn’t always the straightlaced SEAL he was today. Things came very easily to him. In high school, he was the quarterback on the football team, and girls lined up to date him. He went to the prom with the head cheerleader, who was also the most beautiful girl in school. Trevor and Laura were inseparable. In addition to football games they attended, they were part of the in crowd and frequented parties where too much drinking occurred.
At the prom party, Trevor had too much to drink, way too much. On the way home, he was driving with Laura sitting next to him, her head on his shoulder. They were both laughing and joking about school, the next football game, and their life together after they graduate. They approached a bend, one that Trevor was well aware of, and navigated countless times. Not this time, he and Laura ended up in a ditch. The cops came and if it weren’t for his father’s connections, Trevor would have ended up in jail.
Being in trouble with the cops would have been better than the conversation Trevor had with Roosevelt. This cannot continue, Roosevelt said in a voice with more force than Trevor ever heard. He knew he disappointed everyone, but disappointing Roosevelt was the worst.
Roosevelt demanded that Trevor talk to Sergeant Kirk Booth from the Navy. The sergeant convinced Trevor to enlist. Soon, he became a SEAL, and his whole world changed. The Navy had turned his life around and now, perhaps, it could do the same for Marc.
The campfire roared and crackled. Smoke and bright embers rose in the night air. Brad and Trevor settled onto a blanket, eating hot dogs, enjoying the fire and warm summer evening. Bill and Marc walked up.
“Mind if we join you?” Bill asked.
Brad smiled, “Course not.”
Trevor noticed Marc’s baseball cap. “Is that your high school team?”
Bill beamed. “Marc’s the pitcher. He had a no hitter this year. He went out with a bang in his senior year, his team won the championship.”
“That’s great,” said Trevor. “I was an athlete when I was in high school, too. I was a quarterback.”
“Trevor is the one with athletic skills in our family,” said Brad. “Our father was a quarterback, too. Trevor’s an ex-SEAL, but I was a nerd in high school.”
Trevor saw his chance and said, “Well, it wasn’t all happy times for me. I began to go down the wrong path, got in trouble with the cops. But a family friend set me straight.”
Marc had a vacant look as he spoke. “What happened?”
“Well, I had it all, popular with the girls… I was dating the prettiest one in school. Like I said, I was the quarterback. That girl, her name was Laura, we were prom king and queen.”
He took a bite from his hotdog, and after swallowing, continued.
“Anyway, I overdid it at the prom party and ended up in a ditch. Luckily, no one died… but we could have.”
Bill was watching his son carefully. “You said someone straightened you out. What happened, if I may ask?”
“A family friend… a very good family friend, Roosevelt, sat me down and read me the riot act, told me my shit cannot continue and that I needed to straighten out. He introduced me to a sergeant in the Navy. The sergeant convinced me to join, and I became a SEAL. Best thing I ever did… other than marrying Laura, of course.”
“Marc, maybe you should re-think the service.”
“Dad!”
Looking at Trevor, Bill said, “A recruiter approached Marc at a senior year job fair.”
With a tone only a son could have toward his father... Marc said, “I told you that’s not for me.”
As carefully as he could, Brad asked, “What will you do after you graduate?”
Softly Marc said, “I don’t know, I have a job here.”
The anger Bill had toward his son made it clear this wasn’t the first time they had this conversation. “You have to do something other than hang with that gang of yours.”
Marc’s voice rose to almost a yell. “I told you I’m done with them. Those days are over.”
With that comment, Bill took a deep breath and explained that Marc got involved with a bunch of hooligans, who were selling pot and maybe even cocaine. He watched his son slowly get involved with these guys. They had a high-speed motorboat that Marc helped load with drugs. They used the boat to distribute the contents all over the northern part of Lake Champlain, right up to the US-Canada border. Last month, late one night, both the US and Canadian officials tried to catch them, but everyone got away.
Bill sighed after his long story. “The next day in town, Sheriff Parr took me aside and told me he was sure he saw Marc on the water, he said he couldn’t prove it, but Marc must stop hanging out with those two immediately. I’ve known the sheriff since high school so he cut Marc a break. That was last week.”
“Dad, I told you I’m done with them.”
“I hope so, those two are dangerous.”
Trevor turned to face Marc. “Look, it may be none of my business, but would you consider just talking to Roosevelt about the Navy? It really turned me around and it would get you away from those drug guys. It’d also give you a career for life.”
“And I will tell you this,” Brad said. “If you make it as a SEAL, you’ll be able to handle any situation that comes up. Trevor’s saved my ass several times.
“Marc, please. What harm can come from a conversation?”
Marc sighed. “Okay, I’ll talk to him, but no promises.”
The next day, in Bill’s trailer, Trevor and Bradford setup the speaker phone in preparation for the call with Roosevelt. “I think we’re ready,” Trevor said.
There was a loud screech. Everyone ran outside and saw the black Trans-Am. Two guys were shouting at Marc. Kip, the leader, was tall and muscular with long black hair tied in a ponytail. The other guy, Freddy, was Kip’s lackey. He was short and stocky, with a gut that protruded over his blue jeans.
“I said, get in,” demanded Kip.
“I told you, I'm out of this shit,” Marc yelled.
“Yeah, get in the car,” Freddy repeated. “There is no out.”
Both of the guys circled Marc, closing in on him.
Trevor appeared and in a firm, steady voice said, “Gentleman, calm down.”
They both whirled around and faced Trevor. “Who the fuck are you?” demanded Kip.
“I’m Marc’s friend and he’s not going with you.”
“Who made you the boss? Marc get in the car now. We have a deal to finish,” said Kip.
Marc looked back and forth between Kip and Trevor. Kip whipped out a gun and pointed it at Marc. “I said, get in!”
No one even noticed Trevor take out his pistol, it happened that fast. He held the gun in both hands in a slightly crouched position. “Don’t do it. Put the gun down.”
The only one who wasn’t surprised by Trevor’s move was Brad. “I’d do what he says if I were you. He’s one of the SEAL’s best sharpshooters.”
Motioning with his gun, Trevor said, “Throw it down over there.”
A siren echoed in the distance. Kip threw the gun down and Trevor holstered his just as the sheriff arrived. The sheriff emerged from his car, gun in hand. Looking around and seeing no immediate danger holstered his weapon.
“Kip…Freddy, I should have known.”
He then turned to Trevor. “And who may you be?”
“It’s okay Clay, he helped us out. He’s an ex-SEAL. Thank God he was here,” said Bill.
“I assume you have a permit for that.”
“Yes sir, sheriff, I do.”
“Okay, I guess I should thank you. We’ve been looking for a reason to lock these guys up. I’m not sure how long we can hold them, but they’ll be off the streets for now.”
The sheriff loaded Kip and Freddy into the patrol car and drove away.
“Well, how about we make that call to Roosevelt?” Bradford said.
Marc was in awe, exclaiming, “I can’t believe you could do that.”
Trevor was beaming as he declared, “Yep, I learned it all in SEAL training.”
“Do you really think I could do that, too?”
“Well, becoming a SEAL is grueling and only thirty percent make it. But once you become a SEAL, you have friends for life.”
“I know you can,” Brad said. Smirking, “If Trevor can do it, anyone can.”
“Thanks, big brother.”
“Well, let’s call Roosevelt,” Bradford said.
They setup the speaker phone and after some pleasantries Trevor explained the situation to Roosevelt. As usual, he listened carefully, asking questions always at the right time. He perked up when Trevor mentioned the sheriff.
“It has been years since I talked to Sheriff Parr. I am glad to see he is doing well.”
Brad shouldn’t have been surprised, but he was. “Roosevelt, is there anyone you don’t know?”
He laughed. “Well, Mr. Strand, I have been fortunate to have visited many places in my life and to know my share of amazing people.”
In a hushed tone, Bill said, “Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today.”
“It is my pleasure, sir. So, young Mr. Idles, you have decided to break ties with that gang of hoodlums?”
“Yes sir, but—”
“You are afraid they will not let you leave the gang, right?” Roosevelt said.
“I told him about the Navy and SEALS… thought it may help him out,” Trevor said.
He laughed his booming laugh. “Well, it straightened you out, that is for sure. Mr. Idles, what are your plans, if I may ask?”
Marc spoke hesitantly and said, “Well, I have a job here at the campsite.”
Bill was exasperated as he said, “Marc, I want more for you than that. You can’t live your whole life here.” With a deep breath, he continued, “Look at me. Do you want to be like me? Stuck in a dead-end job.”
Speaking carefully, Trevor said, “Your father has a point… and what about those guys, Kip and Freddy? Sheriff Parr can’t keep them in jail forever.”
Marc looked back and forth between his father and Trevor. “I know. I’m just not sure what to do.”
It was time for Roosevelt to speak, “Look, Mr. Idles… Marc. You are very young, you have your whole life in front of you. My opinion, you should talk to Sergeant Booth, hear him out, then decide.”
Marc sighed. “Okay, Mr. Burdock, I’ll talk to him, but I want to do it in private. I don’t want everyone listening in.”
“That is fair Marc,” Roosevelt said. “I will set up the call.”
Thanks for reading the second part of Helping Marc. Thanks for reading the second part of Helping Marc. To read the conclusion of this episode click here.
For more information about Vision Quest click here.
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A tank bag is a small removable piece of luggage that straps onto the gas tank. Sport minded riders like it instead of saddle bags because it keeps the center of gravity lower, thus improving handling.
I am liking these two men more and more. I hope your story continues! ( You may be the family nerd, Scott, and not an athlete, but I prefer the company of nerds. Birds of a feather, and all that.)
I like it! Reminds me of the old television show The Millionaire?(You may be to young : )) Were you a SEAL, Scott?