Helping Marc - Part III
Previously on Vision Quest - Trevor and Brad learn that the dangerous two characters Marc encountered are part of a drug gang. At a campfire, Trevor convinces Marc to talk to Roosevelt about joining the Navy. Before the call can take place, those same two guys show up and try to abduct Marc at gunpoint. Trevor draws his gun and quickly convinces them to leave Marc alone. Marc speaks to Roosevelt and agrees to talk to Sargent Booth about joining the Navy. To Read Part II, click here.
True to his word, Marc called Sergeant Booth. Brad and Bill stood next to the door and attempted to listen.
“What’re they saying?” Bill whispered.
Brad strained his ears, but the muffled voices from behind the door made it difficult to hear. “I can’t tell,” said Brad.
Trevor remained seated at the front desk, facing away from the door. Sensing their anxiety, he turned to them and said, “Would you two calm down? What happens happens. Have some faith.”
Just then, the door opened and Marc walked out smiling, banging into Brad and Bill as he entered the room.
Bill’s voice was full of anticipation. “So… what happened?”
Marc looked into his father’s eyes, a smile stretching across his face. “I’m going to do it. Sergeant Booth is great.”
Marc continued, “Boy, did he have good things to say about you, Trevor—”
Then in a soft voice he said, “He also told me why you quit. I’m so sorry about what happened to you guys.”
Bill was visibly relaxed, his tension melting away. However, the mention of Trevor quitting caught his attention. Confused, he pressed further, “Wait, what does he mean? Why did you quit, Trevor? What happened to you guys?”
Trevor wasn’t ready to get into this complicated topic. “We’ll talk about that later. Tell us more… what happens next?”
Marc took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, his excitement very apparent. “Well, first, I have to head downtown to the recruiting office and sign the paperwork. After that, it’s off to boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. It’s scheduled to start next month.”
Trevor’s curiosity was clear as he interjected, “And what about SEAL training?”
Marc’s face lit up with a mixture of determination and anticipation. “Sarge advised me to take it one step at a time. Assuming I complete boot camp, I’ll enroll in SEAL training.”
Overwhelmed with pride, Bill rose from his seat and approached his son with tears in his eyes. Embracing him, he said, “I’m incredibly proud of you, son. Your mother would be proud too.”
Bradford, touched by what had just occurred, proposed, “Let’s celebrate this occasion. Pick the best restaurant in town, my treat.”
They found themselves at Lou’s Steak and Seafood, an establishment well-known throughout the area. As they settled in and placed their orders, Bill couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. “What was Marc talking about earlier? What happened to you fellas?”
Brad took a deep breath, preparing to share the harrowing tale of Pizza Land, the devastating accident, and their newfound concept of the Vision Quest. “Well, it all started with Pizza Land…” he began, recounting the events in vivid detail.
Bill’s eyes widened with shock. “My God, I had no idea you went through so much.”
Tears welled up in Marc's eyes as he understood the consequences of Brad and Trevor’s experience. “Roosevelt didn’t go into all of that, and I thought my life was rough.”
Brad nodded. “It’s been hard, that’s for sure, but now we have a chance to make a difference for people like you. I’m starting to feel a sense of purpose, a mission in life.”
The brothers took turns explaining how they helped Cory and Jerry and their plans to tour the country for a year. Marc and Bill listened intently, interjecting a few questions as the story unfolded.
“Well, I hope the best for Cory1 and Jerry2.” Marc said. Looking at Trevor, “Thanks so much for helping me. I hope I can live up to your expectations. I want to be a SEAL, just like you.”
“Well, you’re welcome, but you should be the best person you can be. Don’t do it for me or your father, for that matter. But… I’m sure you’ll make it. I can tell you have the makings of a Marine and a SEAL as well.”
Two waiters approached the table with trays of steaming food. Bradford smiled when he saw his prime rib. “Well, the food’s here. Enough doom and gloom, let’s eat.”
Laughter filled the air as they savored the generous meal. Brad and Trevor spoke with optimism about their Vision Quest, sharing their dreams and aspirations. Bill talked about how his late wife would be proud of Marc and how things were finally working out for them. He even spoke about going to night school for facilities management so he could expand his career into running one of the local hotels. However, it was Marc who was the happiest, eagerly anticipating the changes awaiting him.
As the dishes were cleared, Brad held up his beer and said, “Here’s to Marc and Bill. We wish you all the best.”
Marc smiled and his eyes shone with gratitude as he raised his glass and said, “And here’s to the Strand brothers. Dad and I hope you help the next person as much as you helped me.”
Trevor chuckled and said, “Well, our work’s done here. We are off tomorrow first thing in the morning, to our next adventure.”
As the brothers packed their things and broke camp, Trevor felt great satisfaction. He was particularity pleased with Marc. The Vision Quest had now touched the lives of three individuals, and he couldn’t help but feel a special fondness for him. There was something about this young man that resonated with Trevor, as if he were seeing a reflection of his own past self.
He also had the idea that Brad may be feeling the same way. As they worked to break down the tent, Trevor asked, “So, dear brother, are you feeling better about this Vision Quest thing?”
Brad removed the rain fly from the tent and his face brightened. “Yeah, I feel much better, we’re genuinely making a difference in people’s lives. I can’t help but believe that Jill and Laura are watching over us from heaven and feeling proud about what we're doing.”
Trevor paused, contemplating his brother’s words. “Do you really think they’re in heaven… looking down on us?”
“Yes, definitely. There must be more to this existence than just… than just us.”
They folded up the tent poles and wrapped them in a bungee cord. “Well, I’d like to think that, big brother. I’d really like that to be true.”
With their belongings securely stowed on their bikes, they revved the engines and ascended the dusty hill, leaving behind the log cabin office. Their next destination awaited them in Erie, Pennsylvania, a place filled with memories from their childhood. As they embarked on their journey, they planned to make a few stops along the way, eager to explore the familiar and discover new places.
Erie held a special significance for them, as it was the birthplace of their father. The brothers had fond memories of visiting the sandy beaches of Presque Isle during their youth. Presque Isle is a sandy peninsula spanning 3,200 acres, gracefully curving into the vast expanse of Lake Erie. Upon reaching the beach and gazing out into the endless horizon, one could easily believe they were standing by the ocean itself. The immense size of Lake Erie obscured the opposite shore from view, creating an illusion of a coastal scene.
As usual, they planned to avoid interstates, opting for scenic back roads instead. This meant they were facing at least a three-day trip. The first night, they camped at Sodus Point Park on the shores of Lake Ontario. In the morning, they hit the road early, heading to Niagara Falls. However, their journey took an unexpected turn as ominous clouds gathered above them. Within moments, they found themselves engulfed in a torrential downpour, accompanied by booming thunder and bright flashes of lightning. Their rain gear protected them… a little.
Trevor felt the pager buzz in his pocket. He beeped his horn, looked over at Brad, and made a pointing motion with his hand. At the next underpass, they pulled over. As the cars flew past, in a whoosh of water, he walked over to Brad’s bike.
There was a boom of thunder, followed by a flash of lightning. In a raised voice above the din of the passing cars, Brad shouted, “What’s up?”
Trevor held up the pager. On its small LCD display were three digits, 911.
They found a motel in about fifteen minutes and hooked up the speaker phone contraption to call Roosevelt.
Brad’s voice trembled with apprehension as he said, “Roosevelt, what the hell’s going on?”
Roosevelt’s voice wavered. “Boys, I have some very—”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, broken only by Roosevelt's cough. It sounded like he was crying. The only time they experienced Roosevelt cry was when their father died.
“Okay… there is no easy way to say this, so I will just say it… Marc is dead.”
Trevor’s mind swam in a kind of whirlwind, struggling to comprehend the words he’d just heard. “What… what do you mean, dead?”
“We just saw him two days ago,” Bradford interjected, a mix of shock and disbelief in his tone.
“What the fuck happened?” asked Trevor.
“It was those drug guys, Kip and Freddy… the goddamn names do not matter. Anyway, Marc went downtown to enlist, and they ambushed him.”
Brad’s face flushed with anger as adrenaline coursed through his body. In a raised voice, he said, “What the shit, Roosevelt. They’re in jail.”
“Yes, I know,” Roosevelt replied, his voice heavy with helplessness. “Sargent Parr had to release them on bail… he had no choice.”
Desperate for answers, Trevor pressed for information about Marc's father, “What about Bill? What about him?”
“He was back at the campsite. I just got off the phone with him before you called. Boys, the trust will do everything possible to help him out—”
A heavy silence hung in the air as the weight of the news settled upon them. After a prolonged pause, Roosevelt finally found his voice. “Are you boys okay? I can fly up there if you need me.”
“Not right now Roosevelt, we need to digest this, we’ll call you in the morning.”
With a heavy sigh, they ended the call, the reality of the situation engulfed them, and they struggled to make sense of the cruel twists of fate.
“What the fuck is wrong with this world?” Brad’s voice trembled with a mixture of grief and anger.
“Yeah, what the fuck?”
“There’s a bar across the street. I’m going over there and getting very drunk,” said Trevor.
“I’m with you, little brother.”
Thanks for reading the final part of Helping Marc. The next episode will be published soon.
For more information about Vision Quest click here.
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Such a sad, unpredicted ending here. Marc was so full of hope. I wonder how this will affect Brad and Trevor... and most of all Marc's father... You are really finding your stride here, Scott.
Uh, oh. Kip and Freddy might be getting an unexpected visit soon?? Nice one, Scott!