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As the green blip on the heart monitor screen
slowly moved from left to right, the people huddled over
the body attached to it were holding their breath with
ensuing anticipation. The patient below them lay deathly
still in a coma. He has just been wheeled in from the
intensive care unit and the doctors have estimated a fifty
percent chance of survival at best.
Through free flowing tears, prayers and blame the family
tries to make sense of it all. Why was this young man
laying on his death bed with such a slim chance of recovery
when he has so much more life to live? Why would someone so
talented, so gifted and so beloved cut multiple slits in
his wrist and feet then climb into a warm bath? Was it a
legitimate cry for help or was foul play involved?
The authorities began investigating.
After questioning many of the present loved ones the
detectives decided to solicit character witnesses. They
soon learned that Ralph Brimley, a well known psychiatrist,
was helping the patient and his brother cope with issues
stemming from childhood trauma. They began to question
Brimley and learned the following: Richard and Randy
Skullen were identical twins born at the exact same time.
They did everything together as children. Whether it was
sports related, scholastic or just plain fun, whenever you
seen one you saw the other. They were inseparable. They
both shared an emotional bond as well. When one would hurt
the other would feel it.
The “dynamic du-overs” which is what they became known
around town as because each time one would fail to reach a
certain goal the other would self sabotage so that they
could experience the joy of each success together.
As much as they were a like there were differences in
their personalities. Richard was the bully and Randy was
the peace-maker. Randy craved knowledge had a way with
words and would often spew sarcastic remarks towards
Richard. Richard, the more athletically gifted of the two,
truly didn’t comprehend the satire but knew through his
brother’s vocal tones that he was being made fun of.
Whenever Randy found himself in a challenging position he
would try to talk his way through it and Richard would be
disgusted. He thought Randy was too soft and gullible. He
often pointed out to his brother “You need to
fix the coward in you Randy. Everyone thinks you are a punk
and I’m tired of always having to defend you. Until you
knock someone out cold and get some respect you will always
be a mark!
” ”. Dick IS short
Randy would always reply “Just because
I choose to fight my battles with brains rather than braun
doesn’t make me a coward Richard. It makes me a scholar and
it makes you a…DICK
for Richard isn’t it?
”
As the brothers entered high school their differences
became more and more prevalent. Randy became known as the
David Banner of the neighborhood and Richard assumed the
role of The Hulk. The bond which was once impenetrable
began to show signs of
deterioration. "This is when I
became acquainted with them
" said Brimley. The
school guidance counselor referred them to my office after
one too many altercations with other students. I’m sitting
in my chair on a rainy Tuesday afternoon and suddenly
trouble came walking in. Standing 6’5” and weighing 200
plus pounds, I felt like a munchkin whenever I was around
em.
Reluctant to talk at first, I later learned that Richard
and Randy both wanted the same thing. They were just going
about it differently. Both were lacking love and affection
from home. See, both parents, Sheila and Steve, were drug
abusers. Sheila was addicted to prescription pain pills and
Steve would drown himself in alcohol. Rarely would both be
coherent simultaneously and when juiced up Steve would
verbally and physically abuse his family. In those fits of
rage, Sheila would cower and cry then wait until Steve was
sleeping and cut small slits in his skin with a razorblade.
She would then coerce young Randy to help with the clean up.
Originally, Randy was more susceptible to the effects of
this horrific behavior than Richard. He could hear the
swearing occurring in the adjacent room while Richard would
sleep right through it. As they got older, Richard would
eventually awaken from his sleep to run in and defend his
mother. Richard also felt as though his parents favored
Randy more because he was such a “mama’s boy”.
One night, Richard decided that he and Randy must stop
Steve in his tracks before he did something to permanently
injure their mother. He shared his plan with Randy but was
immediately turned down. Randy couldn’t cause harm to a
flea. He assured Richard that killing Steve was NOT the
answer.
Maybe they should tell someone.
Richard became irate with Randy. “I’m
sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don’t want to
live in fear anymore! I don’t want to hear the screams
anymore! And I certainly don’t want to be associated with a
coward such as you anymore!
”
Randy could tell that Richard was serious! He could feel
his blood boiling and his heart racing. He knew that it was
only a matter of time before Richard would follow through
with his plan. He didn’t want to expose Richard because he
loved his brother. He couldn’t tell Steve for fear of
retaliation on the whole family and he didn’t dare leak
anything to his mother because she would eventually let it
out in one of her euphoric binges.
THINK! WHAT ELSE COULD HE DO?
In his mind there is only one thing he could do……………
KILL RICHARD.
But could he?
Would he?
And how would he do it?
“Here, take this
!” Brimley
handed the detectives a prayer note written by Randy which
read: “Oh GOD please forgive me of my
sins and the dastardly deeds that have impregnated my mind.
We all have a right to choose so long as we are not
jeopardizing the well being of our fellow man. My choices
have come down to kill or be killed and I have chosen to
commit the highest form of treason to the human race. I
pray for your forgiveness, your love and your guidance. I
answer to you and you only as judgment passed upon me is
solely your assessment of how I conducted my life here on
earth and if I am worthy of everlasting life in your
kingdom
.”
The detective looked puzzled as Brimley continued on.
Sheila and Steve would regularly play cards at their
neighbor’s home once a week. They would leave about seven
and return about midnight. Randy was aware of this weekly
ritual and when they said goodnight to him he hugged them
tight, whispered goodbye and then closed the front door
behind them. He sprung into action before Richard would
come home.
He went into Sheila’s pill box and grabbed a handful of
Vicodin. He crushed them up and put them in Richard’s water
jug. He knew that Richard usually drinks from his water jug…
especially when he is stealing a sip of Steve’s rum punch
which was chilling in the refrigerator.
“Ah
! said the detective. Vicodin
mixed with alcohol can cause severe drowsiness.”
"EXACTLY
!" Whispered Brimley.
As time passed, Randy went upstairs and waited for
Richard with Sheila’s razor. He paced back and forth each
time passing by the large mirror in their room. As the
clock reached ten he paused in front of the mirror with his
head tilted toward the floor. As he began to slowly raise
his head he could hear Richard’s voice. Slowly he gathers
himself, raises his head and looked into the large mirror
one more time. But suddenly the face looking back at him
wasn’t Randy Skullen anymore. It was…
RICHARD
!
“How dare you go against me Randy!
Slashing our wrists and feet are the actions of a coward!
You should have learned long ago that whatever happens to
me happens to you. What did you put in our drink? Why am I
so drowsy?
”
"Richard was Randy and Randy was
Richard
?" Asked the detective.
”Yes
” said Brimley.
The Skullens only had one child and his name is Randall
Ricardo Skullen. He was my patient suffering from multiple
personality disorder stemming from the trauma he
experienced as a child. The people hovered over him are
members from our psychiatric ward and they came to love the
gentle little boy like family.
“So what happened to Sheila and
Steve
?” asked the detective.
Brimley gravely replied “My guess is
they ARE home. Have you dug the backyard yet? Whenever
Randy wanted to hide something he valued from Richard, he
would hide it underground.
”
Impressum
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 26.08.2011
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