121 - History Paper

*There’s not much in this world that scares me. For the most part, people are predictable, you know how someone will react and when. But your youngest? That crazy ass bitch will sit by quietly and wait to exact her revenge. I never know what she’ll do, or when, and that’s why she scares me. – Dom*

A few days into the spring semester, Mitch came home with a history assignment that he was very excited about. They were studying WWII, and he had to write a report about how the war in Europe affected their family. He asked Darkness a lot of questions and they went to talk to Momma Dee.

It became a regular Saturday activity to talk to her about her time working at the Higgins Industries factory. Her stories of working there and helping to build the now famous Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel, or LCVP, became a highlight for the thirteen-year-old. On a school holiday, with Vin hanging out with the football team and Nicki getting her braids done, Camille took Mitch to the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans.

While they were there, they had a picnic in Jackson Square, had coffee at Café du Mon, and visited the Battle of New Orleans site from the Civil War. On the way home, she played the Johnny Horton version of *The Battle of New Orleans. For the next few weeks, he blasted various songs by Johnny Horton, but the first one he heard remained his favorite.

And, of course, his favorite verse was sung at the top of his lungs. Then again, who wouldn’t sing about using an alligator as a cannon on full blast?

Seeing that he really got into the songs about history, Camille then introduced him to Sabaton, Rammstein, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine and Civil War. Of course, when Trigg found out about it, he sent his own playlist that included Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, The Cranberries and Elvis Costello.

The week of Valentine’s Day, the report was turned in and then his grade was eagerly anticipated. The same week, the new family had their final virtual court appearance.

Following multiple home inspections, counseling sessions, caseworker interviews and background checks, the judge finalized the adoption.

It was not without controversy and Keisha’s family tried very hard to prevent the adoptions from going through. They hired private investigators and had the family followed. When an investigator tried to catch Mitch outside his school, Camille took him immediately to the police department and filed a report. The second time it occurred, the investigator was arrested and trespassed from the property.

They continued to point out how young Camille was and objected when she pointed out how old they were.

“It’s only fair, Your Honor, if they choose to point out how my youth can affect how I treat and raise these children, then their age should be considered also. How are they going to keep up with three teenagers when they are in bed by nine o’clock and turn on the Do Not Disturb on their phones at eight? Are these children to be expected to be home at the time that everyone else their age are headed out? What happens when Vin has an away game that runs late? Must he give up his spot on the team?”

When Keisha’s mother said that they could not afford to raise three kids while Camille was still in school herself, the judge laughed as he looked over the financial report that Celt’s office had compiled. Between her base pay with the company that she and Priscilla owned, her freelance work and coding jobs, she herself made more than both of Keisha’s parents made together. That did not include the amount that Darkness made with the plumbing company and remodel jobs. Or the amount that he made from making furniture in the backyard shop.

The money that was being generated with the two houses in Arkansas being utilized as rental properties all went into a savings account for the kids. The land without a house or laid utilities was rented for primitive camping, usually to a scouting group.

Every objection that Keisha’s family gave to the judge had been anticipated and prepared for. As always, Celt had facts prepared in his notorious, and somewhat infamous, binders that were hand delivered to all parties by personal couriers.

The final documents came in the mail and Camille decided that it called for a celebration. After picking up Mitch from school, they went to the grocery store for steaks to grill. The boy was not his usual boisterous self and was instead very withdrawn and quiet.

Priscilla would get into these moods every so often and she just needed a little time and space. She decided to give him the same courtesy and hoped that he would feel comfortable enough to come to her when he was ready.

As was his usual when they grilled, he hung out with Darkness and Vin on the large patio. Mitch sat on the wooden couch with a blanket wrapped around him to ward off the evening chill. He watched Vin tossing the dog sized football for Tink as Darkness grilled the steaks. When he turned and looked at his wife, she gave him a smile and a nod through the kitchen window letting Darkness know that she was aware of the little boy’s unusual demeanor.

As they were bringing the steaks and grilled corn on the cob inside, Nicki put her potato salad on the table and Camille placed the hot yeast rolls into a breadbasket with an X-shaped bread towel in it. Mitch sat down at his spot and rested his chin on his palm.

When the rest of the family joined him, he went through the motions of the evening prayer. He picked at his food and barely ate anything. Breaking her cardinal rule of electronics at the table, Camille picked up her phone from the bench and read the email from Mitch’s history teacher. Keeping a tight reign on her anger, she handed the device to Darkness.

“Mitch,” Darkness said, as he sat the phone on the table, “tell us about history today.”

“She said that I didn’t do the assignment,” Mitch said sadly, tears filling his eyes as his chin quivered and voice broke. “But I did.”

“I know you did,” Camille said as she picked up the phone and called the teacher at the number that she had provided.

The three siblings and Darkness watched as the little blonde woman sat with extreme calmness and discussed the assignment with the teacher. She did not argue, but she did point out that not every family would have members that served in the European theater. But Momma Dee’s work in the Higgins Industries factory certainly did have a direct influence on the outcome of the war in the European theater.

“Miss Prentiss,” Camille finally asked, “will you allow him to redo his assignment? Because the official paperwork making them my children came through today. So now, technically and legally, my family history is his.”

She listened for a moment.

“Yes,” Camille replied as she moved her watch to the opposite wrist and ran her fingers over the OZO tattoo, “I have family that was in the European theater.”

Grinning like an evil cheshire cat, she nodded, “Well, they are no longer with us, but we have written records, pictures and other documentation. Yes, he’ll have it completed by next Monday.”

After ending the call with Miss Prentiss, Camille called her mom and spoke in Dutch. Ending that call, she grinned at Mitch.

“Your teacher is going to wish that she had accepted your paper on Momma Dee.”

“Why?” he asked quietly.

“Oma Uittenbroek.”