Chapter 9
Nancy (April 1957)
...
"Where are you taking me?" Nancy asked her older brother Tommy. He was concentrating on the road as he drove. Nancy sat, pouting in the passenger seat of the 1956 Chevy Corvette.
"Dad wanted me to show you something, Nan."
"Will you tell me?"
"Dad told me not to. You'll see for yourself soon enough."
"I don't understand why he'd want to ship me off to some dumb school."
"He wants you to be a lady! Didn't you know?" Tommy laughed and Nancy shoved him on the shoulder. Tommy sighed. "I'm not a fan of it either, you know? Seems like outdated means. Maybe someday soon there will be no such thing."
"I need it to be 'no such thing' right this instant."
"I'm sorry, Nan."
"You're lucky, you know?" Nancy said. "Born a guy. You don't get treated this way."
"I suppose I am lucky."
"It's unfortunate."
"It sure is."
Tommy drove smoothly down the road. They were in a place that was unfamiliar to Nancy. She did enjoy having the breeze of the open road and the sunlight shined that morning. She glanced over at her brother who pulled a cigarette out of his special silver case before tucking it back into his front coat pocket. He lit it and took a drag.
"I thought you were quitting?"
"Yeah, I thought so too. These things are too damn good."
"Mother would be furious."
"And I still wouldn't get sent off to a dumb school," he laughed.
"Well," Nancy said, "if you were as bad as me, you could be shipped off to military school." She smirked.
Tommy blew out a puff of smoke. "Gosh, I really wouldn't want that."
"I'd rather be sent to military school than be sent to little wife academy."
"Me too." He smiled.
Nancy playfully took the cigarette out of Tommy's hand and took a puff before handing it back to him. "Thank you, dear brother. I needed that."
Nancy noticed the scenery changed. They were no longer on the open road but in a dense forest. The air smelled of pine and cedar. Nancy thought it smelt cleaner than the air of the city. The smooth road turned a bit bumpy but even so, Tommy kept moving forward without a second thought. He knew exactly where they were headed and was still adamant about not telling Nancy where their destination was.
"We are almost there," he said in a dreaded sing-song way.
"Will you tell me where it is you are taking me now?" Nancy crossed her arms.
"Nope. But we're almost there."
"Goodness." Nancy leaned her elbow on the car and rested her head.
"Nan?" her brother said in a sheepish tone.
"Yes, Tommy?"
"I want you to know that Dad is behind this little outing. If I wasn't being ordered to do it, I wouldn't do it, Nan."
Nancy sat up straight. "What are you talking about?"
"We're here."
Nancy looked away from her brother and stared straight forward. A building came into view through the trees and when they turned the corner, Nancy saw the building in its entirety along with a sign that read: ASYLUM. Tommy parked the car.
"Tommy?" Nancy looked back and forth between the building and her brother who looked upset. "Tommy, what is this?" Nancy gripped the seat of the car.
"I don't want to scare you," Tommy said while placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Tommy, please! Don't leave me here. You can't leave me here!" She started to cry.
"Nan," Tommy said. "I'm not leaving you here. I'm not."
"Then what are we doing here?" Nancy sobbed.
"Dad wanted me to show you where you may end up. If you don't go to Bradley Diamond's."
"He's going to send me to a fucking insane asylum?" Nancy grabbed her brother by the arm. Tommy hated seeing his sister this way. He wanted to protect her.
"If you go to Bradley Diamond's it won't resort to this, Nan. I promise."
Nancy shook her head as she continued to cry. Tommy offered her a new cigarette. "Take a moment to relax, okay? I'm not leaving you here."
Nancy frantically nodded as she took the cigarette. She inhaled deeply and exhaled a cloud.
"Finish your smoke and after, we're taking a little tour inside."
"I'm not going in there," Nancy laughed.
"Nan, I promise, I am not leaving you here. Dad wants you to see the inside. I'll be right by your side."
Nancy couldn't hold the tears back. She bounced her knee and stomped her foot. After she finished the cigarette, they left the car to enter the institution.
When they went inside, Tommy did all of the talking. He spoke to the nurse at the front desk and let her know they were there for a tour. Nancy clung to her brother's arm. She refused to let go. After a few minutes passed, they were greeted by another nurse who urged them to follow her deeper into the building. Nancy immediately noticed stray patients wandering around. Some were babbling, others were rocking back and forth while staring at brick walls, and others looked so drained they appeared to be zombified. When a patient would turn to look at Nancy, she looked away as quickly as she could and held on tighter to her brother. The nurse who toured them showed them individual rooms where patients stayed. To Nancy, it looked like how she imagined; like dank jail cells. One bed and a toilet per room. Iron bars on windows. They were shown exam rooms, day rooms, the cafeteria, and they were even shown solitary confinement for the most unruly residents.
"Tommy, this place is a jail," she whispered to him. He held her close.
The tour came to an end and Nancy and Tommy thanked the nurse and hurriedly made their way back to the car. They drove off, leaving the asylum to return back into hiding in the forest.
Nancy burst into tears. Tommy took another cigarette out of his silver case to share with his sister. "I'm so sorry, Nan."
"That place is awful," she said between sobs.
"I know."
"Father can't send me there."
"Then it's Bradley Diamond's."
Nancy wiped her tears and composed herself. "He's not going to change his mind is he?"
Tommy looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. He shook his head.
Nancy took the cigarette from Tommy and took a small puff. She handed it back to him and he took a long puff. "I'm sorry, Nan. But you have to choose. Dad is serious."
Nancy nodded in silence as they drove off the bumpy road and transitioned back to a smooth drive. They were once again driving out in the open. Nancy took in the fresh air and continued to nod.
"Okay," she said. "I'll go." She sighed deeply.
"You can't get sent to the asylum, Nan."
"I know."