Team Hippie-Perfect World

By Robert Lee Thompson

Riding the Florida Time Line

The Assignment

Team Hippie--Perfect World

Writing as Robert Thompson

Riders of the Spew

Stragglers of the Spew

Team Hippie

Perfect World

Robert Lee Thompson

Copyright Information

Team Hippie

Perfect World

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2011 by Robert Lee Thompson

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2011 by Robert Lee Thompson

Chapter 1

Wesley Dark was once a nice clean cut young man. That was before he entered the military and learned all the ways to kill. That was before the killing got to him and he became a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder. He was all right during the rigorous special training he went through while in the U. S. Navy.

He spent lots of time in the mental hospitals the government thought could or would help him. The memories and dreams of some of the traumatic events still haunted him. The flashbacks did not help either. He awoke from dreams with his heart pounding, breathing hard, sweating and feeling nauseated.

Here he was in another hospital with a police officer guarding his door so he could not leave. This had nothing to do with the bodies of civilians that he and Mama Jewel had buried over the months. He had been drinking in a local bar waiting for Mama Jewel to pick him up when something set him off. It could have been the sound of the helicopter that went by or it could even have been the way someone looked at him. He had gone crazy again, putting three men in the hospital. He did not escape unscathed. One of his victims had a knife and cut him several times.

Now he was not even in the states but back in the war zone fighting for his life. They had him surrounded and it looked like there would be no escaping this time.

Nurse you need to get in here. This man is going berserk. I’m calling for backup now, the guard said.

A few minutes later, three more police officers and a doctor arrived. Here put this blindfold on him. I have his medical records from before and they indicate a blindfold over his eyes will calm him down, the doctor said.

With a lot of fists being thrown and a black eye for two of the cops, the doctor got the blindfold on. Wesley calmed down like a baby with a pacifier.

The doctor motioned to the nurse. Give him a shot to calm him down but not enough to put him to sleep. I want him awake in case they need to question him.

The nurse, an RN for almost twenty years, once worked at a mental hospital so knew exactly what the doctor wanted. She had worked with this doctor for a long time so he knew he could depend on her.

It was not long until Wesley was calm and thinking of Mama Jewel. I wonder where she could be, he thought. She was supposed to pick me up before now. I left the message on her phone when they gave me my one phone call.

His mind drifted to New York where they were going to the music festival outside of Woodstock. It was supposed to be held at a dairy farm in Bethel, New York. They still had time to get there. If he had his days right it was now the 1st of August and the festival started the 15th of August. The years had flown by for Wesley. It was 1969 now and he had gotten out of the Navy in 1954. He had tried to reenlist so he could go to Vietnam but because of his condition they said no. They were nice and explained to him that in Vietnam they didn’t have the medical personnel to treat his condition. They appreciated his wanting to go but it was still no. He was disappointed because killing was the only thing he was expert in.

He could hear the Sheriff’s department Lieutenant taking to the doctor. When will we be able to remove him from here to the jail? I really don’t have the manpower to keep a guard here and to send other officers here when he makes trouble. If he was in jail we would already have the manpower there.

It will be at least another day before I can let him go. His wounds are healing nicely but I don’t want to take any chances, the doctor responded.

It looks like Mama Jewel has only one day left to come get me, Wesley thought.

Mama Jewel was only a few miles from the hospital where she was going to pick Wesley up. She was driving their long school bus converted into a home. They had spray-painted the bus all sorts of colors and had encouraged others to paint pictures on it. Some of the pictures were fabulous and others were below lousy but no one cared.

She had mapped out a plan to rescue Wesley but her plan needed more than one person to work. She was in luck because she picked up a hitchhiker, a seventeen year old girl by the name of Charlene. Mama Jewel knew the minute she stepped on the bus that she was on some sort of drugs. Not that it mattered because if she didn’t have to keep straight so there would be no mistakes picking up Wesley she would have been spaced out herself.

Charlene was short and decked out in a short dress with a pattern using a lot of different colored flowers. Her long black stockings reached to her knees and a pair of black scuffed brogans covered her feet. She had dark red eye shadow on which was set off by a purple lipstick. Her long black hair was straight and reached her waist. She wore black gloves that reached up past her elbows. She had a yellow hibiscus pinned to her hair next to her ear.

When was the last time you had a bath? Mama Jewel asked her.

I can’t remember. I think it was the night I ran away from home, Charlene replied.

Do you live near here? asked Mama Jewel.

No. It might be a hundred miles or so from here. I’m not sure. I lived in Fort Lauderdale when I ran away a little over a week ago.

You’ve only came sixty-five miles in over a week? What did you do, walk? Mama Jewel asked in astonishment.

No, I rode but it wasn’t much fun. It was fun to start with but then everything changed. This boy and girl, well really a young pair of adults in their late teens, picked me up; they were on their way to the big get -together in New York and asked me if I wanted to go. I said yes and we commenced getting high. They had some weed and some speed. The man kept rubbing me all over every chance he got. I don’t think the girl minded until all his attention was on me and none left over for her. It appeared it was her van so she threw me out. We stopped and started so many times that this was as far as we got. Where are you going?

After I pick up my boyfriend at the Sebastian hospital we are going to the same place your last friends were taking you. Wait, I’m going to stop and pick up this kid, Mama Jewel said. She pulled over, opened the door of the bus, and let the young man get in.

Where are you headed? asked the boy.

North, said Charlene. Do you want a ride or not?

Stop, stop, said Mama Jewel. You forgot whose bus this is and who the driver is. I will decide who can ride and who cannot. Do you want a ride young man? She looked at the long red hair pulled back in a ponytail and the hole in his jeans. He needed a shave and his green eyes had a dull not quite there look.

Yes I would and I really don’t care where you are going so long as I’m moving. He almost had to bend his head to get through the door. My mother was taking care of me but I don’t know where she is right now. She said I was old enough to be on my own and without me she could pick up more men to buy her booze.

You are one big fellow, Charlene said. How tall are you?

Well…right now I think I am 6’ 6 tall. The thing is I’m only eighteen and still growing."

Well son you have found yourself a new home if you want it, Mama Jewel told him. By the way, what is your name?

My name is Butch Forestall. My mom said that was the name of one of the men that could have been my father. Thank you for giving me a new home.

I need a home too, how about me? Charlene asked.

I’m not going to commit myself on that until I see how you work out. I can see that Butch is nice enough boy but I cannot tell about you. As soon as we pick up Wesley we’ll let him decide, Mama Jewel said as she pulled back onto highway US 1.

Chapter 2

Wesley still had the blindfold on. He was fully dressed sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on his bed. He was humming a song that seemed to be stuck in his mind. He rocked back and forth as he hummed. He was all right now but he did not let on that he was, just in case a nurse or the guard stuck their head in the door to check on him.

That was what happened. The guard followed by the nurse came through the door. What are you doing dressed like you were going somewhere? asked the guard.

Wesley stopped humming long enough to answer. I got tired of feeling that breeze on my ass.

Well get them off and put back on that hospital gown, the guard said.

A low growl started low in Wesley’s chest and got louder as it progressed upward.

I don’t think being dressed is going to hurt him. If it keeps him quiet and content, let him keep them on. We’ll go and leave him to whatever world he is traveling in. That world seems to be what he needs, said the nurse.

You’re making the call, the guard said as they left the room.

After they left Wesley removed the blindfold and smiled. Let them think what they want to think. He would be out of here before too much longer, he thought.

Outside the door to Wesley’s room a young girl stopped to flirt with the guard. Why are you working at night? she asked him.

Because of that lunatic in the room behind me, he said smiling at her. What are you doing here…visiting someone?

What’s the lunatic’s name? she asked. Are there more than one lunatic here? Do they have a guard on all of them?

Hold on, he said. Please, one question at a time. His name is Wesley Dark and he is the only lunatic here right now. You never did answer my question.

Charlene reached up and scratched her head. That was the signal to Mama Jewel that this was the room. I’m here with my dense brother and older sister. My sister knows someone here. She came to see him. My brother is too dumb to know where he is most of the time. Doesn’t this job get boring?

You wouldn’t believe how boring it is, the guard answered.

It’s too bad they don’t assign two guards, like a man and a woman. Like you and me. I think we would make a good team. I don’t think there would be a boring moment during the whole shift. You know this is the decade of free love.

Butch came around the corner and saw the two talking. Hey Sis you better get a move on. Our sister is going to be mad at us if we don’t meet her at the shop, he said.

She’s not my boss and neither are you. I’m in the process of setting up some fun for later when this fine gentleman finishes his shift. I haven’t asked him yet but maybe he and I can have a drink or smoke a joint later, Charlene said giving Butch one of her middle fingers.

That sounds good to me. Where would you like to meet? the guard asked.

She’s not going to meet you anywhere, Butch said taking Charlene by the arm and pulling her toward the corner.

Charlene pulled back from the pressure Butch was applying to her arm. Slowly he was making headway. He had pulled her almost to the corner of the hall when Charlene looked at the guard. If you want to meet later you’re going to have to help me with my brother. I need help getting away from him. He’s strong but I know you are a lot stronger, she said.

Just before Butch pulled Charlene around the corner the guard puffed out in chest and stood taller without the slouch. You let go of her at once, he said.

When the two disappeared around the corner the guard looked both ways to make sure no one was in the hall then moved fast to catch the other two. Even before the guard was completely around the corner Mama Jewel was out of the cleaning closet and halfway to the room where her one and only was at. She opened the door to see Wesley standing at the foot of the bed grinning at her.

Hello Baby, did you come for me? he asked.

You and nobody else, she responded. First a hug and then out of here like the floors were greased.

The hug lasted longer than either thought it would but it was well worth it. Wesley picked up the blindfold and tied his long black hair in a ponytail. He looked around at the white sterile room and saw nothing else he needed. I’m ready, he said.

Mama Jewel cracked the door open to make sure the guard was still busy. They slipped out easing the door closed. She walked with him to the elevator giving him instructions on where the bus was parked. They waited until the elevator reached their floor and Wesley pushed the down button