The Dehumanization of Ethan Brown

Ethan was hired to drive trucks by that company in Albany and gave his notice to the police force. Captain Brooks seemed glad to be rid of him. Ethan sat the children down and passed out a children’s edition for the Holy Scriptures and read along with the children the creation story. Afterwards, he asked them if they wanted to hear a folk story. “Storytelling is an art. Mahseh, a parable, is used to teach the Torah.”

“What’s the Torah?” asked Carlos.

“The five books of Moses,” Marla said.

“I read Torah in front of the synagogue when I was thirteen and became a man,” Ethan said.

“So are we going to synagogue?” Robin asked.

“No, this is our shul. As most of your aware, we descended from a simple Jewish shopkeeper in Spain. Our fathers in the fifteen-century decided to no longer teach the children Torah and Talmud because they believed we were no longer chosen due to our curse. I want us to reclaim our rightful heritage,” Ethan said.

“What about food laws?” Robin asked.

“A werewolf can’t kill in the manner prescribed in the Holy Book. Food laws were written to protect the health of the tribe,” Ethan explained. “Which again doesn’t apply. Funny, I lived in a kosher home for seven to fifteen so I have trouble eating food that is not proscribed myself. The laws make sense for people with normal metabolisms.”

“Why learn?” asked Ronaldo.

Ryan, Nici and their daughter, Daisy, joined the children seated around Ethan. “We learn to understand truths about the universe,” Ryan said. “The mahshel, parables, teach us lessons about life. They’re a stories about the things that are truly important.”

\"Ryan, would you like to tell a story?” Nici asked.

“I remember this story about a man complained about his noisy one room house,” Ryan said. “I will need audience participation. Can you make the animal sounds and the sounds of the children?” The children nodded as they turned to Ryan, who had his daughter on his lap. “A husband and wife had seven children in an one-room house. Their children were busy, healthy and active. The wife said, ‘I can’t take the noise anymore. Talk to the rabbi.’ The rabbi told the man to bring his horse into the house. The horse went.”

“Neigh,” Carlos said.

Ryan said, “The children went.”

“He’s touching me,” said Robin.

“The man went back to the rabbi. ‘The house is noisier than ever.’ The rabbi said to put a.”

“Donkey,” said Marla.

“In the house,” Ryan continued. “The donkey went.”

“Hee-haw,” the children said.

“The horse went.”

“Neigh,” said the children.

“The children said.”

“She’s broke my favorite toy,” said Ronaldo.

They continued until they had five animals in this small one room house. “Then the rabbi said, ‘take the animals out of the house.’ The man does that. His wife and him couldn’t believe how quiet their children were.”

Nici asked, “What is the moral of this story?”

“Things could be worse,” Marla said apparently she heard the story before.

Ethan asked, “Does this story pertain to our lives?”

“I feel that way when my little sister screams for every toy on the TV,” said Emilio’s oldest.

“The stories tell timeless moral lessons,” Ethan said. “You could complain about not having the best clothing, the most expensive toys or you could appreciate that you are healthy, well feed, and have a roof over your head. Stories explain this to you in a much friendlier way that your mothers’ lecturing you. Besides, stories give you a chance to learn these lessons for yourself.”

Ria put Anna in the double stroller near Daisy. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“Ria, can you forgive me for what happened between me and your father?” Ethan asked.

“He used you,” Ria said. “As far I’m concerned, it’s a dead horse.”

Ethan wiped the imaginary sweat of his brow. “Are you happier working during the day?”

“Now, you’re the one that works nights,” Ryan said.

“I do the early morning runs,” Ethan said. \"I\'m working out of their Syracuse office, but they would prefer if I relocated to Albany.\"

\"He’s still having trouble sleeping at night,” Nici said touching her husband’s hand.

“Remember that story.” Ria started laughing as she put her hand over her husband’s hand that was pushing the double stroller.

“Let’s go to the park and play,” Ryan said.

“We didn’t bring food,” Nici said.

“They’re venders,” Ethan said. “My treat.”

“Mine. My brother pays me better than the minimart.” Ryan put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder.

“You’re the man.” Ethan patted Ryan on the arm.

The four of them played tag like children in the park. Ethan laughed more than ever before. He was going to teach the children lessons and fulfill his obligation to his people. He looked at Anna as she started to crawl on the summer grass. Ethan lain beside her admiring his beautiful child. Ryan rolled over him and they both started laughing, tickling each other. “Men are just large children,” Nici said putting her hand on Ria’s thigh and put her hand on Ria’s face. Ria closed the space between them and they started to kiss deeply. Nici caught her breath before she moved her hand under Ria’s skirt finding no underwear. “Ria, do you think we could convince the men to start their own pack?”

“Ethan needs to teach all the children in this line the story,” Ria said.

“Maybe we can collect rent from your father and get a two-bedroom house of our own,” Nici said.

“The men will never agree,” Ria said.

“I don’t think they\'ll be hard to convince,” Nici said catching a glimpse of them wrestling. Nici turned back to Ria and moved her hand over Ria’s face. Nici returned to kissing Ria making it a full contact sport. “Oh,” Nici moaned as Ria moved her hands and mouth over the other woman’s body. “Yes. Oh. Ria. Yes.”

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After the girls were nursed, they walked a hot dog vender. “A hotdog will do nothing for your appetite,” Ria said.

“We could walk home and take the Saturn to a buffet,” Ryan said.

“After we eat there, they’ll close their doors,” Nici teased.

“There is this huge Chinese buffet that the men of Major Crimes loved,” Ethan said. “Those men put this small werewolf to shame.”

“Small?” Ryan said, at 5’4” and a hundred and twenty pounds.

Ethan took his hand in his. “Sorry, Ryan.” Ethan didn’t see Ryan or the other werewolves as small; he saw the men of Major Crimes as giants. “I loved your story.”

“Let’s find a place we can walk to,” Ria said pushing the stroller toward the sidewalk.

“Agreed,” Ryan said looking into Ethan’s eyes.

“Nici thought it might be a nice idea if we rented the house to my father and brought a smaller house for ourselves,” Ria said.

“The house too noisy,” Ryan sneered.

“No, I love the noise. I don’t think it’s good for you or Ethan to be under my father’s tyranny,” Ria said.

“It sounds like a great idea,” Ethan said. “I hate admitting this but I’m still afraid of him.”

Ryan put his arm around Ethan’s waist. “I’m afraid of him too.”

“He never raped you.” Ethan started to sob.

“It’s over.” Ryan rubbed his hand in circles on Ethan’s shoulders as he hugged him. “Monday, each of us will take off and look for a two-bedroom house walking distance from Jake’s office.”

“The way you like to walk,” Nici said, “that could be five miles.”

“Ethan and I will go. I don’t think the realtor will be happy to sell an one-family house to two families,” Ria said. “We’ll let you see our choice before anything is signed.”

“Ethan, you should consider starting your own pack,” Ryan said. “My brother could find another receptionist. Yo nev never feel comfortable until you’re free of Juan.”

“Ryan, I don’t know if I’m ready to start my own pack,” Ethan said.

“You’re strong enough,” Ria said.

“The truck company is in Albany and there is no pack there,” Ethan said. “I could support us until Ryan gets a job. I’ll tell your father that the house is his unless he fails to maintain it.” Not that they needed Ryan to get a job, but Ryan would get restless home with the ladies all day. Perhaps, when there were more children in the house, both Ryan and Ethan would quit working and live on the money that Ethan inherited from his father. Ethan dialed Leslie’s number on the cell phone. The recorded message told him that it was a non-existent number and to check his number and dial again. He didn’t miss dial. He called Carl’s number. “Carl, I dialed Leslie’s number and it was cancelled.”

“She changed her number,” Carl said.

“Can I have the new number?” Ethan asked.

“I don’t think so,” Carl said. “She would have called you if she wanted you to have it.”

“Thanks, Carl.” Ethan hung up the cell phone.

Ethan called a meeting for all the housemembers. “I’m moving to another city in a week.”

“And what happens to rest of us?” Tony asked.

“Nothing as long as you pay the utilities and taxes. There are how many incomes in this house. Jake averages more than a thousand dollars a case,” Ryan said.

“Bro,” Jake shouted.

“Anyway,” Ethan said. “I’m signing the house over to Jake. You’ll respect him as owner.”

“I can’t pay you adequately for the house repairs,” Jake whispered to Ethan.

“Pay me when you can,” Ethan said. “You’re making money at your agency. I’m only going to Albany.”

“What about teaching the children?” Natalie asked.

“I’m still a member of the pack. I’ll teach them once a week. Perhaps, Friday night,” Ethan said. “I just won’t live here anymore.”