Stadler House: Book One: Chapter One

Stadler House: Book One: Chapter One

By: Roger Alderman

A lite cool rain fell across the small-town Port St. John, Florida driven by the passing of Hurricane David. The hurricanes damaging high winds caused all manners of grief including, but not limited to local area power outages. The Indian Rivers’ swelling sized had swept parts of US1 away causing all, but the stoutest residence to remain inside their homes.

A new black 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL carefully navigated its way along Kings Highway, as the driver was determined to avoid the mess made of US1. The car merged onto Grissom Parkway after traveling less than a mile along the barely maintained road. The car then slowed, as it approached and turned onto an old dirt road across from the TICO AIRPORT.

The reddish-brown leaves of ancient oak trees block a direct view of the Stadler Group Home. The sedan drives through the rain along the long quiet country road towards the wooden two tone Victorian style home. A home with a history all its own that has stood on this heavily wooded ten acers of land.

Inside the sedan, DR. SAMUEL STADLER struggles to see through the falling rain, as he scratches at his bushy chestnut beard. A young twelve-year-old Anna in the passenger seat digs through her long brown coat pockets and produces a pair of black framed glasses. Anna looks out the window, sighs, and withdraws with an expression of disappointment.

“Don’t like it,” Anna shakes her head. Dr. Stadler leans in and rubs her head, “We built this place to help with kids just like you.” Anna pulls away, “What do you mean? Kids like me?” Dr. Stadler smiles in an effort to disarm the situation, “I just mean kids who need some help.”

Dr. Stadler stops the car in front of the group home sign along the circular gravel driveway. He shuts the car off and exits the vehicle. Anna pouts, as she watches him walk to her door and open it. Anna rolls her eyes, “You think we will make some friends this time?”

Dr. Stadler offers a gentle smile, “I don’t know can you give my therapy a chance?” Anna shrugs and exits the car handing Dr. Stadler her baggage. Dr. Stadler motions for her to follow him, as he closes the car door. Together they walk towards the wooden porch that surrounds the lower floor of the group home.

The earthen smell of the tropical rain fall and wet wood of the porch fill their senses, as they reached the heavy wooden double doors of the group home. Dr. Stadler paused and shook the water from his beige long coat. Anna pulled away, as she got covered by the unexpected shower, “thanks.” Dr. Stadler cringed and smirked, “Sorry about that Kiddo.”

One of the heavy wood entry way doors swung slowly open announcing the arrival of Dr. Stadler and Anna with a loud groan. Dr. Stadler and Anna enter carrying her luggage. He turns closing the door, as it fills the air with a quick and crisp squeak, “I gotta get this oiled.”

Anna and the Doctor remove their soaked jackets and place them on the red wood coat rack standing near the entry way.  Anna looks around curiously, “Could you have found a more run-down place?” Dr. Stadler sighs loudly, “you need to give this a chance, Anna.”

Anna shakes her head at the doctors’ words and walks beyond the entry way following the red plush carpet into the foyer. Dr. Stadler walks next to her and gestures right then left, “My office is through there and that’s the general living room.” Anna enters the living room and examines the two worn leather sofas that sit in a large cluttered living room.

Anna looks across the room at the large stone framed fireplace with a black iron screen set in front of the roaring fire. Anna moves to the fireplace and examines the pictures of numerous children on the mantel, “Cozy.” Dr. Stadler shakes his head, “Keeping it simple. No distractions. We have a dining room and kitchen in the back, and the bedrooms are upstairs.”

Anna rubs her small and delicate hands by the fire, “How many children are here?” Dr. Stadler pauses to give thought to her query, and then counts to six with his fingers, “Six including you.” Dr. Stadler gestures for her to once again follow him, “Let’s show you to your room.” Anna nods in acceptance and then follows a few paces just behind Dr. Stadler.

They move from the living room back to the foyer and turn to their left following the red carpet to the large rounded Rotunda. A massive staircase flows along the left-hand side of the room to the second floor. Just below the second floor landing a short hallway ending in three doors. One door to either side and one directly ahead.

“I’ll show you around a little later. Let’s get you settled in your room upstairs,” Dr. Stadler motions to the staircase. Anna follows Dr. Stadler up the wide carpeted wooden framed stair case to the second-floor landing.  Anna stops at the staircase and sees an approaching storm through the large window. “Are we going to share a room?” Anna asks impatiently. 

Dr. Stadler nods, as he pauses near the top of the staircase and pants, “Just a little out of shape.” Anna looks at him and shakes her head in disbelief, “Pathetic.” Anna takes the luggage from him and continues to the top of the staircase.

They reach the second-floor landing and she pauses again to examine her surroundings. She counts three closed bedroom door with personal posters and room labels on each. Dr. Stadler gestures to the end of the landing.  Anna fixates on the long dark corridor to be found there and smirks. They walk to the end of the long corridor.

At the end of the hallway there are three more doors to be found. The label on the room at the very end of the hallway reads “MEDIA ROOM,” to the left the label reads “John and Tyler,” and the label to the right reads “Emily and Anna.” Dr. Stadler opens the door.

The high pile carpeted room overwhelmingly smells of floral perfume. The walls are covered in Tiger Beat Magazine Posters of teen aged celebrity boys. Two single beds with no head boards and two wooden three drawer dressers.  One dresser covered with flower stickers and the other empty.

Anna enters the room and tosses her things onto a bed with no sheets. Dr. Stadler slips into the room beside Anna, “You’ll be with EMILY. She’s about your age.” Anna looks to the luggage and then to Dr. Stadler. Dr. Stadler walks to a beige folding door. He opens the door and smiles, “walk in closet for you two to share.”

Anna gestures to a bed with a quilt and paintings of doves on the wall. Anna’s face reads as disapproving, “How long will we be here?” Dr. Stadler studies Anna with an intense glare, “Depends on how treatment goes and if you runaway again.”

Anna opens her bag and starts unpacking. Dr. Stadler walks to the bedroom door and pauses, “you’ll meet everyone at dinner tonight.” Anna hangs clothing in the closet and looks to Dr. Stadler. Dr. Stadler gets caught by surprise, as he sees Anna’s face suddenly twist and warp. He removes his glasses and rubs his eyes only sees her normal face when he looks back.

Anna pauses and looks to the doctor with a smirk, “You okay?” Dr. Stadler exhales loudly, “yeah, Just a long ride.” Dr. Stadler exists shaking his head in curious disbelief closing the door behind himself. Anna smirks and walks into her closet. Anna hears the rain fall harder outside, as heavy rhythmic thumping drums against the walls and roof of the group home.