Stadler House: Book One: Chapter Three

Stadler House: Book One: Chapter Three

By: Roger Alderman

The inside of the Stadler House large dining room the decorations and furniture do its best to conceal its dark and foreboding history. A great dark wooden dining table with place setting for eight with a great candelabra bathing the room in its warm glow. A massive dark wood china cabinet and grandfather clock rest at the foot of the great table. 

The walls of the room hold many pictures of different sizes with images of children and teens. The room suddenly wills with the smells of old world cooking, as Maggie carries in a tray filled with Bratwurst, Peas, and Mashed potatoes. Maggie smiles, “Bangers and Mash anyone?” She places the tray near the center of the table and offloads the food to the table. 

“Yes. Please,” Dr. Stadler settles at the head of the Dining room table, as a number of children enter and sit in their assigned spaces. Emily turns and leaves the room to re-enter the kitchen with the tray in hand. He turns to offer Rodney a stern look, “We can talk about you getting a job. After tomorrows group session.” 

Dr. Stadler uses a set of tongs to remove a sausage from the pile of sausages on the serving plate. He passes the plate to his right to Rodney on his right. Rodney takes a sausage and passes the plate to Tyler. Dr. Stadler scoops out a small mound of mashed potatoes and places them next to the sausage on his plate, “Ah just like Mama used to make.”

Rodney exhales and wears a look of contempt, “But.” Dr. Stadler leans in close to Rodney and whispers, “End of discussion.” Rodney huffs flop backward into his chair and shakes his head in disappointment at the way his conversation just ended. He glares at the large heavy wooden old-world china hutch standing across from him, but directly behind Julie and Emily. 

Tyler takes a sausage and passes the plate to John. Rodney lifts the bowl of mashed potatoes and scoops out some on to his plate. Dr. Stadler scoops out a portion of pea’s and passes the bowl to Rodney. John removes a sausage and teases Julie by sucking on it. 

The girls try and sit quietly taking in the conversation between Rodney and the Doctor.  Maggie walks back into the room, “Just focus on getting better, Rodney.” Maggie glares at the troublesome duo chuckling at the foot of the great table, “Tyler. I think that’s just about enough out of you and John.” 

“John,” Maggie scolds, “Do you want to lose another week’s privileges.” John’s momentary joy from tormenting Julie turns quickly to resentment of Maggie’s authority. “Sorry. Julie,” John states begrudgingly. 

Tyler and John end their conversation of whispers about Rodney’s discussion. Julie and Emily place their cloth napkins across their laps with smirks on their face for the boys getting into trouble. Anna enters the room and Emily pull out the empty chair next to her, “You can sit here, Anna.” 

Julie takes a sausage followed by Emily then Anna. Maggie sits to Dr. Stadler’s left and examines the near-empty plate of sausages, as it reaches her, “Next time I’ll make more.” She thanks, Anna, as the remaining dishes make their way to her for her portions to be retrieved.

Dr. Stadler gestures for Anna to join them, “Everyone this is Anna. I expect you to get to know her she will be with us here for a while.” The room goes silent in anticipation of Dr. Stadler’s imminent declaration, but Maggie interrupts, “Anna’s our newest guest. Be sure to introduce yourselves.” Emily helps Anna into her chair and pushes it in, “Can I go first?” Tyler chuckles “looks like love at first sight to me.” 

John, Tyler, and Rodney burst into laughter. “I think that’s just about enough don’t you,” Dr. Stadler glares intensely at Tyler. The boys quickly become silent.  Emily looks at Dr. Stadler with a tear in her eye. 

“Why don’t we give the others a chance, Emily? After all, I’m sure she already knows you,” Dr. Stadler comments to the enthusiastic young girl. Emily pouts and flops into her seat, as Dr. Stadler gestures for Julie to introduce herself.  Julie lowers her glass of milk and turns to Anna, “Be careful Emily is the residential Klepto...” 

“JULIE,” Maggie scold’s quick, “That is enough!” Dr. Stadler scowls with a furrowed brow at Julie, “that’s one day’s loss of privileges. Do you want to try for a second?” Julie turns to Dr. Stadler with a look of disbelief. 

Tyler points at Emily, “Stay out of my room.” “TYLER,” Dr. Stadler looks at him in shock which quickly turns to disapproval with him. John smiles devilishly, “You told us to set boundaries. Telling a thief to stay away from your things is setting a boundary.”

John leans in his chair and glares at Dr. Stadler. “I said that you each need to learn your boundaries and set goals,” Dr. Stadler’s irritation with John is easy to see.  Tyler smirks and takes a large bite of his food, “Close enough.”

Dr. Stadler scowls at Tyler. John returns his attention to Anna and gestures to himself, “John and welcome to the Stadler Asylum.” Maggie glares at John, Tyler, and Rodney. John raises both hands in surrender and returns to his meal. Julie motions for Anna’s attention and offers a false smile, “Julie, the big sister around here.”

Rodney offers a halfhearted smile to Anna, “Rodney, I’ve been here the longest.” Anna turns her attention to Dr. Stadler. Maggie walks out of the room. Dr. Stadler places his utensils and napkin on his plate. The children all do the same, as Dr. Stadler. 

Maggie enters the room with sheets of paper. She circles the table handing each person a page. Dr. Stadler studies each child’s reactions, “I think we need to go over the house rules once more for each of you and a first time for Anna.” Everyone, save Tyler and Julie, nod their heads as they prepare to read the rules allowed.

Dr. Stadler clears his throat and stands, “The rules here are very strictly enforced to keep everyone safe.” Dr. Stadler begins to circle the table first to his right is Rodney the eldest child in the group homes cares. Rodney inhales loudly and booms, “EVERYONE MUST ATTEND THEIR COUNSELING SESSIONS.”  Rodney nods to Dr. Stadler. Just past Rodney, he reaches Tyler, “DO NOT INSULT ONE ANOTHER.” Tyler chuckles and smirks to Anna and Emily. Anna looks listless and Emily blushes. 

Dr. Stadler pauses behind John. John lowers his head in defeat and reads, “YOU WILL ATTEND AT LEAST ONE GROUP SESSIONS PER WEEK.”
Anna stares blankly at Maggie. Maggie notices Anna's eyes look void and lifeless. “Anna, we will skip you, as you’re new. Be ready tomorrow night though.” He paces behind Emily. Emily stares at John, “EVERYONE… That’s EVERYONE, John, HAS CHORES AND MUST DO THEM.”

Maggie scowls at Emily. Emily shrugs trying to act innocent. Julie does not wait for Dr. Stadler and jumps right into the reading, “EVERYONE WILL HELP NEW GUESTS FEEL WELCOMED.” Dr. Stadler and Maggie examine the reactions of each child. The children shake their heads and begin mumbling against the rules.

Dr. Stadler stops behind Maggie and leans forward onto the back of her high backed wooden chair. Maggie smiles and looks down the table making sure each child is listening. She takes a deep breath, “Many of you may not like this, but we are enforcing the seventy-two-hour lockdown, as we have done with each of you upon arrival. I hope none of you have made any plans, as we have chosen to start the lockdown immediately.” 

Maggie forces a smile through her growing irritation with the troubled children and their actions, “So you have the run of the grounds, but each of you will be in your rooms by nine o’clock.” The children stand and leave the kitchen Rodney, Tyler, and John head towards the game room above the garage. Julie storms off to claim her television time in the living room. Emily drags Anna behind her towards the staircase and their rooms. 

Dr. Stadler stares at the floor in disbelief of the children’s actions and words. Maggie turns to face her husband, “Are you sure it will work?” He looks up, “Yes, these six are perfect and Anna has gone deeper than any before her.” Maggie nods in understanding, “good because these children are really getting under my skin.” 

Dr. Stadler chuckles at her words. Maggie stands up, collects her dishes, and walks out of the room. “Everything will work out very soon I promise,” Dr. Stadler rolls a cigarette and lights it. He takes a long drag off the cigarette and whispers, “It has too.”

Emily and Anna reach their room. Emily opens the door and bows low while overtly gesturing for Anna to enter, “Madam.” Anna snickers and walks past Emily into the room, and settles on her bed, “Dinners always that … interesting here?” Emily shakes her head defiantly, “No, usually they are much worse.” 

Does Anna look confused at Emily’s statement, “Really? That much animosity between people here?” Emily scratches her head, “that much what?” “Never mind,” Anna lays down on top of her bed. “I’m not a thief either,” Emily blurts out. “I never said you were,” Anna stares blankly at the ceiling, “Who are you trying to convince me or you?” 

Emily flops onto her bed and turns to face Anna, “I never finished earlier.” Anna turns her head at a weird angle to look at Emily, “Please, go on.” Emily sits up on the edge of her bed, “I never got to tell you about John. I saw his file before.” “He was almost killed by his father’s dogs,” Anna interrupts and studies Emily for a reaction. “How did you know that?” Emily begs. 

Anna smiles and lays flat on top of her bed. Emily watches uncomfortably, as Anna grows oddly still. Emily quickly moves her attention to the head of Anna’s bed, as she believes she saw something move along the wall, Damn, airport lights.”