This story takes place after Joe had witnessed the rape of his girlfriend, Iola. The attack is an act of revenge from some of the seniors who got convicted by Joe’s actions (in The last Straw)
He is lying in his bed crying
”I wish we never came to Bayport, I wish I wasn’t born.”
Be careful what you wish for, a voice said.
He looked up. It was a woman in a white dress.
I have come to show you what had happen if you hadn’t been born.
Everything got blurry.
It was in a dark alley. Two men in trench coats stood there. The two men talked in a language Joe didn’t understand. Some words he understood: Polizia, Cosa Nostra, Italiano. It was the Italian mafia. Suddenly another man came. Joe got confused when he saw that is was his father, Fenton.
“Thanks for telling us about the police,” one of the men said.
“My pleasure. Where’s the money?” Fenton said, business like.
“5000 dollars,” like we said. They handed over the money.
What! Fenton Hardy working for the mafia?
What’s going on? Joe was angry.
The world got blurry again and he saw his mother laying on the living room sofa, bottles everywhere. Food and dishes laying over the table.
It can’t be true! Mum isn’t drinking!
Joe was really upset now.
-”When she lost you she got depressed and started drinking. She lost her job as a nurse and started drinking. Fenton had to work for the mafia to pay for her drinking.”
-Frank, what about him?
The doorbell rang and after some minutes two policemen showed up with Frank. It was not the Frank he was used to see. It was obvious that he belonged to a gang. His arms were full of needle marks.
“We caught your son selling drugs, next time we’re taking him to the social services.”
Frank a drug dealer? His father working for the mafia? His mother an alcoholic?
NO!!! He screamed.
”This is what would have happened if you hadn’t been born.”
”My friends. What about them?”
Suddenly the scenery changed, it was a classroom. Callie came in, holding envelopes in her hand.
”White trash!” she said looking at Chet.
”Bitch,“ she said to Iola.
”Dirty,” that remark was for Tony.
”Geek,” she said to Phil.
”Only worthy people are invited to my party. Here, darling, she said to Biff, handing him an envelope.” She got a kiss as reply.
This was a side of Callie Joe didn’t like. As he thought that to himself, he was suddenly in Callie’s bedroom. She was sitting at her desk writing. Joe walked up to her to read what she wrote:
I’m sorry. I can’t live like this anymore. I have visions of another world where I’m not alone and unhappy. Where I have lots of friends who like me for who I am and not for my money. I’m dreaming of a dark, handsome stranger, who loves me, and can move heaven and earth for me, not that I need that because I’m already happy with all my friends. I’m sorry. - Love Callie.
It was a suicide note.
She left the note on the desk and went to her bed, where two bottles of sleeping pills stood. She took all of them.
”NO!!! Frank loves you! I care about you!” Joe screamed.
The world got blurry again and he was inside Bayport Diner. Iola was working there. The spark in her eyes was missing. She looked unhealthy and thin. Some older boys approached the counter. It was Steven Miller and his friends. They went behind the counter and grabbed Iola and they raped her. Steven tossed a ten on the floor.
”Here! You weren’t worth more!”
”This isn’t happening! Not Iola! NO!!!!!”
He screamed and screamed.
”Joe! Wake up! You’re having a nightmare!”
It was Frank’s voice.
Joe opened his eyes and saw his mother, father and brother. All looked like he was used to.
He was so happy, is was a bad dream, or was it?