by: Chet Duke
*Inspired by the song “Alyssa Lies” by: Jason Michael Carroll.*
*2007*
“Bye mamma!” June Duke called out to her mother from the drive way, as her and her two brothers ran to catch the school bus.
The big yellow bus stopped at the end of the drive and the three Duke children bounded up the steps and quickly took there seats. Amanda Duke waved to her children on the bus as the big yellow vehicle pulled away. The young Duke mother smiled to herself and returned inside the ranch house.
Dozens of children came off the school buses and filed into Hazzard Counties one and only school. Each child or teen went to there designated class room for the day and settled down at there desk to learn.
A little later in the day the lunch bell rang, dismissing everyone to the cafeteria. June Duke laughed and giggled at her older brother Johnny’s silly remarks. The brother and sister were soon joined by a kindergartner. A little black haired boy, a shear fire image of his and their father, Chet Duke, John Wesley, known to his family and friends as Wes, climbed up onto the bench beside his sister and opened his lunch pail.
“What are you giggling about June?” He asked unfolding the plastic wrap from around his sandwich.
“Johnny’s being silly.” June replied smiling at her younger brother.
Johnny smiled as he munched on his own lunch. Once the three children finished there meals they each ventured out on the play ground to play. All of them going in a separate direction, Johnny trotted off to catch a foot ball with some of the other young fellas. Wes bounded up the latter to take a slip down the slide.
June mingled over to the swings, past the huge tires and sat down on a swing seat. She swayed back and forth a little feeling bored and alone. Another little girl came over and sat down in the swing seat beside hers.
“Hello…” The younger girl said.
The Duke girl looked at her and smiled. “Howdy. I’m June Duke, what’s your name?”
The light browned haired little girl smiled softly in return, her small green eyes danced brightly at the prospect of making a new friend.
“My name is Alyssa.”
“Its nice to meet you Alyssa” June answered.
The two young girls laughed and talked back and forth for the rest of the recess. Each planning to meet at that same exact spot the next day. They smiled and waved as they parted to return to there classes for the rest of the day. That afternoon June sprang from the steps of the school bus and made her way down the drive way at home.
“You seem exceptionally happy June, what’s up?” Johnny asked looking at his younger sister then exchanging looks with Wes. The little boy shrugged.
The family dogs, two mutts, one lab hound mix and a funny brown colored dog barked and yapped as the children came upon the front porch of the farm house.
“I made a new friend at school today, her name is Alyssa and she seems really nice. Can she sit with us tomorrow? She said she sits alone.”
“You know your friends are our friends June.” Johnny nodded. “Of course she can sit with us.”
June smiled. “Thank you.”
The next day, as promised June and Alyssa met at the swings. The two friends swung beside each other, chanting and giggling so hard there faces turned red.
“I’ve never had this much fun!” Alyssa smiled.
June laughed happily and jumped off the swing, tagging her new friend on the shoulder. “Your it! Catch me if you can.” She ran out into the big lawn near the slide.
Alyssa chased after her, the thin little girl running fast as her small frame could to catch her new friend. The two girls collided in a fit of laughing and giggling. As they sat down on the ground, Alyssa’s left pant leg slide up and beneath a large bruise was revealed.
June noticed immediately and her blue eyes widened in shock and surprise. “Where did you get that bruise Alyssa? It looks bad.”
The little girls face flushed and she quickly pushed her pant leg back down to cover it. “It’s nothing…” She frowned and looked at the Duke girl, she gazed softly at June, her heart a sea of butterflies and her eyes burning in early essence of faint tears.
June gazed back, seeing the fear and worry in her friends eyes and the expression on her face. She placed her hand on Alyssa’s shoulder, comfortingly.
“Can you keep a secret June?”
The blonde haired Duke girl looked around and then stood and offered to help her friend up. Alyssa took her hand and let her help her up, together they walked to the other side of the play ground and sat down behind the tires.
“Yes Alyssa, I can keep a secret.” June looked at the younger girl.
Alyssa bowed her head and sighed feeling ashamed. “My daddy… he gave me that bruise. I spilled a glass of milk in the living room and he hit me.”
June swallowed hard and her eyes widened. She had heard about child abuse at the orphanage before she came to live with her new mommy and daddy. Even at that time she knew that it wasn’t right for any adult to hit a child for any reason. Now she new even better.
“Alyssa… you should tell someone.”
Alyssa shook her heah quickly. “No…no please. He’ll hurt me again. Promise you wont tell anyone.”
June frowned and nodded, she could see the terror in her friends eyes. Just then the bell rang and both girls ran for the school to go back to class. June returned to class and sat down in her seat, she couldn’t help but think about what Alyssa had told her. Feeling tears of sadness burn her eyes she asked to be excused to the restroom.
As she walked down the hall on her way to the bathroom she paused hearing her new friends voice speaking to someone one hallway over. June tip toed up to the corner and peeked around it to see what was going on. There on the hall way a teacher stood outside a closed class room door speaking to Alyssa.
The young Duke girl stood quietly listening to what her friend and the teacher was saying. Each time the teacher asked, Alyssa simply replied that she had fallen down the front steps at home. Denying that the bruises had been intentionally made. She lied to the teacher, June could see even as she reentered the class room that she shook her head…lying to the class room.
June continued to the restroom, there she stayed for a few minutes, deciding what she had to do when she got home. Although she knew she’d made a promise to her friend, she feared for the younger girl. The bruise she’d seen on her leg was bad and there was no telling what other bruises she might have.
***************************************
“Daddy?” June spoke softly as she entered the barn.
Her father Chet stood in the isle way, brushing a beautiful long legged Ovaro colt that he had named Drifter. He glanced side long at his young daughter, his half blind mismatched eyes danced softly as he looked at her fondly.
“What is it Juney?” He asked smiling softly and returning to his task, plucking burdocks from the young horses coat.
June came forward and scratched Drifters nose and leaned her cheek against his velvety muzzle. The young horse sensed the young girls sadness and nuzzled her face gently. June could feel the tears beginning to burn her eyes, remembering everything she had seen.
“Daddy… if you made a promise to someone not to tell anyone else what this person told you…but… but you really needed to tell. What would you do?”
Chet glanced at her again. “Hmmm… if its really important I would probably tell an adult.” He looked at her again, seeing the tears in her eyes. ” Honey… you can tell me anything.” Her daddy said, not knowing that he was nowhere close to being prepared for what she was about to say.
“Daddy… Alyssa lies. My new friend at school, that I told you and mommy about at supper last night… she lies to the teacher… and everyone else. She’s trying to cover up the bruises, I saw them on her leg daddy. Alyssa lies… she’s afraid he’ll hurt her again.”
“Awe June, I’m sure she’ll be ok.” Chet paused as he ran the comb through the colts mane. “Why don’t you go help your mother with supper, I’ll be in soon.”
June’s lower lip pouted out and she looked at her daddy, she hoped that he was right. The little Duke girl nodded and turned away to go back in the house as he had asked.
“Ok…daddy…”
June ate her supper in silence that evening, then rushed through her homework and curled up on her bed with her orange tabby cat. She couldn’t help but worry even though her daddy said everything would be ok. How could anyone hurt a nice little girl like Alyssa. June’s eyes filled with tears again and she laid her head done on her pillow not sure what she could do.
Chet came in to tuck her in, sitting down on her bed side and ruffling the cats fur beside her. “Have a good night my Juney… sleep well.” He smiled at her and kissed her forehead, then made sure as he stood up that she was well covered up.
June kissed her daddies cheek and hugged him softly. “Good night daddy.”
“G’nyte June.” Chet walked out of the room and turned the light out. But as he left the door way he paused, hearing his daughter whisper softly in prayer. He stopped and listened just outside her door.
“Please Lord, God bless my mom, dad, Johnny, Wes, Carra and little Trace.” She paused then and swallowed. “And if you will… God bless my new friend Alyssa… please.. Help her she really needs you.” She became quiet for a long moment. “Amen.”
June rolled over and went to sleep the best she could. Not knowing that her daddy had listened to everything she said. Her words had caused Chet’s naturally firm brow, to melt into worry. He hadn’t realized how hurt his little girl had been and he wished he’d paid more attention.
Chet made his way to his own bed to lay down with his wife, he felt saddened now as he lay down and pondered everything June had said. Amanda lay beside him, dozing softly until she felt her husband toss one way and turn the other.
“What is it Chet?” She asked rubbing his shoulder softly.
He didn’t answer right away, he just lay staring into the darkness. A flutter in his gut caused him to take a deep breath and sigh.
“I need to take June to school on Monday…” Chet whispered.
Amanda opened her eyes from dozing, her husband worked long hard hours and it wasn’t like him to take any of the children to school.
“Any particular reason darling?” She asked looking over his shoulder at his face.
“Just a feeling. June’s upset about something and I wanna make sure everythings ok.” Chet relaxed into the water bed.
“Ok…” Amanda replied and closed her eyes, returning to her gentle sleep.
But Chet couldn’t seem to lay still, his mind continued to ponder and worry over what his daughter had said. So many what ifs, and so many answers turned up that made him mad. Of all people the 22 year old cowboy understood what it was like to be beaten and abused. He also knew how dangerous the abuse could become over a certain period of time.
It wasn’t so long ago when he had lived on the ranch in New York that he himself had been hurt many times as a young boy. Punished viciously for simply being a child, those years were quickly stolen away as he was forced to learn to survive under such abuse. But the feeling that this little girl couldn’t possibly do that deeply troubled Chet.
The next morning June came out of her bed room with her book bag in hand to sit down at the kitchen table to have breakfast before school. Just like she did every morning, but she paused and stared, surprised to see her daddy sitting at the table nursing a cup of steaming hot coffee. She was surprised to see him still home, usually he was gone off to work by now and didn’t get home until just before dinner.
Chet felt her eyes on him and he looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. “Good morning Juney, come have some breakfast.”
Her three brothers and baby sister sat up at the table already eating here breakfast. She joined them, starting in on the pancakes that Amanda was quickly filling all there plates with. She paused and looked back at her dad.
“What are you still doing home daddy?”
Chet looked at her in return over the top of his news paper. “I’m gonna take ya’ll to school this morning, maybe you can introduce me to your new friend.” He looked into her blue eyes, his own conveying that he had gotten her message.
A smile came to June’s lips and she quickly got up and gave him a hug. ” Thank you…” She whispered to him.
*************************************
June looked up at her daddy feeling so full of pride as they walked down the hallway in the Hazzard school. Chet glanced down at his daughter and smiled a little, but as he looked up his smile faded quickly. Teachers stood gathered around the main office of the old school and three or four children stood with there faces berried against there parents in tears.
“Daddy…”
Chet’s brow furrowed and his steps quickened as he approached the scene. Phones in the office rang, parents and teachers wiped tears from there faces. He left June near the door way for a few moments and went inside the office.
“What’s happened?” Chet asked one of the teachers quietly.
The graying haired teacher turned to him and sniffled. “One of our students has passed away, a little girl named Alyssa Monroe. Police found her, there not releasing anymore information.”
The Duke mans face paled and his eyes widened. He couldn’t believe that the little girl was dead. Quickly he turned away from the teacher and returned to were June was standing hoping that no one had yet told her that her friend was gone. Chet scooped her up into his arms, his brow creased in concern.
“Daddy….what’s wrong? Why does everyone look so sad?” June asked putting her arms around her daddies neck. She’d rarely ever seen tears in the tough ol’ cowboys eyes.
The Duke man hugged her and sighed, swallowing the thick not in his throat that seemed to be growing.
“Juney…honey… Alyssa won’t be at school today. I think… you should come home with me June.”
The little Duke girls eyes widened in worry and tears turned up there. “But why daddy… why daddy? Why…”
“June…” Chet’s voice caught in his throat.
“Oh please daddy, tell me why….” She pleaded as he carried her towards the school entrance, her two brothers fallowing behind.
“Honey….Alyssa doesn’t lie anymore…” He swallowed as they approached there truck. “She lies with Jesus…”
The little Duke girl’s eyes bubbled with tears and she burst into sobs, understanding very clearly what her daddy meant. Chet carried her out to the truck and took her and his other children home to be with there mother. His mine wandered as he sat at home with his family, doing the best he knew how to help them with there grief. But he couldn’t help the natural urge to seek out more information about the little girls death.
Later that night when his children and wife had settled down to sleep or just lay awake and rest after such a horrible day. Chet pulled his jacket on and grabbed his keys to his Dodge Charger. Amanda stopped him in the door way of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” She asked, her face still red from crying much of the day.
“I’ve got to make sure….make sure that the law has handled everything Amanda.” He responded giving his wife and knowing look.
She looked into his eyes reading them like a cover of a book, the young Duke women could only hope that her husband would abide by the law. Amanda nodded understanding and he turned away and left the house, driving towards town. There he parked the white Charger in front of the courthouse and went inside. He needed to find as much information as he could about Alyssa’s death before taking any extreme measures.
“ENOS!” Chet Said sharply to get the deputies attention.
The dozing deputy snapped awake and stood at attention. “Oh….possum on a gumbush Chet, you startled me. What can I do for you?”
“Plenty…. tell me everything you know about that Hazzard school girls death yesterday.”
“I’m sorry I can’t do that, that’s confidential information.” Enos replied.
Chet’s mismatched eyes narrowed and he took and few steps closer to the deputies desk. The eyes of the cowboy drilled deep into Enos’s, causing the older man to shiver at the rattle snake like gaze. The Duke man leaned on the desk a little threateningly.
“Ok!” Enos wiped a few drops of sweat from his brow. “State police received a call from the next door neighbor, said they heard some screaming. By the time they got there they found the little girl laying at the bottom of the seller stairs. She’d already passed away from head trauma, they assumed its from the fall. But there still investigating.” The deputy watched Chet waiting to see his reaction.
Chet nodded taking in the info without a change in his expression. “The fall didn’t kill her Enos. Get me the parents home address and then call the state police and have them meet me out there in an hour and a half.”
The older deputy did as he was asked, writing the information that Chet requested down on a small piece of paper and handing it over. His brow creased in worry for the Duke.
“Chet… what are you gonna do?”
Chet tucked the paper into his pocket and turned away. “Im gonna make sure justice is served Enos…. that little girl was my daughters friend. She told her that her daddy had been beating her and she saw the bruises. I’ll prove that sonofabitch killed her and make sure he goes up the river for the rest of his life.” He left the court house and drove quickly towards the address on the paper that Enos had given him.
Enos quickly made a call to the State Police, then to Rosco on the CB, requesting that the Sheriff return to base so that he could go on his lunch break. The Sheriff agreed and soon after Enos drove away from the courthouse, he too headed for the Monroe residence.
Chet parked his car one block over from the residence and opened the trunk to get out some supplies he would need. The first thing he dug up out of his duffle bag was a hand held cassette recorder, which he tucked into his coat pocket so that it could be easily accessed. He then grabbed his lariat and a roll of duck tape. Closing the trunk he silently made his way through neighbors back yards, as sleek as a cat and as cunning as a fox.
He closed in on the Monroe home, pausing to watch the back door for a few moments. Not seeing anyone but hearing voices from within he moved in stepping softly up onto the back porch. Chet peeked in the window on the back door and watched a man and women arguing back and forth with raised voices.
Gracefully Chet moved around the side of the house approaching the front door and loosening his lariat into a long near perfect loop. He waited until the voices paused then knocked three times firmly on the door. Quickly he ran down the side of the porch and jumped off waiting for and hoping the father would answer the door and step outside.
Indeed the father answered the door with a sharp voice. “Hello?!” He snapped looking out into the front yard.
Chet ducked lower, holding the loop in his hand and waiting. Not seeing anyone the man stepped outside and off the porch looking around. The Duke man waited patiently until the father cleared the steps, then he let the loop fly catching the man around his chest. He yanked hard and threw him to the ground. In an instant Chet pounced on him and thoroughly hogg tied him.
“Awright bastard!!!” Chet snarled standing over the hogg tied man, his eyes glaring with fierceness. He quickly hit the record button on the tape recorder in his pocket and grabbed the man by his shirt collar roughly. “You killed that little girl! Didnt ya?!”
“Go to hell, I didn’t touch her. She fell down the st—.” The fathers words never made it from his mouth as he was quickly rewarded with a grueling punch in the face from Chet.
“Strike one!” Chet snarled. “What did you do to that little girl?! You killed her…. admit it or I’ll kill you!” Chet threatened, holding the biggest bluff with all the aces.
“Let me go boy… or you’ll be next, mark my words.” The father spat and was quickly rewarded with two punches to his face. Chet’s fists drew blood from the fathers nose and mouth this time as the older man yelped. The yelp brought Mrs. Monroe to the porch to see what was going on, she was not shocked to find her husband getting exactly what he deserved.
“Last chance….admit you killed that little girl… I know you did it… my daughter saw the bruises. She said Alyssa told her that you beat her…. and my June don’t lie. Admit you killed her….and I’ll let you live the rest of your life in a state pen.” Chet snarled once again and drew his fist back, prepared to feed the bully his last round.
The former fathers eyes grew wide seeing Chet draw his fist back and the fire in the cowboys eyes. Sirens began to blare in the distance and he knew the young man was not kidding, he could kill him and run like hell and get away with it.
“I did it! I killed Alyssa!” He gasped his face wrinkling in fear. “I hit her with a 2×4 in the head… then threw her down the stairs!!!” His eyes stayed wide.
Chet nodded in approval and with drew the recorder form his pocket. He could hear the sirens growing closer. Quickly he taped the mans mouth shut and then securely fastened the recorder down to his forehead with the duck tape. He replaced the rope around the man with duck tape and quickly made an exit. Disappearing into the night as quickly and silently as he had appeared.
When police arrived they could not believe the sight before them. They played the recorded tape, initialing all the evidence in that very tape that was needed to put the murdering father away for life. The mother would also be jailed for harboring evidence and with holding a killer. Enos arrived with the state police, but he wasn’t at all shocked at the scene. He had suspected that the Duke man would do something of this nature. The former LAPD law officer couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride, someone had done the right thing above all doubt and suspicion.
***TWO DAYS LATER.***
The entire Duke family and friends stood around the grave of Alyssa Monroe, accompanied by teachers and young students that had been her friends. A gentle prayer was said for the innocent young victim as she was lay to rest within angels hands.
But as all the people turned to leave, returning to there cars, Chet stood alone at the grave looking down at the head stone. He kneeled and gave a heart deep sigh, he could feel tears burn his eyes.
“Im sorry…. I didn’t listen sooner….” Chet sniffled. “But….I….I made sure they could never hurt anyone again.” He reached into his pocket and with drew a piece of paper and unfolded it, placing it against the head stone. “I wrote this for you…. I hope that other children that are in the situation you were in can hear it and know….. there not alone.” He placed the song lyrics beside the grave and bowed his head in a quick prayer.
Then feeling the not still in his throat, he rose and rejoined his family. Most folks made there way to the Boars Nest for the wake. Drinks were on the house and as things wound down, Chet picked up his old guitar and stepped up onto the make shift stage.
“Ladies and Gentlemen….could I have your ut most attention if you please.” He spoke into the microphone.
All the people in the room turned to face him, voices hushed and the lights dimmed in the room a little. Chet cleared his throat and strapped his guitar on as he began to speak.
“Loosing a child is like losing an angel. They never come back and we loose something so dear and precious to us all. I hope that we can all open our hearts and hear when an angel cries, maybe someday this old world can see past all its anger and hate. I wrote a little song for Alyssa, in her memory.”
Chet lowered his eyes to his guitar and began to play and sing the words he’d composed.
“My little met a new friend just the other day….
On the play ground at school, between the tires and the swing.
But she came home with tear filled eyes….And she said to me…”Daddy…Alyssa Lies”
Well I just brushed it off at first …Cause I didn’t know how much my little girl had been hurt
Or the things that she had seen….I wasn’t ready when I said you can tell me and she said….
Alyssa lies to the classroom……Alyssa lies everyday at school
Alyssa lies to the teachers…..As she tries to cover every bruise
My little girl laid her head down that night to go to sleep….
As I stepped out of the room I heard her say a prayer so soft and sweet
God bless my mom and my dad…..
And my new friend Alyssa, I know she needs you bad because
Alyssa lies to the classroom…..Alyssa lies everyday at school
Alyssa lies to the teachers…..As she tries to cover every bruise
I had the worst night of sleep in years…..As I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
I knew just what it was I had to do…..But when we got to school on Monday
I heard the news
My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
The lump in my throat grew bigger…..With every question that she asked
Until I felt the tears run down my face….And I told her that Alyssa wouldn’t be at school today
Cause she doesn’t lie, in the classroom….She doesn’t lie, anymore at school
Alyssa lies with Jesus….Because there’s nothing anyone would do.
Tears filled my eyes
When my little girl asked me why
Alyssa lies
Daddy tell me why
Alyssa lies ………[written and sung by: Jason Micheal Carroll.]
Chet held the key, long and easy with grace. Then the room erupted with clapping and he set his guitar down as June came to him and put her arms around his neck.
“I love you daddy…”
He hugged her and his entire family. “I love all of you so much…”
THEE END