Gayle F. Larkin - Treason From Within

A True Story of a Marriage

Gayle Frances Larkin

When Ellen discovered she could be pregnant, she made the conscious decision to do everything in the opposite direction to the one her own mother had taken. Mrs Phipps preferred to wait until the children are older, say, in their teens, then you can have a proper conversation with them. But Ellen felt children deserved to be cherished: loved, taught, and secure in the knowledge their mother would always protect them and listen to them.

Three years and three months after the wedding had taken place, Ellen entered the hospital for the birth of her baby who was in no hurry to enter this world. Dr Peters had monitored them very closely and decided to induce the labour.

In the very early morning Father Thomas arrived at her bedside. He wanted to give her Holy Communion. She objected: she had been told it was nil by mouth. He argued that did not count. He took one look at her and gave her the Last Rites (today it is known as the Sacrament of the Sick).

Ellen was later given an injection.

Both mother and baby objected so violently to the drug that the alarm was screaming in the hospital. The matron and the crash team arrived simultaneously.

Whats the emergency? Ellen wanted to know.

This, said the matron, tapping Ellens stomach. You are both allergic to the drug given to you for the inducement of labour. Well have to use another one.

Ellen was then prepared for the emergency caesarean operation. Both mother and child died for a minute on the operating table during the procedure. The hospital did not have her rare blood group in their supplies so Mr Phipps rushed to the main centre to obtain the units necessary. In that ride he disregarded every red light on the roads to ensure he arrived in time to keep Ellen alive. All Ellen knew was she went onto the operating table as one person, but when she eventually regained consciousness, she did not feel as though she was the same person. Doctor Peters told her if she ever gave him a fright like that again he would kill her!

Afterwards Ellen was convinced that the Sacrament had saved her life and her babys life as well.

Dr Peters had met Ellens father when they attended the same school. It was at a wedding that Ellen met him. Ellens mother being too ill to attend with her husband, required Ellen to go in her stead. The wedding reception was held at a nightclub that was completely booked out by the parents of the bride. Although only sixteen Ellen was allowed to enter those precincts as the event was private.

He was a sprightly, lean, and wiry man, with penetrating, curious eyes. As a medical student, he had rounded up a group of like-minded medical students. They purchased a building and proceeded to turn it into an accommodation for homeless men. These men were met at the door, sent into the showers, then given clean clothing and promptly given medical examinations. They were allowed to stay as long as they did not revert to their drinking and carousing. He was pleasantly surprised how many men changed the course of their lives as a result of the help they were given at a critical juncture. Of course, a number of them left, only to return time and time again.

Later Dr Peters learned the Chinese language and travelled to China to attend medical conferences on the herbs they used. He used to compare these herbs with the modern medical medicines that the West used to treat the same illnesses.

When they discussed philosophy and the manner of living, he told Ellen: If you follow the Ten Commandments properly, youll never get sick.

How is that possible?

Simple. Take the one against anger, for instance. Anger can eventually have a devastating effect on your heart. People never consider the damage breaking these rules can cause internally.

There had been no married life since Zack had learned that Dr Peters suggested starting a family as Ellen was already twenty seven years of age. Dr Peters had been adamant it would be dangerous to leave it too late: Ellen was five feet two inches in height and weighed eighty eight pounds. Zack was determined there would be no children: he did not know there was a child already on the way.

As her pregnancy progressed, Ellen trained to be a catechist and received her diploma at a special Mass celebrated on Candlemas night, a few months after Annes birth She was convinced she would now have the knowledge to teach their religion properly to her child.

When Anne was seventeen days old, she was baptised on a Friday night. Father Thomas had disappeared into the ether, or so it seemed. From haunting their home, he was now never to be seen. Holding the well wrapped infant in her arms, Ellen tracked Father Thomas to the Baptismal font at one end of the church building. She wanted to know if he would be there for the celebration after the Sacrament. He wanted to know if he was invited.

Of course, youre invited, was the answer.

The evening started badly. Mrs Phipps was angry, though no one knew why. She had arrived very early with a massive bag containing everything she considered necessary to do the photographs as she wanted them. She grabbed Anne, put her on the sofa, and proceeded to undo anything that covered the babys hands and feet.

What are you doing? Ellen wanted to know.

This is to prove the baby is normal, her mother replied, carrying on with her photographs.

Thats absolutely preposterous!

No. Its proof.

Later everyone arrived after attending the Baptism in the church. One aunt was coy, another silent, just watching the show unfolding. Ellens father in law was in a taunting mood, so Ellen kept as far away as she could; her emotions were very near to the surface after the trauma of the birth. Ellens father tried to keep the alcohol flowing, and he needled everyone who approached him.

When Father Thomas eventually arrived, he grabbed Anne from Ellens arms, and went to the round dining room table which was at one end of the room. He sat down cradling Anne while leaning his arms on the table. He later said that Anne kept him out of trouble.

After everyone had left, Ellen was left with the tremendous feeling that life had completely overwhelmed her.

Zack started working at the university. He left his salary cheque in the unlocked top drawer of his desk in his unlocked office. He enjoyed telling Ellen there could be no difficulty as everyone knew he would pay his bills. After more than a week of this game, he brought the cheque home and told Ellen to bank it. She asked him to approach the salaries department to pay his salary by bank transfer each month. Three months later he told Ellen his salary would in future be paid into his bank account.

It was only eighteen months later Dr Peters told her that Zack had been diagnosed as a schizophrenic psychopath with misogynistic tendencies, and that the child must never be left alone with him: he must be supervised by another adult at all times.

Thats a life without the possibility of parole! Ellen cried, knowing that in South African law the father is the natural guardian of any child until the child reaches majority, usually at the age of twenty one. Cold with fright, she realised the most dangerous place in the world is right inside the family. What incident triggered this diagnosis is a mystery to today.

Ellen contacted Father Thomas to ask for his help as a psychopath is deemed to be unable to have the requisite consent to form a contract. The marriage was, therefore, a putative marriage, and any child born of it would be legitimate. He was sympathetic, but said she must learn to live with her situation. Now there was the daily terror she had to accept as a part of the rest of her life.

How do you ensure that you never let something slip, however inadvertently? Ellen asked Father Thomas.