Jakob Landry's Story

I remember how I used to be before it happened.  I'm sure I was more of a man than I am today.  I often reflect to remember the days before when I was what I considered myself to be a "whole" man.  Things change and so have I.1

My name is Jakob Landry.  I'm an ordinary man.  Nothing special.  Average weight, average height.  Brown hair, blue eyes.  You know the story.  Seemingly normal guy turns into abnormal freak.2

One day back in June I was just getting ready to get into the shower.  I had to be at work at eight that day.  I was a kindergarten teacher and twenty little minds needed shaping.  That's where I came in.  I taught these children and even sometimes their families.  I loved my job.  Of all the things I miss that is one of the hardest losses to deal with.3

One of them anyway.4

Yes, just one.5

As I said, I was getting ready to shower.  I went to remove my PJ bottoms when I noticed something odd.  Something had changed, I couldn't quite put my finger on it.  Then I realized why.  I had no fingers!  They were gone.  I don't know to this day why I woke up that morning in June sans fingers but I did.  On further examination I realized I also had no toes.  There was no reason why they would be gone.  They just were.  No traces of my fingers or my toes anywhere.  No blood, no scars, nothing.6

I figured I better figure out if anything else was missing.  My nose, ears, eyes all there.  Shoulders, ankles, wrists all there.  My legs, calves and feet were there.  Just my fingers and toes had left me.  I realized I needed to use the bathroom and shoved my fists into the waistband of my PJ's and oh no! I noticed something else had been taken from me.  I was sure I had a penis when I went to bed the night before but when I woke up it had turned into a nub.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I didn't have a wondrous monster living in my shorts but damn, I KNOW I had a penis!7

I remember screaming and screaming.  Bloody hell I was screaming.  I did the only thing I knew how to do.  I took myself back to bed and bawled until I slept a fitful sleep filled with nightmares and pain.8

In my dreams I was a solider in the United States Army.  I was stationed in Vietnam.  I could see all the greens in the forest, the bright blue of the sky.  I could smell the rust of the army jeeps engines.  I could taste blood a lot of blood.  Too much blood.  I heard children screaming and men grunting as they raped the women of Vietnam.  I woke up at least three times that day shivering although it was June and at least 90 degrees out.9

Thing is, I've never been in the army.  I've never been out of my homestate of California and I've damn sure never been in a war.  I couldn't figure out why I was dreaming this when my penis, fingers and toes recently departed from my body.  I was terrified.10

I knew I should have gone to the hospital and see why I was falling apart.  All I could do is fall asleep.  I kept dreaming the same war dreams and woke up screaming and in such pain I barely could handle it.11

The next day I woke up and tried to get out of my bed.  All I did was manage to fall on the floor.  I landed on my face.  It hurt bad, but things soon would get worse.12

My legs from below my knees were gone!  My arms were gone completely.  I wouldn't even had known it was me if I had seen a photo of myself.  I still didn't feel much pain but I knew I should be in the hospital.  I just couldn't make myself get help.  All I could do is lay on the floor and cry like a baby.  I was so afraid of what was happening to me.13

I fell into a deep sleep again and dreamed the dreams of the damned.  I saw myself shooting men in the face.  The back of their skulls flew off their heads.  Teeth rained down and landed on my feet.  Of course that was back when I had feet.14

The next day I woke up in a hospital bed.  Yelling and screaming I begged God for mercy.  I couldn't figure out why I was falling apart piece by piece but at least I was in the hospital. 15

At about noon a doctor came around.  He had the greenest eyes I had ever seen.  He was about 6 feet tall.  I thought he should have been a basketball player rather than a doctor.16

The doctor told me his name was Dr. King and that he was able to help me figure out what was wrong.  I laid on the bed crying and nodding.  I prayed to God that he would be able to help me.17

I fell back into a deep sleep and woke later to the voices of two men quietly talking.  18

"What's wrong with this guy" Man one says with a jerk of his thumb in my direction.19

"This man was in Vietnam.  Everyday for the last thirty years he wakes up thinking he still has his arms and legs but he doesn't.  He just cannot accept that he's been blown to bits."  Guy number two says while shaking his head slowly.20

I can't believe this, I want to scream and run away.  This cannot be true.  I have never been in a war...never.21

A nurse comes in a gives me a shot and I fall back into a nice comfortable sleep.  The kind of sleep angels have.  It feels so good.22

I remember how I used to be before it happened.  I'm sure I was more of a man than I am today.  I often reflect to remember the days before when I was what I considered myself to be a "whole" man.  Things change and so have I.23

My name is Jakob Landry.  I'm an ordinary man.  Nothing special.  Average weight, average height.  Brown hair, blue eyes.  You know the story.  Seemingly normal guy turns into abnormal freak.24

One day back in June I was just getting ready to get into the shower.  I had to be at work at eight that day.  I was a kindergarten teacher and twenty little minds needed shaping.  That's where I came in.  I taught these children and even sometimes their families.  I loved my job.  Of all the things I miss that is one of the hardest losses to deal with.25

One of them anyway.26

Yes, just one.27