Otto Westlake had managed to live a “normal” life
since his marriage to Eunice. In fact, he had held down a job as a receiving
clerk with an air brake manufacturer in Elyria, Ohio for many years. Otto was
good with numbers, and the rigid procedures and routine paperwork that the job
required were a perfect fit for a man who did not handle change and drama very
well. More importantly, the job had provided sufficient income to support his
wife and three children.
2 Sure, in hindsight, there had been many indications
over the years that all was not well with Otto. There were the periods of
talkativeness followed by stretches of withdrawal and quiet. There were the
times when he would become extremely agitated at some situation and retreat to
his bedroom.
3 Even so, Otto had somehow managed to hold things
together and hide his earlier mental problems from his wife and children. All
of that, however, was about to change.
4 Robbie had graduated from high school and decided to
join the Marines. “Have you thought this through, son?” Otto asked. “Yeah, I
need to get away from this place for a while,” was the response.
5 Otto was silent. “Is that all you’re going to say to
him?” Eunice demanded. “What else is there to say?” he replied. Otto turned and
started up the stairs to his bedroom. “You know that he’s only doing this to
impress that girl!” she hollered after him. There was no response.
6 Within a few months, Robbie was back home. “Absent
without leave” is what the Marine’s called it, and the Military Police showed
up and took him into custody. And, although he was eventually discharged from
the Marines, the drama would prove to be too much for his father to handle.
7 “Your father is acting crazy!” Eunice told the
girls. “I’ve got the car keys, and we’re going down to Al and Tessie’s for a
little while,” she explained.
8 They could see their own house from their neighbor’s
window. “He’s pushing the car out into the street!” Eunice exclaimed. “He’s
looking in this direction,” Lois whispered. “Turn out the lights,” Tessie
ordered. Al walked over to the phone and dialed the police and explained the
situation to them.
9 A few minutes later the police arrived at the
Westlake’s home. “What’s the problem?” one of the officers asked as he
approached Otto. “They’ve taken the keys to my car!” he screeched.
10 “Mr. Westlake, we can’t have your car blocking the
street,” the other officer said. Otto became even more agitated and started
circling the car. “Let’s just settle down and get this car back in your
driveway,” the officer persisted.
11 He reached out to take Otto by the arm and direct
him back into his own yard. Otto wrenched free and ran around to the front of
the car and pounded on the hood.
12 “We’re gonna need that jacket,” the officer shouted
to his partner. The other officer then retreated to their cruiser and retrieved
a straitjacket. Together, they subdued Otto and placed him in the garment, and
then loaded him into the backseat of the cruiser.
13 “Don’t hurt him!” Eunice shouted from her
neighbor’s porch. One of the officers walked over to where she was standing and
assured her that they would get him the help he needed. Unfortunately, Caleb
Otto Westlake would spend most of the rest of his life in a mental hospital.
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