The Future Awaits
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Chapter 3
The next few weeks are busy with the classes we teach, and labs in photomicrography for me. In between, Tor's working on a paper which is going to need a number shots of sections of internal organs from fish being killed by some new strain of bacteria.
The week before Thanksgiving, I get a call from Mike. It's the first time he's used the cell phone I gave him when he went to school, so I know it's important. When he's finished talking, I can only say, yes, we'll be up next Wednesday to pick them up.
"Where the hell is he going to sleep?" Tor asks when I tell him Mike's bringing Tommy home with him. "He'll see us sleeping together, too. Damn it, Drew, why didn't you think?"
"I did think, damn it. Mike says the kid's tore up. His mother died last week. She was all the family he had."
"He never mentioned her," Tor says in wonder.
"Not surprising. She was in a hospital for alcoholics. Tommy told Mike she hadn't known who he was for over three months."
"No wonder the kid won't take a drink. But what are we going to do with him?"
"I'll borrow that fold-up bed Martha Curtis has. We can squeeze it in. If not, I'll put it down by the trains. If Tommy has problems with us sleeping together, tough."
Tor hugs me. "I wish we could do more for the kid. I want him to stay friends with Mike."
"So do I. Best I tell him we sleep together before he comes. That way if he wants out, we won't have to make another trip."
"Do what you think best. You're a hell of a lot better with people than I am."
When we get to the U on Wednesday afternoon, Mike is packed and ready, but Tommy's still in class. My heart drops when I see him walk in looking as if he hasn't a friend in the world.
"Hi, Tommy. Ready to go?" Tor says.
"I guess."
"Tommy, sit down for a minute. I have to tell you something before we leave."
He drops to his bed and looks at me blankly.
"Mike's probably told you we live on a house boat, so there's not a lot of room and less privacy."
"I don't mind, sir."
"You have to understand we'll all be sleeping in the same room. Tor and I sleep together."
He gives me a stunned look, looks at Tor, then stares at Mike without saying anything.
"It's okay, Tommy. I want you to come home with me. There's lots you've never seen I want to show you." Mike jerks his head toward the door, so Tor and I step outside pulling the door shut.
"Guess Mike's trying to tell him he's safe. Maybe we should have gotten a house after all, then we wouldn't have to let anybody know."
"My only concern is Mike and you know it. I don't want it to affect his friendships."
"Yeah. No way we could have foreseen this."
Mike opens the door. "We're ready, dad."
Tommy has a pair of crutches in his hand. He follows us down to the car without a word and watches Mike pack their stuff in the boot. The crutches are a tight fit, for Tommy's taller than Mike.
"Can I drive, Tor?" Mike asks.
"If you don't fly too low." Mike likes to push a car as much as he. We let the kids sit up front and we take the back seat.
I'm pleased at the way Mike gets skillfully through the traffic, then sets the cruise control on the limit once we're on the interstate. I see Tor gradually relax, which he seldom does when anyone else is driving.
When we start across the bridge to the island, Tommy looks at the expanse of water, showing interest in something for the first time. "Man, what a lot of water. This the ocean?"
"Just a sound. You won't see the ocean today, because we're moored on the island." Tor tells him.
"Everything's so flat. Sure ain't like this where I'm from."
"This is Roanoke Island." Mike says when we roll off the bridge.
"Looks like a town."
"It is."
"I thought islands was little."
"Many are, but there are quite a few large ones." Tor tells him.
When Mike pulls in our parking place at the institute, Tommy looks at the building. "Ain't this part of the university?"
"Yes. Why?"
"It looks kind of small."
"There are really two separate buildings joined by a breezeway. The front one is an aquarium and exhibits for the public. The back one has a few classrooms and a couple of labs for the marine science people. You can see it tomorrow," Mike tells him. "Get your stuff and let's go."
Tommy's so interested in looking at everything he hardly keeps up with us, but when he sees our houseboat, he lets out a whistle. "Man, that's something." He says to Mike.
"Yeah. I love it. Come on in."
I point to the bed Tor and I set up at the end of the room. "That's yours, Tommy. I hope you'll be comfortable. The head's next to the galley. We'll leave a nightlight on in case you have to get up. Just be careful of the hatch over there, don't want you to fall through."
"I'll be okay." He puts his bag on his bed, and sits down. He looks surprised when
I take off my slacks, the leg, and change into jeans then put on my peg-leg.
Tor takes off his long-sleeve shirt and the arm, leaving on his T-shirt. "Ah, feels a lot better."
Tommy suddenly pulls up his jeans legs and takes off his feet. He gropes in his bag and brings out a pair of round leather boot-like things with rubber tips and slips them on his legs, lacing them up.
I see Mike's mouth drop open. "You're gonna wear 'em?"
"Yeah. Those feet was hurting. Your dads was getting comfortable, so I did, too."
Tor smiles at him. "Good. We want you to enjoy your visit."
"Can you go down a ladder with them?" Mike asks.
"Maybe. Ain't never tried. Why?"
"Want you to see my trains. They’re down below."
I watch, but Tommy balances nicely on the little boots as he crosses the room, then goes down the ladder using just his arms. He's a lot stronger than I would have guessed from his slender build.
"Oh, man, look at that." I hear him say, as Mike starts them running. I know they'll be occupied for a while, so I start to heat the soup we're going to have for supper with a salad and some homemade bread Martha Curtis sent over when she heard Mike was coming home.
Tor pulls the table out and sets it. "Well?" he says.
"So far so good. At least he relaxed enough to take off his feet. Guess he doesn't feel he's the only one any more."
"That's why I took off the arm. With you on your peg, Tommy with no feet, and me without a hand, we make a proper bunch of misfits." He grabs me and gives me a kiss. "You're a good man, Drew Torrence. I love you."
"Yeah? Well I love you too. We've got each other and a great son. What more could we ask."
"Not much."
After dinner, Mike gets on the phone and a few minutes later asks if he can have the car.
"For what?" Tor asks.
"Some of the guys from our old soccer team are home. Thought I'd take Tommy and we'd get together."
"Go ahead, but remember if you have a beer I don't want you driving." Tor knows darn well that despite his age Mike'll have a beer with the guys if they have any. "Do you drive, Tommy?"
"Not much, sir, but I have my license."
"I know you don't drink, so if Mike does, you're to drive home."
"Yes, sir."
Tommy puts his feet back on and they take off.
Tor and I are already in bed when the boys come back. They try to be quiet, but Mike giggles a little while he's undressing and is none too steady when he goes to the head. I'm praying that Tommy drove them home. Mike bumps his head when he starts to get in his bunk. "Shit!" I watch Tommy patiently tuck him in, before climbing in his own bed. I know college kids tend to drink more than they should, but I'm pissed at Mike for putting Tommy through this.
To be continued...
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