The Future Awaits
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Chapter 10
The next morning I drag the boys out of bed, wondering how they managed to get up for class when they roomed in the dorm. While they're dressing, I fix breakfast. Mike drives us to school, where I have him park in the faculty lot near my office.
After checking the roster of students in my class, I immediately launch into my lecture, following my 'start tough, ease up later' philosophy. I know that young as I look, the opposite tactic would never work. I have to stifle a smile when I overhear one student whisper to another, "I thought you said this guy would be a pushover."
I see three students sidle in late. While I'm telling them I'll see them after class, I note that several have come to class without text or notebook. I shrug mentally. It's their loss, but near the end of the period I give them all a stern lecture about promptness and being prepared, especially for lab sessions, then let them go. I return to my office for a cup of coffee, and catch up the paperwork while I'm waiting for Mike and Tommy.
They both come in with broad grins. "I think I'm glad I don't have you for a teacher," Tommy says.
"Why?"
"There's a bunch of guys outside bitching about a new teacher they say's a real bastard," Mike says. "Got to be you."
"This isn't play-school you know. How'd your classes go?"
"Good. English is going to be tough, but I like the prof."
"Yeah, he's okay. I think law's going to be interesting." Tommy adds. "Econ's going to be tough."
"English I might be able to help you with, but not math. I didn't take any more than I could get by with."
"I know you got to know good English to write books." Tommy says.
"That's all technical stuff I'm familiar with. The computer catches the grammar and spelling errors; that's why I use it. Mike has the same program in his computer, so it'll be a help to you."
"I don't know what to do when it underlines things in red and green."
"I'll help you until you're familiar with it. Mike can, too. You taking keyboarding?"
He nods.
"Good. I can help you there. You guys ready to go eat?"
Our flat has a TV set, so the boys are fascinated with all the choices cable offers. They are channel surfing that evening while I'm catching up on some reading. Suddenly I hear Mike yell, "Wow! Look at that!" I glance up to see an amputee
soccer game in progress.
Tommy seems as interested in watching as Mike, so I go back to my reading until the game is over, then fire up my computer and get on-line. When I find the site I want, I call the boys over.
"This is the amputee soccer site, Mike. All the rules for the game are here if you want to read them."
"How'd you know about this, dad? Did you play?"
"There wasn't a team close enough for me to do that, even if I had known how. After I lost my leg I found several sites for amputees."
"Will you show me some of them?" Tommy asks.
"Sure. It's a little late tonight, so remind me when we have time to do a search."
"Thanks. I didn't know people like me could play games like that, but those guys looked like they was having a lot of fun."
The next evening, I get Tommy settled in front of my computer and show him how to call up the sites I've book-marked for him. He seems fascinated there is so much to see. At one point he says, "I wish I could swim like those guys. I know I could do that."
"Don't they offer swimming in PE?"
"Yeah, but I don't want nobody seeing me and I'd have to use my crutches. It's a lot of trouble."
"We'll have four days at home over the Fourth, so we can teach you. Tor's an excellent swimmer and I'm not bad. Mike swims well, too."
"Damn right, I do. When I was a little guy Tor tossed me in and made me swim. Scared hell out of me the first time, but he and dad teach you fast." Mike yells from across the room.
"I don't know. That ocean looked mighty rough and I 'spect there'll be lots of people, too."
"I wouldn't let you near the ocean not knowing how to swim. We'll teach you from the little beach by our boat. The sound is very shallow."
"That'll be okay." To see his reaction because he's so shy, I'd marked an e-surgery site that doctors pictures so they look like amputees. I see his eyes suddenly widen, then he looks at me, pointing to the picture. "That kid ain't got no feet, just like me."
"He has feet."
"Where? I don't see none."
I draw up a chair and sit down next to him. "He sent this picture of himself to this site, and they used a computer to make it look as if his feet are gone at the ankles."
"Why'd he do that?"
"Just to see how he would look. He might even wish it was for real."
"He's gotta be nuts if he wants that."
"Why?"
"Cause it's a pain trying to get around, even with feet like mine. And he sure can't want people lookin' at him, seein' a cripple."
"Is that what you think I see when I look at you or Tor? Is that what you see when you look at us?"
"No way. I just see men I really like."
"That's the way I see you, but your stumps do look nice."
He almost falls off his chair. "Hunh? You mean I don't look weird or somethin' with no feet?"
"No more than that kid does. Look at this." I pull up another site and show him the many pictures of amputees. "These guys are for real. The pictures are here because a lot of people enjoy looking at them."
"Whackos?"
"Professors, doctors, lawyers, people of all types."
"Them ain't whackos. They got education."
"Exactly. Let me show you a couple of real jerks."
"Go for it, dad." Mike comes running over. He's seen this picture before and loves it.
I pull up a picture of Tor and me on the beach in tiny Speedo trunks. He has his stump around me to hold me up, the end clearly visible as is mine.
"That's you and Tor! How'd it get here?" Tommy asks.
"We met a guy on the beach one day who really liked to be around amps. Back then, Tor and I were shy about letting anybody see our stumps, but he was so sincere about it, we got to talking. He asked us a lot of questions about how it felt and all, then told me he wished his leg was gone like mine, because he thought my stump looked so nice. He asked to take our picture and gave me the address for this site."
"Don't you hate knowing anybody with a computer can see you?"
"It bothered me a little at first, but he helped Tor and me get over being so sensitive. Now I don't care and neither does he. Keep this between us, Tommy, but neither Tor nor I would be where we are today if a guy who liked amputee kids hadn't given us a home and an education."
"Like what you're givin' me."
"One big difference. That guy liked to make it with school age boys. Mike can tell you we're not interested in either one of you sexually. You're our sons and that's the way we'll treat you. We'll be happy if you and Mike find some girl friends."
Tommy looks relieved. "I was wonderin' what I'd do if I ever found one. I'd want her to meet you and Tor and all, but I weren't sure you'd like it, you and Tor being … ."
"Say it, Tommy. The word is lovers, and we're not ashamed of it. We'll be delighted to meet any girl you and Mike want to bring home."
He looks rueful. "Don't guess I'll be bringin' one home any time soon. Ain't no girl around school gonna go out with an Indian, specially if he ain't got no feet. Guess I should of stayed on the reservation."
"Bull shit!" Mike bursts out. "What about that girl in English? She's always looking at you like she could eat you up."
"Oh, man, she's way out of my class. She ain't never even spoke to me."
"Hell, I wouldn't either."
"How come? You was okay that first day I come to the room."
"And how damn long did it take before you'd give me the time of day? Took a week before you'd even undress in front of me, much less talk."
"I was scared of you, man. You're good lookin', an' you talk nice, an' I knew you could room with most anybody you wanted. I figured if you knew I was Indian and didn't have no feet, you'd move out."
Mike pulls him up and hugs him. "Yeah. I really hate having a cripple red-skin for a brother."
Tommy hugs him back. "An' I hate you for bein' all them things I just said."
I smile at them, thrilled that this has apparently broken the last of Tommy's doubts. He'll truly be a part of our family now.
Friday afternoon I've not been in the flat more than ten minutes when I hear the door crash open and somebody bellow, "Where the hell are you?"
"Tor!"
He grabs me in a hug and kisses me. "Who the hell did you think it was? The milkman? It better not be."
"God, I've missed you."
"I swear these five days have seemed like five years. I'm not sure I can make it to the weekends for a whole year without you."
"Yeah, you will. Start another book if your classes aren't keeping you busy enough."
"I might have to. That first text we did needs revising." He grins. "The research will give me a perfect excuse to stay up here a few days once in a while."
"You know where the bed is."
"Speaking of which, where're the kids?"
"Both out somewhere."
He pulls me toward the bedroom. "Quit wasting precious time."
We're back in the living room having a beer and talking over our work when the boys come in. "Dad!" Mike yells and throws himself on Tor. Tommy's more restrained, but warm in his greeting, especially after Tor gives him a hug, too.
"Okay, guys, get ready to go eat."
"We going out?" Tommy asks.
"Damn straight, we are. And put on something besides those jeans, I see 'em all week. I want to see a couple of good looking guys for a change."
We go back to the steak house. The boys monopolize the conversation, telling Tor about their classes. When Tor starts to cut his steak, Mike reaches across and grabs his hand, looking at it. "New one?"
"Yeah. It's better than the hook and isn't affected all that much by water. Works with the cable on the arm just like the hook does, except the thumb works opposite the fingers. It's called a prehensor hand. I hate that name. Prehensor sounds like prehensile which literally means to seize, but it also can refer to a rear end appendage like an animal's tail."
Mike snickers. "Rear end, hunh? Maybe that tells you where you should attach it."
Tor reaches over and thumps Mike on the head with his real hand. "Smart ass. See if I bring you here again."
Tommy giggles.
"You have any smart comments to make, young man?"
"No, sir. I'm gonna behave."
"Good. One of you at a time is all I can take."
Sunday afternoon arrives before it seems possible. Tor walks toward our car with an arm around both boys. "You guys behave and do your work. When you come home on the 4th, I may have a surprise for you, Tommy."
"Thanks, Tor. What?"
"No surprise if I tell you."
He hugs the boys and me, giving me a kiss. "Next weekend, babe."
To be continued...
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