Hobby Shop
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Chapter 8
The Later Years
"Hey, look what I got." Despite the whisper, the excitement was clear in the tone of voice.
"What?"
"This." Bobby opened his hand to reveal the small N scale locomotive he clutched.
"That's real little, but it looks just like a real one. Where'd you get it?" Mark asked in awe.
"You know that bunch of guys going in that big old house up the hill every Friday night?"
Mark nodded.
"Well I found a way in where they couldn't see me and guess what ..." he paused dramatically, "they was playing with trains, a lot of 'em. They got a whole room full of track and stuff and they was runnin' them trains like it was the real thing."
"I wish I could see it." Mark cried plaintively. "But ain't they gonna miss that engine you got?"
"Naa. It was in a case up on the wall in the room I was in. I couldn't see too good 'cause I didn't have no light and I was scared to open the door to the place where the men was more than just a crack. Anyway, the trains they was runnin' was bigger than this one."
"Ya think if I was to ask Papa Don, he might find out about them men and maybe they'd let me see the trains? I'd sure love to have one like that."
"You'ld get us in trouble if he was to find out, so keep yer damn trap shut! We ain't supposed to be messin' 'round that place 'cause it's a museum or somethin'." He held out his hand. "You want this? Take it."
"You mean it!" Mark cried in delight.
"Yeah. Shit, I took it just 'cause I could. Why would I want the damn thing."
"Gee, thanks, Bobby. I wish I had some track and stuff to make it run. I'll put it with my stuff and maybe someday I will." Still clutching the tiny locomotive, he hugged the older boy.
A few days later, Don answered the doorbell to find both Erik and Derik standing under the small portico. "What a pleasant surprise. Come in, gentlemen." He ushered them into his private sitting room/office. "Have a seat. May I offer you coffee?"
"I'd enjoy a cup," Erik said.
"I also," Derik echoed. "We both take it straight."
Once they were served, Don took his seat. "This is a pleasure. We don't see you often enough."
"We have been rather lax in visiting our boys and talking with their house parents," Erik said, "but since no one has mentioned any problems, we haven't been concerned and kept putting a visit off."
"You have the two newest boys, Don. How are they settling in?" Derik asked.
"Mark is the youngest; he's ten and I've been delighted at the ease with which he has apparently adapted to our lifestyle even calling me papa. He does appear to need a great deal of love and cuddling. I try to give him what I can, but you are aware of the limits I must set."
Erik nodded. "We do our best, but we can't live with and treat these kids as if they were actually our own. Any health issues?"
"No, sir. Oh, there's an occasional case of the sniffles, but nothing serious."
"Excellent. And what about the other boy?"
"You mean Bobby." Don shook his head. "I really don't know what to say. He appears to have accepted our lifestyle and he's generally protective of Mark, but ... . I don't know how to phrase it, but I have a vague feeling of worry about that kid." He shrugged. "Guess it's just my imagination, sir. Would you care to look around?"
"We would, thank you. It's been a while, so perhaps we might spot something that you miss during your inspections since you live here day in and out."
"I hope not, sir. I try to be vigilant."
"I'm certain. Are the boys good about keeping their rooms straight and clean?" Erik asked.
"Let me show you. This is Mark's room and he wouldn't mind." Don opened the door and they entered an orderly room.
Derik shook his head. "No ten year-old keeps a room this neat. Does he kick his dirty clothes in the closet?"
"No, sir." Don opened the closet door. A partially filled laundry bag sat in one corner. "Mark's real good about keeping his room neat. I do help him change his bed each week. He's too small to do it alone."
They left the room and walked down the hall to the next. "This is Bobby's room. Don't expect it to look like Mark's, because he's as sloppy as Mark is neat. I keep hoping that some of Mark's neatness will rub off on Bobby."
He opened the door. A pile of clothes lay on the floor at the foot of the bed. Through the partially opened closet door they could see more clothes on the floor, looking as if they had been kicked in.
"I'm sorry, sirs. I was about to make my morning inspection of the rooms when you arrived, so you are seeing things as they usually are. I can see that I'm going to have to have another talk with Bobby and give him some work hours as punishment."
Don closed the door behind them. "There is no one in the other room just now. As you know, Daryl is attending college and chose to live in the dorm."
Erik smiled. "Then you've heard from him?"
"Yes, sir. He's doing well; made all A's for the first grading period."
"Excellent. I'll try to drop him a line of congratulation."
Derik's brow creased in tiny lines of worry. "Don, would you show us Mark's room again? There's something nagging me."
"Of course." He took a few steps and opened the door.
Derik walked in and turned in a complete circle, observing as much as possible. He frowned as he shook his head, then jerked open the closet door, the light coming on automatically. Don and Erik watched as he stood motionless for a moment then saw his hand raise. When he turned, Derik held a tiny N scale locomotive in his hand, a look of satisfaction on his face.
"Erik, I'd swear this was Daddy Mike's little Conrail GP-40. See this tiny chip in the lens of the rear headlight? I did that when I was putting in the decoder for him." His brow creased in a frown. "Wonder how it got here? Last I knew, it was in the case in the train room with his other equipment."
Erik took the locomotive and examined it. "You certain this was Daddy Mike's?" He turned to Don. "You know if Mark has any more train stuff?"
"No, sir. If he does, it would likely be in his locker in the rec room, but I'm certain he doesn't. He's never mentioned trains to me. He does read Model Railroader, however. That's one of the magazines we get for the boys." He regarded the twins solemnly. "How do you wish to handle this, sirs? I mean the train is obviously yours since you recognize it."
"If we take it with us, I'll bet Mark never says a word about it being missing," Erik said as Derik carefully replaced the tiny locomotive where he had found it.
"But I'm willing to bet that he isn't the one who took it in the first place, sir." Don added. "I'm all but certain it must have been Bobby or one of the older boys from the other house." He shook his head. "I just can't figure how or when."
'I hate not taking this with us because it's Daddy Mike's work, but in view of what Don's just said, it needs to be here until we find out who actually took it,' he said mentally to Derik.
'Agreed.' Derik responded.
Derik looked at his watch. "We drove one of the golf carts over. Get yours, Don, and we'll go up to the house and look around. The only access outside museum hours is through a ground level basement door used by members of the model railroad club that meets every Friday night. If a member wants to work on something, the guard lets him in if he shows his I.D. Erik and I have our own keys, of course, but our train room is separate from the club's and, I thought, secure,. However, we haven't been in there recently; we spend more time in the music room practicing. Are any boys taking music that you know of?"
"No, sir."
"No matter. Without keys, they still wouldn't have access to the basement from the interior of the house."
A few minutes later they parked the carts at the rear of the museum. Derik pulled a key ring from his pocket and started toward the door leading to the entrance the club used.
"Wait a minute," Erik said, moving toward the exterior door of the laundry room. To his surprise it opened when he twisted the knob.
Derik frowned. "That shouldn't be open. The museum is closed today and other than security no one is working, to my knowledge. I shall have to speak to security, they should have noticed this and reported it. We'll go in this way."
They walked around the large commercial washing machine. The door to their train room was opened just a crack, the latch showing small signs of having been jimmied.
"Damn! Now why would anyone think there was anything of value down here?" Derik growled, pulling the door open and switching on the work lights.
"Wow! Look at that!" Don exclaimed in amazement, looking at the modules the twins had worked on so diligently some years before. "Does it work?"
"Yes. Wait a minute," Derik said and crossed to a plexiglass case hung on the wall, its shelves holding a number of N-scale locomotives and cars. Derik nodded. "Look here, Erik," He pointed to an empty piece of track. "That's where Daddy Mike's diesel was."
Erik nodded. "Yeah, I remember now. I wish we had put a lock on this case."
"But we never thought anyone would remember it. Most of those who we let see these were interested in seeing the trains running." Derik shrugged. "Well, we know where it is, anyway. Long as we're here, let's show Don some action."
For the next hour the three men lost themselves in the pleasure of running the trains again. Don gazed astounded, first at the finished appearance of the room, the overhead lighting concealed by a valance, the space below the modules covered by a drape running from the bottom of the module to the carpeted floor, creating a museum worthy appearance. Nor could he believe the amount of animation built into the modules. He finally glanced at his watch. "I've got to go, the kids will be coming in from school in a few minutes. But I thank you both for showing me this. It's really wonderful."
"We've enjoyed it, too." Erik said while Derik was shutting everything down and switching off the lights. "The club operates in HO scale and has its layout in the other half of the cellar. Perhaps some Friday night when we plan to attend a meeting, we can bring you as a visitor."
"I'd enjoy that. What shall I do about Mark and Bobby? Like I said, I'm almost certain that it was Bobby who took it. Mark's too timid to go out alone after dark and he certainly would be afraid of this huge place."
"Perhaps you should talk to Mark, telling him you found the locomotive when you were checking his room, and see what his answer is. If you run into a problem, give us a call and we'll see how we can help."
"Thank you, sirs, and thank you again for letting me see your fantastic setup."
After the boys had eaten dinner, they returned to their rooms to study and complete the homework not finished at school. Don walked the hall outside the boys' rooms quietly, monitoring their study and offering help if asked. He was surprised to see the door to Mark's room closed, against the rules during study hours.
He paused outside hearing excited whispers. Quietly opening the door, he saw Mark showing two boys from the room next door the tiny locomotive. "I believe you boys are supposed to be doing school work in your own rooms."
"Yes, sir," the two visitors said, scuttling out as fast as possible.
"Now, Mark, what have you there?" Don asked gently.
"Look, Papa Don, it's a little train engine. Ain't it pretty? I wish I had some track and all so I could run it."
"It's very nice, Mark," Don said, closing the door and sitting on the bed beside the boy. "Did you save up your allowance to buy that? It must have cost a lot of money."
Mark shook his head. "No, sir. Bobby gave it to me. He's real nice. He said men run trains like this up at that big house. I wish I could see them. I like trains a lot."
Don closed his eyes for a moment praying for guidance, knowing that taking the locomotive from Mark would break the child's heart. He put his arm around the child's shoulders. "Mark, do you think it's right to take something that belongs to someone else without their permission?"
"No, sir. I wouldn't like it if somebody took something of mine."
"That's what I was hoping you would say. Taking something that doesn't belong to you is stealing." Don picked up the locomotive. "Bobby didn't buy this to give to you, he took it from the big house. It belongs to the two fine men who built this house so boys like you would have a nice place to live, good food to eat, and the opportunity to attend the Academy to get a good education. What do you think we should do about this, son?"
"But Bobby said I could have the train. He said he didn't want it." Mark whimpered on the verge of tears.
Don squeezed Mark's tiny shoulders. "I know you like this train a lot, Mark, but it means a lot to Dr. Harmon because his father made it for him. I think if you and me took this train back to Dr. Harmon, he would be so happy he would let you see it run. I've seen his trains and they are really nice. What do you say?"
"Will ... will you'll go with me? I don't wanna go to that big house by myself. It's scary."
Don smiled. "There's nothing to be afraid of, it's just a house where the Harmons used to live, but I'll go with you. Let's go tomorrow afternoon when you get home from school. May I take this train to my office until tomorrow?"
Mark nodded sadly. "I wish I could keep it, it's so nice."
"Maybe if you ask Santa for one ..."
"But that's a long time."
Don patted the boy on the back. "But some good things are worth waiting for, aren't they?"
"I guess."
"Now finish your homework, study time is almost over."
"I'm done. Will you look at it?"
"Of course."
Don was waiting when Mark came in from school. He asked the child to carry his backpack to his room then come to his office. Mark looked handsome in his school uniform. Don handed him the locomotive. "Let's take this back to Dr. Harmon. Hold on tight," Don said, starting the golf cart.
"This is fun," Mark cried as they drove along the pathway.
"These carts save us a lot of steps when we have to go from one house to another, or to Dr. Harmon's office."
Don stopped in the rear of the house. "Let's go in." Taking Mark's hand he led the way into the back hall and to the former morning room, now Derik's office, where he tapped at the door.
"Come."
Don opened the door and gently pushed Mark into the room. "Mark, I'm so glad to see you," Derik said with a smile, "have you come for a visit, son?"
Mark pressed back against Don. "Nnnnno, sir."
"Go on, Mark," Don said softly.
The child looked up and took several steps closer to Derik, then held out his hand and opened it. "Papa Don said this was your train, sir. I'm sorry, I didn't know. It's so nice. I ... I wish I had one like it I could run."
Derik continued to smile and held out his arms. "Please bring it to me, Mark."
With dragging feet and tears welling, Mark finally crossed to Derik, holding out the locomotive. Derik took it, set it on his desk, and hugged the child. "I'm very proud of you, Mark, for bringing my train back to me. My daddy made this locomotive so it is very precious to Erik and me. I know you like trains a lot, so would you like to go downstairs with me and see my trains run?"
"Oh, please."
Clinging to Don's hand as Derik led the way down the stairs, paused to unlock one of the doors opening into the small entryway, then switched on the layout lighting rather than the work lights he had used the night before. Even Don gasped at the now fully revealed beauty of the modular layout.
"Hold me up, Papa Don!" Mark demanded, standing on tip-toe, his head swiveling from side to side as he attempted to take in the sight before him.
Don swung him up to sit on his shoulders. Mark cried out in delight as several trains began to move at the same time. Derik placed a sturdy wooden box in the central isle and walked over to Don. Holding out his arms he said to Mark, "Come stand on this box, son, and I'll show you how to run a train."
Once the child was situated so he could see a goodly portion of the layout, Derik handed him a small remote control unit and showed Mark how to control the speed of one of the trains lined up on a track in front of him. The child's face glowed with excitement as he watched the train speed up in response to his turning the knob of the control.
"It's gone," he cried in dismay as the train disappeared behind a heavily wooded site.
"No, son, look over there." Derik pointed to the portal of a tunnel at the far side of the layout. Almost as he ceased speaking, the train reappeared to Mark's delight. "Now, son, give the control to Papa Don, I want to show you some things you haven't seen."
"But I ...."
"You can run the train again after I show you more parts of the layout." Derik held the child and began to point out the automated scenes, the motor vehicles moving along the streets, the woman hanging wash, the farmer drawing water from the well for his cow, the smoking truck engine the man was working on. Mark blushed slightly then chortled in delight when the outhouse door swung open and he saw the little man seated inside.
Derik set the child back on the box and gradually darkened the room, letting the lights in the buildings, the car headlights, the streetlights begin to flash on.
"Oh, look!" Mark cried.
Don, too, gazed at the scene, eyes wide.
Derik began to reverse the lighting, letting the normal lighting brighten, the layout lights begin to flick out.
"This is almost too much to take in, sir," Don said. "It must have taken hours of work."
"It did and still does, but Erik enjoys it as much as I. This is a place we can relax and escape the stress of the world outside. We both believe that a man should have a hobby to enjoy and maintain his sanity. Have you one, Don?"
"Reading, sir. I think I would enjoy trains, but I have no skill at woodworking and I can see that's a necessity. I'm not very good with anything so tiny either."
"If you're ready for the revolt, take Mark while I shut this down and I'll show you the club layout next door. I think I told you that the club works in HO which is approximately double the size of ours. Erik and I started in that scale, but Daddy Mike lived in an apartment at the time, so N scale was more practical for him. He had already completed two beautiful modules so we changed so we could work with him."
"Do we have to go now?" Mark whined in disappointment.
"Yes, Punkin, but I'm going to show you and Papa Don some bigger trains next door."
Certain the room was now secured, Derik crossed the small entryway and unlocked the room containing the club's layout and switched on the lights.
"I bet these are the trains Bobby told me about. He said men come to run them every Friday night."
"That's right, Mark. Erik and I belong to the club, but we prefer N-gauge." Derik flipped a few switches then picked up a control. One short train began to move along the track making the sounds of a diesel locomotive. The horn blew as it approached a street crossing, the gates lowered, then raised after the train had passed.
Mark watched enchanted. "These is bigger trains and they make real sound, too."
"Yes, son. Erik and I haven't gotten around to putting sound in our locomotives yet, but we hope to."
"I like these 'cause they're bigger, but they ain't pretty as yours."
"Thank you, Mark. No, the men haven't put as much effort into the scenery and animation as Erik and I have, because these are modules they take to shows in other cities and everything must be sturdy for moving."
"I agree with Mark, sir, your layout is much more realistic looking and the animation you've added goes a long way in creating that illusion. But this scale is large enough I think I could handle it without creating a disaster."
Seeing Mark absorbed in the trains, Derik moved over to whisper to Don. "Do you think you might be interested enough to help create a small layout for Mark and perhaps any of the other boys that might be interested?"
"I wouldn't mind trying, but my time will be limited to the boys' recreation and free time and I'll certainly have a lot of questions for you, sir."
"Erik and I will be happy to help you get started. The woodworking equipment in the shop next door is ours, so you may use it at any time. I believe there is some unused room in the basement of your house. I'll have a contractor come in and put up walls and whatever might be needed, so it's suitable for a layout, but made so you can secure it as well as helping keep it clean."
"I don't know what to say, sir. That's most generous."
"I know the munchkin is going to be unhappy at not having his train, so I'll give him a HO scale train set that you can use to start the layout with. If some of the other boys get interested, I'll arrange for them to have trains also. Help Mark understand that it is his train, a reward for being honest and giving Daddy Mike's locomotive back to us."
"Thank you, sir. I know Mark will be thrilled. We can set it up on a sheet of plywood on rollers so we can keep it under his bed until the room is available, if you don't mind."
"Not at all," Derik replied. "Mark?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Would you like a train like this to play with?"
"Oh, yes, sir!" He squealed.
"You were kind enough to bring my train back to me, so I'm going to give you a bigger train to keep. Papa Don will help you set it up and get it ready to run. Is that okay?"
Mark threw his arms about Derik's waist and hugged him tightly. "Oh, yes, sir, yes, sir."
Derik opened a cabinet and pulled out a boxed train set, handing it to Mark. "Don't open this until you're back at your house, okay?"
"Thank you, thank you, sir. I love you, Mister."
Derik picked up the child and kissed him. "I love you, too, son. When you get your train set up, I will come see it." He set the child down. "Let's go now."
"What shall I do about Bobby?" Don asked as they entered the boys' house after riding the golf carts back to the house Don parented.
Erik looked at Derik for a moment before answering, "Don, we have all confidence in your ability to do your job, for you have demonstrated that quite well since you've been here, but as a doctor I believe there is an underlying cause for his behaviour that we have not determined thus far. If you have no objection, I would like to handle this personally."
Don's face expressed relief. "Please do, sir. I know I have a tendency to come down too hard on miscreants in serious situations."
"When the boys come in from school, please ask Bobby to come to Derik's office in the museum. I expect you will have to come with him to show him the way. You can let Mark go play with the boys in Pete's house. They will all probably be in the pool, so Pete will be supervising."
"Come," Erik called in response to the barely perceptible tap at his office door the next afternoon.
Don entered, preceeded by a reluctant Bobby. Erik smiled at them then indicated the chairs in front of the large desk. "Please have a seat."
Once they were seated, Erik addressed Bobby. "Bobby, I have noticed that you seem to be protective of Mark and take care of him."
"So?" The response barley escaped being surly.
"It's very commendable of you. Mark appears immature even for his young age."
"He ain't got no other kids his age to play with so he's real lonely, same as me. Why shouldn't I help him out?"
"No reason at all. I also understand you give him things from time to time. Is that true?"
"Yeah. So what? In a place like this it ain't like he's gonna get anything a kid really wants." His tone had become belligerent.
"We do our best to make our guests feel at home and happy, Bobby. Don, has Mark ever asked for any toys?"
"No, sir. He has always seemed content. He does enjoy the candy bars and comic books Bobby occasionally gives him."
"I see. Bobby, do you buy those things for Mark out of your allowance?"
"Yeah. How come all this third-degree stuff over a few comic books and some candy?"
"We would not be in this meeting were that all, son." Erik picked up a slip of paper and held it up for Bobby to see. "My brother made this note after he received a phone call from the little shop in that strip mall next to the Academy's grounds. I appears you have been seen shop-lifting comics and candy on at least two occasions. We were called because the shop keepers knew you are one of our boys and we happen to own the mall and the shops in it."
"I guess now you're gonna call the cops and hang my ass or throw me out the fucking door." Bobby yelled, jumping up.
At Erik's nod, Don's hand went to Bobby's shoulders pressing him down in the chair once more.
"Calm yourself and listen to me, Bobby. I'm far from finished. When I am, you will have a chance to tell me your side. Last evening Mark asked Don to bring him here to see Derik so that he could return the Conrail locomotive you gave him. Bobby, he loves you as if you were his brother and he was thrilled to death over your gift. Unfortunately, the locomotive was not yours to give. You had taken it from a room in the basement of this house. Worse, you had broken into the room where it was kept.
"For your information, that room and its contents belong to my brother and me. That particular locomotive is very precious to both of us because our adoptive father made it for us when we first came to this house to live. With that, he taught us to enjoy model railroading as a hobby. You must have seen the results of our efforts while you were in the room.
"Because Mark placed such a high value on your gift, but was honest enough to return it to its rightful owner, we gave him a small but complete HO train set which will be easier for him to play with as it's larger than our N scale equipment. He also got to run one of our trains for a while which helped heal his hurt feelings."
Erik smiled at Bobby. "Okay, now I'm finished. You talk."
Bobby stared at him. "What difference is it gonna make? You're gonna throw me out anyway."
"Bobby, as much as possible we have tried to make this home a real home for you guys. True, Don, nor Derik, nor I are your real parents, but as much as you can, we would like for you to feel that we are. Legally, we stand in loco parentis which means in the place of parents. We want you guys to feel free to come talk over your problems with us and ask us for help, even just to ask us for things you might want.
"Mark is still acclimating to living here, but the other guys, with the exception of you, often come to their house fathers or Derik and me with their problems and requests. That makes us feel really good and we both plan to try to do more things with you guys when you want."
Erik glanced at Don. "Don, please give Bobby and me a few minutes together."
"Of course, sir."
Once Don had closed the office door behind him, Erik looked at Bobby again. "I wish you would tell me what it is that's really bothering you, Bobby. You're intelligent, but you aren't trying at school and there is quite a list of little things as we've already determined."
"Need justification to salve your conscience for throwing me out?" Bobby sneered.
Erik shook his head. "I told you this is your home. We'll no more throw you out than your blood father would. We couldn't even if we wanted to, because you're underage."
"Fat lot you know," Bobby growled. "That's exactly what the old fucker did after he beat the shit outta me." Last reserves breached, Bobby began to sob.
Erik quickly pulled Bobby up and hugged him, stroking his back to console him, knowing that the lack of love and the pain of abuse had now found an opening. When the tears lessened, Erik guided Bobby to the sofa and they sat down, Bobby's head against Erik's shoulder, Erik's arm around him.
Finally, Bobby began to talk. "After momma died, my old man started to drink. Weren't long before he was drunk whenever he weren't at work. One night when I was gettin' ready for bed, he come into my room and threw me face down on the bed. He said he needed a fuck. I tried to fight him off, but he worked on the docks, so he was a lot stronger than me. Man, it hurt like hell, but when I screamed, he slapped me and stuffed one of my socks in my mouth. I didn't think he was ever gonna finish, but when he did he left me lying there. I hurt so bad and there was blood everywhere. Somehow I got to the bathroom and got in the tub. We didn't have no shower. After I soaked 'til the water was cold, I felt a little better, so I got back in bed. It was bloody, but I hurt too bad to change the sheets.
"Next mornin' I woke up when he went out and slammed the backdoor. I still hurt so bad I stayed in bed and skipped school. I didn't eat nothin' all day, then he come home. I could tell he had already stopped at the bar for a few with his buddies. He yelled he was coming up and I better be ready to give him some lovin'. He was pissed 'cause I hadn't fixed no supper for him.
"When he come in, he was holdin' a big bottle of beer. He set it down to take off his shoes and pants, so I knew what he was gonna do to me. When he bent over to take off his shoes, I grabbed that bottle and busted it on top of his head. He fell flat on the floor and didn't move. I was hoping I'd killed the fucker. I grabbed some clothes. took what money he had in his pocket and what I had saved up, and split. 'Bout time I got to the street, I heard him yellin' he'd better not get his hands on me, so I knew he weren't dead. I got on the RT with no ticket, but I was lucky an' the conductor didn't come through. I rode it downtown and found some guys would let me share a squat with them till I run outta money. Some guy found me 'bout three weeks later and brought me here." Bobby raised his tear streaked face. "I had to snitch whatever I could to eat, 'cause I wasn't gonna let no body fuck me if I could help it. I still hurt too bad from what the old man did." A flicker of a smile crossed his lips. "I got real good at snitchin' stuff, never got caught, either."
"Oh, Bobby, Bobby, no wonder you haven't trusted us, son. No one is going to hurt you here. Let us help you and try to make your life happy."
"You mean it? You ain't gonna throw me out?"
"No, son. Go wash your face in the bath over there, then I have something to show you."
When Erik started down the stairs to the basement, Bobby followed slowly. Erik opened the door to his train room and switched on the lights as he had for Mark.
"You didn't notice all this, did you, Bobby?"
Bobby only shook his head, his eyes wide.
Erik started the trains, pointing out the animated scenes and finally letting Bobby control one. After only a few moments, Bobby set the control in its holder and started to cry once more.
"What's wrong, son?" Erik asked.
"This ... this is so nice and I almost screwed it up." He flung his arms around Erik. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sir. Please don't make me leave."
"No one will make you leave, son. This is your home." He began to switch off the power to the layout. "I want to show you something else."
He led Bobby across the entry to the club layout. "This is the one built by the club. They come in to work on it every Friday night, also to run the trains. Mark's train is the same size as these. See the difference?"
Bobby nodded. "Yeah. These will be better for him."
"Do you like them?"
"The trains? They're okay. I mean your trains are a lot nicer than these. But I ain't wantin' them for a hobby or nothin'. What I wish I had was some tools for woodworking. I took a class of that in school and I really liked it."
"Let me show you something else." Erik opened a door at the back of the room, switching on the lights so Bobby could see the well equipped wood working shop. "This is our shop, but we let the train club use it as well as the museum." Erik turned and put his hands on Bobby's shoulders, looking into his eyes. "How much do you like Mark?"
"I really love him like he was my little brother. He's so little he needs me to protect him and ain't nobody better hurt him 'cause I'll sure hurt them back."
"Mark is going to need a platform to put his train on until we can have as room fixed in the basement for the guys to put up a layout if they want. Since you like to work wood, would you be willing to make the base for him? I'll see that you have what you need to work with if you'll make a list and give it to me."
"You mean like take a sheet of plywood and put some rollers on it so he can push it out of the way when he ain't playing with his train?"
"Exactly. It'll need to be small enough to fit under his bed until we can get a room fixed in the basement of your house for him to put his trains in."
"I can do that in one afternoon if you let me use these tools."
"If Mark wants to fix his layout up, then Derik and I will help you, but we want you to work with Mark most of the time and maybe teach him to grow up a little."
Erik put his arm around Bobby's shoulders once more. "It's time for dinner, so let's go. And thank you. son."
"Fer what? I ain't done nothin'. I gotta thank you fer lettin' me stay and helpin' me. I swear I won't never take nothin' again."
"Good. That promise and your promise to help Mark is all the thanks I need."
The next weekend, Don asked the twins to his apartment for coffee after dinner on Friday evening. As they talked, he reported glowingly on Bobby's behaviour. "He's not the same kid. I don't know what you did Doctor Erik, but he's cooperative, doing his school work, and has Mark's train all fixed for him to play with. Mark knows you're here, so I expect he'll be asking you to see his train very soon. He's as proud of it as he can be, but he wants it to look like yours."
"I'll make up a list of things we'll need, and take Bobby and Mark to the hobby shop to get them in the morning. Derik and I will help them get started tomorrow afternoon."
"Thank you, sirs."
Once the promised room in the cellar of the boy's house was completed, Mark's layout began to expand. Two new boys were eager to help and the Friday night adult group sponsored the interested boys as a junior club, teaching them new skills. Derik and Erik frequently ate dinner with the boys of each house, developing a closer bond with them. After dinner, they would work with Mark and the two other train enthusiasts to improve the ever expanding layout begun with Mark's train. With ever increasing skill, Bobby happily helped create the modules and other wood work.
Despite his increasing independence and maturity, Mark's affection for Bobby remained as strong as ever. In turn, Bobby now claimed to one and all that Mark was his little brother.
When Don, Erik, and Derik attended graduation exercises at the Academy, Derik remarked to Erik. "I wondered if you knew what you were doing with Bobby over the locomotive business, but I have to admit that for a quack doctor who isn't a shrink, you were certainly successful."
"If I'm a quack, you're a rapicious industrialist stealing the bread from widows and orphans," Erik fired back.
Don grinned at the insults lovingly exchanged and addressed one of his own to Erik. "Sir, I must say that you are wrong in one thing. Dr. Derik puts bread in the mouths of orphans, not steal it from them and for sure there's a lot of love goes with it."
Erik smiled at Derik. "I guess we both do what little good we can. Thanks to Daddy Mike and Pop, we have enough love to share with the kids like he shared with us."
To be continued...
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Posted: 06/13/08