Chapter 3 Memories
They stayed with the vet for the next week, until the stitches were removed and Bogg could get around without limping. Jeffrey spent part of each evening studying a book about First Aid, explaining that this was important knowledge for him to have if he was to continue with Phineas in Field Work, and Bogg had to agree. Any time he had a question, he asked the vet and Bogg found himself getting a refresher of his Survival First Aid course at the Academy as he listened to Jeff's questions and the answers. He had to admit that it was a productive use of their time.
During the day, Jeff often traveled around the sanctuary with the vet, assisting him in his duties, soaking up all the knowledge he could. He returned the first day with Bogg's vest and boot, and Bogg was able to make some repairs so they were again useable.
The vet was quite taken with Jeff, and by the time they were ready to leave, asked Bogg if he would leave Jeffrey for another month to help with all the spring birthings.
"Do you realize that vet wants you to stay here as his assistant?" Bogg told Jeff when they were getting ready to leave.
"You're kidding. I kinda thought all my questions were bothering him," Jeff said.
"It's no joke. Kid, you're the kind of person that everybody loves. You should know that by now."
Jeff looked down at the floor and his face fell as his thoughts flew unbidden to his Aunt Elizabeth. He was surprised, because he'd shut her out of his memories for a long time now. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he'd thought of her. He'd been too embarrassed to tell Bogg anything about her. She'd never liked him, even when his parents were alive, never mind love. He suddenly felt angry at Bogg for saying that everybody loved him, Bogg didn't know anything about it. The truth was, that aside from giving him food and shelter, Aunt Elizabeth had never cared about him at all. In the 6 months he'd lived with her, he couldn't remember one kind word, and she had never hugged him, not even once. In fact, he'd never even told anyone about what happened during the accident that claimed the lives of both his parents until he'd explained it all to Bogg at Kitty Hawk. Hardly anyone had asked, and those that did, didn't want to listen.
"Jeff?" Bogg asked, confused about why he was so quiet.
Jeff swallowed and pushed those thoughts back into the corner of his mind where they'd been hiding for so long. He smiled and shrugged, "so when are we leaving?" he asked.
"You okay?" Phineas asked. He'd caught a glimpse of some kind of emotion on Jeff's face that made him feel uncomfortable.
"Sure," but Bogg thought Jeff's light-hearted response was a bit forced.
He sighed and took out the omni, vowing to himself to get to the bottom of whatever was troubling Jeff. He'd just given him a compliment, and it was true, he wasn't making it up, everyone who got to know Jeff, did end up caring about him. He was a great kid. Surely that was as obvious to Jeff as it was to him. He couldn't imagine what was going on.
As Jeff touched his arm, he sighed and hit the button on the omni.
