He Ain't Heavy, Part Seven by patricia51

(I see the ads appearing for the return of Mason so I better get on the stick on my version of it.)

(Opportunities)

"Are you sure it was him?"

"Beyond any shadow of a doubt." A wan smile crossed Alex's face for a minute. "I mean after all Justin, how many werewolves do we know?"

He nodded. "Okay, but he wasn't a wolf right? He was back in his upright form; Wolfman I guess is the term. How did it happen? I thought he was trapped forever in that other form because of the curse he incurred."

Alex shrugged. "How would I know? I just know what happened."

"Yes, of course. Silly questions. More to myself than anyone else." He studied his sister. "You need to clean up and go to bed. It's been a night for sure. I'm just thankful nothing happened to you."

"So am I," Alex admitted with a yawn. She stumbled off to the bathroom and then to bed, slowing down only to kiss the sleeping girls.

The next morning brought debate between the siblings as the girls polished off two more stack of Justin's pancakes. Justin argued she should go see Mister Kensey and request to work days. Alex pointed out that the odds were after the fright that had been thrown into those boys that they probably were still running. Justin countered with the observation that they, especially the leader, might feel the need to prove they weren't scared and be right back there when she came home tonight. Alex shrugged and observed that was their next-of-kin's problem.

Without resolving anything Alex headed downstairs to leave on her mission to either get Justin's disability benefits or drive the social worker into a straightjacket. When she got to the ground floor she was intercepted by Mr. Johnstone the super.

"Alex, I'm glad I caught you, it will save me a trip." He handed her a card. "You had a phone call from a Herschel Laritate. He asked that you call him back as soon as you get the chance."

"Thanks Mister Johnstone."

"It was just a couple of minutes ago. You can use the phone in my office if you want."

Alex debated. She knew of course that Justin had run into their former principal. She wondered what the call might be about. Checking her watch she saw that she had a few minutes to spare before she needed to catch the bus over to the social security office. She punched out the number on the card and waited as it rang.

"Herschel Laritate," boomed the familiar voice. Alex smiled.

"Hi Mister Laritate, it's Alex Russo."

"Alex! Jumping Horned Frogs I'm glad to hear from you."

"It's nice to hear your voice too."

"Alex the reason I called you. How much college did you complete?"

"Two years."

"And your major was Art?"

"Yes." Alex was puzzled. Nice though it was to know Mr. Laritate was still thinking of her she wondered what was going on.

"Alex we don't have an Art teacher. Haven t in some time. Although I rather enjoy filling in there I have to admit my duties are going to overwhelm me. Now although without a teaching certificate you can't be hired as a regular teacher I can get you on the payroll as a long term substitute."

Her mind a whirl Alex blurted out "But Mister Laritate I don't know anything about being a teacher."

"You know and love Art though. I wouldn't pitch you into a regular classroom but this is an elective and your students would pretty much be those who wanted to be there. And of course I'd always be available in case you had trouble."

Alex admitted that it sounded good; especially after Mr. Laritate mentioned the daily stipend and that after six weeks she would be eligible for benefit, "including health care that would also cover your cousins since you are their legal guardian." She really had never thought about being a teacher but she remembered how, even though she had been a teenager trapped in a magically aged body, Jennifer Majorhealy had seemed to enjoy her teaching. Of course she had enjoyed a lot more being returned to her teenaged self, Alex remembered. She sighed. She wouldn't mind going back to those carefree teenaged years herself. But that wasn't going to be.

"How soon would you need to know Mister Laritate?"

"If you can come down to fill out the paperwork today or tomorrow I can have you start on Monday."

Alex pondered. "It sounds great but I have to go talk to my current employer. He's been very good to me and I can't leave him in the lurch."

Somehow Alex felt Laritate's smile over the phone. "My Alex you have grown up. Please do that and if he needs you for a while I can hold the position open for a bit."

Almost in a daze Alex caught the bus downtown. She plastered a smile on her face as she entered the disability office, a smile that grew more and more genuine as she realized what had happened.

Perhaps it was the smile. Perhaps it was simply that the paper-shuffler couldn't bear one more day of her. But as soon as she entered the woman's office she looked at Alex in defeat.

"Your brother's claim has been processed and approved." She rubbed her eyes. "Now will you stop coming here every day?"

"I will but I would like to ask a question first."

"I suppose you will anyway. Go ahead." came the resigned reply.

"We both know perfectly well that my brother is entitled to these benefits. You could have processed this months ago. Instead you drug your feet while he and I survived on pretty much nothing at all. Why?"

The woman looked a bit startled and then a bit shame-faced. "I know and it's wrong. You never get into trouble here by refusing or sitting on someone's application. This place breeds inaction into you and then after a while you just don't care anymore. I'm sorry."

Alex shrugged. "None of my business but I couldn't stand a job where I was rated on the people that I didn't help."

"The last form I gave you is your deposit option," replied the woman tonelessly and without looking at Alex. "Check to bank account is the recommended option. Bring it back completed and turn it in to the front window." Still looking away she added, "They'll process it immediately."

Alex decided that the form would have to wait until tomorrow. She needed to go have a talk with Mister Kensey first. Then perhaps she could pick up the girls and let Justin run some of his errands solo. Actually she felt a bit jealous that he got to spend all the time with her. With that thought Alex threw back her head and laughed out loud. Mister Laritate was right. She had grown up, whether she wanted to or not.

Justin had decided that the girls could go to the courthouse with him after cautioning them they really needed to behave. They solemnly assured him they would. Of course he knew that, their hard life had made them so quiet it was almost scary.

He was pleasantly surprised at how helpful the clerk was at the probate court. He gave one look at the papers and told Justin the will was self-proving so it would be easier to probate.

"Do you have an attorney?" When Justin admitted he didn't the clerk told him it would be easier with one to handle the announcements and so forth. Justin admitted that probably would be true but he and his sister didn't have any money. The clerk frowned and studied the will.

"Your Mother did not survive your Father?"

"No."

Then you and your sister are the heirs and you are named as the executor anyway. This gives you the authority to use available funds to hire an attorney for example. Did your Father have a bank account?"

"Actually both personal and business accounts."

The clerk stamped one of the copies of the will "Received" and handed it back to Justin. "Seriously. Get an attorney. Let him handle the bank and anyone else who is involved. That's what they get paid for and I bet he'll make sure he gets paid."

Clutching the paper Justin went home in time to meet Alex. They shared their news and decided to go to a nearby major bank and establish a checking account for the disability checks to be deposited in. Then Alex would take the form back to the office and go on to the diner. Justin would take the girls to the museum for the afternoon.

Alex knocked on Mr. Kensey's office with a great deal of trepidation. He had been so good to her. Would he feel like she was thinking of deserting him?

She needn't have worried. When she explained the school's offer he all but leaped from his desk and then he hugged her.

"Wonderful!" He drew back, held her at arms' reach and smiled. "Sorry, I got carried away. This is a great opportunity and I'm very happy for you Alex. But you do have to promise me two things."

"Anything Mister Kensey."

"First, hopefully with this new job and your brother's disability benefits finally coming in you'll be able to move somewhere nicer. In fact I insist on it. But you promise me that you ll not forget us. Please stop by now and then, for dinner I hope but for a visit at least."

"That you can count on," replied Alex, her eyes shinning. "Mister Kensey, I could never forget you or the wonderful people here."

"Speaking of that please come by this evening if you can. There are a lot of people who will want to say good-bye."

Alex nodded. "I will."

"And the other thing I want you to promise is this. During the summers and break times and maybe even in the evening I want you to go back to college. Get your degree. Become a certified Art Teacher if you find that's what you really like or go into a field that fascinates you. The potential you have is enormous Alex but these days you need a degree to go where you should be going. Deal?"

"Deal." And with that Alex hugged Mister Kensey.

As Justin and the girls got off the bus he noticed that right across the street from the museum was an office marked as belonging to the State of New York Insurance Commissioner. On an impulse he went in, promising the girls it would only be for a few minutes. The reception he got there was much nicer than he had ever received at the insurance company. A pleasant young blonde woman about his own age ushered him and the girls into her cubicle and listened attentively to his story. They discussed various options and the young woman, whose name was Sara, offered several suggestions and took extensive notes.

"Justin I can't say for certain the company's actions were illegal, although what they're doing with the health insurance policy comes darn close. They certainly are acting unethically. However I think they won't have any choice to get moving on at least one of your claims. I will start taking a look into the company and whether there have been other people treated this way."

Sara fished in her desk, pulled out a card and wrote on the back of it before handing it to Justin.

"Here's my card and the number on the front connects directly to my desk. Please keep me informed of what's going on. And on the back," she paused and then smiled as Justin turned the card over, "is my cell number in case you would like to call me about anything else."

Justin being Justin it took a moment or two for the implication of what Sara was saying to sink in. He hadn't even thought about dating in the long months since the battle and its aftermath. Partly it was a complete lack of opportunity but the majority of his hesitation was that he still loved and missed Juliet. He thought about explaining but then he looked into Sara's kind and interested eyes and for a moment he got lost.

"Well," he replied, getting his composure back, "I hope that I'll be using both numbers."

"So do I."

Justin collected the girls and headed home, feeling a combination of happiness, anticipation and a bit of guilt he realized to his surprise. But he wasn't a fool and he immediately knew where that came from. He was attracted to Sara, the first girl he had been attracted to since he had lost Juliet. And that made a part of him feel like he was being untrue to Juliet.

As the trio got onto the bus Justin continued to think, even as the girls laughed and pushed him into the open space designed to accommodate wheelchairs. He pictured Juliet; her smile, her laugh, the little quirks he adored. A Wizard and a vampire. No one would have bet on them. But they had fallen in love.

He thought of her. He was still saddened by her loss but it was no longer the soul deep sorrow that had gnawed at him at first. He whispered to himself and to someone who he thought might still watch over him.

"Is it time Juliet? Time to move on?"

He didn't hear anything in return. He didn't expect to. But there was a warm feeling as though someone dear had smiled at him.

That evening Alex walked home from the diner, carrying one last huge meal that would probably feed her, Justin and the girls for a week, not to mention the cake she balanced on top of everything else. She was a bit worried about the teen gang, hoping that she was right and that they were still running. When things got better and she knew that they were going to; phones, both home and cell were going to be in the near future.

She slowed as she crossed the street, peering cautiously into the inky darkness surrounding the alleyway. She stayed close to the street, out of range of a sudden grab. Then she stopped. She strained her ears. Breathing. Someone in there was breathing. Taking a chance she edged closer.

"Mason?"

There was a pause, just long enough for her heart to climb into her throat. Then a husky voice with no English accent but still familiar answered.

"Yes. It's me."

(To Be Continued)