This is based off the novel, Do You Know the Monkey Man by Dori Butler, though very loosely.
This first chapter is just a prologue, we'll get to know the characters more in the next one. Endgame couples: Snowing, Prince Beauty, Ruth/Eudora and Outlaw Queen. This is mostly a story about family. I'm one of the like 4 people that wonder what could've been if James and David had a good relationship.
June 3rd, 2001
A pair of identical plush monkeys sit on the shelf above their beds. Brown fur, black bead eyes and stitched smiles that never fade. A gift from Grandma Vidia when they were first born. Identical and never far from the other, just like David and James.
David kneels up on his bed. He pulls down the monkey and buries his face into the fur. His forehead burns fiercely and every part of him hurts. David rubs fiercely at his eyes and despite his fighting, a yawn escapes his lips.
"Davey."
David looks up and comes face to face with his brother. For once, they're not dressed alike. David's still in his Thomas the Tank Engine pajamas. James wears khaki shorts and a blue polo. Sunscreen slathers his cheek, arms and legs.
"Are you comin'?" James asks.
David nods. "Yes."
Ruth enters the doorway, her dark curls rocking as she shakes her head no. "Davey, we've been over this. You have a fever."
A pout falls across his lips. "I'm fine! I'm not sick!"
Ruth gives him a sympathetic smile. "Remember the thermometer, sweetie? It's a fever."
"I'm not sick," David repeats. "I wanna go with Jamie and Daddy."
"I'll give Davey lots of juice and medicine," James pipes up. "Then we can go."
Ruth pats his shoulder. "You're such a good brother but David needs lots of rest."
James frowns and she sighs, pulling him up into her arms and carrying him over to David's bed. She sits beside David and runs her fingers through his hair. He leans against her and James leans down to play with his ear.
"It's the beginning of summer, boys," Ruth says. "We can go out on the boat lots after David gets better. Just the three of us."
"What about Daddy?" James asks.
Ruth's smile fades and she cuddles her sons closer. "We talked about this, bubba. Your daddy and I love you so very much, but we just don't love each other anymore. Daddy's going to move in with Uncle Albert and you two can see him on the weekends."
David picks at the patch on her shirt. "I want Daddy to live here. With all of us."
"I know you do, Punkin." Ruth kisses the top of his head. "But this is going to be best for everyone, you'll see." David looks over at James, neither convinced. "I know it's hard to understand now, but you will when you're older. And for now, Jamie can have a special day with Daddy on the lake. Davey and I will watch TV and read comic books. It'll be fun. I promise."
David lets out a loud, dramatic sigh, which James copies. Ruth chuckles, giving them each another kiss. Robert comes in through the doorway, a tote slung over his shoulder. It's the first time in a while that David doesn't smell the grown-up juice on him. How is it fair that James gets to have a special day with him? David was going to come too, before his mom started saying he was sick.
"We gotta get going James," Robert says, leaning against the frame. "Say goodbye to your mama and brother."
James nods. "Can I bring my monkey?"
"Sure, little man."
James wraps his arms around David's neck, causing his brother to squirm until he loosens his grip a bit. David returns the hug.
"Bye Jamie. Bring a frog home," he mumbles, his eyes growing heavy.
"'Kay Davey. Don't read the Iron Man comic without me."
"I won't."
James pulls away and presses a kiss to Ruth's cheek. "Love you, Mama."
"I love you too, bubba, to the moon and back." She squeezes him tightly. "Mind your daddy.'
"'Kay kay."
He crosses the room to his own bed and crawls up a bit to reach his monkey. Ruth can barely get out a "be careful" before he swings down to the floor, landing on his feet. She gently rolls her eyes and shakes her head while David gives James a thumbs up. Robert enters the room, looking down at his son. David half-smiles, rubbing his eyes once more.
"Bye Daddy." Robert frowns. "Sorry I got sick."
"Don't apologize, little man. Feel better." He presses the back of his hand to David's forehead. "Ruth, are you sure the boy is sick?"
She scoffs. "It's 102.3. I'm taking him to the…d-o-c-t-o-r…once you two leave. You know I wouldn't keep him from this if it wasn't necessary."
Robert's face remains unchanged. "Fine. I love you, David."
He bends down and kisses David's forehead. David smiles a little. His dad doesn't give hugs or kisses. Mama is very cuddly and loving, but she says Robert is different. Not everyone shows their love the same. David can't remember the last time he was this close to his brother.
"Love you, Daddy. Have fun."
"Thanks, sport."
Robert slips his hand through his other son's. James has a one arm grip on his monkey. He looks over his shoulder at David and Ruth, waving until he's out of sight. Ruth pushes back some of David's curls.
"You get some rest, baby. We're going to go for a little ride in a bit but you can sleep first."
"Don't need a nap, Mommy," David mumbles, cuddling his monkey closer. "'m not a baby."
"Of course not, sweetheart. Just rest your eyes."
David fights it for a few minutes, but eventually unconsciousness takes over.
David's not a baby, but he takes three naps that day. Once before visiting Dr. Carter, another on the ride home and a final one after he devours his mother's tomato rice soup for lunch. His mommy gives him yucky medicine before his last nap and he attempts to get the taste out by licking his monkey a few times.
He awakes a few hours later to the sound of the doorbell, still exhausted and very thirsty. David pushes back the heavy covers and stumbles out of bed, holding his monkey close to his chest. He manages to make it halfway down the stairs when he sees his mommy standing by the door. Her hand thrown over mouth, tears streaming down her face. David half-tumbles down the last few steps. A police officer is on the other side of the door, a frown on his face.
"Your husband had no injuries but he was taken to the hospital," the officer says.
"James," Ruth mutters. "James has to be there!"
"We're going to do everything we can to find him, ma'am. But the only thing we recovered of a child is a stuffed animal, a brown monkey."
Ruth sobs, falling to her knees. David rushes to her side and throws his arms around her. He glares up at the policeman.
"You made my mommy cry!"
Ruth cries harder and pulls him into her arms, pressing a million kisses to his face. David squirms, kicking his legs a little.
"Mommy, is Jamie home yet? Where's Daddy?"
"Oh, my baby." Ruth cuddles him closer and David frowns.
"Ma'am," the policeman interrupts. "Is there anyone we can call? Someone that can stay with the boy while we take you to the hospital?"
"My um, my parents. She's in the house right across from ours. Vidia and Dayton Coventry."
David is confused. Not just for the next few hours, but probably the next few months. Grandma and Grandpa come to stay with him while Mommy leaves with the policeman. Vidia makes David hot chocolate and Dayton lets him watch cartoons, even though he's already watched his hour of TV that day. They make a fort and eat popcorn for dinner. He doesn't understand why Vidia looks sad and Dayton is quiet when he asks when his parents and James will be home.
Grandma tucks him into bed that night and promises Ruth will be home in the morning.
"Jamie and Daddy too?" David asks.
Grandma kisses him goodnight before leaving the room. It's David's first time sleeping in his room alone, but it won't be the last.
Ruth and Robert come home around lunch the next day. Robert has a bandage on his head and Ruth's eyes are red.
"Where's James?" is the first thing David asks, frustrated. Did he get to go on adventure like Max in Where the Wild Things Are? It's their favorite book and they always wanted to take Mommy's boat to the island with all the monsters.
Robert doesn't answer. He sinks into the chair, staring at the TV. The news is still on from when Dayton put it on that morning.
Ruth explains that there was an accident. The boat flipped over, both James and Robert fell out. The police are looking for James, but they haven't yet.
"Where is he?" David presses. "Did he go to an island?"
Ruth smiles, even though tears are falling down her face. "We don't know, baby. But we hope we can find him soon."
"Was James wearing his life vest? You said we had to wear them in case we ever fell out of the vest."
Ruth looks at her husband, anger building up on her face. Robert stares at the TV. "He should've been wearing his life vest, Davey, you're right."
Every day, David asks his mom if they've found James. Each time, she looks as if she's going to cry again. Eventually, David stops asking. He doesn't want to see his mom sad. Robert moves out the next weekend, like he planned to. He says James will come home. David spends a lot of time with his grandparents. Ruth is at the lake. She says she's helping the police search.
Three weeks before David starts first grade, his mom and grandparents sit him down. Ruth explains that the police have looked very hard but they couldn't find James. She starts crying again and Dayton wraps an arm around her. Vidia squeezes David's hand and pulls him onto her lap.
"Sweetie, sometimes when people go missing, they can't be found. The lake is very deep. The police think James went to Heaven, like your daddy's parents."
But when his poppy died, David remembers seeing him one last time. He was very still, almost sleeping. They got to say goodbye and then James found loads of crackers in the back of the church for them to eat.
When they have James' funeral, they can't say goodbye to him. He's not in the casket like Poppy was. Instead, it's filled with his favorite comics, action figures and a picture of the twins with their parents when they went to New York the year before. Ruth wants to add James' monkey but Robert insists that he wants to hold onto it. David brings his own to the service.
"But where is James?" David asks.
"We told you, son," Robert says. But he didn't. David hasn't seen him since he moved out. "They can't find James' body."
"Then he could still be out there."
Robert's eyes narrow. "He's not."
"That stupid bed is filled with all his toys. He'll need them when he comes back!"
"David." Robert drops to his knees and takes hold of David's shoulders. David frowns and squirms, it hurts. "Your brother is dead. He isn't coming back. He won't need those damn toys ever again. Now cut this out before you upset your mother."
Mommy is already crying but David doesn't mention James for the rest of the service. After they bury the funny looking bed-casket, Grandpa called it a casket-everyone heads in separate directions. Robert thrusts the monkey into the back of his truck and gets in, zooming off. Ruth lifts David into her arms and nuzzles her cheek against his.
"I've got you, baby," she whispers. "I've got you. It's just us now."
It'll remain the two of them for 8 years until Ruth meets Eudora. David sleeps in a room meant for two children, alone. He gets older, the pictures on the wall changing with each holiday and picture day. Next to David's junior class photo is James' kindergarten portrait. Marks on a doorframe show him growing like a weed, outgrowing his brother who never got a chance to become as tall as him.
They visit the cemetery on the anniversary of the accident. They leave toy cars, balloons and flowers. All are weatherworn by the following year, the flowers wilted. Ruth says it helps her to visit, to feel connected to the son she lost.
The older he gets, David stands silently by her side. His brother doesn't lay there but he isn't sure if he does at the bottom of the lake either.
But he doesn't want to see his mom cry, so David lays a Hot Wheel by the stone.