Day 24: All the Hugs
The Rock of Her Family
"Yes, yes, of course. I understand."
Donatella listened, her hand cupping her mouth. Augustus paced with the cordless phone. Back and forth, back and forth, he walked as the mysterious woman informed them everything they needed to know about their son. Donatella's heart thundered, the worry etched into her husband's face more frightening despite the warm voice on the other end.
"...and don't worry, Razputin is a lovely boy. He's getting along so well with the other children. I'm sure whatever happened between you two will be smoothed over by the time you come to pick him up," the counselor insisted. Her name was Milla Vodello. Donatella was certain she had read that name in one of Raz's poorly hidden comics. "But are you sure I can't persuade you otherwise to let him join our classes?"
"No," Augustus curtly interjected. He scowled, nostrils flaring. "I appreciate you taking him in, Ms. Vodello, but my family does not coalesce with psychics. Not after everything they've done to us."
Donatella expected an edge in Milla's voice, but she only produced that same, comforting tone. "I'm sorry if this is too personal, but what have psychics done to you? You know, Razputin is psychic, and if there is trouble at home, then I can offer any help to your family. It's why I really am stressing for permission to allow him to train. Maybe it will offer you a different perspective on us psychics?"
Donatella warningly held his shoulder. Augustus was letting his emotions rule him. They needed to be guarded. If they gave more defenses, then it allowed the psychics to snatch Raz away and further poison his mind. Even if it was a summer camp that promised protection for children, psychics harmed them time and time again, and they would not lose their son to them.
Augustus sighed. "It's a long story, and speaking of that word, I still have a long distance to travel to reach your camp. I'd like to hang up now, Ms. Vodello. I'll be there by nightfall to pick up Razputin."
Milla did not immediately answer. Donatella clenched her fists.
"I see. Well, I do hope you change your mind because Razputin is very special."
"I'm sure she says that about every child," Donatella huffed under her breath.
"While there are children here who have different abilities and strengths, your son is impressing us. His mental defenses are armored like a tank as one of my colleagues has said."
Donatella gripped his arm when Augustus' expression tightened. She slowly shook her head. The psychic was baiting them, luring them into a false sense of security. Augustus nodded, and Donatella stepped away, letting him finish the conversation with platitudes and soft-spoken remarks.
As he hung up, Donatella said, "Auggie, she's a dangerous woman."
His heavy shoulders sagged, already weighted with grief over last night's incident. "I know. She said everything in such a way that I was almost convinced the camp was good for him."
Donatella pursed her lips. She wished she could've rewound time. If she had, she could've prevented her son from fleeing his family. She could've stopped Augustus' harsh words from impaling him, his intentions meaningless when Raz ran to their enemies for comfort. When the oldest siblings reported him missing in the morning, the scream she had uttered woke up the entire caravan.
"I'll leave right away," Augustus promised, handing her the phone.
She cupped his face, fingers trembling. "Be gentle with him. He's confused. He doesn't know any better."
He nodded, closing his eyes. She felt his anguish. How he had torn up that pamphlet, the papery shreds landing on their son, it ate them up inside. She replayed the scene in her mind, watching herself standing to the side with Mirtala covering her mouth. Had she intervened, she could've averted such despair from slicing through their family.
And to prove that point, they walked from the caravan and into another dispute.
Although it was still the early afternoon, it was as if darkness plagued their children. Mirtala hunched into a ball on a quilt, covering her eyes and weeping. Queepie rubbed her back, and Frazie tapped her foot, a bundle of jitters. Dion, however, stood over Mirtala, arms crossed, and Donatella heard Augustus gasp, for it was like revisiting yesterday's misery.
"Come on, Tala. Don't cry. You're getting boogers all over the quilt Nona made you," Queepie said.
"If I just didn't complain, then Pooter would still be here! And he wouldn't be so mad at us and mostly with me!" Mirtala sobbed. She dragged her tiny hands across her large eyes, unable to catch her tears. "I didn't wanna get so mad! I just didn't want him throwing me off in front of people! But-but-but-!
Dion's voice cut through her weeping. "Yeah, you know what? You're right, Tala. Learn how to ignore his freak powers like the rest of us do."
As Donatella felt her husband stiffen, Frazie gasped. "Dion! Don't say that! What's wrong with you? Do you want me to slug you?"
"Maybe she should've just shut up! Because she could've pretended that he didn't touch her rinky-dink crown! There wouldn't have been a problem if she didn't react!"
"You can't blame her! Pooter is the one who abandoned us for dirty psychics!"
"Exactly! But I still can be mad at Tala for acting out like a dope!"
Mirtala bawled harder and apologized through snot and tears. Queepie said something that was muffled by the arguing between their oldest children. Donatella shivered, a wave of disgust and horror crashing over her. She had never wanted to see her family in such disarray. It was as if they were imitating their parents, mimicking the hatred they shared for psychics and taking it out on each other.
"Auggie," she whispered to her shell-shocked husband, "Auggie, say something. They need you."
But weathered hands parted them. Donatella flinched, and Augustus gasped, as they watched the smaller, older woman hobble between them. The children snapped to attention, shocked. Mirtala quickly dried her eyes but could not stop her quivering lips, and the dark hue crossing Dion's cheeks spoke of his embarrassment.
Nona crept toward them. She glanced at her son and his wife, smiled, and ambled to the children. She gestured for them to follow, asking, "Now, now, what's all this arguing, and why has it interrupted my nap?"
"Nona-" Donatella tried to speak but her mother-in-law shook her head.
"I was talking to the little turnips," she said with a knowing twinkle in her eye.
Dion's bravado collapsed. As Nona approached and patted his knee, he crouched by her, sniffled, and buried his face into her worn shawl. Nona cooed over him, patting his back and gesturing for the other children to approach. Frazie hesitated, but Mirtala barreled into her chest, almost knocking her over if Queepie had steadied them. Seeing her siblings embracing Nona, Frazie knelt and wrapped her arms around her hunched frame, expression tight, distressed.
Augustus stumbled forward. Donatella scampered after him. Nona smiled and welcomed them. Augustus wreathed his arms around his family, and Donatella stood, bending over, embracing them all as best as she could. But she gazed up like a mother hawk defending her fledglings, searching for snakes ready to snap their jaws around them, her heart palpitating at the dangers beyond their caravan.
"Razputin will come home. We will be a family again. Let's calm down, yes?" Nona crooned, her tone like a song. "What will Razputin think if he comes back to a family that only yells when strife occurs?"
Donatella's lips pursed. She felt Augustus tensing.
"Yes, psychics harmed us, but Razputin is family. You can't be so harsh on the boy." She looked between Dion and Augustus, the former red-faced. "Promise me you'll treat him with compassion when he returns."
Dion nodded, but he didn't meet her eyes. Augustus did, whispering a vow only Nona heard. He rose to his feet, breathing in deeply and meeting Donatella's stern gaze.
"I'll bring Razputin home safe and sound," he said.
Donatella nodded. "Then, you'd best get a move on."
She smiled at his backside. He was broad-shouldered and bold, just the way she loved him. Augustus said his goodbyes to their children, ruffling Mirtala's head when she blubbered out another unnecessary apology. He accepted Nona's quick peck on his cheek, and Donatella was not one to be left behind, kissing him too, Queepie making a disgruntled hum below her.
"Be kind, Auggie," she murmured.
"Of course," and with those words, Augustus parted to where psychic children roamed.
Donatella stood with her hands clasped over her heart. The children watched their father leave, and Nona patted her hip.
"Don't worry. Things will work out as they need to." She paused and chuckled. "Or something. I think. Don't mind the ramblings of this old woman too much."
She sighed, smiling. "Oh, Nona, don't worry. You always know what to say to calm our hearts."
