Chapter 14:
I wake up the next morning, feeling much refreshed, and ready for the day. The cast is starting to itch, but I learn how to ignore it. I use the bathroom, and go downstairs. No one is up yet, so I sit at the table. I pick up the pencil in my left paw, and think how strange, all I wanted to do was draw. I got down, found some paper, sat at the kitchen table again, and using my left paw begin to draw. Gab's face swims into view, so I draw that. A smiling Gab, with his left paw raised in greeting. I'm so into drawing the picture that's in my head, I do not notice Vivian standing behind me, watching me draw. I hold up the picture and look at it, it is a very good likeness. Grandma scares me a bit, when she asks "who is that Daniel"? After I stop my heart from racing, I tell her it is Gab. And who is Gab she asks. He's my friend from the meadow. The meadow? It's a place in my mind. She laughs, and says it's a good picture, thinking I have an imaginary friend in my mind, and taking the picture, posts it to the refrigerator. She then goes about making breakfast.
Mom and dad come down a few minutes later, Morning mom, dad. I say. Morning squirt, says nick as he tussle's my fur. morning Daniel, says mom as she kisses me. Then they see the picture on the fridge. Whoa mom good drawing, didn't know you could draw. I can't, reply's Vivian, Daniel drew it. Wow it's really good, who is he? I reply, it's Gab from the meadow. What meadow? Asks Nick. The meadow in my mind. You didn't trace it? No, I drew it. Mom hands me a piece of paper, and asks me to draw something else. So, I pick up the pencil and do a sketch of mom and dad holding hands, as they watch me draw, they eat breakfast. When I was done, they were amazed, this gets posted to the fridge as well. These drawings are very good Daniel, we're amazed, I kind of swell with pride at their praise.
Mom and dad wish us a good day, as they head off to work. So, Daniel what should we do today? Go to library today? I ask. Sure, says grandma as she cleans up the breakfast dishes. We then put on our coats and head out the door, Grandma holds my left hand as we walk down the street. When we get to the library, grandma puts me in the kids' section, and sits down with the other mothers, and gossips. As I am well above this reading level, I sneak out and find a book on drawing. I finish that one fairly quickly, and see what else I can find. I end up in the classic fiction section, and run across a book titled "the time machine. I bring it back to the kids' section and start to read. It is fascinating, and very engrossing. I'm just about finished, when grandma comes over to see what I'm reading. She takes one look at what I'm reading, and just stands there watching me as I finish the book. I didn't realize that I was speed reading, or even that it was unusual to do this. Daniel, asks Vivian do you understand what you have just read? Yes, I reply, I go on to explain how it's a warning to not destroy the word with greed, and how technology won't save us from greed, and not to let technology rule our lives, and if mammals can't see the past, we are doomed to repeat it. But the future can be changed, by just one mammal. Grandma is amazed by my insight, Daniel How old are you?
I squirm a bit, because I really don't want to tell her, but I trust grandma. I look at her, and ask, can you keep a secret from mom and dad? She really doesn't want to keep secrets from her son and his wife, but then thinks about the diabetic thing. Will it hurt them to know? Yes, I reply. Why is that? Because they may and go and do something foolish, and I don't want to lose them, I say with tears in my eyes. Grandma promises me she can keep a secret.
I tell her I'm 19 months old, at this her eyebrows raise, and so does her voice. Daniel J Wilde, you know darn well that's not what I asked. I squirm around a bit under her glare, and in a small voice I say, I estimate my mental age at about a 16-year-old level. At this her eyebrows go even higher; Daniel how is this possible? I just have a really good memory, and I have been force fed information since I was two months old, I reply. What else are you not telling me? Grandma this is an even bigger secret, and could put your life in danger. You have to keep this from everyone. Daniel, a burden carried by one is very heavy, but a burden shared, can lighten the load. I see the wisdom in this, and tell her how the house is bugged, with cameras, and mics because the institute is watching my development for their study. She gets really mad and furious at this; we'll just have to have them removed. We can't I wail. It's all or nothing time, but I'm just so scared. Grandma there's more at stake than you realize. What else Daniel? If we remove the spying devices, they will know and may hurt my siblings and littermates. At this grandma slumps in the chair, and starts to fall over. I reach up to steady her, and wait for her to come back to conscious.
Daniel, she says, as she wakes up. How many siblings do you have? Three I reply, Terry, Davis and Ava. And how many littermates do you have? Four I reply, Susan, Cindy, Suzie, and Rick. God Daniel, you don't keep little secrets do you. How do you expect me to keep your secrets? I trust you grandma, it's a burden shared. Their goanna kill me when they find out, I say in a very quiet voice. But Vivian hears me. What do you mean their going to kill you? Can you speak with them? Thinking back to the hospital yesterday, you were talking to them yesterday, weren't you? I just nod my head yes. Vivian puts her head between her knees and does some deep breathing exercises. After awhile she calms down and looks at me. Daniel this is a real burden, we should tell someone in authority. We Can't, we don't know who to trust. Vivian sees the wisdom in this. We will tell someone grandma, just not right now. Daniel can you draw them? Yes, I reply. Good I want to see my gran kits. I just can't draw them at home. Right we don't want to let them know that we Know, you know. We both give a small scared chuckle.
We get up, and head out. We stop by an art store, and grandma buys me some regular pencils, and coloring pencils, and a big art portfolio. We go to a coffee shop; grandma gets a latte and I get a carrot juice. Then I have an idea, instead of drawing my siblings, I draw grandma drinking her latte. I shade it, color it, and show it to her. She is a little disappointed it's not my siblings, but she just shrugs, and tells me it's good. And we head home.
The rest of the day grandma acts nervous, but I just act normal. We all go for a walk after supper. (a normal walk, as I'm still a little sore). As we walk by Rita's place, she comes out, to see if I was ok. I show her my cast, and she gives me a cookie. We retire back to the house for bed. Sleep with me grandma? I ask. She agrees and we curl up together.
I open the link with my siblings, and grandma, and we all go to the meadow. I didn't know if I could bring Vivian, but it appears to have worked. As I look around, I see my siblings, and Vivian. We all gather around to one side of her, to wake her up. Wake up please grandma, I say. She wakes up slowly, and looks around. Hello Vivian Wilde, says Gab walking over to us. I see Daniel has brought you for a visit. Vivian looks around a little confuse, where am I? Why, you're in the meadow, says Gab. This place is real? Very much so, says Gab. She then notices the rest of us standing off to one side. Her paws fly to her muzzle and her eyes fill with tears. Grandma, I'd like to introduce everyone, this is Terry, he raises his hand, next to him is Ava, and next to Ava is Davis, these are my siblings. And on the other side is Susan my mate, she raises her hand, next to her is Cindy, Terry's mate, next to her is Suzie, Davies mate, and last but not least is Rick, Ava's mate. The introductions done they all rush Vivian for hugs and kisses. As things begin to settle down, it finally dawns on Vivian what I had said. Mates? You guys are mated? At this we all break down laughing. No, we are mates, but not mated. We are to young to be mating, our bodies are not mature yet. Vivian just turns red and stammers. Gab let's out with laugh, I'll say it again Daniel, you have a wicked sense of humor.
When everything settles down, Susan looks at me, and starts to tap her foot. I knew I was in trouble at this point. Daniel J Wilde, we talked about this, no one was to know about us for a long time yet. I just hung my head, I had nothing to say in my defence. Vivian bursts out laughing, oh God Daniel, you two are acting like an old married couple. At this Everyone just laughs, as I can see the humor in it, I laugh too. Susan comes over smiles at me, kisses, and hugs me. So, what are we goanna do now? Nothing for the time being, we just have to wait and see what happens.
How are things going in the lab? Has anyone else shown creative skills? Well we haven't given them anything creative to do. Well give them some toys and what not and see what happens. Yes Sir, No strange behaviour from the subjects? None Sir. And their education? Roughly a grade eight level. God, that is Quite a bit, and they are not even two yet. Ok, is it time for phase two yet? We want to finish grade 12 before we start them on phase two. Alright, start them on light calisthenics for the time, and maybe some isometric exercises. Very good Sir. (from the files of the institute)