Chapter 5. Lost in Fantasy

Ralph Hinkley couldn't concentrate at all on his teaching. The class could sense Ralph's lack of focus, and as a result, the room was jumpy. Any hopes of finishing the lesson were long since abandoned. All Ralph Hinkley could think about was the possibility of finding Charles McDonald.

Ralph's personal and professional life had been turned upside down ever since he was given the suit. He often felt alone in the world, and deep down, he longed to share his feelings with another person. But who could truly understand? Although Bill was his partner, and was with him in the desert that night, Bill never quite understood what a burden the suit sometimes felt like. In fact, Bill would have been happier wearing the suit himself, playing the role of Super Agent. Bill could never understand how Ralph saw the suit as his personal albatross, strapped tightly around his neck.

Ralph's fiancé, Pam Davidson, sometimes resented the suit, even though she understood it's importance, and why Ralph had been given it. But even then, it was difficult to fully share his feelings with her.

While his mind raced, Ralph also thought a lot about J.J. Beck. Until yesterday, Ralph no real proof that anyone other than Beck had ever worn a suit like his. Beck was the closest that Ralph had ever had to a real confidant. But the conversations Ralph had with Beck were strained, even painful. Ralph did not, deep down inside, really like Beck. He certainly did not trust him. After all, the little green guys had ultimately taken Beck's suit away from him, after he used it to satisfy for his own desires, lust, and greed.

This is what intrigued Ralph so much about Charles McDonald. There was the real possibility that he could meet someone who had -just like him- used the suit the way it was meant to be used. He wondered what kinds of adventures McDonald might have gone through, and whether that hitchhiker had become his partner. The possibilities were endless.

"Mr. H?" Cyler repeated, raising his hand. "Mr. H?" The boy had been trying to get the attention of his teacher for some time. Cyler, as well as the rest of the class were surprised to find the teacher fantasizing while staring out the window. Ralph had been completely lost in a daydream. Shaking his head, Ralph pulled himself together.

"Oh, sorry Cyler. What is it?"

"Well, that's what we wanna know! Come on, there's something up with you Mr. H!" The rest of the room chimed in, in agreement. "You're always there when we need you, so how bout you lay this one on us?"

Ralph contemplated the offer. Of course he couldn't share the details, but he figured this could be a way to bridge the gap that often appeared between him and some of his students.

"Well, I seem to have a little problem. It seems that I have just, um, relocated a long lost relative. My uncle Charlie. I never met him, you know. I was thinking that he will probably have lots of stories about my parents, my family, that I have never heard."

Ralph scratched his head, trying to explain his feelings without giving too much away.

"While it's all very exciting, I wonder if there are things that I just don't want to know about the family. It's strange, you know? I want to meet him more than anything in the world, but part of me is really nervous about what I might find."

Sitting in the front row, Rhonda nodded in agreement. "You know, Mr. H, that's like when I found out about my father. I didn't want to ever meet him, you know after I found out what he did to my mother. I know how you feel." It was clear that she also had details about her family that she was not completely willing to share.

Ralph looked down, and put his hand on Rhonda's shoulder. "You're mom's a strong woman, Rhonda, and so are you. You'll both get through it, whatever it is."

Standing in the front of the class, Ralph looked around and shook his head. Somehow, they did understand. There were some human universals after all, even in the most extraordinary situations.

"Well, that's probably enough about that," Ralph stated, while taking in a deep breath. Regaining his composure, Ralph returned to his lesson plan. Only a few minutes remained before the bell rang, and students scattered in a Friday afternoon frenzy.

As everyone was leaving the room, Cyler approached Ralph, and inquired about his book. "You never told me, is it ok to use it for the report, Mr. H?"

Ralph didn't really know what to say. He had forgotten that the big black book was in fact Cyler's library book, and that it would have to go back to him eventually. Ralph wanted to hold onto the book, however, until the end of the weekend. At the very least.

"Um, Cyler, I don't think this book is really appropriate. It's not a science fiction or fantasy book. It's more of an encyclopedia, of people's, um..."

"Delusions?" Cyler was clever, and very street wise. His interest in the book, however, was genuine, and the look on his face when Ralph told him it was inappropriate was one of honest disappointment. "Look, Mr. H, I already started reading the book, and I would really like to use it for my report."

"But Cyler..."

"Look, Mr. H., listen up. Tony, Paco and Rhonda thought I was crazy picking this book. It's too long, they said and everything. But it seemed interesting, and it was the best fantasy book I could find." Cyler turned to find a chair, and sat back down. "Look Mr. H, I gotta level with you. I gotta write this paper, and it's gotta be about this book."

Ralph was a little surprised. "Why is that?"

Cyler laughed a little, shaking his head. "Growing up like I did you spend a lot of time dreaming about ways to get out. Then, when you grow up a little, it seems like nothing will change, like there really is no way out, you know? You're stuck in the same place for the rest of your life. No one cares about you." Cyler paused. Ralph was convinced it was for dramatic emphasis. He was impressed by Cyler's argument.

"Look," Cyler continued "the way I see it, that's what this book is about. Fantasy. Escape. Getting out. Having someone there to help you. Man, I understand where these people are coming from! The way I see it, they're not crazy. They are just dreaming a little. These aliens are like, well, like a fantasy. They think these space people can take them away from it all. They need to have someone watching over them, and giving them a shot at something else. It's their only shot at something new, something better." Cyler paused one last time, as he looked straight at his teacher.

"Having someone looking out for me, and giving me a way out? Well, that kind of fantasy would be pretty nice."

Ralph looked at his student, sympathetically. "Cyler, you know that's not a fantasy at all. I'm looking out for you."

Cyler leaned back in his chair, and challenged his teacher. "Oh yeah? Then why won't you give me a break. Let me do this report, Mr. H.. I wanna do my book report, on that book!"

Ralph sat leaning against his desk. He was speechless, and truly proud of his student for thinking this all through. Without saying a word, he reached into his bag and pulled out the big black book, and handed it back to Cyler.

Ralph and his student walked out of the room. Tony, Rhonda, and Paco were all waiting for Cyler, just as Bill Maxwell was waiting for Ralph in the parking lot. They all walked together in silence.

Tony Villacana broke the silence as he came up against Bill Maxwell. "Well whad'ya know." Tony began, as Bill approached the group. "It's Agent Maxwell!"

"And looky what we got here, girls. It's old Tony Baloney, pride of the Villacana family tree."

In a maneuver known throughout Whitney High as the Villacana Advantage, Tony quickly moved in towards Bill in what could best be described as a series of controlled and subtle bounces. "Hey, I hear the pizza joint round the block is offering a "Maxwell Special" these days. Pizza with pepperoni, hold the meat!"

With a smile formed out of sarcasm, Bill responded. "And I hear you're looking to move up in the world. By all means, lemme give you... a letter of recommendation! In no time, you'll go straight from stealing hubcaps, right up to making license plates!"

Ralph positioned himself between the two. "Are you two done?" He looked back and forth as the two stood posturing. He moved out of the way only when he was convinced that they were through.

"Ok, guys," Ralph said, patting Paco on the back, "get outta here. Have a good weekend! Oh, and remember your reports are due..." With a sigh, Ralph added the simple word "again" to that last reminder.

As Rhonda walked away, she turned back to face Ralph, as she called out "Good luck with your uncle, Mr. H!"

Ralph smiled as Bill looked at him, confused. Ralph dismissed the whole thing with a wave of his hand and a shake of his head.

When the last student was out of earshot, Ralph turned to Bill and pulled him towards his station wagon.

"So, Bill, what did you find out, today? Anything? I thought you were gonna call me tonight."

"Well, Ralph, I didn't wanna wait." Bill's smile, brought on by his brief altercation with Villacana, had already worn off.

Ralph was excited, until he noticed Bill's very serious look.

"Ralph, I've got some bad news, and I've got some worse news."

"About McDonald? What's wrong?" Ralph was intensely concerned about this man that he had never even met. In fact, Ralph felt as though he had already taken in McDonald as a member of his family.

"Well, kid, first let's talk about this book. Where is it?"

Ralph looked at Bill, and flatly stated "I don't have it."

Bill's eyes opened wide, as he stared at his partner. "What! First you loose the instruction book, now you loose..."

"Bill, I didn't loose it." Ralph tried to calm Bill down. "I just gave it back to Cyler."

Bill did a double take, then muttered something largely incomprehensible about bleeding heart liberals under his breath.

"Well, Bill, come on, we don't need it. You took down the info. So what's the problem? What did you find out?"

"Remember our friend, Mr. Fields. Martin Fields? The author?" Bill asked.

"Yes, Bill, I remember. What about him? Did you find him?"

"Oh, sure! Couldn't loose him! Even if I tried!" Bill was visibly annoyed. This scenario was turning out to be nothing but dead ends. Maxwell stood up straight, and tried to remain professional. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Mr. Fields is currently spending his spare time as an art critic, for the state. Mainly interpretations of black on white."

"What are you saying, Bill?"

"He's reading ink blots. While lying down. On a long comfy couch, Ralph! He's got a 20 year lease on a furnished apartment filled with rubber furniture. No silverware! White linens and jackets included, all for one low monthly price." Bill's sense of humor, however, couldn't really conceal his own disappointment. "Ralph, he's been put away."

Ralph shook his head, and looked at Bill, as if asking just one question: "why."

"Well, kid, when your life's work involves chasing lights in the sky, and interviewing people about their dates with, eh, little green guys, well, there's a real good chance you're gonna be checking into one of these places, on a permanent basis." Bill was noticeably uncomfortable. The topic was too close to home, for both of them. "He's right up in Napa State. So, for whatever it's worth, we should probably go see him, tomorrow."

Ralph looked at Bill for a few moments, in disbelief. Finally, Ralph asked what he had found out about McDonald.

Bill nervously scratched his nose, and looked around, at nothing in particular.

"Ralph, I don't know how to say it, kid, but... but he's dead."