1981 - Daniel's 16

Daniel worried about Cole's feet on the hot sidewalks of New York in August. He could feet the heat radiating up through his shoes as they practiced walking around the Columbia campus. Daniel had wanted to spend a few days taking the bus from home to school and finding his classes with Cole. He knew that the dog would learn Daniel's routine when school started and that he'd be able to lead Daniel from one class to another and to the library.

As they practiced the route between classes, Daniel felt Cole's tail begin to wag, even though he didn't change course.

"Cole, sit," Daniel tapped his left leg with his hand as the dog obeyed. Daniel stood still, waiting to see if someone Cole knew was in the area. He heard a rapid clicking sound on the sidewalk and grinned. Dog claws.

"Aunt Barbara? Is that you?"

"Daniel?"

"Yep. And Cole. What are you doing here? School doesn't start for two more weeks."

"I had a department meeting to attend and had to break in my new assistant." She sighed.

"Frustrated?"

"Yes, I wish you were in my department. I'd hire you in a heartbeat."

"I'm not changing majors just for you." Daniel grinned, "But if you know of someone in my department who's looking for an assistant, I'm in the market."

"You're only a junior and you're just barely sixteen! What do you want a job for?"

Daniel chewed on his lower lip briefly, reaching down to scratch Cole behind the ear. "George has been stationed here for almost two years now which means that he should be getting orders to leave again soon. I've decided that when he does it would just be easier to become emancipated rather than going through the hassle of a new foster home. With Cole, that's going to be even harder than before."

"Oh, Daniel. You're much too young to be worrying about that. But if you do choose to become emancipated, you'll always have a home with James and me. You know Ethan loves you. Chester and Cole even like each other, so that wouldn't be a problem." She fingered her watch. "I've got to go. Call and we'll talk about it."

She hesitated a moment and then reached over to hug the young man.

Daniel stood still for a few minutes after she left, wondering why people cared. There was no reason the Hammonds or Barbara needed to have any concern about him. He really didn't understand.

"Cole, forward," Daniel moved his right hand forward and waited for the tug on the harness before he continued his practice with the dog.

That evening after dinner, Daniel pulled Ruby and George back into the kitchen while the girls watched "The Facts of Life" in the living room.

"Okay, son, what's this about?" George asked when they were seated at the table.

"This isn't easy for me, but I know you should be getting orders sometime soon to leave. I've thought about this and I think that I could become legally emancipated." Daniel rushed on, speaking so fast his words tumbled over each other in a race to escape. "If I can get a job as an assistant to one of my professors and with the social security I could get as a 'disabled' person and with the scholarships and grants I already have, I could afford to get a little place of my own near the school. I just need your help to get the process started."

George and Ruby both watched the young man they considered their son as he presented his request. They turned to each other and Ruby nodded her consent to her husband.

George cleared his throat. "Well, son, we've already started looking into that. If you were legally our son, it would be a simple matter of you just leaving home and providing for yourself, but since you're a ward of the state it does complicate things. First, we have to prove to your social worker that you'd be able to financially support yourself."

Ruby squeezed George's hand, indicating that she wanted to say something. "Something you didn't know was that we've put the money the state paid us as foster parents into a saving account in your name. There's almost $5,000 in it now." What she didn't tell him was that she and George had been putting their own money into that account, just as they had been saving for the girls.

Daniel just sat there blinking, telling himself that the bright overhead lights were hurting his eyes and that's why they were watering. "Um…I… Wow. I don't know what to say."

George grinned. "That's a first."

"Look, we haven't spoken to James and Barbara yet, but I'm sure they'd be glad to help you any way they can."

"Yeah, I, um, saw Aunt Barbara today at Columbia and she offered to let Cole and me move in with them while I'm in school." Daniel began running his finger along the edge of the table, too nervous to sit completely still.

"I haven't gotten any orders yet and I don't know when I will. But when the time comes, we'll do whatever it takes to get you what you need. You're our son." Ruby slid her chair over next to Daniel and pulled his head down onto her shoulder, letting his hair catch her tears as they dribbled down her cheeks.

For the second time that day, Daniel felt overwhelmed and uncomfortable by the support he received from this family.

He pulled himself away from Ruby, thanked them, and went outside to sit on the back steps. He heard the backdoor open and then Cole was sitting beside him, with his head on Daniel's leg. Daniel was certain that if he could see it, Cole would be gazing at him with big puppy-dog eyes, expressing his own brand of doggy support.

Daniel absentmindedly scratched the dog's head while he tried to sort things out in his head.

XXXXXXXXXX

The warm sun shone down between the leaves, sprinkling light in patches throughout the backyard. Daniel sat on back steps and listened to the group that was gathered in the Hammonds' backyard for an End-of-the-Summer-Labor Day barbecue. School was starting the next day for all the kids. Daniel marveled that Rachel would be starting 10th grade and Julie would be in 8th. Even little Ethan was entering 2nd grade. He remembered holding that newborn baby in amazement that something so small and fragile could cause so many people to fall in love with him.

He heard Rachel and Julie call out to Sam as the Carters arrived. Standing up so that the new arrivals could walk past, he was surprised when Sam took his hand to lead him down the steps.

She pulled him behind the apple tree in the corner of the yard. "Daniel. I'm so excited! I just had to tell you. I've been chosen to spend next summer as an aide at the Museum of Natural History. I get to work in planetarium and help with the tours in the astronomy department."

"Wow, Sam. That's great! I knew you belong to the Amateur Astronomers Association, but I had no idea that they accepted kids as aides. You'll have a great time." Daniel grinned at the younger girl.

"Yeah. It's going to look really great on my college applications."

"Sam! You're only twelve! What are you thinking about college so soon for?"

"You know how much I want to go to the Air Force Academy. I haven't told Dad or Mark about that yet. Mark will go ballistic! He hates anything that has to do with the military and Dad will make a big fuss and try to pull strings to get me in. I want to do this on my own. I want to be accepted as Samantha Carter, not as an officer's daughter."

"I understand. I guess that there aren't too many kids who know exactly what they want to do when they're twelve."

"I'm going to go tell Julie and Rachel." Sam bounced away to find the girls.

Cole, who was out of his harness and leash and not working, came up behind Daniel and pushed his cold, wet nose into Daniel's hand, looking for some head scratching. Daniel slid his back down the tree trunk to sit on the ground and began stroking his companion on the back.

"I figured I'd find you hiding out. The blind dweeb and his dog. How touching." Mark's ridicule caused Daniel's spine to go rigid with anxiety.

"Mark."

Cole rose from his sitting position and moved to stand between Daniel and Mark. Daniel could feel the dog's muscles tense under his soft coat. Mark took another step closer to Daniel and Cole's tail went up, fur standing up along his spine and he starred Mark in the eye.

"Mark, I suggest you back quietly away. Cole might attack if he feels you're a threat to me."

"Wimp. Can't even defend yourself, but have to have an animal for protection." Mark put on a bold show, but he did begin backing away slowly.

"Cole, sit. Cole, down." Daniel gave the hands signals along with the verbal to reinforce the dog's training. As soon as Cole was down, Daniel began praising him for his obedience. It was good to know that Cole was willing to defend him, but he'd have to watch for more signs of aggressive behavior. That was something that couldn't be allowed in a guide dog.

Cole relaxed beside his master, reassured that the threat was gone. Daniel leaned his head back and began to think about the relationship that was newly developing with Amy. He knew he liked and trusted her, but he wasn't sure if these new feelings were simply physical attraction or if he was beginning to fall in love with her. The thought of love alarmed him. People he loved were always leaving.

He felt the air stir around him as her scent wafted toward him. Cole's tail thumped gently a couple of times as he recognized a friend. She settled her hand on Daniel's head, her fingers weaving through his hair. He allowed his head to lean into the touch, welcoming the shivers that shot through his body. He reached his hand up and grabbed hers, pulling her down to sit beside him.

"I always forget how hollow I feel all the time until you're here and I feel whole."

"How's a girl supposed to resist a guy who talks like that?" She leaned into him and settled her head on his shoulder, content to just have his arm around her. She felt safe.

He felt terrified. I do love her. What am I going to do now?