CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A.J. ended his call, and then turned to Timmy who still looked pretty upset.
"Okay," said A.J. 911 is still down, and so is the landline to the cabin" A.J. shook his head. "I, ironically, DID get my Dad on the cell phone. He'll try to contact emergency services."
"My cap is gone," said Timmy.
"Oh," said A.J. "that's right, I've got it right here. It has some blood on it, but I know you always carry a spare cap, so I got it out of your bag." A.J. stopped. "Speaking of that, let me check your head, I know you got hit on the head."
A.J. knelt down closer to Timmy and examined the back of his head. There was a bump and some caked blood on Timmy's brown hair.
"Well," said A.J., "it doesn't look real serious, but I'll get them to run a brain scan. You can't take a chance with a head injury."
Timmy shrugged his free shoulder and then said,
"It's not like there's anything up there anyway."
"Timmy," said A.J., a little sharply, "stop that. I hate it when you cut yourself down."
"Sorry," said Timmy.
"Buddy, you don't have to be sorry, just try to be more positive.
Timmy said nothing but looked really down.
"Timmy," said A.J.,"what's wrong?"
"Nothing," said Timmy with his voice shaking a bit. Timmy's blue eyes welled up with tears, but with his uninjured hand, he wiped them away."
"Timmy, if you need to cry, it's all right."
"Boys don't cry A.J."
"Now, Timmy, buddy...."
"Great", said Timmy who tried to stifle a sob, but to no avail, "I'm crying." Tears started streaming down the eleven year old's face. "Not only did I ruin my parents lives by not being a girl, I'm lousy at being a boy."
A.J. got a little closer to Timmy and then said, "Timmy what did Remy say to you?"
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
On the Buxaplenty helicopter, the phone rang again. Remy answered it.
"Hello" A pause. "A.J. got in contact with his dad?" Remy pounded his fist against the console. "No," the rich boy continued, "it's all right, I'll try to take care of it." Remy ended the call.
"Something wrong sir?"
Before Remy could answer, his cell phone rang again.
"Hello." A silence as Remy swallowed a bit. "Father, why are you calling?" Another pause. "One of our helicopters is missing? What makes you think I might know where it is?"
Mr. Buxaplenty's voice boomed out over the cell phone speaker so loudly that Remy pulled the phone away from his hear.
"YOUNG MAN, IF YOU DO NOT RETURN HOME AT ONCE....."
"SORRY, FATHER," Remy yelled back,"you seem to be breaking up." Remy ended the call.
Remy turned to the pilot. "There's been a change of plans, but first I have to make a call. " Remy whipped out his cell phone again.
"Hello, Higgins" said Remy, "go ahead and release Francis." A pause. "I realize you're still in transit, but let him out on the road. That lard bucket could use some exercise."
Buxaplenty ended the call and then turned his attention once again to the pilot,
"Okay, this plan is falling apart so here's the change of plans. We get out of this area now and go to the secret location. "*****************************************************************************************
Timmy was still crying and still trying to fight the crying.
"Buddy, come on,what's wrong?"
"Nothing I'm just being a crybaby over some words."
"Timmy" said A.J. "anyone who really knows you knows you're not a crybaby. Now come on. Remy said something to you. What did he say?"
Timmy sniffed and once again tried to stifle his sobs. "He said that I would" Timmy wiped his eyes once again, "die alone down here......,because....," The young boy shook, "my parents wouldn't notice I'm gone and that they didn't want me anyway." Timmy stopped. "And then he said that my mother wanted a girl so badly she couldn't stand to be around me."
"Oh, Timmy," said A.J. very sympathetically.
"See," said Timmy, sobbing a little more, "I am being a baby."
"No, Timmy", said his friend, "buddy that's a terrible thing to say to you."
"But it's true", said Timmy, "you saw what happened at the campground. My parents couldn't wait to get away from me."
"Timmy", said A.J....."You..
"You say I'm brave, and that I'm a hero," said Timmy, "but why am I crying over that?" He paused still crying a little more. He gave up trying to fight it. "Why am I now afraid of the dark? How come whenever I hear or see a thunderstorm, I get terrified because I think the darkness is coming to get me. Why do I wake up in the night shaking in terror sometimes."
"Because," said A.J., "you've had no one to talk to. You've been trying to go through this alone. I'll bet even Cosmo and Wanda don't know what's been upsetting you, because you haven't told them, right?"
Timmy nodded, "Well, Wanda kind of suspects something especially after I woke last night from...." Timmy stopped short.
"From a nightmare?" said A.J.
"How'd you know?"
"Brother, I'd be surprised if you DIDN'T have nightmares. You have been through a lot."
"But the Darkness became the Kindness," said Timmy slightly agitated, "all of my family and friends are safe. And I'm happy about that, but why does it still affect me?"
"Because," said A.J., "even soldiers who win sucessful battles still have issues. Timmy, going through something like that is very emotionally draining. And when you feel like you can't tell anyone it's even worse."
Timmy nodded.
"You can talk to me Timmy," said A.J. "and I know you can talk to Cosmo and Wanda, but you've got to tell us what's wrong. No one can help you if we don't know."
Timmy nodded, "Thanks." He paused "That's for helping me down here and listening to me."
"Well, to paraphrase your favorite alien, Mark Chang, that's what friends do."
"A.J., Timmy," yelled voice.
"That sounds like Chester," said A.J. "it looks like help is coming." A.J. shouted, "Down here, Chester."
"Does Chester know, A.J.?asked Timmy, "I mean you know about..."
"No, I couldn't get to him in time. We'll talk a little later,though about it."
They heard footsteps approach the opening.
"Guys," said Chester.
"In the cellar," said A.J. "Just down the stairs."
Chester raced down the stairs, followed by Mr. Clark.
"You dad called, A.J.," said the blonde green eyed boy,"the paramedics are on the way." Chester looked down at Timmy. "Dude, you okay?"
Timmy nodded. "Now that everyone is here I am."
"We got in contact with your parents, too," said Mr. Clark, "they're coming."
Timmy felt relieved and relaxed a little more.
*************************************************************
Okay, I know a bit choppy in the scenes with Remy but I wasn't sure how to resolve that, but don't worry he's not gone yet. There's one more chapter and an epilogue. And no I haven't forgotten Cosmo and Wanda, but for this I wanted to focus on A.J. and Timmy.