11TRICKY MEASURES

Chapter 11—Compassion

1

Anna's mood brightened when she saw Callen. She held up her arms.

"Hey, baby," he greeted her as he scooped her up in a tight hug. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you, too," she replied. "Are you all ready for Kira's class?"

He sank onto the clunky chair. "I have no idea. I don't want them to eat me!"

Anna laughed. "You'll be fine. Did you pack my notes in your bag?"

"I did, indeed."

"Good!"

"You know bad guys with guns are far less scary than high schoolers, right?"

"Oh, yes," she agreed with a huge smirk. "Come!"

He got up and hugged her again, and then stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. You have a new doctor, I think!" He smiled at her.

Anna frowned. "I do?"

Callen laughed at her. "Yes. He firmly believes that for you to get better is for me to kiss and hug you a lot." He kissed her cheek.

"Kiss and hug?" she sputtered, not getting his joke.

"Yep! His name is Dr. Nikolai!"

A huge smile filled her face. "Callen!"

"Hey! I can't help it. It's what the doctor ordered last night while I was putting him to bed!"

Anna laughed with him. "Please tell Dr. Nikolai that I love him and miss him, okay?"

"Will do, baby, but I need to leave now so I can get to the school on time."

She nodded, and held up her arms. Callen leaned over and she hugged him hard. Then she kissed him. "You'll be fine."

2

"Your mom is not in the hospital!" Madeleine said spitefully after Nikolai told her about Anna's accident.

He burst into tears. "Yes, her is! Mama is in the hospital, and I miss her so much!" He cried and cried.

Ms. Veronika saw him cry, although she didn't hear what had been said. She picked him up, and he wrapped his arms around her neck.

"Maddie, go sit by my desk," she said. "Everybody go sit down on the Morning Rug, please. We need to talk about something very important." She rubbed Nikolai's back while she waited for her class to settle down. "Nikolai, what happened?"

"Her said Mama not in the hospital, but her is!"

Ms. Veronika already knew about the accident, but she wanted to hear it from Nikolai himself. "Why is Mama in the hospital?"

"A car hitted her car, and Papa said she has bad 'juries," he explained. "Ms. 'Ronika, I want to hug her, but I can't because her is in the hospital! I miss my mama so much!" He began to cry again.

"Children, do you understand why Nikolai is so sad?" she asked her class.

"His mommy got hurted?" said Nikolai's friend Ted.

"Yes, Ted. That's right. She was in a car accident, and she has to stay in the hospital for a few days," said Ms. Veronika. "How is Nikolai feeling?"

"I fink he's sad," replied Emily.

The teacher nodded. "Yes. Nikolai is sad. But who else is sad?"

"Ms. 'Ronika, is his fam-blee sad, too?" asked Marius.

"Yes, Marius. Nikolai's family is very sad. None of his sisters can be with her either." She shifted Nikolai, and cuddled him. "His papa is sad, too."

"Why?" asked Maddie.

"Madeleine, you need to stay quiet!" said Ms. Veronika. "We can talk to your mother later, okay?"

"Ms. 'Ronika, why is Madeleine mad?" Nikolai asked.

"I really don't know, Nikolai. Are you feeling any better?"

"Yah. Ms. 'Ronika, when is my papa coming?"

"Soon. He'll be here very soon."

Nikolai nodded, but he made no move to get off her lap.

3

"Mr. Callen?!" Tone shouted. "You mean it's true?"

"Yes, it is," said Mr. Goldblatt. "And you will all listen to him with respect. Class, this is Mr. G Callen. He is our guest speaker today."

"I thought Mrs. Callen was coming!" called out Jerzy.

Callen frowned, and looked directly at him. "She was, but unfortunately she cannot," he said.

"Why?" yelled Tone.

Callen heard Mr. Goldblatt move. "Don't worry. I got this," he told the teacher. "I deal with it at home myself."

Mr. Goldblatt nodded.

"It's none of your business is why, but I will tell you that she was in a serious car accident," Callen said without missing a beat.

"Is she de—" Tone began.

Kira flew out of her chair faster than either adult could react. She shot across Tone's desk and slapped him silly. "Don't you EVER talk about my mother like that, you stupid son of a bitch!" she screamed. She whacked him again.

Callen pulled her off Tone. "Kira! You need to stop!" he said, putting his arms around her. "You need to calm down."

Mr. Goldblatt examined Tone's face. "You need to go to the Nurse and get an ice pack," he said. "She whacked you good."

Tone nodded, glad of any excuse to get out of class. His face was stinging, so he did report to the Nurse, where he explained what had happened. She gave him a smush ice pack, and wrapped it before she put it on his face. He nodded. "Thanks."

The class was mesmerized. They had heard rumors about Kira's mother, but didn't believe they were true. They didn't move.

Callen kept his arms around Kira, who was crying. "Mr. Goldblatt, we should reschedule this. I need to take her home."

"I understand, Mr. Callen," said Mr. Goldblatt. "Bring her back on Monday."

"Thank you, sir," Callen said. He pointed to a girl next to Kira's desk. "Would you please hand me her bag?"

"Sure, Mr. Callen-Kolcheck," she answered. She gathered Kira's things together, and handed him the backpack.

"Thank you, miss," he said. He waved to the class, and left.

4

He drove directly home, and brought Kira up to her room. She wouldn't let go of him while she cried. She felt like her entire world was breaking apart, and she couldn't handle it.

He sat on her bed, holding her and rocking her. He held her until she was all cried out.

"Papa, I really did think Mama was killed," she choked.

He nodded. "I get it, Kira. I think we all thought that. We'll all talk about it later, after dinner, but for now, please try not to slap your friends silly, okay?"

Kira wiped her face on him. "Okay, Papa, but Tone is an ass sometimes. I couldn't help it."

Callen smirked; he agreed with her. "Is he—"

"Rude like that? Yes. All the time. He's the Class Ass," she said with a smirk. "Papa, I miss Mama so much," she mourned.

"I know you do, baby. She'll be home soon, I think," he said, rubbing her back. "How about you lie down for now?"

"Okay, but let me get ready first."

"Not a problem." He sat and waited for her to finish in the bathroom. When she came back, he stood up and hugged her again. "You okay now, baby?"

"Yes, Papa." She took off her shoes, socks, and jeans, and then climbed into her bed.

Callen covered Kira up to her chin as she snuggled into her pillow. He leaned over and gave her a kiss. Then he closed her blinds, and turned off the light, and went downstairs.

5

He made himself some lunch, and a duplicate for Kira, which he wrapped and put in the fridge. Just as he was settling down for a short nap, his phone rang. He listened avidly, and got up. He wrote a hasty note for Kira which he left on the dining room table, and then drove over to Raisa's school.

Ms. Horvath met him in the office.

"What happened this time?" he asked.

"The worst possible thing," she said. "They got on her case about the accident, and insulted her. She lost it."

"Oh, God," Callen said. "I just came from having to take Kira home for the same reason. Where is she?"

"In the nurse's office. She got so upset that she really did upchuck, and I don't think anyone was more surprised than she was!"

In spite of everything, Callen did see the humor in her statement. "I'll follow you."

"Sure. This way, please," said Ms. Horvath. "Mr. Callen, why don't you keep her home until Monday? I can write a list of assignments on a paper for you."

"That would be fine, Ms. Horvath. Thank you."

"I'll send it by messenger to here," she said.

6

At the Nurse's Office, the nurse handed him a plastic bag filled with Raisa's soiled clothing, and her backpack.

"Thank you. I'm going to take her home," he said.

The nurse nodded. She took a blanket from her supply closet, and helped Callen wrap Raisa in it. Then he picked up his little girl.

"Are you okay, baby?" He sat on a chair and cuddled her.

Raisa shook her head. "I upchucked, Papa. For real, and I didn't like it."

"I understand. I don't like to upchuck either. Raisa, baby, what happened?"

Her face crumpled. "Papa, the kids were mean to Mama. They tried to tell me she was dead, and it made me really mad." She burst into tears.

"Oh, boy," he replied. "What else?"

"Papa, I really miss Mama, and I really do want her to come home."

"Raisa, baby, Mama belongs to all of us. Not just you. I miss her as much as you do—"

"But you get to see her."

"Oh, man. Yes. I do get to see her, but I can't bring her home just yet, so I miss her, too, Raisa. Do you understand that?"

"Mostly."

He picked up her backpack and opened it. He shifted her belongings around, and then jammed in the plastic bag. Then a student from the class brought him a new workpacket, which he also jammed into the backpack. He stood up, and then slung the backpack over his shoulder. Then he picked up his little girl.

"We are going home now, baby, and you're going straight to bed with no arguments. Is that understood?"

Raisa laid her head on his shoulder. She loved feeling his strong arms around her, keeping her safe.

"Yes, Papa."

He brought her home, and tossed her backpack toward the cellar. Then he carried her upstairs. He sent her to the bathroom while he looked for a clean set of underwear for her, which he laid on her bed.

She returned momentarily from the bathroom. "Papa, why is Kira's door almost closed?" She switched her clothes, and threw the discarded items at her basket.

"Because she got sent home from school like you did," he said truthfully. "Raisa, the accident is affecting all of us, and we are all hurting from it. Even me," he explained.

"Okay, Papa," Raisa said, climbing into her bed. She snuggled into her pillow, and Callen covered her up to her chin. Then he kissed her cheek, and left.

7

As he went downstairs to make Raisa's lunch, his phone rang. He finished her sandwiches and sliced tomatoes, and then wrapped her plate. Then he added a note to Raisa, and left it on the dining room table, too.

Within minutes, he arrived at Anya's school. Mr. Cohn met him in the foyer.

"Sir, what happened?" Callen asked as he followed the Math teacher down the hallway.

"For the past few days, Anya has had a short fuse, and she hasn't been able to handle the teasing," Mr. Cohn said.

"Her mom was in an accident," Callen said. "Has she been in any fights?"

The teacher shook his head. "I broke up an impending one a little while ago, which is when I had the school call you."

"I appreciate that," Callen said. "Do you mind if I take her home for the weekend?"

"No. Not at all. In fact, in anticipation, I had all of her teachers give me their assignments for the next few days."

"Thank you, Mr. Cohn. I appreciate your help." Callen shook his hand, and then turned toward Anya who was sitting dejectedly on a chair. "You ready, baby?"

"Yes, Papa." She put her arms up, and Callen lifted her into his arms.

"You okay, Anya Alexander?" He kissed her cheek.

"Yes, Papa, but not really." She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to cry. "Papa, the kids were saying bad things about Mama, and I got mad at them. Mr. Cohn wouldn't let me fight them." She laid her head on his shoulder.

"Oh, boy," said her father. "I'm glad Mr. Cohn wouldn't let you fight them. We'll talk about Mama later, after dinner. For now, we are going home, and you are going straight to bed. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Papa." She tightened her grip on him. "I miss Mama so much," she cried.

"I know you do, baby. We all do. She'll be home soon, Anya." He set her on the ground, and she climbed into the car. Callen went around to the driver's door and got in. Before he turned on the car, he called the preschool.

"Ms. Leslie, could I speak to Ms. Veronika, please?" he asked. In a moment, Ms. Veronika got on the line. "How's Nikolai doing?"

"He had a rough morning, Mr. Callen. Many of the children were telling him that his mother wasn't in the hospital."

"Oh, boy," Callen said. "Listen. I'm coming now to pick him up. I have two of my girls home already, and one more in the car as we speak."

"What happened to them?"

"Same thing that happened to Nikolai," he replied.

"Oh, my gosh! I'll gather his stuff for you, and have it ready when you get here."

"Thank you. We'll be there shortly." He glanced at Anya who was slumped in the back seat. "We're picking up Nikolai now, and we're ALL going to bed when we get home!" he declared.

8

At home, Callen carried Nikolai to his room, and got him ready for bed.

"Papa, I don't want pull-ups. I want to pee in toilet."

"Oh, boy, Nikolai," said his father. "You can pee in the toilet, but you have to wear the pull-ups anyway. It's the rule." He carried his little boy to the bathroom, and then put him on the floor.

Callen was mighty surprised that he stood up to pee, and with no splashing. "Good job, baby!" He reached out to flush the toilet, but Nikolai stopped him.

"Papa, I got this!" And he flushed by himself. Then he climbed up on the stool so he could wash his hands. When he was done, he stepped off the stool, and then dried his hands. "I'm ready, Papa!"

Chuckling, Callen carried him back to his bed, and tucked him in up to his chin. Then he gave him a kiss, and left the room.

9

Callen went to Anya's room, and found her sitting on her bed right where he left her. She looked very sad and lost, so he picked her up and sat with her on his lap.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked, although he knew the answer.

"I want Mama to come home, Papa. I miss her so much, and the kids were telling bad jokes about her, and I got mad, and Mr. Cohn had to rescue me from hitting the kids, and I really want Mama to come home," she said before she burst into tears. She turned around and put her head on his shoulder.

Callen rubbed her back. "Mama will be home soon," he said. "We all miss her, Anya. After dinner, we are going to talk about all of it, but for now, you and I are going to lie down and take naps!"

"Even you, Papa?" She wiped her face on him.

Callen smiled. "Yes, even me." He helped her take off her outer clothes, and then tucked her into her bed, right up to her chin. Then he kissed her forehead, and left, going toward his own room.

He checked on all four children before he lay down. He knew the week had been hell, but he hadn't realized how hellish it actually had been for his children, and he felt bad.

He got comfortable on his side, clutching Anna's pillow in his arms. He buried his face in it to muffle his own cries. He was as affected as the children were, and he cried until he had no more cry left in him. Gradually, he fell into a sound sleep.

10

Anna was grumpy, and for a long while she couldn't figure out why. She began to think of her family, and how much she missed them all, and slow tears began to seep out of her eyes, and down her temples. She took the undershirt, and wiped her face with it, and she smiled. She envisioned him in the shirt, and it made her feel better, although she still whimpered. With an effort, Anna turned onto her side, and settled into her pillow, clasping the undershirt against her breast. She closed her eyes, and tried to sleep. She really wanted to go home.

11

She was still whiimpering when a nurse woke her up.

"What's wrong, Ms. Kolcheck?" asked the surprised nurse.

"I miss my family," she said simply.

"I see," said a doctor who was in attendance with her.

Anna looked at him funny, questioningly.

"This is Dr. Harper," the nurse explained. "Dr. Moore had a family emergency of his own, so Dr. Harper is taking over."

"Okay," said Anna.

"He is going to check your wounds." The nurse began to unwrap Anna's arm. When the sutures were exposed, she stepped back.

Dr. Harper checked her entire arm, and was very happy to see that it was healing well. There were no discolorations, and there was no heat emitting from the wound either.

Then the nurse took the bandaging off Anna's side, exposing the line of staples.

The doctor gasped, in spite of himself. "I'm sorry, Ms. Kolcheck," he apologized.

Anna smiled. "It's okay, doctor. My husband had the same reaction when he saw them."

The doctor nodded. He put his hand on her side, and felt no heat. He did notice that one end had a tiny amount of seepage, but otherwise, he was very satisfied with her recovery.

"Dr. Harper, when will they take the staples out?" Anna asked.

"In another week. Your gash was deep, and the longer the staples are in place, the better."

"I see," she replied. "More importantly, when can I go home?"

He looked at the nurse, and then said, "I think you can go home on Saturday."

"Think? Doctor, what does that mean? Can I go home on Saturday, or not?"

He nodded. "Yes," he said with finality. "You can leave Saturday afternoon."

Anna smiled all over. "Thank you very much!"

"You're welcome," replied the doctor. "The nurse will tend to your bandages as I have to finish my rounds."