I'm walking back home after another day of school. I wonder if that man was serious. He seemed pretty serious, but there's no way he actually knows where I live. I occasionally pop my head up and search around but I never see anyone following me, I mean it would be hard to miss a tall, old, limping dude. Stress overcomes me, my stomach is in knots. What if he is at my home? What is Robert saying? Has he already killed him? Is my mother safe? Maybe they are all fine, but maybe Robert has convinced him I'm lying, I'm seeking attention and have just fallen. I'll have to corroborate that story otherwise the attacks will be overwhelming. Maybe that man no longer believes my situation and he'll go away. That is my hope, everything will just return back to normal. That's the easiest and most logical route…so then why does that thought sadden me?
I turn the corner and see my home in the distance. There doesn't appear to be any activity. I don't see another vehicle that could be his, but I never did see him get into a car. There's no way he walked all the way down here, in his condition? So, then he must not be inside…he's not inside. He never came. My head starts pounding. That jerk! He's made me stressed all day and he's not even here? He never actually gave a danm! He's just another person that says they're going to help and then chickens out. Just another meal! He just wanted to toy with me! My throat tightens. At least with Robert I can predict his actions, this is just cruel! To give me some hope and then rip it away…how could I be such an idiot to believe some stranger? Of course he was just toying with me, why wouldn't he? Why would he care? I blink and feel something wet on my cheek. I raise my hand to touch it and realize it's a tear. I'm shocked. I push open the front screen door when I hear chatter coming from the kitchen. I sit my backpack down and slowly walk towards the open entry way where the chatter becomes laughter. I step back slightly as I see the old man and my mother sitting across another chatting over some cups of coffee.
"Oh! You're home!" My mother says cheerfully. She gets up and grins ear to ear. "This nice man was going around the neighborhood volunteering to change our smoke detector!" I glance at him as he points to a new red vest he was not wearing earlier with a white red cross sticker slightly peeling off over his heart. I slightly grin but try to hide my expression from my mother. "And you know what!" She clasps her hands together, "We got to talking and he informed me he's a doctor during his day job! He can take a look at that cold you've been brewing up for the past couple days!"
"Oh yeah?" I look around cautiously, "Where's Robert?"
"Ohhhhh!" She says dismissively, "He had to work today. You know how that "On Call" job can be!" She pats my back. "He had just left a few minutes prior when this gentleman knocked on the door." I glance back at him.
"Interesting." The old man stands,
"Yup. Just thought I'd help, out the kindness of my heart." He blinks rapidly at me. I let out a chuckle. "Okay, now stare straight at me." I do so. He places his fingers gently around my lymph nodes. "Does that hurt?"
"No."
"What about this?" He pokes two fingers right between my eyes. I squawk,
"Uh….yeah!" I rub the area he stabbed.
"Yup, definitely the flu. I got to take him in right away." My mother gasps,
"Take him where? The office? The hospital? Is it that bad?" She jolts to me, "Leonard, are you in pain?!" The old man cackles,
"Leonard?!" I cringe,
"I go by Leo, like the lion…" I turn to my mom and shake my head, "…and he's just messing with you mom, I don't have the flu."
"No, but might as well get checked out anyways."
"Well!" My mother tries to grapple with the confusion. "Why would you say that!? I…My son…" she stammers, she's searching for excuses, "can't you treat him here?" He glares at us both.
"Okay, how about this – he needs glasses."
"But I can see fine." I am uncertain as to where this diagnosis has derived from. He stares at me blankly then shakes his head,
"geez, you're really bad at this. OKAY!" He grows agitated, "Give your son some Dayquil, he'll be fine, however he couldn't see my fingers jolting towards him meaning his vision is impaired. I can't treat that here."
"Well, but I…" my mother thinks, "I don't have any insurance, we can't afford frames…plus…" She looks back at the kitchen, "I have to have this place tidy before…"
"I can take him." The man interjects.
"What? I can't have him just go off with some stranger!" The man looks me up and down.
"I think he can take me." I chuckle. "Trust me…" He gives butterfly kisses, "I'm a volunteer!"
"Well…I…."
"Mom." I state calmly. I take her hand. "It'll be okay. I'll be okay." Our eyes lock. She wants me well, but she's worried he'll know…he already knows. He turns sharply,
"Well, we better be off! They close in the next two hours and with you being a new patient…" He dramatically shivers, "That will take some time!"
"What are we riding in? I didn't see another car."
"Oh!" He points to a motorcycle propped against the neighbor's tree, "Gives better shade." I choke excited,
"No way!" He hands me a helmet and we're about to go back through the door when it whips open. Robert. My eyes widen. I take a few steps back. The man stands stoic. My heart is pounding. I'm sure it will leap from my chest. The sun casts a dim shadow over Roberts face. His upper lip begins to trimmer as he observes the scenery. He snarls with a deep growl,
"What's going on?"
"Oh! Robert! He…" my mother fearfully searches for the right words. Abruptly, the man sticks out his hand for a shake,
"Hi. I was in town and noticed this boy needed glasses and because I'm just such a charitable man…" He says mockingly, "I'm taking him to the ophthalmologist. Goodbye." He pats the side of his arm and tries to get around him. My jaw drops. No one has ever been so snide to Robert and not had repercussions.
"Woah, woah, woah hold up" He shoves the man back and cocks his head, "Who are you?"
"John Smith. Don't believe the Disney version though, I was a lot uglier than what they portray." He tries to get around him once more but is shoved back again.
"I don't know what game you're trying to play, but I'm not participating so I'll ask you again – who are you and why are you in MY house?" He bares his teeth. The old man rolls his eyes,
"Oh alright." He backs up, "I understand, you're just trying to protect your family." Robert's muscles slightly relax and appears to ease. The old man pulls a badge from his vest pocket and gently motions for Robert to take. He lifts an eyebrow while studying the badge. He stares back unsure.
"This? Is you?" He turns the badge around. There's a picture of a much younger looking man with the name James T. Wilson – Oncology – Princeton Plainsboro. I look back at the old man. No way. There's no way that's him and Robert knows it too.
"Old badge. They don't have a lot of funds since the new Dean of Medicine took over."
"You're James Wilson?" He nods. "Isn't oncology cancer? You think he has cancer?" He shrugs,
"Terrible vision is a sign of eye cancer that and bruising easily which I've noticed he has a few." My mother and I hold our breath, Robert stands firm.
"He falls a lot." His muscles flex. He grimaces. It's eerily quiet. The clock's ticking echoes. The air is thick.
"Well…" the old man cocks his head, "I should probably get him some glasses so he can see where he's going…ya know, so he stops falling." They keep staring at each other. It's like two alpha dogs about to assert their dominance.
"Robert, it's true!" I lie, "He came and spoke to our school a few weeks ago! It's just so surprising he has time to volunteer for the red cross on the side." Robert glances at me from the corner of his eye then tosses the badge back at the old man with two fingers. It hits his face. The old man slightly jars while blinking rapidly. The badge falls to the carpeted floor.
"Keep your phone on you, Leonard. I'll be texting you." Robert walks into the kitchen. My mother and I let out a deep breath. The old man picks up his badge and swipes some dirt off it before putting it back in his vest pocket. My mother smiles slightly. She stands in front of me and places her hands on my shoulder,
"I love you my little lion. You know what to do." She embraces me. I'm slightly stunned but slowly hug her back. She rubs me then pushes off. Her eyes are puffy. She heads towards the kitchen. I watch her when the old man speaks,
"Alright, let's go!" we wonder towards his bike. He sets his cane in a holder, takes off the fake red cross vest and throws it in a storage unit. He winks at me, "can find anything at a dollar store." He straddles the main seat. I stare blankly.
"I uh….I've never been on a motorcycle."
"Well good thing I'm driving. Come on." He pats the back seat. I look back towards my house. All the lights turn off. My chest feels heavy. Mom…stay strong. I get on the back seat and strap in the helmet.