Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4 (40 page)

“
Me too,” Charlie
said.

“
Sandy’s taking Nash to the
orthodontist next week for braces,” Aden said. “Why don’t we
schedule a visit for you?”

“
That’s what I wanted to
talk to you about,” Charlie said.

“
Braces?” Aden raised his
eyebrows.

“
You guys have been nice,”
Charlie said. “Paid for everything. Hospital, new glasses, food and
even gave me my own sort of room.”

When Charlie fell silent, Aden picked up the
thermos of coffee.

“
Are you drinking coffee?”
Aden asked.

“
Don’t like warm drinks,”
Charlie said.

They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“
You were saying
something,” Aden said.

“
I don’t know how to pay
for all of this,” Charlie said.

“
Pay for it?” Aden
asked.

“
My hospital bill, glasses,
food, my rent, bedtime stories… I…”

“
Charlie,” Aden said. “When
we first met, I thought you were a danger to us, to Sandy.
Remember?”

“
Outside the hotel?”
Charlie asked.

“
Yes,” Aden said. “I saw
myself in you. I was pretty dangerous when I was your
age.”

“
You were?”

“
I was. My family moved
while I was at school one day. I was about a year younger than you.
I spent the rest of the school year living on friend’s couches and
I was out of doors.”

“
Then you know how it is,”
Charlie said.

“
I know how it was,” Aden
said. “I think it’s worse now.”

Charlie shrugged and took another
muffin.

“
They’re good,” Aden said.
“Sandy makes them for me.”

“
Oh,” Charlie put the
muffin back on the plate. “I don’t want to…”

“
Please eat,” Aden said.
“There’s enough for everyone. It feels really good that she makes
them for me. She puts a lot of love into her baking. But she’s
happiest when what she makes is eaten by those she loves. She’s
amazing.”

“
She’s amazing,” Charlie
said.

“
Listen,” Aden said. “The
more I get to know you, the more I see how much you belong here
with us. Doesn’t it feel that way to you?”

His mouth full of food, Charlie nodded.

“
The kids love you,” Aden
said. “How is it for you?”

“
I like them,” Charlie
said. “I mean Nash is a little bossy but that’s okay. He takes care
of Noelle.”

“
And you,” Aden said.
“That’s what I saw last night.”

Charlie nodded.

“
Nash’s friend Teddy may be
staying with us this summer,” Aden said. “His Dad asked last night.
I guess he’s been asked to do a rotation in Afghanistan. Something
only he can do.”

“
You probably need my
room,” Charlie said. “I can just…”

“
We need room,” Aden said.
“But not your room. We never planned on staying here forever. We
live here so I can do my house arrest. Sam and Delphie signed off
on me.”

“
Oh,” Charlie
said.

“
We have a baby coming,”
Aden said. “He’ll need some space.”

“
She,” Charlie said. “Sandy
says she’s a girl.”

Aden laughed at having this conversation
with Sandy’s brother. He ruffled the boy’s long hair.

“
I think the question is:
Do you like living here?”

“
I do,” Charlie
said.

“
There are a lot of rules,”
Aden said. “We’ll expect you to work this summer. We’ll expect you
to get back in school.”

“
I’m not very good at
school,” Charlie said.

“
Nash and Teddy are helping
you,” Aden said. “Aren’t they?”

“
Assholes,” Charlie said.
“What did they tell you?”

“
They said nothing,” Aden
said. “I just know my son. He would want to help you. Is
he?”

Charlie nodded.

“
You can get a GED,” Aden
said. “It’s good enough. I always wanted a high school diploma.
It’s better in subtle ways. Sandy’s looking into what you need to
do. Summer school is definitely on the menu.”

Charlie nodded.

“
Rehab,” Aden said. “You’ll
start next week.”

Charlie groaned.

“
We have a lot of rules,”
Aden said. “We expect a lot of each other.”

Charlie took another muffin. He put it on
his plate and stared at it.

“
How am I going to pay for
all of this?” Charlie asked.

Aden set his fork down and looked at
Charlie. He chuckled.

“
I’m not kidding,” Charlie
said. “Sissy’s still stuck at Mom’s and…”

“
We need to get your
sister,” Aden said. “We will.”

“
How am I going to pay for
this?” Charlie asked. “Even if I work, I can’t…”

“
Okay, okay.” Aden raised
his hands to quell Charlie’s rising anxiety. “I laughed because you
truly are Sandy’s brother. She’s just like that.”

“
Is that bad?”

“
No, it’s just not how a
lot of people are,” Aden said. “First, you are family. You feel
like you belong here. We feel like you belong here. I think Noelle
would be devastated if you left. She’s been telling everyone about
her new brother.”

“
She’s really great,”
Charlie blushed.

“
So are you,” Aden said. “I
know Sandy always feels better if there’s something she can do. So
let’s make a deal.”

“
What do I have to do?”
Charlie asked.

“
You’ve been doing our
laundry,” Aden said. “Why don’t you make that your household task?
You will participate one hundred percent in rehab.”

“
Oh man,” Charlie
groaned.

“
No drugs, no alcohol, no
exceptions, period.”

“
But…” Charlie
started.

“
No buts,” Aden said. “You
asked me how you could pay for everything. I’m giving you the list
so you can make a choice.”

“
Fine,” Charlie crossed his
arms. In this moment, he was every bit the sixteen year old boy.
“Go on.”

“
You’ll get caught up in
school. No matter what it takes,” Aden said. “You will follow the
household rules to the best of your abilities.”

“
What are
those?”

“
Brush your teeth, shower,
eat meals, be polite, try to get along with Noelle and Nash,” Aden
said. “Help Sandy and me when asked. Respect us. And whatever else
I’m forgetting.”

“
What do I get for all of
that?”

“
A home,” Aden said. “Food,
clothing, medical help for your Hepatitis…”

“
You know about
that?”

“
Yes. You still have
pneumonia,” Aden said. “Cracked bones. Broken teeth. We will give
you everything you need, love you and welcome you into our
family.”

“
Noelle and Nash don’t have
to do this stuff,” Charlie said.

“
Yes, they do,” Aden
said.

Charlie sat in sullen silence.

“
I have to get to work,”
Aden said.

Charlie didn’t move while Aden picked up
their plates and took them into the kitchen.

“
I know it’s a lot to think
about,” Aden said. “We ask a lot and we give a lot. You can let me
know later.”

Charlie looked up at Aden.

“
I’ll do it,” Charlie said.
“I’m not going to be perfect.”

“
No one is,” Aden
said.

“
I like it here,” Charlie
said. “I want to stay here so I’ll do it.”

“
Great,” Aden said. “I’ll
talk to Jake about moving into a bigger space. Jake says there’s
plenty of room.”

Flushing, Charlie nodded. Aden ruffled
Charlie’s hair again. He was almost to the door when Charlie
stood.

“
What do I call you?”
Charlie asked.

“
Aden?”

“
Too weird,” Charlie said.
“You feel like family… like a Dad but not my Dad.”

“
I have a friend who’s very
close with his mother’s brother, his maternal uncle,” Aden said.
“He calls him ‘shi-dai’.”

“
What’s that mean?” Charlie
said.

“
Little father or something
like that,” Aden said. “It’s Navajo.”

“
Shi-dai.” Charlie tried
out the foreign word. “That’s weird but somehow right.”

“
Like found
family?”

Charlie smiled. Aden ruffled his hair and
turned toward the door.

“
What about
Sissy?”

Aden turned back to face him.

“
We’re meeting with Social
Services this evening,” Aden said. “Sissy is on our
agenda.”

Charlie nodded.

“
Go back to bed, Charlie,”
Aden said. “You need the rest.”

“
Yes… Shi-dai,” Charlie
said.

Aden gave the boy a tight hug. Stepping
back, he waved and went out the door. Charlie watched the place
where Aden had stood and went back to bed. Laying on his futon, he
replayed their conversation. He liked the way Aden treated him like
a real person, not a stupid child. He liked having a choice to make
and something he could do. And it was pretty great to have a real
family. Smiling, he fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday mid-day — 12:02 P.M.

Honey waved to MJ as she pulled into the
parking lot. They were meeting at Jill’s old apartment building to
talk over the plans with Steve Roper’s step-father. From the
driver’s seat of her van, Honey saw MJ laugh at something Steve’s
step-father said. She watched them talk back and forth for a minute
and realized MJ knew Steve’s step-father.

Ah, the secret life of MJ.

As if he’d heard her, MJ turned to look. She
was setting her wheelchair outside the side door when he appeared.
With his usual exuberance, he lifted her into his arms. He nuzzled
her neck and helped her into her chair.

“
Shall I?” MJ
asked.

“
Sure,” Honey
said.

MJ pushed her sport wheel chair to where
Steve and his step-father stood. Watching the two men, she saw
Steve’s nervousness and the older man’s calm. Trim and muscular,
Steve’s step-father had an air of competence about him. Honey
wondered if he was a military person. Knowing MJ would never tell
her, she smiled her way through introductions.

Steve’s father went by the name Perses. The
Titan God of Destruction? Seeing her look, Perses laughed and said
that it was a family name. Honey nodded because she should, not
because she believed him.

“
She’s smart,” Perses said
to MJ. His accent was British with something mixed in.

“
A lot smarter than I am,”
MJ said.

Honey smiled. With MJ pushing, she rolled
into the building.

“
Steve and I discussed the
deal but I wondered if we could go over it while I’m here,” Perses
said. “It will help me cement the details into my mind.”

“
The building is owned by
Honey’s brother Jacob Marlowe,” MJ said.

“
He’s the man you live
with?” Perses asked.

“
We live at the Castle,”
Honey said. “The Castle is owned by Delphie.”

“
I met a Delphie at my
daughter Jillian’s wedding,” Perses said. “Powerful
psychic?”

“
That’s her,” MJ said.
“Jake’s mom bought the building for her so that she would always
have a place to live. We all live there.”

“
How is that?” Perses
looked from one to the other.

“
Wonderful,” Honey
said.

Perses held the door for them.

“
Psychics,” Perses said. He
let the door go and joined them at the elevator landing. “There are
so many people who say they have a gift. A true psychic is a rare
commodity. I’ve traveled the world, speak many languages, and still
I’ve only met a few real psychics in my entire life. Delphie is the
only one I’ve met with that much… power.”

Stepping onto the elevator, he added, “This
elevator is horrible.”

“
The building was pretty
beaten up when Jake bought it,” MJ said. “This is a vast
improvement.”

“
He bought it so that Jill
and Katy wouldn’t have to move after Trevor left,” Honey said.
“Jake’s tried to fix it up without displacing the original tenants.
For many of them, this is the only place they’ve lived. Our goal is
to allow the tenants to live out their lives here.”

Perses nodded. They followed Honey and MJ on
to the elevator. Honey looked up at Steve. Steve seemed completely
shut down. She smiled at him and he nodded. He was still present.
The elevator jerked to a stop at the third floor.

“
I’d forgotten Jillian
lived here,” Perses said.

The elevator doors groaned. They made an
effort to open then stopped. Perses pressed the open button and the
doors opened.

“
How did you…?” Steve
started.

“
I’ve been on my share of
crappy elevators,” Perses said.

“
Over the last year, Jake
has moved most of the residents to reconditioned apartments on the
first floor,” Honey said. “The elevator is slated to be fixed this
summer.”