Symby (22 page)

As he pedaled towards the hardware store, Spud was energized by the cool, crisp breeze that accompanied late fall. He still hadn't bothered to reapply for his driver's license. Riding his bicycle made him feel as though he was a kid again. In a sense he actually had been reborn, so why not revisit his youth with the bicycle? He was proud of his lithe body and physical conditioning. Why buy another expensive car if he didn't really need one?

Breakfast had been spent perusing the store's spreadsheets on his brand new tablet, the one he had bought with his share of the profits from the hardware store. His marketing plan had been highly successful, yielding far more money than it cost to maintain the billboard, the internet advertising and the ads in the local papers. He couldn't recall a prouder moment than when he had turned to Jody in the PC store after selecting his tablet and asked him if he'd like one too. To Kim's dismay, he and Jody had begun spending more time with their tablets than with her. After much discussion, a compromise had finally been reached. Kim now owned a tablet too.

Spud arrived before Burton and Thelma, as always. He unlocked the front door and headed out back to begin stacking the new deliveries onto pallets. Presently, he heard the roar of Burton and Thelma's truck in the parking lot. He greeted them both in the parking lot.

"Beautiful day today," he said simply.

Burton and Thelma agreed, though Thelma added that rain might actually be better for the area. The clear, crisp day seemed to be affecting both of them positively as well. Both of them had ear to ear grins plastered across their faces. This was Thelma's standard visage, but was almost unheard of for Burton. They were shooting catty glances at each other, each looking as though they had just eaten a canary. Rather than supporting Thelma by holding her arm, as he usually did, Burton wrapped his arm around her shoulder and continually brushed his free hand against her cheek affectionately. Either they had just renewed their sex life or something was up, Spud surmised.

Thelma was carrying a large manila envelope with the hand that wasn't holding her cane. Spud was tempted to ask her what it was, but realized it was none of his business.

After Spud finished escorting Thelma to her customary seat behind the cash register he began walking back to the loading area. Burton called out to him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Spud turned around, unaccustomed to being addressed rudely by either Burton or Thelma.

"Come on back here, we've got some things to talk about," said Burton, his smile completely gone.

Spud paced back towards the counter nervously. Had he done something wrong?

When Spud arrived at the counter, Thelma placed the manila folder in front of him, suddenly looking deadly serious.

"What's that?" he asked fretfully. His worst fears were confirmed when Thelma answered.

"It's your termination papers," said Thelma.

"Termination papers?" said Spud. "Why? There's no paperwork even showing that I work here in the first place, so why do you need papers to terminate me?"

"Just read them and find out," said Thelma.

Spud was stunned and dejected that they were doing this to him. The shock was so severe that he worried he might head for the nearest bar after signing his termination papers, until it occurred to him that he could probably get through this crisis if he kept Thelma's gift for himself. His hands shook as he removed the sheaf of papers from the envelope.

"This is a whole lot of paper just to fire somebody who never technically got hired in the first place," he said defiantly. Burton remained stone-faced.

"Just read," he said.

Spud managed to get a grip on himself long enough to read the first paragraph. The key phrases were "grants and conveys" and "title."

Spud glanced up at Burton and Thelma. Their austere demeanors had vanished, replaced by grins.

"You're giving me the store?" asked Spud.

"If you want it," answered Burton. "I don't see why you wouldn't, because you've got nothing to lose on the deal."

"Nothing to lose?" said Spud, "How so?" Burton's answer was thrilling.

"Here's the deal," said Burton. "You get the store with all its assets and debts. You just have to agree to pay us thirty percent of the profits until we both die. After that, it's all yours. With your marketing plan and all the other ideas you've put in, we'll still be making approximately what we were before you showed up, so with our savings we can easily retire. Meanwhile, you own the whole business and you take seventy percent of the profits."

"That sounds fantastic," said Spud. "The only problem is that I don't think I can get a loan to buy you out."

Burton chortled. "What is there about 'free and clear' you don't understand? You don't have to pay us a dime, just take over the store and keep making money for yourself and us."

"You're making me an offer I can't refuse," said Spud.

"Don't accept until you've read everything and had your lawyer review the documents, but since you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain, I'd be thinking you must have started drinking again if you said no."

Spud read the remainder of the documents as Thelma and Burton looked on. When he finished, he looked up at them with reverential eyes. He spoke just one word.

"Kumbaya?" he said.

Thelma held her arms up in the air, outstretched towards Spud. "You bet! Come on over here."

Hugs were given and received all around. Burton didn't even pretend to dislike his hug, encompassing Spud with a bear-like grip. When he finally broke away, he changed the subject away from their impending transaction.

"How's that boy Jimmy you told us about doing?" he asked.

Spud had talked about Jimmy's plight several times in the past few weeks.

"Physically, he's fine now," replied Spud. "They moved him to a temporary emergency shelter for abused children a few weeks ago. They're having trouble finding a permanent home for him, though. It seems as though there are a lot of abused, homeless and parentless children out there, more than the system can handle. Nobody wants the older children. Why do you ask?"

Thelma answered. "You know that Burton and I were never able to have children. We thought a lot about adopting, but we got caught up in the daily routine of running the store and the years passed us by. Now that we're going to be retired, we're wondering if we can help Jimmy out."

"You mean adopt him?" asked Spud.

"Maybe, if we can," replied Thelma. "I'm not sure that we can, though, now that I'm disabled. I'd be happy if they'd just let us provide foster care for him, though. We may be old, but Burton's still in great shape and we only need to care for him for five years before he's old enough to be out on his own."

Now it was Spud's turn to tease. "You're right, Thelma, you're way too decrepit to take care of Jimmy."

Burton and Thelma looked downcast. They knew he wasn't wrong, but his blunt comment about Thelma's condition had obviously stunned them. Spud regretted teasing them and set about remedying the situation immediately.

"I'm just kidding, Thelma," he said. "Actually, I just might have the solution to your problems. You have to hear me out entirely, though, and not start thinking that I'm drinking again."

Their expressions changed to puzzlement. Spud told them to wait where they were and ran out to his chained bicycle. He unstrapped the wicker basket from the handle bars and returned to the store carrying the basket.

"I was planning to give this to you today, but you sidetracked me with your generous offer for the store," he said, inserting his key into the small lock on the basket. "Now before I show you what's in here, I need to tell you the story of how I got well, so you understand what I'm giving you. You'll probably think I'm crazy for a while, until you get a chance to experience what I've got in the basket. All I ask is that you stay silent until I finish my story, okay?"

Burton and Thelma agreed. He watched their eyes grow large as he related the entire story of Telly and Symby. Burton looked skeptical throughout the entire recital, while Thelma appeared to be enthralled. Spud had to wonder how these two opposites had managed to stay married for so long.

"So do you think you can handle seeing Telly's baby now?" asked Spud when he reached the end of his account.

Thelma could barely wait. "Yes, a thousand times yes!" she answered. There was no need for Burton to answer.

"At first glance it looks like a mouse, so don't freak out when you first see it, okay?"

Reaching into the basket, he pulled the baby out, watching Burton and Thelma's reactions as he displayed the baby in his hand. As expected, Thelma seemed delighted while Burton frowned.

"He's cute!" exclaimed Thelma. "You're right, he looks like a mouse. Is it a male or a female?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," answered Spud.

Thelma was bursting with questions. "How does he know where he is without eyes or ears or even a nose? How does he get around without legs? What does he eat?"

"The kid's teacher told us that he uses his fur to sense his surroundings, sort of like a cat's whiskers, but more sophisticated. He can jump and move a little by arching his back and propelling himself upwards or forwards, but he's pretty limited. He seems to like cat and dog food."

"May I hold him now?" asked Thelma. Spud handed the baby to Thelma. She cooed and began stroking its fur, obviously enjoying herself.

"If you keep stroking him like that, he'll probably start emitting some of that healing liquid I've been talking about. I can't guarantee it, but hopefully you'll be on your way to a full recovery."

"How long will it take?" asked Thelma.

"You'll start feeling really happy right away. Of course, in your case, you're always happy, so you might not notice the difference!" Spud smiled warmly and then continued. "Any pains you have will probably disappear by tomorrow if you get a few doses today. Total recovery, if it happens, will probably take a few weeks."

Burton finally said his piece. "This sounds preposterous to me. You'd better not be getting Thelma's hopes up too high. I'm the one who'll have to pick up the pieces later."

Spud employed one of his old sales techniques in response. "I understand your concern, Burton. You might be right. We really have no idea whether Telly's medicine can cure a stroke. But it's worth a try, don't you think?"

Before Burton could answer, Thelma interrupted excitedly. "I'm getting it, I'm getting the medicine!" she cried, pointing to her hand, now wet with a few drops of clear liquid.

"Let him finish emitting the liquid, then massage it into your skin," instructed Spud. "And get ready for some serious happiness!"

Thelma did as she was told, while Burton threw up another obstacle for Spud. "Is this stuff addicting?" he asked.

"Not as far as I can tell," answered Spud patiently. "Neither Jody nor Missy went through withdrawal symptoms when Jimmy stole Symby. I stopped using Telly and I didn't have any problems either. But who really knows?"

Thelma was already experiencing the initial effects of her dose. "I feel wonderful!" she exclaimed. "If this is addicting, that's fine with me!"

Spud was delighted. "I told you! Just keep being nice to him and he'll keep giving you doses. They make great pets, too, so enjoy his company."

Spud glanced at the clock. "Hey, we're supposed to open in a few minutes. I'd better get back there and get to work."

Burton finally cracked a smile. "No need for you to do anything today or tomorrow, Spud. I hired a temp to come in and cover for you. Take today and tomorrow off and go see your lawyer. In the meantime, I'll have my lawyer look into what we have to do to take care of Jimmy."

"You're the man, Burton!" exclaimed Spud. "I doubt that I really need a lawyer, but since you insist, I'll get one. I want you both to know that I really don't know what I would have done without you."

"We've been saying the same thing about you for quite a while now, Spud," said Burton. "I guess we're symbiotic, right?"

"You got that right," agreed Spud. "You got that right."

The End... Of the Beginning!

Hi, it's me, the author. I hope you enjoyed reading
Symby
. If you're dying to learn more about what happens to Symby, Jody, Missy, Spud, Snuffles and all the other characters, then I've got great news for you-there's more! The second installment of the three part
Symby
series is titled
Seeking Symby
, and you can buy it at the same place you purchased
Symby
. As a former Sales Representative, I know the value of free samples, so scroll down a bit to read the first chapter of
Seeking Symby
. Go ahead, there's no reason to be afraid... is there?

SEEKING SYMBY

By Steven Heitmeyer

Frank Belden was short-changing his students again. He had been doing this for several months. His voice echoed throughout the classroom, robotically speaking words such as "genotype" and "Mendelian" and "recessive," but his mind was elsewhere. For more days than he cared to remember, there had been no class notes lying on the podium in front of him. He was teaching purely from memory, and he knew that some of what he was saying might be wrong.

He often wondered whether he might be challenged by one or more of his students for an incorrect statement or two, but that hadn't happened yet. He wasn't particularly worried about that scenario, as he was confident that the depth of his knowledge would enable him to dupe his inquisitor and escape detection. After all, what ninth-grader could possibly match wits with a former university microbiology researcher?

He stared blankly at the students in front of him as he spoke. Most of them looked as though they had joined him in never-never land. Some were staring out the window, some were texting and a few were whispering to each other. Before his life had so dramatically and suddenly changed, Belden would have made an effort to stop these misbehaviors and return their attention to the lecture. Now he couldn't have cared less. Only a few students seemed to be genuinely trying to follow whatever it was that he was mouthing. Of these few, Belden cared only about two. He eyed them with mixed feelings; gratitude for triggering his new, extraordinary life and regret at how he had deceived them.

Jody Mattlin and Melissa Bryant were sitting in their usual seats at the back of the classroom, alternating between gazing at Belden and each other. Taken together, they were a striking couple. Missy, as she was called by her peers, was an ethereal beauty. Her eyes glittered like emeralds, reflecting light in all directions. Her face was almost perfectly moon-shaped, highlighted by high cheekbones and a pert nose. Jody's brown, wavy hair and deep brown eyes were complemented by a classic, strong jaw. He was tall for his age and sinewy. Given his inarguable status as a former high school nerd, Belden envied them. Envy on his part, or anyone's part for that matter, was an extraordinary development. Just a few short months ago Jody and Missy would have inspired anything but jealousy in anyone who laid eyes on them.

Belden droned on, glancing occasionally at the clock to determine how much time remained before he completed his latest deception. A short time ago he would have been horrified at what he was doing. As mundane as his teaching task was, he had felt that it was his duty to ensure that his charges received the best learning experience he could possibly provide. He believed that their collective futures depended on his best efforts. He had looked down at a few of the other teachers who had abdicated this responsibility, even considered turning them in. Not anymore. Thanks to Jody and Missy, there were more important issues to address. He had been trying to address these issues on his own, but had, as they say, "come up against it." He needed Jody and Missy's help once again.

Belden breathed a sigh of relief along with his class when the bell finally rang. The deadened classroom immediately sprang to life with students chattering as they passed his desk on their way out. As he watched Jody and Missy make their way towards his desk, he thought back to their former images and marveled at the changes. He remembered Jody, his body twisted and contorted, ambling slowly and deliberately, his gait resembling a hunchback's. Missy had had little trouble walking, but her disease had savaged her small body to the point where the word "anorexic" overstated her body mass considerably. The school had delivered several e-mails regarding their condition to the entire faculty and requested that teachers be "watchful" for situations that might require their intervention. The e-mails left unstated, but clearly implied, that the "watching" might well be a death watch.

Belden called out to the happy couple just before they reached his desk.

"Have you two got a moment to talk before your next class?" he asked.

Jody and Missy glanced at each other before answering.

"We both have study hall next period," answered Jody. "What's up?"

"I suppose I should start by saying that you both look happy and well," answered Belden. "I'm so pleased for you both. Would I be considered intrusive if I asked about the current status of your illnesses?"

Jody smiled. "You mean the illnesses we used to have before we found our little friends? Ouch!" He winced as Missy jabbed her elbow into his side and shot him a disapproving look. Jody's face flushed red with alarm as he realized that he had inadvertently revealed the existence of more than one Symby.

"Friends?" queried Belden, surprised at what he had just heard. "You've found more of them?" He studied their faces carefully as he awaited their reply.

Jody and Missy again glanced at each other. Missy was obviously upset with Jody, but Jody looked her off and shrugged.

"I guess we can tell you now, since you've kept the secret like you said you would," he answered. "Yeah, there are more symbies. Telly had babies… ouch!"

Missy had jabbed her elbow into his side once again. "Why are you doing this?" she challenged Jody, her voice strident. Her efforts came too late to stem the flow.

"Telly?" said Belden. "There's another creature named Telly?"

Missy's eyes flashed with fury, but Jody continued down his reckless path. "Yeah, my father found Telly. He named him after Telesphoros, the Greek God of healing. My father was living in the woods when Telly came down from wherever he came down from. It's weird, because my dad found the same kind of green, glowing rocks at his camp after Telly arrived that Snuffles found at my house when Symby showed up. Did you ever figure out anything from those green rocks I gave you, Mr. Belden?"

Belden answered truthfully. "Yes, indeed. There are residues of organic compounds in those rocks that are similar to Symby's molecular structure. Symby might well have been an embryo or a fetus of some kind that had been encased in the rocks. I noticed increased organic activity when I added a few drops of water to swabs of those organic chemicals, so it may well be that Symby needed water to enable his growth."

"You mean like one of those old-fashioned Chia pets they used to sell, the ones where you put water and seeds into a little statue and it grows fake fur?" asked Jody.

Belden laughed. "As the former owner of one of those old-fashioned Chia pets in my youth, I'd like to think that they're not quite so old-fashioned, but yes, something like a Chia pet. I'm curious, though, did Telly have access to water when he arrived?"

"Yeah, my Dad's water pot was dented and filled with the green rocks."

"Interesting, very interesting," said Belden. "That might provide another avenue to explore as we attempt to learn more about Symby. And that, as they say, provides a perfect segue into why I asked you to stay after class today. I've been thinking about Symby and I've come up with a new avenue to explore that might result in achieving the ultimate goal of providing Symby's medicine to whoever might need it. The world would be a much happier place, would it not?"

Jody and Missy resumed their habit of looking at each other before answering. After an exchange of nervous glances, Missy answered, her voice tremulous.

"Of course it would," she agreed. "But what are you asking for?"

Belden replied with the words that he was sure they were both dreading. "I was hoping that I could gain access to Symby again for just a few days. Now that I know that there are more symbies, it raises the additional possibility that even if we fail to duplicate Symby's serum we could still perhaps begin a breeding program. It would be extremely enlightening to learn how these creatures interact with each other as a species and analyze how they reproduce. Would it be possible for me to have them all for just a few days?"

Belden knew that he was asking for the ultimate sacrifice from these two children. Each of them had been deprived of the benefits of Symby's serum for a lengthy period of time previously. Each of them had regressed rapidly without the little creature's medicine as their diseases overwhelmed their bodies once again. Missy had, in fact, come close to dying. He hated deceiving them in this way, but he rationalized his actions by reciting the old saw that was responsible for so much of both the misery and the joy in the world. "The end justifies the means," he thought.

Depriving Jody and Missy of their little saviors for just a few days wouldn't have much of an impact on their health, while successful completion of the experiments could potentially save thousands of lives. He watched as his two students resumed their habit of exchanging meaningful glances. Finally, Missy spoke.

"I think we need to ask our parents what they think, Mr. Belden."

Belden had anticipated this response. "I understand completely, Missy. If you decide not to go forward, that's your right. I must say, though, that I feel I've developed a research strategy that could very well result in saving thousands of lives, so I do hope you'll consider that possibility as you deliberate."

Jody and Missy consulted each other visually one final time. "If we decide to do this, how do we deliver our symbies to you?"

"Why don't we proceed as we did last time?" answered Belden. "Bring them to school. If your parents feel the need to discuss the issue with me, I'd be happy to meet with them at your homes or at school as well."

"I think they might want to meet you, Mr. Belden," said Missy.

"Just let me know, and we'll arrange it," responded Belden, though he hoped that this prospective meeting would not actually occur. He had too much to hide.