Aligned

by Jaci Wheeler

  Chaz jumps up and hits a few buttons on the computer and instantly the large monitor comes to life.

  “Natasha, pick one of the case workers at random for me.”

  “How about Corey Roberts?”

  I type in his name, and two other names pop up. “I see that Corey is following Elizabeth Sigmund, who is thirteen, and Bradley Wayne, who is three. Is this right, Corey?”

  When he says “Yes,” I say, “Wonderful. Let’s start with Bradley first. As you will see, when I click on his folder several subfolders come up. These are the milestones. We have crawling, babbling, talking, eating, walking, and so on. Every time he does one of these it will automatically be recorded and go to the folder. If anything of consequence happens you will get an alert notice. For instance, if he doesn’t hit a milestone at the appropriate age you will be alerted, or if he hits it early you will also be notified.”

  “Wow, that’s great!” Corey exclaimed.

  “Moving on to Elizabeth.” Chaz taps the screen a few more times and her folder comes on screen.

  “Since she is older her folder is going to be more complex. It’s broken down by journal entries, school assignments, friends, achievements, likes, dislikes, etc. There are many breakdowns, and just as many folders. Everything is sorted electronically from anything that is sent on a tablet or anything that is monitored. There is also a folder for her parents’ and teachers’ logs that is updated on any changes and progress.”

  “That’s fantastic, Wes!” Natasha says with a bright smile on her face.

  “You haven’t even seen the cool part yet,” I say, trying not to let my excitement get away from me again. “You can go into any folder at any time to monitor progress, however, the system is set up to alert you not only when anything of significance happens, but also if the person is flagged for president, council, or basically any important Ministry staff job. As a case worker you will be notified, but a copy of their file will automatically be sent to Cole’s computer. The same goes for you, Natasha. All people with disabilities have the same files that will be sent to you anytime one is flagged.”

  “Very well done, Wes. I must say I am highly impressed. This should free up more workers and help them to take more cases without being overloaded,” Cole says, walking over to me and patting me on the back. I try not to push him off, but I can’t hide my flinch and the grimace I know is on my face. He awkwardly removes his hand and coughs.

  “Thank you, sir. Chaz will remain in your department to oversee the program and to work out any problems that may arise, but I assure you, it has been tested and all kinks have been thoroughly worked out.”

  “Also, I installed a filtration system that should help to narrow down jobs for you as well. I put in all the different types of jobs the country has to offer, and the description of the best qualities for the job position. The computer will send someone who fits those descriptions to those departments’ folders. This won’t eliminate your work, but it should help it immensely. Computers don’t have instinct that people have, so you can still trust your gut but I personally believe they don’t have has many flaws or errors either.”

  Natasha clears her throat. “Yes, thank you, Wes. We’re looking forward to seeing how this plays out.”

  Cole steps up and addresses the room. “This is going to help you out greatly. Use it as a tool, but only a tool. Don’t get lazy and rely solely on this system. I still want you doing the work; we are only trying to be a little less intrusive. We are going to give this a month and see how it works. If it doesn’t live up to our expectations we’ll be going back to the old way, so don’t get too comfortable.”

  I scoff at his last remark. If my program doesn’t exceed his expectations, I will eat his hat myself. I don’t do mediocre work.

  Cole tells everyone to go back to work, and Leon winks at me on his way out.

  “Very well done, Wesley. We are impressed with the outcome.”

  “I’m glad. Also, I set up a file for those overachievers like myself.”

  “Oh, but you are one of a kind, Wes,” Natasha says with a smirk.

  “Yes, well be that as it may, I have it set up to where if anyone has any formulas or designs, anything at all that could be useful to the Ministry, it will go straight to the department that will benefit from the information.”

  “That’s excellent. Too bad poor Leon didn’t have that when you were on his case load.” With that, Cole saunters off to his office. I give the thumbs up to Chaz and he hits the launch button.

  The launch goes off seamlessly and I am incredibly happy with the results. I instantly want to share my success with Rosaline…if only she wasn’t across the country. Oh well, she would probably make me dance like a trained monkey so I should count myself lucky.

  Natasha and I go down to lunch together after everything calms down. It’s nice to have a bit of a buffer between Andi and myself since I’m not exactly sure where we stand. Andi must have had the same idea because when we get there she’s sitting at my table with Masters.

  I go directly to the food line for a sandwich and an apple, then join them at the table.

  “Hello,” I say, and then set about arranging my things on the table. Unwrapping my napkin, placing it just so in my lap, placing my settings exactly how I like them, and right as I am turning my plate 120 degrees three guys from the Department of Defense walk by. I see them out of the corner of my eye and stiffen, praying they’ll keep walking and leave me alone. Obviously I’m not going to be that lucky today; I can tell when they stop right next to me. One of the guys picks up my fork and flips it over, placing it outside my reach.

  “Oops, look what I went and did. That doesn’t bother you, does it, Wesley?” he says with a hateful grin. His buddies start laughing and join in on the fun.

  “Now hey there, Chris. I think his spoon is lonely now. We can’t have a lonely spoon can we, Wes?” He picks up my spoon and puts it on top of my fork.

  I take a deep breath and try not to focus on the fact that my utensils are touching and not in their right places. This is what they want; they’re waiting for me to freak out. I silently put everything back where it belongs.

  “What’s wrong, Wes, got nothing to say?” the first one asks me. I remain silent, knowing nothing I say will help right now. It doesn’t matter how old I am, or where I am, there will always be bullies, always be people who have to break me down to build themselves up. While I know it’s not personal, that doesn’t ever make it any better. This happened a few times before when Roz was on tour. Nobody would dare do it with her here, though now she is away again it looks like it’s open season.

  The second guy finally gets impatient and starts pulling the other two toward the food.

  “Come on, I’m hungry. He’s not even counting or swaying or anything.”

  They finally leave and I start counting to myself, ticking off the numbers on my fingers. I forget everyone who is sitting at my table. I forget I’m a grown man and teasing isn’t supposed to get to me anymore. When I finally calm down I look up to see three faces staring at me in shock. Natasha’s mouth is hanging open. Masters’ face is masked and unreadable, but the vein in his neck is pulsing so I know he must be upset. It’s Andi’s face that shows the most concern. Her eyes are bulging and her mouth is open. She has her fists clenched and she is glaring at the backs of the men over my shoulder.

  I pick up my sandwich and start eating.

  “What just happened?” Natasha asks.

  I shrug.

  “Wesley, answer her! What was that?” Andi demands.

  “What do you think it was? They were giving me a hard time; don’t worry about it.”

  “Does this happen often, Wes?” Natasha asks. I shoot her a look that quickly shuts her up. She should know more than anyone how much this has happened to me on a daily basis my whole life.

  “Aren’t you going to do something, Kevin?” Andi demands.

  Masters shrugs. “What do you want me to do? He’s a gro
wn man; he can fight his own battles.”

  “Kevin!” Natasha admonishes. “They work for you; you can’t allow them to get away with treating people like that.”

  “And what happens if I do handle it, Tash? I’ll tell you what happens—it will get ten times worse for him. So stay out of it.”

  Natasha shoots daggers at Masters but remains silent.

  Andi shocks me by slamming her fist on the table. All three of us jump in surprise.

  “Stay out of it? Seriously, Kevin, I expect more than that from you! You can stay out of it, but I certainly will not!” she yells at him, standing so fast her chair is thrown to the ground. Before I even know what is happening she has rounded the table and walked across the room to where the three men are sitting.

  She marches right over to the first man and comes at him so fast he has no clue what hit him…literally. All one hundred ten pounds of Andi slam into him so hard he flies backwards, right out of his chair. The man lies there stunned silent, staring up at her in disbelief.

  “How does it feel, huh? To be minding your own business and get attacked out of nowhere? How dare you three? Didn’t your mothers teach you any manners whatsoever?” Andi, who rarely speaks over a whisper, is downright screaming at the whole table.

  She glares at each of them. “You are grown men, for goodness sakes. Start acting like it. I better not hear of this happening any more or you’ll learn real quick about the Masters’s tempers. Now get out of here! Now!”

  She is standing there with her hands on her hips, daring them to defy her. I’m sitting across the room and even I am terrified. Masters is chuckling under his breath and Natasha’s eyes look like they are about to pop right out of her head.

  “I said move it!”

  The two friends rush to their buddy, who is still sprawled out on the floor, pick him up, and they are gone before I can blink. Andi calmly walks back to her seat and picks up her salad like nothing happened, takes it to the garbage, and walks right out the door.

  Masters bursts out laughing so loud it makes me jump. He has tears rolling down his face and can hardly catch his breath,

  “Really, Masters? Pull yourself together, man!”

  Natasha looks over at him with a smile of her own. “That was rather shocking, not to mention out of character.”

  “You’re bloody right it was. That was fantastic! I’ve never even seen Andi kill a fly or raise her voice. Did you see that hit? It was beautiful and fluid and she knocked him right on his—”

  Natasha gave him a pointed glare and he shuts up, but is still grinning from ear to ear.

  “What in heaven’s name made her act so barbarically? Not to mention completely insane?” I ask.

  Apparently Natasha finds this question funny. “As if you even have to ask. Come on, Wesley, for being a genius you sure are dense sometimes.”

  This earns a scowl from Masters.

  “Drop it, Natasha.”

  “Oh, so now you want it dropped. What happened to the pride shining in your eyes only seconds ago? A little violence will perk you right up, but throw in romance and mum’s the word?”

  “Yep, that about sums it up. Well, this was fun, but I have a job to get back to…and some men to humiliate,” he adds with an evil smile.

  “Come on, Wes,” Natasha says, picking up her tray and getting ready to leave. “Time to head out. I think we’ve had all the excitement we can stand for one day.”

  Truer words have never been spoken.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “Stop it, stop it, you’re killing me! She did not knock him straight over. He didn’t move, just lay there staring up at her?”

  “I’m pretty sure he was too terrified to move,” I say to Molly. She’s on the floor rolling over in a ball, trying to keep from peeing her pants, she says.

  “I can’t take it…oh this is too much! I would have given anything to see Andi take that guy out. Why do I miss all the fun stuff?” she whines.

  “I’m not gonna lie, it would have been awesome to see,” Dex chimes in.

  I look back at both of them in horror. “What’s so awesome about violence and unstable mood swings?”

  “Oh stuff it, Wes. You’re just scared now you know Andi can kick your butt!” Molly so elegantly throws at me.

  I must turn two shades of green. “You don’t think she’ll beat me up if she’s mad, do you?” I ask, completely serious. Somehow both of my horrid roommates find this question absolutely hilarious. Dex is only moments away from joining Molly on the floor.

  “Can’t you see her now? ‘Wesley Sanders, I told you to put your socks in the hamper, not the floor. When I get hold of you I’m going to beat you into next Tuesday!’” Molly taunts.

  Dex bursts out laughing. “Cake? You brought me cake? You know I wanted cookies! Smack!”

  I stand up, having about as much as I can take of their shenanigans. “I’m going to bed now,” I announce, and make a hasty exit.

  Right as I am getting ready to go to bed I hear a knock at my door. It’s odd since Roz is usually the only one who comes to my door. I open the door to find a sheepish Dex standing there.

  “Sorry, Wes, we got a little carried away out there. We didn’t mean to upset you.”

  I sit down on my bed and wait for Dex to take the chair across from me.

  “All joking aside, I think that was a pretty cool thing she did, Wes.”

  “You do?”

  “Totally. It’s hot when chicks go all momma bear.”

  “It is?”

  “Of course it is! Come on, you mean you weren’t even the slightest bit proud of her for standing up for you?”

  Now that he mentions it, it was pretty neat that she defended me, not that I needed it. That has always been Roz’s role, and she’s done it so well, I never really thought anyone else cared enough.

  “I haven’t really given it much thought.” Normally I would discuss it with Roz. Or should I say Roz would discuss it with me and inform me the best way to handle the situation. Since she isn’t here I should probably talk to Dexter about it.

  “What’s bothering you, Wes? Obviously I can tell you’re upset. Is it because she defended you?”

  I sigh. How is he supposed to understand how I feel? He is built like a god for goodness sakes, and is scary as all get out. Who would ever mess with him? I doubt he’s been taunted a day in his life. My first instinct is to shut down and go to my safe place of algorithms and far off places in my mind. However, Dexter isn’t one to want to have a heart to heart, so since he’s trying I guess I can too.

  “You wouldn’t understand, Dexter. It’s not that Andi defended me, it’s that she felt she had something to defend me from. Guys like you wouldn’t understand,” I say, unable to hide the contempt from my voice.

  “Guys like me?” he echoes, sounding more than offended by my remark.

  “Yes, guys like you. Big, strong, good looking, smart, fits in with everyone kind of guys. You don’t even have to work for it, people gravitate toward you. Even dark and broody like you are doesn’t seem to affect it.”

  “Oh really? You’re right, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ve never been an outsider, people never judge me or look at me like I don’t belong, whisper about me behind my back, right?” he says contemptuously. “I don’t know who you think I am, Wes, but I’m not that guy. I’m the guy that wasn’t able to save his mom. I let her die right in front of me. You don’t think that got the tongues wagging? I’m the guy that’s barely squeaking by raising a little girl who doesn’t speak and is afraid of her own shadow. I’m the guy whose father tried to kill the love of my life right in front of me! I’m the guy whose body matches the torment and scars on the inside. Don’t think because people don’t taunt me to my face that they aren’t doing it at all. We might have different lives, and I will never understand how hard it is for you…but that doesn’t mean I can’t understand you, sympathize with you…feel for you.” He is looking at me now with so much hurt in his eyes.
I’m not one for reading people, but right now I feel closer to Dex than I have anyone. I can tell he understands me on a level I didn’t think anyone could.

  “I’m sorry for underestimating you, Dex. I miscalculated.”

  Instantly his face transforms into a smile and he pats me on the back. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone has, and most certainly won’t be the last. I don’t open up much, Wes, something I’m trying to work on. I do know what it feels like to walk around feeling like you have a target on your back, knowing the world will never understand your pain. I know Roz isn’t here right now, and that’s gotta be wrecking you, but you do have friends, okay?”

  This is probably a hugging moment. If it was one of the girls I’m sure I wouldn’t have a choice in the matter. Luckily Dex isn’t a big hugger, and lord knows I don’t need anything else panic attack inducing today so I awkwardly tap his back twice.

  “Thanks, Dex, I really appreciate it.”

  “So as much as I understand not wanting Andi to fight your battles for you, how awesome was it seeing that guy get what he deserved? And from a tiny little chick, too? Man, I wish I coulda seen that!”

  I laugh when I think back to the shock on that guy’s face, not to mention everyone else in the room.

  “Yes, I guess it was pretty cool.”

  “On a scale of one to ten how mortified do you think Andi is now?”

  I think about reserved, sweet Andi and can’t stop my own smirk. “Probably close to the thousand range.”

  “That’s what I thought too,” Dex chuckles. “That’s pretty awesome though that she cares enough about you to do that.”

  “Oh, like Roz wouldn’t do that for you!” Dex raises his eyebrows and gives me a skeptical look.

  “Oh come on! You don’t buy that indifferent act of hers, do you? And here I thought I was the ignorant one when it came to women!”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Roz might not have punched them, but I guarantee she would have made them go through enough sensitivity training to last them several lifetimes! Not to mention she would probably have snuck a laxative into their food. Nobody messes with anyone she cares about, and whether you want to believe it or not she cares about you, Dexter.”