Birthday Dinner
Page 21
Chapter 12
Becca babbled—she never babbled and Zach found her enthusiasm and spontaneity deeply gratifying—over their cold dinner of the extra chicken, potato salad, and eggs from the lunch she’d made Jonah. She was absolutely thrilled for Jonah, so pleased with his teacher, the small class size, his customized curriculum, the emphasis on individual planning, responsibility, and motivation. “They each have their own worktable, Zach! It’s like their home away from home. They can arrange it how they want and decorate it how they want. But with all the others watching, they know they have to keep their space neat and clean and attractive, for themselves and for the good of the group. The result is they care, not only about themselves but about the others in the room. Without even being aware of it, they’re assuming communal responsibility! The extent of communal responsibility most of these kids know is waiting in line for food stamps or not wearing their sister’s holey socks, but here they are developing those skills without thinking about it or having it crammed down their throats. It’s an amazing thing. I could watch through the slot in the door all day long!”
Zach smiled. “And Jonah?”
“He’s a natural, Zach. He’s all about order, which is why the screwed up life he’s had dumped on him has been so oppressive. His mind has visions, Zach; but they’re only free to come out into an orderly environment. Without structure, those visions get bottled up inside. Now he has that structure. He’s going to do great!”
“And if the disorder returns?”
“We can’t let it.”
“We may not have control over that.”
“The further Jonah gets into this program, the safer he’ll be. Mrs. Anders already sees his potential. She’ll go to bat for him.”
“She has no more control of his life than we do.”
“It’s not one individual, Zach. It’s the process—the further along Jonah gets, the harder it will be for Latonya to keep him away. Sooner or later, she’ll have to get in line.”
“My sense is that Latonya doesn’t respond well to ‘have to’. It might even make her more dangerous.”
“Zach, for the first time in his life Jonah has a chance to express his gifts and to begin to realize his potential. We need to make sure that continues.”
Zach offered a thin smile across the table and nodded slowly. He was profoundly happy that Becca had found her calling, a joy that was only partially tempered by fear for her safety.
Becca ran around the table and gave him a bear hug from behind and a kiss on the top of his head. “Thank you for all you’ve done for Jonah and me,” she whispered into his ear.
Zach could only stare ahead in silence, as powerless as she to rein in love.