by Paul Harry
The girl made Daniel laugh. She reminded him of Zac. “So Katie, what grade are you in?” he asked.
“I’m in fourth grade. My teacher is Miss Myers... she’s really cool, she lets us brings our pets to school.”
“You have pets?”
“We have a dog,” interjected Ethyl, “an Irish Setter.”
“She’s really nice,” said Katie, proudly. “Her name is June Bug−she likes to lick and chase balls. Do you have any pets?”
“No,” responded Daniel. “I’ve never had one.”
Cognizant of Daniel’s downcast tone, Ethyl quickly changed the subject.
“Daniel, what about you?” she asked. “Judy said you’re going to be a senior this year. What are your plans?”
“Nothing special. It’s all a wash now anyway.”
“Yes, you will have some adjusting to do.”
“So... Aunt Ethyl, you never really told me what you do. Is it a secret or something?”
“Not really, the company I started does medical research. We’re looking for ways to make medicines that can help the body heal without surgery. The process uses DNA and stem cells. Are you familiar with that?”
“Yeah, we studied that in biology last year. Guess I won’t be doing that anymore.”
“Nonsense,” responded Ethyl, glancing over her shoulder. “Daniel, you’re blind, not a paraplegic. You have a handicap, but you can still learn and do incredible things. Judy says the FBI will help with your training. And I’ve already begun checking out several schools in our area. Several have stupendous programs for the blind and even offer college preparatory classes. Once we get back and get you settled we’ll get your physical taken care of and vaccinations up to date−from there it’s up to you.”
“I just wish I could remember what happened. Why I’m blind...”
“All in good time, young man. All things in time.”
* * * *
It was late afternoon when Ethyl turned her car onto a small paved road that wove its way up into the foothills of Los Gatos. Daniel surmised that they were nearly at their destination as Katie had rolled down her window and was squirming around in her seat. Doing the same, he felt for the button on the door console. His window slid open allowing the fresh air to hit him in the face. The first thing he noticed was an array of scents−salty air, fresh cut grass and flowers. It smelled great. The rest he had to imagine.
The remaining drive only took a couple of minutes as Ethyl navigated through the picturesque lanes that comprised the settlement of Los Gatos. The estates here were well to do, an acre or more in size, a variety of one and two story custom homes offset with ornate fences, manicured lawns and flower beds set against the lush, hilly terrain of Northern California. The car turned onto a gravel driveway and Daniel listened as the car’s tires crunched against the stones. He was amazed at noticing things like that. The car came to a stop.
“We’re here,” announced Ethyl, turning off the ignition.
“Yippee,” yelled Katie. She was instantly out of the car, hooting and hollering, her nimble young frame dancing across the lawn; she was happy to be home. Her exuberance was infectious and Daniel had to admit he was eager to get out of the car too. He undid his seat belt and opened the door, setting his feet on the gravel. Using the door for support he stood and stretched his legs, while taking a deep breath.
“Smells nice, a little salty,” he commented. “I wish I could see where we are.”
“Well, the most important thing I can tell you Daniel is that this is your new home,” said Ethyl, joining him. “And I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
“What does it look like?” he asked.
“Our house is what they call a Tudor style,” answered Ethyl. “Something like you might find in the English countryside. It’s two stories, brown and white with a tile thatched roof.”
“It sounds very nice,” responded Daniel. “And thank you.”
Suddenly from off to one side, a fair distance away, there was a boisterous ruckus. It was emanating from behind a six foot hedge that bordered Ethyl’s property−a dog was barking and someone was yelling, “Okay! Okay! Wait a minute.”
“June Bug!” Katie screamed. “Come here, girl.”
Falling to her knees, Katie spread her arms wide welcoming her Irish Setter as it rounded the evergreen hedge separating their home from the neighbors. The dog bounded across the lawn full bore as if there were no tomorrow. It plowed into Katie, knocking her down and onto the grass. She giggled and laughed hysterically as the dog licked her face, smothering her with love.
“Did yah miss me, baby... did yah?” she asked, as the two rolled about on the lawn.
Ethyl chuckled. “Daniel, this is our dog, June Bug... apparently on the loose again.”
Ethyl’s observation was quickly confirmed as an elderly gentleman appeared from behind the same hedge following the path taken by the dog. He was a spry, thin man, roughly seventy-four years of age, six foot tall, with dyed, thinning hair. In his hands was a leash. He waved to the group as he approached.
“Your dog about tore off my arm trying to get home,” he announced. “She heard your car and went crazy.”
“Rudy... Hi... Come on over,” invited Ethyl. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
The old man joined the group.
“Rudy, this is my nephew Daniel Lewis, from Las Vegas. Daniel, this is our neighbor, Rudy.”
Daniel stuck out his hand and Rudy latched on to it. He pumped the boy’s hand vigorously.
“Nice to meet yah kid... Las Vegas, huh? God, it’s been ten, twelve years since I’ve been there, lots of changes I bet.”
“Rudy used to run a casino there,” Ethyl informed Daniel.
“Really? Which one?”
“Ahh, it was nuthin’ kid, been retired for twenty years.” The old man turned his attention to Katie. “Hey! How about a hug for Uncle Rudy?”
Jumping up from the grass Katie gave the old man an enthusiastic hug, while June Bug took the opportunity to sniff out Daniel. The boy patted the dog’s head and felt his face and long silky coat. “Nice doggy,” he said as the animal licked his hand.
“Hey, you need some help with the suitcases?” asked Rudy.
“That would be nice... They’re in the back. I’m going to walk Daniel to the house and get him settled. It’s been a long day.”
* * * *
The day came to an end rather quietly for Daniel and the Santini clan. The family had dinner after which Ethyl and Katie escorted Daniel upstairs to his bedroom. With their help he brushed his teeth and dressed in new pajamas and made ready for bed. Goodnights were said, Katie scurried off, and Ethyl tucked Daniel in making sure he had everything he needed for the night. With the lights out he fell asleep quickly, slumbering on the most comfortable mattress he had ever felt.
Later that night, as Ethyl sat alone in the living room reading, she heard a noise coming from upstairs. Removing her reading glasses, she set her book aside and got up to investigate. At the top of the stairs she heard a voice mumbling indistinctly; it was emanating from Daniel’s room. She stood at his door and eavesdropped, but heard nothing more. She knocked and softly inquired, “Daniel... Are you all right?”
There was no reply so she opened the door and peeked in. The room was lit softly by moonlight streaming through the window. It illuminated everything with a pale cast including Daniel’s body as he lay asleep under the sheets. Ethyl watched silently for a moment noting her nephew’s restlessness. He was fidgety, tossing and turning in the bed while muttering under his breath. Daniel was having a nightmare and the words falling from his mouth were chilling.
“No... please, no... don’t kill... why -- why... no, no, no... please -- mmm--sooorryee” The boy’s speech became slurred as he turned away from her, but she did manage to catch one final phrase. “Daaa... d... I’m s-s-s-sorry.”
Ethyl closed the door and leaned against the wall. There was concern etched upon her face. She took a
deep breath and sighed; the thoughts in her head running a mile a minute. They’d barely been home a day. Had she done the right thing? Could she really help this child? What about Katie? Did she have it in her?
From somewhere deep inside she heard the long, lost whisper of her sister’s voice. “I miss Daddy so much−this isn’t fair!”
Yes, it wasn’t fair and this boy’s plate was full and he needed her help. It was the least she could do. “Helen,” she vowed, “I owe you this. And I promise, I will find a way to help him.”
Chapter 4
White Water
Though Ethyl had many duties as the CEO of NanoBytes; her favorite was dabbling in research. There was not a day that went by where she would not make time to see what was developing in the R & D division of her company. All the doctors, scientists, and lab workers could count on her like clockwork to show up and peek over their shoulders to see what was developing in their fields of ontogenesis. This habit was only further enhanced with Daniel coming to live with her and Katie. As a scientist and a caregiver; she was piqued by Daniel’s maladies and wanted to help, if only perhaps, to ease her conscious regarding her sister, Helen. Deep in her psyche there lay the nagging thought that she should have done more for her little sister after their father had passed. Unfortunately, it was too late for that, but not for Daniel.
Within days of moving to Santa Clara, Ethyl had Daniel undergo a thorough medical examination at Nanobytes. She told him that California schools required a current physical examination and assurance that his vaccinations were up to date. In part it was true, but the reality was she wanted him under her microscope. Unbeknownst to him, he had every test imaginable regarding his DNA and RNA right down to a full work up on his genetic genome. Ethyl had everything she needed−well almost.
* * * *
It was about two in the afternoon when Lance Kets appeared in LAB 5 searching for Ethyl. He had a grim look upon his face, a dour attitude that seemed to fit him as the chief accountant for Nanobytes. Limping across the lab with a cane in one hand and a clipboard full of paperwork in the other, he walked up behind Ethyl unnoticed. She was lost in thought, making notations on the computer as she studied a live culture of cells dividing on the screen before her. Lance cleared his throat.
Ethyl looked up. “Lance... how are you?”
“Fine, Ethyl, fine.” He waved the clipboard at her. “Listen, I have a few questions about these requisitions.”
“Mmm?” she muttered with disinterest, peering back at her work.
“Why are we ordering cadaver eyes?” he asked.
Ethyl’s focus remained on her computer. “It’s for a new line of research.”
“Since when?” he countered. “Appropriations has nothing on file regarding us opening any new lines. Our budget’s maxed. Please, help me understand?”
Ethyl stopped what she was doing. “Lance, it’s something new, a personal endeavor on my part.”
“Ethyl, are you nuts? Does Gregan know about this?”
“No, and I’m not planning on telling him.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“Look, Lance. This is about my nephew. I just want to look into things. Maybe see if there’s something I can do about his blindness. I mean, isn’t that why we’re here... to work on cures?”
“Yeah, but going three hundred and fifty thousand over budget for cadaver eyes and embryonic stem cells just might send up a few red flags. And what the hell are ommatidia and photospores?”
“Insect DNA,” she answered. “Butterfly light receptors... and photospores... squid use them to produce light.”
Lance was floored. “Ethyl... Gregan is going to flip. How are you going to get this by him?”
“Lance, you let me worry about Paul. If you need to, take the funds from GGR. Just get me the stuff I need.”
Lance looked as if the wind had been knocked out of him. GGR was their government funding. He started to protest, but Ethyl looked him dead in the eye−she then asked, “How’s the treatment for your diabetes coming along, Lance?”
* * * *
Daniel was sitting on the steps in front of the California School for the Blind waiting for his ride when Ethyl drove up. His hair was long now, covering his ears, but still neatly trimmed. Ethyl insisted on that. He heard the car horn honk and his name being called. Tapping the ground with his white cane he crossed the grass and sidewalk, heading toward the car. He stepped off the curb, felt for the door handle and opened the door. It only took a second for Ethyl to comment on his face as he sat. It was red and swollen.
“Daniel, what happened?”
“Nothing,” he answered.
“Look at you,” she persisted. “Something must have happened−you’re hurt.”
Aggravated by her intrusiveness, Daniel barked at her, “I fell down the stairs! Okay! Can we just go now?”
“Sure,” noted Ethyl, quietly.
Gingerly, she put the car into drive, nursing her injured right hand. Two of her fingers were bandaged with heavy white gauze and there was a pinkish hue on one where blood had seeped through. The drive home was long and quiet.
Later that evening, while Ethyl cooked dinner, Katie and Daniel set the table. It was their usual time together and normally a period of friendly chatter and banter. However, that was not the case tonight. Even the radio playing all the golden oldies that Ethyl loved and Katie and Daniel put up with, was being overlooked−Daniel was preoccupied.
“Did Nanna tell you what happened at Nanobytes today?” Katie chirped, trying to draw her cousin out.
Still glum from the misfortunes of the day, Daniel responded with a sullen, “No!”
“Some guy shot a Golden Eagle,” she blurted with excitement, “and they brought it to the lab for Nanna to help and it bit her−she had to get four stitches and a tetanus shot!”
Wallowing in self pity, Daniel barely heard what Katie had said. His mind was still occupied on the girls who had laughed at him when he fell on the steps at school. “Mmmm...” was all he said.
“Boy someone’s a grump,” Katie said, banging the silverware on the table. “So... What? Did you get into a fight at school?”
“No,” answered Daniel.
“Geeze, yah could’a fooled me.”
Unexpectedly, the song "Daniel" by Elton John began to play on the radio. The melody floated across the room and Katie took note. “Hey, listen − they’re playing your song.”
“I hate this fuckin’ song,” cursed Daniel.
Daniel may as well have shot someone. The use of the word “fuck” in the Santini household was one of the highest taboos and it drew Ethyl’s immediate ire. Ducking her head around the corner she quickly admonished him. “Young man, we don’t talk like that in this house!”
In a burst of rage, Daniel replied to her declaration by sweeping his arms across the dinner table−his actions sending everything to the floor−plates, glasses, silverware everything. The clamor that followed was a loud, shattering explosion as the dishes hit the tile floor. To make matters worse, Daniel punctuated his tantrum by screaming at the top of his lungs, “I don’t give a fuck!”
Like a runaway locomotive Ethyl was in the dining room instantly. Throwing her pot holder down, she waved Katie from the room while coming face to face with Daniel. Furious beyond words, she slapped him across the face, stunning him.
“Now you listen to me young man,” she reproached the boy as he stumbled back. “I understand you have been through a lot−in fact I can’t pretend to know the pain you’re going through, but I will not tolerate such disrespect in this house. Now sit down!”
Groping for a chair, Daniel did as he was ordered. He sat while Ethyl grabbed another chair. She sat in front of him. Hotter than a gas furnace, her voice quivered as she spoke as only a mother can.
“Daniel, I think it’s time for us to come to an understanding,” she declared firmly. “Your actions tonight are beyond the bounds of acceptability in this household. Your use of foul la
nguage and unbridled anger will not be tolerated. We do not deserve this. We’re your family−the ones taking care of you. We’re the ones who have bent over backwards to help you. I could have said ‘no’, when Judy Salinski came to me, but I didn’t. I took you in and I have gone over and above making sure you have everything you need to get your life back in order. And this is how you show your appreciation? Yelling at your cousin, swearing, breaking the dishes. No more young man−no more. We deserve better−much better. And you owe Katie an apology. Especially with all she’s done for you−helping you learn Braille, seeing to it that you have someone to take walks with−that you’re not alone...”
From behind his dark glasses, tears began to trickle down Daniel’s face. Slowly his pain seeped out, the sobs, soft at first, became hard.
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry Aunt Ethyl... it’s just that I miss him. I miss him so damn much. And the last thing I remember is hating him. Hating him for making us poor, taking my things and selling them. And now I just want to tell him how much I miss him... that I love him and I can’t...”
Cognizant of the real issue behind Daniel’s outburst, Ethel’s anger faded. She couldn’t remember him really talking about Steven−he kept so much bottled up inside. Gathering up Daniel in her arms, she hugged him tightly, rocking him gently.
“It’s okay, Daniel... it’s okay. I’m sure he knows.” Tears clouded her eyes.
“I never got to say goodbye,” he sobbed. “I don’t even know where he’s buried.”
“We’ll find out, Daniel. We’ll find a way for you to say goodbye. I promise.”
From out in the hallway Katie stood silently watching−tears in her eyes.
Later that night, after everyone had eaten and things had settled, Daniel returned to his room and his homework. There was a soft knock on the door.
