Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2021 00:09:10 +0000 (UTC) From: Albert Collins Subject: You were there - part 39 Disclaimer: This is a romantic love story about love between young adolescent boys. There are some explicit sex scenes in the story but they are not the main focus of the story. So if you are looking for a story with a lot of explicit sex action, you are in the wrong place. If you like to read a sappy romantic tory with occasional kinky sex scenes, then please sit back and enjoy! Thanks again to all those who wrote with comments, encouragement and feedback! Of course, as usual, comments and constructive criticism are welcome! albert.c87@yahoo.com ***************************** To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour A Robin Red breast in a Cage Puts all Heaven in a Rage A Dove house filld with Doves & Pigeons Shudders Hell thr' all its regions A dog starvd at his Masters Gate Predicts the ruin of the State 'Auguries of Innocence', by William Blake, 1863 Your were there -- Part 39 When Gregg and the boys got to Green Oaks, the ambulance with Yasha and Frank had already left for the hospital. There were still quite a few police officers, game wardens and volunteers on the premises and several fire trucks parked in front of the main entrance. Margie gathered all the boys in the common room while Gregg called Frank and talked to him for about twenty minutes. The EMTs told Frank that the hospital will definitely want to keep Yasha for at least a day under observation regardless of how the x-rays turn out. To Luke's exasperation it was agreed that the boys should go back to sleep for a couple of hours and would come and visit Yasha later during the day. Roxie, who was woken up by the commotion, perched in Luke's lap as he sat in one of the common room chairs. Nobody, even the younger boys, really wanted to go back to bed. It was already getting close to 5am. After surveying the troops Gregg decided to let the boys stay up and talk if they want. "But guys," he warned, "at 6:30 I still want everyone to go back to their rooms. I want you cleaned up and showered and back here in time for breakfast. Capeesh?" "Yeah, we got it, Mr Gregg!" Luke replied for everybody. 'Don't worry 'bout us." Toby lay on the floor on his back in front of Luke's chair. Roxie jumped from Luke's lap onto Toby's stomach and settled there, and Toby immediately started stroking Roxie's back, eliciting satisfied purrs from her. "We should take Roxie with us to the hospital," Diego suggested. "Yeah, yeah, great idea, Diego!" Luke joined enthusiastically. "I bet Yasha will be happy to see Roxie!" "We'll have to check if the hospital rules allow it," Gregg replied with a slight doubt in his voice. "We don't have to tell them," Luke mused. "We could hide her in a gift basket, he-he!" "Luke!" Gregg frowned disapprovingly. "What?" Luke raised his eyebrows innocently. "I'm just spitballing here. Besides, I'm sure the'll let us bring Roxie. We'll tell them she's ... What's that called ... Oh, a therapy cat, yeah. A therapy cat, for Yasha!" "A therapy cat!" Gregg chuckled. "Good grief!" He headed for the clubhouse exit. "Just remember guys, I want you back in your rooms by 6:30 and then back here in time for breakfast." "Yeah, Roxie, you're gonna be a great therapy cat," Danny leaned down to pet Roxie as she stretched comfortably on Toby's tummy. "Luke, what's a therapy cat, by the way?" "Umm, I think it's any kinda animal that helps people who're sick, right, Diego?" Luke offered. "That's right," Diego agreed. "There are dogs that help kids who have cancer. Make them feel better. I think cats also ..." "Wow," Toby mused, "then we should definitely take Roxie to see Yasha. She makes me feel lots better." He scratched Roxie's face below her chin and she purred again. "Hey, can there be a therapy horse? You know, like Summer? Or maybe even a donkey?" "I donno, buddy, I'm not sure," Lukę reflected. "I think you've gotta be able to take it to a hospital, you know, where the sick people are. A cat in a gift basket is one thing but I donno what would happen if you bring a horse to a hospital. Even a nice and chill horse like Summer ..." "I bet it'd be really cool!" Ritchie giggled slyly. "I'd pay good money to see that!" "Ritchie, man," Devon parried, "you've got no money to bet!" Ritchie scoffed in annoyance. "Well, let's not bring Summer to the hospital while Yasha is there," Diego intervened peaceably. "We'll just take Roxie." "Yeah, Roxie, girl, you're gonna be a therapy cat. For Yasha," Luke leaned to scratch behind Roxie's ear. "Whadaya think of that?" Roxie cocked her heard, blinked her green eyes and purred approvingly, while continuing to groom herself. In about twenty minutes all the kids went back to their rooms to get ready for breakfast. By that time Toby was yawning widely. Luke attempted to carry him but quickly gave up. "You're getting too big for me, buddy," Luke admitted with a sheepish smile as he gave Toby a warm hug. "That's okay," Toby hugged him back. "Thanks, Luke." Once back in their Luke and Diego each grabbed a quick shower and brushed their teeth. "Man, I know how Toby feels," Luke declared, shaking his head vigorously and throwing cold water on his face. "I could certainly use some sleep now ... But we need to go visit Yasha." "Definitely!" Diego agreed. "I hope he's okay. I hope he didn't make his leg much worse." "They should be able to tell us something by now," Luke suggested. They hurried back to the clubhouse for breakfast and to get the news of Yasha. Frank was already there, having returned from the hospital. It turned out that Yasha did get a couple of small stress fractures in his foot and was going to need to wear a cast for at least a month. He also badly aggravated his ankle sprain and the doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital under observation for a couple of days. The breakfast passes as a subdued and occasionally sleepy affair. The boys were still feeling tired and exhausted after the long and eventful night. "Come on, guys, look alive!" Frank chided them. "We are visiting Yasha to cheer him up. Not bring him more doom and gloom." He was met with more groans and yawns. Margie baked fresh chocolate chip muffins for to take to Yasha and the boys got to taste them at the end of breakfast too, which increased their enthusiasm considerably. She also brought Roxie's traveling wicker basket. Frank checked with the hospital and it was allowed to bring in cats for brief visits to see the patients. Frank borrowed the same mini-bus that they used for the trip to the White Mountains. After breakfast all the kids, Gregg and Rose loaded onto the bus, and Frank took the wheel as before. As expected, Luke was carrying Roxie in her basket. The ride to Concord passed quietly but quickly. When they disembarked at the hospital parking lot, Luke still had Roxie, and Rose gave Diego a basket with chocolate muffins and a few other goodies that Margie prepared for Yasha. "Okay, guys, listen up," Frank addressed the group, "this is a hospital, so I want you all on your best behavior. Stay together and follow me, Gregg and Rose, okay? All right, let's go!" They went inside and followed the signs to the pediatric wing. Once there at the front desk one of the nurses greeted them: "Wow, that's quite a big group! Whom are you guys visiting?" "We are here to see Yasha!" Luke declared confidently. "Yes, Yakov Levinson, please," Frank confirmed. "I think he is in B-7." "Ah, yes, that's right, Yasha, of course!" the nurse exclaimed. "Sure, go right ahead, he's expecting you. And yes, he's in B-7. It's that way, down the corridor, on the left." She pointed in the direction of the room. "And who is this?!" she leaned down and petted Roxie's head. "That's Roxie, our cat," Diego explained. "We brought her along, to cheer up Yasha. It's okay, isn't it?" "Yes, of course, it's all right," the nurse stood up. "She looks like such a sweet cat! Just keep an eye on her so that she doesn't run." "Roxie's got three legs," Luke commented matter-of-factly. "She doesn't run. Yet." "Or dear, I'm sorry," the nurse apologized. She leaned down to pet Roxie again. "Well, go ahead, guys! Yasha's probably waiting." They thanked the nurse and proceeded to the end of the corridor towards Yasha's room. They passed a common area where they saw several kids playing and watching TV but for the most part the pediatric wing looked fairly empty. The door to Yasha's room was open and before Frank hand a chance to knock the kids poured inside. Yasha was lying on a large comfy looking hospital bed with slightly raised up back and watching TV that was hanging from the ceiling in front of him. His right leg was encased in a cast resting above the covers. Yasha's unruly bushy mop of reddish hair looked even bigger than usual against the white pillow. The other bed in the room, across from Yasha's was empty. "Oh, hey, guys!" Yasha greeted them with a slightly embarrassed smile. "Yasha, boy, you're looking super handsome!" Luke declared as he put Roxie's basket on the floor next to the bed. "How are you feeling, buddy?" "Good, I'm good, thanks ...," Yasha started responding. "Wow, Yasha, that's a really cool cast!" Danny exclaimed observing Yasha's leg. "Yeah!" Ritchie seconded as he tapped on the cast with his fingers. "Man, I bet it'd be cool to wear one of those ..." "Ritchie, dude," Luke smirked, "if you want my help arranging that, just say the word!" Ritchie stuck his tongue at Luke in response. "Come on, guys, what are you, six-year-old?" Gregg chided them. "No, I'm almost 14," Ritchie asserted defensively. "Well, start acting it," Gregg admonished. "Yasha, buddy, we brought you these chocolate muffins Ms Margie baked," Diego put the muffin basket on a tray next to the table. "I hope you like them!" "Wow, thanks, they smell great!" Yasha picked up a muffin and took a bite. "Taste great too! The food here is pretty good but doesn't compare with Ms Margie's cooking ..." "Yasha, are you alone in the room?" Toby inquired. "You don't have a roommate? Do you get lonely just by yourself?" "Yeah, it's a little boring," Yasha admitted. "They don't let me get about much yet ... But I've just gotten a roommate this morning, his name is Topher." "Oh, where is he?" Luke pointed to the empty bed on the other side of the room. "Surgery," Yasha explained laconically. "He's hurt his back real bad. Fell while climbing a tree, I think. They are trying to fix him right now." "Wow!" Luke exclaimed sympathetically. He took one of the muffins from Yasha's tray and carried it to Topher's bed, placing the muffin on the tray there. "For Topher," Luke explained. "You don't mind, do you?" he checked with Yasha. "No, of course not," Yasha reassured. "I'm probably getting too fat stuck in bed anyway," he joked patting his belly. Everybody shared a hearty laugh. "And speaking of getting lonely and bored," Luke continued, "Yasha, boy, look who decided to pay you a visit!" He lifted Roxie's basket from the floor and placed it on Yasha's bed. "Oh, my god, Roxie!" Yasha exclaimed excitedly. "That's right, buddy, Roxie just insisted on coming along," Luke chuckled. He sat at the edge of Yasha's bed and carefully got Roxie out of the basket. Yasha started petting her with a happy wide grin on his face and Roxie purred loudly. "Wow," Gregg remarked standing a few feet back next to Frank and Diego. "I can't remember if I've ever seen Yasha smile like that ..." Yasha scratched behind Roxie's ear and she licked his palm. Yasha emitted a delighted squeal: "She licked me!" "It means that she really likes you," Diego sat on the edge of the bed next to Luke. "She only does that to the kids she likes." Yasha took Roxie in his arms and cradled her to his chest. Roxie proceeded to rub the top of her head against Yasha's chin, eliciting another bout of giggles from him. "Wow, Roxie, girl, you're really laying it down pretty thick," Luke complimented with a smile. The kids gathered around Yasha's bed and played some more with Roxie. They also shared some of Margie's chocolate muffins. As Diego stood up and rejoined Frank, Gregg and Rose a few feet away, Gregg noted to him pensively: "You know, Diego, Roxie is really working out great as a therapy cat!" "Yeah, Roxie is an awesome cat," Diego agreed. "And it was a great idea!" "All right, guys," Frank cleared his throat loudly. "It's been a good visit but let's start wrapping things up. Yasha, I'm glad you're doing better, kid. I'll check up on you again later tonight." Luke picked up Roxie and the kids started gathering by the door of Yasha's room, getting ready to leave. "Guys, thanks for coming today, really," Yasha said, his voice turning timid. "And thanks for bringing Roxie!" he added more cheerfully. "Sorry that I've been such an ass and scared everybody ..." "That's all right, kid, that's okay, you just keep getting better," Frank reassured. "Umm, Mr Frank, can I talk to Luke and Diego alone?" Yasha asked timidly. "Yes, sure, Yasha, no problem, you can talk to them," Frank's gaze shifted wistfully from Yasha to Luke and Diego and back as he scratched his forehead. "We'll wait for you outside," he nodded to Luke and Diego. "Come on, everyone, let's give them a moment!" The kids filed out of the room, leaving only Luke and Diego by the side of Yasha's bed. "So, Yasha, little dude, how are you doing, really?" Luke sat at the edge of the bed and took Yasha's hand. "How are you holding up?" Diego sat next to Luke at the edge of Yasha's bed. "I'm good, thanks, Luke," Yasha replied, "much better, honest. Thanks for bringing Roxie today. It was fun." Yasha gave the boys a nice smile. "Well, if Roxie got you smiling after the first day, maybe you'll be giggling after day two," Diego joked. "So something is working!" "Yeah," Yasha smiled wider. "But it's not just Roxie ... I wanted to thank you guys for ... you know. I was so-o-o stupid. Left the phone in my room. Boy, that was dumb. Scared everybody." Yasha looked at Luke and Diego pensively. "But what I don't get is how you found me. I was so freaked out. I just didn't want to be found. When I went off the path, I thought that was it, I was lost and nobody would find me. Had no idea where I was or where I was going. But you found me. Somehow, you knew where I was. How did you guys know? How did you find me?" Luke and Diego exchanged perplexed glances followed by a long pause. At last Luke spoke: "Yasha, buddy, I wish we knew ourselves. I guess it's a kind of magic. A kind of magic that me and Diego have when we are together that works sometimes." "Yeah, and it lets us find lost boys in trouble," Diego continued. "Like you." "Probably only works 'cause we are boyfriends," Luke mused. "Which was lucky in your case," he chuckled. "Magic?" Yasha gave them a wistful look. "But I guess Diego is the one who makes it happen, right?" "Why do you say that?" Luke wondered. "The moose," Yasha explained laconically. "I was there. I saw what happened." "Yasha, kid, you've got to stop playing chess," Luke added jokingly. "It makes you way too smart!" The three of them laughed light-heartedly. "Luke, Diego, thank you, really," Yasha repeated earnestly. "And don't worry, I won't blab my mouth. I know this much: real magic should be kept secret." "Yasha, boy," Luke declared with a grin, getting up from Yasha's bed. "You're most welcome! And forget what I just said about chess. Being smart definitely suits you!" Diego leaned down and gave Yasha a gentle kiss on the forehead. Luke and Diego exchanged parting smiles with Yasha and left the room. "You know, Luke," Diego whispered as they walked towards the exit from the patients wing, towards the Green Oaks group waiting ahead, "I know you were just trying to be nice when you just told Yasha ... about what happened. But I think you might have been right when you said it. Might really work that way." "I know, babe," Luke flashed Diego a bright smile and kissed him on a cheek. "But Yasha was right too. 'Diego is the one who makes it happen.' He-he, the boy is smart!" He kissed Diego again and Diego blushed as they approached the others. "Took you guys long enough," Ritchie complained. "What were you doing there all this time? Besides playing kissy-kissy, that is?" He made an exaggerated kissing sound. "Ritchie, man," Luke replied good-naturedly, "you can try but you are not gonna spoil this visit for us. Let's go home." "Now, that sounds like a good idea," Frank chimed in. "Let's go home. I want everybody to catch up on some sleep." Frank petted Roxie's head in her basket and she yawned widely. "That includes you, Roxie." - "Mr Frank, today is Wednesday, right?" Luke approached Frank as they walked towards the Green Oaks bus in the hospital parking lot. "Yes, Luke," Frank chuckled, "That's correct, today is Wednesday. You knowledge of the calendar serves you well." "Right," Luke ignored the jab. "And the school already starts on Monday next week. So you really gotta do something for me and Diego this week." "Oh?" Frank raised his eyebrow. "And what's that?" "You gotta let us got visit Fidget," Luke requested firmly. "Now, before the classes start." "Yes, Mr Frank, please!" Diego seconded Luke. "You gotta let us go visit him." "Boys," Frank sighed as they stopped by the bus, "you've just gotten a new pet." He gestured towards Roxie. "You'd only be setting yourselves up for more heartache. I'm sure that Fidget is in good hands and is doing great ..." "You promised, Mr Frank," Luke's voice got edgier and harder. "They promised too. Promised that we could come and visit him. Was that a lie?" "No," Frank sighed again. "I just don't know why you'd want to set yourselves up for more heartache, especially now that you've got Roxie ... But if you're determined then yes, I could call them up and see if we can arrange a visit for you guys this week to 'Bear Necessities'. It'll be up to them, though, you understand. They might not have time for you this week. It may have to be later. But I'll call and ask." "Thanks, Mr Frank," Luke climbed onboard the bus. "Thanks for being straight with us. I still love Fidget and I wanna see him. I'll take the heartache." Frank shook his head as he watched Diego board the bus after Luke. When they got back to Green Oaks, the kids gathered back in the common room. For a while the conversation continued, centered around Yasha and the excitement of the night's events. Still, soon the fatigue started to catch up with everybody. When Frank came back to the clubhouse shortly before lunch, he found all the boys asleep in various places and positions around the common room. Luke was seated in one of the big chairs, holding who was Toby curled up in his lap. Diego was lying on the carpet on his back in front of Luke's chair and Roxie was sleeping soundly on his chest. Ritchie was snoring loudly on one of the couches. "I should probably take a picture," Frank muttered to himself with a chuckle. "All right, all right, everybody, time to get up!" Frank clapped his hands loudly. "Umm, what?" Luke stirred and lifted his face groggily. "Lunch!" Frank barked with a laugh. "Umm, okay," Luke and Toby slowly got up, and Luke helped Diego up from the floor. "By the way, Luke, I did as you asked," Frank added. "Sorry, what?" Luke stared at Frank blankly. "I called up 'The Bear Necessities'," Frank explained. "You and Diego are going there to visit Fidget tomorrow. They'll come and pick you up in the morning." "Oh my god, Mr Frank, are you for real!" Luke shouted in shock. "Yes, Luke, I'm for real," Frank smiled. "Their van will be here at 8:45, right after breakfast." "Assuming you still want to go," he quipped wryly. "Mr Frank!!" Luke was indignant. "All right, all right," Frank chuckled. "Just take some good pictures of the little guy. I kinda miss him too." Luke pulled Diego away and whispered to him urgently: "Oh my god, Diego, did you hear, that?! What time is it now, 12:30? Can't you do your elf thing and make time go faster? I don't know if I can wait till tomorrow morning to see Fidget!" "Sorry, Luke, I donno how," Diego laughed. "Besides, you said it yourself, I can only stop time. If you want, I can try doing that again ..." "Oh, you're evil!" Luke punched Diego in the shoulder lightly. "I'm sorry, Luke," Diego pulled Luke in a hug. "You know that if I could, I would, right?" "I know, babe, I know," Luke whispered back. The rest of the day Luke has been something of a nervous wreck and Diego tried as hard as he could to get him to relax. At first he thought of suggesting doing some pottering but decided against it. Instead he convinced Luke to go horse riding. The boys took Summer and Gaia for a leisurely ride through the Green Oaks forest, making it all the way to the Old Willow's field and back. Just before dinner all the kids spend some time playing with Roxie and getting her to chase various kinds of toys. Frank returned from another quick trip to the hospital. Yasha was doing well, and Topher's surgery went well too. Luke and Diego went to bed early. Luke insisted that they sleep in Diego's bed and Diego was only too happy to go along. -- After breakfast Luke and Diego rushed to the front entrance of Green Oaks. As Frank promised, they found a van with the 'Bear Necessities' logo on its side waiting for them by the curbside. Next to the van there stood a young muscular black guy in the 'Bear Necessities' uniform. He was wearing a green short-sleeved shirt and same color shorts, and Diego secretly thought that the uniform made him look like a UPS guy, except for the smiling face of a bear on the left pocket. He had a buzzcut similar to Diego's and a couple of tattoos on his forearms. "Yo, dudes, hello there," he greeted them. "You must be Luke and Diego, right? My name's Treshawn. I'll be taking you to see some cool bear cubs today." "Hi, Treshawn," Luke greeted him back. "Yeah, I'm Luke and this is Diego. We only really want to see Fidget ..." "Yeah, I heard," Treshawn chuckled. "Your story is kinda legend over there, he-he. Well, anyway, you're gonna see Fidget and you're gonna see some other cubs too." "Ah, there you are!" Frank called out approaching them. "You're Treshawn, right? We spoke on the phone." "Yes, hi, Mr Carter," Treshawn acknowledged. "I was just about to board the boys in our super duper bear wagon." "Good, good," Frank approved, "I take it you'll also be the one bringing them back in the afternoon?" "That's right, Mr Carter," Treshawn confirmed. "I'm the driver and the handyman, all-in-one at the Center. Yeah, I'll be driving the boys back when we're done." "Okay, great," Frank noted. "I already have your number but I'd appreciate if you give me a call when you start heading back. Sounds good?" "Yeah, sure thing," Treshawn nodded. "Don't worry, Mr Carter, we'll take good care of the little dudes here." "Right," Frank replied. "Okay, Luke, Diego, you behave yourselves over there," Frank addressed the boys. "And take good pictures of Fidget, like I asked. And, oh yes, here is some extra cash for your lunch." Frank handed Luke and Diego ten dollars each. After Frank left back for his office, Luke and Diego boarded the van, and Treshawn started the engine. "So, Treshawn, how old are you? And how did you end up working for the bear cub sanctuary?" Luke inquired as the van left the Green Oaks roundabout and joined the main road. "I'm twenty," Treshawn answered. "And I really found them sorta by accident. I was working at a car repair shop but wasn't really digging it. My aunt knows the Center's director, and just as they were opening, she recommended me. I thought, why the hell not? Beats being covered in car grease all day. And the bears are really cool!" "You weren't going go to college?" Diego followed up. "College! Ha, that's funny!" Treshawn smirked. "Nah, not with my grades. I donno, maybe later, if I get my act together ... But I've always been good with my hands. So, apart from driving this fancy vehicle, I do anything else that needs doing over there. Fix stuff. Build things, y'know. It's actually kinda fun!" "Yeah, I get it," Luke volunteered. "I'm kind of the same way. Mostly good with my hands." "Oh, come on, Luke," Diego started protesting, "yeah, you're great in the workshop but you've probably read more books than me!" "You two are a pair of funny little dudes, you know that, right?" Treshawn noted, giving Luke and Diego a long penetrating look through the visor. "Yeah, we've heard that before," Luke retorted cheekily. "But you aren't much older than us. And you're a bit weird yourself!" "Ouch!" Treshawn laughed. "Okay, okay, you're right, of course. Peace! Anyway, weird is good in my book. Normal is boring!" Treshawn tuned the radio to some contemporary R&B station and the rest of the trip proceeded with relatively little conversation. In a little over half an hour the van pulled up to a modern looking two-storey building in a wooded area, with a larger structure visible behind the trees. A standalone sign with the "Bear Necessities" logo rose on the lawn in front of the building. "Home, sweet home!" Treshawn declared as he opened the van door for Luke and Diego to disembark. "So, where are all the bears?" Luke wondered as he stretched out his arms and flexed his shoulders after getting out of the van. Diego was looking around curiously, taking in the feeling of the nearby forest. "Oh, you'll see!" Treshawn laughed. "They aren't gonna be waiting for you on this lawn, he-he! Come on in!" The boys followed Treshawn inside the building which featured semi-transparent glass walls and elegant metallic frames. As they walked through the doors, they saw Grace, a young black-haired Asian woman whom they met the day Fidget left Green Oaks. She was accompanied by three other people: an older distinguished looking woman with graying hair, a tall bearded man with glasses and a wiry Asian man in his thirties. "Luke, Diego, boys, it's great to see you again!" Grace greeted them warmly. "I trust the drive here went okay?" "Yeah, thanks, Ms Grace, it was good," Luke confirmed. "Where's Fidget? When are we gonna see him?" "Whoa, hold your horses there, tiger!" Grace laughed. "You'll see Fidget in just a bit. Let me make some introductions first." "Oh, sorry," Luke apologized. "Yeah, my bad!" "That's all right," Grace chuckled again. "This is Dr Alice Farmbridge, the director of the Center," she pointed to the older woman. "Nice to meet you, Dr Farmbridge," Diego replied politely. "Please, call me Alice, or Dr Alice, if you insist on the titles," the woman extended her hand which Diego and Luke shook. "Grace told me quite a bit about you two. And of course Fidget has become quite a star here!" "He has?" Luke looked up. "Indeed," Alice confirmed with a smile. "And this is Dr Goffney, our chief biologist," Grace pointed to the tall bearded man. "Hello, boys!" the man waved to the boys. "And this," Grace gestured towards the wiry Asian man, "is another visitor, a scientist from Vietnam, who is here for a few days to study our work with the cubs. They are thinking about building a similar facility there." "Hello, Luke and Diego, it's nice to meet you," the man said in a clear English. "My name is Ngai." "Hello, Mr Ngai," Luke and Diego replied in a chorus, eliciting a round of chuckles from the adults. "Grace will take you to see Fidget and the other cubs now," Alice explained. "And Ngai will come along as he is still learning about our operation. We'll try to catch up with you later!" "Later, dudes," Treshawn waved to Luke and Diego. The boys followed Grace through a brightly sun-lit with corridor with glass roof further inside the facility. "This building is our administration and research hub," Grace was explaining as they walked. "We do all the actual work with the cubs in another building we call the pavilion." "Mr Ngai, you're from Vietnam, right?" Diego asked Ngai as they continued walking along the corridor. "Yes, that's right," Ngai confirmed. "But your English is very good," Diego observed. "How did you learn it so well?" "I went to graduate school here in the States," Ngai explained. "Lived in New York for five years. Got my PhD at NYU." "And then you went back?" Luke wondered. "Yes, I did," Ngai chuckled. "Is that so strange." "Well, I donno," Lukę admitted. "I hear a lot of people try to stay ..." "Perhaps I'm not like most people," Ngai gave Luke a quick wink. They exited the front building and faced another, bigger red brick structure. "So I guess that's the pavilion, right?" Diego wondered. "Yep," Grace confirmed, "this is it!" The pavilion was a single-storey building with three wings, one extending forward, one to the left and another to the right, in a three-leaf shape. "Most of the equipment and supplies are in the left wing," Grace explained. "The central wing has a special facility for the younger cubs. We're not using it now as all of our cubs are at least 5 months old. The wing to the right is for older cubs, sorta our main wing. We have seven of them now, but that's just a start. Come on, I'll show you!" Grace led the group inside the pavilion and down the corridor to the right. At the end they found a large open area separated by a gated fence. The other side contained an enclosed space with the floor covered with leaves and grass, and with several nicely packed nest-like batches of fine tree-branches, straw and leaves. "That's our den area," Grace explained. "The cubs spend most of the time playing and roaming outside. But we try to bring them here for a few hours each day to nap. The den is climate and sound controlled and specially air conditioned." "So, one of those things is Fidget's bed?" Luke pointed at one of the bundles. "Yes, that's right," Grace patted Luke's shoulder. "Although I'm not sure if he has a favorite one." "So how do the cubs get in here?" Diego inquired. "I don't see an entrance." "We have a kind of a doggy-door for them to get in and out on their own. It's further in the back and you can't quite see it from here; they are trained to use it," Grace replied. "Also, the back wall slides out, like this," She pushed one of the buttons on control panel on the wall, and the back wall of the den started sliding up like a garage door. "Cool!" Luke commented approvingly. As the back wall finished sliding up, a young man in his twenties came in from the outside carrying a small bear cub in his hands. The cub was moaning and clacking audibly. "Oh, my god, Robert, what happened?!" Grace exclaimed in distress. "Daisy has hurt her paw," the young man explained. "I think she was climbing a tree and had a really awkward fall. She's bleeding a bit but I hope it's not too bad." "Still, we'll need to take a look right away," Grace asserted. "Come on, Robert, please bring her in." "Boys," Grace turned to Luke and Diego, "I'm real sorry but I'm gonna have to take care of Daisy now. She's one of our younger cubs and still a little uncoordinated." "Ngai," she addressed Ngai, "would you be so kind to take Luke and Diego to the main eastern observation area? I think you know where it is, right? There's a good chance you'll find Fidget there." "Yes, of course, Grace, no problem, I'll take them," Ngai agreed readily. "Text me if you need any help with Daisy here." "All right, come on, guys," he called to Luke and Diego. "We're gonna go see your friend Fidget now." Luke and Diego followed Ngai through another hallway. "I hope Daisy is gonna be all right," Diego commented. "Oh, I am sure she will be," Ngai assured. "Grace and Robert are both expert rehabilitators and can take care of most types of wounds. I doubt that it's something really serious like a bad fracture, but even if it is, there is an animal hospital 20 minutes away." They exited the building into the open air. Outside Luke and Diego saw a tall fence consisting of a dense row of smooth metallic rods spreading out from the walls of the pavilion. "Wow!" Luke exclaimed. "Joust how big is this place?" "I think the sanctuary enclosure is about 10 acres," Ngai responded. "That's where the cubs spend most of their time. It's basically a real forest inside." "Wow," Luke repeated as they started walking along a path tracking the fence. "And you wanna build something like that back in Vietnam?" "Yes," Ngai conformed. "For our sun bears. They are endangered and their population is declining. Many get hit by cars now as well. And many cubs get orphaned." "Sun bears?" Diego wondered. "Do they like to bathe in the sun a lot?" "No, he-he," Ngai chuckled, "not that I know of. They've got this golden patch on their chests, sort of like a crescent. I think that's what gave them the name." "Cool," Luke commented. "So you're gonna build a place just like this one over there?" "I'm not sure yet," Ngai admitted. "I came here to study and learn. Spent most of my time up north, at the Kilham Bear Center, as they are much older and have much more experience. But for my last 10 days in the country I came here. This place is more modern, and both their technology and their methods are a bit different." "Different, how?" Diego queried. "Well," Ngai reflected. "At Kilham the keepers handle the cubs directly quite a bit more. Feed them, play with them, and so on. Here they really try hard to keep the cubs human contact to a minimum. Grace and Robert are the only keepers who interact with them directly, and even then no more than necessary. They are trying to make sure that the cubs don't get too acclimated to being around people." "I don't know how Grace does it," Luke sighed. "If I worked here I'd wanna be with Fidget all the time." "I'm sure it's not easy," Ngai admitted. "But Grace knows that's what's best for them." "They need to learn how to be bears?" Diego suggested. "That's exactly right, kid," Ngai chuckled. "They gotta learn how to be bears. That's really why they are here." "So, this spot we're going to, are you sure Fidget is gonna be there?" Luke inquired anxiously. "Not completely," Ngai confessed, "but Grace says that it's one of his favorite places to play. So good chance we'll find him there." "And here we are," he declared shortly. There was a small opening to the left of the path and they approached the fence. Luke held the two metallic rods and stuck his face between them. "Wow, they're really smooth!" he commented. "And tall!" "Yeah, they used a special type of fiber reinforced polymer," Ngai explained. "It's light but very smooth, strong and durable. Goes several feet into the ground too. Makes it very hard for the cubs to climb up it. And it curves inward like an S on top. They haven't had any escapes so far." "Fidget is really smart," Luke remarked. "I bet if he really wanted to get out he could. But he probably know this is a good place for him." "Well, if he does get out, he'll be the first," Ngai mused. "Anyway, this technology is pretty new. If it works well here, we are gonna try it back home when we build a sanctuary for the sun bear cubs." "Cool," Luke replied with his head still stuck between the long vertical rails. "So, where's Fidget?" Diego stood next to Luke and they peered inside the enclosure. "Guess we have to wait," Diego suggested, "but I'm sure he'll come." Behind the fence they saw a sloped clearing in the wooded area covered with grass, ferns, bushes and logs. At the bottom there was a small stony pond with a tiny mossy creek snaking from it further into the forest. "Fidget, boy, where are you?" Luke whispered in a pained voice. Just at that moment they heard huffing and puffing and two bear cubs Fidget's size and age tumbled into the open from behind the trees. "Is that Fidget?" Ngai inquired. "Do you see him?" "No, it's not him," Luke declared in disappointment. "Damn it, where is he?!" "Wait, are you sure it's not him?" Ngai pressed. "No, it's not," Diego confirmed, agreeing with Luke as they watched the two cubs playing together. "The first one has the nose a different shape," Luke commented, "bigger and flatter than Fidget. The second one has a white spot on the left cheek. Fidget didn't have one." "Wow, I guess, you're right," Ngai sounded impressed. "I still haven't learned to tell them apart. But they all have ear-tags. Fidget is number 7. I think the flat-nosed one is Rufus, number 2, he is the oldest. And the one with a white patch on the cheek, that gotta be Dana, she's one of the youngest." "Yeah but where is Fidget? Where is he?" Luke whined impatiently. More sound of commotion approached from behind the trees and two more young bear cubs sprung into view. "Fidget!" Luke shouted delightedly. "Sshhh-h," Ngai shushed him. "Remember what Grace said: We need to stay quiet. Let them be." "Fidget ...," Luke whispered with a happy delighted grin on his face. "He looks so good! And he's grown already!" Diego wrapped his arm around Luke's shoulder as they watched Fidget play energetically with the other three cubs. "Who's that other cub that came with Fidget?" Diego turned back to Ngai. "Oh, that one, that's Red," Ngai explained, "number 5. See, his coat is slightly reddish, hence the name. He and Fidget are kinda buddies, always go together." "Wow, Fidget already found a friend," Luke nodded approvingly. "Great job, boy!" They continued watching as the cubs plays and roughhoused in the grass. At some point Rufus bit Dana's paw a bit too hard and she emitted a loud protesting squeal. Fidget quickly left Red and swatted Rufus on the ear. Peace was restored and the play continued. "Wow, Luke, did you see that?!" Diego shook Luke's shoulder excitedly. "That was awesome!" Lukę nodded silently with tears welling in his ears. "Yeah, Fidget is quite a gentleman," Ngai confirmed with a chuckle. "And from what Grace tells me I take it he kind of keeps the order in the group. An unofficial leader." "That's my boy," Luke whispered with his face glued to the fence. Ngai stood back and Diego noticed that he was now observing Luke attentively, probably more closely than the bears. Diego shifted his glance back to the cubs. There was a large birch tree broken most of the way through in the middle of the trunk with the split-off section descending to the ground under a steep angle. The cubs were taking turns climbing up it like a bridge and then going back the same way. "He looks so happy," Diego remarked to Luke crouching next to him. "Yeah, yeah, he does," Luke agreed, keeping his gaze fixed on Fidget. "That's good. It's very good." Tear drops still hung at on Luke's eyelashes. Diego gently squeezed Luke's shoulder. When taking another trip up the inclined log, having reached the its upper end Fidget stopped and hesitated. Instead of going back the same way he jumped over to the main trunk of the tree and slowly descended down, hugging the tree with his paws. "Wow!" Ngai exclaimed. "That was a new one! He's learning fast. That's one smart bear!" "That's my boy," Luke repeated quietly. Fidget, apparently exhausted by the exercise, left the log and approached the small pond, followed closely by Red. The two cubs started drinking slowly. They were closer now to the boys and Ngai than they had been earlier, but still a good twenty five feet away. Diego felt Luke clutch his hand and they watched the cubs silently with bated breath. Suddenly Fidget lifted his head and sniffed the air several times. He snorted audibly, turned and run to the fence towards Luke and Diego. With some hesitation, Red followed him a few steps behind. "Oh, my god, he remembered me!" Luke cried out extending his hand through the fence. "Diego, look, he remembered!" Fidget tumbled towards the boys and stopped a few feet away. "Come on, Fidget, boy, it's me, remember!" Luke pleaded, stretching his arm towards the cub. Fidget hooted gently, slowly moved forward and sniffed Luke's palm. As if recognizing the smell, he licked Luke's hand with his velvety tongue and moved next to the fence. "Oh, my god, Fidget!" Luke kissed Fidget's snout and sank his fingers in the fur on both sides of the bear cub's head. Fidget snorted softly, extended his tongue and licked all over Luke's face, slobbering it with saliva. "Fidget!" Diego exclaimed, laughing as Luke closed his eyes and enjoyed Fidget's greeting with an expression of pure joy. Diego glanced back at Ngai. Ngai was observing the meeting quietly with an inscrutable expression but Diego could see that he was biting his cheeks slightly as he watched Luke and Fidget together. "Fidget, boy," Luke opened his eyes and gently scratched Fidget's face below his cheekbones. "I missed your silly face." Luke pressed his cheek to Fidget's cheek. Luke sighed deeply while Fidget snorted softly. "You look good," Luke added looking at Fidget closely again. "And you don't even smell like poo!" he chuckled. "Hi, Fidget, hi, cubby, we missed you so-o much!" Diego reached through the fence and tousled the fur on Fidget's head and behind his ear. Fidget shifted his snout and licked Diego's palm eliciting a bout of giggles from Diego. "Hey, is that your friend over there?" Diego pointed at Red who was standing on all four paws a few feet back, shifting nervously. "Good looking guy!" "He is, isn't he?" Luke agreed, observing Red more carefully. "Although I'm sure you're just friends!" Diego added hastily. "Oh, Fidget, boy, you've gotten bigger!" Luke observed as Fidget lay on his back and Luke scratched his belly. "Good, good, I'm glad. You need to be a big bear by next Spring." Fidget sat up in the grass and gave Luke and Diego another long look. Luke extended his hand through the fence again. Fidget licked it quickly, turned around and tumbled away noisily, Red by his side. "Bye, Fidget, bye boy," Luke whispered, "be a good bear. I won't forget you." Luke turned and buried his face in Diego's chest, crying silently. Diego cradled Luke and held him, stroking his back and head gently. Diego felt his own throat tighten and his eyes fill with tears but he tried to hold them back while consoling Luke. Ngai watched the boys silently standing a few feet away. In the meantime Fidget and the other cubs run into the forest and disappeared from view. "They're gone," Ngai noted quietly. "What?" Luke lifted his tear-streaked face. "They left," Ngai explained. "Went back into the forest. We should probably go too." "Yeah," Luke stood up, swallowed hard and wiped his eyes. "Yeah, we should go. It's time." He glanced back at the forest clearing where the bear cubs had played, turned around and started walking slowly along the path back in the direction of the main pavilion. Diego caught up next to Luke and took his hand. The boys exchanged quick understanding glances and small smiles. Ngai scratched the back of his head and followed them. Back at the pavilion they found Grace and Robert again. Grace had already finished tending to Daisy's injured paw and the young cub was napping, curled up in a corner of the den. "Hello there again!" Grace greeted them warmly. "So, how did it go? Did you see Fidget?" "Yeah, yeah, we did," Luke answered quietly. "It was good. It was good to see him again. He looks great. Gained a few pounds I see." "Yes, we make sure they all get plenty to eat," Grace laughed. "One of our main priorities. Fidget has gained a good five pounds since we got him, I think." "That's great," Diego commented, "he needs to grow big, right?" "Right," Robert confirmed. "He actually recognized the boys," Ngai commented. "Came to the fence to greet them. It was amazing." "Wow!" Grace exclaimed. "Yeah, that is amazing. You only had Fidget for a couple of days. Must have made quite an impression on him!" "He made quite an impression on us," Diego replied taking Luke's hand again. "Right," Grace gave the boys another understanding smile. "Anyway, I'm really glad you were able to see him." "How is Daisy doing?" Luke gestured towards the den. "Will she be okay?" "She is doing good," Robert reassured. "Grace bandaged her paw and Daisy should be good as new in a few days. It wasn't a deep cut. We'll keep checking that she doesn't chew the bandage off. But she's pretty smart, I think she knows it's there to help her heal." "Yeah, bears are smart," Luke mused quietly. "And she looks like a smart little bear ..." "Umm, Grace, something I wanted to ask," Diego inquired. "I noticed as we were walking back, there was kinda an extra enclosure outside the main fence. Here, not far from the pavilion. Looked like it was recently put up there. Why do you need it? You can't keep any bears there, can you?" "You've got a good eye," Grace chuckled. "You're right on both counts, Diego. That enclosure is new. It's not for a bear but for another kind of resident. Come on, I'll show you!" Grace, Ngai, Luke and Diego walked outside towards the fenced enclosure that Diego mentioned. They followed Grace inside the enclosure through a small gate. The fenced walls went up about 6 feet high and the grassy area inside looked like a giant back yard. There was also a shack-like structure in the far corner. "I don't see anyone," Luke commented. "Just wait," Grace goggled softly. "Hey, anybody home?! Mind if we come in?!" she called and clapped loudly. Suddenly a small deer fawn jumped out from the shack and pranced towards them quickly. "Wow!" Diego exclaimed. "It's a baby deer!" "Can't get anything past you, Diego!" Grace laughed gently. "That's right, that's a baby deer." The fawn approached Grace and she leaned down to pet it: "And how's my favorite girl doing today?" Grace stroked the fawn's neck and the fawn made a small bleating sound. "She's amazing," Luke observed as the watched Grace and the deer. "How did you get her?" "That's a sad story," Grace stood up. "A car killed her mom at a nearby road. Unfortunately that happens a lot. She's still too young to be on her own, maybe three months at most. So the game wardens let us take her in. Since we're already helping other animals here." "She's an orphan too, just like the bear cubs," Diego remarked wistfully. "What's her name?" "Ah, her name, yes, well, that's Robert's fault," Grace smiled. "He named her Bambi, before I had a chance to object. And it quickly stuck." "Bambi," Luke repeated, "I think it's perfect. I think she's perfect. Can we pet her?" "Yes, sure, go ahead," Grace replied. Luke and Diego crouched next to the little deer and took turns hugging her neck and petting her back. Bambi again made contented soft bleating sounds and nuzzled the boys' hands and faces. "Hey, she's suckling my finger," Luke noticed. "Maybe she's hungry?" "You know, Luke, you may be right," Grace agreed. "I'll go get her bottle." Grace left while Ngai continued watching Luke and Diego play with Bambi. In a few minutes Grace returned carrying a large bottle filled with milk, capped with a special feeding nipple. She handed the bottle to Luke: "Here, Luke, you try feeding her. Bambi is trained to nurse from the bottle, that's her special formula. Just hold it up." Luke took the bottle in one hand, hugged Bambi's torso with another and held the bottle up above her mouth upside down. Bambi clamped on the feeding nipple and started drinking hungrily in quick continuous gulps. "Oh, my god, Diego, she's really doing it!" Luke turned his face full of pure joy and happiness towards the group. "Look, Luke, look at the tail, look!" Diego pointed excitedly. Bambi's cute short white tail was wagging up and down even faster than her gulps. "Yeah, that's why they are called white-tailed deer," Grace chuckled. Ngai had been keeping mostly quiet but Diego noticed that he was observing Luke with a wistful soulful look. Luke traded places with Diego and let Diego finish feeding the bottle to Bambi. As she drank it all, Luke kissed Bambi's forehead: "There's a good girl, Bambi! You're gonna grow a strong and fast deer." Diego got up and approached Ngai who had been standing about 15 feet away. "You're thinking of adopting Luke, aren't you?" Diego asked Ngai quietly as they watched Luke continue to pet Bambi. "Yes," Ngai admitted simply. "I wish I could. Luke's a wonderful boy, so full of love. I know my oldest son, Lanh -- he's 10-- would really like a brother. But I also know it's not to be." "But why not?" Diego queried. "That's not how the world works," Ngai sighed. "America is a rich country, Vietnam is a poor one. The authorities here would never allow it. Plus international adoptions take a lot of time and money. My visa here is only valid for another week. Then I have to leave." "Doesn't seem fair," Diego commented with sadness. "If you feel a special connection with Luke, if you feel like you can love him and make him a part of your family, you should be able to adopt him. It shouldn't matter which country you're from." "No, it's not fair," Ngai agreed, "lots of things in life aren't." He gave Diego a penetrating glance. "But then I'm not the only one who feels a special connection to Luke, am I, Diego? That's another reason I wouldn't really want to take him away from here. Away from you." "Ah, sorry, Mr Ngai," Diego blushed crimson red and looked into the ground. "I didn't know I was being that obvious ..." "You're not," Ngai reassured him with mild chuckle. "I guess I just recognized in the way you were looking at him something of what I was feeling. Same as you did with me." Ngai gently put a hand on Diego's shoulder: "Listen Diego, you just did your friend a great honor. When you said that I should adopt Luke. You were willing to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of his. In my culture that kind of an act counts a great deal." "Yeah, but nothing happened," Diego countered. "You still can't adopt Luke." "That doesn't matter," Ngai pressed his point. "It matters that you tried. The universe will remember it. In Buddhism this is called karma." "Ah, I'm Catholic. Sort of," Diego explained awkwardly. "It's all right," Ngai chuckled. "I'm an atheist. Sort of. But I'm sure Catholics have some kind of a similar concept." Ngai and Diego rejoined Luke and Grace and spend more time playing with Bambi. When the group returned to the main building, they found Robert and Treshawn waiting for them there. "Well, dudes," Treshawn inquired, "how was your visit? And how's your homie Fidget doing?" "It was good," Diego answered for the both of them. "Fidget's doing great. But I think we're ready to go back, right, Luke?" "Yeah," Luke agreed, glancing again in the direction of the den where Daisy was sleeping. "Yeah, we're ready." On the way out, once back in the front building, they saw Alice in the lobby again. "Ah, Luke, Diego, I'm glad I caught you before you left!" she declared. "I trust your visit went well?" "Yes, thanks, Dr Alice, we're good," Luke responded this time. "Thanks for taking such good care of Fidget." Luke looked down and Diego took his hand. "Well, I'm glad," Alice smiled. "I have something for you," she continued. "We're not open for visitors so we don't really have a merchandising store. But we still have a few custom-made items. I want to give you these two 'Bear Necessities' pins." She leaned down and clipped two round pins with the "Bear Necessities" logo on the boys' t-shirts. "Wow, cool, thanks, Dr Alice!" Luke enthused. "You know, Diego, I think this picture kinda looks like Fidget." He pointed to the smiling cartoon face of a bear on the pin and everybody laughed heartily. "I'm sorry, boys, we don't have a cafeteria here," Alice added. "Treshawn, would you be a dear and stop by some place where the boys can have lunch on their way back? I bet they are hungry!" "Sure thing, boss, no problem," Treshawn confirmed. "Come on, guys!" He gestured to Luke and Diego. "Good luck with your sun bears, Mr Ngai," Diego turned to Ngai, "and say hello to your son Lanh. Maybe you two can come for a visit sometime." "Thank you, Diego," Ngai replied with a smile, "we shall have to see." The boys waved goodbyes to Alice and Ngai and headed towards Treshawn's van. "What was that all about?" Luke whispered to Diego. "Oh, I have no idea," Diego answered coyly. "But I do feel pretty hungry!" Diego's stomach rumbled as if in confirmation. "Too bad we're not alone," Luke winked at Diego wickedly. "I could have arranged for a tasty protein drink. You know to save you from starvation ... Do you think Treshawn would mind?" "Oh, you're horrible!" Diego slapped Luke's shoulder with a laugh. "Hey dudes, you all right?" Treshawn checked turning around. "We're okay, it's nothing!" Luke and Diego answered in unison. "Right," Treshawn frowned slightly. "Okay, hop in!" He directed, opening the door of the van. On the drive back Diego started to slowly doze off, with his head leaning against Luke's head. After about fifteen minutes, the van suddenly made a loud popping sound and the engine stopped. Diego woke up with a start. "Shit!" Treshawn cursed as he pulled up to the curb. "I can't believe it!" "What, what is it?" Luke rose up from his seat. "Did we blow a tire?" "No, I think it's something else," Treshawn considered. "I think maybe the transmission died. Or the battery, if we're lucky. Let me take a quick look." Treshawn, Luke and Diego got out and Treshawn popped the hood. "The battery seems fine," he declared after a quick check. "Damn! I'm gonna have to call for a tow-truck. And I'll have to call Green Oaks, tell them what happened. They're gonna have to send someone here to pick you up. Sorry, dudes!" "Err, what about us? I mean for now?" Diego glanced at Luke uncertainly. "Well," Treshawn considered as he looked around. "How about you guys have lunch in the meantime? Like at that store over there? I bet you can get some pretty good sandwiches there. And a coke." He pointed in a direction of a grocery store about 50 feet further along the road. "Yeah, sandwiches sound good," Luke allowed, "but we don't really drink coke." "Okay, man, drink whatever you like," Treshawn laughed. "I'm sure you can fine something there to your liking ... But let me call your boss Mr Carter first." He got out his phone and dialed Frank's number. After talking to Frank for a few minutes and explaining the situation to him, Treshawn handed the phone to Luke: "Here, he wants to talk to you." Diego watched Luke anxiously as he finished the conversation. "Well, what did he say?" Diego inquired. "It's like Treshawn said," Luke gave the phone back. "We should get lunch at that store over there and wait for Mr Frank there afterwards. He said, 'don't move', he-he!" "Treshawn, are you sure you'll be okay here?" Diego asked. "We could stay here with you, at least until the tow-truck comes ..." "Thanks, Diego, man, thanks!" Treshawn slapped Diego's back. "I'll be fine. You guys should really get something to eat. I'll text you when I get towed." "All right, if you're sure," Diego allowed. The boys waved to Treshawn and started walking towards the store ahead. "A strange day just got a bit stranger," Diego thought to himself. "I wonder what else is gonna happen ..." In a couple of minutes they reached the store that Treshawn directed them to. The store looked pretty big, bigger than they expected from a roadside convenience store, and had a nice outside seating area with five of six tables and tents. Inside the store was well lit and well air conditioned. As they looked around, Diego realized that this must have been a neighborhood grocery store as well as a convenience store which explained its larger size. They wondered through the aisles a bit and almost knocked over a freckled red-haired high-school age boy who was stacking some boxes in the corner. "Oh, sorry," Diego apologized politely. The kid was too busy with his boxes to acknowledge them. Luke's phone buzzed. "It's Treshawn," he explained. "He just got towed!" Diego and Luke approached a deli counter with a long menu of sandwiches and drinks on the wall as well as an order window. The counter was staffed by a plump blond woman in her late thirties or early forties with a kind round face. "What can get you, dears?" the cashier addressed Luke and Diego as they approached the counter. "Umm, we were thinking about a couple of sandwiches," Luke explained. "And maybe some juice to drink. We each have ten dollars for lunch." "Yes, of course, sweetie," she replied. "I can get you each a roast beef sandwich and orange juice. That'll be well under ten bucks. But are you sure you don't want some soda?" "Nah, thanks, orange juice is good," Luke waved off the offer of soda. "All righty, dear, orange juice it is," the cashier gave Luke and Diego a slightly doubtful look. She wrote up their order on a ticket, put it in the order window and run a bell sitting there. "Coming!" came a response from further inside. Luke handed the cashier the two ten dollar bills that Frank gave them and she started working out the change amount. "I like your cat," Luke remarked as he observed the photos of a black cat posted behind the cashier all over the wall and also next to the register. "Looks cool! Nice bell on him too. It's a he, right?" "Oh, my god, thank you for saying that, sweetie!" the woman put her elbows on the counter and placed both her palms on her cheeks. "Yes, Ritchie is such a dear! And he was a rescue cat, if you can believe it. Me and my husband, Lester, got him from a shelter. Black cats got such a bad rep but it's pure prejudice. Ritchie is a sweetheart!" "His name is Ritchie?" Luke asked with a giggle. "Yes, why?" the woman inquired. "Well, we've got a kid called Ritchie at Green Oaks too," Luke explained, "that's the place where we live. Our Ritchie is anything but a sweetheart, he-he!" "Green Oaks? That sounds familiar," the cashier commented. "What's that, some kind of a boarding school?" "Something like that," Diego interjected. "Well, your Ritchie looks like a perfectly sweet cat." "Thank you, dear!" the woman agreed emphatically. "I am Gladys, by the way. It's very nice to meet you, boys!" "Nice to meet you, Ms Gladys," Diego replied courteously. "My name is Diego and this is Luke. We also have got a new cat just a few days ago. Her name is Roxie." "Oh, that's wonderful!" Gladys exclaimed. "Is she an indoor cat? Or do you let her run outside as well? Me and Lester keep our Ritchie indoors. I'm afraid it's too dangerous for a black cat outside in these parts ..." "Ah, Roxie is starting inside for now," Luke explained. "Until she gets stronger." "Sorry, what do you mean, dear?" Gladys looked perplexed. "Is she sick?" "Not sick, but still recovering after surgery," Luke continued. "Roxie's got three legs. She lost her right front paw after some morons shot her." "Oh, my goodness, that's awful!" Gladys looked at the boys in disbelief. "But the poor dear is doing better now, yes?" "Yeah, Roxie's gonna be okay," Diego reassured. "We adopted her and she's already doing lots better. Just needs a bit of time to get stronger and to get used to having three legs." "We built her a super duper scratch post!" Luke reported excitedly. "And a cat staircase! See!" He opened his phone and showed Gladys several photos. Diego noticed that the elderly man with a tidy goaty beard behind them in the line was observing them closely and listening to their conversation with Gladys attentively. Gladys finished looking through the pictures of Roxie and gave the phone back to Luke. "Luke, Diego, you're both wonderful boys," she declared with conviction, "and you've already done a wonderful thing for Roxie!" A bell in the order window behind her rang and Gladys turned around to pick up two plates: "And your sandwiches are ready! My treat, on the house!" She gave Luke his twenty dollars back. "And take these two candy bars too for desert!" She added. "Wow, thanks, Ms Gladys, thanks a lot!" Luke picked up the tray with their sandwiches. "Come on, Diego, I'm starving!" Diego hesitated as he looked at Gladys and the pictures of Ritchie the Cat behind the counter. "Umm, Ms Gladys," he added slowly, "have you ... been thinking about adopting a kid?" Luke stopped in his tracks and the man with a goatee breathed an audible ahem behind them. The expression on Gladys' shocked face turned earnest: "Yes, Diego, dear, but how could you possibly know that?" "Well," Diego continued nervously, "you mentioned that you're married. You've got all these pictures of your husband and of your cat here. But none of your kids. We've only talked to you for a few minutes but I could already tell that you'd make a great mom. And you were super sweet to me and Luke. So I thought ..." The man behind them hemmed again. "Why, bless your heart, dear, you're absolutely right," Gladys admitted. "See, I can't have kids of my own. Me and Lester, we spent years going to doctors but finally knew that it wasn't to be. But I so wanted kids." Gladys shook her head, put her left elbows on the counter and rested her chin on her knuckle. "So we are adopting a little girl from an orphanage in New York. Her name is Bethany, she's four. I'm a nervous wreck!" Gladys wiped her eyes. "It'll take another three months for the adoption to come through and for everything to be legal. If it weren't for Ritchie, I don't know how I'd get through this wait. I'd probably go mad ..." "I'm sure everything will be all right," Diego reassured her gently. "Bethany's lucky to get you as her mom." "Diego's right, you'll be a great mom," Luke seconded. "And you really need to give yourself a break. Take your husband and Ritchie and go for one of those spa days or something. I'm sure the store can do without you for a day, right?" "Oh, my Lord, boys, I might just do that!" Gladys laughed. "You know I never talked 'bout this to no-one until now. No-one except Lester and Ritchie. Can't believe I'm unloading to a couple of kids ... Well, thank you, dears, and really, bless your hearts!" Luke and Diego headed for the exit from the store and they heard a fragment of the conversation behind them. "And what can I get for you, Phillip, dear?" Gladys addressed the elderly goatee man. "Just a large decaf coffee, Gladys, please," came the response. "Wow, Diego, dude, that was radical," Luke remarked to Diego as the store doors closed behind them and the boys walked towards the outside seating area. "I was kinda thinking the same thing when I looked at her but even I didn't have the chops to blab it out loud. You surprised me, Mr elf-whisperer!" "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything," Diego suggested ruefully as they sat down at one of the tables. "No, no, man, you were right," Luke countered, "it was the right thing to do. Good for you, babe!" Luke punched Diego's shoulder gently and winked at him playfully. Phillip, the elderly man who had stood behind them in line, exited the store and took a table next to them. He started sipping his coffee slowly and observed Luke and Diego with obvious curiosity. "Excuse me, young gentlemen," he addressed them mildly, "I hope you'll forgive my intrusion. My name is Phillip. I was standing behind you in line at the store just now and could not help but overhear your conversation with Gladys." "Yeah?" Luke stared at Phillip uncomprehendingly. "Well," Phillip continued, "this conversation, I thought it was rather remarkable. I wonder if you wouldn't mind if I ask you a few questions about it." "Okk-kay, s-sure," Luke was still at a loss. "Thank you kindly," Phillip moved to the same table where Luke and Diego were sitting. Luke and Diego exchanged perplexed glances. "See, I'm retired now, but I'm still a keen student of the human nature," Phillip started explaining. "You don't look like a student," Luke remarked bluntly. "Well, of course I don't mean that literally," Phillip chuckled, "I mean that I like to study human nature. Observe it closely. Pay attention." "Okay," Luke sat back. "And from what I just saw in the store, I kind of suspect that the two of you are too," Phillip continued. "Err, sorry, sir, how do you mean?" Diego interjected. "Please, call me Phillip," Phillip requested. "You're Diego, right? And you are Luke?" The boys nodded. "Well, Luke, first, you asked Gladys about her cat," Phillip expounded. "Do you remember why you did that?" "Ah, let's see," Luke reflected. "She had all these pictures of her cat everywhere. Seemed like she wanted to talk about it. That it'd make her feel better. And I do like cats. So ..." "Brilliant!" Phillip exclaimed. "Just as I thought. Please permit me to press the point further. Luke, you're a smart kid. You must have realized that the woman is a little too obsessed with her black cat. The subject that most local people consider awkward and try to avoid. I must admit that I'm one of them." Phillip paused and adjusted the collar of his shirt. "And yet you pressed ahead. And followed up with a discussion of your own cat. And an exchange of pictures. It was probably the most cat-intensive conversation Gladys has had in years." "It's like Luke said," Diego interjected, "we saw that Gladys really liked her cat and wanted someone to talk to about it. That it'd make her feel better. And we just got our Roxie. Of course we exchanged pictures!" "Yeah, what's wrong with that?!" Luke demanded defensively. "Nothing, nothing of course," Phillip clarified hurriedly. "Okay, let's just put a pin in it for the moment. And then Diego brought up the child adoption issue." "Yeah, I'm sorry about that," Diego admitted guiltily, "I think I stepped over the line." "Perhaps," Phillip remarked enigmatically. "Still, it was a remarkable conversation. And quite a remarkable observation you made, Diego. But I'd still like to understand what made you ask that question. Assuming, of course, you feel comfortable talking about it." "Honestly, I don't really know," Diego reflected slowly. "In part it was just what I told Gladys. There's some other stuff, about me, that I don't want to go into. But I also saw that there was something weighing her down. Something big. Something in her eyes, the way she looked at me and Luke, even when she smiled. And it wasn't worrying about her cat. I thought, you know, it might be something to do with adoption. And I took a chance." "Like I said, remarkable," Phillip stroked his beard. "I'm sorry, Mr Phillip, but why are you asking us these questions, really?!" Luke spoke up again. "What is it all about?" "Well," Phillip leaned back in his chair, "first of all, it's pretty clear that both of you boys possess amazingly strong empathic abilities." "Yeah, so?" Luke responded curtly. "You are aware of this fact?!" Phillip sounded genuinely surprised. "Of course we're aware," Luke was getting more and more annoyed. "We're only 12 but we're not chimps, you know." "Ah, forgive me," Phillip cleared his throat, "it's just that true empathy, of the kind that you exhibited today, usually only develops at a more mature age. Most children are pretty selfish. And not particularly self-aware." Phillip gave Luke and Diego a long penetrating look. "But you're not most children," he continued. "No, you're true empaths. Like me." "You're an empath too?!" Diego exclaimed incredulously. "Indeed," Phillip confirmed placidly. "A pretty strong one too. Perhaps almost at your level." "Okay, prove it!" Luke challenged. "All right, if you please," Phillip smiled nonchalantly. "Err, forgive me for being indelicate, but it is pretty clear to me that you and Diego are much more than just friends." "Okay, yeah, sure, we're boyfriends," Luke admitted readily. "But guessing that isn't that much of a trick. I'm sure lots of other people notice." "Gladys didn't," Phillip parried. "Okay, okay, sure, but give me another one," Luke insisted further. "All right ...," Phillip reflected for a moment. "Did you notice Clayton, the high school kid who was stacking the shelves in the back of the store?" "Yeah, sort of, barely," Luke admitted. "Clayton is having major problems with his schoolwork right now," Phillip offered. "Just about to flunk algebra, I'd wager." "And how do you know that?" Diego inquired. "Like you boys, I really pay attention," Phillip smiled slightly. "Clayton was really stressed out today. Crashed the stuff he was stacking a couple of times at least -- you probably heard the noise." "Yeah, that's right," Luke allowed. "He's very sweet on Tina, the girl that works the sandwich counter and who made these two tasty sandwiches for you." Phillip explained further. "But today he paid no attention to her at all. He's a jock, so being bullied is unlikely. And Clayton kept glancing at his schoolbag stuck in the corner all the time I stood behind you in line. Therefore I conclude that he's most likely really stressed out about his schoolwork." "Okay, that's kinda convincing," Luke conceded. "So why didn't you talk to him or something? You know, maybe offer to tutor him? I bet you're good at algebra." "As a matter of fact I am," Phillip confirmed, "but now we come to the most interesting part." He paused. "Emotional cost." "Umm, what?" Luke stared at him blankly. "Actually deploying your empathy is an emotionally taxing act," Phillip expounded. "You must realize this, at some level. It takes a lot out of you. Wears you down if you do it repeatedly and often." "Well, I don't ...," Diego started objecting but trailed off. "No, really, think about it carefully, Diego," Phillip turned to address Diego. "Take Gladys, a stranger whom you just met. You have a meaningful cat conversation with her. And then ... then you fire the big gun about adoption and let her unload on you, two 12-year-old kids, about her very adult life issues. And you top it off with advising her to take a spa day with her cat and her husband -- not a bad idea, by the way. That kind of thing has got to be extremely emotionally draining. Heck, it was for me, and I didn't even say anything. And yet you still did it!" "Of course we did it," Luke stared at Phillip in annoyance. "Gladys needed help and we helped. And everything else is crap!" "But didn't you feel that it took a lot out of you?" Phillip pressed his point. "Didn't you feel kind of drained and exhausted after?" "Perhaps, a bit," Diego conceded, "but I don't think it matters." "Of course, it matters, my dear boy!" Phillip exclaimed with a note of exasperation apparent in his tone. "There's only one of you. Well, in this case, there's two of you. But there are millions of strangers out there, like Gladys. You've got to conserve your emotional energy! You've got to be careful how you spend it!!" "Wait, Mr Phillip," Luke added with a growing realization in his voice, "you mean, even though you're an empath, like us, you don't use it to help people?!" "No, I usually don't," Phillip admitted flatly. "But isn't that ...," Diego started asking. "Selfish?" Phillip finished his question and Diego nodded silently. "Yes, yes, it is, I admit it. But in this world you have to be. You have to think of yourself first." "Come on, Mr Phillip, god or the universe or whatever, gave you a gift," Luke pressed. "And you don't use it to help people?" "I don't use it to hurt people either," Phillip retorted. "I just keep it to myself, most of the time. You can't afford to get emotionally invested in the affairs of strangers." "I donno, Mr Phillip, some of what you say makes sense but somehow it still feels very wrong," Diego suggested. "Oh? How so?" Phillip inquired. "Maybe if you don't worry so much about conserving your emotional energy, it won't feel so draining when you help people," Diego volunteered. "Maybe it'll just feel that you're helping, you know." "And I kinda think that this emotional energy it's like milk," Luke added, "if you just keep it and don't use it, it curdles and goes bad anyway." "Curdles and goes bad," Phillip chuckled. "That's an interesting thought ... I must admit the news about Gladys adopting a child comes as a complete shock. Of course, all the locals were aware of her ... medical situation. But as far as we knew, she and Lester still kept trying ..." "So that changes things, right?" Luke followed up. "The way people around here are gonna treat Gladys?" "Indeed," Phillip admitted. "In fact, I think we're gonna have to organize a kind of a baby shower, and a donation collection as well. I'll need to talk to some people in town about that." "Expend some of that emotional energy you mentioned," Diego commented. "Touché," Phillip smiled mildly. "Well, boys, thank you for a most illuminating conversation. It's been a pleasure." Phillip got up. Suddenly the store's doors flew wide open and Gladys run out towards the seating area. "Oh, thank goodness, boys, you're still here!" she exclaimed, out of breath. "Lukę, Diego, sweethearts, you should have told me!" Gladys kissed both Luke and Diego on the foreheads and hugged them. "Green Oaks, it really kept nagging me, so I looked up the name on my phone. Oh, my dears!" She kissed and hugged the boys again, and even Luke was beginning to look uncomfortable. "Here, I brought you some special treats for your cat!" Gladys put a small bag on the table. "I guarantee your Roxie will love them. I also put a couple of toys for her, the kind that my Ritchie really likes." "Thank you, Ms Gladys, but you really didn't have to ...," Diego rose up from his seat. "Nonsense, my dear, of course I had to!" Gladys cut him off. "And thank you again, really! You're welcome to stop by anytime!" Gladys turned around and run back towards the store. "Wait, Ms Gladys wait," Luke shouted after her. "Tell Clayton to ask Tina on a date! And tell him not to stress so much about algebra!" Gladys shook her head in bewilderment and disappeared inside. Luke stared at Phillip with a defiant smirk. "Well, that was interesting," Phillip remarked evenly. "I wonder what it was all about ..." "Perhaps some of that emotional energy we spent coming back to us?" Luke quipped cheekily. "Perhaps," Phillip smiled mildly. "Well, I must be off. It was good meeting you, boys." Phillip nodded to Luke and Diego and walked away. "Wow," Luke exclaimed after a while. "That was really weird!" He gestured towards Phillip's figure moving off. "And that was weird too!" he gestured towards the store. "Yeah," Diego mused quietly, "he wasn't totally wrong, though ..." "Diego, dude, what are you talking about?" Luke looked up at Diego in amazement. "That guy was a total douchebag!" "Yeah, he kinda was," Diego chuckled. "Still, he sorta had a point. Not about the empathy stuff, I think he was totally wrong there. But ..." "But what then?" Luke sounded even more surprised. "Well," Diego hesitated and look up at Luke earnestly. "That stuff that you call my elf-boy powers or whatever ... Well, when it happens, it really takes a lot out of me. Like that time with the moose. Or even in the forest when we were looking for Yasha ..." "Oh, come on, Diego, that's totally different," Luke moved closer to Diego. "Is it?" Diego was unconvinced. "I'm not so sure ..." "Diego, babe, listen to me," Luke took Diego's hands into his and peered Diego in the eyes earnestly. "Your elf-boy powers are an amazing thing but it's something that we just don't understand. Yet. Sometimes they scare the shit out of me, to tell you the truth." "Yeah, me too," Diego admitted. "Wait, Diego, listen, that's not what I mean," Luke insisted. "Yeah, maybe they scare me sometimes but I love you for them all the same. You gotta learn to use them and you gotta take your time doing that. And I'm gonna help you. And then it'll be okay, I promise you, babe!" Diego shook his head and Luke kissed Diego's cheek softly. "So, it really wears you down, eh?" Luke stroked Diego's fingers gently with his thumb. "Yeah," Diego looked down. "It's not really like when you get tired after running. Or even after not getting enough sleep. It's like ..." Diego paused and struggled for words. "Remember in the movie, 'The Lord of the Rings', when Bilbo talks to Gandalf before going away from Bag End?" "Yeah?" Luke let go of Diego's hand and looked up. "He says something like: 'I feel thin. Like butter spread over too much bread.' Well, that's sorta how it feels. You know, after that elf-boy thing happens," Diego explained quietly. "Shit," Luke hugged Diego and stroked the back of his head. "I promise you babe, we're gonna figure this thing out. It just needs time, is all." Luke let Diego go and smiled at him warmly. At that moment a car horn sounded and they saw Frank's van pull up into the the store's parking lot. "Looks like our ride home is here," Luke got up. "Sorry, boys, I thought I'd be able to get here sooner" Frank apologized as he got out of the van and approached the table. "But you know how it is, a thousand small things crept up at the last moment ... Is everything all right here? Have you heard back from Treshawn?" "We're good, thanks, Mr Frank," Luke replied. "No, we haven't heard from Treshawn since the tow-truck came. We could text him ..." "That's all right, I'll call him later," Frank suggested. "So, other than the car mishap, how was your trip? How's Fidget?" "He's good, Mr Frank, Fidget's doing real good," Diego confirmed. "He's gotten much bigger. They're taking good care of him there and he made a friend. Another bear cub, his name is Red." "Well, that sounds super," Frank shifted his glance between Luke and Diego and back. "Are you boys sure you're okay? You're both looking slightly weird. And Luke, what's this bag you're holding? You bought something?" "We're fine, Mr Frank, I promise," Luke reassured. "We just had a ... slightly weird cat related experience. But we got this bag as a gift, with some stuff for Roxie." "Wow," Frank commented, "I see you boys have had quite an eventful afternoon. Come on now, get into the van and let's go back ... They're releasing Yasha from the hospital tonight." "That's great, Mr Frank!" Diego exclaimed as they loaded into the Green Oaks van. "And yeah, let's go back. I feel real tired." Luke shot Diego a quick worried glance. "No, not like that," Diego whispered back with a smile. "Probably still haven't caught up on the sleep after we were looking for Yasha." "Oh, you!" Luke elbowed Diego in the rib lightly. The boys settled in the back of the van and Frank started the drive back to Green Oaks. **************************