Devon Savant
Yolanda Guess
Published by Yolanda Guess, 2020.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Devon Sávant
The Sounds
The Sticks
The Accident
It Must Be Heaven
The Return
The Magic
Reconnecting
The Miracle
Devon Sávant
This is the untold story of a boy who lived in the city. Devon was not like any boy you’ve ever met, he was a child who had special needs and although he knew he was different and wanted to fit in, he couldn’t. After his parents died in a fire accident, Devon and his siblings were placed in foster care where they had to move from house to house in the foster care system. He didn’t know why they kept moving him around, but he hated packing and unpacking his things which he had to do frequently. Devon always loved making beats, and his older sister told him that when he was in his mother’s womb, the doctor could distinctly hear a rhythm within. Was it Devon tapping or was it his heart beat? his sister Carian never told him, but she loved him dearly. By the time Devon turned 2 years old, his parents, Josiah and Eva Savant were informed that he had autism. The fondest memory Devon had of his parents was the night before the fire when they tucked him in bed and Eva sung him his favorite song. Now, he is living with his foster parents, Micah and Jasmine Matthews. After living with the Matthews for several weeks, they realized that he had difficulty speaking and sharing his toys. The issue was raised with his caseworker who didn't understand or probably didn't care about his situation. After several weeks of trying to get Devon to talk, his foster parents took him on an unauthorized visit to a speech therapist.
Devon didn’t understand what all the fuss was about but his foster parents knew that Ms. Barclay would be able to help him develop. Unfortunately, their efforts landed them in trouble. The unauthorized visit to the therapist got them in so much trouble that Devon was taken from their household and placed with another family. The next three families Devon stayed with were terrible and the adults were difficult to communicate with. During his stay with the Matthews, Devon was allowed to mimic the sounds around him. The other families appeared frustrated by his actions. In the Owen's house, Devon learned that his spoon could make music by banging it on the table, the cup, plate and Sheema the cat. This annoyed Heather Owen because the cat screeched and knocked over her priceless figurines as she tried to escape Devon grasp. Heather’s screaming and cursing only made things worst in the home. Her husband Lucas Owens tried to calm her down but it didn't work as Heather grabbed Devon by shoulders and shook him viciously. Lucas intervene and took Devon to his man cave—the garage.
The Sounds
Devon loved the sounds around him and Lucas understood that as he put Devon in the back seat of his Range Rover and turned on the music. Devon liked riding in the big car. The next week, Devon was with a new family, the Saunders. Devon would sit at the table and repeat sounds he heard from the toaster. Tic, tic, tic, pop. The coffee maker... blup, blup, blup, blup...shhhhh. The cat...meow, meow...hiss...hiss. The dog...woof...woof, woof and the phone...hel-lo...hel-lo. After four months of dealing with Devon, they placed him back in the foster care system. Devon’s house hopping went on for years, by the time he turned nine years old, Matthew's family found him and petitioned the courts for the adoption rights. The Matthews’ had taken in his twin brother Darren several years earlier and wanted to keep the brothers together as a family unit. After a long battle with the foster care and the court system, the Matthews’ adopted Darren and Devon but was disappointed that Devon speech and behavior had not improved. Within the first 8 months of his arrival, Devon developed his own Morse code. Devon had a beat for any and everything he wanted. Soft beats told his step-parents that he was hungry or thirsty. Stronger and longer beats identify sickness, like his belly or head hurt and loud beats meant that there was an immediate need, and everyone should stop what they were doing to help him. Devon worked on his speech as he worked on his beats. Tap..tap..tap. Cat...Cat...Cat, boom....boom...boom ... room...room...room. His stepmother Jasmine took an interest in Devon’s Morse code.
The Sticks
Devon was taller than Darren by their twelfth birthday, even with his crooked leg which caused him to limp. What didn't stop growing was his appetite for hot pockets and chocolate milk when he played video games. Jasmine was astonished how many hot pockets he could devour in ninety minutes. Devon didn’t like that everything he did had a time limit but he loved Jasmine. Every Saturday, Jasmine took Devon and Darren to the park to play and Devon loved the outdoors. One day, Devon found an old pair of drumsticks underneath a bench and from then on he carried the sticks with him everywhere he went. While Jasmine was at the park with the boys, Micah worked in the basement and Nana cooked dinner. For 8 weeks, Dad worked on a top-secret project and would not let the boys near it, especially, Devon. Devon and Darren wanted to know what he was doing but Devon hated getting into trouble. Devon had gotten into trouble at school a week before, He was a good student but Ms. Carney, the music teacher sent a note home to Jasmine about his behavior. Devon didn’t think he did anything wrong when Erik threw a rolled piece of paper at him and he tossed it back.
Unfortunately, Ms. Carney only saw Devon throwing the paper. When Devon pointed at Erik, Ms. Carney got annoyed. Pick up the paper Devon, I will not ask you again, she said irritated. Devon took out his drumstick and began tapping the desk. Tic...tap..tic...tap....rap..rap..tic..tap. Devon...Devon...her voice softened, stop drumming. But Devon didn’t listen. He kept playing with the stick. Devontaé Savant, she said through clenched teeth. Devon looked up and stopped tapping on the desk and commenced clicking the sticks against his head. Ms. Carney exhaled as she tried to not get angry. I'll pick it up, Erik got up from his seat, and ran past Devon’s desk. It was my fault, he said as he reached down. Erik was Devon best friend; he was the only one in school who truly understood him and his Morse code. After school, Devon went to Erik’s house as he waited for Nana.
After some time, Nana arrived at Erik’s house but she looked tired. Nana Nia gave Devon a hug before taking him home. Devon thought that Nana had a lot on her mind today because she didn’t talk much and allowed him to play his video games. Devon loved Nana just as much as he loved the Matthews. When he was younger, he remembered Nana planting kisses on his cheek before he went to bed. It was their secret but he didn’t like her wet kisses. She put drool all over his face. Yuck! But Nana was old...almost 54 years old and old people drool a lot. One time, Devon ate too many hot pockets at dinner, then he had a bad dream in which Nana died but Micah told him a story about Methuselah. Micah said that Methuselah was over 200 years old when he died. And he reassured Devon that Nana was not going to die anytime soon. Devon was so entrapped in his video games that he did not hear Jasmine opening the door and entering the house. Devon, she called his name with an unusual tone. Devon got up from the living room couch and walked into the kitchen as mom was putting away grocery. Devon sat at the table tapping his drumsticks softly. Tap..tap..tap...tap. Devon, you are grounded. No video games for a week. No drumsticks for a week. Bam...bam..bam...bam...Devon started hitting the table harder. Jasmine’s eyes were piercing a hole in Devon stick as she closed the refrigerator door.
Shhhh....shhhh.....shhh.....she said to Devon ....sssshhhh.....sssshhhh. Devon slid the sticks over the bamboo placemat on the table. Devon knew he was in trouble and didn’t know what to do. Mom held out her hand as she positions herself across from the table. Devon, she said softly, give me the drumsticks. Give them to me...she repeated as she took a seat across from him. Devon shook his head fervently and spoke. N...n..n..no. What? As a huge vein popped on the fore
head of Jasmine. N..n...n..no?!?, Devon repeated. No...no...no....no...no...! Devon was being defiant. Just then Nana walked into the kitchen. She thought jasmine was going to bust a blood vessel in her head. Mom, I can’t deal with this right now, Jasmine said to Nana in a loud tone. Okay...okay...Jasmine. What happened? Nana said in a soft motherly tone. Jasmine ranted about her day at work first, then the events that occurred on her way home and finally what Devon did in school. Nana turned towards Devon and held out her hand, with a stern look. When Devon didn’t move, she shook her hand demanding the sticks. Devon threw the drumsticks down and bolted to the door with all the energy he could muster. He knew dad was home and needed his help.
The Accident
As Devon got to the door, he opened it and peeled off to the driveway. When he didn’t see dad, he ran around the car. He saw dad across the street talking to Mr. Brandon, Erik’s dad. Devon started to run across the street when he heard tires screeching...eeeerrrr! Boom!!! He didn’t have time to turn his head towards the noise before he found himself, lying on his back and then everything went black. When Devon woke up, he was in the back of the ambulance with sirens blaring, then everything went dark again. About 30 minutes later, Devon heard voices. Doctor. Doctor...we are losing him and then it got quiet. Devon saw his body floating upward, as he met a woman dressed in a lavender gown. Hey Devon, she said with a smile. My name is Samantha, but everyone calls me Sammy. Devon, I will be taking you to a special place. Devon could hear her speaking, but her lips weren't moving. As Devon was walking behind her, Devon realized that he didn’t walk with a limp anymore. The lisp he had was gone as well. Devon passed the burn unit, and seem to float upward through the roof. We almost there, Sammy said with a smile. Devon kept walking or was he floating, he wasn't sure. The only thing he knew was that he was in a different place. Sammy opened a gate and they walked in. Sammy took him to a brightly lit room with drums, bongos, metal drums, conga drums, Ashiko and every type of drum-like instrument one can imagine. Devon looked up at Sammy and smiled. She pointed to a seat that was in a circle and handed him really old wooden sticks that looked like they were taken from a tree. It was shaped like drum sticks, but something was different. There was an inscription... Ishmael’s sticks.
It Must Be Heaven
Devon took the sticks and began to play. He played with the sticks and without the sticks. Devon played beats only he knew. Beats that magically appeared in his head or he felt in his hands. Devon played every instrument in that room. After what seems to be hours, Sammy got up from the cloud and escorted him to a different room that had different colors. This room was much bigger than the first room, and it was filled with children just like him who had disabilities. Most of them had virtual hands, feet, eyes, ears, arms, and mouths. It was spooky and amazing. Somehow, Devon could see their disability. They looked whole, normal. Devon sat next to a guy named Calvin and a girl named Dori. Calvin was an Asian boy about 16 years old and Dori was a 10-year-old, Guyanese girl. As the lights changed, the beats and music changed. There were no lyrics, just beats, and melodies. Calvin appeared on a screen when the lights turned blue. Calvin took the lead beat and everyone else in the room followed. Devon didn’t know how he knew what to play but they all knew. The music was heavenly. Dori’s light turned yellow and her beats were more tribal in origin. There were about 15 kids playing Guyanese tribal beats. Devon light was pink. Devon thought it odd that he would have a pink light, but his hands started moving as soon as he saw his name appear on the screen. Devon didn’t know what he was playing but he knew it had to do with the rhythm of his heart and energy around him. Devon could not stop playing. He was playing the steel drum as if he was born in Haiti. Tic...tap..tic...tap..ticky... ticky...tap....tap... .......rap..tic..tap. That's my beat.
Tic...tap..tic...tap..ticky...ticky.....ticky.....tap...tap. Devon realizes that everyone had their own special beat. They went around the room until all of the kids had played their beat. Afterward, the group formed a line and went into a massive dining area. There was every type of fruit imaginable on the table. The children all grabbed a seat and waited. The room was so crowded that Devon didn’t have any idea what they were waiting for. Then he heard a man's voice. Children, we have a few new guests here today. Make sure you greet them with kindness and show them love, as the man began reading off a host of names. By the time Devon heard his name, he had already eaten the weird piece of green fruit with purple spikes and a pink rim. Inside the fruit was brown stuff that tastes like pizza and the spike taste like French fries. Devon didn’t know how or why he thought the spikes were safe, but they were. After eight pieces of the green fruit and two black watermelons, Devon was full. Sammy came back to his table and took the group to the south gate. The Southgate was on the east side of what appeared to be heaven. There were hundreds of doors. The floors were smoky and solid-like. Sammy instructed two huge beings that look like creatures out of a movie, to help with the assignments. Devon was so happy after dinner. He could hear the thought of the other kids and they could hear him. Devon didn’t feel out of place anymore in this world. Sammy took Devon to a huge door and opened it. Inside was an enormous bed and dresser. Devon walked in and opened the dresser drawer. After opening the draw, a puff of smoke exited it, with a quick drum beat. Inside were a white gown and white slippers. Devon changed behind a large wooden structure. On the white gown was his name and a pair of drumsticks embroidered on the left pocket. As he looked up to talk to Sammy, he finally felt tired. Without moving her lips, Devon could hear Sammy wishing him a good night as she exited the room. Devon laid on the big bed and fell fast asleep. Devon, Devon....it’s time to get up, as Sammy touched his shoulder. Devon, it’s time to go back now. Your family has been praying to God, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary all night and God has answered their prayers. You have to go back to Earth. I don’t want to go back. Devon was screaming in his mind. Where is God? I need to talk to him. He gave me autism and I hate the way I feel in my body. I am always getting in trouble, nobody understands me, I don’t have a lot of friends. I can’t go to a normal school and when I get older, I wouldn't be able to have a wife and kids because of this disease he......he gave me. I hate him. I hate him...Devon said as tears streamed down his face. I don’t want to go back. Everybody is the same here and they like me. I'm no fun when I am down there. My mother is tired of me. My dad is avoiding me, and I hate what God did to me. Sammy just listened to Devon as he ranted. She put her arm around Devon as he cried. When he finished crying, Devon laid his head on the pillow and he went back to sleep. Sammy rushed out because she knew God, Jesus and the tribunal heard what Devon said in anger. Sammy rushed to the Westside of the Northgate to hear God's response. She didn’t know how humans could bring their emotional baggage to Heaven but Devon did. She ran down the corridor and slid the rest of the way until she was in front of the Angel Gabriel. Gabby...she said out of breath. What did he say...she asked between puffs? They are still meeting, Gabriel said without turning around. What should Devon do? She asked kneeling down before Gabriel. Gabriel looked over his right shoulder and peered down at Sammy. Sammy why are you out of breath, this is heaven the air is different than on Earth. What? Never mind about me. When will Devon get an answer? Patience Sammy, patience. Sammy sat outside the door for what appear to be hours. They are sending him back down, Gabby said to Sammy. What? They are sending back down, Gabriel reiterated. But the door didn’t open...Sammy said in exasperation.
The Return
Devon knows that he is leaving and he is leaving now, Gabriel spoke in a thunderous voice. God is sending him back as Gabby touched Sammy's shoulder. At that moment, Sammy forgot why she was even in the Tribunal area. Sammy walked down the hall to the end of the Westgate and turned left to go to the Assignment department. When Devon finally woke up, he found himself in the hospital with Jasmine drowning him with kisses. He couldn’t speak because his throat was sore and raw. His arm, leg, and ribs were broken. His head hurt, and he was barely able to see out
of his bruised eye. It going to be okay baby, his Nana kept repeating. You will be able to play the drums again. That is when reality hit him and tears began streaming down his face. Over the next 12 weeks, Devon stayed in the hospital for therapy and other treatments. By March, the doctor let him go home. Now, both of his legs were bad, Devon couldn't play the drums and his family didn’t understand the words that were coming out of his mouth. At least before the accident, Devon was able to speak a little, but now the words are all jumbled up in his mind. Then one night, his mom was searching eBay for his birthday present and came across an old pair of drumsticks. Intrigued by the story behind the drumstick’s his mom purchased them. They arrived just in time because Devon didn’t think he was going to have a good birthday and his twin brother Darren was upset that Devon was sad all the time. Hey Devon, I got a surprise for you, his mother said. Devon was still feeling miserable. She held the present behind her back Devon grunted, and she pulled out the dirty old drumstick from behind her back. They looked like his old sticks but they were not the same, Devon lowered his head because he couldn’t hold the drum sticks anymore. His mom smiled as she pressed the sticks in his hand. You’ll play again, sweetie. Just wait. Devon let the sticks drop to the floor and wheeled himself back to his new bedroom. Darren came into the room and helped him get into bed. Bro, you not going to celebrate your birthday with me. Devon turned over. Devon, I know you are in pain, but things are going to get better. Mommy, daddy, and Nana are always praying for you. You get all the attention and really nice stuff. Except for this one, Darren said with a bit of confusion, I don’t know why mom bought you old drum sticks. I wasn’t supposed to tell you this, but Dad has been working on a sound booth in the basement and the electric chair, so you can use it whenever you want. It was almost done before...before...the accident, Darren said in a whisper. Okay, Devon, I’ll leave you alone, as he opened the bedroom door but if you need me, just ring the bell, like this. Darren shook the bell. Ding...Ding...ding. Darren left the room and closed the door slightly. Devon pulled out a comic book from underneath his pillow and looked at the pictures.
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