Elpida

by C. Kennedy

  “It’s something I need to know, bro,” Michael defended.

  Jake wiped his hands and mouth with a napkin. “You lit majors are freaks.”

  “Shut up, man.”

  Sophia laughed softly.

  “What?” Michael asked defensively.

  “The new people at Wellington have Greek names. I find it odd.”

  Michael studied her. “Kind of.” He glanced at Lisa and whispered, “Babylicious” under his breath. He loved to tease her with her family nickname.

  “Mike!” She slugged his arm.

  “Ouch. Don’t beat up the gay boy!”

  Melos approached with Zero following at a short distance. “Mind if we join y’all?”

  Christy shook his head, and everyone moved down the benches to make room for them.

  Christy stood. “I make the introduction for you. You know Jerry because he lives here, and Stephen, the boyfriend of Jerry. This is Lisa. This is George, the friend of Lisa. This is Jorge. This is Malvolio, the boyfriend of Jorge. This is Gavin, the cousin of Lisa. This is Noah, the boyfriend of Gavin. This is Jake, the best friend of Michael, and this is Sophia, the fiancée of Jake. Everyone, this is Zero.”

  It didn’t escape Michael’s notice that he didn’t introduce Sophia as his sister.

  “Oh, and this is Melos, the new counselor,” Christy finished.

  “Just Mel,” he said quickly.

  “Hey, Zero, nice to meet you.” Jorge extended a hand, and Zero merely looked at it.

  “He is the little bit shy,” Christy said quickly.

  “No worries.” Jorge went back to eating.

  Everyone was quiet for an uncomfortable moment, and Michael broke the ice. “Thanks for all your help with Thimi’s cabin.”

  Zero issued a curt nod.

  Mel sought to continue the conversation. “I understand you and Jake, here, compete in the USATF Trials in a couple of weeks.”

  Michael shook his head. “Only Jake. All I do is keep time.”

  Jake whacked the back of Michael’s head.

  “What’s with everyone picking on me today? You see what I have to put up with, Zero?”

  Zero almost smiled.

  Jake hooked a thumb at Michael. “Crybaby. Yes, we are. Michael’s running hurdles and I’m just plain running.”

  “Sounds pretty exciting.”

  “Nerve-wracking,” Michael said. “We’re practicing every morning.”

  Christy looked up at him. “It is very exciting for me.”

  Michael smiled. “You’re my number-one fan. Best fan anyone could have.”

  The table fell silent again.

  “What’s everyone doing for the summer?” Michael asked.

  Lisa wagged a finger between her and George. “We’re working down at the waterfront with Smitty until school starts in August. Then we start at Mohawk.”

  “What are you taking?”

  “General ed. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, Mike, and Smitty doesn’t care so long as we’re working to better ourselves.”

  “I’m looking for a job and will start at Mohawk too,” Stephen said.

  “Me too, except I start at NYU,” Jerry said.

  Zero eyed Jerry intently. “You can go to college if you come from a place like this?”

  “Heck yeah!”

  Christy studied Zero for a long moment. “Do not judge you by what others did to you.”

  Christy had never been open and assertive about abuse recovery, and Michael beamed with pride.

  Zero met Christy’s eyes briefly before turning away.

  Gavin pushed his plate forward, and Noah stacked it on top of his own. “Me and Noah are working Carrello’s arcade at the waterfront. Then Noah’s taking cooking at Mohawk, and I’m doing computer science.”

  Noah made a face. “It’s called culinary studies.”

  “What he said.”

  “Jorge, what are you doing?” Mel asked.

  He gestured to Michael. “Fellow lit major. Going to Cornell. No work. My parents want me to take the summer off because once college starts, fun and games are over.”

  Malvolio gestured to Jorge. “Same, no work, but not Cornell. Anthropology at Vassar.”

  Michael was impressed. “Wow, man. Gratz on getting into Vassar.”

  Malvolio held his hand up for a high five, and Michael smacked it.

  “What are you doing, Christy?” Lisa asked.

  “This summer I will take care of Thimi, and then I go to Sorbonne. It is a school in Paris. I will study painting.”

  “How’s that going to work out with Michael at Oxford in England?” Jorge asked.

  “It’s a short trip between London and Paris,” Michael said.

  “It is one hour by flight and two hours by Eurostar, the train,” Christy added.

  “Cool. Didn’t realize it was that close. How far is Oxford from London?”

  “An hour fifteen by car, two hours by bus.” Michael continued, “Do you like school, Zero?”

  Zero shrugged. “Missed a few years.”

  “I will be the tutor if you wish help,” Christy offered.

  Zero ignored the offer. “When does Thimi get here?”

  “He will be here approximately eight or nine this evening.”

  “Does he speak English?”

  Christy nodded. “He has the same British tutors as me in Greece. He does not like to speak because he has the… the….” He looked at Michael. “What do you call it when the sound of the letters make the skip?”

  “He stutters?”

  “Yes. He has this if he speaks to someone not me.”

  “He doesn’t stutter with you?” Michael asked.

  Christy shook his head. “I take care of him from the time he is young. He does not have the fear with me.”

  “He’s twelve, right?” Lisa asked.

  Christy nodded. “You are twelve, no?” he asked Zero.

  Zero nodded once.

  “What’s he look like?” Jerry asked.

  Christy thought for a moment. “He is small like me. He has the brown hair, no curl. He has the topaz eyes. They are nice in the sunlight. He has the very soft voice. It is special to him. No one knows why he has this.”

  “What do you mean, soft voice?” Michael asked.

  “It is the whisper. He does not have the sound of the full voice.”

  Michael wagged a finger at his own neck in query, and Christy shook his head. “He does not have the neck damage like me. It is the way his voice is born.”

  Michael smiled at Christy’s syntax. “Cool. Jake, man, talk.”

  “As if the world doesn’t know the great Nero Santini’s son isn’t headed for Columbia.”

  “That’s great, Jake,” George said.

  Jake made a face. “Didn’t have a choice.”

  Sophia petted his hair. “You will make a wonderful attorney.” She turned to Michael. “We leave for Italy the day after the Trials.”

  Michael glanced at Jake. He’d forgotten Jake was going to Europe for the summer.

  “She has a photo shoot,” Jake said to no one in particular.

  Michael looked at Sophia. “Yeah. Forgot about that. How’s it going with the, ah, the scars?”

  She nodded enthusiastically. “It makes no difference to the photographers. The press is mixed. Some believe it is appalling. Some believe I am courageous.”

  “Photographers for what?” Zero piped up.

  “She’s a model,” Jake said.

  “Model for what?”

  “Clothes. Sometimes perfume, sometimes diamonds, sometimes accessories, sometimes cars,” Sophia answered.

  “With that scar on your face?” Zero asked without inflection.

  She smiled. “I decided that I would not allow the scars to interfere with my career.”

  Zero looked impressed. “That’s weird.”

  Sophia laughed softly. “It is. I am the only model with scars. I am unique.”

  Zero glanced at Christy, t
hen back to her.

  “You’re twins?”

  She looked at Christy and gestured for him to speak.

  “We are,” Christy said softly.

  Michael wanted to cheer but settled for reaching under the table and giving Christy’s knee a gentle squeeze.

  “Who was born first?”

  Christy suddenly smiled. “I don’t know.”

  Sophia laughed again. “Perhaps we should ask.”

  “I am certain I was born first,” Christy asserted.

  Sophia gaped at him. “Why do you say so?”

  “I am smart. I am wise. I take care of you. I am older.”

  She huffed in mock indignation. “I am prettier, I am worldly, and I allow you to take care of me. I am older.”

  Christy wadded his napkin and tossed it at her, and the spontaneous play surprised Michael.

  “You guys are weird.” Zero stood from the table and walked away.

  Concerned, Michael looked at Mel, who rose from his seat. “Did we say something wrong?”

  Mel smiled. “He’s got somethin’ stuck in his craw. We’ll get ’im ironed out. Thanks for lettin’ us join y’all.”

  Michael gave Mel a lazy salute. “Anytime. Tell him thanks again for the help with Thimi’s cabin.”

  “What is the craw?” Christy asked.

  “Throat,” Jorge answered.

  “They fix this with the iron?”

  Michael chuckled. “It’s a saying, babe. It means he’s grumpy, but they’ll get him straightened out so he isn’t grumpy anymore.”

  “American English is strange.”

  Laughter erupted around the table.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  MICHAEL AND Christy sat on the porch swing and watched the fiery sunset. It had been a beautiful June day, and vivid pinks, oranges, and yellows streaked the ethereal blue of the sky. Other than fidgeting in anticipation of Thimi’s arrival, all was calm in Christy’s turbulent world.

  Michael kissed the side of his head. “Why are you nervous?”

  Christy took a deep breath and smoothed his hands over his thighs. “I am not. I am thinking.”

  “About Thimi?”

  Christy nodded and rubbed his hands over his thighs again. “He is like me when I first leave the terrible place. He will have the bad nightmares, the vomiting, and make the bathroom in the bed. He cannot be touched.”

  “That stands to reason, but I think he’ll do okay. Especially with you here.”

  “Perhaps.” His cell phone rang, and he fished it from a pocket and looked at it. “Hello, Rob, this is me, Christy.”

  “Nero called. They’ll be here in about ten minutes. Thimi is asleep. Dr. Jordanou had to sedate him, so we’ll put him in bed on the bottom floor of the cabin.”

  “He will wake and be afraid. We will put him in the bed with me.”

  “He’ll be all right. Dr. Jordanou will be with him.”

  “No. He will stay with me.”

  “Christy, we discussed this. We can’t have residents sharing rooms, let alone beds.”

  “Thimi spend the night with me every night in Greece. He will stay with me.”

  Rob made an indiscernible sound in frustration. “I’ll make an exception for the first night, Christy. That’s it.”

  “Thank you.” Christy terminated the call.

  “What was that all about?” Michael asked, concerned.

  “Thimi sleeps because of the medicine. He will wake and be afraid, so I wish him to be in the bed with me. Rob does not like this.”

  Michael wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea either. “And?”

  “Rob makes the exception for one night.”

  Michael nodded. “Sounds reasonable.”

  Christy shook his head. “It will not work like this. Thimi will want to sleep with me all of the time.”

  A long strand of Christy’s hair floated on the evening breeze, and Michael tucked it behind an ear with a fingertip. “That’s probably not a good thing.”

  Christy turned to him, anger now large in his eyes. “It must be this way.”

  Michael studied Christy now, his own anger pricking the edges of his mind. “Do you think that will help him learn to take care of himself?”

  “He will learn in time.”

  Michael could only see an argument ahead, so he let it go. Now was not the time. They sat in silence until the limousine turned into the parking lot.

  Rob came out to the porch, and Christy was out of the swing in an instant, nearly tripping over his feet as he ran down the steps.

  The driver exited the car and opened the back door of the limousine. First out was General Sotíras, who was as large as Nero was in height and girth, and he looked very tired.

  “Good evening, General,” Christy greeted formally with a slight bow.

  “Good evening, Christy. It’s wonderful to see you again. Michael, it is good to see you as well.”

  Michael stepped forward and shook the general’s hand. “Thank you, sir. Thank you for bringing Thimi here.”

  “My pleasure. Ah, Dr. Villarreal. At long last we are here.” The general climbed the steps to shake Rob’s hand.

  “Good trip?” Rob asked.

  “All things considered, very good. Thimi was sick a few times, but once he fell asleep, all was well.”

  A tall, kindly looking man with silver hair stepped from the car and greeted Christy in perfect English. “You look well, my friend.”

  A small smile tinkered at the corners of Christy’s mouth. “I am well, Dr. Jordanou. It is good to see you again. Thank you for the care of Thimi. This is Michael Sattler.”

  Michael shook Dr. Jordanou’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Doctor. Christy speaks very highly of you.”

  “Thank you. It’s a great pleasure to meet you.” He gestured to the car. “Go. Look at him, Christophoros. He sleeps in peace.”

  Christy all but dived into the car.

  On the seat across the expanse of the car was Thimi wrapped in a purple blanket, his purple marble held tightly in his hand even in his sleep. Christy petted his hair and began to cry.

  “Hey, hey, hey, babe.” Michael climbed into the car and put an arm around Christy. “You okay?”

  Christy nodded quickly. “I did not think he was alive. Now he is here with me.”

  “Yeah, he’s safe now.” Michael looked down at the small boy, his straight brown hair messy wisps on his forehead. Cheekbones were high and stark on his heart-shaped face, his lower lip was fuller than the upper one, and both bore small white scars. The lashes of his deep-set eyes painted thick dark crescents against his pale skin but did nothing to hide the dark circles of exhaustion. Peaceful in sleep, his expression still conveyed an infinite sadness.

  Christy leaned down and whispered something into Thimi’s ear, but he didn’t stir.

  “Do you want me to carry him to the cabin?”

  Christy leaned around Michael and asked a question in Greek of Dr. Jordanou, who shook his head and responded in Greek.

  “Dr. Jordanou says he will not wake.”

  “Okay. I’ll get him from the other side of the car.” Michael stepped out of the limousine. “I’m going to carry him to Christy’s cabin,” he said to no one in particular.

  “Let me get Patrick to help you,” Rob said quickly.

  “I got him.” Michael bent and carefully pulled Thimi to him. “He’s really out of it.”

  “This is good.” Christy peeled back the purple blanket to reveal purple sweats.

  Michael smiled. “He’s seriously into purple.”

  Christy only nodded.

  In one smooth movement, Michael lifted Thimi into his arms and was shocked by his skeletal frame. He couldn’t have weighed more than fifty pounds. “Put the blanket over him.”

  Christy tucked it around Thimi, careful to ensure none of it trailed the ground.

  “Man, he’s thin.”

  Christy nodded. “He does not grow well without food.”

  Michael
cursed everyone who ever laid a hand on Christy and Thimi for the millionth time and headed around the main house to the cabin.

  Michael laid Thimi in Christy’s bed under the sharp eye of Dr. Jordanou. Christy stripped Thimi’s tennis shoes and covered him with the duvet.

  “He is one seriously small dude,” Michael said quietly.

  Dr. Jordanou nodded. “Starvation is the culprit here,” he said as he checked Thimi’s vital signs. “He should sleep through the night.”

  “I will stay with him,” Christy said quickly.

  Taking it as a cue to leave, Michael bent and pecked Christy’s cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow after practice?”

  Christy nodded. “Okay.”

  Michael waited a moment, but Christy was lost to petting Thimi’s hair. He left the cabin and decided he should suck it up and get used to Christy spending time with Thimi. He crossed the lawn to the main house and headed down the hallway to the main room. He found Jake and Sophia sitting by the fireplace speaking with General Sotíras.

  “Ready?” Jake asked as he approached.

  “Yeah. They’re settled for the night. Thank you again for bringing Thimi here, General Sotíras.”

  The large man stood. “My pleasure.”

  “How long will you and Dr. Jordanou be here?”

  “Probably a week. We won’t leave until Dr. Jordanou is satisfied Thimi is settled.”

  “Thank you again for all you’ve done for Christy and Thimi.”

  “It is the least I can do.” General Sotíras offered Michael a hand, and they shook.

  Sophia stood, and Michael turned to her. “Are you staying here?”

  “I think I will go home with you and Jake. It was lovely to see you again, General.” She offered a brief bow.

  “Always a pleasure, Sophia.” He kissed the back of her hand.

  All the bowing and kissing still weirded Michael out, but he’d learned to roll with it.

  “Let’s hit it,” Jake said as he stood and shook the general’s hand. “Good seeing you again, General.”

  “Thank you, Jacob. Give my best to your father, and let him know I will contact him in the morning.”

  “Will do.”

  JAKE LOOKED at Michael in the rearview mirror. “You okay, bro?”

  “Yep. Long day. Sophia, is there a reason you didn’t want to stay?”

  She half turned beneath the seat belt strap and looked back at Michael. “I thought it best if Christy decided when Thimi and I should meet.”