by Kit DeCanti
Jimmy was amazed that Timmy didn’t remember him. Not at first. “Didn’t you get my letters?” Jimmy asked. “I promised to keep in touch and I did.” Then looking down, “When I never heard back from you I was afraid…”
“I never got any letters. Not from you. Not from anyone.” Timmy said. Jimmy was surprised to hear an edge to Timmy’s voice that wasn’t there before. “Well that was a long time ago. We were both just little boys,” Jimmy thought.
“You boys better not be piddling around! Don’t even make me crawl in there! You better have something to show for the night’s work!” Melbourne yelled and his angry voice echoed through the cave.
Suddenly fear shot through the boys.
As the weeks passed more boys from Jimmy’s past started joining the ranks of ‘Cobb’s Kids’. First was Timmy, followed by Denny, Joey, Marty and finally Jon.
With each little face that Jimmy recognized he felt more and more guilt. It couldn’t be a coincidence that they were all from the list in his notebook. Although he had been careful to keep his notebook with the list of names hidden, somehow he knew that Melbourne must have gotten his hands on it. After Joey arrived, he decided to leave it in his desk at school. But after the fourth boy from his list became a ‘Cobb’s Kid’ Jimmy hid the notebook under a rock on the playground. Jimmy hated that the boys were in this situation because of his notebook. And yet, he couldn’t throw the notebook away. He still felt that somehow he had to keep his promise of help to all of the boys on his list. He had promised them that he would keep in touch and find them someday. How could he do that if he didn’t keep the notebook?
He thought again of the boys who had joined him in the cave, and got a pain in his stomach.
The guilt that they shared his destiny was heavy on Jimmy’s young shoulders- which were starting to stoop under the weight of guilt, along with working like a man all night long.
The only good thing was, that Jimmy finally had friends. If you could call them that. When they looked at him, Jimmy couldn’t help but think they were blaming him for their situation.
“And why not?” Jimmy thought to himself, “Would they have been ‘chosen’ by Melbourne if it weren’t for my list?” Although they stuck together on the playground and rode to and from school in the dark suburban and even slept huddled together in the attic, they never spoke about the cave. Never! They had each been warned and threatened in one way or another to never mention the cave.
Although Jimmy was happy to see his friend Timmy again, something was different. Something more than his voice. Sure they were both older but Timmy had changed. At first Jimmy thought it was because of the cave, and that Timmy blamed him for being brought to that horrible place; but as time passed Jimmy saw that Timmy had hardened. His years in the foster system had been even more difficult than Jimmy’s. He wouldn’t talk about it, but Jimmy knew bad things had happened to him. It changed him- and not for the better.
The caring boy that had joined Jimmy comforting the younger kids that night in the gymnasium was gone. He had been replaced by a mean self serving bully.
On the playground when they played dodge ball Timmy would laugh and joke with the other Cobb Kids, and acted like he was their friend, but still, Jimmy worried because Timmy deliberately aimed for the faces of the smaller ones with the ball.
“Hey Timmy, knock it off!” Jimmy had told him the third time it happened. He stood toe to toe with clinched fists to the much taller Timmy letting him know that he would not allow him to bully their foster brothers. Timmy backed down, but Jimmy never trusted him after that and kept an eye on him.
On more than a few occasions he caught Timmy intimidating and taking food off the younger kid’s plates in the attic. “I can’t help it,” he would say, “I’m bigger and I need more food than them.”
Jimmy also noted that Timmy went out of his way to walk next to Melbourne as they walked to and from the cave.
“Why is he doing that?” Jon whispered one night when Timmy had struck up a conversation with Melbourne on the way back to the pickup after a night in the cave.
“He’s trying to get on his good side.” Jimmy whispered back in disgust. The thought of kissing up to the enemy turned his stomach.
“Shut up!” The Henchman growled as his rifle butt landed across Jimmy’s backside.
It was just as well, Jimmy didn’t want to talk. He was deep in thought. He had seen something tonight as they left the cave, that he had not noticed before. He needed quiet to figure out what it meant. Maybe it was just his imagination. But if it wasn’t … it would mean that Melbourne was lying about the cave. He had to find out.
Kat sat at her desk staring at the file on her desk. It was unsettling.
Even though Wendy Jones, the social worker assigned to Little Jimmy kept assuring Kat that she had checked on him on several occasions and that he was fine Kat wasn’t so sure. She had heard from Joyce Williams, another social worker in that department, and whose child attended the same school as Jimmy, that he was a trouble maker and a gang member. Joyce and Kat had been friends a long time, and so Kat felt comfortable discussing Jimmy with her.
“That just doesn’t sound like the Jimmy I know,” she had told her friend. “Sure he ‘gets into a lot of trouble’ but that is not the same thing as a being a ‘trouble maker’. Jimmy is mischievous and inquisitive, and certainly impulsive. But he is a good boy and has always been very likable.”
But as Kat read the files from Jimmy’s new school it became apparent that Little Jimmy was changing. He had gotten into over ten fights in the short time in this school. And his grades were very bad- even geography which Jimmy had always loved. And one other thing was especially worrisome. It seemed as though Jimmy was the ringleader of a gang made up of other foster boys. Kat decided to take a ride to the school and see if she could talk to him.
Kat needed an excuse for showing up at Jimmy’s school, since she did not work for that department. She reached for the phone and dialed Joyce’s extension, who reluctantly agreed to let her take a ‘forgotten lunch’ to her daughter.
“I just don’t want to get in the middle of this! If Wendy gets wind that you pulled Jimmy’s file…” her friend had worried. They both had noticed that although Wendy was the new one in the office, she had some sort of ‘pull’ from some unknown source in administration, and they didn’t want to get on her bad side.
“Don’t worry, that is not going to happen. I’m putting the file back right now.”
An hour later she was on Highway One Seventy-Five and slowly approaching Cobb Elementary School.
Kat walked briskly across the school parking lot and poked her head in the office and told the receptionist her purpose for being there, and tried to hurry about her business. But the receptionist stopped her.
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to sign in- regulations.” The woman behind the counter said in a monotone. Kat had hoped she could avoid leaving any evidence of her visit, and scribbled what she hoped would be an illegible signature quickly while the recep-tionist was on the phone, and then hurried out the door towards room ten.
As she pulled the door handle, she took a deep breath before walking pur-posefully through the door. Kat stood in the doorway looking over the children’s faces pretending to look for her friend’s daughter, when in reality she was sitting in the desk closest to the door. Kat was really searching for Jimmy’s familiar face, but was shocked when she realized he was the skinny little boy with sunken eyes next to her friend’s daughter.
“Hello Jimmy!” Kat said with real surprise. “How have you been?” she asked to the blank stare that was Jimmy’s face. “He’s angry,” she thought to herself. “He thinks we’ve abandoned him. Worrying that she was staying too long and that too much focus on Jimmy would cause the teacher to mention it to Wendy Jones, Kat gave the bag lunch she had picked up on her way out of town to the surprised little girl.
“But I didn’t…”
“That’s okay, Honey, it was no tro
uble.” Kat cut her off and quickly exited, leaning on the closed door a moment before heading to her car. She felt like crying, partly because of the shock of Jimmy’s appearance; and partly because she hadn’t realized just how much she had missed him. She longed to return to the room and take Jimmy with her. Kat knew that was impossible, but even though the plan to adopt him had fallen through, she still felt very maternal towards the child. She really did love him.
Anger filled her and she blurted out, “Ron had no right to throw in the towel without speaking to me first. Little Jimmy was to be my child too!” Kat ran to the parking lot and got into her car and drove off fighting back tears. As soon as she was out of sight from the school she pulled over.
“Get a grip, Kat!” she scolded herself. “You need to put things in perspective. The important thing right now, is not that you lost a son, but that something is very wrong in that child’s life that’s is causing him to loose weight and sleep.” She reached for her cell phone and first called Ron and asked him to meet her in Cobb at the Mountain High Coffee and Books; and then called her job to say she was not feeling well and needed to take the rest of the day off.
Kat pulled up in front of the coffee shop in a little strip mall that was nestled in the lovely high valley town of Cobb near the school. She sat at one of the bistro tables in front of the place. Any other day she would enjoy the serenity of the area. It was a favorite place to have a great cup of coffee and home made treats while breathing in the fresh Cobb Mountain air.
But not today. Today Kat was filled with unsettling fears for Little Jimmy, and anxiously waited for her husband. After a few moments, to pass the time she went in and ordered coffee for herself and Ron. She returned to the table and waited until finally the patrol car pulled up and Ron got out and rushed to her side. She had not told him what was wrong, but he knew by her voice that it was serious. Kat related to Ron about the files she had snuck from Wendy Jones’ office and then how she dropped into the school and saw Jimmy.
“I’m telling you, Ron it was heartbreaking to see him that way!” Kat said to her ashen faced husband. “He looks so pathetic and lost. He’s lost so much weight and I’ve never seen such dark circles around a child’s eyes. And they are so sunk in… he looks like….” Kat lowered her voice to a whisper, “like he’s dying!” She looked up to the sky and raised her voice, “I can’t believe no one has noticed. That no one cares.”
“But you noticed, Kat and we both care.” Ron said patting his young wife’s hand trying to comfort her. “We care and we will find out why this is happening to Little Jimmy. We won’t turn our backs on him. We’ll do something… whatever it takes, we’ll do it!”
It wasn’t empty promises. Ron meant every word. He cared for Jimmy as much as Kat did. Even more.
Besides loving Little Jimmy, Ron felt to blame for his predicament. He knew that if he hadn’t started getting cold feet about the adoption that perhaps things would be different for Jimmy. Sure, he couldn’t have prevented his and Kat’s illnesses; but he could have reached out and stayed in touch with Jimmy. He knew he had to make it up to him somehow.
Ron also knew that Melbourne would have all his bases covered and barnstorming him would just backfire so he resisted the urge to drive directly to the school. He needed to act quickly for Jimmy’s sake; but also prudently to have any results. He needed a plan.
Ron pulled out his cell phone and called Jack. Jack was a private detective, who volunteered at the retreat down the road here on Cobb Mountain between cases. He was someone who owed Ron a favor. But he was more than that. He was a trusted friend. Someone he could count on to go the extra mile when needed.
After leaving a voicemail for Jack, Ron hung up and put his hand over Kat’s again where it was still laying limp and helpless on the little bistro table.
While trying to comfort his wife, he thought of a way he could run into Little Jimmy. There was an upcoming fundraiser at CMAS and he knew Melbourne would be there. And probably so would Jimmy.
When Ron pulled his patrol car into the museum parking lot he could tell by the number of cars that the fund raiser was in full swing. It stuck in his craw that it was on the agenda for Melbourne to be honored. Just how many times does the man need to be thanked for putting back into the community? He tried to keep his displeasure off his face when he walked past the big suburban parked at the entry; with Mel-bourne’s chauffer waiting in the driver’s seat.
As Ron walked through the doors he waved at his sister-in-law Angel. He was glad she was volunteering at the museum. Keeping it in the family so to speak. This children’s museum would always have a special place in Ron’s heart. As he walked through the halls and exhibits he was reminded of the times that he volunteered here. And the first time he rescued Little Jimmy from getting in trouble with his foster mom. Ron couldn’t help chuckling. He was sure a handful.
Ron checked all Jimmy’s favorite exhibits- the ecology, insects, Pomo Village and of course the volcano was the first place he looked. He thought for sure that would be where he would find him. But Ron couldn’t find him. Ron turned to retrace his steps and saw Angel watching him. He walked over to her and asked if she had seen Jimmy. “I figured he would be hanging out at the Konocti exhibit but he’s not there.”
“He’s hiding from you,” Angel said flatly, without holding any punches. She walked up closer to Ron and murmured, “He’s avoiding you. So, did you guys have a fight or what?” When Ron just shook his head, she said, “No?… well then he is keeping something from you. You need to get him to tell you what it is.” She had noticed the big change in Jimmy. Not just his thin pale appearance, but also she saw absolutely no joy in his visit to the museum today, which was so out of character for him. When Little Jimmy roamed the halls of CMAS he usually couldn’t contain his enthusiasm.
Wanting to change the subject Ron tried to joke, it off. “When did you get so smart?”
Angel’s flippant response was, “Institute of common sense- I’d recommend you apply, but you have to pass the entrance exam.” Ron usually enjoyed this type of friendly banter with his witty sister-in-law. But today it hit a nerve. He watched her pony tail swing from side to side as she headed across the room to assist a tiny child trying to climb the steps to the top of the volcano.
Finally Ron saw Jimmy and cornered him before he could take off, “Hey little buddy! I was hoping to find you here. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.” Jimmy froze. His new family of foster brothers sensed his uneasiness and stepped between him and Ron. Ron saw the situation was not going to lend itself to ‘a one on one’ with Jimmy, and so he tried engaging the other foster boys into a conversation about the volcano exhibit.
“Did Jimmy tell you about our adventure on the real Mt. Konocti?” This had the opposite reaction that Ron had expected. Instead of inciting excitement and questions they withdrew. Before he knew it the group of boys, including Jimmy was down the hall and disappeared around the corner; leaving Ron to wonder what had just happened.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Black Abyss
Riding to the cave with the knit hat pulled over his face Jimmy thought about what he had noticed previously. “What did it mean?” he frowned under his knit hat. He just didn’t know. The vehicle came to the familiar halt and The Henchman got out. “There must be a gate here,” Jimmy thought as the man returned and the suburban bounced up the mountain. He didn’t remember a gate when he and Ron came up here. The road didn’t feel the same either, somehow. The thought of Ron made Jimmy both angry and sad. “This is all his fault,” the boy thought to himself again.
As the line of boys led by Melbourne and followed by The Henchman made their way up the mountain, a full moon shined brightly making the trek a bit easier. Jimmy was eager to get to the cave for a change. He wanted to check out his theory- to see if he was right.
“Even if I am- so what?” Jimmy asked himself, “What difference will it make?” But still that old curiosity that had gotten him into so many jams in
the past, was rearing its head urging Little Jimmy to explore the cave and find out if he was right. At his first opportunity Jimmy scraped the side of the cave and shining his light on it, knew he was right. Sandstone. Why did he not notice that before? This was not a volcanic cave. It couldn’t be. Okay. But what did it mean? The young boy wasn’t sure, but he knew it was important. And he knew he had to find out. When the others were distracted Jimmy edged his way further into the cave, turning one corner after another; carefully keeping count of how many corners he had turned.
Jimmy came to a Y and paused. He could see that one direction was so low that he would have to crawl, so he chose the other way. He held his rope tightly. The boys all had ropes clipped to their belts to help find their way back to the mouth of the cave. He reached up and turned off the light on his hardhat, and turned around. He couldn’t see the lights from the others. Evidently no one had missed him yet. He wasn’t surprised. They were occupied.
Jimmy turned around and turned his light back on and resumed his exploration but came to a halt when the feel of floor beneath his feet changed. It was no longer the hard rock he had been accustomed to all these many months. It was soft and loose. He looked down and shined the light on the floor and saw that he was only about a foot to where the floor gave way to a huge gaping black hole. It must be the hole Melbourne always threatened to throw them down! Gasping and not daring to get closer he backed out with one hand on the wall of the cave, he didn’t want to shine the light fearing that it may alert one of the others to come looking for him, so he continued to back out.
He was taking a big chance and didn’t want to involve his foster brothers. Not only that, Jimmy also didn’t want them to know about the abyss he had just found. They were all afraid enough. But with the knowledge that the hole was real, and that Melbourne could at any time carry out his threats would possibly be too much for the kids to take.
Finally he was back at the Y and had regained his confidence and enthusiasm about exploring the cave; without hesitating Jimmy headed in the other direction of the Y, soon it became necessary to drop to his knees because the ceiling became too low to walk quickly. His callused knees had become used to it. Much of the cave was like this. Taking a deep breath and drawing a map in his mind he turned off his light and checked for lights from the others. They were still out of sight. “Good,” he thought and turned back around. He was about to turn on his light when something up ahead caught his attention. He froze. Was someone there? Had one of the others come looking for him? Was it one of the men? Or was it someone else all together? Jimmy didn’t know, but he knew he had to find out.