by Zuri Day
“Good morning, all!” He continued to where the drinks were located.
“Morning, son.” Ike, Sr. turned from pouring a cup of coffee to greet him.
The other ones present—Ike, Jr., Warren and the company directors—chimed in as well.
“Who’s that kid everybody’s talking about?” Ike, Jr. asked. “The math whiz who goes to our center.”
“Where’d you see it?”
“Teresa’s blog.”
“She put it on her blog? Cool.”
“I saw it last night. The little tyke is pretty popular. The video has already gotten over five thousand hits.”
“Seriously?” Terrell pulled out his phone and clicked the YouTube icon. “Dang, that’s crazy. The video’s been up less than seventy-two hours.”
The director of property management asked for the link, and checked it out. “Wow, that’s really something. Are you sure you didn’t coach this kid?”
Terrell shook his head. “Not at all. In fact, I should make another one where people give him arbitrary numbers off the top of their heads so people know we’re not cheating.”
“I say unless this young man is ready to sell some residential and commercial property, we table this discussion and get on to the Drake matters at hand.”
“This is a Drake matter, Dad.” Everyone looked at Terrell. “Whatever positive buzz is generated through this video is great for the Drake Community Center—its programs, activities, et cetera. It could bring national attention to not only the center, but also our town. Yes, the child is very bright. But it doesn’t hurt us that he is being taught our center. Whether or not he’ll opt for a career in real estate is a decision that is decades away. But that his video could benefit our center in the short term is a very real possibility.”
“Good point, Terrell. So now that I have a more complete picture of this kid and the relevance of his video to various Drake holdings, can someone send me the link?”
* * *
Aliyah stared at the number in disbelief. An hour ago, Terrell had texted a message for her to pull up Kyle’s video to see how many views it had gotten. A week ago, she was surprised to see that over five thousand people had watched her son solve math problems. When Terrell mentioned that his sister had posted the link on her blog, Aliyah believed it was her subscribers and the blog’s growing popularity that had caused the spike in numbers. When texts from her brother said his video had gone viral, this number was what she thought he was talking about. But no. He’d seen what she was now looking at. A video with over a million views.
She called Lauren. “Hey, girl. Did you know that Kyle’s video has gone viral?”
“No!” Aaliyah could tell Lauren was at her computer; could hear her clicking keys. “Oh, my goodness, Aaliyah, this is amazing! Your son makes being smart and doing math look fun!”
“Terrell suggested I have his IQ tested. I agree, and plan to look into it.”
“Speaking of Terrell, how’s it going?”
“How’s what going?”
“Oh, right. It’s just casual sex. Doesn’t mean anything.”
“Exactly.”
“Though seeing the two of you together, that’s not the vibe I got. You make a good couple. Even Calvin said so.”
“We enjoy each other’s company. I’m not thinking of anything beyond that.”
“You know what? That’s probably best. But getting back to Kyle, there’s a test for his age group called—” there was a pause and Aliyah heard more key clicking “—it’s called an intellectual assessment scale. Oh, and here’s another one. The Wechsler test. Both look to be specifically for his age group.”
“Thanks, Lauren. Later tonight, I’ll check those out.”
That was the plan. But the night got busy and so did the days ahead. The video continued to draw attention. When a flurry of comments suggested the video had been staged and Kyle had been given the answers to memorize, Aliyah was contacted by a local TV reporter and asked if his team could provide their own set of problems for Kyle to solve and film the results. She agreed.
Two days later, Aliyah managed to get two hours of her shift covered so that she could take Kyle to the television station. There, Kyle was treated like a mini-celebrity as they prepared a series of complicated addition and subtraction problems on a whiteboard. The producers confirmed, on camera, that no one outside of those filming the project had seen the numbers. As he’d done on the previous video, Kyle studied each set of numbers for a few seconds and then simply wrote down the answer. From left to right. Without any visible calculation, no finger counting, no carrying numbers over, nothing. It was the first time Aliyah had witnessed it. The moment brought tears to her eyes.
“That’s amazing, Kyle,” the popular reporter said, after he’d fact-checked the answers using the calculator app on his cell phone. “How do you do it?”
Overwhelmed by the lights, cameras and extra attention, Kyle shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“If adding by longhand, most of us do it this way.” The reporter walked over to the board, wrote 250 + 250 on it and then tabulated the way the average person did, by carrying the one from the second column’s five plus five to show that two plus two plus one equals five, for the sum of 500. “But you don’t do it that way, Kyle. You write the answer from left to write. How do you figure it out so fast?”
“I...” He fidgeted, looked at Aliyah.
“Don’t be nervous, son. Just explain as best you can.”
“I just see the numbers and I know the combinations, the answers. So I just add the first number to the number on this side—” he pointed to the left “—and then I write it down.”
The reporter looked into the eye of the camera. “Did you get that, folks? Yeah, right. I didn’t, either. And that’s what makes this kid so special. We’re going to keep our eye on you, Kyle. You’re going places. And if you’re going places, you’ll want to stay tuned for the traffic report, after this.”
After taking pictures with Kyle and the production team, the reporter approached Aliyah. “I must tell you, ma’am. I didn’t believe that video for one minute. But your son proved me wrong. I really meant what I said to the viewers. You have a very special kid there.”
“Thank you. I think so, too.”
He pulled a card from his side pocket and handed it to her. “If I can be of any assistance in helping his star rise... I will definitely do my part.”
The segment aired locally, on the MBC evening news. The next day, it was repeated on the network’s national morning news show, This Morning. After that, it seemed that everyone Aliyah encountered, from the campus to the medical center to the grocery store, knew about Kyle. His peers at the community center thought he was a celebrity since he’d been on TV. Aliyah worried that all the attention might be too much for him to deal with. Goodness knew that with her already busy schedule, the increased phone calls she’d received had been a bit daunting. But so far, Kyle pretty much remained the kid he’d always been. Aside from the increased exposure, the TV interview had reminded Aliyah to look into intelligence testing for Kyle. He was in kindergarten now but who knew? Perhaps her son belonged in first grade. It was time to speak with a counselor who could help her chart his educational path and lay a foundation that guaranteed success.
On Saturday morning, mother and son did the usual—headed out for pancakes, Kyle’s favorite. They entered the restaurant and were assailed.
“There he is!” The young woman who had frequently waited on them was beaming. “I saw your video, Kyle. Didn’t know you were so smart!”
“What do you say, Kyle?”
“Thank you.”
The other server joined them. “Well, look at this. We have someone famous joining us today!”
Various employees came over to speak with Kyle, even the cook and sev
eral customers came over. When their orders were taken, the server informed them it was on the house.
“Remember this lesson,” Aliyah told Kyle when everyone left their table. “Being smart can take you far in life, and sometimes get you free pancakes!”
They continued to chat during breakfast. Aliyah was continually amazed at Kyle’s view on various situations and circumstances he observed. He was able to articulate his position and even debate certain points. Her little boy was becoming a little man. She really enjoyed their conversation.
“Are you ready, Kyle?”
“Yes.”
“What should we do next? A movie, or maybe a bookstore at the mall?”
“The bookstore!”
“Okay.” Her phone rang. “Let me get this first. Hello?”
A brief pause and then... “Hello, Aliyah.”
Hearing his voice made her stomach drop.
“Aliyah? Can you hear me? This is Ernest.”
She took a quick sip of water, and prayed the egg white frittata she’d eaten didn’t make a reappearance. “Hello.”
“I’m sure you’re surprised to hear from me. It has been some time since we’ve spoken.”
“Yes.” A simple answer, but while absorbing a spontaneous combustion of shock, awe and anger, it was the best she could do.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“And school?”
“Good.”
“Excellent. What do you have, two or three years left before you’re Dr. Robinson?”
Seriously? The father of my child, whom I’ve not spoken to in almost three years is going to call out of the blue and expect me to happily join him in a casual chitchat?
“Why are you calling?”
“Mommy, let’s go.”
“One moment, son, okay?” She returned her attention to the phone call. “I’m in the middle of a few things. Is there a quick question or reason for your call?”
“Was that Kyle I heard? Is he there?”
Where else would he be? The moon? “Of course.”
“He is the reason I’m calling, Aliyah. While I’ve supported him financially, I’ve come to the realization that money alone is not enough. He needs me. It is time for me to correct an error and reconnect with my son.”
Chapter 16
“The mall is the other way, Mommy.”
“I know, Kyle. Mommy has to go home and take care of something. I’m going to pick up Conner so the two of you can play together. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Aliyah breathed a sigh of relief that the news about Conner satisfied Kyle’s curiosity and shut down any more questions. She was still reeling from Ernest’s unexpected phone call. The effort it had taken to remain calm had brought on a headache. She wouldn’t be surprised if her blood pressure was sky-high. Feeling herself about to explode was why she’d ended the call and called Lauren, and was now making a beeline to her house. Five years later, and he wants to be a daddy? He’d had a realization? He qualified the monthly checks he’d send as support? Compared to the worth of both him and his family, what he’d sent Kyle over the years was a crime.
She needed to call back Ernest and get answers. Find out why all of a sudden he’d discovered a parental gene. But the conversation had to be private, without Kyle. And it would have to happen after she calmed down.
After getting the boys settled in front of a video game with snacks at the ready, Aliyah went into her bedroom and closed the door. “Breathe, Aliyah.” She sat on the bench at the end of her bed, closed her eyes and worked to slow her heartbeat. Had she been able to sit still long enough, that might have happened. But she couldn’t. Too much anger-fueled energy and boiling blood. She paced the length of the room, cursing out Ernest in her head, appalled at his nerve. She jumped when her phone rang, not yet ready to speak with Ernest, but determined to try anyway. She needed answers.
Good thing for her it wasn’t him.
“Terrell. It’s you.”
“Who were you expecting? You almost sound relieved.”
“I am. I thought it was Ernest, calling me back.”
“Kyle’s father?”
“Yes. After almost five years, he called and started chatting as though it was a perfectly normal thing to do.” The memory alone made her livid. The pacing began again. “And then almost as casually informs me that through some recent revelation he now has clarity that his son needs him, go figure, and that it’s time they connect.”
“What did you say?”
“Fortunately, not what I was thinking. Kyle and I were having breakfast. I told him I’d call him. But I need a minute to get over the shock of hearing from him, and the anger at the presumptive, entitled attitude I heard when he talked about Kyle.” She stopped pacing and took a breath. “Why is he calling? That, I did have time to ask. His answer? For my son! Really. What could have possibly happened to bring this on? Did he fall down, hit his head and suddenly remember he was a parent?”
“No. He probably saw him on TV, on the national morning show.”
His answer hit her like a cold glass of water in the face. Of course.
“His calling caught me so off guard, I totally spaced. That’s absolutely why he thought of us—the intelligent, charismatic, well-mannered son he’s never met being on national TV. Now the timing of his calling makes sense. He didn’t hit his head. He watched the morning news. So was the call about Kyle, or about the positive notoriety that is swirling around him right now? Is it because his son is being called a genius that he suddenly wants to claim parentage?”
“There’s only one way to find out, Aliyah. You need to call him back, not to argue but to have a conversation and get an answer to all of these questions. You need to know what’s on his mind.”
The thought that some selfish motive and not love was what might have driven her ex to reconnect was too gut-wrenching to contemplate. It zapped her energy. She plopped down on the bed.
“I don’t know if I can even deal with this right now.”
“Do you think putting it off will make it any easier?”
“Not really.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t. Who knows, it may not go as badly as you imagine.” Aaliyah didn’t know, and didn’t answer. “Would you like me to come over for support?”
“No. But you’re right. The sooner I have the conversation, the more information I’ll have to make decisions. Your calling me was perfect timing. It helped to talk it out. Thank you.”
“No worries. I’ve got your back. Call and let me know happened.”
“I will.” She ended the call, went out for a glass of water and to check on the boys. When she returned to the room there was no hesitation. She opened the incoming-call screen and tapped the number.
“This is Ernest.”
“Ernest, it’s Aliyah.”
“Hello, Aliyah. I’m sorry to have caught you at a bad time earlier. Is everything all right?”
“Hmm...not exactly, to be honest.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You have no idea?”
“I’d rather not speculate, Aliyah, when you can just tell me.”
“Okay.” Breathe, Aliyah. Discuss, don’t argue. “Your calling out of the blue is shocking to say the least, and your reason even more so. You say it is to reconnect with Kyle. For that to happen, you would have had to be connected with him in the first place. That is not the case. In fact, I can’t think of anyone who tried harder to be disconnected from a child. First, through denial and then, through dismissal.”
“Aliyah, it sounds as though you are still smarting over our breakup, perhaps even still wishing for something that can never be.”
It was her first real laugh of the morning. After catching her bre
ath, she adopted his proper tone. “Please rid yourself of such fantastical notions. The woman who believed herself in love with you has grown up and moved on. Kyle is who you denied, and after paternity was proven, still chose to dismiss from your life.”
“It was not my choice, Aliyah. There were many factors involved in the decision. It wasn’t a black-and-white issue.”
“You’re right. It was simply a black issue. A little black boy named Kyle issue, more specifically. That was the only factor to have been considered because it was the only one that mattered. Oh, wait, it was the only one that mattered to me. For you, money was clearly an equal consideration. That, and control. How do I know? Because what you spent on that cutthroat attorney could probably have paid for Kyle’s college education. So please understand these issues, not wishful thinking, are why I may come off sounding a little perturbed.”
“There’s no doubt I’ve made mistakes in the past, but why are we rehashing that? I’m here now, and would like to move forward. I understand you’ve relocated to the west coast. That makes regular visitation more challenging—”
“Visitation? Did you mean to say introduction, because that’s the first thing that usually happens with someone you’ve never met.”
“You are right, Aliyah. And your anger is justified. I, too, have grown older and wiser, and in the process now acknowledge that regarding several matters better decisions could have been made. We can’t go back into the past, so I’ve contacted you to fix the present. I want to get to know my son, Kyle. And as much as you may hate me, Kyle has a right to know his father.”
She took a deep breath, and clenched her hands into fists to stop them from shaking. Belatedly, she realized that while water was good, a glass of wine may have been better.
“I’d like to ask you a question.”
“Sure.”
“After all these years, what made you call now?”
“It wasn’t one single thing, Aliyah, but several.”
“Such as?”
“Getting older, maturing, getting married.”
“Right. You brought home someone your family found worthy.”