by Sioux Dallas
The Fullers left thanking everyone for their time and concern.
Mr. Coramex stood at the door. “Thank you for inviting me to hear about the training school. I’m impressed. I’ve heard of service dogs and guide dogs, but I’ve never thought much about them. I’d like to visit again, Mr. Middleton, and learn more about your work.”
“My name is John and you’re welcome to visit at any time.”
“Thank you. My name is Joe, actually Jose. Come on dear,” Mr. Coramex put an arm around his wife and reached a hand to Hillary. He looked at the Jacksons. “It was a pleasure meeting all of you. Thank you.”
“Our pleasure,” Herb smiled and they shook hands.
“I’m intrigued with your dog. I understand that you had a wolf dog at one time. I’d like to hear all about that. Hope shows promise of helping Trina, but Millie is stronger. She could lean on her if necessary. She’s young, but she does show a strong reaction to seizures. She could be a lifesaver.” Hillary hung her head, and, without looking at anyone, ran out to the car.
“What an interesting evening,” Irene said thoughtfully. “Jane Coramex only spoke when I spoke directly to her. Joe is certainly in control in that family. It’s obvious Hillary has been spoiled.”
“Anna will be here in a few days,” Tom reminded them. ‘She has a talent for talking to people who are distressed. Maybe she can get through to Hillary.”
“Gee, family. I’m happy to be home even for a few days. I’ve been homesick, but I’ve never studied so hard in my life. College is sure different, but fun. I love it. My heart still aches when I think of Marshall. Such a sweet, little, loving boy. I’m glad we have Chuckles.”
‘Wait until you meet David,” Tim grinned. “He’s something like Marshall in that he has a lot of guts and so loving and accepting.”
Anna listened carefully when the twins told her of Hillary, Trina and the dogs. “My dear, darling brothers. You shouldn’t be too hard on Hillary. Now be honest. If someone had suggested that you give Galena to them, I know you wouldn’t have been any happier than Hillary is.”
“Yeah, but ---” Tim started
“We would have if she was needed for someone as sick as Trina,” Tom exploded.
“Would you honestly have been willing to loan her to someone else?”
The twins looked solemnly at each other and then at Anna. “Well --- maybe not at first,” Tim spoke softly.
“Promise me you’ll be nice to Hillary and don’t let others be ugly to her. It’s hard enough to be the new kid on the block and make a lot of changes, and then be asked to give up a pet you’ve loved all its life. She hasn’t known any of you long enough to have bonded or developed a loyal friendship. Let her parents handle the situation. Think how you would feel in her place.”
“I guess you’re right,” Tom muttered. Tim nodded
“Now that you’ve settled that, let’s have a family conference,” Herb told them. He and Irene sat on the couch. Anna was in a lounge chair and both boys were on the floor, knees raised and arms clasped around their legs.
“Your mother and I have been discussing David’s situation.”
“David! How so?” Tom was surprised.
“You know that David was in the car when it wrecked and he knows his parents are dead. Thanks to you boys and Chuckles and Hope, he fought through his medical and emotional troubles. You helped pull him out of a depression. The hospital is discharging him tomorrow. Their idea is to send him to a foster home where he doesn’t know anyone and he’ll have another shock in his little life. Too, there may not be anyone willing to adopt him which would mean he’d be in there for at least another twelve years.”
“Dad, are you taking a round about way of telling us that David can come live with us?” Tim was hopeful.
“Give that boy a blue ribbon,” Herb teased. “Yes, we’ve talked it over and talked to the proper authorities. We thought that since he knows you and the dogs, and is comfortable with you, he might adjust better if he lived here for a while.”
“But, Dad,” Anna said with a serious expression. “Won’t it be just as hard on him when he has to leave us to go live with strangers? He’ll be adjusted to living here and it’ll seem to him as if we don’t want him or care about him when he’s handed off.” Anna was almost out of breath in her concern.
Irene smiled and reached to take Herb’s hand. “We’re wondering how you’d feel about us adopting him. It will take time. We’ll have to be investigated and ---”
“Investigated? Us? But everybody knows we’re a good family. We’d love him and be good for him.” Tim argued.
“It’s the law, Tim,” Tom explained with a look of disgust. “Any ole body can have a child, sometimes one they don’t even want, and be abusive. But when someone, out of the love and goodness of their heart, wants to give a good, loving home to a child, they’re investigated and watched and have to prove themselves to jillions of people and __”
“Wind down, Tom. One thing at a time. Do you object to David living with us? He’s six and we’ll need to handle him lovingly but firmly. If we let him go, he might be sent from foster home to foster home until he’s eighteen. Then he’d be turned loose on his own to get along the best he can.”
“No. Never that,” Tom was emphatic. “We grew up with you and look how we turned out.”
Anna burst out laughing. “That might not be much of an endorsement,” she teased. She turned with a graceful swing. “Go for it, parents.”
“Holy cow. A little brother. Not one who torments me and makes life embarrassing,” Tim said softly.
“Yeah a little brother which means you’ll have to clean up your act and not set a bad example for the little guy.” The twins started wrestling on the floor while Hope and Chuckles gleefully joined in.
Irene then told them the rest of the news. “We’ve talked to hospital administration and county social workers. I’ll call tomorrow early and tell them we’ll pick David up when they’re ready to release him. Dad and I are proud of you three, but we didn’t expect anything different. We were sure you’d be willing to take David into your hearts. We’ll make him feel as if he’s truly one of the family.”
The twins stood, high-fived and hugged Anna. “Group hug,” Herb laughed and stood up. “Then everyone to bed.”
Anna and the twins stayed at home while their parents went to get David. They ran out to meet the car as Herb drove in. Chuckles and Hope ran with them feeling the rejoicing. When David stumbled out of the car, Chuckles gave a joyous bark and ran to him.
“Oh, boy. Am I really going to live here? Is Chuckles going to be my dog?” He turned a happy, smiling face to the twins. “Are you really going to be my big brothers?” He jumped up to climb up Tim and reached to Tom so that he was hanging between the twins. They hugged David.
“You sure are going to live here and yes, Chuckles will be your dog. Hope lives here, too. But we have to let them make other people happy when they’re needed. But they’ll never be taken away from you for good.”
Tim turned holding David in his arms. “There’s one more even better surprise. This is your new big sister, and she’s the best sister in the world. David, meet your sister, Anna.”
David sobbed with joy. Anna reached and took them. “I’m the lucky one. I’ve had these two great brothers and now I have a great little brother. Welcome home, David. Why are you crying?” Anna’s tender heart melted.
“My mommy and daddy are dead and there’s no one else. I was afraid nobody wanted me and I’d not have a family again.” Hope looked on with sympathy. Anna turned and ran into the house making David laugh.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“What’er you doing?” David was puzzled as they sat down at the dinner table. “We’re asking a blessing before we eat. We need to thank God for being so good to us and giving us a new son,” Irene explained.
“I’m really your son,” David said in awe.
“You sure are, son,” Herb rubbed noses with David.
“Don’t forget to thank God for Chuckles, David bounced in his seat as he looked at the dog at his feet. The then turned puzzled. “Who’s God?”
There was momentary silence and then Tom spoke. “Tim and I will tell you all about it later.”
During the school break, Anna drove the twins and David to Canine Wonders so they could visit and show off their new brother. David was thrilled with all the dogs and the loving attention he received from the staff.
The night before Anna was to return to college, the phone rang as they finished dinner. Tom answered and turned to face his family with a big grin on his face. “Yes! Great! We’ll see you tomorrow.” He hung up with a satisfied expression.
“Apparently it’s good news,” Irene remarked.
“Quit grinning like a monkey and tell us, Tim urged.
“Yeah monkey, tell us,” David stood up in his chair he was so excited. Anna reached and got him to sit down.
“You were right, Anna. Things did work out. That was Trina,” he hesitated.
“Talk,” Tim jumped up and pretended to choke Tom.
“Hillary has agreed to allow her dog to be trained.” Everyone cheered and stood to hug each other.
“Me, too,” David insisted. They had to explain what a high-five was.
“I want to go back to college, but right now I want to stay and be a part of whatever works out. I won’t get to see Trina and meet Hillary and Millie until school is out for the summer. I had thought of continuing summer classes, but now I’m not so sure. Maybe I’ll come home and work at Canine Wonders,” Anna seemed to be thinking out loud.
“I just got you and now I’m losing you,” David pouted.
Anna reached to hug him. “You haven’t lost me. I’ll write to you and call and I’ll be home before you can miss me. I bet dad and mom will bring you to college to see where I live.”
“Will you?” David danced around anxiously.
“I guess that can be arranged,” Herb smiled as David climbed on his lap.
“Hooray!” David cheered.
“I think we should visit Hillary and tell her how proud we are of her,” Tim suggested.
“Let’s do that and then go by to see Alex. I know how I’d feel if I was in a wheelchair and my life had changed so radically even if he did bring it on himself,” Tim mused. “We’ll do that tomorrow early.”
“Mom, may we take David with us to visit some friends? We want to show him off.” Tom grabbed a couple of cookies hot from the oven, and put his arm around his mother.
“If he wants to go. Please, please keep a close eye on him and bring him home before he gets too tired. Remember, he’s still recuperating.”
“David, would you like to go with us and visit some friends of ours?”
Tom called to him. David ran into the kitchen.
“Yeah!” he shrieked. “I’d like to go with the big boys.”
“Ho, David. We aren’t deaf, but we soon will be at this rate,” Tom laughed.
“Big boys,” Irene laughed. “That’s debatable.”
“What does batable mean?” David frowned.
“The word’s debatable,” Tim answered, “and it means you when you ask too many questions.”
“No it doesn’t, David,” Tom knelt by him. “It means a lot of questions should be asked to prove something is true.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind, squirt. Get your coat and let’s go. Put your cap on, too. It’s windy and cool. Mom, keep the dogs in, please.”
The twins walked with David between them, taking his hands and lifting him off the ground. “Run, Tim. We have to get away from this monster.” They ran laughing and swinging David between them.
“Tom, you silly goose. How can we run from the monster when he’s right here between us?”
“No! I’m not no monster,” David protested.
“I’m not a monster,” Tom corrected him.
“He didn’t say you were a monster. He said me.”
“Oh, ho. Who does that remind you of?” Tim smiled sadly.
Alex was glad to see them. “Let’s go into the den and play with my new video games. Hey, little guy. Do you want to ride on my horse?” Alex patted his lap offering David to sit and ride in the wheelchair. David immediately liked Alex.
“Alex, who’s the woman who answered the door and let us in?” Tom asked.
“She’s one of the nurses my parents hired to stay with me. They still go their own way and leave me as they’ve always done.” Alex looked depressed and the twins felt sorry for him.
“Boys, you’d better be glad my mother is not home. She still blames everybody else but me for the accident. She said you told her you’re my friends, but didn’t do anything to stop me from driving. She’ll probably never admit that I was neglected and bored. Oh, well. There’s no need to go down that old road.”
They played a few games with Alex and then excused themselves to visit with Hillary and get David home.
“Thank you for letting me ride your horse,” David hugged Alex. “I’m glad I know you now, too.”
“Any time, sport. You’re a great guy and I know Tom and Tim feel lucky to have such a great brother. Come see me again.” Alex followed them to the door. “Come back soon, guys. I have a tutor who comes in to help me keep up with my studies, but believe it or not, I miss being at school with all of you. I wish I’d never gotten mixed up with that other crowd. Never again. I only hope others can learn from my mistake.”
“We’re sorry, too, but that’s all in the past. Let’s hope we all learn from our mistakes and go forward,” Speaking firmly Tim raised his closed fist. “We’ll see you, pal. When you feel adventurous make sure we’re home and roll up the streets for a visit.”
Hillary was at Trina’s house. Tim looked thoughtful as Tom was telling the girls about the visit to Alex. “I have an idea. Let’s talk to John before we mention it to Alex, but let’s see if Alex is eligible for a service dog. You know to pick up dropped items, go with him, carry things and mostly be a companion.”
“I want so much to learn all I can about these service dogs,” Hillary said. She looked sheepish. “I’m truly sorry that I acted like such a jerk before.”
“We understand,” Tim comforted her. ‘We’ll have to tell you about Galena and Greatheart when we can show you pictures at the same time. We know you were just being human. Forget it. You’re headed in the right direction now.”
“Come see my dog. His name’s Chuckles,” David shouted.
“Oooo little brother. My ears will be so happy when you learn to talk a little more quietly,” Tom ruffled David’s hair. “Where’s your cap? Let’s go see if Chuckles and Hope have missed us.” He looked at Tim. “I wonder if I was ever like that.”
Tim burst out laughing. “Oh, how soon they forget. Tom, you gave our parents more grey hairs than they would have had and, yes, you used to holler when you talked. I remember because I was so good and quiet and shy,” Tim grinned.
Tom hooked an arm around Tim’s neck. “Oh, yes, you were so good.”
“See I knew you’d remember,” Tim laughed.
David’s lower lip pouted and his voice trembled. “Don’t hurt Tim.”
“We’re playing. He’s not hurting me,” Tim explained.
“Well, it looked like you’s a hurting.” He looked perplexed when everyone laughed at his vocabulary.
“That’s part of pretending to make a lot of noise and sound like the real thing.” Tom grabbed David and swung him up. “Wanna pony ride?” He slipped David on to his back and put an arm under David’s bottom to hold him up. Pretending to gallop out the door, Tom had David laughing.
Hillary went to Canine Wonders the next three times the group went. One day, as they were preparing to leave, Hillary walked to John. “Would you please tell me more about how I can be a puppy raiser?” She listened intently, asking intelligent questions. “Do you think I can take a puppy home with me?” She asked timidly.
“L
et me talk to your parents and we’ll get the ball rolling if they approve.” John patted her shoulder
“Could we bring a puppy home, too?” Tom asked eagerly as he overheard Hillary’s request. “John, you know how well we have trained dogs and how good we are to them.”
John laughed. “I’m not sure your house can take another dog. We’ll see.”
Chapter Forty
That night the Jacksons were watching a special on opportunities for people with special needs. They were delighted to learn that miniature horses were doing so well as guide animals. The tiny, white shoes on them were delightful. The announcer told that the shoes were to protect the tiny hooves from hot pavement, broken glass and anything that would harm them. The horses were favored because the dogs were usually good for only eight years whereas a horse lived to be at least forty years and some of them for fifty years. These little cuties could be housebroken. They would crawl up on a couch beside people and would even sit in laps. The twins became very excited.
“Dad! Dad! May we go to Fredericksburg to see these miniature horses and learn how they’re used by blind people?”
“Calmer and quieter, please. I’d like to see them and learn more also. I’ll need to check and find an address and a phone number. Too, it all depends on my work schedule. The owners would appreciate a call asking permission to visit. I’m not sure they want the public trooping in on them.”
“Why wouldn’t they want the public? They’re doing a good service and I bet they accept donations.” Tom was as excited as he had been as a younger child. Tim was on the floor with David and looked eager, also.
“Leave it for now,” Irene cautioned. “Dad promised he’d look into it and we’ll all go as soon as it can be planned.”
“Oh, you precious little darling, Hillary gushed as she hugged a wiggly Golden Retriever puppy. “I’m sure going to enjoy working with you. I’m going to call the gang and invite them to visit.”
“Isn’t she sweet?” Trina laughed as she got a doggie kiss on her nose.
“You beautiful girl,” Tom admired her.