by Jesse Reiss
Chapter 22
Angelina found out Sam had eaten only sugar and cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast and was hungry. They went to the kitchen together and she got him to agree to eat some scrambled eggs, which she made for him. He ate it glumly and they sauntered back to his schoolroom where he was to study geography.
He slouched before his computer, going through the motions slowly and effortlessly, like a marionette being controlled by strings. The computer was telling him the names of European countries, their landmasses and capital cities. He paused it. “Why would I learn geography if I can’t even see it?”
“Because even though we live in America and can’t actually see the other countries, what goes on in those other countries affects our lives.”
“But I can’t even see what the other countries look like.”
“But you can hear them and you can understand their differences and possibly you might one day have to make decisions that will affect them.”
“That’ll never happen. I can’t make any decisions for myself.”
“Okay Sam, that’s enough of the ‘I’m a victim game’. Let’s concentrate on what decisions you can make and one is to learn geography.”
He pouted further and let out a loud huff.
“Start!”
He turned back in his chair to the computer and reluctantly continued the lesson.
A moment later there was a knock on the door and Lucy entered. “Hi Sam. Hi Angie. It’s great of you to come today.” She had long blonde hair and a permanent smile attached to her bronze face that came with the glamorous look and showbiz career. Angelina had observed subtle changes in her over her time with the Currys as she seemed to look younger each year. Her chest had been enhanced and she had several minor procedures done to adjust various perceived imperfections in her body’s various curves and lines. Angelina thought these adjustments detracted from her natural beauty. The result was clearly a body that was a work of art — someone else’s artwork and no longer nature’s. To Lucy, human bodies were like a car — anything in it can be rebuilt and refurbished — you only had to know the right mechanics and dealers to do the job. Angelina had even heard her use this very analogy. She objected to this corporeal fixation and especially when it seemed to be directed at Sam.
She walked over to where they were sitting and looked over their shoulder, smiling. Sam didn’t turn, clearly upset with something to do with her. “Angie, can I see you for a little bit? Is that okay with you Sam if she comes with me?” The question was said in such a way that he knew he didn’t have an option. He nodded without turning around. Angelina followed her out the door and down the hall.
“There are some gentlemen here that would like to talk to you and get some information from you as you have been working with Sam for so long now.” Angelina rolled her eyes, objecting to her relation with Sam being referred to like he was an experiment or her patient.
Lucy led her into the conference room where she was faced with the two older men who she had seen there a couple hours earlier talking to Lucy. The older one was introduced as Dr. Zinnovy and the middle aged one as his assistant, Dr. LeBarge. They rose from their seats and shook her hand. Lucy left them with her trademark smile, lightly patting Angelina on the shoulder and closing the door behind her.
“Please have a seat,” Dr. LeBarge said and motioned for her to sit down at the head of the conference table. She did and they sat on one side, their attention entirely on her.
Angelina was nervous in the presence of these two strangers. They looked at her like a scientist would look at a specimen, eyeing her up and down from under their spectacles. She noticed Dr. Zinnovy concentrating his gaze on her chest for a beat longer than he needed to, which sent alarms ringing in the back of her mind.
“Angelina,” LeBarge went on, “Doctor Zinnovy here is a world renowned psychiatrist with more than forty years of practice in the most advanced medical centers in the world, having treated thousands of patients and developed many treatment methods. He is highly respected in his field. You would be hard-pressed to find a more competent and professional doctor.”
LeBarge smiled and turned his gaze to Dr. Zinnovy to begin talking, but he hadn’t been paying attention to the introduction. His attention was fixed on Angelina’s legs through the glass tabletop. She noticed this too and shifted them nervously so they were underneath her chair seat. He looked up at her and smiled pleasantly.
Dr. Zinnovy spoke with a high voice, “Miss Russell, I have taken an interest in Sam’s case as I have experience in dealing with childhood psychiatric disorders. From tests which we have conducted on Sam in the past week and from his extensive medical records we have reviewed, it is evident that Sam’s problem lies not in an ophthalmological defect, but deeper — in the recesses of his brain.”
Angelina raised her eyebrows in disbelief and swallowed.
“We are the last port of call Sam really has, as from all evidence, everything else has been tried and failed.”
“Okay. What do you want to do with him? Why are you talking to me?” she asked nervously.
“Well, first of all we need to address several complex issues with Sam and as someone who has been closely allied with him, we would like to get some information from you regarding him.”
“I don’t understand what these complex issues are. He is blind and that’s all. Otherwise he is a perfectly normal healthy boy.”
“To you maybe, but quite to the contrary Miss Russell. Sam is heavily depressed and shows tendencies to psychotic behavior that will need to be addressed now before it is too late and they ruin any chance of a successful life. In fact it might be too late already, but we will do all we can to help him.”
“Sam isn’t depressed,” she replied with a hint of mockery.
“Did you not see him this morning?” Zinnovy asked with his hands motioning to the gardens outside. “That is a classic case of clinical depression, let me assure you.”
“Sam is happy when he isn’t being poked and prodded and made to feel guilty because he can’t see and made to feel like he is some abnormal child, which he isn’t. That is the only time he gets upset like this.”
“This behavior isn’t normal and not conducive to a healthy life, I assure you. But we needn’t go into that because clearly it is something you don’t understand. These things are complex and aren’t something you ignore.”
“So what do you want from me?” Angelina asked, a little annoyed at being told her friend was mentally unstable.
“Well, first of all young lady, you need to be a little more cooperative. I’m afraid your attitude doesn’t help things.”
She nodded, seeing this was true. “Fine. I’m not trying to be stubborn. I just want what is best for Sam, that’s all.”
“And so do we all. And we hope we can help him and that is if it isn’t too late. So let’s start by going over a few questions, shall we?”
“Sure.”
“Good.” Doctor LeBarge began furiously taking notes on a lined pad. “First, how long have you known Sam?”
“About six years now.”
“And how often are you here spending time with him?”
“On and off, about twice a month and more often in the summer and winter breaks when I’m not in school. In some summers I’m here every other weekday it seems.”
“So you have developed a close relationship with the boy?”
“He considers me his best friend, so I’d say so.”
“That’s what we were told. And how close is this friendship?”
“Well…” Angelina wasn’t sure how to define a friendship’s closeness without sounding awkward. She shrugged and rolled her eyes, “Quite close I guess. I mean, we can talk about personal things together and he likes to play games with me and tell me his secrets and stuff. He’s like a little brother that I never had.”
“And what sort of secrets are these?”
“Well, if I told you they wouldn’t be secrets anymore would they?” S
he smiled, pleased with her wisecrack.
They looked at her, unamused. Dr. LeBarge spoke, “We are doctors, Angelina. Hiding things from us isn’t going to help things.”
“It’s nothing serious — more like little boy’s things that he takes to be important, like the time he used his special computer to get onto an on-line chat site and pretended he was looking for a date. I had his Nanny change his computer access after that.”
“I see,” said Dr. Zinnovy, as if this was an important revelation. “Does your relationship with him involve any physical activity?”
“We like to do pillow fights and play around in the pool, if that’s what you mean.”
“Yes, but any sexual activity?”
Angelina blushed and looked surprised. “I don’t understand. Are you asking me if Sam and I are having sex?”
“Or are you letting him fondle you or vice versa?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Uh…no! He’s ten years old. That’s gross.”
“It wouldn’t be surprising, let me assure you. So you are his best friend but never have you had sex or discussed sexual things with Sam?”
“I haven’t and I don’t see what this has to do with his eyesight.”
“It has everything to do with his eyesight Miss Russell. Can’t see the boy is emotionally attracted to you and from what I hear in talking to the other household staff and his parents, he is more attracted to you than his own mother. He has lost his mother’s bond, which is essential for a young boy in growing up.”
Angelina was torn between disgust, embarrassment and grief. “Sam is too young to be emotionally attracted to girls. Especially one’s he can’t even see! How is this in any way related to his eyesight? I don’t get it!”
“You have no training or experience to be making any decisions like this. Childhood sexual obsessions can develop as young as two years old. Now, I noticed you are avoiding my question young lady. Are you and Sam discussing sexual matters and have you involved in sexual activities with Sam?”
Angelina started to tear up. “I don’t understand this at all.”
LeBarge pulled out a tissue in sympathy and handed it to her. She took it and tossed it onto the table.
“Now I know these things are hard to talk about, but in the interest of helping Sam, it is important that we do so and get everything out in the open.”
Angelina wiped the tears from her red eyes and looked at Doctor Zinnovy. He had a smirk on his face, seeming to enjoy the effect he was creating on her.
“I…I haven’t engaged in any sexual activities with Sam…or anyone for that matter. I have made out with some boyfriends and that’s all. And I don’t like your questioning.”
This seemed to disappoint Zinnovy, who was hoping to hear some lurid details of her exploits with the young boy. “And you haven’t discussed the subject at all?”
“He wants to marry someone pretty, like his mom, when he grows up and wants me to help him find someone pretty as he obviously can’t know if the girl is going to be pretty or not.”
“Interesting. So the boy is obsessed with pretty females?”
“Obsessed? I wouldn’t say ‘obsessed’. He gets reminded all the time about how pretty his mother is and how handsome his father is and how he looks like them and logically he wants to marry someone pretty as well.”
“Right, but don’t you think that is a young age to be worrying about marriage?”
“Well, as you said yourself the interest begins at a young age, so having now learned that, no I’m not surprised. I know other girls and boys at his age who are playfully mocking up their future marriages.”
“And you haven’t engaged in any mischievous activity with Sam in a sexual way?”
“No, I have not.”
“Have you known him to be involved in phone sex or have you talked dirty to him on the phone?”
“Absolutely not!”
“I find this hard to believe young lady.”
“You can continue to call me Miss Russell,” she said as tears continued to flow, now creating wet splotches on her T-shirt.
He was taken back a bit by her assertiveness. “Very well Miss Russell. Let’s be a bit more specific. Have you kissed Sam?”
“Sure, plenty of times. But it isn’t sexual.”
“Have you French kissed him?”
“No!”
“Have you allowed him to feel your breasts?”
She was thrown by this question. Did he know something about her already? She couldn’t be caught in a lie, she decided. “I haven’t allowed him to, but he’s grabbed them before, like playfully. Like when I first arrive and he wants to verify it is me.”
“And you let him do this?”
“No. He does it by surprise and I tell him not to.”
“And he continues to do it?”
“Not then, but maybe again later.”
“Do you get aroused by this activity Miss Russell?”
By the glazed look in his eyes and slightly askew head, she could see Zinnovy was enjoying asking her about this.
“No!”
“When you are swimming with him, have you allowed him to feel over or under your bathing suit?”
“No!”
“I find your responses hard to believe Miss Russell and I don’t think you are being truthful with us here. This isn’t for your benefit, but for Sam’s. Clearly the boy has some sexual attraction to you and you have been playing along with it.”
“Sam has been blind since birth!” She was shouting at them. “What could our relationship have anything to do with that?”
“I don’t expect you to figure that out. We are the experts here and we will be the ones relied upon. You meanwhile will cooperate in answering our questions and answering them straight. Please!”
LeBarge was looking nervous, shifting in his chair, glancing from one to the other. Angelina wiped her face again and looked off at the other side of the room. She could no longer stand the way the man stared at her.
Zinnovy shifted in his chair, adjusting his suit collar and cuffs. “Miss Russell?”
Angelina stared off, not looking at him.
“Miss Russell, I’d like to move on now to some other questions we have for you.” Though her eyes continued to tear, they didn’t move from the spot on the wall upon which they were focused. He leaned forward, shifting his head, trying to catch her line of vision. “Miss Russell, have you yourself been diagnosed for depression? Are you on medications right now?”
Angelina slowly turned her head to face him and glowered. “I met a sick and perverted man a couple days ago who wanted to kidnap me. I found him more likable than you.” With that she rose from her seat and headed for the door, tears streaming from her eyes.
She slammed the door behind her and stormed down the hallway, sobbing. Lucy heard her from down the hall in her office and called out her name. Angelina ignored her, pushing through the double doors and out into the gardens.
Thane was sitting on a deckchair by the pool with his trainer, enjoying a sports drink with a white towel around his neck. Angelina stormed passed them, her sobs filling the air.
Thane spun in his chair. “Huh? Angie, what’s up?”
Lucy came to the doorway a moment later, her hands on her hips, like a mother looking to spank a child. “Angelina! Come back here!”
Thane stood up and raised his hand. “Honey, let me handle this.” He grabbed his drink and followed after Angelina across the lawn. Lucy shook her head and threw her arms up in the air.
Angelina planted herself on the same bench she had found Sam that morning and covered her face in her hands and cried.
A minute later she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. It was Thane, trying to comfort her. He put a napkin in her hand, which she accepted. “What the hell is this all about? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry.”
She wiped her face and blew her nose, forcing herself to stop crying. “Those disgusting men in there are asking me question
s like am I having sex with Sam?”
“What? Are you sure?” he asked disbelieving.
“They seem to think this is why he can’t see.”
“Nonsense. You didn’t tell them you were did you?”
“No! Of course not! I’m not having sex with anybody!”
Thane grimaced in surprise. He seemed to recall having sex with many girls when he was around her age. “Well, that’s good to know. I mean, I never thought you were you know. You are Sam’s best friend and we appreciate all you do for him.”
Angelina turned to him, her face a mess. “Why can’t the boy be left alone? Every time all this ‘we-need-to-solve-why-you-can’t-see’ crap gets shoved down his throat, he gets so upset!”
“I know. It just that Lucy wants her son to be able to live a normal life and be able to appreciate all its joys through the senses, you know. She is determined to do all she can to make it so he can see and I admire that.”
“These people are saying he is depressed and psychotic and gawd knows what they are going to do with him.”
“Well, you let Lucy worry about that. She will do what is best for Sam. I trust her and you should trust her too.”
Angelina nodded her head, though she didn’t believe it for a second.
“Why don’t you go back to helping Sam with his school work and I’ll go tell Lucy you are done talking to these guys, okay?”
She nodded her head, relieved to be out from under the interrogation and went back into the house, visiting one of the many bathrooms that were larger than her entire room at home, where she settled herself and reapplied her make-up. She went back to Sam’s room and rejoined him in learning Europe’s countries.