Like before, her cuddling was the last thing on his mind when he went to sleep. And the next morning he awoke in his own bed back home, still dreaming of her.
A package of faduki cookies rested on one side of him. And MeToo curled against him on the other.
Chapter 12—
THE DISTURBING VISIT TO ELKHORN
On the eagerly awaited day, Jeep and Chris drove nearly five miles into the countryside, before they arrived at the hospital. Jeep was too excited to sleep the night before. The closer they came, the happier Jeep got—and the sadder Chris got.
“Chris, there’s so much to tell her. So much catching up to do. Have you been telling Mom about me?”
“Jeep, don’t expect too much. She’s not the way you remember.”
“I know. But she’s still my mom. Nothing can change that.”
“For the tenth time, we aren’t going to a hospital, but to a mental institution.”
Jeep didn’t understand the difference, but it would become clear soon enough. I only care that I’m about to see her, to hug and kiss her. This nightmare will be over.
Chris turned off the main road. Elkhorn Institute’s sign was painted in brown letters on a sky-blue background. All Jeep could see beyond it was the tall fence that cut the facility off from the rest of the world. A guard at the gate stopped them. Chris answered his questions before the guard opened the gate to let their car in.
Once inside the tall fence, a wall of evergreens was planted so close together they blocked Jeep’s view until the car almost reached the main building. Jeep’s first sight of Elkhorn gave him the willies. It was large, dark, and uninviting—like a military fortress. The doors and windows had bars on them. He couldn’t find a single note of cheeriness in the entire scene.
From the moment he stepped out of the car, Jeep felt chilled. The person who signed them in at the entrance acted more like a guard than a medical assistant.
“It feels cold here—almost like a jail,” he whispered to Chris. “Maybe it’s yucky so people hurry to get well so they can go home.” His words seemed hollow. Idle talk couldn’t cut through the depressing mood of the place.
Once they signed in, Chris held back. “I’ll wait here. Jeep, you have to do this yourself. Take all the time you need.”
“You sure? I thought you were going to come.” Chris shook a decisive no.
Jeep followed an orderly through the long corridors. Along the way, they passed shuffling people with far-away expressions, obviously patients, and others wearing medical garb going about their responsibilities. Nobody smiled or seemed to notice their passing by.
At Helen Parker’s room the orderly held the door open for him and left. The room seemed as dreary as everything else he’d seen so far. Helen’s home had always been decorated with cheerful pictures and needlework. This room lacked any of her personal touches, except for a bulletin board that showed recent pictures of him and Chris.
Jeep saw a woman slumped sideways in a padded armed chair. She appeared to be much smaller than he remembered his mom being, like she’d shrunk. The faded hospital gown hung so loosely it exaggerated her skinniness. Her face lacked expression of any kind.
He called out, “Mom, mom... it’s me, Jeep.”
No reaction. No recognition.
He walked over to her. “Mom!” he almost yelled—as if that would make her pay attention. Her eyes were open without focus, without showing any interest in his being there.
In an instant the truth hit him with devastating force. Ohmygosh, that woman resembles mom, but doesn’t have her personality. I’ve pictured this moment so often, but not like this.
To say that Jeep was disappointed wasn’t even close. He was dejected, despondent, devastated, and miserable, not to mention broken hearted. His eyes stung with unshed tears, and his shoulders sagged in defeat.
No! This can’t be happening! Nothing I’ve waited for is going to happen. I have to go, to get out of here.
Yet he also wanted to tell her, “I still love you and think about you every day.” What can I say to this woman so far-away? I can’t find the right words—any words. Maybe binkles¼ but how?
Jeep pulled a chair up close to hers so he could sit facing her. It has to be enough for me to touch your hand, even if you can’t tell. He clung to the simple, trusting love he felt, and ached for it to reach her. Not knowing anything else to do, he just sat beside her, loving the woman who didn’t know he was there.
Jeep held both her hands with both of his. Hers were warm but limp. Around her slender wrist was fastened a bracelet that hospitals use to identify patients. It said, HELEN THOMPSON. Jeep idly rubbed his finger along the letters.
“Yup, it’s Mom. It says so right here,” he muttered. It’s odd that something as small as an ID bracelet hangs so heavily from your bony wrist. Jeep lightly stroked her delicate, unmoving hands, taking what comfort he could from touching her. He lost track of time, as he sat as quietly as she did.
After a while he started to talk. Not like he expected her to listen or react. Just because it was familiar to talk to her like he used to. He spoke in a rambling way of a time they went camping together. Not like a long hike or anything, but they got to sleep in a tent. They stayed up late and watched the stars come out. And they ate snacks in their sleeping bags—not like they’d ever do at home. And who would care if they dropped crumbs—it would be a treat for some bird or squirrel to come upon?
He and she tried to tell scary stories to each other, but first she started laughing, and that got him started. They kept laughing so long and hard that they couldn’t consider the “scary” stories anything but funny. Those were the good times. And now as he told the almost-forgotten story, that special camp-out was real again because he was sharing it with her all over again. Maybe she couldn’t remember it—but he could. For both of them.
~~~
About half an hour after he arrived, a nurse came to guide him back. Her name tag said, “Helga Schmidt, R.N.” She had a grandmotherly way about her and seemed sincerely concerned about him.
“This has to be a shock for you. I’m sorry this visit was a waste of your time.” She nodded toward Helen, “She never recognizes any of us, either. Or her husband.”
“Do you think she’ll ever get better?” he asked.
“I’ve seen stranger things—so it’s always possible. Only time will tell.”
Jeep idly patted his mother’s hand, as reluctant to leave as he’d been to stay. He bent over and pressed his lips to her cheek—not quite a kiss. He held it for a long interval. Not quite sure what to feel—or if he dared to feel anything at all. This was his mother. The one he loved—had always loved. Whose love he never doubted. And now she was only a shadow. Not able to give or receive love.
A tear leaked down the side of his nose, silently betraying his disappointment. He brushed it away with the back of his hand and saw that he’d smeared it on her cheek. He wiped it away with great gentleness, and made a final effort to kiss her goodbye. In that instant Helen’s arm swung up widely and her hand pulled at Jeep’s earlobe. The next second it collapsed into the non-moving lump it was before—nothing to indicate that it had ever moved.
She pulled my earlobe!!! She pulled my earlobe! Jeep silently screamed as his heart filled with joy. She recognized me! She knew it was me!
“Did you see that?” Jeep asked the nurse?
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean anything. Just a reflex, not like she intended to touch you.”
Jeep wasn’t persuaded. He knew with unshakable certainty that his caring presence and touch had somehow reached his mother. And she responded to him through touch as well—the only way she could.
Though she did nothing more, Jeep got her message. When he was very small, her gentle pulling on his earlobe had a special meaning for them. It was her private, silent signal to say, “I love you, Jeep.”
While he sat at her side, he’d done his best to accept what couldn’t be endured. But she wasn’t entire
ly gone. Something of her remained—even though speech wasn’t possible. I know you’re in there, somewhere. I just have to find some way to reach you. I’ll be back and won’t give up until I find it, he silently promised both of them.
~~~
Misery set in after Jeep got home. Except for the pull on his earlobe, the whole trip was too painful to think about. He grieved for his mom, and he grieved for himself as well. All the months of stored-up hopes had been crushed in a moment. Her expressionless image was forever tattooed in his memory. Waves of sadness kept forcing themselves into his mind.
I never doubted that she’d be home soon. Seeing her like that shows that I’ve been hanging onto a childish daydream. It’s not going to happen.
Jeep cried without being able to break it off—he couldn’t help himself. My life may have been miserable, but until today I had hope. Now that’s dead. She’s not the person I knew. Who knows if she’ll ever leave that awful place? When Chris said she was crazy, I didn’t think it could be so bad. It’s bad, alright—worse than I could ever imagine.
MeToo stuck close to him, demonstrating why he was named MeToo in the first place. A dog’s affection is a wonderful pick-me-up, but there’s only so much a dog can do for heartbreak.
Hour after hour, Jeep’s tears fell. No, please no! My heart can’t stand any more. Chris was gentle with him and finally called Louise and Anna to come lift Jeep’s spirits.
The girls sat quietly by his bed, knowing words can provide little comfort with suffering so deep. But despite their kind efforts, tears were all Jeep could muster that night.
The next morning Jeep had run out of tears, but he was too worn down to handle school or other people. Chris said, “You can stay home, but only if you stay in bed and rest.”
“That’s all I want to do, anyway. I need to be by myself.”
Mostly Jeep slept the day away. MeToo cuddled against him and bathed his face in doggie kisses. Jeep was abruptly awakened mid-afternoon by MeToo’s growls. With fears rising, he grabbed his baseball bat and tiptoed into the living room. The intruder was another dog.
“Cerberus! What are you doing here?”
“Adah sent me with an important message. That’s a binkle. I was feeling pretty sad. How’d you find me?”
“Puh-leese! That’s what I do! Deliver the mail.”
MeToo wanted to know, “If you can talk to dogs, why don’t you talk to me?”
“I never even thought of it. We’ve always gotten along just fine without words.”
MeToo’s hurt feelings weren’t not so easily forgiven. “Yea, sure, but you’ll talk to him.”
“I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll talk to you, too—promise. Meet Cerberus. And Cerberus, this is MeToo.”
They sniffed each other in the way dogs do. Then they waited for Jeep to take Adah’s message from Cerberus’ pack and read it.
________________________________________________
My dear Jeep,
I told you our hearts are connected, and I can feel your deep sadness. Your mother
is in great danger. You have the ability to rescue her—as long as you do not doubt the strength of your love and the power of your krindle.
Dry your tears, my sweet. For her sake, you must be strong and move soon. Use the special mirror I’ve sent with Cerberus to look into the faces of those who surround her. It will reveal whether the person is true or serves Uuglash.
Binkles,
Adah, A Priestess of a Different Sort
_____________________________________________________
Jeep studied the front and back of the small round mirror that Cerberus brought with the note. It wasn’t remarkable in any way that he could tell.
When he held it up to his tear-streaked face, he looked the same as usual. Holding it before MeToo, no difference. Cerberus, no difference.
Maybe that’s how it works. Probably only Uuglash’s followers looked any different in it. But what am I looking for? How could I tell?
Jeep scribbled a note for Cerberus to deliver to Adah. That done, Cerberus set out for places far away and was gone in a twinkle.
Adah’s note knocked Jeep out of his misery quick enough. She’s far away, but knows I’m suffering. She told me what I need to know. My mom needs me!
Jeep announced to MeToo, “Enough moping! I’ve got a rescue to arrange.”
He set to thinking. With all the locks and guards at Elkhorn, getting her away wouldn’t be easy. I must analyze every fact to devise the wisest course of action. Already, I feel like Sherlock Holmes. Jeep the Detective is on the case.
After school the sisters came by to check on how Jeep was doing. Were they ever surprised at the change! Jeep’s suffering was gone—he’d switched into a determined detective. He told them about Cerberus coming and showed them Adah’s warning and mirror. They couldn’t figure out how the mirror worked either.
The sisters wanted to help. They came up with a three-part strategy. First, Jeep would spend time at Elkhorn so he could use the magic mirror to size up the staff and how things worked there. Second, they’d use the information he gathered to devise an escape plan. Third, they’d get his mother away from there somehow.
Jeep recalled a spy story where a person was seen so often that everyone stopped noticing him. After a while, he became the “invisible man.” Jeep thought he could do the same thing at Elkhorn. By going to see his mother almost every day, he figured the staff would get so used to him being around they’d ignore him.
Jeep told him, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from organizing all that truffle data I collected, it’s how to arrange facts. I’ll gather information about the place, and we’ll figure out what to do with it together.”
Whatever he could learn about the staff, or schedules, or building layout was bound to help their planning. The three of them needed to make sense of the facts about his mother’s care so they could decide on the best plan of escape.
Chris was relieved to see Jeep in a happier frame of mind. Jeep had already decided not to tell Chris about the warning—at least not yet. Instead, Jeep said, “I guess I really had a hard time accepting the truth. I know you tried to warn me, but I had to see her for myself.”
“The way she is now is hard to deal with, I know. It’s heartbreaking to see Helen like that. Now you know why I wanted to keep you away. It was for the best.”
“Yea, what you did makes more sense now. I won’t be so upset the next time I go.”
“You mean you want to go back? You can’t be serious!”
“I think I should. I don’t want to run away from this and I’ll get used to the idea much sooner if I spend more time with her.”
“But Jeep, there’s nothing you can do for her.”
“I know. That’s why I have to go back, don’t you see? Just to be near her. Is it OK with you if I go see her every few days?”
“Of course not! There’s sure to be more misery for you.” Chris cared about the boy, even though he wasn’t good at showing it.
“It’s just for a little while after school,” Jeep pleaded.
“I can’t take you out there,” said Chris, as though that put the kibosh on Jeep’s request.
“I know and don’t expect you to be along. I’ve already got that part figured out,” said Jeep, being careful not to sound too eager. “It’s not too far for me to bicycle—when the weather’s O.K.”
Though uneasy about it, Chris figured that Jeep would soon tire of going. “I guess it’s worth a try. I’ll give permission—as long as the chores don’t suffer.”
Already, the first part of The Plan was ready to roll.
Chapter 13—
HIGH-STAKES NEGOTIATIONS
Jeep didn’t want to do Grikkl’s assignment—not even a little bit. As far as he was concerned, the whole idea about getting the zoo property was a big mistake. So over the next few days he worked out one excuse after another so he wouldn’t have to do it. In the end, he had to admit to himself that he was sca
red. He doubted himself, he doubted he could succeed.
What made Jeep go ahead anyway was his certainty, I’d rather face Mr. Slade than have to face Grikkl with the knowledge that I didn’t even try. At the very least, I must give it my best shot since Grikkl trusts me. Besides, it’s a quest.
Jeep called to make an appointment. The secretary who answered could tell she was speaking to a child and refused to take him seriously. She told him, “Mr. Slade is not available.” Jeep got the same treatment the next five times he called, even though he disguised his voice.
Part of him wanted to say, “Well, at least I tried,” and be done with it. But the part of him with spunk knew there has to be another way.
He cleaned himself up as though going to church and headed to Market Street. Jeep tried his best to look businesslike, knowing that he fooled no one. The sign near the elevator said: Slade Investments - 1037. He got off the elevator on the 10th floor. The door at 1037 opened into a fancy waiting room with dark paneling and little lights over each of the framed paintings. Even he knew that meant they were expensive.
A middle-aged secretary sat by the door. “I’m here to see Mr. Slade,” he said, trying to sound businesslike.
She was no more pleasant in person than on the telephone. Her eyes inspected him up and down without approval. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Is Mr. Slade in today? Does he have time to see me?”
Jeep was no dummy. Answer a question with another question. Make her do the talking. Too bad—she wasn’t a dummy either. Cementing her sour expression, she sent a question right back.
“Young man, what are you up to? Mr. Slade is very busy man...”
She was interrupted by the buzzer. “Miss Kublic, please come in here.”
She gave Jeep a warning look and hissed as she left. “Don’t touch anything.”
When Miss Kublic returned, Jeep was sitting in the chair next to her desk with a happy smile. Still no dummy, I know a smile’s my most persuasive move—besides, it keeps people guessing.
The Binkle and the Catawampus Compass (Binkles and Magic) Page 11