"He can read?"
"We watched a year of Sesame Street. I figure he's lots better at remembering the televised lectures for college credit and probably has a better grade in microbiology."
"Hey, Hulk, you missed something in the box."
"Let him finish reading. Some of the words will be unfamiliar looking. He needs time to sound them out."
Kelly wanted to giggle. Bitsy had stuck a card in front of what he'd been reading. It had his name on it. She'd jumped on Jim's back to do it and yelped when he tipped over. He'd yelped when he twisted to keep from landing on her and knocked the lamp off the table. Bitsy had caught it, but ended up under Jim anyway. He'd been diving for it. Slowly it came to him he'd watched it all. He'd had to move his eyes to do it, and he'd learned all the name of the man who loved him so much he was making miracles happen.
"Oaf."
"Nuisance."
"He got a bank card for his birthday. The note wrapped around it says, 'The judge said you deserve to have a fucking good time, Keller, and we're all sure Jim is the one to see you get it. Spend this. It's the yearly budget for your care, so make it last a year. Let me know if it doesn't. Yachts are almost as expensive as medical care. Buy one if you want one. Let me know if you'll let the company lease it to take super-performers on a nice cruise. It's your money, but it's basically all invested but this. If you need more, we'll sell a couple stocks. I won't have any trouble convincing the trustees to go along with this. It's a great piece for Twenty-Twenty and you, me and 'the hunk,' as most of the female employees called him, all have great profiles. I know you've forgiven me. It helps me be sure I should forgive myself. Happy birthday. Visit home some time. It too is yours. Walter.' Nice man. Kelly, can I use your card? I know the pin number. You need pieces. You don't need a dozen very interested women knowing 'the hunk' is in town. Yoo, hoo, Hunk? Hey, are you all right?"
"Being angry is silly under the circumstances, isn't it? I'm working on it. I haven't figured out why yet."
"Kelly, he's the only one who doesn't know he's going to be protective at first glance. I figure it doesn't show in the mirror. You were going to do it, Jim. I know you. You'd figured out how to support both of you. Kelly's contributing to your fun. You're not being paid to take care of him. You've got his power of attorney because you're the one who will take care of him. You're trusted with his annual income from his business. This is nice. It makes him a full partner. You do the physical for two and he pays for the good time for two. It won't change if he needs less because you're not an employee. You're his best friend. No one will have ever been more sure that's the reason someone is always beside them. He needs that. He's wealthy. It can really get in the way. I'm not nearly as wealthy and I know it for a hard fact. I'm borrowing the card. He's investing his share in the van. Novocaine?"
"A doctor?"
"Oh, hell. Hand me the phone."
"Your dad?"
"Who else? Daddy, we've got a miracle I'm building a part for. We need a doctor who understands miracles, helping them out and not mentioning it to a damn soul. Kelly can even pay for it. You're on speaker, Daddy. Hulk's right here and so's Kelly. We'll know what he thinks about things."
"Uh... I see. Talk to me, Jim."
"I don't want to do it. She suggests a local from a local dentist. I want a doctor, but local anesthesia if possible. Kelly hates hospitals. I was scared when I took the implant out. I had to do it myself. He was in pain and I had to get it out before someone found us."
"You have to do it again. I'm sorry, Jim. I know several people who would do it because it's the right thing to do, but I wouldn't ask them to do something contrary to their oath. The surgery isn't. Not telling the research community about things that contribute to improvements in Kelly's condition is. Bitsy, a device which aids those struck most helpless is the dream of a great many people."
"It wouldn't aid anyone else, Daddy. I'm sure of it. It will aid one because of everything else that was done to him. It will aid Kelly because Jim has a surgeon's touch with a soldering iron and I know that touch extremely well. It will aid him because I read a lot of articles about new materials. I think he's got a new trunk line running to his muscles and he's wiring the house. It's got one problem. There's a gap in the line. So far it's jumping that gap, but it's not easy and eventually something is going to get between the ends and insulate it. Jim says Kelly's not healing like he should. I think he's fighting it because muscle doesn't conduct as well as blood."
"That's pretty wild."
"Where does it not fit what we do know, including about Hulk? Daddy, I want to work real fast on this. I'm just sure I should have circles around my eyes and Mom yelling at me for forgetting to eat. Kelly's the one in a hurry. He wants it done. I've got no doubt of it. I just think he'd prefer Hulk do it because he completely trusts his judgment and he has doubts he should. All right. I'll get the pieces of this mixed in with a bunch of other stuff and the novocaine. Daddy, what about Leonard? He wouldn't do the surgery, but he could administer the novocaine."
"Yes, he could."
"Leonard Yalosky?"
"Is there another Leonard, Hulk? He's the best vet in the county and he isn't one, Kelly. He's still taking in injured wild animals, fixing them up and setting them loose. He's just gotten a lot better at it than when we were kids."
"Call him. Kelly will really like him."
Kelly was nervous and Bitsy had been absolutely right about his impatience. He'd seen Jim's smile when a very unusual male voice said hello on the phone. He knew he had a sense of humor. He was nervous about meeting Jim's friend. He wanted him to like him. Jim said he'd know when he got there and went to "make lunch for six for three." Bitsy had headed for the city sixty miles away to pick up the large order she'd placed by phone. There was a roar outside and he understood what Jim had meant.
"Jimmy Boy! Where are you, you bastard?! Come out here so I can give you a hug and then slug you for not calling me for four years!"
"Try it and I'll mop the floor with you! Kelly's in the living room! Introduce yourself!"
"I'm Leonard. You're looking at my knees because I'm looking at your back. You'll notice they're lower than most. I'm a dwarf. I'm sure Hulk didn't mention it. He didn't mention you look like Michelangelo's model either. I'm going to poke around. I poke gentle enough wild creatures let me do it. He's right. It's not healing as fast as it should. I think the whole thing's nuts, but I'll help them do it. I wouldn't want to be the one to tell Jim he's an alien telepath. Bitsy knows she's building a physical focus for his power and she doesn't. Hi. You have surprising muscle tone and gorgeous blue-green eyes. Someone gave you the rest of you, but those are yours. It'll work. I got more brief than you know about. I swung my scooter in front of Bitsy on the road and got a rundown. Want to contribute to a wildlife care center? I have three raptors and they don't eat chicken feed. Hi, Hulk. I'm making a pitch for a donation. I'm sure I saw a yes in those gorgeous eyes. Trapped eyes, why the hell did it take you so long to see it?"
"I saw it, Leonard. All I could do was be there long enough for my opinion to have some weight."
"That makes more sense. So, donation?"
"You said you saw a yes."
"True, but I didn't see an amount."
"How much do you need?"
"Oh, several hundred thousand dollars and regular paychecks for a staff of ten, but a freezer full of fish to feed raptors and raccoons would be great."
"Do you have a freezer to fill?"
"Not at the moment."
"You have to watch him, Kelly. He's good at slipping things in on people. They say yes before they find out 'freezer full' includes freezer. If he didn't do exactly what people want him to do with what they give him, they'd complain instead of laugh about it. Ow, it hurts me to turn you over for lunch."
"Let's get him up on his feet."
"What?"
"Bitsy thinks he's building a connection to his voluntary muscles. Let's begin encouraging it. His legs hav
e been exercised, but they've never borne his weight. The muscle is there, but it's never been used for the purpose of its existence. When wild animals are hit by cars and survive, it's often in their asses that I set bones. I build frames to keep them from tipping over and get them on their feet as soon as they're healed enough. Supporting their weight is the first step in rebuilding muscle they must have to run to catch prey or escape predators. We'll support his knees too. I'll build it and tell Bitsy it goes in the van."
"Why haven't you asked her to marry you?"
"Neither one of you realize you're Greek gods wandering among mortals, but it's extremely clear to me. I love her too much to marry her, too, Jim. I'm not extremely healthy. I may live five more years."
"What?!"
"It's a fact. I've known I had a short life expectancy since I was a kid. All my life is still all my life, so I'm getting the same share as everyone else. It's just crammed into a shorter time period. Besides, she doesn't love me that way and she might not know how to turn me down. It would be the only time she'd think about the fact I'm a dwarf and plug ugly. Since I know she should turn me down, I won't ask. Let's get him up for a minute. I need to see what kind of support you need for your knees, Kelly. I've been building them for mine for three years. Jim, I can almost feel you aching. I didn't tell you before because I knew you would and reducing the time you ache was my choice. It's also my choice not to tell the woman I have loved since I was nine."
"All right. Leonard, his lunch is getting cold. I made him mashed potatoes and sausage gravy. He's never had them before."
"I'll build while he eats. You'd better have food for me when I finish."
"I have food for you now."
"I'm sure you've noticed he's a bit thick, Kelly. I'm working hard at giving him time to talk to you and he's not getting it. I was his best friend as a little kid. You're his best friend now. We both recognize when he needs to talk to his best friend. Jim, hold his knee as lightly as possible to keep it from bending. We could about do that much with a wrap. Kelly, I'm going to poke you again. I want to know how hard your muscles are working and how much of your weight Hulk's supporting so I'll be poking him too."
"That's why you didn't study veterinary medicine."
"See, Kelly, not dumb, just thick. I've got his knees. See how much of his weight you can get on his legs. Good. I'm glad he's got you, Kelly. You're going to have a good time together a long time. You both deserve it. Lord, just look at those beautiful long legs. Run beside him in long strides. I always wished I could. You will. Do it for both of us. Oh, I have a perfect record on that. Every damaged creature I've been sure I would one day set free to run or fly has raced into the forest or leapt into the sky. Leap for me. You're the only one I've ever said that to who'll understand you do. See you in about twenty. He needs to cry. Think back pats at him. He'll feel them. We both know it. Prepare yourself for ambrosia. He makes great gravy. Maybe I'll be back in fifteen."
"Leonard, what's wrong, specifically?"
"I think making you a list is a waste of time. I don't do that intentionally. I'll take you for a ride on my scooter, Kelly. Gizmo built it for me. We'll wait 'til she's here, in case Hulk has a heart attack watching."
"No."
"See? He does not trust my driving."
"That's because you're a maniac on that thing."
"True, but I'm less maniacal with a passenger, except you. I just love your cute little yelp."
"Kelly, he's... very special to me and a lot of other people. We lived next door to his family, and I didn't even call him for four years. I thought of him a lot, but I didn't call. I kept hoping Bitsy would come to love him in the way he loves her. I trust his judgment she doesn't. It hurts, but I do. It... all hurts."
Kelly thought back pats. It hurt him that Jim hurt, but it felt very good to have him sit on the floor and lean against the couch beside him to cry. He was the most caring, gentle, strong, all the way through beautiful person in existence. It 'dawned' on him he was in love with him too. He had rather good evidence it was a common phenomena. He understood that completely. He wasn't sure being smug he was in love with him was appropriate, but quite sure both Bitsy and Leonard would understand it.
Leonard arranged to be in the workshop when Bitsy got back. She took one look at what he was doing and whooped. It was what she'd been feeling was missing.
"I was working on things to make it easier for them now. They needed this as a statement what I'm building them is for now."
"It is impossible, you know."
"Of course. As long as Jim doesn't know it, that's not a problem. I'm building our birdies a sky hook so they believe they can fly. Since I'm the practical sort, I'm building one that will work just in case there is something to hook onto. He needed an explanation badly. He needed you here to help badly. Kelly just needs him."
"I told him what you carefully pretend not to know. He wanted specifics. I told him I didn't have time to make a list. I need a chair."
"I wondered why I was suddenly getting told."
"Three trips a day to feed and water are beginning to be at least two too many. I need you to build it because getting down beside a small animal and back up is beginning to be too much to do once. It also needs to be very quiet."
"It's built."
"Staying away gave me away?"
"Yes. Leonard, you're about to get a patent."
"What?"
"Hulk! Call Daddy and tell him to get Brad Carter here! Leonard has something that will help a lot of people!"
"Brad is not a friend, Gizmo!"
"Brad has changed a lot! He married Carey Jurgensen! He's plump and very happy! They have three kids! A girl and twin baby boys! He shows up at his office wearing baby food!"
"That's a lot, but... "
"You are not hiding, Hulk! You have a friend who was in an accident! He's recovering! Leonard and I are building things to help! The one Leonard is building will help a lot of others too! It will definitely bring him enough to feed a lot of damaged birdies!"
"I'll call him myself!"
"Good boy!"
Brad had 'run into' Jim five years before in the city. He'd greeted him with a fist to the jaw. He'd told several people Hulk obviously felt like he deserved it or he'd have been in the hospital reminding himself slugging someone Hulk's size is not a wise course of action. It had taken Bitsy and Carey another half-year to convince him he was courting the wrong girl. He hadn't known he belonged plump and wearing baby food, but they both did.
Chapter Four
Brad hit the button on his message machine and ran out of the door of his office with his jacket in his hand. He didn't plan on apologizing, but he was really pleased with the chance to show Jim it had been one good shot to the jaw for the way he hurt Bitsy. He was even more pleased that Leonard had something Bitsy was sure was worth patenting. He was ignoring being intensely curious about why Jim had seemed a bit nervous on the phone. He knew he wasn't worried he'd slug him again. When he got to the old farmhouse that Bitsy had made a beautiful modern home, he headed for the big barn she'd made a workshop. He was sure that's where he was needed and where she and Leonard would be.
"Bitsy?!"
"Back here, Brad! Hi."
"What is it?"
"A support structure that will help get people, who have to learn to walk again, on their feet. This is the piece that makes it so different. It adjusts the frame to give more or less support as it's needed."
"Where does Jim come in?"
"With Kelly. He's the one Leonard built this one for. I'm building that van, but this shouldn't wait until the gizmos I'm designing for comfort are done."
"Show me how it works before I start trying to turn Leonard's scribbled diagrams on newspaper margins into something acceptable to the patent office. Where is he?"
"Sitting down. I gave him a good excuse. We're in a hurry, Brad. We need to make that wildlife care center permanent. He deserves to see it. He deserves to get to pay for some
of it. Kelly will help see that the rest gets paid for. You've got a client. It's not Jim. You also have a lot of really good help, starting with a superior court judge and a CEO. Remember, all this is for Kelly and Jim is going to be very protective. Kelly needs it. Jim's been doing the job three years. They fired him and he went back and got him. He's the one who was sure Kelly existed. We are now all sure Kelly can recover. We are all sure Hulk is why, but carefully say words like 'therapy' and 'appropriate stimulation.' I'm trying to convince him that includes making love to him. I figure the fact he won't, until Kelly can say yes, is really going to keep Kelly working. He's taking him out to see America in a big van. Kelly is still going to need him just as much. They built him beautiful and he's very, very, very and several-more-very, rich. He needs a lawyer that's just his and knows money is not more important than a smile of pride from people who love him. Tell me about the kids. You're wearing green on your tie today."
"I give up. I was wearing a bib. Strained peas are not appreciated by either Joseph or Jason. Who is Kelly? I do need to know. I don't know if I'm the right lawyer, but I will find him the right one."
"Keller Nathan Holland the Fourth."
"Uh... I need a chair. A stiff drink would be nice too. 'Vegetative' was the term I heard. I was about ten at the time and I've heard the same since."
"Jim fell in love with him and that made him rather sure they were all wrong."
"Um, is this person the same Jim?"
"He's finally figured out what he wants to be when he grows up, a very best friend for someone who needs the best at it and really deserves it. Kelly thinks Walter Amunson is doing a great job and he really likes Martin Fuller. He doubts it will ever be necessary to actually run the business. The amount budgeted yearly for his care is now his annual... draw or something. There was a nurse and a physical aide on twenty-four hours a day and a couple extras for specific jobs, plus people to take care of the mansion, where he saw one room. Now, this is from my cousin Terry. The CEO is the executor of the estate, but he's got a board of trustees who still look at Keller as a business expense. They are not unhappy he is aware, but that's a big budget and they would have liked to cut it a long time ago. Walter took care of that. Kelly will need someone who says, 'He's not really involved with the business by his choice. Present your proposal to Mr. Amunson. He's the one he trusts to run it.' It's no longer an estate, Brad. Kelly is eighteen and Amunson gave Jim the pin number for the bank card and said have fun. The court stamped approved."
Hometown Kelly and the Gizmo Team Page 5