by Manny Xavier
the floor grate that was tied to the kitchen. They would need to be close to the grate if they were to hear the conversation that was about to take place.
As they placed their ears to the grate they could hear footsteps entering the kitchen. The clinking of coffee cups and pouring of the coffee was clear. “Do you take cream or sugar, Dr. Porter?” Gran-gran asked.
“Yes, both please” Dr. Porter replied. He would need anything he could get to cover the taste, as he did not like coffee at all.
“Two spoonfuls or….” Gran-gran asked.
“Three” Dr. Porter finished for her. “The sweeter the better.”
Suddenly there was a pause in the conversation. It was as if both of them had stopped talking on purpose. Before he could stop himself Billy whispered out loud “Uh-oh.”
Suddenly a loud clang filled Max and Billy’s ears. Gran-gran had suspected they were listening from the other room. She had paused and placed her hand to her mouth with her index finger extended to let Dr. Porter know that she suspected so. He indicated that he understood and held his voice waiting for her next cue. Gran-gran had closed the floor grate in the kitchen with a solid thump. She knew it would get their attention on the other end. And she knew that now they would not be able to listen in to the conversation. Once she had done so, Gran-gran gave Dr. Porter the all-clear signal that their conversation could continue.
“Boys will be boys,” stated Gran-gran. “I guess we can’t blame them for trying to hear our conversation. Forgive their attempt won’t you?”
“Nothing to forgive, madam” stated Dr. Porter. “I can imagine the contents of this conversation would be interesting enough to anyone to try to eavesdrop.”
“My apologies all the same, Dr. Porter” Gran-gran said. “After all, one should expect a reasonable amount of courtesy when visiting another’s home. Eavesdropping is not included in that category in my house.”
“Accepted, madam” Dr. Porter replied with a smile.
Max and Billy made their way back to Billy’s room. The conversation would not be one that they could hear for now. They would have to wait for Dr. Porter to address them when he was ready. But Max had a lot more questions for Billy. H he hoped with some time to ask them they could be answered. As they made their way up it was much slower than they had been to eat the potpies or receive Dr. Porter. Max thought that maybe Billy was hoping to catch a piece of the conversation as they ascended the stairs-but to both their disappointments-nothing could be heard from the kitchen.
Max and Billy entered Billy’s room. Billy flopped on the beanbag but this time with clear disappointment on his face. Max knew that Billy wanted to hear what Dr. Porter had to say, but he also had a lot of questions for Billy. He did not wait to ask them.
“Billy” Max began, “I need to know something. How is it you think that my parents are going to agree to let me stay over tonight? I just can’t see how anybody, Doctor or no doctor can pull that off. So how is you can be so confident about it?”
Billy sat for a while without responding. He was still upset over Gran-gran catching onto his little ploy to eavesdrop on her conversation with Dr. Porter. He then let out a big sigh and responded, “Cause you have not seen the man in action. He can wrap a parent around his little finger. And he will be offering your parents something they want Max. The old you.”
“What do you mean? The old me?” Max asked.
“You, like you were before” Billy said. “You know. Before the Thabberwucky ever entered your life. The way it used to be, when you were NORMAL.”
“Is that how he got your parents to allow you to come for a visit?” Max asked.
“Yup” Billy replied. “And once he is done speaking with your mom and dad, he will have them on the same page as well. Don’t worry about it one bit. Your parents will be putty in Dr. Porter’s hands.”
“I hope you’re right,” Max added. “ My mom will be the toughest of all. She didn’t even know I was coming over here today. And when she finds out she might ground me for a month!”
“Well, what’s done is done, I guess,” said Billy dismissing Max’s fears. “After all you can’t undo today. Just trust me. Dr. Porter will make it all better. I promise.”
Max thought about his meeting Dr. Porter. How he seemed to know him before they were even introduced. His charming demeanor and the way that he finished Billy and Max’s sentences. Maybe Billy had a point. Maybe Dr. Porter could persuade his parents to let him spend the night-and if a cure was proposed as a part of it. Well then it might not be such a hard sell after all.
Max threw his hands behind his head and lay back on Billy’s bed. He allowed himself to breathe easy for the first time in over a year. Maybe the Thabberwucky could be captured and gotten rid of forever. The thought brought a big smile to his face just like he had smiled when he saw Billy again.
After nearly an hour Gran-gran called the boys downstairs. Dr. Porter was waiting at the door with his coat on. Gran-gran motioned for the boys to come closer and was reaching for Billy’s coat as she said “Time to take a trip you two.”
“Where are we going?” Max asked.
“To see your parents, young Maxwell,” responded the Doctor. “We have a lot to discuss with them.”
“About spending the night with Billy?” Max asked.
“Yes” responded Dr. Porter. “And much, much more. You won’t be allowed to be a part of the entire conversation however. So no floor grates this time-is that clear?”
“Yes, sir” Max and Billy announced in unison.
“Now, let’s get on our way boys” said Dr. Porter. “Thank you for the kind hospitality, Mrs. Littleton. And you should know that you make the most delicious pot pie I have ever tasted.”
“You are too kind” Gran-gran responded her face blushing. “Too kind, indeed.”
With that the group headed once again out into the cold of the day. The sun was setting lower now as it neared Four O’clock in the afternoon. The longer shadows drew Max’s attention back to the Thabberwucky. Normally this time of day would leave him anxious, making plans to survive the night. But today somehow all of that seemed to belong to a now distant past. There was something in his chest that he had not felt in a long time. It was hope and it made him feel courageous. “Thabberwucky beware, Maxwell Davis is coming for you!” Max thought to himself with a smile.
“What are you so happy about?” Billy asked Max.
“The same thing you are Billy” Max replied with a grin. “ The same thing you are.”
On the walk Max noticed the beautiful watch that Dr. Porter was wearing. It was gold with a blue face-full of crystals and it shined so brilliantly. Max could not resist asking Dr. Porter where he got it. The good doctor was happy to explain.
“My mother gave this to me as a graduation gift” Dr. Porter stated. “It costs her an entire month’s salary. She saved for nearly a year just to buy it. She never doubted that I would graduate from college. It means the world to me. Whenever I look at this watch, I know that my mother loves me and that I am someone very special.”
As they walked the few blocks to Max’s house, Dr. Porter explained that he would be speaking with Max’s parents alone. He would report the progress he had so far with Billy. He would also explain that this evening was about helping Max to overcome his problem with the imaginary monsters he had been so plagued with in the last year. He reiterated why the boys could not be a part of the meeting again. Making it clear that Max’s parents had to feel that they were in control-and making the decision for Max to be a part of the experiment all on their own.
Dr. Porter also explained that he had phoned Max’s parents to arrange the meeting. He had explained that he would be bringing Billy with him. And that they had seen Max in the park earlier and had arranged to bring him along for the ride. That way Max did not have to explain having gone to Billy’s house without first asking permission, which she surely woul
d not have granted in the first place.
Max tried to understand and hoped the doctor was right. But he had not seen Max’s mom’s reaction when he had come home to tell the tale of that awful night at Billy's house a year ago. And the doctor had not been there on those quiet nights when Max could hear his mother crying over the fact that Max had been completely normal little boy prior to that event. Max was sure that Dr. Porter was biting off more than he could chew.
As they rounded the last corner Max’s stomach churned. He was really unsure about all this. For one, Max’s mother did not know that Max had spent the day with Billy. She might throw Billy and Dr. Porter out on the spot if she figured that one out. He hoped that Dr. Porter was as convincing to his parents as he had been with Max when they first met.
Dr. Porter rang the doorbell. Max and Billy gave each other a look that said “Here we go!” The door opened. Max's father greeted Dr. Porter with a warm handshake and invited him in.
“Billy, how have you been son?” Max’s dad asked, feigning a smile as best he could. “I hear that your family is doing well in the new place. Do you like the new school?”
“Yes, sir” Billy replied. “It’s OK, I guess.”
"Welcome home, Max," his father said. "Gues you'll have quite a story to tell later. I mean running into Billy and a famous psychologist all in one day, and just out of the