by Manny Xavier
blue, too. Imagine that? Huh, son?"
"Yeah, imagine that!" Max said with a smile.
There was an awkward pause in the conversation. Max’s dad had never been one for conversation and this was as awkward as it gets. Suspicion was clearly written on Mr. Davis' face. Seizing the moment Dr. Porter took his cue and began his presentation.
“What a lovely home you have here Mr. Davis” Dr. Porter said. “I have not seen such a manicured lawn in a long time. You can really tell that you care a lot about the place.”
“Well, I try my best,” responded Max Dad. “I am no green thumb I assure you. That award falls to my wife, June. She is the real star of the show when it comes to the gardening. I just do what I am told”
“Well, it is still a lovely looking home,” Dr. Porter offered. “I commend you both for such a great job. Just goes to show how well both of you are at nurturing growth. It appears clear in your care for the house, and of course in the quality of young man you have raised in Maxwell.”
Max’s dad knew when he was being buttered up. His smile changed to a discerning look but he remained polite. “Thank you Dr. Porter. That means a lot coming from such a professional as yourself.”
“No, no, I mean it, dear sir,” Dr. Porter reassured. “Max is a very well rounded young man. Exceptional in my book, I assure you-exceptional.”
Max’ dad was eager to move this thing along. He did not like to talk a lot and this conversation had real meaning. If there was a point he wanted to get to it quickly, and out of reach of Max’s ears.
He invited Dr. Porter to take a seat in the kitchen and explained that his wife would be down shortly. He offered Dr. Porter some coffee. Dr. Porter feeling ill from the first cup of the day, asked if he could have some iced tea instead.
“Max,” Max’s dad stated, “why don’t you and Billy go play in the back yard. Give us grownups some time to talk a bit. OK?”
“Yes, sir” Max replied. “Come on Billy. I can show you my new swing set. It has Olympic rings and everything.”
“Sounds great, Max” Billy responded with a little too much enthusiasm.
This caused Max’s dad to stop and stare as the boys made a beeline out the back door. He only broke his attention long enough to yell “Max, don’t let the screen door slam!” He was too late of course as the thunderous sound of the door snapping into the frame rattled the windows in the kitchen.
“Marvin! Don’t let the Max slam the door, Please!” came a loud request from upstairs. It was Max’s mother.
“Yes, dear,” Max’s father replied sharply. “I tried to tell them, but they got out of the door too fast.”
“Just don’t let them do it again, please” pleaded Max’s mother. “My good figurines nearly toppled over in the hallway.”
“Yes, dear” Max’s father replied. “Of course, dear.”
Dr. Porter had been observing this interaction with great intensity. He had to gain a feel for the relationship that Max’s parents had. If there was a fissure in the rock he had to use it to his advantage. Maybe one of them like Billy more than the other, or did not blame Billy as much as the other.
Whatever it may be Dr. Porter needed the footing to make his argument. If he could get them arguing amongst themselves about something insignificant, then he could use some common ground to get them to agree to his plan. He had to be careful though. One wrong move could unite them and have him thrown out of the house at once. After all, Max was their little boy. Their instinct to protect him would override everything else.
Dr. Porter waited for Max’s mother to make her way into the kitchen. Marvin, Max’s dad, sat quietly across the kitchen island not saying a word. Dr. Porter sensed that he wanted to speak. Marvin did, but feared that something might get covered that Max’s mother would scold him for not waiting until she was present to discuss. So he sat quietly adding bits of useless conversation to fill the time.
“Follow any sports at all, Dr. Porter” Marvin asked. “Football, baseball, or such?”
“No. Can’t say I do” Dr, Porter replied. “Sorry, never really took to watching sports.”
“Play any in high school or college?” Marvin added.
“Debate team count?” Dr. Porter offered.
“No. Not really, “ Marvin responded. “So where did you go to school?”
“I’m a Yale man, myself,” Dr. Porter stated.
“You look a little young to be a Doctor” Marvin said with a skeptical look in his eye. “So what’s the story there?”
“Oh, yes well….” Dr. Porter started to explain.
“Marvin! Don’t be so rude to our guest!” Max’s mother exclaimed as she entered the kitchen. “After all he has only just arrived. Give the man some time to breathe for goodness sake. Dr. Porter I hope you can forgive my husband-it is just that this “issue” has been a yearlong subject for us. Getting word that help is available may not be sitting well with Marvin, or myself.”
“No apology needed, ma’am,” Dr. Porter replied. “Max’s father-Marvin, is quite right. I am young. Too young for most to believe my credentials. I graduated high school at age 14. That might explain the lack of access to sports somewhat, Mr. Davis. And I completed my bachelor’s degree in two years-so my PhD. Had been completed by the time I was 20. In fact I am only 26 now. But, I assure you that I have made great contributions in the field of child psychology. I have even written several books though. They are more well known in the educational arena than they are in Barnes and Noble.”
“My apologies,” Marvin offered. “I did not know that I was dealing with some kind of genius.”
“Marvin-behave” Max’s mother scolded him. “Now, Dr. Porter, welcome to our home. Can I get you something to eat?”
Dr. Porter made eye contact with Mr. Davis. His expression made it clear that this diner was closed. Marvin wanted to get to the point. “No, Mrs. Davis” Dr. Porter replied. “Mrs. Littleton served me a delicious pot pie earlier. I am still stuffed. This iced tea will be fine.”
“Alright then, so what is this all about” Marvin asked directly.
“Marvin! Be polite-I mean it,” urged Mrs. Davis. “Call me June, Dr. Porter. Mrs. Davis makes me feel like you are talking to my mother. What my loving husband means to say is please tell us what you have come to see us about. Forgive him, as we are both anxious to hear what you have to say.”
“No apology needed, Mrs. D…June,” responded Dr. Porter calmly. “I am also anxious to convey the message as well.”
Dr. Porter spent about an hour speaking with Max’s parents. For the longest time it was quiet as a church mouse in the kitchen. Then about fifteen minutes into the conversation, Max and Billy could hear Max’s parents yelling at each other. Dr. Porter’s voice was silent.
At one point Max feared he had been asked to leave and the door would open any minute with an announcement that Billy had to leave with him. Then silence again. Then they could hear the calm quiet voice of Dr. Porter. They could not hear the words, but they could tell Dr. Porter’s plan was working. Max’s parents were listening, and toward the end, when they heard both Max’s father and mother laughing Billy let go with a self assuring smile. He knew at once that Dr. Porter had been successful.
Dr. Porter opened the back door and asked Max and Billy to come in and join them. Max saw his parent’s do something they had not done in a year, smile. His mom was so happy that she came over and hugged Max and Billy together. She even looked Billy in the eye and told him that she was glad he was back home. Everybody teared up a little bit, too.
Dr. Porter explained that Max would spend the night at Gran-gran’s house and they would be working on the “problem” that had been plaguing Max for so long. It was all very technical talk-but Max’s parents seemed to be eating it up-and for once they both seemed to have hope. Something they had been without for nearly a year.
Max’s mom packed him an overnight ba
g and practically bounded down the stairs with it in her hand. She hugged Max so hard that he had to tell her to let go so he could breathe. She apologized, but then hugged him again and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Max rubbed it off in protest, but deep down was smiling. His mom had not hugged him like that in a long time.
Max’s father leaned down and embraced Max with a bear hug. “Love you tiger” Max’s dad said. “You listen to Dr. Porter, now. He is a smart man. He knows what he is doing.”
“I will dad” Max replied. “I will.”
With that Dr. Porter made his farewell and ushered Max and Billy out of the front door for the long walk back to Gran-gran’s house. Max and Billy could not help but notice the long shadows now visible. The Sun was setting in an hour or so and the idea of being caught out in the dark still did not set well with Max or Billy. Dr. Porter did not seem to notice this fact at all. All of which was very disturbing to Max.
“If Dr. Porter had dealt with a Thabberwucky as a child, as Billy said he had done, then why did this fact not seem to bother Dr. Porter?” Max wondered. And if he had seen a Thabberwucky up close and personal as Billy had described, even killed one, then how could he not show some kind of concern for the coming darkness? All of this was very unsettling for Max. As he looked over at Billy he tried to communicate his concerns with a hard stare, but Billy did not seem to care at all. In Billy’s mind they