The Wayward Gifted - Broken Point (6 page)

“Do you have any idea how spoiled
you’re sounding?”

“I’m not spoiled.”

“You want to leave your grandmother
without furniture. That sounds spoiled and selfish to me. We cannot leave your
grandmother without furniture. That would be an awful thing to do.”

“That’s not what I meant. You know
that’s not what I meant.” Steuart turned to Ida, “I don’t want your things
Grandmother. I want
my
things. Grandmother,
you understand, don’t you?”

Ida nodded. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

“It’s not okay.” Steuart turned back to
his mother. “Not okay. I want my bed. I won’t be able to sleep without my bed. I
want my action figures too.”

“Then it’s a good thing,” Olivia said, “that
your wants won’t cause you pain.”

“I want to stay here.
Yo ma ye uh tormentor
.”

“Cut the crap Steuart. We don’t have
time for your games.”

“It’s
hamster flout
!”

 
“Save your anagrams for later. We’re
finished with this discussion. Now take a final look around and do whatever you
need to do. I’m giving you both thirty minutes, not a minute more…” Olivia
glanced at her watch, “beginning now.”

Sam, Steuart, Ida and the pups walked towards
the water for a good-bye stroll on the pier.

“I’m going to miss you,” Sam said,
hugging her grandmother. She lifted Frank into her arms.

Steuart, carrying Caffey on his back,
leaned next to Ida and mumbled something under his breath. He felt tears in his
eyes and turned away.

Ida bent down and looked at her
grandson, “You can do this,” she said. “We both know you are every bit as strong
as any super hero.”

“I hate this. I hate her,” Steuart
whispered. “I want to stay with you. This is our home. Make her let us stay
with you. Please, please, Grandmother, don’t let her take us to that awful
place. I hate her.”

Ida put her hands on Steuart’s
shoulders, “Look at me. Listen to me carefully. You do not
hate
anyone or anything. Hate is a strong, ugly word. It destroys
people. Every minute you spend in anger is a minute of your life that is
forever gone. It’s wasted time that you cannot live again. Do not let anger
rule your life, Steuart. It’s not worth it. Focus on the positive things. Everything
will be fine.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know that, but you can do this. I
know this because you are exactly like my daddy. Now, please look at me. Answer
my question. Can you do this?” Ida looked at Steuart and waited for his answer.

Steuart looked down at his feet. “Yes,”
he whispered.

“Are you
sure-as-Matt
?” Ida asked.

A smile grew wide across Steuart’s
face. Sam joined the two for a group hug. “Yes, we’re both sure-as-Matt,” the
children agreed.

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

Sure-as-Matt was the strongest promise
made in Ida’s family. Matt Prescott, Ida’s father, was known throughout the
county as a man of his word. “You’re both going to be fine,” Ida said. “I have
faith in you.” She looked at her watch, “I hate to say this, but it’s time to
go. Now, before we walk up to the house, I need to see smiles.”

The children frowned.

“Smiles please. We’ll talk often,” Ida hugged
the children as they walked towards the house.

“It’s not the same,” Steuart said.

“We’ll send messages. I write beautiful
letters. We’ll find time to visit. I’ll come see you, and you will come see me.
I promise. I’ve already asked your mother to bring you down in December.”

“It’s too far,” Steuart said.

Ida looked at Steuart and then at Sam.
“Let’s adjust our attitudes. It’s going to be okay.”

“It isn’t the same as living together.”

Olivia stood next to the car. She
waited with the doors open. She looked at Steuart and frowned, “Put that nasty dog
down, now. It’s time for us to be on the road. I have no desire to drive my car
one thousand miles with you sitting in the back seat smelling like a wet, sweaty
dog. Honestly, do you ever think about making use of the brain God gave you? Sometimes
I can’t help wondering if you took it out one day and left it on a rock. Is
that what happened?”

“I’m sorry Mother.”

“Steuart, if we were not in a rush, I’d
stop right this minute and send you inside for a proper shower.”

“No problem, I can take a shower.”
Steuart took Caffey from his shoulders and handed her to Ida. “I won’t be long.”
He turned and began running towards the house.

“Stop Steuart. You will do no such thing.
Turn around now. Come back here. We’ll let the windows down so you can air out.
Come on now, get in.”

“Wait!” Steuart insisted.

“What now?”

“I forgot my valise! I have to go back.
Come with me Sam. I left it on the pier. We’ll be right back.”

“Hurry,” Olivia called out. “We need to
get on the road.”

Running towards the pier Steuart
outlined his plan. “This is our chance. Let’s run away before it’ too late.
We’ll find a boat. We can sail off to the Galapagos. They won’t find us. Let’s
do it!”

“Oh, would that we could. The wind is
perfect.”

“I wish the pirates would arrive this
very minute,” Steuart shouted. “I’d point to Mother and say
she’s ready fellows. Take her away.”

“Where are good pirates when we need
them?”

* * *

Ida’s voice cracked as she spoke with her
daughter. “Olivia, you don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, I do. “She pulled away and
nodded. “Some people actually work for a living.”

Ida shook her head, “Stop trying to
play games with me. I am not a fool. I understand you very well. You’re going.
You’ve made up your mind. That is that, and I understand this is going to
happen. What I do not understand is why you’re determined to continue creating
chaos in our lives. I refuse to stand here and listen to you tell me this is a
career move. We both know this is about something much bigger than a job.”

“We know no such thing. You just want
this to be about other things. You are the one who insists on creating chaos in
our lives. Listen to me. My career is the only reason for this move. There is
no other reason. The time has arrived for me to put myself first.”

“Seems to me that looking out for self
has never been your problem.”

“Mother, I respectfully disagree.”

Ida shook her head. “I do not approve
of what you’re doing, but this isn’t my call. I only wish you would consider
the children. You’ve intentionally kept them from their father. This is the
only home either of them remembers. They’re happy here—happy, safe, and
secure. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? They need the stability.”

“It’s always about someone else, isn’t
it?” Olivia glared at her mother.

“I guess we could ask your late night
visitor.”

“You have no right to say that to me,” Olivia
looked for the children and shouted, “Steuart James, Samantha Leigh, we have to
go—now.”

Ida bit her lip. She watched as Steuart
and Sam walked slowly towards the car. Steuart put his arms around Ida.
“Grandmother will you be okay?”

“Don’t waste your worry on me,” Ida
said. “I’ll be fine as long as I know the two of you are keeping your promises.
Make this time count for something great. Follow your words and colors.
Whatever you put into this is what you’ll get out. Enjoy your adventures. Most
of all, sweet babies, be happy.”

“
Voile
You
.” Steuart hugged Ida.

“And I love you too.”

Sam reached out and held her
grandmother’s hand. “Are you sure Grandmother?”

Ida stood tall, held her tears, and
looked at Sam. “Yes sweetheart, I am. I am sure-as-Matt.” She gave both
children one final hug as they got into the car. “You have no idea how much
excitement awaits you. The Midwest is beautiful, especially now. You’re going
to have incredible adventures. Put your best foot forward every day.” She
looked at Olivia, “Take care of yourself and take care of our babies.”

Olivia nodded. She started the car and
pulled out the winding drive as Ida stood in front of the house and waved.

* * *

Olivia drove up the road making her way
towards the main highway.

“Nothing is better than living on a
road where the houses have names,” Steuart said, “and the names have a point.”
Staring out the window, he watched houses and began reading aloud, “Beside the
Point, Point Lost, What’s Your Point, What’s the Point, Point of View, Point of
it All, The Pointers…”

Sam joined her brother, “Pointless,
Pointed, Last Point, Resting Point, Point of Reason, Old Point, Victory Point…”

“Match Point, Final Point, To the Point…”
Steuart spoke through his tears. “Mother, you’re being unfair. This is not
fair.”

“Who needs
fair
? Fair is where people wait in long lines to pay outrageous
prices for cheap thrills and fried butter.”

“You’re making my life completely
miserable.”

“Then I’m doing my job.”

“What?”

“I’m doing you a disservice if I make
your life easy. I don’t want you to become a hopeless cripple.”

“We’d like to stay here with
Grandmother,” Sam said.

“You’re a hateful and mean mother,”
Steuart shouted. “We’ll never, ever, forget this not even if we both live to be
one thousand and twenty-six years old.”

“Cut it out, Steuart. Don’t say things
you’re certain to regret.” Olivia looked at her children in the rearview
mirror.
Right, Good and Appropriate
encourages
growth. It is sensible and healthy to try new things. We’re trying something
new. You will adjust.”

“No, we won’t.”

“Everything will be fine. You’re upset
because you’re too young to understand these things. You’ll get over it and
then you’ll feel bad for being so cruel to your dear, sweet mother. Straighten
up now and behave. We have a long way to go.

“What about your dear, sweet mother?
What about her?”

“I’ve had enough of this bad behavior,”
Olivia snapped. “This is going to stop. Your grandmother is sixty-two years
old. She has lived her life. Now, it’s time for us to live ours.”

Sam’s jaw dropped.

Steuart slammed his fist against the
back seat. “I need my grandmother. Turn this car around. I want to go home!”

“That’s enough. Don’t make me pull over
and stop.”

Steuart frowned. He took a deep breath,
“Who’s Laurel Ivy Hood? Did you take something that belongs to her?”

Olivia pulled onto the highway, “I’m
not interested in your games. Settle in now. We’re playing the quiet game. I
don’t want to hear another word.”

Sam looked at Steuart and whispered,
“We forgot Point Taken.”

FOUR

Three
miles less than one thousand, veering slightly northeast, driveway-to-driveway,
sat the new house.
After
two days on the road, Steuart, Sam and their mother reached Maybell in time for
brunch.

The late September move was a colorful
surprise for two children who had never experienced the wonders of autumn. The
city was ablaze with fall color. Maybell was beautiful. Olivia was correct. Sam
and Steuart were stunned by the beauty of the season. However, it was Sam who
found the colors most captivating. Everywhere she looked there were new colors
to add to her collection. “Grandmother knew,” she whispered. “This must be what
she was talking about.”

Walking inside, the children found a
new house that was furniture store perfect; everything matched with a Sunday
flier sort of feel. “Isn’t it wonderful?” Olivia exclaimed. This was in
contrast to Ida’s house, which felt more like a long loved, well worn, often
read novel. The new house was pretty, but it wasn’t Point Taken. It felt cold,
impersonal, and lacked character.

Sam and Steuart were pleased to learn
that the city connected itself with a network of parks and bike trails. They
experienced a sudden sense of independence and were eager to explore their
surroundings. “Let’s go for a bike ride,” Steuart said to his sister.

“Let’s do it,” Sam agreed.

Always quick to take advantage of an
opportunity, Olivia presented the children with a challenge. “Get your rooms in
order. Understand me, everything must be unpacked and in place; boxes must be
empty, broken-down, and in the garage. Once that’s done, you may go out on your
bikes and play.”