Run Danny Run (Chap. 6)

CHAPTER SIX

 

The look Larry gave his wife first thing this morning could easily have frightened away the ghost of Lunenburg. If in fact it did exist. Staring through the window afforded him a most pleasant scene, as he tried to collect his thoughts.

 

The picturesque village of Lunenburg lay along the Lighthouse Route of Nova Scotia. It was founded in 1753 by German, Swiss and French Huguenot settlers. This international historic site has long been known for its shipbuilding, and seafaring expertise.

            They had booked into a beautiful room on the third floor overlooking the harbor. The Boscawen Inn was a tower-like affair with 17 antique-furnished rooms, and quite cozy. The building was once part of a 'dowry' and situated in an area with many other magnificently designed homes from the 19th century.

Lunenburg is also home to Canada's most famous tall ship, 'The Bluenose.'

            After refreshing themselves the night before, Larry and Anne had sat down and ordered some gorgeous food from a delightful menu. They selected the seafood platter with haddock, salmon and black oval mussels with a mild lobster sauce. The supper was delicious and their quiet strolling before bedtime, relaxing.

            That night, Larry teased his wife. "I think I see the ghost in the corner of our room," he said mischievously before turning out the bedroom lights.

            Anne cuddled really close.

            One little phone call could have brought everything to a happy conclusion the next morning. It was supposed to be the start of what should have been a perfect day.

            Breakfast was whole-wheat toast, home fries, hake fish cakes, and rhubarb relish. The coffee was dark and strong.

Larry had rehearsed his planned conversation with Anne a dozen times until his voice was almost worn out. "Hi Danny. This is your dad, your real blood relation dad. I've been looking all over for you and now you're here. And I love you," he would also add.

Except it was not to be.

*

Anne watched her husband stare with lifeless eyes at the phone receiver now held loosely in his hands. Then he hung up, and in slow motion turned to her.

She could barely make out his words as he painfully whispered, "Danny ran away last night from his foster home. No one knows where he went. The Police are out looking---"

            His words took her by surprise at first. But then why should she be? It seemed each step bringing them closer meant a new twist in this searching. However, this one was so unfair. They had been so close---really close.

            "After supper last night he told Leona Symes, his temporary foster parent that nobody wants him. She felt terrible because he wasn’t to be told we were coming. Remember, it was part of the plan, and now it’s all blown to pieces. Apparently she felt sorry for his sadness and spilled the beans about our visit and that we lived in Truro. Then he went to bed early, unusually early for him, around eight PM. Before retiring for the night herself, she went to check on him as she usually did."

The words were a struggle. Anne closed her eyes.

            "He’s gone," Larry said. "And so was a packsack full of clothes and camping items. He didn't even leave a note," he added sadly. "What are we going to do, hon?"

            "I'm not sure," Anne answered softly.

 

The Lunenburg CAS caseworker reviewed much of what had been already confirmed. The information was known but the stunning reversal of hope now dulled their senses. Everyone listened patiently.

            The Caseworker spoke about Danny’s background information as if it was all memorized. "The boy began foster home placements since the age of two. Six foster homes and one probationary adoptive home had been his route from ages two to eleven. Of course after the breakdown at the Lapointes, he was moved a short distance away.

In fact he moved just several blocks away. Leona and the Lapointes are very good friends. The Agency felt their closeness was crucial until we could do another evaluation and try to determine the best direction for this very troubled boy."

            Everyone in the room shook their heads. "So close'" was the collective password, the unfairness of it all.

            "After all we went through," the caseworker said resignedly.

            Danny's temporary foster parent, Leona Symes continued the conversation. "At the age of four he received two psychiatric evaluations. One stated he was un-adoptable due to severe rejection in his formative years and was probably brain damaged. The other stated he was adoptable, with firm loving parents. Or so we thought."

            "I'll never forget that day," Mr. Lapointe added. "The boy was one of several interviewed on the television series, 'Take a Chance.' It was a new CAS sponsored program featuring placement requests for children with severe behavioral difficulties. And we were the family that took that chance."

            "We brought him to a new province, hoping it would make a difference," Mrs. Lapointe said, head hanging.

            Larry and Anne heard a fascinating tale of how much this family had tried. They even put at risk the peace and stability within their own family of three younger children. Each wanted to prove to Danny that caring and love were not just words. Wanting to work as a family to help a hurting child like Danny was their common goal.

            Mrs. Lapointe continued, “It didn't take long before our visits to his last foster home placement in Cochrane, Ontario were completed. After the necessary paperwork, Danny was on his way to Nova Scotia. Eventually we all felt we wanted to make him an official part of our family. After the first six-month adoption probation period was completed we tried a second. Everyone in the family had an equal vote. The decision was unanimous.

            "It became quite painful as the weeks and months passed. After trying so very hard we had to ask the CAS to move him to another foster home. He was placing such a strain on our family," Mrs. Lapointe said.

            She added, "Danny demanded, through his behavior, almost total attention. There was little patience left for his brothers and sister."

            The story was almost like a video movie. Painful words expressed from each adult said more than a written story of broken hopes.

            "At first, he seemed so happy," Mrs. Lapointe said. "Then he began to steal from us. It was pathetic when he explained it was to buy cigarettes and chips. To make friends at school, of all things."    

            Anne and Larry winced as they continued to hear about a family who had tried to help Danny overcome feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. Then a litany of out of control behavior included lighting a fire at school, petty mischief in the neighborhood and what seemed like a deliberate failing of his grades. This was in spite of high scores in his IQ testing.

            The Lapointes had every reason to re-evaluate their potential adoption commitment after frequent police visits, and many trips to Juvenile court. A buildup of violations finally led to eleven months at a training school.

            "This was the straw which broke the camel's back," the CAS worker said. "After returning, he showed his change into a mean-spirited person. We can only guess what went on to turn him in such a direction."

            "Imagine," Mrs Lapointe said. "There was even a day we wished Danny would run away and give us some peace. Sadly, he now has. It’s a shame it had to be from the foster home that also tried so hard to guide him. He left, knowing his own father wanted to meet him." It was just too difficult for the Lapointes to speak any further.

They had said enough for today.

            Larry stood up, went forward and placed an arm of support around Mr. Lapointe's shoulder. He didn't know what else to do or say. "Jack, you did your best," he mumbled. His coffee was now cold and there was a lump building in his chest. He felt like sobbing for himself and Anne and for these kind people who had obviously done their best.

            Mr. Lapointe said, "He must have seen his chance to follow through on our wish when he found out his real dad found him. All we did was visit with him when Leona told him about you. We tried to gently explain things. We said you just wanted to visit, as a first step. And that it was arranged for you and your wife to take him out to dinner."

Everyone at the kitchen table could hardly believe what had happened.

            Mrs. Lapointe continued, "Maybe the CAS and Leona Symes should have done it themselves. They thought since we spent so much time with him, we were the right choice to actually tell Danny. Now it looks like it was a huge mistake."

            "I was so close," Larry whispered. "Where do you think he might be?"

            "I called the Police and the Children's Aid right away. I don't know. I just don't know what's left to do." Leona hung her head. "He was only here for two months. Why couldn't he have waited? At least see you and talk to you---his biological father."

            Larry and Anne were silent as they put away several albums of pictures the Lapointes had brought over. A boy grew up in those pages. And Larry was sure there were many other adventures as the boy moved through different foster homes. What was driving him? Was his lot in life never to be fulfilled? Was he taking his anger out on his own flesh and blood father, by running away?

            "Something else you should know about," Mr. Lapointe said meeting their silent stares. “He sneaked out with my .22 rifle. A Cooey Repeater, along with several boxes of ammunition. I don't know why, but it's gone along with a pup tent, sleeping bag, food and a few other things. He used to go rabbit hunting with me lots of times, and he's a pretty good shot. In fact, I taught him a lot about the outdoors."

"The Police know about the rifle and are quite concerned," Leona said. The CAS worker echoed those sentiments. “In the hands of an unstable fourteen year old boy?” The question was left hanging in the air.

            Anne and Larry left with heavy hearts. It had been an evening of good and bad information. Good: where Danny had a great week at a horse ranch when he was thirteen. Bad, when it was discovered he forged a couple of checks so he could play pool after skipping school.

They made plans to meet and talk with the Lapointes and Leona Symes after they returned from holidays. Both Larry and Anne knew they had to go through with their plans, for the sake of their own children. 

“Perhaps you could even come for a visit to Truro,” the Reynolds’s said. In the meantime everyone promised to keep in touch, especially if the police discovered any information.

            "What does he want with a .22 rifle anyway?" Anne asked.