A PROUD SON OF FRED story

Nathan is busy rocking on the swing in his backyard.

The sun is warm on his thin arms. And he listens to the creaking. The rope swing slows down.

He kicks lazily at the earth.

"My dad coming today?" he asks the Blue Jay. It isn't unusual for Nathan to talk to birds. But, it's easy when you don't have any friends.

Nathan looks up at the sky. "Why is it so blue? Hi sky! Hi blue!" He must ask his favorite teacher Miss Martin on Monday.

Today is Saturday. He likes getting up early before his foster parents. It gives the morning sun a chance to wink at him.

But, it hurts his eyes to look up. Even though the sun has a large orange smile.

Miss Martin says he is a morning person. He likes her. And he knows she likes him too. "Nice lady."

Nathan gets off the swing and walks around the yard. He enjoys living in Truro. Especially being so close to Victoria Park with lots and lots of acres.

Maybe hundreds.

The moon is like a flashlight in the sky.

Before snooze-time he likes to stare at the tall pine trees. They reach up and up, like fingers. And a dark blanket of nighttime can't hide the stars from calling Nathan.

"We're waiting," they always say.

"I'm coming!" he answers back. Even when he lies in bed, his lips mutter, "I'm coming."

Now his ten-year old arms slap at his sides. He feels like a bird sometimes. If only he could fly away.

Now Nathan flaps his arms.

It would be so easy, to just raise his arms and…away. If he was a bird, he could travel over the trees and find his dad. When is he going to visit again?

Nathan's brown hair hung loosely over his thin face.

His foster parents didn’t mind him going outside on his own. But he isn't allowed to wander away from the yard.

Sometimes the kids at school yell "Hey retard!" He learned to shut his ears to their, “talky-talk.”

Nathan spends much of his time watching everyone else have fun. Watching. Not playing.

What is a 'retard' anyway? Sometimes the words hurt, especially when he sees others smiling or laughing out loud.

"Hey you!" he remembers shouting one day. "Names and faces!" Then the other kids laughed even more. That wasn't polite.

He knows because his foster parents are teaching him things. And he has to listen carefully. The school says he is 'Mentally challenged.'

"I am not mental! I am not mental! comes like fire from his lips.

This early-morning he looked in the mirror and tried to grin like his foster mother. But he couldn't. He had to be happy to look like that.

How could Nathan be happy? He doesn't have a home. Not a real one. He wants a house with a nice kitchen and a yard.

For a dad and son.

Nathan's mouth twists into a funny shape. Only half his teeth show, like a dog ready to bite.

"Growl," says his mouth. But he isn't like that at all, only lonely inside and hurt. He has to find his dad. "Coming. I'm coming, dad."

Then his foster mother stood beside him in the yard. "I thought you would be extra hungry this morning," she said sweetly.

He tried his half dog smile. It just didn't come out right. Maybe tomorrow Nathan would try again. No time for lots of talk now.

He has to make plans, to do things. Nathan keeps clenching and unclenching his fingers. He slaps at his sides.

"Shucks," he says." I ate one, two. No, three toast. I'm okay. I have to go now." And he turns to leave.

"Pancakes? Sausages? Would you like that?" his foster mother teases.

His tummy says “Yes…Yes.” But his lips keep shut.

"Come on now. You can't turn down pancakes. With maple syrup?"

His eyebrows lift. His mouth is watering. But he has plans. When his mind is made up, it is made up.

"Oh good, good. I like pancakes. But not to-day," he says.

"Where do you want to go today Nathan?" Her smile floats over him like a warm summer breeze.

He likes his foster parents but they act too kind. Maybe they want me to forget my dad.

"No place."

"Where?"

"No place."

"You mean nowhere special don't you? But you have to go somewhere, Nathan."

She always corrects him. He hates that. He gets mixed up with his talking fast. "I am not a retard," he says to himself.

"It's okay Nathan. I'm just trying to help. Now try it. Nowhere."

"No-where," He repeats very slowly.

"Now, wasn't that easy?"

She didn't ask why his packsack is so full. Maybe she doesn't care if he runs away. He has to hurry. His dad is waiting.

"Dad, I'm coming."

The thought has been building in his mind for the past two weeks. It is something he has to do. He must prove he isn't afraid, even if people call him names and more names.

"Dad. I'm coming." His heart hammers. His fingers clench. His knees have springs. His legs feel bouncy like a rubber ball.

Two big fat crows fly by and say "Hi. Hi."

Except Nathan doesn't call them big fat crows. He calls them 'flying houses'. They are so big and fat their wings can barely keep them in the air.

He likes to make up new names. He is smart. He will show everyone. He can even fly like the crows if he wants to.

Nathan lets his foster mother take his hand.

Together they head to the park to find his dad.

* * *

(c) Richard L. Provencher 2007

Richard and Esther Provencher invite you to view their novels written during a recovery from a stroke, which gob smacked her husband Richard in 1999.

Direct links to these novels from www.synergebooks.com are below.

FOOTPRINTS is about Joe who receives an anonymous letter stating he has a 14 year old son he was not aware of. Will this affect a recent marriage to a wonderful lady with two children who love him? His desire to find his missing son puts a strain on everyone. Unknown to Joe, an angry son is also looking for him.
http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_footprints.html novel available now

SOMEONES SON is about Sheldon who has overcome much hurting these past three years. He has been the man of the house since his father moved out. Now dad is back and wants to spend time with him. What about Larry, his neighbor who has been like a father all this time? And mom wants to marry again? http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_someonesson.html novel available soon

INTO THE FIRE is about Troy who has no real friends, only an imaginary one, JC. Without him, Troy might not be able to cope with living in the country, since dad took up drinking. Troy has to be the man of the house because a terrible accident killed mom three months ago. Then a mystery changes everything.
http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_intothefire.html. novel available soon