Run Danny Run (Chap, 4)

CHAPTER FOUR

When Danny was almost thirteen ---

He sat on the snow bank staring thoughtfully as children played tag during recess. Danny wondered how many others in Lunenburg Elementary #12 were like him, about to be adopted. It was different; thinking about having brand new set of parents, away from your own mom and dad maybe somewhere back in Ontario.

            At least he knew his mom was probably still there. He never met his dad.

Danny once overheard his Children's Aid worker say he was a "difficult child."  And that maybe a total change in his life's direction would help him. He figured maybe it was the reason he ended up in Nova Scotia.

His physical health was good even though he was shorter than others of his age. And his baby blue eyes still peeked through long lashes, making him seem so lovable.

            At lease, that's what girls in his class kept telling him. But, innocent looking features could be quite deceiving. Good thing they didn't know how angry he felt inside.

            Danny thought about the six foster homes he had lived in these past few years. He wished he could forget some of the beatings and other things that happened. Those incidents had a habit of pushing away some of the good memories.

            His Children's Aid worker had been an older person, experienced in working with "hard-to-place" children. She knew she'd finally found the right couple, even if it meant moving so far away from his home province.

            His new family had three older children of their own. This time she could tell it was going to work out for Danny. It just had to happen. He was placed on adoption probation with his new family, the Lapointes.

            At first they were just another pair of faces but Danny was loved. For the first time in a long while, he felt comfortable. It was almost like being at home. Finally, he seemed to be at peace with himself. Except when he thought about his real mom, there was an empty space inside his chest. He wondered where she was right now.

            He had a hard time trying to forget the way he acted all these years. It was as if he didn't want anyone to ever love him;  like he was 'no-good' or something. Danny knew there had to be a place for him in this world. If only he could stop his stealing and lying. 

If he wasn’t careful the Lapointes might give up on him. Getting to know each other just had to work out. But it wasn't easy getting rid of old habits.

            This monkey on his back was difficult to shake. He tried so hard to stop taking money from his new brother's and sister's piggybanks. Imagine, just paying for cigarettes and chips for his pals at school. How did he ever expect to get anything for Christmas the way he was behaving?

            The Lapointes had many family discussions to help him out. Poor school habits had cost him two failed years, besides putting him in the doghouse.

            Now Danny was twelve going on thirteen and only in grade six. He was getting bored with the younger kids in his class. No wonder they acted like a bunch of little morons.

            The recess bell rang, interrupting his rambling thoughts. He had a court date tomorrow afternoon. This would be his third appearance for theft charges. Judge Templeton told Danny the last time he'd better not come back in his courtroom with any more problems.

            "I hope they don't send me away," Danny said quietly to himself. He heard from other kids he could face at least a year in Shelbourne Training School.

 Moistened eyes looked up at the sky. Only the blowing wind and

Snowflakes falling on December's whitened ground heard him. It should have been a relaxing moment. But it wasn't.

            "Oh mom, where are you? I miss you." He knew Mrs. Lapointe was a very nice person and wanted to be his new mom. But he needed his own flesh and blood mom right now. Tears streamed down his face as he closed his eyes. Danny needed to feel her arms around him. Did he let both his moms down? Did he let himself down?

            His hair re-arranged itself in the wind, jacket opened wide in spite of the coolness. Fists clenched and unclenched. It seemed to be his trademark these days. When any kids in school bugged him he usually 'bopped' them a good one. Now he had to spend time alone in a corner of the yard. "Because you can't get along with anyone," he was told.

            The school bell rang again. It meant classes were beginning. If he didn’t hurry, he would be late again. Danny wiped moisture from his eyes. He knew it wasn't his real mom's fault for walking out of his life.

            But, where was his real father? How come they had never met? Didn't he care about his son? He had to share some of the blame for what happened in his son's life. "I'll never forgive him," Danny promised himself.

            "Never," was a painful whisper.

 

Winter had provided the background in a new world for Larry. He remembered the time Anne entered his life. Courting was fun and seeing Anne with the children made him realize what he had been missing; a family. He thought often of the time Larry, Anne and the children went to visit a friend on his farm.

            There was a fair amount of snow on the ground and rather chilly outside. The type of day when your fingers got numb or your nose was almost frostbitten. The only way to fight it was to put bare flesh against your skin. No rubbing, simply the warmth of one protected area to another exposed to the elements.

            First, hand to face, and then hand to nose.

            They set out to visit his friend, a real estate salesman who was too busy to come and join them. Using Lawrence's old Ski-do and pulling a sled with the children hanging on, they headed down the trail into the woods back of his friend’s property. At first it looked to the children like an ordinary healthy day hike. After parking the noisy machine, they headed into the closest collection of trees.

            They were willing to seek any shelter from the wind.

            Saplings were bent from the weight of snow and crunching sounds followed the weight of hiking feet. Adults and children waited anxiously in a stand of woods for the freezing wind to take a pause.

Walt and Susan were hoping to have a little fire going soon for personal warmth. Happily, there were no heavy grocery-filled backpacks to carry on this trip.

            It would have been nice eating hot dogs over an open flame.          

            Puffing breath escaped as mist from warm mouths. Each tried to blow and huff harder, noses running, laughter spreading across frozen cheeks.

            The stillness absorbed their movements. Finally, they stopped jiggling around trying to get warm and stared at the beauty surrounding them. The moment was suspended, as if something perfect was about to take place. 

Both Walt aged ten and five year old Susan had been excited to come. "Look! Look here, Dad!" from Walt.

And "Mommy, it's so beautiful," from Susan.

            Anne and Larry had been dating regularly for the past six months, and the children already on a journey of togetherness enjoyed spending their free time together. "Dad" was a title often expressed in their excitement. It was as if they were hurrying along the family unit they desired.

And neither of the adults discouraged them.

            At first Larry and Anne were not sure how to deal with it, but then felt, "Oh, well." As long as it wasn't being said in the public eye, it was okay in private moments, such as now.

            Anne knew how Larry felt about her and things had been building to a climax. Unknown to anyone else, this was the day Larry decided to pop the question. "Will you marry me," now hurried from his cold lips.

He had been looking for just the right occasion. And it was here, on a farm in Greenfield. Why here? Maybe it had to do with all of them really enjoying the outdoors. Besides, it was the closest woods from town where Larry could carve a heart with initials on a tree without worrying about trespassing.

            His wife to be, the children and the forest were a perfect blend. Everything was in proper preparation. That moment remained fresh in his memory.

Anne said, "Yes."

*

Car tires hummed on the asphalt as their 1998 turquoise GM Cavalier whiskered by at an easy clip. Trees were a blurry shade as Truro disappeared into the far distance, left behind as a long lost friend.

            There was a new focus on Larry’s mind. His head whirred with an attack of anxiety and hopefulness. It was as if he was one delicate gear meshing smoothly with many others.

            "Hon?"

            "What?"

            "I can hardly understand it, Danny, here in Nova Scotia. It’s like a part of some great plan."

The final bit of information was passed quickly from London to Truro, then to the Reynolds’s last night. They could barely believe their ears at the time.

            "Well, it wasn't easy just packing up quickly to make this trip. Do you think the kids will be very upset?" Anne inquired.

            "Why? They’ll be well looked after by Baxter and Vida."

            “I know dear, but after all this time, searching and looking. Then all of a sudden---you know what I mean,” Anne persisted.

            Larry didn’t seem to be listening as he concentrated on the road.

            "For one thing, in all this excitement you forgot your promise to Walt. I'm a witness, I heard you."

            "What did I promise?" Larry asked, jarred from his thoughts.

            "Take him fishing. Remember? Tomorrow is Saturday. Rain or shine, you said; your word."

            "Oh darn, I completely forgot."

            "You've been doing a lot of that lately," Anne admonished. "You're going to have to work it out with him. And don't forget, next week is our vacation." Before she upset him any further, she asked, "Did you really want me along today?"

            "Yes."

            "I really let Walt down," Larry muttered under his breath. He heard his wife's last statement but his thoughts were on his two children. "Why didn't he remind me?" Larry asked.

            "Do you think you would have taken him fishing instead of making this trip?"

            "No."

"There's your answer." She didn't try to push it. She knew Larry felt bad enough already, but she needed to remind him about his promise.

*

They'd been through a lot lately. And that phone call last night meant everything to Larry. He was so excited he didn’t notice Walt and Susan simply went to bed early. It seemed fitting Larry should have some time to himself to digest the good news, but he even forgot to tuck his children in. Thankfully, Anne covered for him. 

            This time it wasn't just supposition or speculation. It was a lot more than a lead or a clue. It was a raw fact. They finally found Danny!

            Both Larry and Anne had learned the Lapointes were reviewing their interest on whether or not to have another period of adoption probation. They worried he might be too hardened from being in the Waterville Training school for almost a year. Things had turned so sour their adoption plans were put on hold. Apparently it was felt Danny should be placed temporarily with another foster home.

            The Reynolds’s were now on their way to see Danny at the home of Mrs. Leona Symes. He might even be playing with friends in the backyard right this very moment.

            The plan was to stay overnight in Lunenburg. Then visit in the morning and have a private visit while Danny was still in school. This would give them all a chance to catch up on any pertinent facts helpful in their meeting with Larry’s son. There would be lots of time for talking later. The CAS felt this would be the best approach before father and son met.

            Larry’s foot wanted to press harder on the accelerator due to the   slow pace of traffic. But his usual relaxing mood took over. In spite of any pressure or difficulties, he was able to step outside of himself. It was this ability to keep calm in a crisis that proved a most worthwhile asset. He was simply a professional and had to exercise emotional restraint at times.

            Reservations were in place and he looked forward to their overnight stay at the Boscowen Inn. The lady on the other end of the telephone said it was a former mansion. Eric Wilson, the author, had written a novel about a ghost that once resided there. A chill raced down his back as Larry heard the story from Anne.

            "Let's stop for a coffee," Larry said, noticing the Irving Big Stop restaurant. And they did. These past few hours he hadn't been listening as much as he should to his wife. His life had been turned 'topsy-turvy' since discovering he had a flesh and blood son, just miles away.

            He could barely imagine what his first few words to his son were going to be. "Danny, I never knew about you…"

            "What, Hon?" Anne interrupted.

            "Sorry, you-know-who's on my mind. Do you think he looks like me, dear?"

            "I think he’ll look more like me."

            "Like you?" Larry asked in astonishment. It wasn't the answer he was looking for and quickly burst into a laughing spell.

            "Why not?" was the kind of reply Anne tried to use as an ointment for her husband’s tenseness? He had been through a lot, she mused. And he could use a little teasing. Maybe break up that seriousness he'd been carrying around lately.

            “I’m really glad you feel that way,” Larry said.