The Saviors of Maria

Chapter 7

"Do you have any insight on this, Dr. Hall?"

The doctor sat in silence for a moment, pondering the answer. He scribbled in his notebook, taking notes on everything Arthur had told him about the feelings he had during Pup's performance from the knots in his stomach to the heightened sensations of euphoria. He pursed his lips, humming softly.

"What you're experiencing is rather remarkable." Dr. Hall answered him in praise. "You show incredibly strong empathy for child your age. For music to affect you in such a way..."

"Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others." Arthur responded. "Why do you think I have this quality?"

"I meant that you have a connection with Pup." Dr. Hall clarified to him. "You associate him with joy and happiness."

"Doesn't everyone, Dr. Hall?" Arthur responded. "Who wouldn't associate Pup with the sun and the stars? The sky and the earth? The wind and the stillness? The day and the..."

"Arthur?" The doctor interrupted him, wheels turning in his head. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"

Arthur turned to Dr. Hall, piercing him with his odd colored eyes.

"If I had something to tell you, I would have told you already."

~

The blinding sun was beaming onto the rough pavement, scorching it. The grass was still brown from the unrelenting snow storms of December and January. Arthur's peers were running around like headless chickens around the playground while another group was throwing an oddly shaped ball around. He had seen that shape many times, but he had never figured out why it was shaped like that and not in the shape of an actual ball. He put this question in the back of his mind as he was seated next to Pup under the shade of the tree. Pup was humming a tune under his breath, a tune from the Broadway stage, Arthur presumed. The calmness was interrupted by an approaching mob of idiots, led by none other than Buzz.

"Hey, ladies." He greeted with salt in his tone.

"What do you want, ignoramus?" Pup replied, a feeling of pride overcoming Arthur at the use of sophisticated language.

"Gesundheit." Buzz responded with false concern. "I just wanted to see my favorite couple today."

"We are very busy, Eugene Bosworth." Arthur told him off. "And by the way, I can assure you that both Pup and I have male reproductive organs, therefore, we are not ladies."

Buzz and his gang of friends merely walked away laughing, pushing each other back and forth. Arthur raised his eyebrows at them.

"Arthur!" Pup protested, shoving him slightly.

"What?" Arthur whined, his head slanted.

"I told you that when dealing with kids like Buzz, I do all the talking!" Pup replied.

"I was merely stating that..." Arthur tried to counter.

"Just listen to me, okay?" Pup said to him. "You have much to learn about the world, young padawan."

"And you have much to learn about basic math, reading skills, the laws of physics, the various functions of each part of the brain..." Arthur replied.

"That's what I have you for, dear. That's what I have you for."

~

Charlotte Kirby was working at her desk when the phone rang. It was a slow day at the pharmacy, so she decided to use that time to take care of her finances. The phone's grating ring was an assault to her senses, making a framed picture of her and the only child she will ever have fall to the floor.

"Damn." She cursed to herself for her clumsiness.

Charlotte frantically stood from her chair and picked up the precious treasure, looking it over to make sure there were no cracks or tearing as she muttered various profanities under her breath. She then gently set it back in its rightful place on her desk. The phone rang the consecutive four times before presenting the voice message in her infamous secretary voice.

"Hello, you've reached Kirby's Pharmacy and Medical Clinic. If you are calling for an appointment, our office is open Monday thru Friday with Wednesdays off. If you are calling the Kirby family, leave a message after the tone. Talk to you soon.

The message that was left made all of Charlotte's muscles tighten in knots.

"Hey, Charlie. It's Marc. I know it's been a long time, and we haven't spoken since graduation, but I just wanted to see how you were and to tell you that I really have my life together now. I have a job, a family. Well, I digress. Anyway, I have made many mistakes when I was younger, and, well, what I'm trying to say is that I need closure, and I want to start over with you, as friends. How about coffee? Call me when you get the chance, but if you don't, I'll understand why."

~

"Who does he think he is?" Sharon ranted, distraught. "He can't just waltz back into your life after he abandoned you!"

"Sharon..." Charlotte tried to interrupt.

"The nerve of some people!" Sharon continued. "They are no good, Char, no good!"

"Sharon..."

"You deserve so much better than that!"

"Sharon!"

"What?!"

"He's my brother!"

"Oh." Sharon answered, calm. "That makes more sense."

As Arthur and Pup were upstairs doing their schoolwork, Charlotte was filling Sharon in on the message that she had received earlier that day. The shock hadn't worn off quite yet from getting a call from someone that she had spent the last eight years loathing with a passion for tricking her, for using her as concealer for an unsightly blemish.

"I don't want to overwhelm Arthur." Charlotte exclaimed. "You know how mad he got when I replaced the drapes in the living room. Imagine how he'll react when, out of nowhere. . ."

"He needs to know, Char." Sharon interrupted her.

"Every time someone asks about aunts and uncles, what does Arthur say?" Charlotte countered.

Sharon took a deep breath, knowing exactly what he said.

"He says, and I quote...'" Charlotte tried to answer for her.

"Charlotte, I know what he says." Sharon interrupted. "But it wouldn't be fair to Marc. Just give him a chance."