The Mind Bender

Chapter 4

"Mom, what's wrong with me?" Dane sat on his bed as he gazed at the shafts of light that slipped through his room's window. He ignored his breakfast.

"Nothing's wrong with you," Elaine responded, holding Dane's face and rubbing his cheek with her thumb.

"What happened to dad?" he asked. He saw his mom look at his bowl and then look away.

"He's gone." Her voice broke, but she cleared her throat. "Dad's not coming back. But I'm still here."

"I think," Dane replied, drooping his head, wondering if he should continue.

"What is it?" Elaine drew a spoon full of cereal into his mouth.

Dane avoided it. "I think I killed dad."

Elaine dropped the spoon into the bowl and snapped, "How many times do I have to tell you it wasn't your fault?"

"I think something's wrong with me." He got off of his bed and walked closer to the window. "Sometimes I hear people in my head. I heard dad thoughts too."

"What was he thinking?" Elaine put the bowl on the bedside table.

Dane responded without turning around to look at Elaine. "He kept calling me things like queer and faggot."

"Your daddy loved you sweetie, just like I do."

"Stop lying to me, mom," he replied calmly. His gaze shot straight through the window and into the blank space. He heard his mom's footsteps and then felt her embrace. She kissed his temple.

"Your daddy sometimes just got a little too angry, but he loved you."

He looked at his mom and stared at her for a while. "Why do you still like daddy even if he hurt you?"

A drop of tear fell from Elaine's eye. "Sweetie," she said, running her fingers over his cheek, "sometimes people do bad things to you, but you still like them."

Dane looked outside again. "He hated me."

"No, he did not."

"Stop lying, mom."

"I'm not lying."

"I can hear your thoughts, mom."

"What do you mean you can..."

The doorbell rang.

"Stay here. Finish your cereal." Elaine got out of Dane's room. She came back after several minutes. "Hey, someone wants to see you."

"Who?"

"Mr. Astor."

"I don't know him." Dane didn't look at his mom.

"But he knows you."

"I don't know him."

"Are you sure?"

Dane nodded.

"Okay, then maybe you could see him downstairs. Is that okay?" Elaine held out her hand, which Dane took. They both went downstairs to meet a man in a dark brown suit and hat. He wore a wide grin as he stood up from the couch where he had sat.

Dane looked at him, perusing his features, but he couldn't recognize him. He didn't know whether to stay expressionless or to smile. He sat beside his mom, occasionally glancing at the man who he saw seemed to be as old as his father. He saw him extend his arm and shook it.

"Mr. Astor --"

"I prefer," the visitor said, interrupting Elaine, "Frank."

"Frank, my son says he doesn't know you."