HARMONY

Part 12 "What happened to my family?"

From the outside, Drew may look like the "perfect" kid.  He's a great student.  He volunteers at the Special Olympics.  Never gets into trouble.  But on the inside, he's a raging storm... ready to explode.

Drew leaned over the little girl, held her arms and helped her scoop up the soccer ball.

"MMMMEEEEE!" she squealed and then clapped her palms with an awkward spread of her chubby fingers. "My ballll!"

"Yes, Rachel," Drew said flatly. "You saved the goal."

From the corner of his eye, he saw Rachel's mom leap up from the lawn chair line and take another dozen pictures. "You did it Rachel! You saved the goal!"

Drew surveyed the field. Rachel was born with Down's Syndrome and was one of 25 children with various special impairments playing soccer that hot Saturday afternoon. There was a little boy who was blind, but who managed to kick the ball at least once a game. Another little girl had Cerebral Palsy and worked fiercely with the metal poles attached to her arms. But from the cheering of the parents lining the field, these children were star athletes.

"Okay Rachel. We need to put the ball down so you can kick it to the other kids," Drew said. He tried to wriggle it from her grasp.

"Myyy ballll!"

Drew sighed and raised his face to the sky. He looked back into the smile of one of the dads who helped coach the team. "Hey sport," he said. "Rachel made a good save."

"Yes, coach, she did, but she won't..."

The coach knelt down and looked at Rachel. Rachel's eyes bugged behind her prescription safety goggles. Without a ball, many of the other kids lost interest and were heading to the parents for a snack.

"Rachel," said the coach. "I am so proud of you for making that save. I'd like to see you do it again."

"Okaaaay!" she said and handed him the ball.

The coach gave the ball to Drew. "Smile sport. We're all out here for some fun."

Drew managed to fake a smile. Oh ya, tons of fun. Soon as I tear open my college acceptance letter, I'm gone.

Rachel began doing spins in the goal—her pony tails whirling in a circular motion. She sang words from a nursery rhyme, and, for a moment, Drew envied her. A long afternoon later, his shift was over.

"That's over 100 service hours in two months, sport," the coach said. "The kids are sure lucky to have someone as dedicated as you, Drew."

"Thanks, coach," Drew said, taking the signed verification form. "I'll be here next week."

The coach nodded his head thoughtfully. "I hope you're looking forward to it."

Drew folded his paper carefully. Who the hell would look forward to this? It's a total waste of time. "It's the highlight of my week," he said.

At that moment, Rachel's pudgy hands, now sticky from her Popsicle, wrapped around Drew's waist. "Dreeeeew," she howled.

Trying for minimal contact, Drew attempted to unpeel her. "It's time for me to go home now." He looked up in a desperate search. "Where's your mommy and daddy?"

"Dreeeeeew," she howled again, making her grip tighter and pressing her oversized breasts into his back. "Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeee!"

At that moment, Rachel's mother came running toward them with a bright pink envelope. She smiled as she approached Drew. She was wearing a flattering sundress with her hair pulled into a classy mop of curls. Drew wondered how such a pretty woman could give birth to such a defect.