In Search Of Elysium

Chapter 1

Kevin Gets Ready For School

Richard Carpenter wasn't having a good day. During the night his seventeen-year-old son, Kevin, woke him over six times. Due to a farming accident before birth, Kevin had the mental capacity of a ten-year-old. The accident almost killed his mother, Helen, while she was carrying Kevin, and the fetus became damaged. Doctors all wanted Helen to end the pregnancy, but being a devout Catholic and pro-life, she refused. During the seventeen years of Kevin's life, the Carpenters saw many miracles. Doctors said Kevin would never talk, walk, or understand anything they said. They recommended putting him in a special home for the disabled, so the couple could on with their own lives. Kevin's parents listened to their hearts and, through hard work, determination and prayer, helped their son blossom into a productive young man.

He has the same good looks as his dad with dark-brown hair and intense blue eyes. At six feet tall and over 185 pounds, he towers above most of his classmates at the special school he attends. Kevin attends a special-education program for severely handicapped young adults and works part-time at the teen workshop, a training program for students. Kevin looks like a normal teenager, but he will never advance beyond the mental age of ten.

Over the past several weeks, Kevin was having nightmares that kept him and his father from getting any rest. This behavior started after Helen's death. Helen suffered with cervical cancer for two years, and died in the arms of her loving husband, with Kevin and his older sister, Liz, at her side. The young man could not understand why his mother was taken from him. Richard, along with professional counselors at school and church, were trying to help Kevin with his grief and anger. Kevin had a good understanding of God and heaven, and he knew his grandparents were with God, and that God is loving and forgiving. Still, he could not fathom why a loving God would hurt him so much by taking his mother.

Richard had decided that today Kevin would return to school. The counselors said if Kevin could get back to his normal routine, he might heal faster.

I wish I could get over my grief too. Richard thought.

He entered Kevin's room, where his son slept on top of the sheets, in his favorite Sponge Bob tee-shirt and boxer shorts. He shook the young man awake.

"Kevin, you have to get ready for school. I know you're still upset about Mom, but you can't keep missing school," he insisted.

"No. Don't want school. I'm sick," Kevin replied.

"Get up now! No excuses today! You missed too much school already," Richard insisted. "You have friends there, and you like the teacher, Miss Carol. Remember? Today you have to go back. Don't you like school, Kevin?"

"Yes, I like school. I... ah," Kevin hesitated. "Will you drive?" He asked his father.

"I can't today Kevin. The bus is coming in an hour. You like riding the bus don't you?"

"Yes, but..."

"No buts, Kevin! Get up now," Richard ordered. "Get into the bathroom, young man. I'll make pancakes for you."

"Pancakes... I like pancakes. Can I have syrup too?"

"Sure thing. I'll see you in the kitchen."

"Know what Dad? I like pancakes, and I can go to school. I don't need help taking a bath. I can put my own clothes on, and I don't pee myself anymore." Kevin chattered on as he walked into the bathroom. Sometimes Kevin's comments came at inopportune times, and most parents would become embarrassed, but Richard and Helen had learned to thank God that he could talk.

Richard was eager to see his son back to a normal routine. The past month had been very hard on the entire family, and he had so much work to take care of on the farm. Without his wife, Richard must make all the decisions. Helen had been such a great sounding board for him, and the two managed the farm together since they took it over from Richard's father. He could count on her to tell him when his ideas were good or crazy. However, now it was just Richard and Kevin left on the farm. His daughter, Liz, is attending school to become a medical doctor. She only comes home a few times a year.