Forgotten Times 6/17
By Debbie Eng (wan-ping@juno.com)

*******

	Todd put his arm around Carolyn and whistled again.  The nurses
and doctors nearby looked at him, but he didn't pay any attention to
them.  He heard Peter's answering whistle.  He slowly pushed the door
open.  The sight that greeted them was better then the sight that had
greeted the rest of the family.  A nurse had raised the bed so that Peter
could see each visitor as they walked in.  He looked shocked as he looked
at first Todd and then Carolyn.  Then he looked at Todd again.

	" Oh my god, " Peter whispered, " This isn't a dream then.  This
is real."  He continued to stare at Todd.  It was unbelievable.  Todd had
grown taller and filled out over the years.  

	Carolyn reached towards him to give him a hug, " Peter, how do
you feel? "

	Peter saw the ring on her left hand and stared.  Then he looked
more carefully at the two.  It couldn't be.  Todd, who was afraid to even
talk to a girl, was married?  To Carolyn Blaisdell?  How had that
happened?  
	
	The two of them were looking worried from his continued silence. 
They expected him to say something.  Anything.  He didn't know what to
say.  He didn't know any of these people, at least not as well as they
knew him.  He knew that the Blaisdells were nice people.  They came to
visit him every once in a while when he was at the orphanage.  And
sometimes after the captain gave his lectures on safety and stuff, he got
to go home with him to visit.  And he knew Todd was his friend, at least
the teenage version of him was.  

	" Peter? " Todd inquired.

	Peter stopped his reflecting and said the first thing that came
to his mind, " Todd you gotta work on that whistle. "

	Todd looked startled, " What's wrong with my whistle? "

	Peter replied, " It sounds like a dying bird, that's what's
wrong."

	Just then there was another knock on the door.  The rest of the
Blaisdell family came in.  A nurse was behind them.  One he hadn't seen
before.  She went to take his pulse and check the IV full of pain
medication.  Then she went to record some information on the chart at the
foot of the bed.  

	" Nothing to say this time, Detective Caine?  This is a
new one.  First time you've been here and not complained, flirted, or
tried to charm your way out early. "  

	Peter felt the back of his neck and cheeks heat up.  He looked
down.  Flirted?  Him?  He hadn't even gotten up the nerve to speak to any
girls at school yet.  He had tried once.  Once had been enough. It had
happened at the orphanage.  He had been there for several months and had
finally realized that Ping Hai was not about to come and get him.  He had
asked Sarah Henson another girl who had been at the orphanage, if she had
wanted to go and see a movie with him.  He had worked two weeks for the
money and the courage to ask her.  And when he had actually managed to
stammer out an invitation, she had rejected him.  Big time.  She had told
him, with all of the other normal guys there, why would she want to go
out with a bald headed freak.  After that, he had never worked up the
courage to try again.
	
	Paul looked at his foster son.  He didn't like what he saw.  If
Peter had been himself, he would have come back with some witty remark. 
Not withdraw into himself with embarrassment.  " Peter, the doctor said
that you could go home soon.  Annie and I have discussed it.  For the
time being, you can stay with us, at least until your arm and ribs heal
enough so that you can manage on your own. "  

	Peter looked up, " You're not going to send me back with Mr.
Anderson?   Or Pine Ridge?"   He had always liked the Blaisdells. 
Sometimes at night, when he was about to fall asleep, he would fantasize
that a family like the Blaisdells would actually want someone like him. 
But no one wanted a half grown freak, as Mr. Anderson had shouted at him
time and time again.   Mr. Anderson had been right.  Why would they want
him when they could wait for a baby?  He was lucky that he had a home
with Mr. Anderson.  And so what if he got hit a little?  Its not like his
real father hadn't hit him.  Hadn't Pop told him that he did it to ensure
that the lesson went in?  So what if Mr. Anderson did it a little harder.
 He deserved it.  Mr. Anderson said it was for his own good.  And maybe
he was right.

	Then he remembered, " Wait, a second, didn't you guys say I'm 
missing fifteen years or something?  I can't still be at the orphanage,
right?  Where do I usually live? "

	" You have your own apartment in a high rise on Braden Street, "
Kelly said, " But you used to always stay with us when you were hurt
until your father came..."  She had an uh oh look on her face.

	Peter knew for sure that this was a dream, " Father?  My father
is dead.  This isn't real. Now I know I'm still dreaming. "  Peter could
feel the tears welling up in his eyes.  He knew this had all been too good
to be true.  Yeah, the Blaisdells wanted him.  Yeah, he was loved.  What a
cruel joke.  He knew where he was now.  He was in his fantasy world, the
ultimate secret place inside of him.  This was where he sent his mind
when Mr. Anderson decided to enforce another one of his  lessons.  He
used his good arm and pulled up the sheets.  Then he turned away from
them, fake or not, he didn't want them to see him cry.  This had just
been another fantasy.  But for a moment, it had seemed so real.
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