Forgotten Times 9/17
By Debbie Eng (wan-ping@juno)

******

	Peter had been quiet on the way to the Blaisdells' house.  After
Todd and Carolyn had pulled their car behind Kermit's and Paul's, they
watched as Peter orientated himself.  He had only been to visit a couple
of times before they had adopted him.  Annie unlocked the door and they
went in with Kermit carrying a duffel bag of things that he had picked up
at Peter's place.  Peter gingerly walked to a sofa and sat down.  The
trip home had tired him, but he didn't want to say anything.  Everybody
was nervously hovering around him.  None of them knew what to say.  Lost
in his thoughts, he didn't notice when Annie sat down near him, patting
his knee in reassurance.  Without realizing it he leaned closer to her
for the kind of comfort only a mother could give to her child.  Paul
shoed everyone out of the room.  Peter needed some time alone with the
only mother he had ever known.  For many moments, they just sat there in
silence.  Then Annie spoke, " What's going through your mind, Peter? "

	Peter jumped slightly at the sound of her voice.  Then he
realized how close he was to her and moved away to the far end of the
couch.  Annie felt the movement all of the way to her heart.  In the past
when he had first come to live with them, Peter had been just as wary of 
the love and comfort that the Blaisdells had offered him.

	" I'm sorry, Mrs. Blaisdell, " Peter said as he wearily used the
sofa arm to help himself to his feet.  His ribs were beginning to hurt,
and he didn't know where his pills were.

	Annie could hear the weariness in his voice as he apologized, "
You have nothing to be sorry about.  Come, I'll take you to your old
room.  She took his hand to guide him. "

	Peter inwardly smiled, " This is new, the blind leading the
sighted. "  Whoops, you dumb blockhead, he admonished himself, " I'm
sorry...I didn't mean..."  Peter was at a loss for words.  Hell, they had
taken him in when he had no where else to go, and already, he had
insulted Mrs. Blaisdell.  A person who had been nothing but nice to him. 
He waited for Mrs. Blaisdell to drop his hand.  He didn't deserve a touch
of kindness.

	Annie just laughed and gripped his hand tighter, " Hold on,
Peter, because if you get lost and wander off, I'll have a hard time
looking for you. "

	Peter felt a flood of relief go through him.  She didn't appear
to be insulted.  In a way, she acted a lot like Mrs. Anderson.  They
turned a corner and entered a room.  He saw Kermit setting up a laptop
computer on the desk in the corner.  The duffel bag thrown on the bed
waiting to be unpacked.  Annie gave him a quick hug, " I'll let you
settle in now.  Kermit, "  Kermit turned to face her.  " Make sure Peter
gets some rest alright? "  Kermit gave an affirmative reply.

	After Annie had left, Peter sighed and sat down on the twin sized
bed pushing the duffel bag on the floor, " How did she know that you were
there? "

           " Beats the heck out of me, but we sure could have used her in
The Trade, "  Kermit replied as he hooked the modem up.  Then he turned the
thing on.  Peter had not used the thing in years, but it beeped
faithfully as it booted itself up.  He watched as the computer finished
checking its systems and then stop at a screen that asked for a username
and id.  " Hey, Peter, you wouldn't by chance remember the password on
this thing, would you?  Otherwise, I'm going to hack it.  Peter? "  There
was no answer.  Peter lay on top of the covers sound asleep.  Kermit
sighed and shut down the computer.  That could wait til later.  He
silently removed Peter's sneakers and left the room.