A Little Common Sense

Chapter 9
Part 9

Two days later, Mom and the doctor entered my room. They were both looking pleased. "It’s official," the doctor said. "The tests showed that you really are Kevin Turner so we can make the announcement to the press. And, the wound is healing well, well enough so that you can go home today."

"Yay!" I said.

"Kevin, that crowd of people outside is getting bigger, and the reporters are there. Do you want to talk to them? We may be able to sneak you out."

"We will have to do it, sometime, right? We better get this over with."

Bobby - Dad showed up to help take me through the crowd downstairs. I was dressed, in regular clothes, shorts and t-shirt, and the staff brought in a wheel chair.

"Stacy Jones is watching the kids, all of them," Dad told me. "She really wants to help with this project and I agree. She’s great with the little ones, and that’s some buddy you’ve got there, Tiger. He’s already helped Pete come up with a couple new flavors, and we haven’t announced the first one yet."

"Tommy, yeah, he’s a good kid."

The lobby wasn’t crowded, but the front door was. Dad held the door open for the nurse to wheel me outside. I stood up, and let Mom take my hand as we walked through the first bunch of people. No one reacted.

For a second, I wondered if we would make it to the car, but as we walked away from the hospital, one of the reporters broke off. He had a camera man with him, and I saw that the logo was for a program I liked.

"Mr. Henderson?" he asked and fell into step with us as we walked further from the doorway.

"Yes?"

"I’m Mark Cahill, with Channel Seven News. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions."

"Shoot. I need to get my son home, he’s had a rough time of it here."

"Are we on TV?" I cut in.

"We will be," he said. "What’s your name, son?’

"Kevin. I’m gonna be Kevin Henderson, cause Mom and Dad are adopting me."

"That’s right," Mom said. "Mr. Cahill, this is Kevin Turner, the DNA tests proved without any doubt, that he is the son of Gregory and Elizabeth Turner. He’s been kidnapped, shot, left for dead, and has lived in the street, running from everything he knew just to stay alive. My father-in-law took him in, and we are continuing his care, and taking care of several other street kids."

"And the fact that he’s worth twenty-three million dollars didn’t help?"

"I resent the implication in that statement, Mr. Cahill. We didn’t know who Kevin was when we took him in. He wasn’t saying. Now that we do know, you can rest assured that his inheritance is safe. My husband is the head of a multi-billion dollar corporation. We do not need Kevin’s money to survive. We will have the best trust fund managers handle it and he can expect a good return on that money when he’s old enough."

"You make a good point," he told Mom before looking down at me. "And what do you think, Kevin?"

"She’s right. I didn’t tell anyone who I was cause I didn’t know I was anyone. I didn’t know I had money, and they didn’t care. Mr. H., uh, Mr. Henderson wanted to help me, and he did, more than I could ever thank him for, too. He started this, but it got too much for him by himself so he got Mom and Dad to help. Now were getting this really big house with everything.

"Look, there’s gotta be millions of kids, like me, out there with no home, no parents, nothing but what they can steal or beg. I know. I want to help all of them, but I can’t do it all by myself either. You don’t know who these kids are when you see them in the street. They need help, or maybe just a hamburger, you know."

Mom put her hands on my shoulders. "He’s right."

"What about that little boy they say you saved?"

"I didn’t do anything," I said. "Davey was hurt, and I think he was dying. I asked God to save him, and He did."

"Good answer, Tiger," Dad said. "Here’s the car," he said pointing at my old Taurus. "We will announce a full scale press conference about this shortly, Mr. Cahill, but for the moment, thanks for the interview." He looked around. "I think everyone else figured this out, too."

About half of the crowd was moving our way. "That’s him. That’s the miracle kid. I was there."

"That’s Henderson’s old Ford. I’d know that car anywhere."

"Wrong car, Dad." I said.

"Now you tell me."

I moved closer to Mom, and she put an arm around me to pull me closer still. She spoke up. "Please, don’t get too close. I have a very sick little boy. He’s scared, not feeling well, and the last thing he needs is a crowd of people. I was there, too. I saw what happened, and I agree with you. There was a miracle - a double miracle in that God gave back a little boy that had been beaten to death by his parents, and he showed us that Kevin was hurt, too.

"Kevin’s a good kid, but he doesn’t have any closer ties to Heaven than any other little boy, and if you are expecting more miracles, you will have to make them yourselves."

"Is that Kevin Turner," a man called out, and I saw even more TV cameras focus on me."

"We’ve already broken the news on Channel Seven, but yes, he is Kevin Turner, and we have the DNA test results to prove it."

"Kevin, bless us, please," a woman’s voice called out.

"Give me a break, I can’t do that," I said. "Look, thanks for coming, but I’m just a kid, okay? I didn’t do anything, and I’m not an angel or something. I can’t bless people or things, so if someone says I did it’s gonna be a rip off. Can I go home now?"

"Yes, I think so," Mom said. "Thanks for coming, and thanks for your support, but that does say it. Kevin is a great kid, and a miracle kid in more ways than one, but let it go. Thank you."

We got in the car, and left a lot of stunned people in the parking lot. I guess I should have felt bad, but I didn’t. I never said I would bless anyone.

A week later, Dad did call a press conference at the company headquarters. He had all of us go, and picked up Pete and Tommy after school. It was strange seeing the office from a very small stature, everyone and everything looked strange.

Dad sent the rest of the kids on a tour with Donna, then pulled me aside and half pushed me into my old office.

"This whole thing would be so much better if my father were here," he said, bluntly.

I hopped up on the desk, and picked up a paper clip. "Maybe. What do you need him for? You’re the boss."

"This company was his baby."

"So were you and you’re doing great. Come on, Dad, there isn’t any need to bug me about your father."

"Why not. You’re the one that started this mess. You know how jealous I get watching you having a blast, playing the kid to the hilt?"

"I’m not playing a kid, Dad. I am a kid. I’m Kevin Turner, soon to be Henderson. Dad - Bobby, there isn’t anything I can do about this - now. I was given a choice, and I took it. I think a lot of people are given choices like this every day and they either don’t believe it, don’t want to believe it, or think it was all a bad dream. I went for it. I could have retired comfortably as an old man, or accepted this life. You can see which life I picked. The moment I agreed to the terms, my old life as Kevin Turner came flooding back, as did that gunshot wound. I really think Kevin was killed by the Grady’s and I was given his life. I am Kevin Turner.

"I’m not going to grow up, either. That isn’t an option. Some day, I will get the call, again, and I will move on. I will be a street kid again, some other street kid, with a large bank account, and I will keep moving until I find the next family and the next bunch of kids that need me."

"So who gave you this choice?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "God -- an angel -- the powers that be? I don’t know. But, from time to time I get a message from above, for lack of a better term, and I pay attention. I can do things, like showing you how to change, but no more miracles, and I can’t turn back to an old man even if I wanted to."

"You believe all of this?" he asked, and I could see the doubt all over his face.

"Yes, or how do you explain the fact that I used to be old enough to be your father? I’m still Kevin Henderson, or a part of me is, and always will be. I’m Kevin Turner, a really great ten-year old kid. You get the kid, not the old man, okay?"

"But.... I guess I still need the old man. You know Geoff will go to trial soon, and I am not sure how to deal with him when he gets out."

"You’ve got the answer right here, Dad. Me, a bratty kid that Geoff hates. That’s what started all of this in the first place. But, don’t we have a press party?"

"Okay. We do."

The cafeteria was crowded with reporters. I followed Dad in, and we joined Mom and the others toward the front of the room.

"I wish my father was here, this afternoon," Dad started. "This is a proud day for him, and all of us at Henderson Soft Drinks. Ladies and gentlemen, before I say anything else, the staff here is passing out a new soft drink. We invite you to sample this, and then ask questions." He nodded, and I watched as the waiters did pass out glasses filled with Pete’s creation.

After a couple of sips, one guy stood up and started clapping. Other people joined him. Everyone asked for more.

"Now then," Dad said. "Ms. Carter? How many calories do you think is in this drink?"

She shrugged. "Over a hundrend?"

"None. It’s zero calories, sugar free, sodium free, but each twelve ounces has about 10 percent of the daily requirement for 12 vitamins and minerals. This is fiber rich, loaded with antioxidants, and for the first time in history we have a healthy alternative to soft dinks, made by kids for kids, and owned by kids."

The silence was deafening.

"I want you each to meet a very special young man. Pete? Peter Miller, here, is the youngster that created this drink. It was his diligence in finding the perfect flavor for kids that started this project.

"With him, is Tommy Jones, a very talented young man who has helped develop several new flavors. Mark and Michelle have also helped in this project, and I think they would all agree that the guiding force behind this is our last young man, Kevin Turner. He gave the kids the encouragement they needed to do this."

The reporters went a little crazy over the drinks, and us. I thought we’d never get out of there, but that was the start of a new soft drink empire for Pete and me.

"Kevin," Mom called me from the doorway.

I put the Play Station on pause, and looked up. "Yeah?"

"I need you to come here."

With a shrug, I got up and followed her down the hall to her office. I hopped into a swivel chair, and spun around a few time before she sat down.

She cleared her throat. "How long have you been with us?"

"Four years now," I said.

"Your friends, Pete and Tommy have grown considerably in those four years, haven’t they?"

"Yeah. They’re fourteen." I looked at her. "Are you gonna fire me?"

"No," she said, and laughed. "It’s just that if they are fourteen, so are you. You still look exactly the way you did when you first came here. You haven’t grown an inch or gained an ounce."

"Lucky me," I said with a wide grin.

"I know the fact that you made a deal with God about saving David’s life sounds logical and completely reasonable to you, but the rest of us need a good explanation for this. You aren’t growing and that means something is wrong."

I sighed. "I know I’m not. I’m not going to, either. When Heaven is ready, I’m gonna get a call to move on, but until then, I’m here."

"Heaven doesn’t act like that, well, to most of us."

"They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse," I said, then whistled. "That’s God, the Father, rather than the other one."

"Cute, very cute," she said. "Look, you are going into the ninth grade in August."

"Yeah, I finished the eighth grade, so?"

"The high school doesn’t want you there. You are too small."

"I can take care of myself," I said with another shrug. "You can put me back in the fifth grade, if you want to. I’d rather be with kids my own size, but will they let you?"

"I don’t know. Maybe home schooling, but all the others will want.... The phone rang. Mom picked it up, and frowned. She pressed a button. "Hello?"

"Mary, hi, it’s Geoff, your brother-in-law."

"I know who you are, I have no idea why you are calling here, again.’

"I’m about to get out of this place. Look, it’s been four years. Is my father there?"

"No, according to your brother he’s living it up in Rio at the moment. Your father hasn’t been here for four years, either."

"I see. And Bob?"

"At work. We have both asked you not to call us anymore."

"I know, I know, but Karen got her divorce. When I get out I won’t have any place to stay, no place to go, and no money, either."

"And your point is?" Mom said, seething.

"You have more than enough room?"

She half growled into the phone. "I have told you this, Bobby has told you this, and I will not accept any more phone calls from you inside or outside of prison. This is a safe house and a foster home for kids. You are a convicted felon, and you are not allowed within five miles of this place. If you show up on the doorstep trying to sweet talk your way inside we will have you arrested for trespassing. The kids here are doing great, without some convict entering the mix. You are responsible for getting yourself into this mess, and for once, your daddy isn’t here to pull you out of it. Is that understood?"

"Is that little brat he took in still there?"

"Kevin, yes, and that little brat so happens to be worth...."

I waved my arms and shook my head, and held a finger to my lips.

"... Worth more to the world than you will ever be. In the four years he’s lived with us he has been the most tremendous help. The other kids adore him, and he has single handedly, given at least one hundred kids a fresh start in life."

"With my father’s money," Geoff grumbled.

"Good day, Geoffrey, and don’t call here again." Mom slammed the phone down. "Sorry, sweetie, that felt good, though."

I gave her a big grin. "I bet it did. I only saw him once, and that was to give him cold drink. Why am I a brat?"

"He’s like that with everyone,” she said. “I think you were right to stop me from bragging about your money, too. One kidnapping in a lifetime is one too many. I...." The phone rang again.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hey," Dad’s voice came across on the line. "Did you just get a call from my brother?"

"Unfortunately. He’s looking for a place to live and I let him know that our house is off limits."

"Good, I couldn’t tolerate that, either. You should hear some of the names he called you, though. I just got him off the phone on this end. I told him to go to Rio to look Dad up if he had problems with his finances."

"I bet he appreciated that."

"Is everything okay, there?" he asked, and I could hear apprehension in his voice.

"Fine. I was just having a heart to heart with Kevin. He’s still refusing to grow up."

He sighed loud enough to be heard over the speaker. "Some kids are just born lucky. There are times I’d jump at the chance to be a kid forever, too."

"Other than size, I don’t see that would make much difference."

"Funny. Ha, Ha. Are you saying this in front of the kid in question?"

"Yes, I am. I was trying to talk to him about his doctor appointments, when your brother called, then you."

Dad sighed again. "Kevin will grow up when he’s good and ready, or take off to the Never Land. Kevin, if you do find a way, it’s the second star to the right, and straight on until morning."

"Thanks, Dad. I knew that," I said.

"I will make sure," Mom said, "that he takes you with him."

"I’d go, too," Dad said and hung up.

"I don’t need to see a doctor. I feel fine!" I said quickly.

"Something is wrong with you, sweetheart. In spite of what I said to your father, all children have to grow up, and you aren’t getting the concept."

"I’m a late bloomer?" I cut in.

"Not even close. I have an appointment for you set for tomorrow with a specialist."

I gave her my best, lopsided grin. "You’ll never make me grow up. Mom, this is who I am. I was expecting it, and I’m happy with it. It was worth it to save Davey, even thought he’s almost as tall as me now."

"You’re seeing the specialist anyway, and they said you may have to spend a week or so in the hospital for evaluation of your short stature."

"Why don’t you call me a midget and get it over with?" I teased her.

She sighed and looked away for a moment. "Paulie is taller than you are. Kev, I don’t know what I would have done without you these last four years. You have been more than a blessing, and still a miracle worker with all the other kids. But, you have always put everyone and anyone ahead of yourself, and it’s time we need to worry about you."

"Okay, I’m ready to see the guy, and I still have my bear from the last time."

A smile crossed her face. "Whatever happens, don’t change that. You are still my kid."

Two years, and a million doctors appointments later, she gave up. I sat on her desk with a bottle of the newest flavor of "Healthy Blast", as she paced the floor.

"Okay, all the specialists agree, there is nothing wrong with you. You will either grow or you won’t."

"Didn’t I tell you that?" I asked, sweetly.

"Yes, but.... You made a deal with God, right. You stay a kid, but he gave Davey back to us. Why do you stay a kid?"

"My job description. Kid wanted, help other kids in trouble. That’s about it. I took the job, I love the job, and here we are. You want me to see any more doctors?"

"No, but how do you stand it. All of your friends are grown. David is your age now. You have him and that other kid, Trevor, that hangs out here, but Pete, Tommy they are into girls and dating and expensive cars."

"There are fifty kids living here, besides me and Davey. All of them are my friends. I stand it because this was my choice. I’m ten years old. I like being ten years old, and I’m the coolest kid in middle school."

"Says who?" Trevor, Dad’s current name for his juvenile self, said. "Hi, can I have one of those and can Kevin come out to play?"

"I say, and Mom, remember the job description. Some kids need help more than others."

On my 18th birthday, I got the call, well, a very vivid dream about a neighborhood somewhere south of Chicago. There was no urgency, but I knew I would have to head out within a couple of days. This, too, was part of the job description.

In some ways, this was a major relief. I was tired of always being the smallest kid in the house, and always the one that everyone pitied. This would give me a chance to start fresh, although I knew I would be back here soon enough.

With Pete, Tommy Jones, Mike and Michelle heading off to college, and Paulie finishing up high school, all of my first friends were gone. At twelve, David was no longer dependent on me, but he still wanted my company. I wasn’t sure how I was going to say good bye, and for a moment, I wished I could take him with me.

He said it for me. I think all he had to do was take one look at my face. "It’s time for you to go, isn’t it?"

"Yeah. I got the call."

He hugged me. "I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, but I got another job to do. I’ll see you when you get back. I need to grow up."

"Yeah, that you will. I’ll probably take off tomorrow once I can tell Mom and Dad."

The hardest thing I ever had to do was pack a backpack. There was no need for too many clothes, and I had access to millions of dollars, but I had a feeling that would be worthless where I was heading.

"What are you doing?" Bobby asked from behind me.

"What does it look like?" I asked him back.

"You going someplace I should know about?"

"Someplace south of Chicago, I think. I’ll know when I get there."

Bobby cleared his throat. "I beg your pardon?"

"Beg all you want, Dorkbrain, I’m out of here." I gave him a wide grin. "You’re the one that looks eleven now."

"You’re too young to be going to Chicago by yourself."

"Am not. My birth certificate says I’m 18."

"No one’s going to believe that. I’m going to have to go with you."

I looked at him, and shook my head. "I don’t need a grown up, and you still have a family, you know. What happens to Mom and the kids if you take off?"

He paced the room for a bit. "The kids are grown, and Mary and I have been having problems, lately. I could use a vacation, then I bring you back here."

I shook my head. "I’ll be back here, soon enough, but if you come with me you have to follow the same rules I do. I go when I’m called, and no growing up."

"But what would we do when we get there?"

"The same thing we’ve been doing here. I’ve been here for eight years since I got shot, and my parents died. How many kids have been through our doors, that really needed us?"

He shook his head. "A couple of hundred, at least."

"There are so many more kids out there that need help, and I need to start doing it." I looked up. "Would you guys tell him about this?"

Bobby sighed, then looked up as I had. I saw a golden light play across his face for a moment.

Somewhere, at the back of my thoughts, I heard a voice whisper, "He’s making his choice, it will the best one for him. Do not argue with it, and take him with you."

"Where is that lousy bastard that calls himself your father?" Mary stood in the doorway, fuming.

"Mom," I protested. "Not in front of the kid, okay? I don’t know where he is. Have you tried the office?"

"Yes, I’ve tried the office, and no, they haven’t seen him all day. I he’s all but left control to your aunt Carolyn and Bob Jr."

"Maybe he wants more time here with us?" I ventured.

"He isn’t here. I swear I have had it with him. He’s never here, helping with you kids. He’s not doing his job, and what’s wrong with him?"

"He’s okay, I think."

"He isn’t one of ours, so you can take care of him"

"I think he’s doing okay on his own," I said, and watched as Bobby shook himself, and gave me a thumb’s up.

"It’s okay, Mrs. Henderson," he said. "I was taking Kevin over to my house."

"For how long?" she demanded looking at my backpack. "Oh, I see. Kevin, is there anything you want to tell me?"

I threw my arms around her, and looked up. "Thanks," I said and wiped a tear from my cheek. "Thanks for everything! I love you, I will always love you, like my other Moms, and I’ll be back, later. It’s time for me to go now."

"I understand, I think. You are 18 after all, going on eleven. When will you be back?"

"Not sure, when I get the word from above. Tell Aunt Carolyn I said ’bye’, and Uncle Geoff, too. He hates my guts, still."

"I will, sweetie. I am not giving up taking care of stray kids, just giving up on your father."

"I think he knows that, Mom." I picked up my backpack. "You ready, Sancho?"

"I would prefer Dr. Watson, Dufus."

"Dorkbrain. Come on, we need to get your stuff."

Once outside, I trotted down the street in the general direction of the Bus Station, with Bobby right beside me.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Same thing we do every night, Pinky, try to take over the world."

"I’m serious, Dad. What happens now?" Bobby said, and kicked a rock.

"That’s easy. We get you a change of clothes and a ticket for two to Chicago. Do you know the story of the Spanish Fly kid?"

"Huh?"

"Okay, old buddy of mine, old pal. Back in the ancient days when I was a kid the first time, there was an urban legend about ’Spanish Fly’. That was supposed to be the most powerful aphrodisiac ever invented. Kids everywhere knew about it."

"So?"

"How did all those kids find out about it? The Spanish Fly kid. It was told that there was a boy, maybe 2000 years old that went from street corner to street corner filling kids in on this information." He gave me a blank look. "That’s us! That’s what we do now. We’re the ones that fill all the other kids in the world in on important information like Spanish Fly, and the acid in Coke, and...."

"The man with the hook. Got it," he said and laughed.

"Right. So, now you know the master plan, are you ready?"

"Sure thing, Brain, we take over the world"

"That’s my boy, a chip off the old block." I grabbed one of his all too skinny shoulders. "I’m sorry about this, too."

"What? Oh, it’s okay. This has been building for years between the two of us, you know. She will recover."

I nodded, and said, "I know. You’re it."

"I guess. She would call me a lot worse."

I’m just a kid. I’m not supposed to know all those words, either. But I meant was that you’re it."

"Huh?"

I let go of his shoulder. "Tag! You’re it!"

He gave me a blank stare, then looked at his shoulder. His face registered. "You little punk. You can’t do that to me and get away with it." He reached for me, but I was prepared and backed off.

"Come on, old man. You’re it. You’re it."

He shook his head. "Sorry, Kevin, I know you want to play, but this has been a big decision for me. No hard feelings?" He held out his hand.

I nodded. "No hard feelings." I reached out my hand to shake, then pulled it away at the last second. "Think I’m gonna fall for that one? You’re still it."

He feinted right. I went right as he lunged left. He tripped and I took off. For the next few minutes he chased me down the street toward the bus station, and right into a new life.

End

 

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