Chapter Twenty-Five

Gene was feeling left out, all the attention was going to his brother. Big deal Robert was hit by a car. Robert's alive isn't he? But what about him? He was important too but his parents only had time for Robert. Gene almost wished he'd been the one hit by the car, at least he wouldn't be invisible. He wasn't sure why he felt this way but he was jealous of all the attention Robert was receiving. He could pinpoint when he started to feel this way, it was the night of the award ceremony. The principle told everyone all about Robert being hit by the car, made him out to be some sort of hero or something. Everyone was so busy congratulating Robert that no one even noticed he had received an award for excelling in science. When they came home that night Gene barricaded himself in the tree house, eventually crying himself to sleep.

William felt like he was neglecting the other kids in order to be there for Robert. He knew this trauma effected everyone in the family and each one was coping the best way they could. Sydney surprised him by how mature she seemed to have become by helping out around the house. She even decided it was time she got a part time job, mainly so that she could splurge on her own art supplies but she was generous with the other kids as well. It appeared to William that Sydney realized how transient life is with Roberts accident and was taking strides to be less selfish and he was proud of how she was blossoming into a lovely young lady.

Evelyn was especially attentive to Robert and never left his side. She told everyone she was his nurse and with her lively eccentric ways she was able to keep Robert's spirits up when he was frustrated with not being able to do the things he wanted.

Casey and Beverly entertained themselves. Casey talked Sydney into giving him art lessons and learned to paint. Sydney realized that she enjoyed teaching and was thinking about a going to school to be an art teacher so that she could help others learn to express themselves through art.

Gene was the one who took it the worst. He imagined all kinds of things and worried that his parents loved Robert more than him. He took to playing by himself and staying in the tree house all day and night. He wanted to avoid everyone and not see them all catering to Robert. At times he felt he hated Robert and wished he had died. Then he would feel guilty and hoped no one would somehow find out what he was thinking and find out he was a terrible person for feeling that way.

William noticed how Gene wasn't coping with all the changes. William thought he needed to be reassured of their love as he was sure Gene wasn't simply acting out to be difficult. So William decided to surprise him with a chemistry set. He knew it was something Gene would appreciate and William wanted him to know he was proud of how well he was doing in science.
One afternoon William was waiting for Gene to come home from school. When Gene got off the bus, William told him to follow him as they needed to talk. Gene sighed thinking that he was in trouble, that somehow his Dad knew what he had been thinking and he wished he could run and hide. Anything to keep from hearing and seeing his Dad's disappointment, it would all prove that he was a terrible person. He dragged his feet as he followed William into the study and when his Dad stood aside and he saw the chemistry set his eyes lit up.

"Is this for me?" Gene asked

"It sure is," William said "I'm so proud of your accomplishments in science."

"You are? But I thought no one cared."

"Gene I'm sorry we made you feel that way. We are proud of you."

"Really? You really are?" Gene asked wanting to be reassured.

"Yes we are. I hope this chemistry set is the one you wanted."

"Oh it is," Gene said growing in excitement at all the things he could do with it. "Thank you Dad, this is the best gift ever." He turned to his Dad and gave him a quick hug before turning back to the chemistry set. His head full of the things he wanted to try. He secretly wondered if he'd discover things that would help wreck havoc with his enemies, imagining himself to be a master villain. He knew he should probably imagine himself as a hero fighting against evil and he should be ashamed of himself for wanting to be the villain instead. But it was so much more fun being bad than good, he'll leave the hero bit to Robert.

Later that night, William was tossing and turning unable to sleep.

"Honey what's wrong?" Jessica asked

"Nothing, everything. I don't know."

"It's your anxiety isn't?" Jessica asked in concern

"Yes," William sighed throwing back the blankets, he sat up on the edge of the bed. "Jess help me. Don't let them take me."

"Who? What are you talking about?"

"They're coming back. I know it. I feel it," William said reaching back to hold Jessica's hand.

"No William no, it's just your anxiety," Jessica said as she got up to retrieve Williams sleeping pills.

Jessica stayed up, watching William as he took the pills and eventually drifted off to sleep. As she watched him, her heart sank remembering how difficult it had been watching him suffer. She wanted to wrap her arms around him until all his fears disappeared. Her head was nodding as she drifted off to sleep, when she heard a loud clanging noise outside. 'Great' she thought, raccoons are in the garbage again. Rushing to throw some clothes on she went outside only to be startled by an alien rummaging through their garbage.

"How dare you terrorize my family," she yelled. Startled the alien took a step back. Jessica fearing the alien would escape stepped in front of it. "Not so fast. I want some answers. I want to know why you keep taking my husband."

The alien made some sounds and once again moved to get around Jessica.

"Tell me why," Jessica shouted coming near to tears. Jessica stood there waiting, wanting, needing answers fearing she would never know. She was astonished when she heard a voice coming from inside her head.

"We didn't come this time to take anyone."

"Good because you can't have him."

"We do not want him, we need him." 

"What do you mean, you need him? Jessica said looking from the alien to the door. Would the alien simply go into her home and take William. He wouldn't be able to resist, he'd be helpless under the effects of the sleeping pill she had insisted he take.

"Our experiment was successful and our superiors are anxious we duplicate it. We have thus far not found another specimen like this one. This one is unique. We need to know what makes it unique. We have been observing the specimen from a distance so that we can decipher the differences between this specimen and other less successful ones."

"He is not a specimen. He is my husband. You can't experiment on people!" Jessica shouted knowing that if the alien wanted to, it could over power her and do whatever it wanted.

"When the time is right, we will be back."

"What? Haven't you been listening? You can't simply disrupt our lives and impregnate my husband again."

"Either him or his offspring, they may prove as unique as he is. Although it will be sometime before the specimen or it's offspring will be ready for the procedure. The offspring are too young and the specimen needs to recover more fully. When the time is right, we will be back. There is nothing you can do to stop us." The alien finished speaking as a ray of light enveloped it and disappeared.

Jessica stumbled inside the house.

"Mom you ok?"

Startled Jessica woke from her daze. "Um yes. I think so." She said trying to smile reassuringly at Robert.

Robert peered at her over his cereal bowl, trying to decide if she was lying or not. "Are you sure? It's not like you and Dad not to wake us up for school. Is Dad alright?"

Jessica nodded her head, while she tried to remember when she had changed clothes and set out cereal for the kids. A part of her brain must have been functioning on auto pilot, while the rest was trying to comprehend what the alien told her. Mentally shaking her head she smiled at Robert saying "I didn't sleep well and must have dozed off when I should have been getting everyone up."

"You must've been real tired to fall asleep at the table."

Jessica laughed at his comment. "I better make sure everyone else is up or they'll all be late for school."

Before she left, Robert stopped her saying "Mom if you and Dad aren't feeling up to having people over, we don't have to have a big birthday party."

"Sweetheart, thank you for the offer but your birthday party will be exactly the way we planned it."

Robert and Evelyn's double birthday party was planned for six o'clock that night. They were excited to become teenagers; although it was bitter sweet for their parents. Their kids were growing up, becoming independent and hopefully well adjusted teenagers.

While everyone gathered to watch them blow their candles out, Evelyn and Robert were busy deciding what their wish would be. Evelyn thought about many things and eventually settled on what she felt was most important, she wished for beauty. Not only for herself but for everyone to see the beauty in everything and everyone. Robert's wish was for his parents. He somehow sensed that something was upsetting them, even though he had no clue what it could be. He wished for happiness and joy for his parents who had helped him through his recovery and he knew that whatever was bothering them now they could use some joy.

After blowing the candles out they each waited for the transformation from childhood to teenager. Evelyn grew up first followed shortly by Robert. Everyone watched and congratulated them on having on reaching a milestone in their lives.

 Evelyn thought her wish came true, she was a stunning young lady. She lingered in front of the mirror admiring herself. She spent so much time in front of the mirror that her parents wondered if they would need to build another bathroom to accommodate another teenage girl. 

 

Robert grew into a thoughtful young man, who enjoyed spending time is quiet reflection and meditation. Sometimes his parents were concerned that he was too much of a loner and encouraged him to be more outgoing.

  

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jessica left the house at a run, terrified that she would be too late. When she arrive at the hospital she rushed to the IC where William was waiting for her.

William embrace her as she burst into tears. He wanted to offer her some kind of comfort but was unable to do anything but hold her close and share her pain.

Choking on tears and fighting for control Jessica managed to ask "How is my baby?"

"I, I don't know," William confessed remembering how the police had refused to let him see Robert at the scene. Then the EMT's requested he not ride in the ambulance so that they had more room to work. William had followed behind the ambulance with the police officer that had been assigned to his sons case. When they arrived at the hospital, Robert was already on his way to the operating room.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Jessica shouted taking her frustrations out on the easiest person available. She needed someone to blame, someone to vent her anger on so that she didn't feel so helpless.

"Honey, please calm down," William pleaded.

"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down when my little boy is hurt, possibly dieing or dead," Jessica said dissolving into tears.

William took her into his arms and held her tight, trying to be strong for the both of them. Once she had a attained some control, William guided her to a chair and sat beside her. He held her had as she sniffled and jumped in anticipation whenever someone came into the waiting room. William felt numb, unable to grasp that his feelings of dread had come true. He had endured several days of intense dread and feelings that something terrible was going to happen. He had experienced these feelings before, ever since his alien abduction but they had never been this strong before. He help by wonder why this was happening to him. Why should he be given the ability to sense something was going to happen without the ability to know what or how to prevent it? Worse yet, could this just be a manifestation of his PAASD. Maybe he needed a stronger medication to control his anxiety. A voice broke into his troubled thoughts.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bennett? I'm Dr. Johnston."

William stood up to shake the doctors extended hand. "How is my son doctor?"

"Come with me so we can talk," Dr. Johnston suggested. William motioned for Jessica to come with them and they followed the doctor into his office.
 

When they were seated, Doctor Johnston spoke "Your son is a very lucky little boy. He suffered a head contusion, lacerations and a broken leg. We were able to fix all the damage. The leg was the most worrisome injury due to multiple fractures that required surgery. He'll require intensive physical therapy in the next several months so that he does not acquire a permanent limp."

"Thank you doctor," William said in relief.

"When can we see our little boy?" Jessica asked.

"He's resting now but I can have my nurse take you to his room Mrs. Bennett. Your husband and I can set up a schedule for your son's physical therapy."

 

When the nurse left, Jessica sat beside the bed, brushing her son's hair from his face. Tears slid down her cheeks as she thought of how close they had come to losing him. She didn't know how she would have managed if the worst had happened, she didn't think she could bear losing a child. She prayed it would never be something she would have to experience.

She must have dozed off as the next thing she was aware of was William shaking her shoulder. "Honey, are you alright?"

"Oh William what would we have done if we had lost him?"

"Shhh, don't think about that now. Be thankful that he's going to be alright and he'll be able to come home soon."

Sighing deeply, Jessica leaned into William and smiled "When can he come home?"

"Doctor Johnston said he would have to stay in the hospital for about a week and if everything goes well we'll be able to bring him home after that."

A week later Robert was sitting up in his hospital bed listening to Doctor Johnston tell him to take it easy when he got home and to remember to do his exercises to strengthen his leg muscles. He tried to listen and nodded in agreement to everything the doctor said. He was a little concerned about his first therapy session and his mind was on that then on what the doctor was telling him. He hoped Dr. Johnston would tell his parents because he wasn't going to remember any of it.

Physical therapy was every bit as bad as Robert feared it would be, it hurt. The therapist wouldn't let him quit, even when he had tears running down his face. The therapist kept telling him he had to push past the pain, to think of all the benefits. Robert tried his best, he wanted to go home, he wanted to ride his bike, he wanted to run, to do all the things he use to do without thinking. Every session he had kept his goals in his thoughts and when the pain became really bad he was able to push through it. In time the cast came off and his therapy sessions became more intense. But it all paid off in the end, he was back to doing everything he had been able to do before the accident. Although he never quite got over his fear of being hit by car and would stop riding his bike until the car would pass, eventually he quit riding altogether. 

 



He and Evelyn were finally finishing elementary school and would soon be entering high school. As she last days of their childhood was drawing to a close they received an invitation from the school to receive medals for participating in Scouts. So they dressed in their uniforms for the last time and the entire family attended the ceremony. Robert was glad he was able to walk up on the stage to accept his medal. It would have been a perfect night accept the fact the announcer had to tell everyone about him being hit by a car and almost dieing. He wanted to forget it ever happened but no one would let him. He could see how it affected his parents, it was in their eyes, the way they looked at him. He did his best to ignore it and hope it would get better.