Saturday
The next morning, Bolco woke at seven feeling somewhat better, and asked for breakfast. He and Jake went upstairs and found James and Josh returning with the weekend's fresh groceries. "Ingrid Weaver and Pastor Derek will be here at nine; we'll do second breakfast then, " Josh smiled. "Fruit okay for now?"
Bolco looked uneasy. "How about a ring-bread for starters?"
They exchanged glances. "Sure. Bolco, are you okay?"
"I... well, I don't know."
James came and knelt down in front of him. "What's up, guy? Talk to me."
"Can... can I have breakfast first, and then talk?"
"Sure. Come on."
"It's just..."
"What?"
"I'm afraid if I start talking I'll lose my appetite again."
The three brothers exchanged nervous glances again. "Uh, what do you want on the bagel?"
"I don't know. Jam, or something. Or perhaps... perhaps nothing. I don't know."
By the time the bagel was toasted, Bolco had lost his appetite again, and listlessly nibbled at it. He persisted, though, and ate half. The brothers soon lost their appetite as well. Finally Josh broke the uneasy silence.
"Lord, come, and do what you want to do. Don't let us miss it. And don't let us get distracted from you."
"Yeah, " said Jake.
Janiece came downstairs, and surveyed the four of them, and added some silent prayers of her own. "James, have you done eating? Perhaps you wouldn't mind playing for us?"
"Yeah. I guess it is my turn." He stared at the table as he wondered what songs to play, and then glanced at Jake's guitar and went downstairs.
"Wants his own, " Josh grinned. They all smiled. He hadn't had it out since the beginning of the school year.
James came back up, opened his case, and grimaced. "Strings are dead, " he muttered.
"Looks that way, " Josh agreed. "Mine could use a change too. Later."
James had a loose, bluesy-jazz style. Josh went to the couch and kicked back, and closed his eyes. Bolco sat on the couch near James, and listened attentively, noting how very different James' style was.
The phone rang; it was Anne, and Janiece told her to come on over and that the door was unlocked. She arrived four songs later. She came in, went straight to Bolco, and put her arms around him. He put his head on her shoulder.
James' contentment grew despite the dead strings, and everyone else looked content too; so he kept playing 'til Pastor Derek and Ingrid Weaver arrived. Janiece was by then in the kitchen, warming the frying pan. Anne had gathered Bolco onto her lap, and he sat dozing peacefully, curled up like a child, as she stroked his hair and prayed softly over him. Pastor Derek greeted the brothers by name, and Anne; at the sound of his voice, Bolco reluctantly opened his eyes, and slid off of Anne's lap, and stood. It was clear he did not want to meet anybody at the moment, and wanted only to withdraw. It was also clear that he had chosen to be as polite as he could. His shyness made him barely audible.
"Good morning, Pastor Derek. Good morning, Ingrid Weaver. My name is Bolco Nathaniel Took."
"Hello, " Pastor Derek replied.
"Hello, " replied Ingrid. "What did you say your name was?"
"You can call me Nathaniel, " he replied, clearly.
Pastor Derek's eye twinkled a bit at that, and then he took a deep, quiet breath, and nodded at James. "You've been worshipping? The house has that feel to it, " Derek smiled. "Can we continue?"
James shifted to another chord set. Nathaniel climbed back up to sit beside Anne, and firmly took her hand. Janiece turned off the stove, set the frying pan aside, and rejoined them.
Pastor Derek launched into worship as eagerly as James normally did, hands raised before the verse had started. Ingrid took a moment longer to settle in. Six songs later, Derek was deep in prayer, asking for wisdom and guidance, understanding, protection, and revelation, and for God's will to be done in all things. Jake listened happily, and Josh was sorely tempted to purr with sheer contentment.
Listening to him pray, Nathaniel liked him, liked what he heard, liked the way he worshipped; he reminded him more and more of James. He wished he felt as comfortable around Ingrid. Then he wished she would leave. But he reminded himself to be polite.
Worship softly faded into silence, and James put his guitar back into the case and latched it, flexing his fingers. After resting in the silence for a while, Pastor Derek turned to Janiece. "Janiece, would you mind starting at the beginning?"
Janiece nodded. "I think, " she said, "The best thing would be for Nathaniel to tell us his story first. Nathaniel, would you mind?"
Yes, I do mind, he thought, but cleared his throat. "How much of the story do you want? Starting when?"
"The train, " Jake said firmly.
"All right, " he replied. And he started from the time he woke up on the train, and finished with his discovery by Janiece.
They listened politely, with compassion, and when Nathaniel finished, Ingrid shifted in her seat. "How did you get onto the train without a ticket?" she asked.
Nathaniel frowned. "I just woke up there, " he said.
"What do you remember before that?"
He looked down. She wouldn't believe him if he told her, and he saw no sense in wasting his breath.
"Don't you remember how you got onto the train?"
Stony silence.
"I see, " she said.
Pastor Derek changed the subject. "Now, how did the FBI get involved?"
"One of our neighbors thought she recognized Nathaniel from a missing children's list, " Jake replied. "She called in, and they took it from there."
"Wow."
"However, " Jake continued, "the missing child would have been twelve. And according to our dentist, Nathaniel is in his mid-twenties."
Pastor Derek's eyebrows shot up, but he held his tongue. Ingrid blinked. There was a moment's silence, and then Derek turned to Nathaniel.
"Nathaniel, how old are you?"
Nathaniel hoped that Jake knew what he was doing. "Twenty-six. Twenty-seven on Midsummer's day."
"Hmm, " said Pastor Derek.
"Once the FBI dropped the case, then what happened?" asked Ingrid.
"Then the local police got concerned about his arrival on the train, wondered where he had come from, who was missing him, and where he belonged. They want to know why he can't read English, or do as much math as they think he should be able to; and why he's not well-versed in current events."
Pastor Derek shrugged. "Are they so sure you're from America? Nathaniel, where are you from?"
Anne squeezed his hand, slightly, and Nathaniel hesitated, and then hung his head.
"Can't remember? Are you from America? Did you grow up here?"
He shook his head.
Derek shrugged. "From his accent, I'd guess some British colony somewhere, " he muttered. "South Africa maybe? Australia? Some simple culture that doesn't major in math, or have trains." He shrugged. What's the big deal, he wondered; if the lad can't read or do math, how much damage can he do? He can hardly weigh fifty pounds.
Ingrid frowned, reviewing what she had learned about the case, and wondering why Nathaniel wasn't talking to them the way he had opened up the previous two days. Perhaps he resented being called delusional, she thought; no surprise there.
"Well, " Derek looked at Jake, "You're the one who's spent the most time with Nathaniel. What do you think he needs?"
"Acceptance, " Jake stated flatly, "and the chance to learn; prayer, and the scriptures, and people that love him; family, friends. Not drugs. Not a million questions. Acceptance, and some personal space when he wants it, and fresh air when he wants it. Time spent with God however he wants to spend it."
Derek nodded. "I'd add one thing to that, " he said.
Jake raised his eyebrows.
"Work to do, " Derek said, "and a contribution to make. What kind of work does Nathaniel like to do?"
"Well, field work, " began Jake.
"Gardening, " Nathaniel stated firmly. Everyone turned to him.
"I can grow things. Vegetables, flowers, shrubs, fruit trees. Weeding, planting, watering, field work, orchard work."
He's homesick for Lilac, Jake thought.
"Well, that would take care of the fresh air requirements. So, " Derek continued, nodding gently and reassuringly at Nathaniel, "Jake, your conclusions are that Nathaniel needs family relationships, community relationships, schooling, spiritual development, and some private time too. We'll add to that list a reasonable level of responsibility. Janiece, do you have anything to add to that?"
"Well, " Janiece replied thoughtfully, "As long as he also has time to pursue his other interests, that sounds fine."
"Other interests?"
"Swimming, for one."
Ingrid cleared her throat. "All this is well and good, but it doesn't answer the disorientation and amnesia issues. And isn't there some question about delusion and behavioral problems?"
Jake frowned. "All that comes up when he's uptight, " he replied, over-generalizing slightly. "Why make him uptight?"
"Jake, can you elaborate on that?" Derek asked.
"Look, it sounds like you've seen the reports, or discussed them with someone, " Jake said. Ingrid nodded. Jake took a deep breath, and shot Nathaniel an apologetic glance as he dove in. "All right. Well, Carla said that Nathaniel makes up the things about having other people just like him, because he doesn't feel accepted by the tall people around him, so he wants to imagine a place where he's just like everyone else, or everyone else is just like him. So instead of bugging him about why he's different, " Jake said, with another apologetic glance at Nathaniel, "why don't we just accept him as he is, and let him fit in, and love him the way he is? Then he won't need an imaginary place and people in order to feel accepted."
Derek nodded thoughtfully.
Nathaniel studied Jake, and fought off the inner voice that cried out, he doesn't believe in The Shire. No, he replied, let him speak. He loves me; he knows where I'm from; he's protecting me as best he can; and I have no better idea than what he's proposing. Please, Creator, just keep me away from that horrible hospital-place I was in yesterday.
"I doubt that the agencies involved are going to agree to remove him from all counseling, " Ingrid argued.
"I know, " said Jake. "But I don't think we should bury him in it. I think that does way more harm than good."
"How much counseling do you think he needs?" Derek asked.
"Well, " Jake said, stuck and buying time, "I don't really know. But not much. I think he's a lot better off than Carla thinks he is. Umm..." he stalled, not knowing how to answer.
James piped up. "Maybe we could focus on establishing a biblical foundation for him, and defining his worldview that way. Give him some truth to be grounded in."
"I agree with that, " Janiece said. "And I think you would like the idea, wouldn't you, Nathaniel?"
"I'm not sure I understand, " Nathaniel said, feeling lost.
"They're talking about studying the bible; that big book of stories about God that we read the Christmas story from, " Jake said.
"Oh. Oh, yes, I would like that, " Nathaniel said, relieved. "May I learn to read the runes myself, please? You said I could yesterday, didn't you, Jake?"
"Runes? All right, " Derek laughed. "I think that can be arranged, Nathaniel. So the bible interests you?"
"The Creator interests me, " Nathaniel said firmly, and met Derek's eyes.
At that moment, Nathaniel and Derek became friends. Derek's eyebrows went up, and he smiled, and thought, God's got this little guy's attention, all right. I wonder if he's too short to play a round of golf. "All right, " he said out loud, with a smile. "Well, if the Creator interests you, there are always bible studies going on, and they're all about the Creator, what he does, what he wants. You're certainly free to attend any of those you want. And there are plenty of resources we can make available to you. Just let us know."
Nathaniel held his gaze. "Thank you, " he said. Anne smiled, and Jake nodded, trying not to whoop with glee. This was working out better than he had dared to hope.
"This is all very well, " Ingrid broke in, "but the agencies will not be satisfied with a plan to have Nathaniel study the bible and become a gardener. I can guarantee that. He'll have to be in some kind of counseling to try and recover his lost memories, and deal with the disorientation and the delusions."
"Well, " Derek replied, trying to fish for the kind of terminology Ingrid would approve of, "let's recommend behavioral counseling and worldview re-orientation in order to lay the foundation for further memory recovery work later. Since he's settled on the scriptures as his chosen frame of reference and belief-- is that right, Nathaniel?"
"I'm sorry?"
How to word it so that he would understand? Derek thought hard. "Have you decided that you want to live your life the way that God wants you to live it? The way that the Creator wants you to live?"
Nathaniel's eyes blazed. "Yes, I have."
"All right. Those things are spelled out in the Scriptures, in the Creator's book. If we help you to study that book, in order to learn how to behave, what to do and what not to do, and what is expected of you in terms of family life and church life and life in society, are you willing to learn what to do?"
Nathaniel frowned, and nodded hesitantly at Jake, questioning. Jake nodded, and so did the rest of the family. Anne smiled. Nathaniel looked around once more at everyone. "Study the book about the Creator in order to learn what He wants me to do."
"That's right. And that will extend to your family life, " Derek nodded around at the Scotts, "and church life, and community life. And work, and prayer, and leisure time. All of it."
"Learn to do all that the way that the Creator wants me to?"
"That's the idea." Lord, help us get it right, and give him grace and mercy, and not snow the little guy under with a bunch of law, Derek prayed.
One more look around at the Scotts, and Nathaniel nodded. "Yes. Yes, that's what I'd like."
"So if we sign you up for counseling that is geared toward that, it will be acceptable to you?"
Nathaniel noticed that Janiece was relaxed and smiling for the first time since the man from the FBI had come. Anne squeezed his hand slightly, and he looked at her. "I think that's a really good idea, " she said.
He returned his gaze to Derek, and nodded. "Yes, it will."
Jake spoke up. "I think I'd like to be involved, though. Exactly what do you have in mind?"
Derek nodded thoughtfully, gathering pieces of information from the corners of his mind. "Several different things. There is a twelve-step organization nearby that's got a good class on the fruits of the spirit, and family life and church life, and being involved. Then there's the Christian counseling center that's got a class on scriptural self-image, which sounds touchy-feely, but really it isn't; it's based on Ephesians, and Colossians, and Romans. And there's the local group that does the reconstructive stuff; addressing past hurts, choosing to forgive and move on, that sort of thing. They're qualified to do Theophostic if it's needed, or general inner healing. And don't forget the basic New Life in Christ stuff that we do anyway as a church." He pondered/ "One more thing I'd like to see in there; basic understanding of the nature and person of God. Maybe I can work that into the New Life class." And if not, he thought, I can go over that material with just Nathaniel, and Jake. He liked the idea.
James nodded. "And all that counts as counseling."
"Counseling and Behavioral modification, worldview adjustment. The counseling still has to be there, I think," Derek said, glancing at Ingrid, who nodded firmly. "But the counseling should be geared toward making sure that Nathaniel is absorbing what he studies, and applying it in real life."
"How soon can we get going on this stuff?"
"I don't think, " Ingrid interrupted softly, "that we should be discounting deliverance."
Jake blanched.
Janiece interrupted before Ingrid could continue. "I think time will tell whether that is necessary, and we should leave that up to the Holy Spirit, " she said quietly.
Derek nodded. "Some of that will take place quietly and naturally as the truth penetrates Nathaniel's life. I agree, I don't think it needs to be a primary focus. Ingrid, can you co-ordinate some of the things we've discussed?" Ingrid got out her notebook, and Derek continued. "If you would, please, I'd like you to find out the schedules for all of the classes I've mentioned; find out when the Reconstructive group has openings that Nathaniel can take; and find a good Christian counselor that can do an intake on Nathaniel. I'd prefer somebody Spirit-filled; would you make some discreet inquiries and see what you can find? Several of these places close at noon, and you've got some time before then. I'd like to have some concrete things set up before Monday, so that we can take Nathaniel out of the situation he was in Friday. Can you get started on that now?"
She nodded, and stood, and smiled, a little stiffly, but kindly, and excused herself. When her car engine started, Jake snorted. "Deliverance! I don't think so!"
Josh chuckled. "Pastor Derek's right. Give it time, and let God's truth work, " he smiled.
Jake glared at him, and silently mouthed, "You've got to be kidding."
Josh whispered back. "I hope so. Let's just say his temper scares me sometimes."
Jake shoved him, and Janiece glared at Jake, and Jake huffed, exasperated. Derek looked at him. "Problem?"
"The whole deliverance thing, " Jake snapped. "Gimme a break."
"I seem to remember a perfectly normal young man needing prayer for some routine affliction, " Derek smiled, wide-eyed and innocent.
"Which one of us?" James laughed.
"I don't think that's what she was talking about, " Jake snapped.
Derek sobered. "You know what, Jake? You're right. You're technically taking responsibility for Nathaniel, aren't you? You keep an eye on it, and don't let anybody do anything you're not comfortable with. Draw the line."
Nathaniel looked up at James, frightened. He nodded, "That goes for all of us. If they mess with you, you tell us, all right, Nathaniel?"
His eyes got wide. "I didn't like her. What's deliverance?" He had images of being put through yesterday again, over and over again, or worse, and he realised that whatever deliverance was, Jake really hadn't liked the idea.
"Out of the question," Janiece said firmly. "We're not going there. I said what I said to pacify Ingrid. Theophostic is one thing, ministry is one thing, but I will have no theatrics at Nathaniel's expense."
"Let's just get the truth into him, and let the Holy Spirit work, " Derek said reassuringly. "Jake, can you be at every single counseling session? We can make that a requirement, if you'd like."
"I'll be there."
"Well that settles that, then. Don't let anybody do anything you're not comfortable with."
"Thanks, Derek."
"Hey, no problem. Nathaniel, Jake will make sure nobody messes with you. All right?"
Nathaniel nodded, and Jake held his hand out, and Nathaniel jumped off of the couch, ran to him, clasped his wrist and pulled him into a bear hug.
"Well, that's settled, " Derek said. "If you have any issues or trouble from Carla and company, just call Ingrid. She'll have everything under control. If you can't get a hold of her, call me."
"Why Ingrid first?" Jake frowned.
"She's the family issues lawyer, " Derek smiled.
"Lawyer?" James burst out.
"Well-kept secret, " Derek grinned. "Please keep it quiet. Most people like her now; I'd hate to scare everybody."
"Geez, " Josh said, feeling threatened himself.
"Hey, she likes you guys. She was asking when you are going to get back to leading worship again, the three of you. Did you know that he used to take her daughter to your Teen meetings, and hide out in the kitchen and listen to the music?"
"No kidding," the brothers murmured.
"Yeah. She's a real worship hound."
"No kidding, " they echoed.
Nathaniel turned to Jake. "Does that mean I don't have to go back on Monday?"
"I hope so, " Jake replied. "That's the idea. We hope that's all over."
*******
Derek stood, and stretched, and then looked around at the family. He had always liked them all; but he had seen a depth and cohesion in them today deeper than he had noticed before, and he was intrigued. And Anne; she had sat quietly, occasionally squeezing Nathaniel's hand, and whenever she did, he quieted and looked down, he had noticed. He wondered what Anne was hiding from him; her business, he decided with an internal shrug. The boy had the right to remain silent if he wanted to, and she could protect him if she liked. Clearly the boy-- the man?-- Nathaniel-- felt safe with this family, and Jake was right; that was step one.
"I'll see you all on Sunday morning, then?" Derek asked.
James nodded. "Yeah."
Derek considered one more sentence. "My Sunday school class ended last week, and I'm starting the next one next week; how would you all like to go out for a coffee between services tomorrow?" he asked, and looked around.
They shrugged. "Sure." It seemed an odd request; pastors were supposed to be too busy on Sunday mornings to go out with anybody. But they weren't about to turn him down, either.
Nathaniel stood, and faced him. "Pastor Derek?"
"Yes, Nathaniel?" Derek looked down; the fellow really was quite short.
"Perhaps sometime we could go out for ice cream."
Anne and Jake choked back laughter, and Derek turned about, surprised. "I can see I'm missing something, " he replied. "But I like ice cream just fine. Sure, Nathaniel. Call me, and we'll set something up."
"Thank you, " Nathaniel said, not sure what else to say.
Derek leaned down, and extended his hand for Nathaniel to shake. Nathaniel looked at his hand, unsure what to do, and then reached past his hand and clasped his wrist the way Jake always did, and looked up and gave him a smile.
**************
Ingrid made her phone calls, and by noon, called the pastor back to report that Nathaniel was enrolled in the class at the twelve- step place on Monday nights, the scriptural self-image class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for an hour and a half each day, and two hours a week with the reconstructive group Wednesday and Friday. Derek would start the next New Life In Christ class the following Sunday. And Nathaniel's first appointment at the Christian counselor was Midday Tuesday.
Ingrid called Carla, who had frankly suspected that the family would prefer Christian counseling and convince Bolco to ask for it, and was not in the least startled, although she was impressed that they had moved so quickly. Ingrid assured her that the final decision had come from Nathaniel, and that the choice had been explained to him in terms that he understood, and he plainly preferred the biblical behavioral counseling to what he had been exposed to at the other center.
Carla was mildly annoyed, feeling that they hadn't been given a proper chance, and that the intake process was not the standard by which their counselors should be judged; and if the counselor who had been responsible for Nathaniel's intake had been more sensitive and had not irresponsibly ordered the administration of the sedative instead of dealing with the situation constructively, she felt that Nathaniel would not have been removed from their care. But she reviewed her earlier recommendations that Nathaniel be allowed to carefully pursue his religious interests, and thought that the alternative counseling might possibly work for him. Time would tell. They would re-evaluate him later, and if he were not making enough progress, they would take action then. But for now, Bolco's preferences would be respected.
Ingrid called the Scotts, and scheduled an evening to meet with Janiece and plan the financing for the counseling, and making sure that the legalities were dealt with. "We've also got to arrange for Phonics and some form of math tutoring, " Ingrid said over the phone, "but here's his schedule so far. Jake will be busy."
He'll miss his Tuesday swim, Josh thought; and then realised they could go at six instead.
**************
Nathaniel looked up at Anne after Derek left.
"Am I going to be okay?"
"Oh, sweetie," she said, melting. "Yes, you are. It's going to be all right. This will be much different."
"Will it?"
"I'll make sure it is, " Jake growled.
"That's right, " Josh agreed, and James swung around and met Nathaniel's eyes. "Anne's right. If anybody messes with you, you let us know. But I think the worst is over."
Nathaniel sank back against the couch, and sighed. "I hope so. I never want to go through that again."
"Please, God, " growled Jake. "Don't ever let Nathaniel go through that again."
"Amen, " said a chorus of voices.
But despite the agreement, something niggled at the back of Josh's mind. The Dark Night of the Soul, he wondered, remembering the foreboding he felt at the baptism; he nervously shoved the thought aside. Oh, God, hadn't Nathaniel been through enough? Couldn't this just be the end of it? Come on, Lord, please, give the guy a break. He's been through enough, hasn't he? Hasn't he?
For now, the thought crossed Josh's mind. For now, it is enough.
James sat back, and stared at the ceiling. "Mom."
"Hmmm?"
"Remember what we prayed last week?"
She nodded. "That Bolco would learn about God, and learn about his people, and get involved in church life."
"Pretty fast answer, " James murmured.
Jake ran his fingers through his hair, bug-eyed. Anne ran her fingers through Bolco's hair, and he looked up into her eyes, and gave her a wry look.
"It's all right, " she said. "I know it's scary. But you'll be all right. God is good, and he's set you up in a big way. And that's always a good thing."
"It is?" Jake muttered.
"Yes, " Janiece replied. "It is."
They sat and thought about that for a while, and then Josh went to get his own guitar, and he and James set about replacing their strings. Bolco watched, intrigued.
**************
After James and Josh were finished replacing their strings, Bolco asked them some questions about guitars. They chatted about them, about strings and frets and construction, letting him look inside at the framework and letting him turn the tuning keys.
Before long, James had a capo up on the fifth fret of both guitars, and was showing him some simple chords. Forming the chords was awkward, but his rhythm was good.
Elevensies was next, and then a walk. They planned on going deep into the woods. Jake made Bolco wear a belt, and tie his shoelaces together and loop them over his belt. "Have them with you. You'll only have to put them on if a social worker is seen on the horizon... and I hope they don't chase us into the woods. But you need to have them with you, just in case, at least during daylight. Okay?"
"As long as I don't have to wear them, " Bolco said, and sighed. "All right."
They packed a lunch to take with them, and even Janiece donned boots and warm clothes. Bolco was beside himself with delight, and Janiece laughed. "Only during daylight, " she said. "I'm not the type to enjoy the swamp in the dark. But in daylight, I'll come."
That began a tradition. Whenever Janiece was home during daylight hours, Bolco did his best to take her outside for a walk. And by and large, she did it.
Now that Jake was Bolco's caretaker, there was no more need for secrecy, they hoped, and indeed, no one gave them any further trouble. What busybodies had been aware of Bolco, were now also aware that the FBI had investigated and dropped the case, and that Bolco was involved with numerous agencies. If they could simply get into the woods unobserved, nobody would notice Bolco's bare feet from a distance, they thought. So Janiece called Mrs. Chattam, and asked her if they could cut through her back yard into the pine grove. She agreed, and asked them to stop by afterwards for tea.
"Does that mean I'll have to wear my shoes?" Bolco scowled.
"How about we bring a small towel, and we stop at the stream, and you rinse off your feet and dry them and put on shoes and socks just before the pine grove?"
Bolco grinned, and fetched the towel himself.
Bolco carefully kept Janiece out of the swamp, and she enjoyed the walk immensely. When they returned, Bolco duly washed and dried his feet and donned shoes and socks, and they knocked on Mrs. Chattam's front door. She had the teapot full and another kettle singing.
"You have gardens out front, " Bolco said, after the introductions and small talk faded.
"Oh, I used to love digging, " Mrs. Chattam smiled. "But I've slowed down too much now, you know. I'm afraid they're quite weedy."
Bolco stood on his toes looking out the window. Lilac would like this yard, he thought. There were seven fair-sized flowerbeds, and rosebushes that needed pruning, and a cherry tree and an odd-looking apple tree, and some other trees that looked like they would carry flowers come spring. He wondered what they were; he had never seen a dogwood before. He looked at the flowerbeds again. "May I weed them for you?"
Mrs. Chattam sparkled at the idea. "Why, that sounds delightful, " she crowed happily. "I'm sure we could come to some sort of arrangement that would make both of us content. What do you charge for your services?"
Bolco blinked.
"That could get complicated, " Janiece said. "Why don't we ask Ingrid how to best handle that so we all stay out of trouble?
"And who is Ingrid?"
"Oh, a friend of ours who is going to help us organize Nathaniel's situation."
"Well, you just let me know what you feel is best, " Mrs. Chattam smiled. "And what do you think I should do with my gardens, dear?" she asked Bolco. "What would you plant in them?"
Bolco blinked again. He looked up at the bright sun, guessed where the summer shade would fall under the trees, and thought about the layout. "Well, it looks like these three beds are sunny, and those are mostly in shade, " he said, pointing. She nodded. "Yes." "Well, in the sunny beds, I-- well, I like pink snapdragons with red cosmos, and Old Toby."
"Old Toby?"
"For the fragrance. White flowers, night-scented. The pink snapdragons scent the garden by day."
Old Mrs. Chattam gave Bolco her rapt attention as he designed her gardens for her. Anne listened, interested, and Jake decided that he'd better get interested in flowers if he could make himself do it at all, and James and Josh exchanged glances, relieved to be let off the hook.
By the end of teatime, Mrs. Chattam was eagerly looking forward to spring, and told Nathaniel to come back and visit often, and they could read seed catalogs together and get everything ordered well in advance. She showed him several catalogs, amused that he had never seen one before.
"Mrs. Chattam, I can't read your runes yet, but I'm going to learn."
"Runes?"
"Letters."
"Well, I should think so, " she said, surprised. "Shocking that so many graduate nowadays with so little knowledge. And who is going to be your tutor?"
"I don't know."
Janiece spoke. "Excuse me, Mrs. Chattam, weren't you a teacher?"
"I was, dear. But I'm terribly old-fashioned. I'm afraid my ancient and honorable methods have gone quite out of style. Although, I see there is some renewed interest in Phonics again, and that's a relief."
"I wonder, " said Janiece, "whether we might be able to come up with some sort of exchange; phonics and elementary mathematics, in exchange for gardening?"
"He'll have to memorize his tables, if he studies under me, " she replied, firmly. "Calculators or no. I can't abide seeing young folks unable to do simple math in their heads. Simply waiting for them to make change has never been such an adventure. Disgraceful, if you ask me."
"Well, I think we should discuss it as an option, if you are interested, " said Janiece, and Nathaniel looked up at Mrs. Chattam, and smiled. He liked her. He thought she might be more patient than Pippin, and less likely to let him off the hook. He looked back out at the gardens, and sighed happily.
After tea, they went home. Josh wanted to take Bolco for a swim, and James and Jake wanted to come. Anne perked up and looked interested, but Jake pulled her aside, and whispered to her, and her face fell, but she nodded.
As they were gathering their satchels to head for the pool, Nathaniel said, "Jake."
"Yeah?"
"It's hard to believe, but it seems that life will actually be better for me as a result of Evangeline Burrough's busybody interference. I'll be gardening, and studying the Creator's book, and learning what he wants, and more about him. And I get to learn your runes." He smiled. "It's all working out."
Jake nodded. "Yeah, it's hard to believe how fast everything went downhill-- and how fast it has turned around again. God works all things for good."
"All things?"
"Yeah. Even when it looks like our world is over, like a complete disaster, God still works it for good somehow. Sometimes we just can't see it, and we never do. But times like this, we do see it. And it's a relief."
"Yes, Jake," Bolco replied with a contented sigh. "It is a relief."