back home and get Garrett, walk to Owen’s place for the visit, walk Garrett back, return to the shack, unchain Owen, and walk back home. It was ridiculous.
By the fourth visit, he just made Toby wait for him a short but safe distance back. He’d been friends with the monster since the 1960s-Owen wasn’t going to suddenly jump out of nowhere, grab Garrett and run off.
“Can I pet him?” Garrett asked, as he’d asked on every previous visit.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why do you think?”
“But he wouldn’t do anything to me. You wouldn’t do anything bad, would you, Owen?”
No.
Toby chuckled. “Still not gonna happen.”
“Okay, we’re going to walk up to him very slowly. Don’t make any sudden moves. Think of him like a lion in a cage.”
“He could kill any lion.”
“Yes, he could. And he could rip a little boy’s head off as easy as snapping his fingers.”
Garrett grinned and snapped his fingers.
“We’re done. You’re not taking this seriously.”
“But Dad-!”
“I said we’re done.”
“He’s probably the most talented in the class,” said Mrs. Kingston. “Look at the detail on that. A lot of kids his age haven’t progressed beyond stick figures.”
“He’s always loved to draw,” said Sarah, beaming with pride.
Toby nodded. It was a wonderful, accurate drawing, and there was a little boy who was going to get a very stern lecture tonight.
“Part of keeping a secret involves not drawing pictures of Owen to turn in for a class project,” Toby explained.
“I didn’t tell anybody he was real.”
“I realize that, but it looks just like him. What if somebody asks you how you drew it so well?”
“They already did. I said I made him up. He’s a monster.”
“Right, but…do you think the president draws pictures of secret nuclear weapon stockpiles?” Toby could feel the logic of his argument slipping away. “Just don’t draw Owen any more, okay?”
“Okay.”
“But we’ll show him this picture. He’ll love it.”
“Careful. Be very careful.”
One month and ten visits later, they walked toward Owen again. Owen stood in his chains, arms at his sides, head lowered slightly as if to say, “I’m a humble, harmless creature.”
While Garrett stayed back a few feet, Toby moved right up to Owen and stroked his fur. “Yeah, you’re a good boy, right? The best buddy ever. It’s going to be a pleasant experience for everybody. No gore at all. Is everybody calm and happy?”
Yes.
“One more time: you’re a good boy, right?”
“You’re treating him like a dog,” Garrett said.
“I’m being cautious.”
“He doesn’t like that, though. He’s smarter than a dog.”
“Yeah, and he’s also got way bigger claws and teeth than a dog, and as your father I’m allowed to be overprotective. Put your mask on.”
“This is stupid.”
“Mask.”
“Yes, sir.” Garrett put on the mask, which completed his baseball catcher’s uniform. It wasn’t as good as a suit of armor, but if Owen did lash out unexpectedly, this would help protect him from scratches. Toby would much rather have his son look like a fool than risk having this encounter end with bloodshed.
“Gloves, too.”
Garrett put on the thick, padded gloves without protest.
“All right. Come on up.”
Garrett stood there for a moment, as if working up his courage.
“You can take as long as you need.”
It took Garrett another couple of minutes. Then he stepped forward, reached out, and gently touched Owen with his index finger.
“Easy,” Toby warned Owen, even though Owen hadn’t moved.
Garrett moved a bit closer, then began to pet Owen’s arm. The monster remained docile.
“Isn’t that cool?” Toby asked.
“Not with the gloves.”
“Okay, you can take the gloves off. But that’s it.”
Garrett pulled off the gloves and shoved them back into his pocket. He ran his fingers through Owen’s fur. “He’s got bugs on him.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You should give him a bath.”
“Do you want a monster or a poodle?”
“A monster.”
“He’s got lots of knots in his hair, too. I haven’t been combing him as much as I used to.”
“Can I do it?”
“Not today. But you can someday.”
“I like him.”
“Me, too. Okay, that’s enough for now.”
As Garrett stepped away, Owen signed: Friend.
“He says you’re his friend,” said Toby.
Garrett smiled and made the friend sign back.
“Why can’t we go see him?” Garrett asked.
“Do you know what ‘arousing suspicion’ means?”
Garrett considered that. “It means people think you’re doing something bad?”
“Pretty much. If we go out there too often, then your mother will question what we’re up to, and then there’s a bigger chance that she’ll find out about Owen. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah.” Garrett looked disappointed.
“I’d be out there with Owen all day, every day if I could be. Heck, I’d have him move in with us, give him his own bedroom. But since we can’t, we have to be careful.”
“Okay.”
Toby had to admit to himself that it probably wasn’t a very good parenting technique to give his child advice on how to avoid arousing suspicion in his parent when breaking the rules, but this wasn’t a normal situation. There was nothing better than the excitement in Garrett’s eyes when they went off to see Owen, and he couldn’t risk Sarah finding out.
“We’ll go tomorrow, though. I promise.”
“Can Hannah come with us sometime?”
“Not until she’s eight.”
As they approached the shack, Toby realized that it had been over three months since he’d visited Owen by himself for any reason except to fasten the chains. It was a wonderful realization.
“Oooh, yeah, you’re getting a welt there,” Toby said, inspecting Owen’s right wrist. “Maybe we can pad it somehow. Do you think they sell fuzzy handcuffs in your size?”
Owen either didn’t get the joke, or didn’t find it amusing. Toby suspected the latter.
“We’ll leave one of them off, just for today. Will that make you happy?”
