Chapter 5
“Kevin, could you flip the silver switch second from the left?” Jo’s son stood before one of the free-standing three-foot by eight-foot model train displays she used to show the store merchandise in action. She had removed the miniature seesaw beside the school before he arrived, and together, they installed a new piece from her supplier, moving swings. It worked briefly, then stopped. Something on the circuit was amiss.
“This one, Aunt Claire?” She wasn’t really his aunt, or kin of any sort, but Jo decided aunt would show more respect than having her son use an adult’s first name.
“That’s the one.”
His hand trembled over the control board. She counted in her head, 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi, 4 Mississ- Click.
“I heard the switch, but the stoplight didn’t work, unless I can’t see it.”
“It’s not on, but I hear a buzz.”
“Great. It has to be a burnt-out lightbulb then. I was worried mice nibbled the wire while I was away. Want to help me replace it?”
The boy nodded and started to wobble.
“I’ll get a couple of chairs from the back. You feel up to using a screwdriver?”
“Sure.”
“If any customers come in, tell them I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t expect anyone to come in at the late hour of 5:30 on Friday, but she wasn’t going to lock the door until Jo came to pick up her son. She found the replacement bulbs, pulled out two red ones and dropped them in her apron pocket. After retrieving a screwdriver, tweezers, and two chairs, she returned. Kevin leaned against the mountain scene. She’d have a fit if anyone else did that, but Kevin was special, and with the way his eyes and shoulders drooped, he looked exhausted.
“Your chair.” She set up the folding chair as close as possible to the workspace so he could reach across the short span of table to the flashing light.
“Thank you.”
“How’s school?”
“Long.”
“Surely it’s more than that.” She used the tweezers to remove pieces of gravel from the base.
“This past week, it’s mostly been long. I’m too tired to walk home.”
“Who picks you up?”
“Mom. Or I ride the bus to Grandma’s house. Those are the days I get really tired.”
“Okay, now that I’ve cleared the gravel, I want you to remove the screws. Fall is always a little rough, isn’t it?”
“I don’t like when the weather gets cold. Moving is harder.”
“You’re doing great now. Let me grab that first screw before it gets lost. Ready to start on the second?”
He got into position without help.
The door jingled. “Hello, you two. Ready to go home?” Jo raised a plastic bag. “I have cake.”
“What type?”
“Chocolate with caramel frosting. It’s the last slice.”
“Any for me, mom?”
“We have apple pie. Two slices too ugly to serve. I thought Aunt Claire would like the cake.”
“Yes, yum, and thanks. I’m ready to wrap up, but I don’t think Kevin will let me leave until he finishes the job.” He returned her wink.
“We’re changing some lightbulbs.”
“Mr. Smythe would approve. Keep at it.”
“Who’s that?”
“He’s my new therapist.”
“He’s training to be a physical therapist. We’re part of his practicum.”
“He comes all the way from Columbus to see me! He’s really cool. He has tattoos and plays drums in a band. Much better than the last one. She was always grumpy, and we never had fun.”
“Is this the cute, single therapist?”
Jo shot Claire a glance that said yes and shut up. “Kevin, we won’t ever get this fixed unless you finish that second screw.”
“I’m trying.”
The screwdriver slipped from his hands. His hands shook as he tried to retrieve it. Over Kevin’s head, she met Jo’s worried gaze. Sometime, when Kevin was either asleep or at school, she’d ask her friend the tough questions about his MD, which appeared to be getting worse. His muscles wore out so quickly. When he needed a wheelchair, she didn’t want Jo to worry about the expense. She nodded her head toward the far side of the room. “Help me put that cake away?”
Jo followed her behind the cash register. “What do you really want?” She whispered.
“Is Kevin going to need a wheelchair soon? He seems to get fatigued more easily than I remember.”
“I’m going to meet with his father this weekend to find out what his insurance covers. His isn’t much, but it is employer provided so it’s better than the nothing I’ve got. Kevin’s joints always lock up more in the cold weather, so I’m afraid this may be the year he starts needing one.”
Kevin was well within the range for those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to transition to a wheelchair. Ever since his diagnosis, Claire had tried to help her best friend without insulting her pride.
“You’ll need a ramp too. That club at the high school did a nice job constructing the one we use at the holiday set up. If I set up a couple of collections boxes both here and at the holiday train to make up what isn’t covered by insurance, will you make displays for both?”
Jo pulled her into a hug. “Of course.”
“I got it.” Kevin shouted from the other side of the room. “Can we go home now?”
AFTER AN ON-TIME ARRIVAL and quick cab ride to the Fordham, Fordham and Schmidt, James entered the conference room for the 5:30 PM Friday meeting.
“You’re late.” Uncle Daniel declared.
James glanced at his watch. 5:31. Everyone else was there already.
“Traffic.”
His father drummed his fingers against the table. “Don’t dilly-dally, son. Illyana and I have Hamilton tickets tonight.”
“I apologize for my tardiness.” He slid into a seat and reached into his
