The party was ready. The playroom was strung with red and blue streamers. Nurse Rush bustled around setting up the punch and cookies. She even smiled once in a while, although she made everyone well aware that she didn't really approve of parties of any kind. The kids had been told nothing, just as Amy has insisted. They just knew that they were not to come into the playroom that morning.
After lunch, the nurses and the aides went to the rooms of all the children and told them to come to the playroom. Three kids had to have their beds rolled down the hall. Brent was already there in his bed.
All of the children stood in the doorway with their eyes wide open. One small girl with a bandage around her head giggled and rushed forward. All the others followed.
'This is a party,' Amy shouted over the din. 'This is a party for you. We've got food and games and stories, all for you. Everybody take a seat.'
When the party was over, most of the children filtered back to their rooms reluctantly. It had been a fine afternoon, but Amy had promised Nurse Rush that the excitement wouldn't last more than two hours.
The party had gone well. Amy and Kirk and Brent couldn't help feeling pleased. Kirk had led the kids in a couple of games. They'd played one like Hot Potato, where they'd passed an Ace bandage around the circle, and Pin-the-Hypodermic-on-the-Nurse. Zero had won that one. He'd managed a bull's-eye. Then after Nurse Rush had left the room, they'd had wheelchair races, dashing down the corridor to the sun-room and back.
The kids had clapped and laughed at Brent's story about three good friends - a mole, a rat, and a sparrow - who together outwitted a fox. Brent was glad that the kids had had such a good time.
Now the playroom was almost empty. Jewel lugged away the trash can full of paper cups and party napkins. The crepe paper drooped from the ceiling. Kirk swung at one of the streamers with his crutch. It pulled the crepe paper down from its moorings, and the streamer drifted gently until it rested on the carpet.
'Nice party, huh?' said Brent.
'Sure was,' Amy said. 'Shall we go on home?'
Kirk pushed one side of Brent's bed and Amy pushed the other. The threesome made their way back to the youth ward. The bed wheels hummed and the rubber tips of Kirk's crutches made soft tapping sounds on the tile. All three couldn't help but smile.
After Brent and Kirk were back in their room and Amy had gone to hers for a rest, Kirk's parents stopped for a visit.
Kirk was sitting up in bed with his arms folded behind his neck. Brent was working on a sketch of Kirk. He was having trouble getting the smile just right. Each time he tried to show the half-turned-up look that Kirk always had, it just seemed as if he was smirking, and that wasn't what Brent wanted at all. He would start over again. This was the third try.
Brent looked up when Kirk said, 'Well, well, if it isn't the prodigal parents.'
'Hello, Kirk,' Mrs.Hughes said. 'You look well.'
'Thanks, Mother. I feel pretty good. How's the Main Line's most successful adman and home maker of the year?'
'We're fine,' Mrs.Hughes said. 'I'm sorry we haven't been by sooner, but things are pretty hectic right now. Your father's been absolutely swamped with work.'
'Your mother and I are on our way to the Baxters' for dinner, so we decided to stop in for a visit,' Mr.Hughes said.
'That's okay. I appreciate it. I'd almost forgotten what you looked like.'
'Oh, Kirk,' his mother laughed. 'It hasn't been that long, after all.'
'I know, Mother. I'm just giving you a little grief.'
'So how's it going, Kirk?' Mr.Hughes asked.
'All right, I guess. I haven't died of boredom yet. Actually we've been having a pretty good time lately. Not that I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life here. What's the latest?'
'The doctor says you should stay another month,' Mrs.Hughes replied.
'Oh, that's great. That's just fine. Jesus Christ, another month!'
'There's no need to swear about it, Kirk,' Mr.Hughes said.
'I'm sure not going to jump with joy.'
Brent put down his sketch and picked up the book that he had just started. He felt uncomfortable about eavesdropping, and he didn't want Kirk's parents to see the drawing that he was working on.
'You're just going to have to accept it and make the best of it. It's one of those things. We can't always have everything the way we'd like it. You still have a lot of healing yet. You'll just have to resign yourself to that.'
'Cut the crap, Mother. I don't need a lecture, thanks.'
'All right. I'm sorry, Kirk. I know you're disappointed.'
'While we're here, we've got some other news to discuss with you, son,' Mr.Hughes said.
'Is it better news than the last bomb you just dropped on me?'
'We think so. I hope you'll appreciate it.'
'Uh-oh. That sounds ominous. Well, go ahead. What is it?'
'Your mother and I had a talk with the headmaster at Gable Prep. They feel that you shouldn't go back there in the fall.'
'No crap, really?' Kirk interrupted.
'Yes. They explained that because of your...'
'Listen. I don't need the reasons, just as long as I don't have to go back to that retard institution again. I swear, that place is the worst place I've ever...'
'Kirk, it's not a bad school and you know it,' Mrs.Hughes said. 'We tried to talk the headmaster into giving you another chance, but there were just too many incidents. I thought he was being unfair, but...'
'I'm glad he was. I'd swallow my crutch before I'd go back to that dump.'
Kirk turned toward Brent's bed. 'Hey, Brent. Looks like I'll be going to public school with you in the fall. What do you think of that?'
'Now don't jump to conclusions, Kirk,' Mr.Hughes said. 'That's what we want to discuss with you.'
'What's there to discuss?'
'Your mother and I, and the headmaster at Gable Prep as well, feel you need a more structured situation than you would find at the Louella public school.'
'Now what exactly does that mean? The public school's fine with me. Hey, now wait a minute. What are you two trying to bulldoze me into this time?'
'We're not trying to bulldoze you into anything. We just feel that you need a school with more structure, that's all,' Mrs.Hughes said.
'And we've managed to find a wonderful school for you. You'll begin in the fall and we have high hopes for you. Both your mother and I think you'll do well there. It's supposed to be an excellent school academically, and we felt that the opportunity of immersing yourself full-time in a new environment would be an advantage.'
'And just exactly what does that mean?' Kirk asked.
'The school is New Pedford Military Academy. It comes with wonderful recommendations. Bernie Steinman's son goes there and likes it very much. He'll be a senior next year and is thinking of going to Yale.'
'Hooray for Bernie Steinman's son. It sounds like a boarding school.'
'It is,' his mother said. 'Isn't that wonderful? You'll be able to take full advantage of all the facilities.'
Brent couldn't concentrate on his book. He kept reading the same sentence over and over again. He wasn't able to shut out the conversation.
'Don't I have anything to say about all of this? Don't I have a chance at all?'
'Listen, Kirk. There aren't very many doors open to you anymore. Whether you know it or not, we're trying to do what we think is right for you.'
'How do you know what's right for me? Another goddamn institution for social rejects? Why don't you just go out and have my birth annulled altogether? Then you wouldn't have to worry about me at all.'
'Listen, Brent,' Mr.Hughes said. 'It wasn't easy finding a school that would take you at all. You're pretty damn lucky that we could find a place as good as New Pedford.'
