Time Warp - Time if Fleeting (open)

[Lani Hunter]

Seven years into the future Lani returns with trouble chasing him down. Meets back up with Dalton.

Lani drew a heavy sigh and shifted the position of his single bag on his shoulder. Everything he owned was in this one small bag, at least all he owned now for his apartment would be torn apart. He looked up at the foreboding gates of Hammel. When he left he swore never to return but there was no other place for him now. He had screwed up bad. He couldn't go home, and couldn't go to his parents. He just needed to lay low for a while. It wasn't often that Lani felt the distinct sting of a wounded pride but this was one of those moment where pride just completely abandoned him. He swallowed and entered, and even as he did so he felt as if the world was closing around him. Well it was better than trying to evade those people he had made angry. Stupid Hunter, he thought to himself as he walked the familiar halls to the main office, you should have known better by now, maybe some things just don't change.

He felt like he was seventeen again and not the now twenty-four he was. It was odd how these schools had a way of thrusting one back into childhood. He felt butterflies in his stomach as he pushed open the door feel as though he was going to inform them that he was leaving again. He had changed so much he doubted anyone would recognize him. He certainly wasn't impressive all covered with dust from traveling by bus and foot most of the way. He was taller than when he had left and had just a little more muscle to him but otherwise he looked rather weak and unhealthily thin. His blond hair was still cut short but more messy and unevenly cut and probably matted terribly from the mistreatment it had over the past several days. His shoes might as well not even be called shoes anymore and his clothing was covered with brown stains, some from mood and some from the wounds he was hiding underneath. He walked in with a little bit of a limp from a recovering sprain and went to the front desk.

"Excuse me?" He said, his voice had dropped to a low tenor since he had left. "Would you tell me who I can talk to about a job?" He tried to give the receptionist a charming smile but it was hard when his legs were shaking and he was barely holding himself upright. The only way he could stay here and stay safe was to get a job. Probably as a trainer, for he hadn't go onto anything else. At least one good thing about leaving was that he had fully mastered his ability. No more random fly objects for him. When he flew objects they generally flew with deadly accuracy. He had really been hoping to run into some of his old teachers, namely Dalton. He missed that man, he was probably the only person Lani did miss from here. But then he had been a cocky arrogant adolescent back then.

[Jacob Dalton]

It was autumn once more. The fall colors always turned the campus such beautiful shades of yellow, orange and gold. Dalton gazed out the window of his front office, then pulled the beautiful pocketwatch from his vest pocket. The twill jacket and alpaca wool loose turtleneck looked splendid on him: very recent birthday presents. His thumb stroked the watch lovingly as he checked the time. Under the cover it read: “Happiest Fifth, my darling! And may we share many more!”

One of the recruiters had been scheduled to come to his office: another pickup to approve. But that situation had turned urgent, the recruiter was already in the air, and Dalton had sent his approval on the go. So now Dalton had an hour to kill. It was early in the fall; he had no papers to grade, and his class notes were all in order. In spite of his promotion, he still taught a couple of courses a semester.

He smiled. Perhaps a stroll around the school grounds, clear his head a bit? Somehow he always seemed to wind up down by the pond, by one particular boulder with five grooves gouged in its side. He strolled to the office door, and pulled it open: the one that from this side bore the marker:

Jacob Dalton
Vice Principal

There was a young man, perhaps mid 20’s, standing at the counter. He was a mess: unwashed, unshaven, ragged, matted hair, soiled clothes. He had an equally dingy and tattered cloth bag over his shoulder, and Dalton was halfway certain he could smell the boy from here.

“Excuse me, sir: may I ask what business you have here?”

His voice was calm yet commanding: not quite accusing, but perhaps ready to be so. Then the young man turned to him with a look of recognition. Dalton felt the shock run through him.

“Lani!”

The receptionist shrieked as her boss vaulted the counter, grabbing the young vagrant in an ecstatic hug. “Dear God, boy! You’re alive!”

[L.C. Milliner]

*--outfit

She couldn’t believe it.

No. Really. She couldn’t.

Lyra knew there was a research lab in the basement of one of the buildings. She knew about the cold war era bomb shelter in the bottom of the science wing. She knew that the water heater was under the gym, the service closet in the English wing had a ladder inside that allowed for roof access, and the pool room had a door that actually descended about twenty feet under the floor and held a small room that, strangely enough, had tally marks engraved on the walls. But this, this was new.

The brunette wandered through the hallways, turning corners and nodding to students. Some of them waved cheerily, others turned and fled in the opposite direction. It was a well known fact around Hammel that the two maintenance ladies were crazy, one in a good kind of way and the other in a psychotic sort of fashion. It wasn’t hard to speculate on which one Lyra was considered to be. She was the lady that sawed PVC pipes with her bare hands and made damn sure no students caused any damage she had to clean up. Nobody had drawn on a desk in three months, not since she caught one boy doing it and made him scrub every desk in the whole school. As she passed a student chewing gum, she eyed the preteen, who, in a frightened fit, ended up phasing through a wall. She rolled her eyes and wandered on.

She was looking for someone to show her finding to. It was clutched firmly in her right hand. Her battered toolbox was in her left. The tools inside shifted with every step, announcing her imminent arrival to the entire school. The only tools not in her box were her hammer and wrench, both of which were slid through the loops on her belt. Her hair was held up in a claw clip to keep it out of the way, and her jacket was loose and threatening to come off. She had been doing some heavy lifting down in the basement of the auditorium when she found it. She was looking for an old lamppost that Mr. Bond had used in ‘Singin’ in The Rain’, disassembled, and stored. He wanted it again for ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’. She had stumbled, literally, over the device and ended up waist deep in forgotten, moth bitten, and mildew coated curtain fabric that likely hadn’t seen the light of day since the fifties. (Maybe she would drag it up and cut some pieces for curtains. Her apartment was a bit lacking.) She had picked up the offending device, ready to crush it, but discovered what it was, and, in a moment of joy, ran out to show off her find to the nearest person.

The nearest person had been Mrs. Bond, who was thoroughly unimpressed and had gone back to her security work, muttering something unintelligible and likely not in English about Lyra. Undeterred, she struck off again, deciding to swing by the office to tell Sean she had found something from his youth. He’d get a kick out of that- the device looked over a century old. She shouldered into the main office, ready to find the man, but was confronted with an odd scene of Mr. Dalton vaulting over a desk. “Holy Huckabees, Mr. D, now you’re just trying to break- wait.” She paused, blinked, and shuffled slightly to the right.

“No way.” Her eyebrows shot into her bangs. “No. Way. You are not who I think you are.” She had missed Dalton’s yell of the man’s name, so she really wasn’t sure- she recognized the face, but the haircut, the clothes, and the lack of hygiene was throwing her for a loop.

“Lani? Good God, what happened to you?”

((OOC: Hey, it’s the old trio!))

[Lani Hunter]

((XD))

Lani heard the voice and his eyes snapped up. He hadn't heard that voice since the last English lecture he attended where he stayed late and told Dalton he was leaving. Dalton was the only teacher he had told. He had left with the promise keeping in touch, a promise he hadn't realized he wasn't mean to keep from the moment he stepped out the doors. Seven years had hardly touched the man, though what he was doing coming out of a door in the office Lani couldn't fathom. He hoped and prayed that Dalton would recognize him but at the same time he had not wished to return to his favorite teacher looking like he had been living on the street. His weary face broke into that old impish grin. "Hey Dalton." He had not expected what happened next. The old man vaulted the desk in a way that Lani didn't think was possible for a man of his age. He yelped along the with receptionist in surprise and his eyes flashed with danger and he nearly attacked. Dalton's smiling face relaxed him and he fell into the warm embrace.

Lani coughed out a laugh, it sounded rusty and tired but a real laugh none the less. "I missed you too," He hugged the old man back for a moment but had to pulled out of the hug not because he wanted to but because Dalton was starting to hurt him. It wasn't the response he had expected but at the same time Dalton had no reason to believe he didn't do something stupid and tripped over a cliff or something. He stepped back and held the man at arms length. "God its been too long." He said and pulled the man back into a hug. He didn't care he missed him. Seven years had made Lani a cautious person but for a moment he let his guard down. There was nothing more than he wanted to feel protected again. He hadn't realized that that was the suffocation he had felt here. Protection. Oh how he had longed for it over the years. He didn't glance up until the woman moved into his view. She looked at him like she recognized him and he back at her in the same manner.

When she spoke again his heart jumped into his throat. L.C.! It has to be L.C.! He just grinned a little bit at her statement and nodded. He was exactly who she thought he was. He in turn gaped back at her, "L.C.?" This was more than he could have ever hoped for. Throughout their time at school he had never been sure whether L.C. liked or hated him. He shrugged in off 'it doesn't matter' and tossed it off as, "Seven years of bad luck and bad choices." He lost his smile like he was too tired to even keep it. There was shadowed happiness in his eyes however that glowed more than they had in years. "Look at you!" He laughed, "Working at Hammel. I thought for sure you would have gotten out of here as soon as the door opened." He turned back to Dalton, "And you in the office now? So much has changed." He looked about and suddenly became conscious of his terrible appearance in this really clean setting. It hadn't been to bad when he was on the streets and everyone looked like this but here he felt like a failure.

[Jacob Dalton]

<< Lani coughed out a laugh, it sounded rusty and tired but a real laugh none the less. "I missed you too," He hugged the old man back for a moment but had to pulled out of the hug not because he wanted to but because Dalton was starting to hurt him…

He stepped back and held the man at arms length. "God it’s been too long." He said and pulled the man back into a hug. >>

Dalton could hardly cease laughing in delight. “Oh, Lani! Heavens! Do you have any idea how often I have thought of you, wondered how you were doing?”

*Hoped and prayed you were alright, that is: that you had gotten past the errors of your youth, settled down and were happy?* The thought echoed in Dalton’s head, though nearly drowned out in relief at seeing the young man once more.

But his relief was quickly turning to urgent concern again. Dalton could easily tell the difference between someone pulling away from an awkward emotional moment, and a wince of pain. And was that the smell of blood on the boy?

“Lani: for Heaven’s sake! Are you injured? Come, come! Let us get you to the medical office: we can talk more there!”

<< He shrugged in off 'it doesn't matter' and tossed it off as, "Seven years of bad luck and bad choices." >>

The words cut at Dalton’s heart. Oh, how he had hoped otherwise. He shook his head. “Never you mind that now. L.C.: will you come along with us? Excellent timing on your part -- where did you find my old phone? That Darryl: he swore up and down and sideways he’d returned it after the play, but I assured him he had not. Never mind: we can deal with that later…”

<< There was shadowed happiness in his eyes however that glowed more than they had in years. "Look at you!" He laughed, "Working at Hammel. I thought for sure you would have gotten out of here as soon as the door opened…" >>

Dalton smiled inwardly in secret delight as the two reconnected. There had been something nearly magical about that first Saturday when the three of them had met: something that had reaffirmed his commitment to teaching, and created a special bond for him with these two students. L.C.’s path towards maturity had been a stormy one, but overall Dalton was happy to see her progress. But Lani…

*Did you ever really know what happened that night? Did you ever understand the sword of Damocles suspended over your head? Or the price that was paid for your freedom?*

<< He turned back to Dalton, "And you in the office now? So much has changed." >>

Dalton nodded. “Vice principal in charge of recruiting, now. I still teach a course or two, but have acquired some outside social duties as well.”

*Yes, indeed. Duties I sometimes wonder if I took up for strangers in the thought that you might need them someday. But no: you are no stranger. You may see what I have been doing, but you are now most definitely family…*

“Come: let’s get whatever wounds those are patched up. Then get you to a hot shower, and a change of clothes. You’ll be staying at my place: no arguments now…”

[L.C. Milliner]

There was a moment of stunned silence as Lyra realized that she was looking at Lani. There was a loud thump as she absentmindedly dropped her toolbox, and that jolted her out of her agape expression as she picked it back up and set it on the counter, pulling the hammer and wrench from her belt to sit inside. “Yeah, well, you hit so many dead end jobs and you’re open to anything, you know? Besides, who better to work maintenance then the girl who was set out to destroy the school for six years?” She smiled at him, trying to sound like she was joking, but she wasn’t- he wasn’t the only one that had fallen on hard times. True, she wasn’t standing all bloody in the main office, but still…

A thought popped into her head that took her off her current train of thought. “Why are you two calling me L.C.? Force of habit, or what? Come on, it’s Lyra now. Lie-rah.” She tried to look angry, but in reality she didn’t care- they could call her Hortense for all she cared, at least they were here. She couldn’t help it, she walked up to Lani and gave him a light pat on the shoulder. She would’ve hugged him, but she was in no shape to hug either- but that was a story for later. She wasn’t going to bore the guy with her scars when it was obvious he had some of his own. “You look like shit, man.” She said cheerily, licking her thumb to rub a bit of dirt above his eyebrow. She stopped and realized it wasn’t dirt- it was encrusted blood. The cheery smile dropped off her face and the façade of nonchalance broke. She sat the phone on the counter so she could take his face lightly in both hands, turning his head to get a good look at everything. “God, boy, what happened to you?” She breathed, looking his face over. It wasn’t hard to tell she was upset- the sad look in her eyes gave it away. “You’re so thin too.” She whispered, looking him over. “Dalton, I’m making dinner tonight.” She took the phone and slid it to the older man, and stepped away to shove her toolbox into her memo slot- she would get it later.

“I can patch it up for you. Your wife is off visiting overseas, right?” Or whatever it was his wife did whenever she wandered off to whatever country she was from over the Atlantic. She realized she was inviting herself over- but this was Lani. This was the trio. She hadn’t been together with either of them for a long while- even when she had come crawling back to Hammel, not much better than Lani. Lani had at least given some notice to his leaving- Lyra had taken off without a word to anyone. Just… Gone. She hadn’t even told Sean goodbye- she was certain he was still upset about that.

“What time is it? Four? Good.” She pulled a cell from her back pocket and texted someone, then shoved it in her back pocket again. “We can take my car- I have to make a stop before we can go over to your place anyway, Dalton. You know how it is.” She would make Lani take shotgun and would put Dalton in the back- he was good at distractions. Good thing he knew magic tricks. “Let’s go, you two. Come on. No time for walking tours this time.” Lyra grinned back at the two, her smile back in place, because she knew where she was going and what she was doing now. She had a plan. She was halfway out of the office door already, impatient to go, as always.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani felt such a surge of joy he felt he might just collapse in tears. He wanted to take them both up and hug them until he was an angry seventeen year old again and maybe then he would listen. If he had known life was going to be like this he would have just stayed holed up with his trainer. Lani smiled at Dalton and his enthusiastic response. He winced a little bit, he had tried to keep track of what his friends had been up to but after a year or so it fell through and Lani could barely keep himself on track. Lani moved away reflexively raising a hand to brush a hand through his hair and obscure the sadness in his expression. "I'm fine really," Lani tried to smile but he felt too close to crying, "Really..." He cut himself off before he could get himself into an even more pitiful position. One thing that had changed he no longer had an uncontrollable tongue. Turns out that one threat about loosing it and you get really conscious about your tongue.

He smiled in good humor with L.C. for a moment, "Ah, it is fitting." Lani blinked for a moment, "Well Lyra, it is a pleasure to meet you." He grinned and gave her a wink, "I guess I won't be able to call you Elsie anymore." So at least he wasn't the only one who had ended up back here with less than successful travels. He smiled in understanding and put his hand over hers in thankful affection. He had always hoped L.C... Lyra had gotten a good life. And if Hammel was it, he was happy for her. Lani laughed weakly at her statement. It felt good to be home. Yes, home. For once in his life he felt like he could relax and be at home. He closed his eyes as he felt her damp finger on his forehead. He opened them to look thoughtfully at her when her face dropped. He gritted his teeth and just shook his head. Let’s just say that I made a lot of very powerful people very angry. Lani thought, knowing they would undoubtedly want the full story in the near future. That was not something he was looking forward to, it would only bring more sadness and disappointment. He tried to smile but it was hard when she was looking with such obvious concern at him.

Lani smiled in pleasant surprise, "Vice Principal of recruitment? That's wonderful." He grinned and closed his eyes giving a little laugh, "I wish you had been here when I was recruited." He said honestly, who knows what would have happened, what would have changed if someone like Dalton had greeted him when he had come here for the first time. "I'm glad I don't think I could have gotten through English without you!" Oh how grateful he was to Dalton for so many more reasons. "Wife?" He raised an inquisitive brow at him, "Congratulations." He looked back at Lyra, he wondered what she had been through. What had happened to her, had she left, had the graduated, was she married? A million questions ran through his mind. But none seemed right at the moment. And Dalton, married! He was so happy for the old man! He wished he could have been there, he wished he had known, he wished he had at least sent a note. Dalton had been more than a teacher, more than a friend, he had been a father to Lani and imagined or not Lani felt like family to the man.

Lani looked around as they talked around him. He smiled contently and could have stood there for hours just taking this in. The old trio of L.C., now Lyra, Lani and Dalton. It felt like everything was alright with the world, only it wasn't how could it be? But for a few moments Lani could just pretend. It was when they started making plans that Lani put in. He shook his head, "Dalton..." But he was cut off when he cut off his argument. He sighed, "A hot shower will be nice." He said instead. "You don't have to do this." He said in a little rebellious way of getting out his argument anyways. Some things never change. He glanced at Dalton searching for an explanation as Lyra moved to the door. He turned for a moment to the man, "Dalton, I..." Whatever he wanted to say was lost as he couldn't force out the words instead he smiled, "I can't thank you enough." He paused for a moment and followed squaring his jaw and walking as best he could without hurting his ankle or letting it be obvious he was limping. He laughed at the irony. "Last time we were in this situation it was to get pizza." He smiled brightly happy to dwell on the past for a few moments.

[Jacob Dalton]

<< “Yeah, well, you hit so many dead end jobs and you’re open to anything, you know? Besides, who better to work maintenance then the girl who was set out to destroy the school for six years?” >>

Dalton chuckled to himself. L.C. – Lyra now, he mentally corrected himself – still ranted and snarled from time to time, but like so many people, that was just her mean of self-assertion. He understood that now, and was no longer concerned by it as he had been in the past.

“My apologies as well, Lyra. Yes, seeing Lani gave me a bit of a flashback: of the best kind, not the worst. I could quite see you as you were on that first day…”

His eyes sparkled at the memory. All three of them had come so far: but perhaps some of them further than others?

<< The cheery smile dropped off her face and the façade of nonchalance broke. She sat the phone on the counter so she could take his face lightly in both hands, turning his head to get a good look at everything. “God, boy, what happened to you?” >>

“I daresay that’s a story that can wait until our boy is patched up, fed and rested a bit. What do you say, Lani? Do we need the doctor’s office, or simple home first aid?”

There was no remonstration in Dalton’s voice: only concern. No matter what had happened, no matter what “poor choices” he had made, Lani needed and deserved the simple tending to these basic needs, and a couple of hours or more of peace and restoration.

<< “You’re so thin too.” She whispered, looking him over. “Dalton, I’m making dinner tonight.” >>

Dalton nodded with relief. Lyra was a regular guest at the Dalton household, had joined in meal prep many times before. She knew her way around the kitchen well: the standing joke was that she had less to clean up because she never touched the knife drawer. Her common retort was that if Dalton could just learn to handle clean water, they’d never have to worry about washing dishes at all. He smiled in spite of his worries about Lani.

“Fabulous! You cover the kitchen, I’ll cover the first aid, we’ll have him set up in no time.”

<< “We can take my car- I have to make a stop before we can go over to your place anyway, Dalton. You know how it is.” >>

Dalton raised an eyebrow. “If you have a stop to make, perhaps I should go ahead and take Lani straight home in the van? I would need to get that home tonight regardless…”

Then he realized the tone she was using: she was trying to hint at something, but at the moment he was distracted enough over Lani he couldn’t imagine what.

“Unless it’s something where you need us along?”


<< "I'm fine really," Lani tried to smile but he felt too close to crying, "Really..." >>

It was easy enough to hear the tears about to come in Lani’s voice. Part of Dalton wanted so much to encourage Lani to let it all out, open up to that inner child: part of him knew that until Lani the Man was ready, it would only embarrass and not heal.

<< "I wish you had been here when I was recruited…"

"…I'm glad I don't think I could have gotten through English without you!" >>

Dalton nodded. “There have been some changes: a kinder, gentler approach, all for the good. Less ‘stealing children away in the night,’ more ‘may we help you achieve your full potential?’ I told you my faith in Hammel on Day One: now I have ever more opportunity to participate in making it so.

“And of course: you think I could ever leave my first love of teaching? Warping bright young minds into Renaissance Fair geeks, that’s the life for me!”

<< "Wife?" He raised an inquisitive brow at him, "Congratulations." >>

Dalton fairly beamed. The last five years had been truly unbelievable. But that was a tale for another time: right now, Lani needed help.

<< "A hot shower will be nice." He said instead. "You don't have to do this." >>

“_Have_ to? Would you truly deny me the privilege?” Dalton raised a commanding eyebrow that would brook no arguments.

<< "Dalton, I..." Whatever he wanted to say was lost as he couldn't force out the words instead he smiled, "I can't thank you enough." >>

Dalton shook his head. “You already did. You came home.”

He put an arm under Lani’s and around his back, helping the young man out the door without making it look like more than an affectionate hug. Sometimes the greatest gift one could give was simple dignity…

[L.C. Milliner]

When Lani joked about calling her ‘Elsie’ Lyra smirked, even as her cheeks flushed slightly red from witnessing the wink he gave her. She looked away and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, well, I won’t call you Lonnie anymore either. Now we can only see if the old man can keep it straight.” Yes, Lyra still liked to joke about Dalton’s hearing, or lack thereof. Those jokes were right up there on her list with teasing Sean about his age and Jackeroe about his lack of a girlfriend. Still.

Not that she was one to talk, really, but everyone could leave her alone on that point.

“The van? Oh, I can ride with you two then. It’s not even out of the way, you know. I’ll just need to swing by my car then.” She dug her keys out of her jacket pocket, holding them in her hand as she watched Dalton and Lani exchange pleasantries. Her phone went off and she checked it, muttering something about sleeping as she texted back, then clicked her phone shut with finality. She smiled at the two of them, her eyes softening at she looked at the two men in front of her- one her own mentor, the other an old classmate. She wasn’t sure what to categorize Lani as- she certainly tried to keep away from him in high school. But why? Was it a choice, or was it a necessity? She frowned for a moment as she pushed the thought out of her head, then smiled as the two of them passed her.

She walked a few steps behind at first, but when Dalton put his arm around Lani, Lyra’s heart began to melt. She took a few steps to catch up and appeared on the younger man’s other side, smiling as she snaked her arm around his waist, a gesture of protectiveness that few were allowed to receive from her. She put her free hand out to push the doors open for the three, and they exited the building and were greeted by the crisp fall air. She smiled as the wind toyed with her hair and she took a deep breath as she descended the steps- she couldn’t believe she was coming up on her birthday in a few months. Then there was another birthday in December, one she still had to get ready for. Six years. Lyra looked up to the sun and smiled to herself, then broke from the group. “The van’s over there, right? I’ll ride in the backseat. Be back in a bit.” She veered to the right and navigated to the middle of the lot, pressing the pad on her key ring to unlock her grand am. She opened the back door and dragged the two things she needed out of the backseat, then bumped the door closed as she locked it again, lugging her load across the parking lot. She paused and slung the tote bag over her shoulder, adjusting the straps as she pressed on.

She reached the car a minute or so after they did and didn’t bother to join in on any conversation the two were having, opting instead to slide the back door open so she could throw the bag inside. She picked her other item off the ground and strapped it into the middle of the backseat, wiping her forehead when she was done. She really, really hated this thing. Once she was done, she climbed out of the van and looked at the two.

“Come on, boys, I’ve got thecar seat loaded and buckled in already! Dalton, you know how much Nell loves to see her Uncle Jacob. Let’s go~! The daycare, then your place.”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani smiled at Dalton as he mentioned the flashback. He wondered randomly if those few boulders he had moved in his youth where still there. By the pond. Lani had never learned to swim but he had certainly gotten over such a fear, now it was more of an annoyance to him more than anything else. “Such good memories.” Lani mused and shot Dalton a grateful look. At least he would have a little bit of time to catch up before they had to know the truth. What was he thinking, coming back here without cleaning up? Oh yeah, that every moment he spent out there was another moment he was in trouble. He felt shakily like he was pulling them into something dangerous but here at Hammel they could not touch him. Even Pilot Ridge was in a way protected from the dangerous of the outside world because of the meta presence. It was odd to him that some people saw it as a cursed place.

Lani took a look down at himself at the question. “Um…” He did a quick inventory, at this moment most of these were old and healing just terribly sore. The only thing he was worried about was his side. That was where most of the blood was coming from and it just wasn’t healing right. Then here were a few little things but nothing a little first aid couldn’t handle. “I think simple first aid will be fine.” He had been doing simple first aid for a while now and he would do anything to avoid the doctor those places still freaked him out. It had been part of his training, for a few year Lani had been on the right track in the Army. If given the materials he could mend almost anything. That was probably why he looked so terrible because he had had to cut strips of one of his shirts to bind most of his issue places everything else had to deal with bleeding on his shirt. He sighed and tugged randomly at the ruined garment. Dalton thank goodness hadn’t made this into a pity party, Lani might have just died. There was only concern.

Lani smiled at them again and made a face at Lyra’s recollection of what Dalton had called him when they first met. He hadn’t missed the little red tint her cheeks got as she turned away. He laughed, “I hope too many years hasn’t made his memories slip.” He grinned teasingly at them. It felt so good to laugh, to joke, to relax. He smiled a little glad that Dalton was taking of first aid. Something made him self-conscious about having Lyra see all of his scars and healing wounds. He certainly didn’t look very attractive right now. Eternally grateful, thankful, Lani could only think of a million things to describe what he was feeling right now. Lani listen to them talk about the car plans for a little while then shook his head at both of them. “If that is an issue I can help.” He didn’t want to be completely useless. “I’ve been trained very well since I left.” He added with a smile, “You wouldn’t believe the kind of stuff I can do!” Lani was enthusiastic about that part. Telling them all that he learned and all he had accomplish in the ways of his powers. Sure it took him a while to accomplish but he could do amazing things he would never have dreamed of.

Lani laughed, “God I remember that: ‘It’s for your own good,’ spiel. I didn’t think it was possible but somehow I find myself reading Shakespeare in my spare time thanks to you.” Lani smiled and narrowed his eyes in a mock blaming way. Lani was the farthest thing from interested in English but after a lot of persuasion from Dalton he decided to switch into his class and try it out. That man had been the only person ever to make him read but make him want to read like he wanted to live. Dalton was truly happy now. It was written all over his face. He had the wife he had wanted whether it was or was not the same woman from Lani’s time he wasn’t sure but either way the old man was happy and in turn Lani couldn’t help but he happy. “You’ll have to show me all of the pictures.” He said forcefully. They might be interested in getting him well and what he had been up to. But he knew he would live another day and he knew what he went through and what he was interested in was what they had been up to.

Lani was lost in his own thoughts for a while and was brought back by Dalton’s commanding voice. Lani called it Dalton’s ‘teacher’ voice. It was the command an army, stop a crowd make you listen voice. He used it every once in a while when Lani wasn’t listening to him lecture. He raised his hands in mock defense. He heaved a sigh, “I yield.” He had never been able to argue with the man when he got into those kinds of talks, partly because every argument Lani would bring up seemed trivial after those choice words. Lani felt tears and fought them back at Dalton’s last words. Home. I’m home. He thought and unconsciously pinched the bridge of his nose to keep the tears from falling. He felt almost like the prodigal son Dalton had told him about one time when his lack of Bible knowledge was challenged in a book they were reading.

He was shocked when Dalton came up behind him and hugged and supported him. Lani gave him a grateful smile. If it looked like anything it didn’t look like the old man was giving the young man some much needed support on his foot. Seconds later L.C…. Lyra was on his other side. He looked at her in a shock for a moment. He couldn’t ever remember a time when L.C. had hugged him. He put an arm around her shoulder and around Daltons and squeezed them both close to him. The wordless act of love reached Lani’s heart and he nearly started weeping right then and there. If only they knew, if only he could put into words how much he loved them. They walked, thankfully, slowly. Lani was able to get just enough support from Dalton and Lyra that his foot looked as though it was acting normally when his right foot was actually taking lunging steps to keep up.

Lani looked back at Lyra for a moment and then continued with Dalton to the van. It certainly wasn’t the car he remembered Dalton having. He leaned up against the side when they got there. “She’s changed a lot, eh? Lyra. I’m happy for her,” He said wistfully, “Oh, you have no idea what it is like to be back. No other place really felt right.” He clasped the man’s shoulder. There was so much that he wanted to say but none of it felt right. Let us enjoy the moment now. When Lyra returned carrying, was that a car seat? Lani gave Dalton a curious glance but continued with his conversation, “Something is missing though.” He mused scratching his furry chin, he would have to ask for a razor he hated not shaving. “Oh that’s right,” he raised his voice so Lyra could hear, “Two bratty teenagers.” He laughed a little. Goodness, looking back he could hardly believe how he had acted. So busy wallowing in self pity that he didn’t see all that was around him. He had taken L.C.’s advice. He had grown a spine.

Lani ogled at her. It was different thinking that was a car seat but another thing entirely for her to tell him it was. “D-daycare?!” Lani exclaimed gaping at her like she had just grown another head. He had a million and twelve questions about that but all he was able to get out was, “Nell? Yours?” His voice really wasn’t working. It had been seven years but still part of him thought Lyra was still the L.C. he had left and it was odd thinking of her, and even himself as adults with lives and real world problems. He looked at Dalton desperate for some time of explanation. He was still mind numbed when he lifted himself into Dalton’s car, “You sure you don’t wanna put down a towel or something.” He said meaning for it to be a joke, but there was a touch of truth in it. He looked a mess and was about to get Dalton’s seat messy as well.

[Jacob Dalton]

<< “Yeah, well, I won’t call you Lonnie anymore either. Now we can only see if the old man can keep it straight.”

“I hope too many years hasn’t made his memories slip.” >>

“What’s that? Memories about what, Sonny?” Dalton sounded off in one of his stage voices, tottering about the room for a moment in a wobbly-legged walk and sounding so much like a deaf old codger he feared he might reinjure the boy should he laugh too hard.

If one could not laugh at their own weaknesses, then life would be a sorrowful place indeed.

<< “I think simple first aid will be fine.” He sighed and tugged randomly at the ruined garment. >>

Dalton nodded. “Don’t you worry: we’ll have some replacement clothes for you as well in a jif. Already making a stop: what’s your sizes?” Dalton eyed him with further concern. “Waist 34: or are you down to a 32? Take about a 30 inch inseam? Shirts: I daresay medium would do?” His eyes fell to Lani’s feet. “Size 9, there? Don’t worry: a decent pair of sneakers shan’t set me back a penny. You’ll see.”

<< Lani laughed, “God I remember that: ‘It’s for your own good,’ spiel. I didn’t think it was possible but somehow I find myself reading Shakespeare in my spare time thanks to you.” Lani smiled and narrowed his eyes in a mock blaming way.

Dalton swallowed a lump of gratitude. “I would ask your favorite play or favorite scene: but that can wait for another time. For now, it is enough to know that a taste for the classics has enriched your life on some level: I could hope for no more than that…


<< “The van? Oh, I can ride with you two then. It’s not even out of the way, you know. I’ll just need to swing by my car then.” >>

Dalton nodded. “Of course. We would have wished to stop by the Center regardless. You get your things, I’ll get the side door open.” This had long ago become a routine between them.

<< “If that is an issue I can help.” He didn’t want to be completely useless. “I’ve been trained very well since I left.” He added with a smile, “You wouldn’t believe the kind of stuff I can do!” >>

Dalton beamed. “I shall be delighted to see what you have learned. And I have quite the back yard for you to show me in.” He chuckled. “I may even have a can of tennis balls buried somewhere in the basement…”

<< Lani felt tears and fought them back at Dalton’s last words. Home. I’m home. He thought and unconsciously pinched the bridge of his nose to keep the tears from falling. He felt almost like the prodigal son Dalton had told him about one time when his lack of Bible knowledge was challenged in a book they were reading. >>

The boy could have no idea how precisely his thoughts were being mirrored in Dalton’s head as he watched the boy duck his head, rub his nose, and blink back the tears.

* Whether you knew or didn’t, whether you ever realize or not – whether you are here to burst my heart with pride or break it with tears, you should know: the price I paid, I would pay again in a heartbeat, just for the joy of this moment…*

The words of a song from one of his favorite artists passed through his mind:

“I have seen you rise,
And I have seen you fall:
But did you ever know
I loved you through it all…”

Somehow, Azaelea always seemed to have the words for any occasion.

<< Lyra looked up to the sun and smiled to herself, then broke from the group. “The van’s over there, right? I’ll ride in the backseat. Be back in a bit.” >>

Dalton nodded. “Of course! I’ll get Lani set up, and the door open!”

<< He leaned up against the side when they got there. “She’s changed a lot, eh? Lyra. I’m happy for her,” He said wistfully, “Oh, you have no idea what it is like to be back. No other place really felt right.” >>

Dalton chuckled as he unlocked the side door of the dusty van, rolling it back on its tracks. The interior was a mess: carpeting long since ruined, muddy bootprints covering the floor, toolboxes and a five-gallon cooler blocking the two middle seats.

“Yes, she certainly has changed. You want to be a bit of help? I need the cooler and tool boxes behind the middle seats before she gets back: and if your control is exceptional, see how clean you can get these seats? If not, don’t worry: I have a clean dry towel.”

<< There was so much that he wanted to say but none of it felt right. Let us enjoy the moment now. When Lyra returned carrying, was that a car seat? >>

<< “Come on, boys, I’ve got the car seat loaded in already! Dalton, you know how much Nell loves to see her Uncle Jacob. Let’s go~!” >>

<< “D-daycare?!” Lani exclaimed gaping at her like she had just grown another head. He had a million and twelve questions about that but all he was able to get out was, “Nell? Yours?” >>

Dalton laughed. “More than a daycare, Lani: so much more. You’ll see. And very soon, we shall be carrying not one but two of the prettiest young ladies in my acquaintance. Nell is quite the doll…”

He hauled open the passenger door. “This is a working van, Lani. Days like today, I am dropping off half a dozen men at a worksite on my way from home to here. In fact, once we have you bandaged up I shall have to go collect them all and take them back to their residence, which you shall see first. So don’t you worry about a little dirt: it will be right at home.”

The drive was not long: perhaps ten minutes until Dalton turned onto a side road, recently paved but still small, that seemed to lead up a hill and right into the woods.

“There’s nothing like getting away from it all, Lani: especially every day, when you truly need it. That’s something we all need. Home, shelter, a little comfort and beauty in our lives.

“When I first arrived, this area had been purchased for development but the contract was in dispute. Shortly after the housing bubble burst: we had homeless everywhere, and this fine land ready to go, but assets frozen. I came into a bit of money: not much, but enough to start a seed fund. I and some partners resolved the contract and invested in one home at a time, getting newly evicted families off the streets and back into houses. One by one, the properties were developed and our funding grew.”

It was actually difficult to see what Dalton was talking about. There seemed to be nothing but greenery on both sides of the road. But as he would point specifically to one spot, then another, Lani could see beautiful homes ensconced in the woods, private from most peering eyes. Then the road curved down into a low, level sward, with a great circular drive. In the center was a quaint two-story building, its design looking much like a very large but old-fashioned schoolhouse. Tennis and basketball courts and a running track surrounding it added to the feel: the parking slots filled with family trailers did not.

“But there were more homeless than we could ever build for, Lani. More need than we could ever fill on our own. So, the community Center: sleeping areas for families, a large cafeteria, workshops for job skill training, resume’ writing: child care to help single mothers who work, and a shop for donated clothing. Yes, Nell is here, and we’ll be setting you up with a couple of outfits.”

They drove around the curve before reaching the front of the building. Dalton pulled up and parked directly in front of the sign that announced the center’s name in big letters.

The sign read simply: “Allison’s Hope.”

[L.C. Milliner]

Lyra had indeed snickered at the line about ‘bratty teenagers’, but made no comment on it. Had she been younger, she would’ve taken it as an insult and would’ve lost her temper, but with age came composure, and now she knew to handle herself better than that. She leaned on the door and watched Lani’s face as he came to the realization that the car seat was for her daughter, and she laughed. “Yes, she’s mine. Eleanor Janina Milliner. And don’t even think about calling her E.J. I get enough problems with that as it is.” The older staff found it so amusing how a girl that went strictly by her initials in high school could get so puffed up about her daughter being called the same. But Nell was hers, and would always be hers, and she loved her daughter more than anyone else in the world. Some people thought she spoiled the girl silly, but it was all Lyra could do- she wanted to be the best mother she could be.

She climbed into the backseat and shut her door, then buckled herself in. Once they began moving, she slid down in the seat a bit and watched the world go by- the changing colors of the trees and the blue of the sky mesmerized her, and she still couldn’t believe she took this all for granted, once. The other two kept talking, and Lyra listened to them, tossing in her input only once. “It’s very beautiful.” That was all she could really say about it: it was a beautiful place, and she would know. How long had it been since she was in there, learning to write a résumé, sleeping in a bed that, no matter how hard she tried, never seemed like hers? This place helped her get back onto her feet. She still wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to pay Dalton back, even after the many years of cooking for him and treating him with the utmost respect.

The trailers always made Lyra sad when she saw them, but she did not turn her head away, merely watched them as the van passed. She sat in silence for a moment, and then finally snapped from her reverie as the van pulled to a stop. She unbuckled herself and hopped out, stretching even though the ride hadn’t been long. She took a look up at the sign and nodded at it appreciatively. She had not been the one to paint it, nor had she been one of the workers to put it up, but she still found meaning in the sign, if only because she knew the full meaning of the words imprinted. She patted the sign as she passed it and went forward, calling out to Lani as she sauntered backward up the path to the door.

“If you need a place to stay, I highly recommend it. Dalton went all out on it, and I’m telling you, the food’s great.” She took a side path that wound around a beautiful garden (Mrs. Tonaya had really gone all out) and finally came to a stop outside a gated area where a jungle gym had been erected. She was a part of the construction for that, and even some of the design: she had carved words like ‘hope’ and ‘dreams’ into the wooden structure with the utmost care. They were still there, although a bit weather worn. The woman scanned the playground and her eyes rested on the swing set, and she waved enthusiastically to the girl on it. The little girl gave out a happy yell of surprise and, once the swing went totally forward, she jumped off. Lyra snorted and opened the gate, watching as her daughter landed on her feet and took off running. That child had absolutely no fear.

That scared her, honestly.

“MOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY.” Nell ran jumped and latched onto her Mother’s legs, giggling happily as Lyra scooped her up. She wriggled around and latched onto her mother, licking her cheek as Lyra waved at the caretaker and went across the yard to sign her daughter out. She made a face at being licked. “Ewww. I got Nell germs.” Her daughter laughed and watched Lyra sign her out, then held on as they left the playground.

“I don’t have germs, Mommy. I’m clean.” Said the little girl with grass stains on her knees and leaves in her hair. Her mother could only raise an eyebrow as she began to pick leaves out, careful as always with her little one. It was hard to believe that a woman that could easily kill a person with a slap, or even a hug, could be so gentle. Questions arose every day about whether Lyra should be allowed to keep her daughter. But that was simply anti-meta legislation talking, and she tried not to concern herself with politics.

Once Nell saw Dalton, though, she began to squirm uncontrollably and she reached out with grabbing hands for him. “I want Uncle Dalton to hold me nooow.” She whined, but she stopped when she saw Lani. She paused and cocked her head to the side, watching him before she stopped and reached out for him instead.

“He needs a hug, Mommy!” The little girl pouted, reaching for Lani with pale hands. “Is he your friend? Is he going to stay here? What’s your name, mister? My name’s Eleanor but everybody calls me Nell, because I like it and it’s a nice nickname for me I think. How old are you? I’m this many.” She held up five fingers. “Do you like candy, I like candy, do you have any for me? I like chocolate, and my favorite…” She went on, still reaching for Lani and waving her arms.

Lyra smiled and talked over her, patting her daughter’s head. She quieted and pretended to purr like a cat, which was possibly one of the cutest things (in Lyra’s opinion) that she had ever seen. “She’s a bit of a handful. Nell, this is Lani. He’s my friend.” The little girl nodded and began kicking her feet and wiggled to be set free. Her mother shifted her weight and let Nell down, and the little girl immediately ran to Lani and threw her arms around his legs, not caring about how dirty his pants were. “BIIIIIIIIG HUGS FOR MISTER LANI.” She yelled, using all of her five year old strength to squeeze his legs as hard as she could (which was not very hard at all, really) before letting go. Then she ran over to Dalton and began jumping with her arms raised. "Up, up, up, up, up, up!"

[Lani Hunter]

At Dalton’s joke Lani nearly double over in laughter. He closed his eyes and threw his head back and guffawed. One arm clutched around his torso as his side ached but he couldn’t stop laughing. It felt too good. Only Dalton. He smiled and shook his head at the old man as his laugh finally winded down. He nodded numbly at the numbers. They sounded right the last time he checked, “That should be right.” He pondered for a moment. “You are a good guess.” Lani wasn’t too good at getting his own clothes. Jared always joked him for being so boring in the way of dress. But then Lani never could have gone out in public in what that boy did. He wondered randomly what had ever happened to that kid.

Lani grinned, “It has, Dalton, it certainly has.” He had never been much of a reader but after the English class he had taken with him and especially being in places less than pleasant. He smiled and tugged his bag off his shoulder for a moment and dug into it. He pulled out a small paperback and held it out of Dalton. It was one of the English books he had just never returned… oops. If you looked closely you could make out the faint ‘Frankenstein’ on the cover. “This one kept me company all through Afghanistan.” He grinned, he was a Shakespeare fan but this had been one book that really touched him deeply. The novel showed a great amount of wear and tear but still in relatively good shape compared to its owner.

Feeling just a little out of the loops Lani just went along with them. The Center? What was that? He felt like he knew the town pretty well and that was certainly something he didn’t remember. Or if it touched some place in his memory it wasn’t significant enough to jog anything. Lani smiled glad that he had made Dalton proud in at least one aspect. He nodded in delight, “Yeah definitely! Ah, good old tennis balls, they are my best friend. I’m sure if they are there I’ll find them.” He grinned he couldn’t wait. He could do the most amazing things. He was nothing compared to his trainer but still he felt pretty accomplished.

Lani nodded enthusiastically. He hated to just sit around and be completely useless. He closed his eyes and grinned, “Stand back. I’ll have this presentable in a jiffy.” He Grabbed the cooler first and maneuvered it up and over the back seat with a little bit of effort. He was glad to see he was hardly winded. Next the toolboxes. He tested them first shaking them a little getting used to the shifting weight and then placed them snuggly and securely behind the seat. He raised a brow at the old man ready to show him just what he had learned. He closed his eyes and reached out his hands Feeling everything that would clutter the back. He felt every individual grain of dust and Tugged on it. If it gave he Held it if not he let it rest. Then with a jerk of his fists backward he dislodged anything of trouble. He separated objects from the dust and moved the dust to settle on the pavement and settled the other objects in the back with the cooler.

He took a deep breath and opened his eyes dusting his hands off on his jeans, not that that did anything but make them more dirty. Lani looked at Dalton for a desperate explanation but he was not to get one. He smiled rather, a child? Lyra’s child. “So no E.J?” He laughed slightly disappointed, “I can’t wait to meet her.” He smiled, “If you say so.” It was so easy to drop back into the relaxed state of mind but he knew it was still dangerous. He took a quick look around, making it look as if he was just taking in the school. He reached with his power and checked the brakes and such and sighed with relief finding them sound. He sat back but neglected to buckle up. It wasn’t so much anything he thought about just a force of habit. One never really knew.

Lani pondered about this place as they drove on through the woods. He dropped his bag on the floor grateful not to have it on his back anymore. No matter how light things wore on a person. He listened as Dalton explained the place’s origin, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Lani muttered making a small reference. He looked out the window expectantly and was rewarded by the winking of houses between the trees. “Wow, you did all this? It’s amazing.” Lani could actually see himself living here. He didn’t want to bum off of Dalton very long that would just be dangerous. He would rather have his own place that he could defend well. Allison’s Hope, he read on the sign. He glanced at Dalton his face a mask of content, but he remembered something about and Allison and did not want to bring it up for fear of upsetting the man.

Lani grinned back at Lyra, “I’ll look into it.” He needed a cheap place right now and he needed to start fresh and if this was it well so be it. He was going to earn an honest living this time. He vowed that not only to himself but to Dalton and Lyra. He stepped out and looked around curiously. This would be a perfect place to explore. And it could be exploration in leisure not the desperate exploration for a purpose. The sound of a child’s call snapped his attention back to Lyra as a precious young girl called out. He laughed, “She’s just like her mother.” He was sure Lyra cringed every time her child did something like that, but he was just as certain Lyra had been the same way.

He smiled at her as she started to ramble on. He nodded periodically just barely able to keep up. “Five?” He asked in mock shock, “Why you’re practically a lady! It’s such a pleasure to meet you Nell, I’m Lani.” He repeated after Lyra, “I’m your mommy’s friend.” He laughed, “I like chocolate too, maybe we could get some later.” He loved children they were perhaps the one thing he had absolute weakness for. “Sounds like someone I know.” Lani said to Lyra as she spoke about her child being a handful. He grinned to show he was joking but the child was an absolute delight. He waved his arms a little to keep his balance as she hugged his legs.

His mind went blank at the innocent words and he thrust into the past, “Hug Mr. Lani goodbye,” the mother said and Lani bent to hug her. He picked the child up and tossed her in the air a little ways grinning at the shrieking laughter it brought. He handed her back to her mother. “Bye bye Mister Lani!” He waved a little back at her and turned to go. But that was when he saw it. The moving shadow he had taught them! He tried to call out to them his own daggers already flying. He was attacked from behind and could hardly fight the two men off. The other caught the mother and ended her swiftly. “Boss wants to talk to you.” One of his old friends said, “But first.” Someone he didn’t recognize pulled the three year old over and grabbed Lani’s hand thrusting the gun into it. “You’ll do it. It was your job.” Lani had struggled but it hadn’t been enough. The man wrapped his hand around Lani’s and pressed Lani’s finger against the trigger. Lani closed his eyes as the little girl pleaded with him and the gun sounded…

He looked around his hand reflexively going to his back pocket where his throwing knives were hiding. He gripped the hilt of one and snaked his head in each direction listening and looking for that moving shadow. He swallowed thinking like an animal protecting its children. He snapped his head back as the little girl went to Dalton. He blinked and shook himself. Dropping the hilt from his fist he pulled the back of his shirt back down over the weapon. He was keyed up and battle triggered he really hoped nothing startled him. He took several deep breaths and shook his head. He forced a smile, “She’s beautiful Lyra.” He really needed to stop flashing back like this.

[Jacob Dalton]

<< He nodded numbly at the numbers. They sounded right the last time he checked, “That should be right.” He pondered for a moment. “You are a good guesser.” >>

Dalton shrugged. “Years of working with costume departments gave me a start: working in the Community Closet honed that talent. You’ll see.”

<< He pulled out a small paperback and held it out to Dalton. It was one of the English books he had just never returned… oops. If you looked closely you could make out the faint ‘Frankenstein’ on the cover. “This one kept me company all through Afghanistan.” >>

Dalton reached out in recognition: yes, one of the old copies from when he had just started at Hammel. They had purchased newer editions with a different cover two years later. He chuckled.

“Good thing for you that one wasn’t a library book,” he teased. “We have an assistant librarian now who is most persistent in collecting on fines.”

Given the giftings of Hammel students and staff, it was quite amusing to leave the nature of the assistant up to Lani’s imagination.

<< He closed his eyes and grinned, “Stand back. I’ll have this presentable in a jiffy.”

…with a jerk of his fists backward he dislodged anything of trouble. He separated objects from the dust and moved the dust to settle on the pavement and settled the other objects in the back with the cooler. >>

Dalton beamed at him with quiet pride, and a gentle clap on the shoulder. “Outstanding. Simply outstanding.”

As always, Dalton was delighted with an opportunity to show off his Dream Child to someone who had not yet seen what they had accomplished here. More than a dozen years after the hurricane, over half of Old New Orleans still remained a desolate wasteland: here they had not merely shelter but beauty, health and self esteem for all who came.

<< “If you need a place to stay, I highly recommend it. Dalton went all out on it, and I’m telling you, the food’s great.” >>

Dalton beamed at Lyra’s praise, but still he blushed. “Lyra credits me for the efforts of many. I gave my push here and there, but I assure you so did many, many hands besides my own. But yes, I was adamant that the fare should never sink to the level of the cafeteria of days gone by. In fact, there are many in the community who will come to eat the same meal and pay triple as a donation, and consider themselves well served.”

This was an especially proud point for Dalton: that the homeless at this shelter were not isolated from the rest of the public, but could rub elbows with far better established members of the community. How many fresh starts had begun here over a meal and a handshake? There was no telling.

In truth he would have been happy to offer Lani the guest bedroom to which he had already extended the invitation for a night, and extend it for a decent interval while the young man found his place. But there was such a special healing touch for those who came to the Center for help and found themselves becoming the helpers as well as the helped. More than anything he hoped Lani would take the time to benefit from such an experience, even if only for a few days or weeks before finding a more permanent niche.

<< The little girl gave out a happy yell of surprise and, once the swing went totally forward, she jumped off. Lyra snorted and opened the gate, watching as her daughter landed on her feet and took off running. That child had absolutely no fear. >>

As heartstopping as Nell’s antics could often be, Dalton could never suppress his overwhelming pride in both mother and daughter for her developing such confidence. Allison had been such a fearful child, and Dalton was quite certain the strife between her parents had been largely to blame. The contrast in Nell’s emotional health and vigor was a precious and beautiful thing. Instinctively he sensed this meeting could be a transforming one for Lani, and held his place. He had seen the magic of Nell’s innocence touch more than a few hearts right here at the center.

In due time she came running to him and he happily scooped her up, first hugging, then swinging her around as she held her arms out doing her best Supergirl imitation. And finally she came to rest sitting on his shoulders as he walked under her favorite dogwood tree to play with the last of the late-hanging blooms. “How is my little Nell today, eh? What new marvels did you discover?”

So entranced was Dalton in the moment with his adoptive niece that he utterly missed Lani’s period of horrific reverie. By the time he glanced back at his former students, Lani had regained his composure.

He sneaked a glance at her mother with a sly grin, forestalling her objection. “Just one: not enough to spoil dinner.” He raised both hands, flourishing each in their turn. “And which hand is it today, Nell? Which one has the coin (a golden dollar suddenly appeared in one hand), and which one the chocolate (a foil wrapped Mini dark chocolate appeared in the other)? With a snap of the fingers both disappeared again as Dalton made a show of passing them quickly back and forth from hand to hand. Finally he stopped, both hands frozen in midair before the child. He winked at Lani, and his fingers lifted so the young man could see that Dalton now held a chocolate in each hand.

Nell patted one hand, and Dalton surrendered the chocolate to her. “How do you _do_ that, dear girl? Every time, Lani: she guesses right every single time!”

The chocolate consumed, Dalton caught the foil from Nell and swept her down into the waiting arms of her mother. Then he turned to Lani.

“Now: time for you to have a visit with Thomas, at the Community Closet.”

Dalton led the way, though Lyra could have done so just as easily. The sign for the Community Closet hung large over an inside door off a wide hallway. Dalton could remember many a time that hallway had been packed with men, women and children desperate for any rag they could offer. Thank God such days were behind them.

The doorway led to a large room: almost a small warehouse, with rack upon rack of donated clothing arrayed in crisp, neat order. The feel of the place was almost like walking into a department store of the 60’s or 70’s, though very few of the clothing items hearkened back to such an era.

“Thomas! I have a particular friend I should like you to meet!”

From behind one of the racks strode a tall older African American gentleman with a very short-cropped salt-and-pepper beard and hair to match, with piercing blue eyes and a mellifluous voice. He was dressed in slacks, a dress shirt and a sweater vest not too dirrefent from Dalton’s: and like Dalton, he seemed to make whatever he wore look sharp and distinguished.

“Jake! I haven’t seen you all week! Whoever this friend is, I at least have to thank him for bringing you back down here!”

Thomas offered Lani a warm, firm handshake as Dalton made introductions. His eyebrow rose in apparent surprise: almost a mirror of a face Lani had seen Dalton make hundreds of times.

“Not _the_ Lani? Young man, I have heard story upon story about you: most of them having to do with a certain tennis ball, a set of boulders and one wild pond. Well, well: the Prodigal has indeed returned. Before you head off for a bite of fatted calf, let’s get you set with some new robes, shall we?”

Thomas looked him up and down for perhaps a split second before nodding to Dalton.

“32, 30, Medium? That your guess?”

Dalton chuckled. “On the money.”

Thomas turned to the racks, and shot back one quick question after another.

“Working pants, or slacks? Labor, or dress shirts? Shoes: casual or formal?”

As Lani (or Dalton) responded to each query, Thomas indicated a particular section he might wish to check out, but always seemed a step ahead with articles of clothing he seemed to draw from some netherspace within the racks. Lani might well look, but Thomas hit his tastes with such heartstopping accuracy as to make him wonder if Thomas were a mindreader. In this town, that would hardly be surprising.

Thomas also laid on the counter a package of three white T-shirts, three sets of underwear, three sets of black socks and a pair of white athletic ones. Then he held up a finger, stepped over to a rack full of suits and pulled one out.

“And finally, this came in with the collections two days ago. A gentleman who failed to contain his waistline also failed to contain his generosity, praise be.”

It was a suit, almost a perfect fit for Lani, one finely tailored and clearly not “off the rack.” The cloth appeared to be a subtle blend of threads in several different hues that somehow blended into a rich and nearly indescribable pattern. Thomas also provided a cream-colored dress shirt and variegated tie that complimented the fabric well.

“I can let out the back there for you in a moment, young man: that will feel a bit more comfortable.

“A coat of many colors, for a well favored son. The perfect outfit for the celebration banquet: or for an interview down the road, for that matter. Welcome home, son.”

The man’s piercing blue eyes seemed to touch Lani’s soul as he nodded and smiled at him one more time. Then he nodded to Dalton.

“You have yourselves a fantastic evening, Your Lordship.”

The smile on Dalton’s face was full of reminiscence. “And the same to you, Old Tom.”

Clearly there was some special history between them. As they turned to go, Dalton caught Lani’s eye and smiled.

“That man saved my life once. He shared with me an old newspaper.”

A voice drifted from behind the rack where Thomas had disappeared.

“I keep telling him, the crossword had me stumped. I was done with it!”

Dalton laughed. “So he does! And now: I daresay you must be aching for a hot shower, and a bit of ointment on those wounds. Shall we away to home?”

[Event !]

Thank you for your participation, the Time Warp has now ended.