Police

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Neil regressed to the oldest transcendental layers of his memory in search of his now seemingly diaphanous mother. “Why do we not remember birth or any part of that internal oneness with our mother?” For him now, only Esther can be found there. Only her gentle fingers, her sweet breath and soft sounds are in there. Did this other mother ever embrace him or run her fingers through his hair, kiss him on the forehead? Everything protective came from Esther. Every new found act or observation was met by an awe of excitement and praise. That was what mother’s do and that is what takes the child through those endless changes of development. “Mother . . . mother . . . mother . . . Now there is another usurper, a pretender waiting to tear down all those tenuous flying buttresses that have made this cathedral stand straight.” There are no memories of having shared his mother with another, none of any living father’s presence. With temerity and forthrightness they laid claim to him as property recovered. He was no one’s property. Guardianship and possession are opposites. Devin sat motionless in the Lieutenant’s office. The officer had privately briefed him; knowing his closeness to Neil, wanted him to be there. Devin attempted a stoic command of the situation, but his body gave the impression it was trapped in a partially collapsed building and any movement on his part the structure would completely give way. Neil, sitting directly in front of the officer’s desk declared, “This is a lie! “I seem to have walked into a room in Bedlam,” as he then turned to Devin. The officer and the doctor said nothing, but both swayed their heads from side to side, saying “No.” The officer pushed the DNA papers forward for Neil to study. He waved his... ... middle of paper ... ...the mirror earlier that morning as he shaved. He had long ago considered that this was a world of chance. Today’s possibilities could easily shift, but for him there was always a backup adjustment available, and even more important there was always that comfortable retreat on West End Avenue called home. That had been invaded and now it has been corrupted. Looking at his aunt and as if he wanted her permission, said “I want to go back to the apartment.” Startled but quickly regaining her composure she said, “If that’s your decision, I’ll go with you.” “No, no, you stay here. Gabe can sleep over tonight,” he looks at his friend for confirmation and gets it. “Tomorrow Penny will be here, and if you’re not here she can get into trouble. I want you to watch her for me.” He got smiles with that remark. “I want to do a dry run tonight; I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

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