Desperate Measures Read Free

He would write a couple of books on juvenile crisis management. And he would see if he could still paint; there hadn’t been enough time in years even to think about such a pointless activity. They would explore the state, travel, relax…. They had gone to Oregon and found a house, bought it, closed the deal one month before her cancer was diagnosed. The house was there, and now he would retire to it alone. And after his books were written, then what? He had no answer, and he could sympathize with Alex.
    That night he dreamed that he and Sal were emerging from a deep forest into a meadow carpeted with many out-of-place flowers. Ahead of them a boy raced from plant to plant examining the erratic flowers-orchids, roses, trilliums, fantasy flowers. The boy kept his back to them; he wouldn’t turn to look although they called to him repeatedly.
    â€œShe wants to send me to a school or something,” Alex said.
    They were in their usual places, Alex at the window facing out, Dr. Minick across the room gazing at a poster of a galaxy.
    â€œShe thinks I don’t know what they talk about, what’s on their minds, but I do. A school for people like me! There aren’t any such schools! I won’t stay in a place like that!” He sounded very young. Looking the way he did, he could not simply run away, and that left only one other escape route.
    â€œLet me tell you about a place I know,” Dr. Minick said.
    â€œThere’s a house, four bedrooms, a woodstove and a fireplace, on twelve acres of wooded land, with a dense forest behind it, and out front, across a country road, a little flashing stream. Opal Creek. Next to it on one side is another parcel with nothing but trees, and on the other side there’s an intermittent waterfall. It runs during the snowmelt and heavy rains, that’s all. Not a tourist attraction that way, but nice when there’s water splashing down. On the first day of April, I’m heading out for that place, home for the rest of my life. I bought a van with room to pack the gear I’ll need right away, and I’ll have other stuff sent; I’ll drive across the country to the West Coast, Oregon. Want to go with me, Alex?”
    In the silence that followed he felt almost buoyant, as if a weight he had no recollection of picking up had now fallen off his back. Second chance, he thought in wonder. Sal had spoken after all, had shown him the way.
    â€œWhy?” Alex asked finally in a choked voice. “What’s in it for you?”
    â€œI’ll want to do a lot of exploring-mountains, the high desert, the ocean, camp out, hike, maybe do a little prospecting. I understand there’s gold in many of the creeks out there. And it would be good to have company, someone to help with camp chores, to bullshit with around a campfire. Besides, I’d make your folks pay dearly for my expertise as a psychologist and tutor. If they’ll agree to it, that is.”
    â€œThey’d agree to send me to the moon,” Alex said. His voice sounded different, excited perhaps. “And, Dr. Minick, whatever you thought you’d charge them, double it while they’re still relieved that their prayers have been answered.”
    His voice was different, Dr. Minick realized, because his back was no longer turned; the boy was looking at him. Slowly he drew himself up from the chair and swung around to face his patient. The photographs had prepared him, and yet not really. He knew intellectually how misshapen the boy was, how grotesque, but he was not prepared for the surge of pity mixed with revulsion that swept him. And even less prepared for the wave of compassion that swiftly followed.
    â€œIf we’re going to be together, you might as well get used to me,” Alex said. The left side of his face was smiling slightly, a bitter smile that twisted his thin mouth even more than fate had done.
    â€œI’ll work at it,” Graham said. “Can