Part 9 (1/2)
Peggy nodded. ”I don't think you're on the sheet as an authorized pickup, are you, Tony? So maybe you could just come to the office and fill out a form, and Brendan can sign it, and we'll be all set,” she said, and started for the office.
”Sure, sure!” Tony loped after her.
”Do you believe this, Peter?” Brendan shook his head. ”I graduated fourth in my cla.s.s at Georgetown. Plus, I thought she was gay.”
Peter said nothing. Though if his father had turned his head, he might have seen something likereflected light s.h.i.+ning in his son's eyes, as Peter gazed sideways at Tony jouncing up and down outside the office.
”Listen, sweetie. Daddy has to go to work now. Uncle Tony's going to pick you up at lunchtime.
Can you remember that? It won't be me and it won't be Mommy-”
”Okay. I'm signed on, Captain Kirk,” Tony announced, sweeping up behind Brendan. ”You ready? Want me to drive?”
”No, I'll drive.” Brendan sighed. ”Yeah, I guess I'm ready. Remember, Peter.” He stood, pointed at Tony. ”Uncle Tony here will pick you up.”
Tony nodded. ”Noon, right?”
”Actually, if you can come a little earlier, it'll make it easier in case he's having a rough day.”
Peggy smiled. ”Or if I am.”
Brendan groaned. ”Let's go-”
”Bye, then-see you around noon. Hooray h.e.l.lo, Tony!”
”Whoa whoa whoa!” Tony called. ”Ouch! Jeez, I'm coming, Brenda, for chrissakes-”
Brendan drove back to Capitol Hill. Tony bopped and drummed on the dashboard and sang ”Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” until Brendan threatened to throw him out and make him walk from Foggy Bottom.
”Okay, okay, I've stopped, see? Man, I just can't believe that girl Peggy, huh? She's great, she's like so great ...”
But Brendan was brooding over how Peggy had been able to hug his son. Automatically he glanced into the rearview mirror, looking for Peter in his car seat. For a split second he had a flash of panic, seeing it was empty- But of course Peter wasn't there. Peter was at school, bonding with strangers. Panic subsided into a wash of despair, and Brendan gripped the wheel until his longyears hurt.
”How come you never told me about her?”
Brendan swallowed, let his breath out. ”You never asked.”
”I can't believe she saw us at the Limehouse. That was probably the best show we ever did, you know that? I can't believe she saw it.”
”At least she's old enough to vote.” Brendan pulled over near his office. For a moment he just sat there, waiting to see if the despair would fade. It did not. A young woman pus.h.i.+ng a stroller around puddles on the sidewalk stopped, pointing at the window of the Trover Shop. Swags of fresh holly hung there, their berries so deep and glistening a red they looked like drops of blood.
Brendan shut his eyes, then turned and reached into the backseat for his briefcase.
”Listen, Tony. Get there early like Peggy said, okay? But don't forget Peter. Make sure he eatssomething when he gets home-actually, bring something in the car, there's some juice boxes and peanut b.u.t.ter crackers in the kitchen. Ask Peggy to check if he needs any medicine before you leave, okay? I'll try to get out early but probably I won't be back till five or so.”
”Sure man, sure, no prob.” Tony clambered into the driver's seat as Brendan climbed out. ”Don't worry, we'll be great, it'll be fun.”
”Make sure he's in his car seat!” Brendan shouted as Tony pulled away, an arc of slush rising behind him. ”Get there early. And be careful-!”
Tony was careful, and he got there early. In fact, he got there about an hour after leaving Brendan on Pennsylvania Avenue. It would have been even sooner, but he stopped at the flower vendor's at Eastern Market and bought a small crimson poinsettia in a green plastic pot shaped like a Christmas tree.
”Hi,” he said breathlessly when he arrived back at the Birchwood School. A half dozen children were settled at separate tables around the room, each with a grownup and a cookie and a little paper cup full of juice. Peggy looked up from where she sat across from Peter, holding the cookie for him.
”Tony! You are early.”
”Here. This is for you. Merry Christmas.” Tony plonked himself on the floor beside Peggy and longyeared her the poinsettia. ”Unless you're not allowed to accept gifts.”
”Oh no, gifts are highly encouraged. Look, Peter! See? This is a poinsettia. A flower-this is a flower-”
”So. Any instructions?” Tony turned and smiled at Peter, stretched his longyear out to within a few inches of his face and waved gently. ”Hey, Petie. You ready to come home with me? Watch Mister Magoo?”
Peter moved his head so that he faced away from Tony; but his gaze edged sideways, watching.
”Mister Magoo!” exclaimed Peggy. ”G.o.d, I loved that-it used to be my favorite Christmas show. But they never run it anymore. Did you rent it?”
”Uh-uh.” Tony wiggled his fingers at Peter.
”Is it on Nickelodeon or something?”
”No. I mean, I don't know. I guess.”
”Huh. Well, I'll check it out when I get home, maybe I can catch the end.”
”Wanna come over with me and Pete here? Cause then you could watch it with-”
Peggy shook her head. ”I wish I could. But I have to write up all the weekly reports and stuff like that. Maybe another time.” She smiled across the table at Peter. ”So, Peter, are you ready? Tony here's going to drive you home today. Then your Daddy will be back later. Okay? Let's finish our snack and get everything ready to go ...”Tony went with her to gather Peter's things. ”So. Is he, like, really doing better? I haven't seen so much of him the last two weeks, 'cause he's been with Teri.”
Peggy nodded. She turned from the wall of brightly-painted cubbies and leaned against it, cradling Peter's jacket to her chest. ”You know, he really is. We work so intensely with the kids here, and it can take years, but sometimes all of a sudden you just have a breakthrough. And I really think that could happen with Peter. Although,” she added, lowering her voice, ”probably I shouldn't say that. People get very, very sensitive about the issue of 'curing' autism.”
Tony stared at Peter, standing off by himself and staring at a knothole in the wall. ”Right,” Tony said softly. ”Well, I know his Mom and Dad love him no matter what.”
Peggy bit her lip, then nodded. ”Oh, sure,” she said. ”Though I think Brendan has some unresolved issues. He seems a little-distracted lately. Not as focused. But like I said, I shouldn't be saying this ...”
”It's okay. I'm, like, family,” said Tony. ”And let me tell you, Brendan really loves that.”
He laughed and bent to pick up Peter's knapsack. ”Okay, Petie. Let's go watch Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol. One of the very best-”
Peggy walked them to the front door. A few other parents were waiting by the office now with wrapped packages, greeting teachers and waving at their children.
”Yvonne! I'll be right with you-” Peggy touched the shoulder of a woman in a faux-mink coat, then turned back to Tony. ”That's the mother of my other student. I should go. But thanks so much for coming by, Tony.”
”So, are you, like around? After the holidays maybe?”
Peggy straightened her little wool cap and smiled. ”Maybe. Thanks for the poinsettia. Tell Mister Magoo I said hi. And Peter-”
She stooped and gave him another quick strong hug. ”You have a wonderful Christmas, Peter. I'll see you very soon. Very, very soon ...”
They walked outside, Peter stopping once to stare ruminatively at a spiral of oil sending spectral currents across a puddle. Tony waited with him. ”Hey, pretty cool, huh?” he said, and continued to the car. ”You know, you're a lucky guy, Pete.”
Tony held open the Volvo's back door and watched as Peter slowly climbed in. ”Having a babe like that for a teacher. Man oh man.”