Unknown - The Genius

afraid to go back across the street. He wishes Freddy was there to help him. He counts his money, he still has twenty-two dollars and nineteen cents.

That’s him.

A policeman and Dr. Worthe are there along with some people from the home. They take him. He fights. They put him in the van and he falls asleep.

He wakes up in the quiet room. He tries to get out of bed but he is tied. He shouts and they come in and he falls asleep again.

The next time he wakes up Dr. Worthe is sitting at his bedside.

What are we going to do with you my boy.

He spends a long time in that room and then they let him go back to his regular room. His roommates say Welcome back Twitter.

He runs away again. They took his money so he cannot take a bus. He will hitchhike. Freddy told him about hitchhiking and one of his classmates said once he hitchhiked to Miami and back. Victor walks to the highway and sticks out his thumb. The first car that pulls up is a police car. Victor runs. He jumps off the side of the road and hides in a barn. They find him and bring him back. They give him shots and pills and shocks. They put him in the room. He does not try to run away anymore.

TIME PASSES.

Victor is nineteen and Freddy comes back. Victor cries with happiness. His prayers have been answered.

See says Freddy. Told you.

Victor discontinues his map, which he has been drawing whenever he isn’t too sleepy from drugs. Life is fine again. He and Freddy go to the attic, they go for walks on the grounds and find quiet places where they can hide themselves and cling to each other in the leaves. Freddy is always very gentle except sometimes he scratches Victor’s thighs with his nails. It hurts and he bleeds but he doesn’t mind.

Freddy says Next time they ain’t sending me here no more. Next time they want to put me in the pen.

The days fly by. Victor is twenty. He is twenty-one and twenty-two and twenty-three. They take a picture and in that picture Freddy stands next to him. The photographer says Say cheese. Then he is twenty-five and things change.

Dr. Worthe says You have a visitor Victor.

Victor has never seen this man before. His name is Mr. Wexler. He does not look much older than Victor but he has a tie and a suit and dark eyes and a sagging face and he sees Victor and says Oh brother.

Mr. Wexler asks Victor questions about the home. He seems unhappy with how Victor is being treated. Dr. Worthe keeps apologizing. Mr. Wex-ler keeps saying It’s over now.

Victor doesn’t like the sound of that. He has heard that before and he does not want anything to be over.

Dr. Worthe tells Victor that he will miss him. You’ve been here a long time my boy. I wish you the best.

Victor does not want to go. He tells Dr. Worthe but Dr. Worthe says Mr. Wexler will take care of you.

Victor does not want to be taken care of. He is already taken care of. He has his room and the eaves and his drawings and the library and Freddy, he has Freddy, who was taken away from him but given back. Much worse than losing someone you love is losing them twice. God is playing tricks. Victor hates Him. Still he prays to Him. He says the rosary. He bargains. If You will let me stay. Then I will. If You will bring him with me. Then I will. If You change Your mind. Then I will.

They take him on a fall morning. All through the ride Victor stares out the window at piles of burning leaves. Sometimes he cries. When the car slows he wants to jump out. The only thing that stops him is what Freddy said to him before he left. Don’t worry Vic. I’ll get out of here and I’ll come stay with you. You’ll see. Don’t act up and give yourself more problems.

Victor cannot imagine how things will ever get better, they feel so awful. But he believes in Freddy and Freddy said to do as the man told.

Mr. Wexler’s name is Tony. He rides in the car with Victor. He says that they are going to New York City. They drive and drive. Outside the trees are orange and gold but Victor sees only their shapes, their forked ends and their delicate spindles. He wishes he could show them to Freddy. He will draw them so he can show Freddy later. He will have to get some paper. He hopes they have paper in New York City.

New York City roars. Victor has never seen anything like it in his whole life. He sees buildings the size of mountains and streets filled with cars filled with people. He sees bright neon signs. He sees Negroes. He sees boys hitting a ball with a broomstick. He sees men with hard hats. A train disappears into the earth. Tony says Have you ever been on a train? Victor has suspicions about Tony; Tony talks to him like he is a child. But he is not a child. He understands. He understands that he is stupid and he always has. That is what makes him different from a child. He wants to tell Tony but he cannot find the words.

Over a bridge they go. Tony says This is Queens. There are men in blue coats. There are yellow and black cars that look like beetles. They drive down a busy street full of people walking, pulling carts behind them filled with paper bags. Men stand on the sidewalk smoking. The streets ooze steam. Victor is overwhelmed. He remembers the town from when he was a boy; he remembers Albany from the time he ran away; but neither of those places is as impressive as New York City.

They turn from the busy street and up a little hill past a park with children on swings. They come to some tall brick buildings. There are many of them, splitting the bright blue sky. Tony says Here’s your new place.

Victor cannot imagine a house so big. It is bigger than the dormitory, a hundred times bigger. He worries. He does not want a house so big. But then he sees other people going in and out. Maybe it is actually a dormitory. He can’t figure things out. Too many things are happening at once. He wants to lie down and put his head in Freddy’s lap. Freddy understands. Freddy could explain.

Tony leads him through a maze. The buildings are so high they bend inward, like they want to kiss. Victor feels lost. He wants a map. He wants his drawings. He asks for them but Tony doesn’t understand. He tells Victor that they’ll bring up his suitcases later. But what about the box in the library. He tries to explain. Tony says If you left something we’ll call Dr. Worthe and get it back. But Victor is not comforted.

Tony shows Victor a sign that says CARNELIAN. This is where you will live. Victor knows what carnelian is, he read about it in the almanac. Tony opens the door for Victor. Inside Tony pushes a button on the wall and a door slides open like a magic mouth. Victor has never seen it before. He is scared and amazed.

Come on says Tony. Unless you want to walk eleven flights.

The doors shut, chomp. The floor presses up and his feet feel heavy. Then a bell rings and the mouth opens and Tony says All-righty.

The hall is quiet, it has carpet and white paint on the walls. Here we go. Tony opens a door for Victor. The room inside is as big as his room in the dormitory but instead of four beds there is one. There is a potted flower on the windowsill and a flat metal plate plugged into the wall. There is a sink and a toilet. It is peaceful and clean. You can see the bridge from here. Tony points out the window. Isn’t this better?

Better than what? Victor gazes down at the ground far below. The people look like peppergrains.

You’ll be happy here. There’s the phone. When you need something you can call me. This is my number. I’ll be by to check on you. If you need something you can ask. Here’s some money. I’ll send some more every few weeks. You’ll be very comfortable, I promise. Is there anything you need? Are you hungry?

They go back in the mouth and Victor observes how to use it. He is learning all the time.

At the store which is called a restaurant Victor asks for eggs. Tony drinks coffee. The woman brings them everything and Victor eats. The eggs taste delicious.