How to Say Goodbye in Robot

Author:Natalie Standiford [Standiford, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-01-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

The St. Francis Home occupied the grounds of an old estate in Baltimore County. The main building was a rambling stone mansion, ivy-covered, manicured, and elegant except for the iron gates on the windows.

On Sunday afternoon, Jonah and I approached a nurse sitting behind glass in the reception area. “My name is Jonah Tate, and I’m here to see my brother. Matthew Tate.”

The nurse looked up, surprised. She riffled through an appointment book. “I don’t see your name here—”

“I didn’t call,” Jonah said. “It’s kind of a spur of the moment thing.” Jonah was afraid that if he made an appointment to see Matthew, his father would find out and try to stop us.

“You should have made an appointment,” the nurse said.

“I know, but I’m an impulsive guy,” Jonah said. “Come on, it’s Christmastime. See that wreath? Hear those carols? My poor brother is lonely.”

“Just a second.” The nurse disappeared into a back office. A few minutes later she reappeared and said, “Dr. Kramer will be with you shortly.”

We sat on a bench under a giant wreath and waited.

“Will he look like you?” I whispered. “Are you identical?”

“We are,” Jonah said. “We’ll find out what I’d look like without motor control.”

Dr. Kramer walked toward us down the long hall, her heels clicking on the waxed floor. She was a thin, neat woman with stiffly coifed hair and a tidy brown tweed suit. She carried a file under one arm.

“Jonah?” We stood up. She offered him her hand to shake. “This is a surprise. I’m Dr. Kramer. I’m the supervising administrator of St. Francis.”

“This is my friend Beatrice Szabo,” Jonah said.

“Where’s your father?” Dr. Kramer asked.

“He didn’t come.”

“I see. Do you have his permission to be here?”

“Do I need it?” Jonah asked back.

“You’re a minor, aren’t you?” Dr. Kramer opened the file and ran a finger along a page. “Sibling: Jonah Martin Tate. You’re Matthew’s twin brother, correct? So you’re only seventeen.”

“I’ll be eighteen in the spring,” Jonah said, and a note of plaintiveness crept into his voice that I’d never heard before.

“Perhaps I should call your father and ask his permission,” she said.

“He’ll say no,” Jonah said.

“Well, he’s in charge of Matthew’s care,” Dr. Kramer said. “We have to respect his wishes.”

“What about Matthew’s wishes?” Jonah said. He brought out the Christmas card. “He sent this to me. I know he wants to see me.”

Dr. Kramer took the card and looked at it. “This isn’t from Matthew. I don’t know how you got this, but Matthew has no way of sending mail.”

Jonah pointed out the bit of Catso’s fuzz. “It is from him. This fuzz comes from his favorite toy. I can prove it.”

“That’s not necessary.” Dr. Kramer returned the card.

“Has my father come to visit Matthew?”

“Not for a while,” Dr. Kramer admitted.

“Please let me see him,” Jonah said. “Just for a short time. What harm could it do? Dad never has to know. Who’s going to tell him?”

“You could,” Dr. Kramer said. “Or your friend.”

“Trust me, we won’t,” Jonah said.

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