The Young Coyote by Carl Douglass

Author:Carl Douglass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Publication Consultants

CHAPTER

Nine

Rachel Carmichael had been over the issue twice before with Peter Wilsonhulme, and had worn down enough to insist that Garven be present at the next, and hopefully, final discussion on the subject of adoption. The matter was at a critical juncture with Garven back in Cipher for the summer. She was over the general reluctance to be involved in something decidedly strange and unheard of. Adoption of a fifteen-year-old who has a living mother? The doctor’s attorney had cleared the air about that by pointing out the commonplace legal occurrence of guardianship changes. This instance was little different than if she and the doctor had married, and now he was adopting her son. She had asked about the propriety of having more than one legal guardian and was assured that it was not only legal but proper. Her real problem was emotional; would her son feel that he was being abandoned? Would she, herself, be abandoned in the process, for that matter?

“I haven’t had the courage to talk to my son about this adoption business. I just don’t know how to say it. It would seem so odd from his point of view,” Rachel commented to Dr. Wilsonhulme before her son came back from the desert where he had been riding with the reservation boys.

He had been home for the summer vacation for two days. He now seemed so much more grownup.

“I think I have hinted at the possibility, but I haven’t really said anything about it, at least not formally, either,” Peter said.

“I am pretty nervous about this. I mean, I haven’t made up my own mind; how can I expect a fifteen-year-old to deal with such an important change in a single meeting? That’s asking too much, seems to me.”

“Do you want me to bring it up?” Peter offered.

“No, I guess it’s my responsibility. I have decided to go with whatever he wants to do. After all, it is his name, his life; and I recognize that it is to his practical benefit. You can never tell how teenagers think, though. It’s up to the boy. I’ll tell him.” She was rambling, and felt more nervous than ever.

Garven came through the kitchen screen door after making a dust cloud by brushing off his clothes and boots on the stoop. He was weather-beaten and tired but looked happy and relaxed.

“Hi, Mom! Hi, Dr. Wilsonhulme!” he called out when he saw the pair.

He knew something was up because he had been required to come home early for a meeting. His mother had told him that the doctor wanted to talk to him and her about something important. His mother looked concerned, and Dr. Wilsonhulme appeared serious. He hoped it wasn’t something to do with that cheating business. Couldn’t they leave him be even during summer vacation? He had a passing thought that maybe his mom was sick.

“Come in, Garven. We’re having a glass of lemonade.” She extended a glass to her son.

“Thanks.”

He drained the tall glass in a two-swallow teenage chug-a-lug.

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