Victor Dark. Blaine Sims

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      Chapter Two

      There is no laughter, no joy, for Victor and his siblings as children. Mournful sorrow fills their souls like water overflows a cistern on a rain-soaked night. Cries of anguish and shouts of horror permeate life for them.

      Victor has difficulties in elementary school. A lack of social skills causes impediments in his academic and communal development. A smart lad, he struggles with advancement. He wants in common sense and conceptual awareness abilities. Don’t we all?

      In 2^nd grade, Victor has the hots, in the way little boys are capable, for his teacher. He delights in hearing her say, “Much, much better,” when he shows improvement. At first, during the semester, it’s rare when the opportunity arises for her to speak those words. With added attention, it increases as the year and Victor progress.

      The 3^rd grade proves difficult for the boy and he regresses. His parents separate, with his mother being awarded custody. Victor prefers being with dad. He feels closer to this man being his son and an unknown connection preoccupies the child. It will be years before he’s told of the special link.

      When Victor is eight, a moving van appears at the house three doors away during the summer. The next day, he spends a lot of time there. Victor mentions his new little playmate and friend to his brothers and sister, who are content, as it spares them his incessant interruptions with annoying questions. He describes her as cute for a girl, smart, and into all kinds of fun stuff the two enjoy together. They interact well and understand each other.

      When school starts, Victor is excited to tell his teacher about his new friend.

      “Well, I think it’s wonderful you have a little playmate,” she says.

      After two months, the teacher becomes conscious of the fact she’s never heard of or seen the child. She speaks to the school principal, who checks the student enrollment list. There is no “Laura Benton” on it. They decide to call Victor into the office the next day and inquire.

      “School? Laura? I mean, she, she … oh, yeah. She’s home-schooled. Very educated for her age.”

      “Hmm,” replies the principal, convinced by Victor’s explanation. “I guess that settles it,” letting out a sigh, cheerful the boy has a friend.

      Victor’s heart sings when he’s with this lass. For two years, he’s as happy as a lark. His troubles vanish within the dank, narrow walls of her home. A person can hear the laughter and giggles of children emanate clear outside.

      Laura Benton

      In the early morning hours one fall day, Victor, age ten, awakes screaming. The others ignore it, writing it off as a dreadful nightmare. Later in the chilly, overcast morning, as the kids leave home for the slog to school, they notice an ambulance in front of the house. Victor’s siblings race toward it, not realizing he’s moving at a snail’s pace. As they arrive, paramedics are loading the stretcher. A body is on it, but they can’t see.

      “Who is it? What happened?”

      One first responder answers, “The lady passed away in the middle of the night. Poor thing. She was deaf, mute, and blind since birth. She’s 101. If it wasn’t for her sister’s call from California, who knows how long she’d be here a week until the caretaker stopped in.”

      “Oh, no. She must be the great-grandmother. Is her great-granddaughter, our brother’s friend, okay?” asks the oldest child.

      “No. It must be her great-great-grandmother,” chimes the sister.

      Perplexed, the man says, “Granddaughter? There’s no one else living here. She never had children and lived alone.”

      As they turn to question Victor, they observe he has not caught up to them. His head hangs low and his look is one of distress. The rest of the walk is in the sounds of silence. They realize they never saw the young girl Victor spent so much time with.

      His father never divulged his mixed-race ethnicity, not even to his offspring. Yet Victor experiences a strong identity with whatever it is. He feels different from others, and the mystery dogs him. Unlike others, he possesses keen perception and a psychic mentality, but it’s ineffectual towards himself.

      Intensive counseling spans the 4^th grade, and Mrs. Dark turns resentful toward her children. She’s a relic of the 60s; sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. Woodstock vestige. The predecessor to the “me” generation they shaped.

      Because of his tumor, the school nurse sees Victor a lot during the 5th grade. Visits to her office are for good cause, as he needs to receive shots of a new treatment and rest to recuperate energy. The daily treks grow with the onset of hypochondriac illnesses. She guides the lad for months to bring forth his hidden talent. A heretofore unknown flair for theatrics lies dormant inside and needs release.

      His brain tumor has a significant effect on his critical thinking and cognitive judgment. It also causes a hearing loss in his left ear, as well as depth perception issues. A beautiful individual, misplaced in past misery, held close for fear of anything different. His smile is his warmest attribute, visible on the outside. Frowns and wounds scar his innards like the long-ago healed damage on his body.

      Victor’s favorite acting role to play is of an alien. A fresh ray of sunshine bursts forth inside him when transformation into a creature from another planet takes place. It’s not a matter of donning a costume; rather, a complete alteration occurs while in character. He’s at peace with himself and the world.

      Victor playing an alien as a child

      His first performance is in 5th grade while he attends Public School 19. He plays a Martian who falls in love with an earth girl. The audition judges are in awe one so young could grasp the part and bring a fictitious alien to vibrant life. They have never seen anything like it. A fun show, but with a serious tone, it strikes the audience with an uncanny reaction at Victor’s change into the being. For more than a minute, many have an eerie feeling something from another world is among them.

      Every school day, he goes to the field next to the building. A vacant lot with an abundance of dandelions sits on the east side. He’s fascinated by them and picks a splay for his teacher. To him, they hold a mystery.

      Victor's grade schoolField next to school

      Victor attends Forest Garden High School in a new section of town. His core studies include the performing arts. He graduates in 2003 with an above-average GPA and honors in theatrics. In productions of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, rave reviews and comments always follow: he is better than the original actor in the role of Rocky Horror. And no one ever forgets his extraordinary, unnerving portrayal of an alien.

      Victor starts smoking at 15 and sticks with the proverbial Marlboro Reds for years. In his late twenties, the switch to little cigars takes place.

      He is a genius at video and electronic games and uses the phrase, “kiss my ass” a lot when playing.

      No matter what age, it’s terrible to feel old. At 16, Victor thinks he is. If not СКАЧАТЬ