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Fred was about to ask another question when his phone rang. “Hello. I think so. We’ve filled Arthur’s head with so much nonsense that I don’t think he’ll be much good anymore.” He paused to listen and then continued, “Well now that is true. It might be us that won’t be much good any more, huh?” He looked over at Arthur and chuckled at the joke that he was making.
Arthur just sat there as pleased as could be. They could say what they wanted about him and it just would not matter right now. He had met the most interesting man who actually seems like he is genuinely interested in him.
Tom had spent the last twenty minutes talking to him about the different exercises and stretches that he needed to be doing if he was going to enjoy being a Ninja. It wasn’t just that he told him what to do. He explained why it was important to do it. On each exercise, he pointed to the muscles on Arthur that they strengthened. He told him about the martial arts punches that were connected to each exercise. Wow! Arthur’s dream of becoming a Ninja was no longer a dream. It was becoming a reality. And, Arthur was into it mind, body and soul.
“Gentlemen, it’s time to make our journey,” Fred announced. “Ryan called and said that they just put the noodles on to boil. All we need to do is come over, sit and eat to our heart’s content.”
Tom looked at Arthur and commented, “I can understand your mother fixing a special supper for you, but I don’t understand why she would want to invite a total stranger.”
Arthur bubbled as they started to leave the bakery, “I had about fifteen minutes to tell her all about you. She kept saying how much she wanted to meet you and a spaghetti supper is just the thing. Don’t you think?”
Big Ed interrupted the conversation as they walked by the counter, “Hey, Tom. If you don’t want to go, I’ll be glad to take your place. Any of us here would. At the church socials we only get ONE helping. Anybody would want to go to Olivia’s and eat to their heart’s content.”
“See,” Arthur added. “I’m telling you Mr. Tom, you’re in for a treat.”
“I can see that.”
“Hey Fred, just park your car around on the side where my employees park. It’ll be OK there.”
“Sure thing, Ed. Thanks a lot. It might do us some good to walk a few blocks. Little Mr. Butterball right here needs to walk down those two doughnuts y'all made for him.”
Tom and Arthur stood in front of the bakery while Fred parked the car. “Can’t you stay a little longer than a couple of days, Mr. Tom?” Arthur asked in a very polite voice.
Tom looked down at his friend. When their eyes met, that little tingly feeling went over him again. He knew that feeling only too well by now. It always happened when God started dealing with him about taking time with a young person. In the Philippines, it was Pedro and Tala. In San Diego it was Charles. In Peoria it was Philip. After a pause, he replied, “I was only planning on staying a couple of days. I’ll see if I can stretch it to a couple of weeks. We’ll spend some time in the park doing exercises. While you’re at school, I’ll start putting a notebook together with some moves you can do. I’ll get on the internet and go to the library to see if I can find some books for you to read that I know for sure you can handle. How does that sound?”
Excitement was written all over his face, “Holey-moley, Mr. Tom. That would be super.” Arthur reached over and held onto Tom’s hand.
It was about more that Tom could handle. He had to quickly look away to hide the tear that was threatening to expose him. A prayer poured out of his heart, ‘God? Did you hear me? Two weeks. That’s all I can handle. It hurts just to walk these streets and see these places.’
Fred came around the corner and together they began the four block trek to their waiting supper. Arthur refused to let Tom’s hand go. Fred and Tom both walked slower than normal so they wouldn’t embarrass him by making him walk faster.
‘I know that feeling. That’s a NO isn’t it? But, God, I don’t know if I can face the questions that might be asked. You’re the only One Who knows my heart and knows why I stayed away. You’ve seen everything. If I have to stay, keep me hidden. I sure don’t want to hurt anyone. And, I really don’t want to let down my new charge You’ve given me. Help me to encourage him in the manner You need me to. I know that You’re the Master of healing and not the master of hurt.’
Tom had just finished the prayer when Fred spoke up, “Olivia has been my right hand man, so to speak, in putting together the history of our fair city. She’s been responsible for finding old articles about our past on the internet. She’s chased down old photos of people and places. She’s made copies of them and has them all itemized by date. She’s a real organized computer person. She has a computer dedicated to just Elmhurst stuff. If you want to know something about a particular year, she can make a few clicks and, boom, it's there. You want to know something about the old-timers? She can just type it in and have it ready for you. She’s great with that stuff, I tell you.”
“Sounds like a valuable person to have around,” responded Tom. He looked at Arthur and smiled as he added, “We’ve been around some of her handiwork already. And, I am very impressed with him.”
Fred chuckled as they walked up the steps on the porch, “Just wait ‘til you see her red-headed daughter. She is an absolute heart stealer. Arthur here is going to HAVE to learn Ninja stuff so he can beat all the boys away.”
Arthur perked up as he reached to open the door, “OK. I can do that.”
Tom’s stomach knotted at the thought of meeting new people. He had somewhat tried to hide his feelings of surprise and disappointment to himself. There was no way that he wanted anyone to think that he was anybody else other than Tom Baxter. At least, not now.
Arthur opened the door and there stood Ryan and Olivia ready to greet them. When Tom’s eyes first met Olivia’s, he was not ready for what he saw.