Chapter 3

Saturday arrived, and Nana and Rosa took Barrett to the YMCA. They separated, and Barrett went to the competitors’ area and signed up for his event. Then he went to the locker room and waited. Nana and Rosa sat in the bleachers and were joined by Bob and Patty Whitlock, whom she had invited. Patty said they didn’t know Barrett was a competitive swimmer. Nana said neither did I until this week.

He had just learned to swim before Kimberly’s birthday party. Barrett’s been swimming here three days a week since, and his swimming instructor, Lyn, convinced him to compete today. Bob said he won’t do well with only a few months of training. Most of these kids train for years, and Nana asks Bob if he wants to bet. Bob said sure, and the bet was dinner at the winner’s restaurant of choice.

The swim meet started, and Barrett swam in the third race. The response was unanimous when he came out and jumped in the pool to warm up. Patty said oh my god, Kimberly would regret not coming today, and everyone laughed. According to the announcer, two hundred meters was four lengths of the pool. Then he called the swimmers up on the blocks.

When the buzzer sounded, the race was on, and the swimmers were even until the first turn. Barrett and another boy pulled away from the group. On the second turn, they were still even, and two more swimmers were close behind. After the final turn, Barrett pulled away and won by two lengths from the second-place finisher. Everyone was cheering except for Bob, who complained that Madeline had set him up.

Barrett quickly put on his warm-ups, and then Lyn hugged him and said he had set an event record. After the awards were presented, he went into the stands and joined the group. Everyone hugged Barrett but Bob, who shook his hand. Bob asked if that was Barrett’s first race, and he said yes, and my last one surprised everyone. Patty asked why, and Barrett told her he had no interest in competitive swimming.

Patty started to ask another question, and Barrett said hold your horses, Missy. The hug got you one question, and if you want more, it will cost you something, and everyone laughed. Nana told Bob Friday night at Carlone’s Steakhouse, and Bob groaned. Nana told him she went easy on you, so stop complaining. They said goodbye, and Nana, Rosa, and Barrett went home.

Barrett asked Zeus if he wanted to check out some yard sales. Zeus barked, so they took off and walked down the street. Rosa told Madeline she would swear Zeus understood what Barrett was saying, and they laughed. Two hours later, a pickup truck pulled into the driveway. Barrett and a man unloaded the truck into the garage while Zeus watched. Then Barrett gave the man some money, shook his hand, and the man left. Nana asked Barrett what he bought, and he said three wrecked motorcycles. Dan, the man in the truck, was nice enough to haul them here for $25.

Nana and Barrett went to Carlone’s Steakhouse Friday night and met Bob, Patty, and Kimberly Whitlock. When seated and ordered dinner, Bob asked Barrett if he would like to get a tour of the Department of State on Monday. Barrett said he had an appointment but could move it to Tuesday and would love a tour. Patty asked what appointment he had, and Barrett asked Mrs. Whitlock if your daddy spanked your bottom a lot, causing laughter.

Dinner arrived, and Barrett asked Kimberly if her mother had told her about his swim meet. Kimberly said not much at all. It was just that they went, and you won a race. Barrett said oh, I guess it’s better you didn’t know and went back to eating dinner. Kimberly asked her mother what else happened at Barrett’s swim meet. Nana couldn’t help but laugh along with Bob and then Patty.

Finally, Patty told Kimberly she would tell her later, and they finished dinner. We thanked the Whitlocks for dinner and said goodbye. On the way home, Nana said I’d bet Patty regrets getting so nosey. Barrett said it was the only thing he could think of other than spanking her ass. Nana said it would have livened up the restaurant, and they laughed. Barrett said goodnight to Nana when they arrived home and went to bed.

At the Whitlocks, Bob and Patty were getting ready for bed, and Patty said she would kill Barrett. Bob laughed and told Patty Madeline warned you, and you keep trying to get information about Barrett. He would tell us if Barrett wanted us to know about his appointment. Bob said you never answered Barrett’s question. Did your daddy spank your bottom a lot? Patty jumped on Bob, and he said oh, that got you excited and they laughed. Kimberly was in her bedroom searching the internet for pictures of swim meet after her mom told her about Barrett’s speedo.

Monday morning, Barrett arrived at the Department of State and asked for Robert Whitlock. The guard asked for his ID, and Barrett showed him his passport. Barrett was given a visitor badge and directions to Robert Whitlock’s office. When Barrett entered the office, Mr. Whitlock welcomed him. Barrett told Mr. Whitlock he appreciated the tour but wondered about the real reason for his visit.

Mr. Whitlock laughed and asked Barrett to call him Bob. Then he said you were asked to come in because you’re an extremely intelligent and gifted young man. Barrett, you learned six of the most difficult languages in a few months. Some of our diplomats spend years in a country and never fully grasp the language. Bob said you’re here because the Department of State wants you to be an off-the-books diplomatic apprentice.

Barrett asked Bob what it would entail and if it was dangerous. Bob told Barrett I wouldn’t lie to you. There could be risks, but we don’t expect anything to happen. We want you to learn the remaining six languages we have programs for, then take the diplomatic training course on CDs. We want you to attend diplomatic dinners during and after learning the languages and completing the training course. It won’t occupy much of your time as there are maybe six or seven a year. Occasionally, we may ask you to attend a political event that foreign nationals attend to eavesdrop on their conversations.

Barrett said it sounds fine, and you don’t have to butter me up. How are you going to handle my Nana? Bob laughed and told Barrett he had a way of words. But she will be invited to go with you to dinner as my guest. You’ll have to go alone for some events; we’ll work that out if and when they come. Barrett asked who would know I was working for the Department of State. Bob said only three people: the President, me, and you. No one else will or should know, including our families.

Barrett said he agreed and wished Bob good luck with his wife. She is like a hound dog searching for a bone, and they laugh. Bob gave Barrett a brief tour, followed by the language and training CDs. Bob asked to see Barrett’s phone, and then he gave Barrett one made by the same manufacturer but a top-of-line model. Bob said it’s a secure phone, so transfer your SIM and information onto it.

Barrett said goodbye to Bob and took an Uber home. Luckily, Nana wasn’t home, so he put everything out of sight in his room. Barrett knew he had to learn the languages and training program in private. It would take longer, but it had to be done. Then he looked at Doctor Andros’ computer files on the USB drive he had copied them to. They were as expected, and Doctor Andros had files on all his patents. Barrett examined his and Nana’s, and they were as he expected.

Doctor Andros listed what he hoped to achieve with me and then made notes beside each. Everything Barrett told him that had happened to him was listed as the goal of treatment. Two items that had failed notations beside them were mind reading and telekinesis. Barrett didn’t tell Doctor Andros he could read minds and hadn’t experienced telekinesis. One item that was missing was precognition and precognitive dreams.

Next week was Barrett’s thirteenth birthday and his and Nana’s final treatments at Doctor Andros’ Clinic. Nana had agreed to return but told Doctor Andros there were conditions and she would tell him when we arrived. Nana said that so Doctor Andros couldn’t prepare ahead of time. Barrett still didn’t want to go but had little choice.

But Barrett was determined to erase their files, so there was no record for anyone to find. Then there was Doctor Andros, who would also have to be dealt with. Stopping going for useless future treatments would piss off Doctor Andros, and he wouldn’t find out until we didn’t show up for treatments in six months. And then Doctor Andros would be desperate, and their lives would surely be in danger from Doctor Andros’ quest to get Barrett’s sperm.

The day came for their flight to Switzerland. They said goodbye to Zeus and Rosa and went to the airport. Barrett’s precognition activated when they reached the TSA security checkpoint. He identified the threat immediately, but it wasn’t to them. Barrett’s precognition and precognitive dreams had advanced since his last treatment. It wasn’t uncommon to have them, and he usually wouldn’t get involved unless it was serious. Even then, he would find a discrete way to intercede without bringing undue attention to himself.

The threat was a male TSA agent, and he was looking for an attractive female to take into a private room for further inspection. His target was the young woman behind Barrett. So Barrett warned her that if she was selected for further inspection, she should demand a female agent. When she asked why, Barrett said the pervert was working today and proceeded through security.

The TSA agent stopped her for a private screening, but she called him a pervert and demanded a female agent. Barrett and Nana continued to their gate laughing and boarded their flight to Switzerland. They were well cared for during the flight because Barrett’s favorite flight attendant was working. Nana continued his poker education and showed Barrett the ways players cheat. He also learned card shuffling and dealing. When he went to the restroom, one fight attendant offered to teach Barrett strip poker.

Returning to his seat, Barrett asked Nana what strip poker was, and Nana laughed and then told him. The flight landed an hour after they finished dinner. They went to the hotel check-in, settled in the suite, and discussed what would happen tomorrow. Nana reminded Barrett not to say anything about ending treatments to Doctor Andros. She wanted it to be a complete surprise. Then they said goodnight and went to bed, and Barrett had a precognitive dream.

Barrett watched Doctor Andros prepare his treatment for the next three days in the Clinic’s small lab. The Doctor was talking to himself and said maybe it’s a good thing Barrett can’t mind read. If he could, he would know what my plan was for him. In six months or so, Barrett will enter puberty, and all his hard work will pay off. Doctor Andros said to make his dose normal, so he had no side effects, and my dream ended.

The next morning, Doctor Andros welcomed Mrs. Thompson and Barrett. Nana told him the conditions for continued treatment, and Doctor Andros readily agreed. Barrett read his mind, and the Doctor was happy he had made the treatments normal this time. The nurse took Barrett to the treatment room and prepared him. The first treatment, while uncomfortable, was fine, and Barrett returned to their suite that evening.

The second treatment went fine, and so did the third. While getting dressed, Barrett stole the Doctor’s keys from his lab coat. Then, he read the nurse’s mind and got the alarm code for the Clinic. Nana and Barrett returned to the hotel, ate dinner, watched TV, and then went to bed.

In the middle of the night, Barrett exited the hotel by the back entrance, carefully avoiding the security cameras, and returned to the Clinic. Barrett turned a gas valve just enough to smell gas. It was used to heat liquids and would look like the Doctor forgot to shut it off completely. The Barrett left the Doctor’s keys under his desk beside the chair, returned to the suite, and went to sleep.

The next morning, Nana and Barrett checked out of the hotel and took the first flight home. It was Saturday morning, so Barrett knew the Clinic was closed for the weekend. Doctor Andros was the only one who could be there over the weekend, and Barrett silently wished he would. On the flight home, Barrett researched gages, lights, and a combination navigation radio for the Hummer. Everything needed to be changed when he converted to an electric vehicle.

When they arrived home, Zeus and Rosa welcomed them. Madeline told Rosa that it was their last trip to the Clinic. The Doctor said Barrett was cured and made Rosa happy. Madeline had told her Barrett had a rare disease and the only place they could get treatment was in Switzerland. Barrett took Zeus for a walk to check out what was happening in the neighborhood.

They saw a pretty young lady cleaning up from a yard sale two blocks away. Barrett introduced himself and helped her clean up. Her name was Laura Wood, and she found out her husband had gone on vacation with his assistant instead of on a business trip. So Laura sold everything in the house today. Tomorrow, she will sell what is in the garage.

When Laura learned I trained dogs, she said that growing up, they always had dogs. Her husband, Kevin, didn’t like them and wouldn’t let her have one. But now he’s gone, Laura wanted a dog like Zeus for protection. Barrett said one of his customers had a German Shepherd who was a year and a half old and was looking for someone to adopt him. They had to move to Manhattan for a job promotion, and that’s no place for a large dog.

Barrett called Caroline Bozeman and told her he had found a new home for Rocky. Laura was excited and gave Barrett Kevin’s rolling mechanic’s tool chest as a thank you. They arranged for Barrett to go with Laura to pick up Rocky on Monday. Laura was so happy that she hugged and French kissed Barrett, shocking him. He’d been kissed but never like that before. They said goodbye, and Barrett carefully pulled and pushed the tool chest home. It was almost as tall as Barrett and full of tools. So, it was heavy and difficult to balance while moving.