RecAgenda
Double Luck
--Episode 1--
Kaleidoscope
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A tiny, speckling flake of the soft, cold snow gently fell on the tip of his small nose. There was hardly a breeze outside today, allowing several of the residents of McKinley Hall to enjoy a fine winter morning, bundled up in their warmest coats, thrown over the uniformed white trousers and blouses. To the young, pale, thinly built and frail boy, this was perhaps the most enjoyable outdoor experience he would ever get for a while. He wanted to make the most of it by enjoying the season’s icy tranquility in peace. However, peace was hard to come by at McKinley. It wasn’t a resort, or a lodge, or a hotel of some kind. This was no vacation spot or tourist attraction. It wasn’t even a boarding school or college. It was a research center; a special kind of hospital for special kinds of people.
Designated chaperons wondered around nearby at all times, always watching, always listening. They were all trapped there, in a way. Some were just saner than others, and paid because they had the physical capacity to restrain the less than fortunate should an episode occur. This winter, with its freezing atmosphere and gray skies, was a reminder of their lucid captivity in a limbo from which there was no escape.
Clenching his right hand when a snow flake floated down to rest on his palm, Kaito brought his fist up close and rested his knuckles gently against his rosy cheek, just below the tips of his wild blond hair. He missed the real world so much, but at the same time he was deathly afraid of it. He neither liked nor disliked living at this asylum. The food was warm and tasteful, the beds were cozy and comfortable, and even the crazy occupants could hold an interesting conversation. He had friends here, both among the patients and the staff. All of the doctors were nice and knowledgeable, the orderlies and nurses were sweet and caring. Oddly enough, even, despite the fact that every now and then, a patient with a mood disorder would lose his mind, the boy felt safe. Others’ episodes never frightened him, and he would often help calm them down if no one was around to get to them first with a needle.
With his white tennis shoes crunching their way through the freshly fallen snow, the boy wondered through the back gardens of the property and took in the chilled scenery. There was a whole new beauty to the outside during the winter. Poets often attributed the season to death in some fashion, but he saw it as a crystalline cleansing of the world. No noise, no commotion, no pollution or filth, no brow-beating heat. This wasn’t death, it was simply the world resting.
“What’ya doing, Kaito?” asked a familiar and kind voice from behind the boy. Kaito turned his head slightly to see one of the male clerks approaching. Both of his hands were buried in the pockets of his coat and his shoulders appeared to be hunched up. It was clear that the poor man was freezing and trying to stay warm. A beanie had been pulled down over his ears, but his nose and cheeks were as red as cherries.
Smiling, Kaito replied in his gentle and immature voice, “Just thinking, Mr. Sams.”
“I told you, kid, call me Nick. No need to be so formal. ‘Mr. Sams’ is my father, not me.” Nick approached to stand next to Kaito. The man was nearly twice the boy’s height, boasted a slightly tougher than average build, but not overly muscular, and could probably outrun anyone at McKinley Hall. Kaito liked him for his big-brother personality. Nick always listened to the patients’ concerns, helped them when they were struggling to simply get down the hall or out of bed in the mornings. He would read to the illiterate ones and cook for the few that needed a strict diet. Best of all, he didn’t treat Kaito, or the other few children registered there, any different than he treated the other patients. Sure, he gave them a little more attention and perhaps a different level of necessary concern, given their age group, but he simply treated and conversed with them without being patronizing. Kaito liked that; he didn’t appreciate it when a couple of the doctors or other staff members spoke down to him like a parent to a toddler. He was thirteen years old, not five; and he was probably more intelligent than most there, staff included.
“Is breakfast almost ready?” Kaito asked.
“Almost. Another few minutes, I think.” Nick checked the old silver Rolex watch on his wrist, held around with a high quality crocodile skin strap. In a past conversation, Kaito learned that the watch was a gift from the man’s father, a treasure from his time in the war as an officer. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” Nick said, quickly putting his watch-hand back into the pocket of his coat for the safety of the warmth, “I received some new books from the folks. You interested in taking a look at them? You can have any one you want.”
Kaito’s eyes instantly lit up and he spun around on heel to look directly up at Nick. “Really? You mean it?!”
“Yeah, sure. It’s not like I’ve got the time to read ‘em all here anyway. I’m too busy caring for everyone. I think they’ll be more appreciated by someone like you- Oh!”
Kaito had thrown himself into an embracing hug around Nick’s waist before the man could finish. His childishness was showing and he was overjoyed that he was so well taken care of by Nick. “Thank you, Mr. Sa- I mean… Nick!”
Kaito felt the man’s soft, but cold hand gently rest on the top of his messy blond hair and patted him ever so lightly. “Er- you’re welcome, kid. Don’t mention it. Let’s check on breakfast, shall we?”
