Harley was as patient as he was clever. Their turn would come soon enough. He beamed from ear to ear.
In 1954 the average cost of a new house was $10,250 and Richard could have written a check for a thousand such homes. Business was picking up. The Dow Jones recovered back to the pre-Wall Street Crash high of 381 points. For all of their millions, Richard and Meredith would soon realize how little money mattered.
Richard and Meredith eventually agreed Harley was very different. Meredith thought about the possibility of Harley seeing a doctor. Surely there must be professional help for him. Even Audrey Leck had said things to her about Harley. A few months before Harley was even born, Audrey was hired as a nanny. As Harley’s caregiver, she’d seen things even Richard and Meredith wouldn’t believe. Many of those things petrified her and kept her up at night.
Earlier that year Harley was playing in the living room. The Ames had a little puppy named Brewster. Harley was teasing Brewster and the puppy nipped at him. Harley went into his father’s office and brought back a letter opener from his father’s desk. He coaxed the puppy with a dog treat and Brewster forgot all about the teasing, but Harley hadn’t forgotten about the nipping. After Brewster ate his dog treat he began to prance and jump and clearly wanted to play with young master Harley. The letter opener was immediately driven into one of Brewster’s eye sockets. Before Audrey could intervene, Harley had stabbed the little puppy several times as he screamed, “Not real. Not real like me at all. You are NOT real!”
Richard and Meredith had been travelling abroad when Brewster met his demise. When Audrey explained the puppy was dead she kept it simple, fearing she would get in trouble leaving Harley alone long enough to retrieve the letter opener. The official story was poor Brewster got away on one of their walks and was hit by a car; she also told them it would probably be a good idea to wait on another pet. According to Audrey, Harley cried himself to sleep for the next three nights.
In truth, Harley slept better than he had in months, he was well rid of something that only ate, pooped, and nipped at him that one time. He was delighted to free himself of the puppy that wasn’t even real.
Richard wouldn’t think of allowing Harley to be treated by someone that specialized in things like child psychiatry, rather, he’d be allowed to grow out of his phase. He was three years old and besides, Meredith was expecting a second child. A brother or sister would set Harley straight, or so Richard thought.
Clifford Richard Ames entered the world on a spring day in New York and the streets were filled with dirty snow. He was normal in every way. Clifford was born into privilege and he had no way of knowing the shit storm that awaited him at home.
Richard and Meredith loved Clifford in ways they couldn’t imagine, he was as wonderful as Harley was not and ordinary in every way. Poor Clifford never had a chance. Harley had his number the day he came home from the hospital, even Audrey fawned over the infant. This was a child she would love to care for, unlike his older malevolent brother. Audrey would soon be put in her place.
Clifford was in his nursery and Harley slipped in for a visit. It was a warm day in August when he realized Clifford was one of the fifty-two REAL people that existed. Standing on a stool next to the crib and watching Clifford laying on his back and looking at a giraffe mobile was all it took. Harley whispered, “You want to get rid of me like the others? The other REAL people? You think I don’t know? I know plenty! I think it’s time you take a really long nap. Sleep well, Clifford.”
Harley crawled into the crib and grabbed a pillow that lay close by. He held the pillow and looked at the baby. The infant was smiling at him when the pillow was magically placed over his head. Harley held it there for a very long time, gently
In 1954 the average cost of a new house was $10,250 and Richard could have written a check for a thousand such homes. Business was picking up. The Dow Jones recovered back to the pre-Wall Street Crash high of 381 points. For all of their millions, Richard and Meredith would soon realize how little money mattered.
Richard and Meredith eventually agreed Harley was very different. Meredith thought about the possibility of Harley seeing a doctor. Surely there must be professional help for him. Even Audrey Leck had said things to her about Harley. A few months before Harley was even born, Audrey was hired as a nanny. As Harley’s caregiver, she’d seen things even Richard and Meredith wouldn’t believe. Many of those things petrified her and kept her up at night.
Earlier that year Harley was playing in the living room. The Ames had a little puppy named Brewster. Harley was teasing Brewster and the puppy nipped at him. Harley went into his father’s office and brought back a letter opener from his father’s desk. He coaxed the puppy with a dog treat and Brewster forgot all about the teasing, but Harley hadn’t forgotten about the nipping. After Brewster ate his dog treat he began to prance and jump and clearly wanted to play with young master Harley. The letter opener was immediately driven into one of Brewster’s eye sockets. Before Audrey could intervene, Harley had stabbed the little puppy several times as he screamed, “Not real. Not real like me at all. You are NOT real!”
Richard and Meredith had been travelling abroad when Brewster met his demise. When Audrey explained the puppy was dead she kept it simple, fearing she would get in trouble leaving Harley alone long enough to retrieve the letter opener. The official story was poor Brewster got away on one of their walks and was hit by a car; she also told them it would probably be a good idea to wait on another pet. According to Audrey, Harley cried himself to sleep for the next three nights.
In truth, Harley slept better than he had in months, he was well rid of something that only ate, pooped, and nipped at him that one time. He was delighted to free himself of the puppy that wasn’t even real.
Richard wouldn’t think of allowing Harley to be treated by someone that specialized in things like child psychiatry, rather, he’d be allowed to grow out of his phase. He was three years old and besides, Meredith was expecting a second child. A brother or sister would set Harley straight, or so Richard thought.
Clifford Richard Ames entered the world on a spring day in New York and the streets were filled with dirty snow. He was normal in every way. Clifford was born into privilege and he had no way of knowing the shit storm that awaited him at home.
Richard and Meredith loved Clifford in ways they couldn’t imagine, he was as wonderful as Harley was not and ordinary in every way. Poor Clifford never had a chance. Harley had his number the day he came home from the hospital, even Audrey fawned over the infant. This was a child she would love to care for, unlike his older malevolent brother. Audrey would soon be put in her place.
Clifford was in his nursery and Harley slipped in for a visit. It was a warm day in August when he realized Clifford was one of the fifty-two REAL people that existed. Standing on a stool next to the crib and watching Clifford laying on his back and looking at a giraffe mobile was all it took. Harley whispered, “You want to get rid of me like the others? The other REAL people? You think I don’t know? I know plenty! I think it’s time you take a really long nap. Sleep well, Clifford.”
Harley crawled into the crib and grabbed a pillow that lay close by. He held the pillow and looked at the baby. The infant was smiling at him when the pillow was magically placed over his head. Harley held it there for a very long time, gently
Similar Books
