My name is Benjamin Harris. Three years ago, I was sixteen and a junior in high school. My parents and I had moved from California to a small town in Arizona named Desertville. I believe that one factor for our move was because my father grew up in Desertville. They both worked for T.S.I aka Top Secret Institute, government stuff. I had no clue of what type of "top secret" work they did because they would never talk to me about their job.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtzZ33SzV6
Little did I know that soon I would meet a pretty girl named Marley at a diner. I'd also eat some really good pie. She caught my attention as I walked into the diner. She sat by me and started a conversation. That conversation we would have, would lead to a life changing event.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVR5yIh7R5
Back in Cali, we left my aunt, uncle, and cousin James who was an only child like me. We also left my grandfather who I was very close to. Even though we had left all of my family back in California, I could say that the move was not tough for me, because the reality was, James was the only person that I hung out with at school, so I wasn't really leaving anything too important behind.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iCMg1baJm
James and I were pretty much brothers. The same age, grade, and almost birthday. He was born July 12, and I August 12.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DtlfZVWn0
It had only been 2 weeks since the move from California to Arizona, and I was unpacking stuff upstairs in my room.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwPCotnS7n
I felt my neck was bothering me again, sometimes it would be my back too; the pain came often.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5JTpPTIP2
"Hey Dad? Can we make an appointment with Dr. Clyde, that thing is happening again." I asked Dad as I walked downstairs to the living room where he was. He was sitting on the couch changing the channel with the remote. The TV changed from Aliens with Ellen Ripley to the cartoon Hercules.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjkzaem1TE
"Some aliens don't look like that," Dad said under his breath. Then he turned to me.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtnpJQsUKY
"Is it your back or your neck?" he asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt903ilY4fU
"It's just my neck. Do they look like the ones with giant black eyes?" I rubbed the back of my neck to help relieve the pain.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz4ZHK7yJa
"No. Not all of them," he said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nBmoij4PW
I questioned how Dad knew that. Maybe it had something to do with him working on top secret government stuff. I nodded at his comment.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN5ZuTrRX9
"Okay. I'll call him to see if he is there today. I'm just glad we can drive to Clyde's clinic right down the street," he said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEQsKaeloP
"Okay, thanks Dad," I said, rubbing my forehead now. I felt like I was getting a headache from all the pain. I could barely turn my neck.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM202JO4qWe
Dad was referring to the past when Mom had to make house calls to Dr. Clyde. He would come to our house and treat the issue in my neck and back. Sometimes we would also drive all the way to Arizona just for a 20-minute appointment. I figured that this might also be another reason for the move.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ejBjrAwek
"Okay. Sounds good. See you at 12:30 pm," I heard Dad say on the phone, while I was in the kitchen.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnNGzsNtHS
"Who was that?" Mom came downstairs. She had been upstairs unpacking stuff.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOSyDIiCNY
"Clyde," Dad said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29IYdSbyqv
"Oh. Hunny, is it your neck again or back?" she asked me. I walked out the kitchen and came back to the living room.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZfZIULTAm
"My neck," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGSLRLUxAc
She nodded and looked worried.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4wzMFRTul
"We should eat before we go. I'll make us something, maybe pancakes?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uH0o8a9EO
"I never get tired of those," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaAIrcX4Ux
By the time we all had finished eating our pancakes, it was almost time to leave. I looked at the bag of cassava flour that was still open (I closed it since Mom forgot to).
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13kSx11U52
I went over to the fridge where dad was standing and pouring himself a cup of coffee.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4EFSsworl
"Alright, we can go to the store today or tomorrow hunny," Dad told Mom.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRBIqJG4EK
"Okay. I'm happy to hear that. I'll go grab my purse and put my shoes on," Mom said. They had been discussing buying a new table, since we were without one after the move.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGXzfy8Git
"How's work and everything Dad?" I asked him. "You know with the new job? Did you guys get a new job or do you still work for the government...?" I was aware that they had gone back to work since the move, I just wasn't sure of where but I had a feeling it was still with the T.S.I. and I was curious to know.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEIy6scCa7
"Yeah. Still for the government, and it's about the same." He sipped his coffee.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZXNQDW4CX
"T.S.I or....?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw9oftARCm
"Yeah. T.S.I."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmg0mZJCjm
"So will you guys have to drive back and forth to Cali for work to you know...???"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxFN06juOX
"No. There's another facility out here that your mother and I will go to. Are you ready to go to Desertville High School?" He seemed like he was trying to change the subject.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY47RSsOVfw
"I don't know. I think it's gonna suck since I'm not going to school with James anymore. But then again, I still think it'll be pretty cool going to the same school you went to," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXepLNKwzm
He patted me on the shoulder and smiled. "That's great, I'm happy to hear that."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9PjlnHUKx
That was probably the only thing I would ever hear about their job. They were very conscious of not telling me anything about it EVER. All I knew was that they worked at T.S.I, and that they worked Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm. It was the same thing in California and now I knew it would be the same thing in Arizona.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXil7OV5VV
"I think I should get my shoes on. We should be leaving in a few minutes," He looked at his watch and sipped more of his coffee. "We need to get you to Dr. Clyde so he can use that device thing again," he said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxcZF56e3f
Dr. Clyde had created a device called the Clydescope. It fixed the bone in my neck that kept dislocating. As Dr. Clyde put it, it digitally readjusted the bone in my neck, putting it back in its place.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMhZ26NA2X
It looked like a borescope mixed with an otoscope. My parents said that when I was a young boy, my spine was crooked and that's when Dr. Clyde came to the rescue. He'd fix my spine with the Clydescope or send me to a nearby chiropractor. He first diagnosed me with Juvenile Disk Disorder then he ended up diagnosing me with Degenerative Disk Disease in my spine as I got older. He said it was very rare in children because it was most common in adults.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedhhzUuMwW
Mom and Dad said I got surgery in my spine when I was an infant. The question of how it was even possible for an infant to have a surgery in their spine, always crossed my mind.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FeuxoLWoH
Then at five I had another surgery to help fix a bone in my neck, I guess it was the one that was still sticking out. I could only remember the surgery vaguely. All I could remember was Mom saying that I grew a foot taller when it was over and that I could stand again. However, the pain in my neck and back remained, even after the surgeries.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jWM6b3dvv
~~~
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4qsYWZ6LI
We drove down to Dr. Clyde's small clinic which was about 15 minutes by car. I noticed how Desertville didn't seem too small during the drive, but I still considered it a tiny town.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0hErBZqQQ
"Hello, Benjamin!" Dr. Clyde greeted me at the entrance of the door with a hand shake. I felt the cool air coming from inside of the clinic and wanted to run in to escape the heat.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXWGXyJLsa
We walked into the clinic. It had one couch, a desk and a computer chair. There was a black chair for patients, like the one at the dentist.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWwP4kwgLa
"Hi," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbM8q36q8x
Dr. Clyde was a close family friend of my parents. Dad had told us a few childhood stories of how he had grown up with Dr. Clyde in Desertville, and with some other friends.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjECaJdUk7
"Ivan. Evelyn. How's it going? How's the move been?" he gave my parents a hug.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvWY1CHT1G
"You know, just trying to get adjusted. Thanks again for helping us move! We really appreciate it," Dad said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t1PoKkSKr
"No problem. If you guys need any more help, Alan and I, we're here," Dr. Clyde said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmpcyZQb6e
"Yeah. Thanks," Dad said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8UwGAp3MT
"He's gotten so big. I remember he was just a little boy," Mom said. She was talking about Alan, Dr. Clyde's son.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTe6FbfJni
"I know. Kimberly still treats him like one though. I try to remind her that he's a man now," Dr. Clyde said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJNrUbL8G7
Kimberly Clyde, also known as Mrs. Clyde who was Dr. Clyde's wife. She was my speech therapist when I was six years old. I had a frontal lisp but she helped me to correct it within a few years.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKNCz5u1rr
"Him and Benjamin are both men now," Dad agreed with Clyde.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X5CxKVEO9
"They are growing up fast," Dr. Clyde said, grabbing my shoulder firmly.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDatr58hDq
"Thanks," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCooBF8HQ1c
"Alright, Ben. You can sit here," he directed me to the black leather chair. I sat in it. There was some of that same paper placed on the chair like one that they put over hospital beds. I was facing a very large window that gave me a view of the empty street. The sun was shining through and beaming on the ground in front of me. I was so glad Dr. Clyde had A/C.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcvGt0JMIB
There seemed to be no other employees at Dr. Clyde's practice. It was just him that I knew of. He sat down in front of me on the rolling stool. My parents were sitting on the couch behind me.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Uhy6xlp1
Dr. Clyde came over to me and checked my eyes with an ophthalmoscope. Then he checked my ears with an otoscope all while making small talk with my parents.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0IndGU8hJ
Dr. Clyde lifted my chin and turned my face side to side, looking for abnormalities, I presumed. He stood up and walked behind me. He checked the back of my neck where the pain was coming from. It was directly where the surgery had been performed. I tried my best to sit up as straight as possible.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28f2mcRxBk
"Hm. Have you been stretching lately?" Dr. Clyde asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQQpBAKcJx
"No. I've..." I said but Dad finished the sentence for me.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSH5gRp34d
"He's been busy with the move."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNgOLdnfLZ
"I see. Just make sure you continue stretching. I can only imagine the pain you have been in."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMlLwtgI5y
"Yeah," I said. "This time it feels like something is swollen or like a small bone poking on the inside."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnsyHlqBeH
"Right here?" He put two fingers directly in the middle of the back of my neck. Something for sure felt misplaced.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tHUIUV3bn
"Yeah, I feel it too. You must've gotten taller. Seems like we have to put your bone back into place again," he said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoOGcK3Vym
That happened every few months to me. Though, I didn't feel like I was getting any taller.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WuuLxa0L0
"Will you need to use that device again?" Mom asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKgSvKdjhH
"Yup, just the Clydescope, no chiropractor this time. I'll be right back." He got up and walked into the other room. There were two other rooms right next to each other that had their doors shut. One of the rooms was Dr. Clyde's office and the other, I assumed, was just like the room we were in.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdWlfjzRqX
The next thing, as usual, I removed my shirt so he could evaluate my spine.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rpuM3eYl4
While Mom and Dad were conversating, I turned to them to ask them a question.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tazI1CRcL
"Can't I just get another surgery?" I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEJZIJRjoB
"Are you sure you would like another surgery?" Mom said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLr5nyrgim
"Yeah, I do. I know I run the risk of being paralyzed, but I think it will be better than having to go through this every couple of months."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxmSh4XzXy
"We'll ask him. Just expect Clyde to say no," Dad said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzJ0BD3IFS
Dr. Clyde came back into the room with the device (The Clydescope).
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgBYHvIk8L
"Okay. Stand up for me please. Remember to try to stand as straight as possible and look straight ahead."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWrEqSFlq1
"Okay," I said. I stared out the large window in front of me. The desert was a hideous place compared to where I had previously lived. But I knew I could get used to it. As I looked out the window, no cars were passing by; it was almost therapeutic. The heat was the only thing that I knew was going to bother me.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SL6En7Yn9
I could feel Dr. Clyde moving the device side to side close to the back of my neck. I could see the reflection of the bright red light emanating from the tip of the Clydescope on the ground. I knew on the other side of the tip of the Clydescope, was a small rectangle screen with a view of my bones.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoKGaHhHJX
Dr. Clyde had shown me how it worked one day by letting me try it on Dad. We didn't move any of Dad's bones, but we were able to get an X-ray of the bones in his neck. No bones would be moved unless you held the red button down on the handle. He explained that it was like an X-ray that could digitally move a bone in the body. However it worked it was still an odd device to me.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizobeBhTWu
For a quick second, there was extreme pain running down my entire back and neck. Then immediately after, there was an immense relief.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJuU6yZnEG
"Okay, there we go. We are done!" he told me. I moved my neck side to side with no hesitation. Then I rubbed my neck, and there was no weird lump anymore.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i31WGbVei
"Thank you," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZXLD76KLv
"You're welcome."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApy4Qlkcf3
"Better?" Dad asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeEfG4FXii
"Yeah," I said as I turned around.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2E7bCuODt
"Thanks again, Clyde." Dad shook Dr. Clyde's hand.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD67Kfu87R
"No problem. Anytime. You guys are family. I'll be seeing you around," he said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKRYxSa9Gx
"Dad?" I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPGVDNIMja
"Right. Ben wants to know if he can have another surgery, for you know..." Dad said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN4sFmqhbM
"You know Ben, it would be better if you kept stretching and keeping your checkups. The surgery is very risky and we don't want you to run the risk of becoming paralyzed."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbc1emYx0W
I took a deep breath and shook my head. "Alright. I had researched it and thought that there could maybe be a chance that I could get the surgery," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRnKT0dvJW
"I'm sure you did, but it's just too risky."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kNQycWpRL
"I also have one last question, Dr. Clyde," I said. "Can you remind me of what was the bone that you had replaced when I was five?" I asked him just out of curiosity.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy88QDowiop
"Um...It was the uh..." he said and closed his eyes thinking but he looked very unsure. He put his hand to his chin.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDHytia4kF
"The degenerative vertebrae," Dad said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztD39yYTAN
"Yeah, that. Sorry, Benjamin, I couldn't quite remember," he said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTRKUpxC5O
"No problem," I nodded.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjigqL16t4P
"Well, take care, Clyde," Dad said, quickly changing the subject.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfN5JX3yf0
"I will. You guys should stop by tomorrow. We are having a party for my son and his friends. Kimberly is inviting some of her friends as well. Bring your bathing suits, we'll be swimming and barbecuing!"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvLKft5pEh
"Sounds good," Dad said. "We'll be by tomorrow. Where do you guys live again?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFewylO9Cn
"When you leave out of here, make a left, and drive down two lights. Make a right, and then, make a left. Drive down and it will be the 2nd house to your right."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHRE57bnE2
"We'll call you again for that information," Dad said. They chuckled.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaznxkljzkJ
We left Dr. Clyde's clinic and got into the car. I was so glad Mom immediately turned the air on.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoenpFRNHa
"Oh my gosh!" Mom said. She was complaining about the heat.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbuWFd9fNX
"You guys hungry?" Dad asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2pya7896l
"Yeah, I'm starving," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtaSsipRqd
Mom laughed, "You guys just ate," she said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFUw5Vz3MW
"That was only a snack hunny," Dad said. "I only had one pancake and a cup of coffee."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yOfzK8WtL
"Two pancakes was a snack?"
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHWaLFaw28
Dad nodded. Mom turned around from the driver's seat and looked at me. Her hair was in a bun and she was wearing a yellow flower dress. Her brown skin was glowing. She looked beautiful. I'm sure Dad thought the same. I saw Dad stare at Mom a few times. She usually didn't wear dresses, only her work attire which was a white blouse and some black slacks.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1jsqSS6zJ
I nodded and agreed to it being a snack.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WJrbGTNFU
"There's a Diner, Mom. I saw it passing by. I think it was called..."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbbiVcUxGa
"Yes! Grandma's Diner," Dad remembered.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi68ffO5ukY
"Yeah, that's what it's called I think," I said.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtI1Q4Okl2
"I can't believe Audrey's Grandma is still alive..." Dad whispered to himself.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfx3D3yXvz
"Who's Audrey?" Mom asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M7pxqMVs4
"Umm..., just some old girlfriend."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSkdvPFtI9
"Can we eat there?" I asked.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgY2CRj696
"Even though it's just a hole in the wall, their food is really good."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMza6ODCEJ
"Hunny, hole-in-the-wall restaurants are usually GOOD," she told him.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkqdbqJXr0
"I know. Let's eat there."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZXwHwYfMz
Mom nodded in agreement and put the car in reverse to back out of the parking lot.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7EBTWVjkV
Although I was very hungry, I couldn't stop thinking about how Dr. Clyde could not remember the bone he replaced at my surgery when I was five. Maybe it was because it had been so many years ago. I thought Doctors were supposed to remember that stuff. Right?
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC1z6wMZIG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP45Bq6ckyd
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJmnPPoyre
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvRECiv3E0
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf72Db8YR8Q
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SZhGL25DE
and then Add to home screen.