“You’re on your own,” Marcus said. “You need to knock on the door, introduce yourself, and tell your brother what the problem is.”
“Will you come with me?”
“No. You need to do this yourself.”
“I’m not sure I can.”
“Think of your father and I imagine you can,” said Marcus, who then vanished again.
Taking a deep breath, Piet walked to the front door and knocked. The door was opened by a boy just a bit younger than Piet.
“Hi,” the boy said, “can I help you?”
Hesitantly, Piet said, “I need to talk to Conrad.”
“My dad? He’s not home from work yet.”
Sighing, Piet said, “Okay. I’ll just sit out on the curb until he comes.”
“Wait a minute,” said the boy, and he disappeared into the house.
In a few moments, a woman came to the door and asked what Piet wanted. When he told her he needed to see Conrad but he could wait on the curb, she thought a moment and then invited him into the living room.
“I’m Wally,” the boy said as he took a chair in the living room. “Mom’s getting some drinks.”
“I’m Piet.” As he sat on a sofa Piet heard some other children playing somewhere upstairs.
The woman brought in some soft drinks and took another seat saying, “Perhaps I can help. Can you tell me why you want Conrad?”
Piet paused for a moment before answering. Then, “He’s my oldest sibling and I need to talk with him.”
“So we’re related?” asked Wally.
“I guess you’re my nephew. I’ve been told that I have a lot of them.”
The three of them sat in a rather uncomfortable silence until they heard a car pull into the driveway. In a moment a man walked in the door. Wally went to him and hugged him, telling him about Piet.
Conrad removed his suit coat and hung it up before saying, “You’re my brother?”
“Yes, sir.”
The man smiled and responded, “Well, if we’re truly brothers, you don’t have to call me sir.” Then he put a hand on Piet’s shoulder and said, “Come with me.”
He led Piet into a room which appeared to be an office. He sat at the desk and invited Piet to sit in a chair across from him.
“Now, tell me what’s going on.” Piet told Conrad about their father, about him being physically and verbally abusive, and about him killing Alex.
Conrad listened thoughtfully before saying, “I know he’s really changed. He wasn’t like that when I was growing up, but that was 20 years ago. So why are you here?”
“I’ve run away from home,” said Piet, gazing down at the carpet.
“How did you find me?”
“I had some help from a friend.”
“That doesn’t really explain much, but let’s leave that for the minute. What do you want from me?”
“I need a place to stay, and I thought perhaps you could help me.”
Conrad grimaced a little and said, almost under his breath, “I was afraid of that.” Then he added aloud, “Well, you can’t stay here, Piet. We’re packed in this house as it is, and we simply don’t have room for another kid.”
There was a knock on the door, and Conrad’s wife poked her head in, asking, “Is Piet staying for supper?”
“I guess we can manage that much,” Conrad answered. Looking at Piet he said, “You can stay overnight on the couch, but you’ll have to leave in the morning.”
“Where will I go?” Piet asked.
“I suppose I’ll have to call Mom and tell her where you are.”
The family managed to make space at the dinner table for Piet. Seated at the table were Piet, Conrad, his wife, Wally, one other boy, and two younger girls. The girls were especially curious, asking Piet about where he lived, how he got to their house, if he had a girlfriend, and how long he was staying.
After dinner, Conrad called his mother and told her about Piet. He said that he wasn’t able to take the boy in, brother or not. There was a long conversation before she said that she’d come and get him the next day.
When the family got ready for bed, Piet was provided with a pillow, a sheet, and a couple of blankets which he arranged on the couch. The adults asked if he would be okay, and he replied that he was fine.
He slept fitfully and awoke early. Not wanting to be there when his mother arrived, he got out of bed and dressed before quietly leaving the house.
When Conrad came into the living room in the morning, he discovered that Piet was gone. He called his mother again, told her what had happened, and suggested that she not drive the long distance to his house unless Piet showed up again. His mother was very concerned but there was nothing she could do.
Outside on the sidewalk, Piet had no idea which way to go. Suddenly, Marcus appeared beside him.
“Well,” he said ruefully, “that didn’t go very well, did it?”
“You were there?”
Marcus nodded his head and then asked, “Now what?”
“I don’t know,” Piet responded. “I guess we could try another sibling.”
“How about the youngest one, Benjamin?” Marcus asked. “He’s probably not really settled down yet so he might be more willing to help.”
“At least I know him some. He’s only five years older than me.”
“Well, let’s go see him. Take my hand.”
Piet did and was immediately transported to a college dorm room. A young man was asleep, but he awoke with a start.
“Who are you?” he asked.
Piet looked around but Marcus had disappeared.
“I’m Piet, and I’m looking for my brother, Benjamin.”
The young man climbed out of bed and into some clothes. “Let’s go look for him,” he said.
He led Piet out of the room and down some stairs to the dining hall on the first floor. “There he is,” he said, pointing to another young man sitting alone at a table.
“Thanks,” said Piet, and he walked over to the table. His brother looked up, did a double-take, and said, “Piet?”
“Yeah,” Piet replied.
“What are you doing here? You look terrible.”
“I feel pretty terrible.”
“Have you eaten?” Piet shook his head, so Benjamin took him to the cafeteria line and escorted him through. Back at the table, Piet dug into his food, while Benjamin looked at him.
“So, you didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
“Why?”
Piet proceeded to tell Benjamin about what had happened at home, ending, once again, with the murder of Alex.
“Shit,” said his brother. “I knew he was drinking a lot, but I had no idea what he was doing to you. But why did you come to me?”
“I was hoping you could help me. I don’t seem to have any other place to go.”
Benjamin looked at him and said, “I wish I could help, but obviously you can’t stay here.”
“What can I do?” ask Piet.
“Have you tried any others in the family?”
“Just Conrad.”
“He’s probably the best off of all of us. What did he say?”
Piet told him.
“He never was very caring about the family,” said Benjamin. “I just don’t know what to say. I wish I could help, but there’s just no way while I’m in college.”
Piet sighed. “That’s okay. I guess I’ll find somewhere.”
“When you get located somewhere, let me know where you wind up.”
Piet agreed, and discouraged, he left the dorm.
Outside, he found Marcus waiting.
“Okay,” Marcus said. “Obviously this isn’t working. Take my hand.”
Piet took his hand and they vanished together.
Piet found himself alone in a flowered meadow. He had no idea where he was, and worse, he was alone. He called “Marcus! Marcus!” But Marcus didn’t appear.
Slowly he walked through the meadow enjoying the warm sun and the scent of the flowers before arriving eventually at a lake. The water was gently lapping on the shore. He sat on its bank and tried to think what to do next. Nothing came to him. He heard a bark, and to his surprise Alex came racing towards him. Alex leaped into Piet’s lap and they had a happy reunion. Piet cuddled and showered love on the dog, while Alex enthusiastically licked the boy’s face.