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Michael couldn't remember many times growing up when his parents were affectionate. Mom and The Senator were busy with their careers. When they were home it seemed they always gave Michael's younger brother Daniel more attention than him. Michael was loved and had his needs met, he knew it deep down, but he simply didn't feel liked or wanted.
Daniel was interested in school and politics, his brain was wired like their parents. They knew how to handle him. Michael was different. He was the school skipper and skateboarder. The brothers simply operated differently. That was all before Daniel disappeared. When Michael was thirteen and Daniel was eleven, Daniel was kidnapped while on a school trip. All nine kids, the driver, and the bus seemingly vanished.
After his brother was taken, Michael felt even more distant from his parents. In his young mind, the teen had thought that his parents would have rather if he had been the one to disappear instead of Daniel. He also accumulated guilt for his brother's kidnapping. Michael was supposed to go on the same field trip but faked sick to stay home. What if he had gone? Surely things could have been different. Maybe he could have done something.
His life changed for the better in recent years. Two years ago Michael's brother had come back into his life after twenty years. He had been living under a different name in order to hide from the man who had held him captive. When the remains of other missing children turned up, Michael went in search of Chris Jacobs, the only survivor of the kidnapping. What he found instead was his brother.
The events of the summer brought the family together. Michael's parents Maxwell and Cecilia became more open and affectionate than Michael ever could remember. The return of their second son, gaining a grandson, nearly losing Michael, the betrayal of the senator's brother, and the senator almost losing his own life was a wild combination that resulted in a whirlwind of emotions. It was an eye-opening experience. Michael finally had the family he had always dreamed of, the type of loving and affectionate family he saw on tv shows and read about in books.
Now Michael and his brother Chris were reconnected, and regulars in each other's homes. They lived close by, just down the street from each other. Chris and his son had even lived with Michael and his girlfriend Jamie for a while after Chris's return.
Chris and Michael were currently spending a late night together. This had become routine for them. They would sit and talk for hours about anything and everything. Their current discussion was about their parents.
Michael still struggled with his parents. He was coming to terms that they had always loved and wanted him even if they had trouble showing it when the brothers were children.
"They were there for you for the important stuff," Chris told him. "I'm sure they were at your high school and college graduations, weren't they?" He pointed out. He knew it was true. Chris had seen the pictures. "And I remember the three of us going to your baseball games when you were in little league." How long ago was that? Chris did a quick calculation in his head. Wow, that had to have been nearly twenty-eight years ago, he figured. "You know I was always jealous of your ability to try sports and be carefree."
"But it never felt like they ever dropped everything when I really needed them. You were their favorite."
"That didn't mean I liked all the attention." Chris reminded Michael. Both brothers had their own struggles and had been secretly jealous of each other while growing up. The reality was they were both loved and simply had their own strengths, weaknesses, and interests. "They gave you the attention when it mattered." He continued.
"It didn't feel like it." Michael took a sip of his drink. "I think they just didn't understand how my brain worked." He said.
"Remember when you broke your arm?" Chris prompted. He remembered how his parents reacted. Chris had been simultaneously glad all the attention was temporarily off of him but also worried for his big brother.
Michael snorted. "I've broken a lot of bones in my life. You have to be more specific than that."
"You were about eight. I think it was your first broken bone." Maybe his brother had been seven-years-old. Seven or eight, one of the two. Michael had been around that age. How old had he been? Chris was sure he had been six. Chris thought more about it. Michael broke his arm during the summertime. He wouldn't have had his birthday yet that year. If he was six that summer then his brother was seven. Daniel's birthday was in the spring.
Recognition fluttered into Michael's eyes as the memory clicked into place. "Ohh. That." Chris was right. Their parents had dropped everything to see him in the hospital. He was flooded with hand-holding, hugs, love, kisses, soft words of comfort, and all the attention he could have ever wanted. Too bad it took a trip to the hospital to bring it out in The Senator and Doctor.
"Do you remember how it happened?" Chris asked.
Michael shook his head. "I remember bits and pieces. I don't remember the accident, but I remember being with Mom and Dad in the hospital."
"I saw you fall, then I ran to get Dad... I don't think I ever saw him make that face before or since."
It was the middle of summer. The seasons didn't matter too much to Michael. He was outside year-round. Summer was one of his favorites simply because he loathed school and was glad for the vacation.
Michael had his new skateboard, he had it only for a few months and was loving it. It had been a Christmas gift. His true adventurous streak hadn't yet bloomed. It wouldn't be until his teen years that his wings would spread. The seven almost eight-year-old was simply into trying new sports and trends more than he was a thrill seeker.
As he rode, there was no helmet or padding in sight, his messy mop of dirty blonde hair running wild. His naturally light brown hair typically had blonde highlights from all his time in the sun. His father would haul him off to the barber before too long. The Senator liked his boys to look like little marines. Michael's skin had been just as sun-kissed as his hair. He was mostly tanned, but redness blotched the finer details of his face. He wore ripped jean shorts and a well-worn tank top. His heavily traveled sneakers were loosely tied in loops that surely would come undone before too long.
Daniel was the younger of the two boys. His light brown hair was still cut short. His eyes were hazel to Michael's green, and Michael was leaner than the chubbier Daniel. Daniel was barefooted. His Ninja Turtles t-shirt and black shorts were both neat and taken care of. Despite the two years age difference, one could easily mistake them for twins based on height. They were at ages where their heights lined up, and neither had any major growth spurts. It would be a few years yet before Michael would outpace his brother.
"Daniel, move!" the boy called to his younger brother. Green eyes poking daggers his way. "You're in my way!" Michael didn't wait for Daniel to respond before tugging him out of the way.
"Hey!"
"You were in my way!"
"That doesn't mean you can push me!" Daniel crossed his arms. "Be nice, or I'll tell Mom."
"Moms not even home," muttered Michael. When was she? Their mother was at work at the hospital, as usual. But Dad was home, for once. The Senator was usually out of state, living and working from Washington DC. He was visiting the family for his vacation. He had a week to spend at home, then the entire family would take a trip somewhere. The Senator was currently in his home office taking a phone call. Even on his day off he couldn't fully step away from politics.
"You're still in my way scootch over and watch this." Michael climbed the makeshift ramp he made. The stack wobbled but held his weight and he kept his balance. He had already gone down twice without incident.
The third trip wasn't so lucky.
His skateboard caught the ramp at a bad angle bringing it to a sudden stop, however, Michael carried the momentum and was thrown forward. The makeshift ramp fell apart as the boy landed on the ground. He hit his arm first, using his wrist to brace himself but then he bounced and rolled before skidding to a stop. The slide had skinned the right side of his chest and ribs and several spots of his face in the process but those were the least of his injuries.
Michael screamed and cradled his injured arm. Starts dotted his vision and his ears were ringing. What had happened? Blood dripped down the side of his face but he didn't pay it any attention.
Daniel turned and rushed inside, emitting wails of his own.
The Senator came out of his office. Daniel nearly collided with his father in the hall. "Why are you screaming? You know better than to run wild through the house." His voice was stern and demanding. The large man could be charming, it's how he won every election he ran in, but the man could also dominate a room with his commanding presence. His deep voice called for respect.
"Michael fell! Michael is hurt! He's hurt!" Daniel explained before turning back the way he came.
"What?" All the sternness fell away, replaced with concern. He raced after his youngest. "What happened?"
"Michael fell off his skateboard in the yard," Daniel called over his shoulder. They urgently navigated the halls to the backyard. The housekeeper was already outside, having heard the boy's cries. Michael had stopped screaming but was in obvious pain. A lot of pain. Each breath was labored through clenched teeth.
"I didn't dare move him, Sir." The housekeeper told the Senator. "But I think he needs to go to the hospital."
"What happened, did you see it?"
The housekeeper shook her head. "I was cleaning the kitchen." The kitchen was in the front of the house. "I heard him scream and just knew something was wrong." The pained cry had a certain sound to it.
Daniel gave his father an explanation. "He was practicing his skateboard tricks but his ramp broke."
"Ramp?" What ramp? They didn't have any ramps in their yard... Or at least weren't supposed to have any ramps in their yard.
"Yeah! He made his own ramp. His board didn't roll down though." The boy shook his head. "So Michael went flying." Daniel grimaced. "He bounced when he hit the ground and that's when he screamed and I went to get you... I'm sorry for screaming."
"It's okay. I want you to come running and screaming if you or your brother ever need help" the Senator kneeled beside his eldest son. He agreed with the housekeeper, the kid shouldn't be moved and he definitely the hospital. His arm was clearly broken and his face was bloodied. He was relieved to his son was still conscious. Michael's gaze darted to his father.
"We're gonna get you help. You'll be okay." He patted him on the shoulder on what appeared to be his uninjured side. Michael blinked and nodded.
"Dad." He managed to get out. He couldn't speak much from all the pain. His father squeezed his shoulder.
"I'm here son." the Senator turned to the housekeeper. "Go call for help and make sure the front gate is open for the ambulance." she nodded and rushed inside.
"Dad... Sir... Sorry..." Michael paused between words to breathe through his pain. The Senator's heart was nearly ripped apart. How much pain was his son in?
"Mad?" Michael spoke again. He couldn't say more than a word or two at a time.
The Senator took his son's good hand. "No, Michael. I'm not mad." Why would he be mad? Maxwell was not mad but he was, however, extremely worried, but he wouldn't let Michael or Daniel know that.
"Daniel, get your shoes on." their father said. Daniel had been sitting on the ground beside his brother. He didn't want to leave Michael. He didn't make a move to head inside. " Now Daniel." His father repeated with more force.
"But I don't want to leave Michael!"
"He's not going anywhere, and you're gonna need shoes to go to the hospital with him. Now go get your shoes on, I'm not going to tell you again."
"Yes, sir." Daniel obeyed. He knew better than to argue with the Senator when he used that tone of voice.
While Daniel got his shoes on, Maxwell went inside to call his wife. She wasn't likely to take a call while working but she would still be paged. Cecilia would know something was wrong since she knew Maxwell wouldn't call during work unless something had happened.
Just as he suspected, Cecilia wasn't available to take his call. He left a message and went back outside. Sirens could be heard now, quickly approaching. Daniel had acquired shoes like he had been asked and now sat waiting by his injured brother. Michael was still awake, his face pale and sweat covered.
The sirens cut out as the ambulance arrived. The housekeeper guided the two EMTs to the backyard. The professionals got straight to work.
"What's your name?"
"Michael," he replied as one EMT checked his pupils to check for a head injury.
"What hurts?"
"Arm." That's where it hurt the most. He hadn't even noticed the bleeding wound along his head.
"Just your arm?"
The boy nodded as he hissed through his pain.
"Not your neck or back?"
"No. Just my arm."
A gloved hand examined the gash on his forehead. It wasn't bleeding heavily but it would likely need stitches. His injured arm was carefully secured so it wouldn't move, an IV was started in his opposite arm, they secured his neck in a brace, and then they placed him on a sturdy backboard. Michael was moved to a waiting stretcher. He was strapped onto the stretcher. The flurry of activity took about twenty minutes.
Michael did not remember the drive to the hospital. Arriving at the hospital was also a blur. Once in the emergency room, the buzz of activity continued. Wide-eyed the boy was more curious than scared even if he was in pain. The edge had been taken off of the pain from what he had already been given while in the ambulance, but he was still in pain. He was better able to reply to their countless questions if only he knew the actual answers to some of them. Some of the things they asked were confusing.
Now they mostly talked to each other and he was there to be poked. He didn't like it. Michael lay still on the bed as he put up with the motions of what felt like a routine check-up. Then his shirt was cut away, leaving him feeling exposed.
A lot was going on. People came in and out of the area, and sometimes he was completely alone. He couldn't be too bad if they were willing to leave him alone, but the scared and injured child didn't come to the same conclusion.
X-rays were taken of his arm and chest, and his wounds were cleaned. More X-rays and diagnostics were done over his body to help uncover any other underlying injuries.
Not only was there a gash on his forehead but several abrasions along his side and on his knee as well. It wasn't long before his father and brother joined him. This was the same hospital his mother worked at so, surely she would be here soon as well.
After the initial assessments of his condition, tending to his minor injuries, and ensuring he was comfortable it became a waiting game to have his head stitched and his broken arm set and placed in a temporary soft cast. With his family at his side to keep him company and medication to control his pain, Michael had calmed down. He was tired. Maybe it was a combination of the medication and a post-adrenaline crash.
It was at this time that Cecilia had arrived at her eldest son's side. Between her husband's phone call and the news of her son being in the emergency room spreading through her coworkers and friends, Cecilia was soon notified. As she joined her family she had known Michael was injured but didn't know what had happened.
Michael sheepishly admitted what he had done. He had been told not to make his own skate ramps. The rule had been set up to protect the family's furniture and patio from being damaged or destroyed by the boy's antics. They didn't want him getting hurt either. If only he had listened.
In the end, Michael thankfully had minimum injuries. Most were minor such as the abrasions along his side. He was going to need stitches in his forehead. The worst was his arm. It was indeed broken. He was waiting for it to be placed in a soft cast. A hard cast would be placed after a few days when any possible swelling had subsided. He was going to have to see an orthopedic specialist as well. The person who reviewed his films had suggested he might need surgery but he wasn't experienced or qualified enough to make the call, especially before a cast was placed.
His cuts and scrapes were already cleaned up, and bandaids were placed on the larger ones. Next up were the stitches. The wound was thoroughly cleaned and the liquid poured over it made it feel like it was on fire. Michael cried out at the sudden discomfort but then breathed through the rest of it as he squeezed his eyes shut. Cecilia held his uninjured hand and rubbed at the back of it to offer comfort. Daniel sat quietly watching the procedure wide-eyed. Maxwell and Cecilia shared a glance.
"Daniel? Why don't we step out for a moment? We can come back once Michael is up for visitors." Daniel obediently followed his father without comment or complaint. Cecilia stayed with Michael to offer comfort and help oversee his care.
With the wound numbed and sanitized to help prevent infection, it was time for the stitches to be sewn. When all was said and done, Michael had four stitches in his forehead. Soon after the soft padding was wrapped around his broken arm and he was placed in a sling.
After a few hours of being in the hospital, he was ready to be discharged. Instructions were given for care and follow-ups. Cecilia handled that part, while Michael enjoyed an icepop as a treat. The boy set up straight and was more alert. With the drugs and pain had cleared up, leaving only the faintest throb in his arm that could be felt down to his fingers.
Maxwell and Daniel had reentered the room. It was time to go home. Everything was going to be alright.
In the present day, Michael and Daniel continued to discuss the memory.
"I hated that cast," Michael said. It had been before the lighter weight and colorful fiberglass cats of today. His cast was plaster, heavy, and a dull blank white.
Chris nodded. "You had to have surgery and spent most of the summer with that cast." His brother had a total of three casts, actually. Daniel had eagerly been the first to sign them all.
"I was terrified of having surgery" Remembered Michael. He had hidden under a pile of stuffed animals the morning of as if his parents couldn't find his easy hiding spot. Kids thought differently. "but mom stayed with me the entire time I was in the hospital." He had to stay overnight after his operation. It was a well over fourteen-hour experience.
"See Mom and Dad did care about you.. and they still do." Calling Maxwell and Cecilia 'mom' and 'dad' still felt foreign on Chris' tongue but they were still his mother and father. The Jacobs might have raised him after his return but the Brodys were his family and gave him nurturing and love until he was eleven and they had loved Michael too even if they didn't always show it. His point had been made.
"I know. They loved me." Michael repeated the sentiment.
There had been many good and bad memories where he had felt their graces but even after reminiscing about the time he first broke a bone, he still felt lost. He was glad they were more family focused and open these days. He could finally have the family he had wanted, the parents he had wanted. And Michael was glad to watch them show love to his niece and nephew. He no longer felt lost or invisible to them during family events. But it would take a lot of healing and time to undo the twenty years of feeling and thinking otherwise. That wasn't even counting the time before his brother's disappearance. If he counted his entire life, it was nearly thirty-five years.
"They loved us both." Maybe one day it'll feel true.