The Treatment - Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Aaron and his brother were sitting in their living room with Aaron’s phone on speaker. Thankfully David made it through the night without another accident. He practically demanded that he be on the phone call with Dr Bellamy, Aaron didn’t see any harm in it.

David was wearing brown shorts with big pockets along with a T-Shirt that had Captain America’s shield on it. Aaron didn’t say anything but he was certain David had a similar outfit when he was younger.

“Then I cleaned up the mess.” Aaron said finally finishing the embarrassing story from last night. He looked at his brother who looked away, his face was red and had a frown on it.

“This is the first time he’s wet the bed?” Dr Bellamy asked.

“Yes!” David gasped, he was almost offended at the question.

“Well your body is seven now.” Dr Bellamy thought out loud. “There could also be side effects from the double dose. When did you stop wetting the bed originally?”

David growled a little. Aaron tried to remember but he didn’t know the answer. He gave his brother a puzzled look.

“You already know.” David whispered as if Aaron couldn’t already hear everything.

Aaron heard a bunch of pages flipping over the phone and was even more confused. While Dr Bellamy was looking for some notes she took, Aaron put the phone on mute. “You’ve talked about this before?” Aaron asked his brother while Dr Bellamy couldn’t hear.

David growled again. “I uh.” He stammered. “I had some accidents… After the fire.” David had gotten so quiet Aaron could barely hear him.

Aaron pieced everything together really quickly. “When you were in foster care?” He asked.

David didn’t answer, only nodded. Aaron swallowed trying to not get too emotional, Please don’t hit me, kept banging around his head. He knew David was significantly older than what he looked like right now but he could only imagine a stranger hitting this tiny version of his brother - it made him feel sick. He wanted to ask for more details but got cut off by the Doctor.

“Oh right.” Dr Bellamy chimed in. “Those times were definitely related to your injuries and stress, completely different from this time. I was asking when you stopped wetting the bed as a little boy.”

David unmuted the phone. “I don’t know.” He told her. “Probably around seven.”

Dr Bellamy took more notes. Aaron could hear her pen scratching through the phone. “Well then, it’s nothing to worry about then.” She decided.

“Nothing to worry about!” David exclaimed. “I pissed the bed!”

“Davey, language.” Aaron scolded David who just crossed his arms.

“What should we do, Doctor?” Aaron said, cutting to the chase.

“Well most children wet the bed due to many reasons. Try drinking less water at night and going to the toilet before bed.” She suggested.

Aaron wasn’t convinced, neither was David, the advice seemed rather lacklustre and did nothing to guarantee dry sheets in the morning. The rest of the call was rather procedural, asking how David was feeling. He mostly just explained that he was looking forward to the Zoo and getting LEGO. David was a little surprised at the amount of notes she took about that. They agreed to meet again in her office tomorrow and Aaron ended the call.

David let out a big exhausted sigh when Aaron disconnected the call. He wanted to think about anything else. “When are we going out?” David asked.

“Go get ready.” Aaron told him.

David didn’t need to be told twice, quickly scampering away making sure he had everything he wanted. David had an idea earlier that morning to draw a picture of some of the animals and wanted to bring his sketchbook.

Aaron packed everything they would need for the day in his own backpack. When David returned carrying all the drawing supplies Aaron grinned down at him. He packed them up without saying a word and the two went to the car.

“Oh, Davey. Can you sit in the back?” Aaron asked.

“Why?” David said. He didn’t understand why Aaron would ask.

“You just need to be older to sit up front.” Aaron explained. “I mean like physically bigger, it’s not safe if we got into an accident.”

David scrunched his face up. Aaron worried that they were about to start the day with one of David’s tantrums. Aaron was actually about to concede and bring it up again later but his brother surprised him.

“Yeah I guess.” David told him. “You might get pulled over.”

“Y-yeah.” Aaron agreed. “Wouldn’t want to get a ticket.”

David chuckled and opened the backseat and climbed in. He didn’t really mind sitting in the backseat now. With his leg not cramping him and his smaller body he actually considered it more comfortable then the front seat. It also kind of made him feel important. Like his brother was his personal chauffeur. “To the Zoo!” He declared.

“Okay okay.” Aaron said as he started the car.

“Hurry up Dad.” David demanded.

Aaron kept driving and didn’t correct his brother. David didn’t seem to notice that he had called him Dad. It was something he had wanted to talk to Dr Bellamy about - he would have to find some other time to bring it up.

When the two got to the line to get into the Zoo Aaron took David’s hand. David held on to him without it seeming to bother him. “I’m getting you an under twelve ticket.” Aaron told David.

“Oh.” David said and scrunched up his face again, clearly uncomfortable. “I guess that makes sense.”

Aaron gave David’s hand a squeeze. He was certain that was going to set him off but he could use the savings to buy his brother a treat later. Besides the way he looked now he was pretty sure he didn’t even need to ask for a child ticket. He was right, he barely said anything at all and the two were in the zoo.

“Um Da- I mean Aaron.” David said. “Do you really think I can still volunteer?”

Aaron gave him an awkward smile. “We can ask if you want to.” He told him. “Do you know what you’re going to tell people?”

“That I’m sixteen and got little after taking some medicine.” David said.

Aaron chuckled a little. With his brother's little kid voice and tiny body it sounded like a made up story to play pretend. “Okay.” He agreed. “I can back you up if that’s what you want.”

“What else would I say?” David asked.

“That you’re seven.” Aaron suggested.

“But I’m not.”

“You kind of are.”

David pouted at him. “I’m sixteen.” He growled and yanked his hand out of his brother’s grip. “I’m going to volunteer!”

“Okay, okay.” Aaron agreed. “But you’re going to draw later.”

“Yeah.” He grunted.

Aaron just shook his head as he followed his brother through the Zoo. The whole situation was getting surreal and even he didn’t understand how to treat him. Sometimes David acted like a moody teenager who demanded to get his own way. But he could tell he kind of liked goofing off and playing games.

The two of them went straight for the offices to let David volunteer. Aaron was really sceptical of this plan. He had met Lyla a couple days ago but the idea of explaining everything seemed impossible. David led them to the counter where Lyla was sitting.

“Hello!” Lyla said in a cheery voice. “Oh you’re back.”

“Yeah.” Aaron told her. His cheeks flushed. “Me and my brother are back.” Aaron looked down to the much shorter David who was doing his best to look big and tall, he was even standing on his toes.

“We haven’t met yet.” Lyla said in a sweet smile and looked down at David. “Are you joining our activities today?”

“Ummm.” David hummed, he was thrown off that she didn’t recognize him. “I’m David.”

“Hi David!” Lyla said with enthusiasm. “Are you excited for today? Do you like the zoo?”

“Uhh, yeah.” David said and swallowed nervously, he could tell she thought he was a little kid. “I’m sixteen.”

“Oh wow! That’s really big.” Lyla said with a smile and looked over to Aaron.

Aaron’s own face was red from second hand embarrassment. “He’s serious.” Aaron explained. “This is the same David, the one who had the scar on his face.”

“What?” Lyla said, her overly chipper attitude shifted immediately. “Is this like a joke?”

“No it’s not a joke, he was getting an experimental treatment and now he’s… Shorter.” Aaron told her.

David just nodded along to Aaron’s story. “Ask me anything!” He told her.

Lyla just looked between the two of them. “Okay.” She said, clearly not believing them but willing to entertain the little boy. “What did you wear last time you were here?”

“A red panda costume.” David said proudly. “I was helping.”

“Okay.” Lyla agreed. But she obviously needed more convincing than just a few days ago. “Why do you want to volunteer at the zoo?”

“I LOVE ANIMALS!” David shouted with his arms extended.

Lyla smirked at him a little but then leaned over the counter. “Alright little David.” She said which made David wince at the term little. “Why do you really want to volunteer at the zoo?”

Aaron looked at David. The way Lyla said it made him think this was a conversation he may have had with her back when he first started coming here. David’s eyes went wide and his lips sucked in. He looked to Lyla and back to Aaron. His cheeks flushed deeply and he let out a gasp of breath. “I uh…” David started and swallowed. “Ummm.”

Lyla was now more interested. Her eyebrows narrowed as she focused on David. She was starting to take him seriously. David noticed. He built up some courage. “I had a crush on someone.” He blurted out and then pouted.

Aaron chuckled a little and was curious if it was Lyla he had a crush on. Lyla was certainly pretty and very nice. He wasn’t sure why David was so embarrassed, especially if she knew already.

“Who?” Lyla asked firmly.

“N-Neil.” David said in a whisper. “The Zookeeper.”

“Oh.” Aaron said. David and Aaron had never spoken about relationships, women or anything like that. He didn’t know his brother was interested in guys and it surprised him. He tried to play down his surprise and gave his brother a smile but David was looking shamefully at the ground.

Lyla was looking between the two of them. “You’re not kidding.” She said and leaned back in her chair. “He really is David. He’s turned into a little kid!”

Aaron explained the treatment to Lyla, how it was meant to cure David of all his trauma and that it worked. Lyla didn’t seem totally convinced but couldn’t deny that David didn’t really act like a typical seven year old.

“I can’t really let you volunteer.” She finally said. “No one would believe you’re not a little kid.”

“I could dress up again.” David offered. “That was fun.”

“You wouldn’t fit in the costume anymore.” Lyla dismissed. “Also Kira is out today.”

“Oh…” David hummed.

“You could still join the class.” She offered. “Like as a helper and keep everyone focused.”

David bit his lip. “I’m sixteen.” He said again.

“There is an art challenge later, so it would help me out.” Lyla told him.

David’s eyes lit up a bit. “What's the prize?” He clearly gave up on the idea of volunteering and became interested in the contest.

“Oh, something from the gift shop I think.” Lyla said.

“I’ll do it.” He decided.

Aaron shook his head again. Once again David was acting like a little kid, too interested in arts and crafts to be focused on actually volunteering. Since he agreed Aaron shrugged it off and let him have his fun.

The three of them eventually headed for the Kids Kamp classroom and Lyla hung back while David ran ahead. “Are you just playing along with him?” She asked seriously.

“No, he’s really sixteen.” Aaron told her.

“He’s acting like a child.” Lyla said. Aaron couldn’t even deny it. At that moment David had his arms stretched out acting like one of the birds in the exhibit they were passing.

“It’s a side effect.” Aaron told her. “He’s physically seven but mentally older. If he knew we were looking at him he would get embarrassed.’’

“Isn’t that hard on him?” Lyla asked.

“It was his choice.” Aaron told her.

“Isn’t it hard on you?” She went on. “You’re a single father now.”

“I already signed up for that.” He told her. “Really it’s fine.”

Lyla smiled at him, she was impressed. “Well stick around.” She told him. “I may need someone responsible to help me out.” She touched his arm and went inside the building with David.

The Kids Klub had a lot of children, mostly around the ages of five to nine. Old enough to be left without a parent but young enough that the volume of the room was unbearably loud. David felt uneasy. The last time he was here it was pretty clear that these kids were younger than him but this time a lot of the kids were actually bigger than him. Some were screaming about a new movie he had never seen, toys he had only seen commercials for and jokes he didn’t understand. All of a sudden he was an outsider, not really understanding anyone.

When Aaron sat down at one of the chairs in the back David rushed over to him. “What’s wrong?” Aaron asked him.

“They are all so… Loud and childish.” David complained.

“Well they are children.” Aaron chuckled.

David blushed. He had been thinking about them as if they were his peers. “Yeah… Right… But I’m not.” He said.

“Why don’t you just draw like you wanted to?” Aaron suggested and fished out his sketchbook.

“Yeah.” David agreed and smiled at him. He sat down at an empty table and started to work on drawing a tiger. He was trying to draw a realistic cat but his fingers were struggling to do what he wanted and it ended up coming out weird. The colors he selected were good and the technique was there but knew he could draw better at sixteen. He even occasionally posted his art online. Getting frustrated at his lost muscle memory he gave up.

“That’s very good!” Lyla told him, looking over his shoulder.

David flushed. “No it isn’t.” He insisted, then in complete frustration took a black marker and drew a big X across the whole image.

“Aww, that’s too bad.” Lyla told him.

Aaron just shook his head, Lyla gave him a smile and went over to him.

“Sorry about that.” He told her. “He’s having a hard time… Adjusting.”

“Is he really sixteen?” She asked. “If it’s just a game I understand.”

“He really is.” Aaron told her. He watched her seem to form some kind of opinion about him.

The rest of the day went by without any more of David’s tantrums. He listened to the staff. Followed their instructions as they walked around the Zoo and drew a new picture of all the animals. It still wasn’t his best work but looked decent enough.

Aaron followed the group and helped with watching the large group of kids. Mostly just carrying things for the staff. At the end of the day Lyla gave Aaron her cell phone number which made David a little annoyed and red faced.