🍄 A weekend at Nathan's
Part 4: Arrival at Nathan's
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I am both happy to go to Nathan's and a bit worried. Not worried as I might have thought about his mother, but more about him in the end.
His mother welcomes me with open arms and seems even happy that I am coming. In contrast, Nathan has shown nothing and has not shown himself either.
"You will behave, Samuel, won't you? Mom asks me, looking me in the eyes. You promise me?"
"Yes mom, I promise."
"And you will do what Nathan's mom asks you to do?"
"Yes, I say, exasperated."
Why are all parents annoying like that? What are they afraid of? That we will replicate a bad upbringing that we received?
Once I arrive at the house, I start by taking the console and its charger. I don't want to just sit and play for several days. I think I will hide it so that Nathan's mother doesn't see it. I also hope he will have wifi and that there won't be any restrictions like at a friend's house. He has no wifi after 8pm, what a horror.
Next come my clothes: underwear, socks, t-shirts, all in triple. I also take a pair of pants and a sweatshirt.
"Don't forget to wash yourself, mom shouts from her room. Both your body, your hair, and your teeth."
Yes, of course I will take that, as if I would forget. I know I hadn't thought about it yet, but I'm sure I was going to do it.
Next is my school bag. I take a bunch of stuff: binders, books, pencil case. I hope I haven't forgotten anything, but it wouldn't be a disaster if I did, and it wouldn't be the first time.
So here I am with two big bags in the entrance.
"Dad hasn't come back yet?"
"He just called me to say he has to stay an extra hour to finish something urgent before he leaves for these three days. He was disappointed he couldn't see you before leaving."
"Okay, I say."
I saw him, that's fine, I don't see him, too bad. It's only three days.
"Do I need to check your bag?"
"No mom, no need, I'm not 6 years old anymore."
I could even add: don't look, I don't want you to see that I took the console.
Mom takes one bag and I take the other. We put everything in the trunk of the car and head to Nathan's house.
As mom parks, the door opens. Nathan's mom comes out to greet us.
"Give me a bag, she tells me as I open the car trunk."
"Thank you, I say, giving her my clothes bag."
I take my school bag and follow her to the front door. I don't see Nathan, I wonder where he is.
"Nathan is in his room, she says. I'll call him, but say goodbye to your mom first."
I approach mom and quickly kiss her. In the meantime, I hear her shout, "Nathan, come down, Sam is here."
I then return near the front door and see Nathan slowly coming down.
Mom, she starts chatting with Nathan's mom. I see them exchanging phone numbers.
"Ah, there you are, I say to Nathan as he approaches me. I was wondering if you were really here."
"Hi, he replies."
Nathan is not his usual self, I sense that something is wrong. It reminds me of the other day when he didn't want to tell me what was wrong.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I'm happy, we'll spend a few days together."
Suddenly, a noise is heard from upstairs, like something falling to the ground.
"What was that noise? I ask."
"Probably my brother."
"You have a brother? I say, super surprised. You never told me. How old is he?"
"Well, he's a bit... different, he's not like us."
"How so different? I don't understand."
"To be honest, I have an older brother, his name is Valentin and he's about 2 years older than me. And when I say Valentin is different, it's because he is... mentally handicapped. There was a problem at his birth, he lacked oxygen, and even though he is taller than us, his brain doesn't function well."
"Is that why you never told me about him?"
"You know from experience, I prefer not to talk about him. I did it in my old school and we were both made fun of... him and me."
"I won't make fun of him or you!"
"I know Sam, thanks.""
"But tell me, are you already in your pajamas? I say, looking at my friend."
"Um... yes... Valentin and I take a bath together in the evening when I come back from school. It's a ritual we have and mom says it helps him feel good. I think I'm too old for it but mom doesn't give me much choice. So once I'm washed, I put on my pajamas."
"And what's it like living with your brother?"
"There are good moments, but there are also many more complicated ones. When he has tantrums, you have to calm him down, and as he gets older, he also has more strength so it's not always easy. Mom has attended workshops for that, and occasionally there is also a social worker who comes, as well as educators."
"And you never talked about your father... But I don't want it to be hard for you to talk about, don't do it if you don't want to."
"My father left when we were little, I don't remember him. Mom says it was because he found it too difficult to handle two children, one of whom is disabled."
I think Nathan doesn't have an easy life and it must be difficult to have a mentally handicapped brother. I understand a little better why he has to come home quickly in the evening. What he described about his brother scares me a little, and I'm not sure I really want to meet him. Anyway, I'm staying here for a few days so I won't have much of a choice.
Shortly after, Nathan's mom comes back and I see mine get back into the car and drive away.
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