Solomon's Private File #88
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 17 in this story, in the Spring of 2043.
Solomon's Private File #88 "Kids and Smithsonian"
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While the problem with China was going on, I was getting strange
looks a lot at the bureau. Then the shrink applicant came in, the one
with CP. I said to him, "I know you know I know why you're back here."
He said, "Yes. Why was my CP not cured. I don't know. I had a cold, and
it was cured. So was my broken arm." I said, "Tell me how you know I
know that's true." He said, "Your opinion of me is higher than I
thought. You are from Solomon's school." I said, "Stephen's school. We
prefer that." He said, "Wow! You trust me!" I said, "Shouldn't we?" I
had to grin at his confusion. I said, "We've been providing this
service to friendly governments since the first Stephen was a boy. We
evaluate job applicants, just like we offer to do for politicians. We
try not to get involved with the cases. Hurts." He nodded. I said, "So,
why do you think they sent you back here?" He said, "Oh! You can do a
special healing?" I said, "Yes, but not exactly as you and they think.
Your CP wasn't healed. I have an idea why. We could ask for
confirmation." He said, "With GOD?" I said, "We all can, yes. Doesn't
mean we'll always get an answer, or if we do, that we'll understand it,
but it sure couldn't hurt. But we may discover something you would wish
we didn't." He said, "I would still want to try." I said, "Courage
definitely isn't one of your deficiencies."
I said, "We can do it here. If it spreads a little beyond this
office, it could be a little interesting." He grinned. I started my
love broadcast, limiting it to just my office and the applicant. Then I
called for God, and Dad came and told me what I expected. I turned it
off. I said, "So, tell me what you experienced." He said, "It was like
a usual love and healing broadcast, but it felt more personal. And
there was love to you, and to me, but separate. There was a message to
you, but I didn't get it." I said, "My suspicions were confirmed. You
have a unique and very valuable mind. That would be changed if your
brain were healed of CP. He knew you wouldn't want that. Despite the
enormous volume of er, patients, the healing broadcasts are all
individual. Have you ever wondered why the consequences that involve
implanted suffering, aren't stopped by the healing? And when somebody's
psionics are taken away because of misuse, they aren't restored? Now
you know. The healing is NOT a one size fits all thing." He said,
"Wow!" I said, "Now I can tell you, we hear that a lot."
Still in awe, he chuckled. I said, "Our health insurance contractor
won't accept you. So, the Bureau will directly pay all your medical
expenses." He said, "I'm hired?" I said, "Did you really have to ask
that?" He grinned through his tears. I said, "Good. Then we won't have
to use restraints to keep you." He wasn't quite able to laugh. I said,
"I don't have to ask you to keep our presence here a secret, which is
needed, so I'm not really telling you officially what I just said about
that." He still couldn't laugh like he almost wanted to. I ported an
envelope to my hand and gave it to him, and said, "Please take this
back to personnel, and they'll start getting you settled in. Oh, that.
Well, I don't need to hide that from you, do I?" I got up and went
around my desk and offered to hug him. We did. He left in a happy daze.
I received a lot of virtual hugs and kisses.
A man came in. I said, "You've shrunk! Washed in hot water?" He
grinned and sat. I took his file. He said, "I didn't think you would
recognize me." I said, "It's my job to know the whole person, whatever
size they are. I care more about the insides than the outsides." He
nodded and said, "I don't know how to thank you enough." I said, "You
don't have to, your reduced dimensions shout it at me." We went through
the test, and he was approved. I said, "I don't know your chances for
employment here. We just do the psych bit, but I do wish you good luck.
Please take this back with you to Personnel." He thanked me and left.
The hacker came to visit me. I said, "Not a worm anymore?" He said,
"Those guys are real pros!" I said, "Oh, so you taught them a lot." He
laughed and nodded. I said, "The weren't used to thinking out of the
box which they were wearing on their heads. Took you some work to poke
holes in them to get them to see the light. Oh I know. Been there,
still doing that." He nodded in awe. He said, "There are some rumors
about who you really are." I said, "They better not leave this
building, or all my office goes with it." He said, "That's what they
said. They're all darn proud to have you here." I said, "Nobody's had
me in this office. Yet." He laughed. He said, "Why are YOU here?" I
said, "I understand. I'm a research psychologist. Being who I am, it's
hard to sneak up on people to study them. Here, they're stuck with me.
I still do other things." He said, "I heard of some of that." I said,
"Yep! I'm real good at creatin' them thar rumors." He chuckled. I said,
"As for the basic reason, we've been doing this since long before I was
born. Good way to keep in touch with real people." He said, "I see
that. I don't know how to thank you enough for helping me to be able to
work here." I said, "Oh, that's simple. Be good and help others. I do
that. Very rewarding." He had some tears. We hugged and he left.
I said to the sec, "I'll be out for a while. Not urgent." She nodded.
I went into my office and ported to an alley in Georgetown, in my
museum disguise. I had been aging my disguises that were supposed to be
my age, with my advancing age. I went out to the street and said to one
of the boys, "Hi Rashon." He gulped and said, "Hi Sol." The other boys
stared at us back and forth. I said, "Feel like I'm playing tennis,
with their heads going back and forth like that." He grinned and I
smiled. They were in awe. I said, "So, who are your friends?" He named
them, and I shook their hands. I said, "Hey guys, want to come with me
to the museum this Saturday?" They really did. I said, "Have to have a
note from your parents. If you can't convince them, yes I know, when do
they ever believe you?" They nodded. I said, "You know, it would help a
lot of you didn't actually lie. Sure works for me!" They nodded. I
said, "So, take these little disks. Squeeze it when you are with a
parent or guardian, or teacher, and it will only work then, and only
for the people I give them to, and I will see and hear all around it,
and speak to them some way." They thanked me. Rashon said, "It's got
your name on it!" I said with a smile, "You didn't think I noticed?" He
and they grinned. I said, "I should be getting back to work. Stay out
of trouble! Bye!" I ported back to my office. I went out and said to
the sec, "I think you can see I'm back. Front, too." She nodded. She
said, "Another emergency?" I said, "Kinda. A kid in Georgetown said he
knew me. Gang was going to jump him. I showed up and treated him like
we knew each other. It's amazing their eyeballs didn't pop clean out of
their heads." Chuckles around the room. I said, "I invited them all to
go to the museum with me Saturday."
Griff came out and said, "That wasn't all." I sighed, and said, "I
can't even tell my own story without kibitzers getting into it." He
looked proud and said, "Right!" More chuckles. He said, "In case their
parents didn't believe them, to give permission, he gave them little
tokens they could use to signal him if that happens. He knows it will.
Then parent therapy." They nodded, and chuckled at my growl.
That happened right away. I called the mother's cell phone. I said
her name and said, "I'm Solomon. Can he have your permission to go with
a group of kids and me to the museum Saturday?" She said, "Is that
really you?" I said, "I'm real to me, the last time I checked. How
about you?" She almost laughed. She said, "Can his sister go too?" I
said, "If between the ages of ten and seventeen." She said, "She's
eleven." I said, "Fine. If that annoys some of the boys, good." She
said after chuckling, "I hear you've been a woman." I said, "Right.
Equal rights can include a few good lefts, too." She laughed and said,
"Can I pass that around?" I said, "What are you, a reporter? Oh,
alright. EVERYBODY wants to embarrass me!" She laughed again and said,
"Now I know it's really you." I growled. I said, "One PM. I'll port
them from home. Alright?" She said, "Fine. Thanks." I said, "You're
welcome. There are other mothers I have to convince. Bye!"
The rest of them were similar, but one. I did research and made
preparations. I met the rest of my team outside the building. I
bypassed the security part of the entrance. I banged on the apartment
door, and yelled, "Hey Rashon! Where you been? It's all over about you
and a bunch o' kids going to the museum with Solomon. Come and tell us
what he's like!" A man said through the door, "He's not going. It's a
lie." I said, "Aint so! Shop owner saw them. It's really him!" He said,
"What's that you say?" I said, "Could tell you better if this door aint
in the way!" He opened the door. I said, "Hello. I'm Solomon. Can your
son come to the museum with me and some other kids?" My team were out
of sight on either side of the door. He said, "You aint him. Go away or
I'm calling the police." I said, "No problem. I'lll call them." I took
out a phone, and he knocked it out of my hand and punched me in the
stomach. I bent over. He said, "You aint callin' no police!" He dragged
me inside. Part of my team followed me in, really surprising the man.
The detective said to him, "You're under arrest. Assault and battery.
making supplies. And that's meth. I'll give you time research on his
other crimes. He's been abusing his family. His guns are there.
Ballistics will link to other crimes. Entry legal?" He said, "Fully. He
assaulted you in our plain view, unprovoked. We followed to arrest him,
and saw evidence of other crimes in full view. With you recording
everything, no case could be more solid." I said, "Good. I like solid.
Except when it's supposed to be a liquid." They looked at me strangely.
I said, "Oh, right. You really know who I am now. Sheesh!" Chuckles.
I went to a door, and said said the person's name, and said, "It's
alright. Chancy is with the police. May I come in? Oh. Well, we have
to." I opened the door, and she saw me, and said, "It's really you!" I
said, "I already knew that. Yes, your son didn't lie. Er, this time."
She started laughing. I rushed to hold her, because it obviously hurt
her. I said, "It's going to be alright." She said, "Really?" I said,
"Oh yes! More than you think, too. First, you and Rashon are going to
the hospital. Then when you're well, to a hotel. Don't worry about the
money. There's a special victim fund for situations like this. I have
to tell you your son is hurt, but he's going to be well very soon. A
warning. He looks worse than he actually is. Going to be strong for
him?" She said, "I have to. Thank you!" I said, "You're welcome.
Chancy's on his way to the station now, so we can get going, ourselves.
Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you. Right. You're stuck with me,
and I didn't even have to use glue." She giggled. There was a medical
team there with two gurneys. I went to another door. It was padlocked.
I ripped the lock and hasp off, and tossed them into a corner.
Everybody stopped and stared at me. I said, "Oops. Sorry." I opened the
door and went inside. He was on his bed crying, and looking awful. I
said, "Rashon, it's me, Solomon. I'm very sorry I got you into this
mess, but we're fixing it." I hugged him, and he cried harder. I said,
"I know. You don't want them to see you crying. How about I put you to
sleep, and wipe your tears, and they'll take you to the hospital? I'll
be there when you wake up. Your mother is going there, too. Oh, and
don't worry about Chancy. He's on his way to jail. They aren't going to
throw away the key right away, because it might hit somebody." He tried
to laugh. I said, "Right. Now you know it's really me. Ready?" He
nodded. I did what I said, and carried him out, and put him on the
other gurney.
I said, "I put him to sleep. No need for him to suffer more. I'll let
him wake when they ask me to at the hospital. A little issue. I said I
would be going with them, but you don't allow ride-alongs. How about my
image?" The lead medic said with a smile, "Images aren't against any
reg I know of. Come along!" I split an image off, and their eyes went a
little wider, but they returned my grin. They left. I said to the
detective, "Here's a list of what's here, and all his crimes and info
about them, including accomplices and their info. Here are some video
files. Good thing you've got lots of pockets." Chuckles. I said to the
family services rep, "Want to port with me to the hospital?" She said
with a smile, "Absolutely!" I said, "Sorry, but it isn't much of an
experience. Hmm, your friends don't have to know that. Right. If they
ask, act mysterious." She had a lot of interesting emotions. A
detective said, "May I come with you? Victim interviews." The FS woman
said, "But they won't be in much shape for that." I said, "Let me take
care of that. Detective, make sure you have a camera to document
everything, first." He nodded. I ported us to the emergency room
entrance. We went in with the just arriving patients. Once they were
examined and determined to not be in serious condition and needing
immediate treatment, the detective was allowed to document everything.
Then I announced to the staff there, "I will heal them. A question.
Should I extend that to the whole hospital?" The attending made a call.
He said to me, "Please wait. They're checking." Six minutes later, the
hospital director came in and introduced himself. He said, "I recognize
you. Er, your disguise." I said, "Right. People forget I don't show how
I really look." He said, "That bad?" I smiled and said, "Not to my
girlfriend. No, I'm mostly normal looking. If there is such a thing. I
just want to have some privacy when I need it, to be treated as just a
human being." He nodded. He said, "I should expect such an eminent
psychologist to realize that need." I said, "I er, actually didn't come
here to be embarrassed, you know." Grins and chuckles. He said, "Heal
when you're ready. Our staff is expecting." I said, "Make-work for
obstetrics?" Laughter. I pulled in all the free energy, and started to
glow. I hooked into the 4th for more. I sent my love out to cover the
entire hospital, and asked for God. He joined for healing. Then it was
over. I said, "All well healed. Er, the patients." He said, "I know
what you mean. We have to like it. We care." I shook his hand. I went
to Rashon and let him wake up.
I said to him, "You're healed. So is your mother." He said, "There
was a love broadcast?" I said, "Yes. Mine, just for this hospital." He
said, "Wow!" I said, "I hear that a lot." Chuckles. He got up and went
to his mother. They hugged and had tears. Then she said, "Your
clothes!" She looked at me, and I tried to look innocent. She laughed,
and said, "Thank you!" I said, "You're welcome. Family Services will
take care of you now, but I'll be keeping in touch. One last thing.
Does your son have your permission to come with me and some other kids
to the museum Saturday?" She smiled and said, "Yes he does!" I said,
"One PM. I'll port him from where he is. Better not be the bathroom."
Chuckles. I said, "I need to get back to work. See you later. Take
care, all of you." I ported back to my office, and went out to say I
was back. They wanted to know what happened. I said, "I'm not in the
mood to talk about it. Let somebody else do it." I went inside and
waited for my next applicant.
I ported six boys and two girls to the hallway just outside Sharon's
office in the Smithsonian's Castle Building. I told them were we were.
I said, "Yes, we have some extra people in the group. Family members.
What, you don't like girls?" They had some tumbling emotions at that. I
grinned, and Rashon poked me and grinned back. We hugged. I said,
"Well, you should. They're good people. None of your parents believed
you. That's partially because they knew you lied before. I REALLY
recommend you don't ever lie again, or you will just cause more trouble
for yourselves that you do NOT really need. My friend here almost died
because of that." Rashon nodded. I stepped in front of him so they
wouldn't see his tear. We went into the office. Sharon stood, and I
made introductions. She gave them pins making them honorary members of
the Smithsonian. They had a lot of wows to express. Then we all went
outside and to the Natural History museum. I made some of the exhibits
come alive with illusions. The running around dinos were popular. So
were the big cats. There, I said, "Do you know why they're called
sabertooth cats?" I ported a sword to my hand and said, "This kind of
sword is called a saber. It's curved, and has a strong back, and a
sharp single edge. They had to name the animal something, so they used
the most unusual part, and what it reminded them of. Smilodon. That's
from the Greek language, words that mean 'chisel tooth'. I think
dentist's nightmare would have been better." Chuckles. I said, "I'm
sure they thought of that, but adults have to be SO serious." Grins.
We sat and had a snack. I asked, "What are your favorite colors?"
They all told me. I said, "Studying another language in school?" They
all were. I said, "I can help you with that a little. I can give you
more language knowledge directly. Won't hurt a bit. Want it?" They all
did. One girl said, "Shouldn't we ask our parents?" I said, "Can you
even imagine they would say no? It's how we teach in Tibet, but
expensive there." She said, "I agree. Please." I said, "Done. It will
take about a month to finish, but it's automatic. You already know more
than you did before. About English, too. I expect you to get good
grades in that now. ALL your subjects, too. Think I won't be watching?
Well, I love you, my museum friends. Each of you hold out your hands
for a present." I ported my light cubes to them, in their favorite
colors. Some would have dropped them, but they didn't fall. I said, "I
have to tell you, you do NOT want to drop one of those. They find
tender kid toes absolutely attractive." They laughed, Sharon the
loudest. They looked at her. She said, "I love his humor." They agreed.
I hugged with love, each kid in turn, and ported them home, but for
Rashon. I said, "It's possible your teachers might think with your new
knowledge, that you're cheating. If they don't believe you, use this
disk. And if the other kids tell you, too, if I don't notice it first.
Could be some teachers looking for new jobs." He tried to look serious,
and nodded. I ported him home, after a big hug.
Sharon said, "I heard about some of the problems you had with this
group. You knew in advance there would be some, and now, with the
school. This outing isn't just for fun." I said, "You and I did have a
lot of fun, but when have I ever done something with just one reason?"
She said with a smile, "When I discover that, I'll let you know." We
hugged with love.
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Grant
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