Friday, May 25, 1984
New York City
“Mrs. Wheeler,” Dan began, “I really appreciate this, but I can’t accept it.”
“Of course you can.” Madeleine Wheeler held out the Barney’s bag, giving Dan no choice but to take it. “And don’t worry, dear. Although the orange was tempting, I managed to resist it.”
Startled, Dan glared at Jim. “You told her that?” he asked. Jim just grinned sheepishly, and shrugged. “Ma’am, honestly, I was just joking, I...never...I...”
“I know, Dan,” Madeleine told him, “I found the whole thing amusing.” She tapped the bag with a slender finger. “Now open it, and accept it in the spirit in which it’s offered.”
Dan held his breath as he sat down on the couch and opened the bag, drawing out two boxes, one large, one small. Exhaling, he pulled off the lid of the large box, revealing a long sleeved, silk shirt in a deep gray. Speechless, he looked up at Mrs. Wheeler.
“Come on Dan,” Honey encouraged. “Open the other one.”
Dan did as asked, removing a silk tie. It was a dark blue, with a gray paisley pattern scattered across it.
“I was out shopping for Jim,” Madeleine told him, “and it occurred to me that you could probably use a nice interview shirt and tie, to go with your jacket.”
“But...” Dan struggled for speech.
“But, nothing,” Madeleine said firmly. “Matthew and I were away when you had your birthday. Normally, you would have received a gift from us, but the date slipped past. Consider this a belated birthday present.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Dan, realizing that resistance was futile, rose to his feet. “They’re very nice, thank you. It’s just that no one other than Re...Uncle Bill has bought clothes for me in a long time. I was surprised. Thank you. Thank you very much.”
“You’re very welcome.” Madeleine’s smile belied her formal tone. “Now go put it on, so Honey and I can see our handiwork. We’ll drop you and Jim off for your interview, and then Honey and I have a little more shopping to do. We have reservations at Chateaux Geronne for seven.” She looked at her son. “I expect you to be on time.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dan said, heading off to his room.
“We’ll be on time, Mother,” Jim said, stepping forward and dropping a kiss on her cheek. “That was very nice of you,” he whispered.
“Jim, dear,” Madeleine said, returning his kiss. “Everyone needs a little mothering, sometime. Your sister and I will wait for you in the car. Don’t primp too long.”
Jim looked at her, horrified. “Mother,” he said, “Men do not primp!”
“Of course not, dear. Whatever was I thinking?” Madeleine smiled serenely, extending her arm to her daughter. They glided out the door, and Jim was almost certain that he heard the tinkle of laughter.
Preston Davis was not a big man, but what he lacked in stature, he more than made up for with his charisma. Dan and Jim each towered four or five inches over Mr. Davis’ balding head, and yet both felt slightly intimidated in his presence.
“Welcome,” he said genially, his voice soft. “Come on in and have a seat.” Preston Davis led them into the hotel suite, and to a nicely appointed sitting room. “Have a seat,” he repeated, pointing the boys to a couple of velvet covered wing chairs before taking one himself.
“Gentlemen,” Mr. Davis said. “I’m very happy to meet you. This is the informal part of the interview. Right now, I’d just like to get to know you. After a bit, I will want to talk with each of you individually. So,” he sat back in his chair, tenting his fingers together. “Let me begin by telling you a little about myself, and Nature Trek...”
Dan sat in the wing chair, pretending to look at a magazine. It was Jim’s turn in the interview room, and that made Dan more nervous than he had been during his own interview. Flipping the page, he stared at the glossy bleach add, and wondered how Jim would handle the last question.
Mr. Davis had been very nice, Dan recalled. Sitting in a small den, they had gone over the application, and Dan had given the man the edited version of his history with the Cowhands, and a brief and limited discourse about his juvenile record. Uncomfortable, but expected. Until the last two questions.
The first started out fairly straightforward. Preston Davis had rubbed his nose, and asked, “Why do you want to be a counselor for Nature Trek?”
Dan had taken a moment to organize his thoughts, before responding. “I think that what struck me most about the job was the opportunity to maybe make a difference,” he said. “I’ve been where some of these kids are, and where they might be headed. I was lucky. Every time I was going in the wrong direction, someone came into my life and turned me around. I would really like to be able to help someone else, the way I was helped.”
“You can’t save them all.” Preston Davis said in his soft voice. “You know that, don’t you? For some of them, it’s too late the day after they are born.”
Dan was silent. Licking his lips, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “But you keep trying, don’t you? You can’t look at someone and just know it’s too late. You have to give them a chance to turn it around.”
Davis’ face was completely impassive. “True.” he agreed. Then he dropped the trick question. “So, Daniel. What can you tell me about James?”
“Sir?” Dan asked, needing clarification.
Jim.” Davis said. “What can you tell me about Jim Frayne, adopted son of Matthew Wheeler, former abused child and runaway orphan? Give me the inside story.”
Dan shifted in his seat, not sure how to respond, not sure if he even wanted to. Finally he said, “Mr. Davis, Jim is my friend. He’s a good guy, smart and hard working, but his past is his past. His, not mine. I don’t mind telling you about me, but if you want to know the inside story on Jim, you’re going to have to ask Jim.”
Davis scribbled something on his clipboard, and the interview ended. He escorted Dan back to the sitting room, and ushered Jim into the den. That had been twenty minutes ago, and Dan couldn’t help but wonder if Jim had been asked the same question about Dan.
The door opened, and Mr. Davis and Jim stepped out into the sitting room. Dan rose from the chair, placing the unread magazine on the lamp stand.
“Thank you, gentlemen.” Preston Davis extended his hand to both boys. “That was very informative. If you would be so kind as to return tomorrow, say, at one o’clock, we can finish this whole process.” With a few quick moves, Dan and Jim found themselves back in the hotel hallway.
Jim ran a hand through his thick red hair. “That was interesting,” he said. “What did you think?”
Dan hesitated. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “It seemed pretty normal, right up until the end.”
“You mean the ‘You can’t save them all’ and the ‘Tell me about Daniel’ part?” Jim asked.
“Yeah. Except it was ‘Tell me about James’, in my case.” Dan pushed the call button for the elevator, and looked sideways at Jim. “I told him that he needed to ask you about you. What did you say?”
Jim narrowed his eyes. “What do you think I told him?” he asked, his voice tight. “It was a trick question.”
“Duh. So, what did you tell him?” Dan asked again. His eyes were dark with suspicion.
Jim glared. “I told him that you were a good friend, good with kids, and if he wanted to know more, he should ask you. What else would I say?”
Dan relaxed. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I just don’t like tricks.”
“Me either.” Jim thumped Dan on the shoulder as they entered the elevator. “I admit, I did worry about what you said, too. But in the end, I figured you’d clam up, just like me. Do you think it hurts our chances?”
“I don’t know,” Dan said. “I really don’t know what he was trying to do. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.” He shrugged.
So, don’t worry until tomorrow.” Jim grinned at his friend. “We’re in New York City. We’re dressed to the sevens, if not the nines, and we have four hours before we have to meet my family for dinner. Whatever shall we do?”
Dan returned the grin. “Anything but shopping,” he said. “Anything but that.”
They were both laughing as they left the hotel.
“So, what did you think, Ted?” Preston Davis poured a cup of coffee for his camp director, and took one for himself.
Ted Jannings sat back in his chair and sipped. “Strong candidates,” he said. “Good work histories, excellent students, enough difficulties in their pasts to make them sympathetic without making them irredeemably warped, determined, and most importantly, loyal to one another. These aren’t boys who are going to gossip.”
“My thoughts, exactly.” Preston sipped his coffee. “It’s very helpful having you able to eavesdrop on the interview. Did you notice any tells?”
“Mangan is editing his past,” Ted said. “He manages to evade any question that goes deeper than second level, tries to keep everything on the surface, and in the present. He doesn’t lie; he just doesn’t choose to give details. Frayne, on the other hand, is more open about his past than he is about his present. I get the impression that his status as the son of a wealthy man makes him uncomfortable.” Ted set down his cup. “When the conversation turns into areas he wants to avoid, Mangan goes quiet; he turns inside to regroup. Frayne tenses up, goes rigid. He also gets flushed, although that is probably due to his coloring. Frayne’s hands clench. Mangan does this funny little thumb thing. He keeps his hands open, index fingers touching, thumbs sort of twiddling with one another.”
“You’re good, Ted, very observant.” Preston smiled. “That’s why you’re in charge.” He finished his coffee. “Final decision?”
“Offer them the jobs.” Ted didn’t hesitate. “I think they’ll work out perfectly, especially if we put them with the younger kids. They both seem to have compassion enough to work with that group.”
“You want to keep them together?” Preston quirked an eyebrow.
“I think so. I’m guessing they make a good team.” Ted shrugged. “Most of the others are on their second or third year. They know each other, and are established. Frayne and Mangan know each other, so, yes. They’ll be a pair, Pres, and a good one, I think.”
“Once again, you’re reading my mind.” Preston Davis poured himself some more coffee, offering the pot to Ted. “I’ll take care of that tomorrow. What time does your plane leave?”
“Eight, tonight,” Ted answered, helping himself to the coffee. “I really need to get back. Bill has been taking care of things, but, well, you know Bill.”
Indeed, I do,” Preston said. “Indeed, I do.”
