Stephen's Secure Blog #114
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 14 in this story, in the early Winter of year 5 of his
special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #114 "Patri Side"
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I was helping set up some of my exhibit illustrations in the Early
Man section of the Smithsonian, when a man walked over to me. He stared
at me for a while. Then I said to him, "Can I help you sir? This
section is temporarily closed for maintenance." He said "Are you
Stephen Chad Holmes?" I said "I am." He said "I'm your father." I said
"Hello. If we've met, I don't remember it. Do you have some proof our
relationship?" He said "God damn it, I'm your father!" I said "Even
Darth Vader wasn't rude about it." His mouth dropped open in surprise.
The museum guard with me was amazed, and amused, knowing me. Father was
about to say something bad again, so I said, "BE CIVIL, or I will ask
my friend here to remove you. In how many pieces, will be up to you."
That got the attention of both of them. I said to father, "If you are
the father who abandoned me when I was two years old and dying, who I
have never heard from since, what would YOU do in my place? What do you
actually deserve from me? All I know so far, is I deserve a lot more
from you now, than you are giving." He turned around and walked away. I
said to the guard, "Well, that was interesting." He said "He'll be
back." I grinned and said, "We're mixing scifi movies here, but he will
want to terminate something, I think." He grinned and said "The way you
handled it, that's amazing." I said "I've known about this possibility
for years. So, I was a little prepared. I could have met with him
before, but I like my life the way it is now, and I don't want to
change it." He said "So he really is your father?" I said
"Biologically, yes, but we have different color light sabers." He
squeezed my shoulder and said, "Whatever happens, I'm for what you
want." I said "Thanks." We finished the work, and parted company.
I went to see Sharon, and told her all about it. She said
"Interesting, the way you handled it." I said "Well, I wasn't about to
tell him that I'm his reborn grandfather." She said with a grin, "I
suppose not. What will he do next?" I said "He found me here because of
the publicity. His next move will involve some research. He didn't show
up to the parental rights hearing, which assigned that to Tomba. He
might try to challenge that. It won't work, but I don't want him making
publicity. I own the majority of shares of one of the biggest
corporations in the world, which I started and built in my previous
incarnation, to support our Guardianship. He is NOT going to get
control of that. If he wants a generous trust fund allowance, I'll give
it to him, but nothing else. Not even a relationship. I like what I
already have, and I'm keeping it intact." She said "I've seen part of
that. I don't blame you." I said "This is the only place he can get to
me in a useful way. What should we do if he tries to again?" She said
"If you don't want publicity, nothing. If we collar him, he'll yell." I
grinned and said, "Right. I didn't say that, because this is your
place, not mine." She grinned. I said "I have an alarmed watch set on
him, with a small part of my mind. If he approaches any museum, I will
know, and stop him." She said "How will you stop him?" I said "That
would depend on the circumstances. I could port him someplace, or make
him trip, or practically any number of things. I would really not want
to do any of that, and not just because my ethics tells me it wouldn't
be justified. The next move is up to him. Then we will see. Probably
hear, too."
I had already pushed my memory of the event to Tomba, Pete, Chad,
Tim, and Mac. Two days later, he showed up at my foster home in DC. Tim
met with him in the downstairs conference room, and asked me to watch.
I did, with a 4th viewpoint. Tim said "Stephen isn't here. How can I
help you?" He said "I don't believe you." Tim said "And why is that?"
He said "You want to keep him from me." Tim laughed, and said, "You met
him. He told us word for word. I would love to see you tangle with him
again. Unfortunately, who he sees, is his choice, and that's the way it
should be. He isn't here now, so it isn't going to happen at the
moment. Obviously. You could leave him a message and make an
appointment, or come back some other time. If you do leave a message,
it would be helpful if you tell him why he should see you." He said
"Because I'm his father." Tim said, "Not in law. You have no parental
rights over him. I didn't mean you should tell him why YOU want him to
see you, but reasons why HE should want to see you. So far, those he
has are all in the negative. You sure didn't make a good impression on
him in your last meeting." He said "I'll take you to court!" Tim said
"What for? I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm not his legal guardian.
I'm just one of his foster parents." He said "Then who is his
guardian?" Tim said, "Stephen was right. You don't know much about
politeness. Have you ever considered that you are making your own
problems because of that? Stephen is the most loving person I've ever
met. If he can't love his own father, that doesn't show you in a very
good light. I suggest you ask Abbot Tomba at the Buddhist Temple to
help you." He said "I don't need some fucking nutcase in a bathrobe to
help me!" Tim said, "Yes you do, because he is Stephen's legal
guardian, and is listening to us here now." He said "So where is he?"
Tim said "I told you. At the Temple. I see you are confused. Haven't
you ever heard of the telephone, or radio transmissions?" He got up and
walked out.
Tomba and I ported to the conference room. Tim told us, "I see what
you mean. That man has problems!" Tomba said "How should my meeting
with him go?" I said "Your judgement. You can tell him I woke up at 10,
and you tutored me, and then I went to the same school his grandfathers
Stephen and Chad did. You can tell him about my degrees and that I
teach physics and martial arts there now. You could tell him my desire
not to change my family situation. Reincarnation is out. All that is up
to you. All I ask is what you would judge to tell him, anyway. I trust
that. It would be interesting if he asks about control of my wealth. If
he wants a big allowance, I would agree to that, if he keeps quiet and
away, and agrees to have inhibitions implanted for that. There is one
important thing. I can't take any corrective action against him unless
he issues a credible threat of harm to me, my lifestyle, or to our
Guardianship. More, if he actually attempts to do that." He said "Yes.
I'm glad you see that, but of course you would." I said "Chad, what do
you think?" He ported in and said, "I agree, so far. Keep me as an ace
in the hole. As his grandfather, I might have some influence, and can
verify what Tomba tells him." Tomba said, "He's at the door of my
Temple, demanding I speak to him. I'm telling my staff to have him wait
in a meeting room, and I mean wait! I feel we need to encourage his
stress, to discover the true nature of the man." Chad said "That's
going to be very interesting!" I said "Wouldn't it be interesting if we
all ported to my apartment there, and he saw us all together when that
would make the most impact?" Tomba said "It's an option to consider. We
will have to let events show us the way."
90 minutes later, Tomba entered the meting room in the Temple. He
bowed and said, "Greetings. I am Tomba, the Abbot of this Temple. How
may I help you?" He didn't bow, and said, angrily, "I've been waiting
here for two hours!" Tomba said, "I'm aware that you have been waiting,
but you have been here for only one and a half hours. I regret that I
have many duties which take up my time. If you had made an appointment,
you would not have had such a long wait. Now, how may I help you?" He
said "Are you Stephen's legal guardian?" Tomba said "I have the great
honor to be so to him." He said "I want to see him." Tomba said, "He is
not here. You have already seen him, though. At the Museum. You walked
away. Why?" He said "He was rude." Tomba said, "I heard of the
conversation. It was not he who was rude. However, if you think he was,
what causes you to assume, if you do, that he will be any different
with you in another meeting?" He said "He will. I'll make sure of
that!" Tomba said "And how will you do that?" Silence. Tomba said "This
meeting between us will not proceed unless you answer my question."
More silence. Then he said, "I'll punish him if he misbehaves." Tomba
said "You have no way to do that but with violence. I will not permit
that in my presence, or anywhere in this Temple. Furthermore, I warn
you that Stephen is a master of martial arts, and teaches it, and he
has my permission to defend himself if necessary, from you, or anyone
else. Why do you want to see him?" He said "Because he's my son!" Tomba
said "That is a biological fact. Not a reason. Please answer my
question." Silence. Tomba said "I will forbid a meeting with him,
unless I know what you want from that meeting, and from him. I am on
firm legal ground in this."
He said "To get to know him." Tomba said "I can help you with that,
because for much of his life, he has no memory. Do you wish me to tell
you of that?" He said "Yes." Tomba said, "At two years of age, he was
in a hospital, dying. His mother was dead, and his father had abandoned
him, and he was a ward of the state. His great grandfather Chad
discovered that, and asked Stephen's other great grandfather, also
named Stephen, to help save the boy's life. Together, they devised a
treatment plan which helped the boy to survive. He gradually improved,
but was still in a coma. I was granted custodial authority, also called
custody, at their request, in a legal proceeding to which you had been
served notice, but chose not to attend. The elder Stephen died, and the
younger Stephen continued to improve, but remained in a coma for eight
years, tended by Chad and myself. The boy woke up when he was ten years
old, with no memory. We here in the Temple provided him with sufficient
education to enable him to attend the school Chad and the elder Stephen
had attended. The boy qualified, because of his great intelligence and
talents. Now, Stephen has many doctorates, and teaches there, physics,
and martial arts. He is a very talented artist, and volunteers his time
at the Smithsonian Museum Complex, where some of his art is on display.
All who know him, love him. But you."
He said "But I do love him." Tomba said, "I see that you don't. I can
sense feelings, and yours tell me not of love." He said "I don't
believe you can do that." Tomba said, "I can. So can Chad, and Tim, and
most importantly, so can Stephen. It's a basic requirement to enter
their school. With it, we can see when someone is lying. Their school
has been providing that service to the FBI since the original Stephen
was a child. They maintain an office there for that purpose, and have
proved time and again how effective and accurate they are. One more
thing. Stephen volunteers there, too, and they love him. If they find
out you want to hurt him, well, you can seek sanctuary here, because
you will surely need it." He looked really surprised. Then he said,
"What if I don't believe you?" Tomba said "That's your choice. I have
given you fair warning. That the Federal government believes, should be
enough for you, because they WILL act on that belief, if they think
they should."
Chad stood in the door to the room, and said, "Grandson, it's all
true. Now, what do you REALLY want from Stephen? Come on, speak up, I
haven't all day!" Then Chad said, "Don't even think it! I'm old, but I
can still rip your arm off and spank you with it, even though it would
dishonor this Temple. Answer me!" He wilted like a month old flower,
but not nearly as pretty. He said "I'm broke and desperate. I need
money." Chad said "Tell us why." He said "My business failed, and I owe
the mob $120,000, with interest piling on every day." I tapped Chad on
the shoulder, and he made way for me. I said to father, "It sure took
you a while to be honest. It's no surprise you failed and are in
trouble with the mob. Here's what I'm going to do. I'll take care of
the debt, directly, after you tell me ALL about it. I'll set up a new
identity for you, so you will be safe from the mob. Then I'll set up a
trust fund annuity for you, to give you an income for life, of $100,000
a year, payable any way you choose. I'll do all that, on the condition
that you do not have any more contact with me, or my school, or
anything else I may be involved in, and you will tell nobody about
about me or the school or anything we are involved in. If you
straighten out your life, and somehow become a good person who is
capable of loving me for real, I will probably resume contact with you,
but at MY choice, and not yours. Do you agree to these terms?"
Father looked surprised and confused. I said "We don't need to sense
your feelings. They show all over your face. If you ever played poker,
you would lose everything. Oh, so that's what your business was." He
said in surprise, "How did you know?" I said "I didn't. I do now by
your reaction to the word poker. Don't play stupid again with me, or I
just might hand you over to those you owe. Like Chad said, I don't have
all day. Going to take my deal, or not?" He looked at Chad and said,
"Can he do all that?" Chad said "We don't lie. Yes he can." Father got
a crafty looking expression on his face and said, "For $200,000
annually." I said "I warned you about playing stupid. The deal is now
at $90,000." He yelled and said, "You can't do that!" I said "Well, if
and said, "I'll take it." I said "You agree to my terms?" He said
"Yes." I said deep in his mind and brain, and not just aloud, "Hear me
and obey: You will not initiate any more contact with me, or my school,
or anything else you know or suspect I may be involved in, and you will
not communicate in any way anything about about me or the school, or
this Temple and its people, or anything we are involved in, unless I,
or my future children, expressly authorize it. You will never lie to me
or my friends. Do you understand my words? Say yes if you do." He said
"Yes." I said "Will you obey them?" He said, very reluctantly, "Yes." I
said "Then let it be so!"
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Grant
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