Brian was stressed out. Why was this happening yet again. Gus was only six and yet his teachers kept telling his moms and him that he had problems. His imagination was overactive and they had to reign him in. Gus is just a kid, an unhappy one at that who was made fun of by his peers. He was outgoing yet he had no friends. Brian, Lindsay, and Mel had been sitting in the principal’s office being told that he can’t have an invisible friend here at school. He should be seen by a shrink. Brian had defended his boy.

Now as the three left to go and talk among themselves and make a plan of action all hell broke loose. Gus started telling them what his friend was saying.

“Daddy, I don’t want to go to school anymore. They make fun of me. I am not what-did-they say—touched. What does that mean? I do hear voices. I do speak to others in my head. Really, I do.” Gus was getting very agitated.

Brian was driving but he started to respond anyway.

“Sonny boy, we will figure it out. We will find help. You have to go to school but maybe we can find another school for you. What do you mean you speak to others in your head? I do daddy. I hear people talk to me and I talk back and we have a whole conversation.”

“Is this with just one person, maybe an invisible friend?”

“No daddy. Many people.”

“Who are they? Do they have names?” Brian was getting upset though he wasn’t showing it. They had this conversation before but not like this. Gus was explaining himself. It was no longer an invisible friend. What could he do? Was his son mentally ill? No over-imaginative, that had to be it.

“Gus, why do you hear voices?” Brian was glad Lindsay and Mel were in their own car and wasn’t hearing this. Gus had wanted to go with his daddy. Brian was grateful for that.

“The voices say I am tel…tele…I can’t remember. They say it is a gift. They are telling me the word is telepathic. What is tele…pathic?”

“Where did you hear that long word Gus?”

“In my head.”

“Do you always hear voices?”

“No. Just when they want me to hear them. I try to hear them sometimes but I am still learning. I can have a whole conversation when we talk. They tell me I can read your mind. I don’t do it though.”

“You can?”

“Yes, but they told me that was invading privacy. What does that mean?

“Invading privacy means: here is an example. If you had your door closed and I came in without knocking or permission, I would be invading your privacy. Do you understand. If you went inside my head without permission then that would be invading privacy, but you can’t do that. No one can. Telepaths are science fiction.”

“That is not true daddy. Telepaths do exist. They are all around us. Please daddy. I am not lying.” Gus started to cry. Between sobs, he blurted out. “You…don’t…believe…me.”

“Shhh! Don’t cry. We will figure this out.” Sobs stopped but hiccups took over. “Ma and Mommy don’t believe me. You don’t believe me. No one believes me.” Gus said it matter-of-factly. He had tried and hoped that daddy would understand. His father could hear his son’s pain and didn’t know what to say. He didn’t believe him.

“See, I thought so, you don’t believe me and you are thinking that you need to get help for me. I don’t need help daddy. I need you to believe me.”

“You may be smart and gifted Sonny Boy but you can’t communicate via the mind with others. It just isn’t done.”

“That is what they told me you would say. Just because people are afraid of ESP and other psychic abilities doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.”

Do you understand what you are saying? Do you know those words?”

“They are telling me what those words mean. Why do people not believe in these abilities daddy?

“Because it isn’t the norm. Psychics are a scam. That is fake, false.”

“Daddy, you don’t understand ‘cause you have been taught to not believe.”

Brian was taken back by this conversation. He had to talk to the girls. He had to make sure he could help his son. He wondered how they were dealing with this. He had to ask.

“Gus, how long have you heard voices?”

“Always daddy since I was a baby.”

“How old are your voices?”

“Some my age, some older.”

“We are home at your moms. Why don’t you go to your room while I talk to your mommies?

“Okay, dad.” Gus scurried to his room to draw. He was gonna draw his friend.

“Well, you made it here in one piece. Gus seemed to scurry to his room as if he was on a mission.” Mel remarked.

“Just stop Mel. We have a problem. Can’t you hold it for later? At least until we discuss Gus.” Mel was taken aback by Brian’s comment.

Lindsay ushered them into the kitchen. She had put up some coffee because she knew that this was going to take a while.

Sitting down at the table sipping their coffee no one spoke. They didn’t know what the hell was going on and yet they knew something had to be done. Finally, Brian broke the ice.

“Gus told me that he hears voices since he can remember. Has he spoken to you about it?”

“Yes. We thought he was talking about an invisible friend. Creative gifted kids usually have one. It was no big deal until he went to school. Then we keep getting notes home.” Stated Lindsay.

“Why didn’t you tell me this was going on? He hadn’t really said anything to me though sometimes I saw him sitting and thinking as if he was listening intently to something. I just figured he was concentrating on what he was doing. I just thought he was pensive.”

“Well, it has been increasing since he has been getting older instead of decreasing. We don’t know what to do anymore and it has been a disruption. I think he should see a psychiatrist but he won’t go. He says you don’t believe in them. Did you say anything?”

“Never used the word psychiatrist once around him but he has been using a lot of large words lately. He says he is telepathic. He believes it and says you don’t. You don’t believe him.”

“Don’t tell me you do? Telepathy, where in the world did he learn that word. From you?”

“No, from his voices. He knows a lot of words about psychic phenomena. A six year old would never normally know them. He was having a complete conversation with me about them. They are his age and older. He says he has had them all his life. What are we going to do if he is psychic?”

“Hogwash. Now you sound like you think it is possible. If you think you can do better then take Gus and let him live with you!” Mel screamed.

“I would but I don’t have custody and for that matter I don’t even have rights which you wanted so desperately.”

“Well if you think you can do better. Take him. He is a handful, a challenge that is driving me nuts.”

“Mel, you can’t be serious. You don’t want your son. How could you? Don’t you love him?” Lindsay sobbed.

“Look, you and Brian can have him. I know gifted children were a challenge but I didn’t sign on for a kid that isn’t into reality. I tried Lindsay but if you don’t allow Brian to take him I am leaving until you do.” Both Brian and Lindsay were aghast. How could she say such a thing?

“Fuck you Mel. Lindsay, I will take him but if that is her attitude. She has to sign over my rights to me. I will not be in a position where she comes after me saying I have no rights and I kidnapped the boy. Gus is mine, ours. A parent should never put conditions on her love. I was there. I will not allow my son in a home where love is conditional. He can’t help whatever he is going through and I will be there all the way. I gave you my rights if you two stayed together. I was saving Lindsay. I was never sure if you were the right one but it made Lindsay happy to be with you. Mel, you have used Gus in the past to get between us, our friendship. You are not worthy of being his mother if you can’t handle life’s crisis with him. If he has a problem then Lindsay and I will deal with it and we will still love him. Lindsay put your house in order. Maybe he should stay over tonight. He doesn’t want to go back to that school. Maybe he should get a new start somewhere else.”

“Maybe all he needs is a male influence. Maybe after a few weeks he will settle down.”

“Linds, okay I will see if he settles down but maybe we need someone who understands this kind of thing. I will take him for a few weeks and then we will see. Are you willing to give me custody if he needs more than just a few weeks?”

“We’ll see. Maybe after a few weeks he will be fine.”

“Just think about it. If it becomes longer I will have to get custody. Now I am going to get my son.”

Brian got up and walked to his son’s room standing in the doorway and observed his son drawing and nodding and then getting up to go to the closet. Brian knocked and Gus looked up. “My friend told me to pack a bag. Are you taking me home?”

“Yes. Do you want to go with me?”

“Yes.”

“What else did your friend say? That Mom doesn‘t want me anymore. That I am going to stay with you longer than just a night. How long daddy?”

“For a few weeks at least. We will see if it will be longer.”

“Daddy, you defended me. Thank you.”

Brian smiled. “Let’s go Sonny Boy.” Brian said tousling his son’s hair as Justin does his. It always felt comforting. They had been talking as Brian had helped Gus pack. “We can always come back for whatever you need. Gus nodded. Gus came out and kissed his moms. Lindsay had tears streaming down but Mel had a glare aimed at Brian. As the door closed, Brian quipped. “It’s been grand.”

After giving his son dinner, a shower, and played with him while talking to him he put him to bed. He had even read him a bedtime story. Now he sat with a beer in his hand, music playing in the background softly and feeling overwhelmed like only a father could. His life was topsy turvy. He realized he had to find help for him and his son. He had always believed that there were possibilities that society doesn’t always believe in. He had read about psychic phenomenon, aliens, ESP, precognition, and even read Edgar Cayce when he was in college. It was all interesting. Could it be possible his son was gifted. It was okay if people spoke in tongues so why isn’t it possible that his son was a telepath. He got up and went on the internet and did some research. Time passed and he forgot to go to bed. It was three in the morning when he realized he was tired and climbed into bed with his son. The loft didn’t have but a couch and bed. He didn’t want his son sleeping on the couch. He could fall off. If Gus wound up staying he would have to build a room area for him. As he fell asleep his last thought was of the moment he held his son for the first time in his arms and his heart leapt with joy and he felt his life had changed. Now was another turning point. He wondered if Mel would give him his rights back. He would fight for his right if need be. Sleep overtook him. It was a tortured yet content sleep. Tortured that his son was unhappy and he wasn’t sure what to do but content because Gus was with him and it felt so right.

As the days progressed, Gus was adamant that he was not going back to “that school” as he called it. Brian got a governess for Gus so that he could be home schooled until a decision was made. Gus went back to his moms for visits but he made it very difficult for them. His friends seemed to be giving him their thoughts. Mel was freaked and at the end of the two weeks gave up her rights and custody was drawn up. Lindsay wasn’t very happy. She still wanted her son but he was getting more and more unhappy. He seemed to be better at his dad’s place. Brian even was getting unnerved and one day spit out, “Tell your friends to get out of my head.” There had been more than one of Gus’ friends reading Brian’s thoughts yet they hadn’t told Gus anything that he might slip out to tell Brian he was being read.

“Dad, how did you know?”

“I don’t know. I just sensed it.” Brian felt bewildered. Gus had said they were really there. “Tell your friends my mind is off limits. I have not given permission. Remember our conversation about invading privacy.”

“Yes, daddy. I will. They say they are sorry. They say I am not strong enough to do it yet. Daddy, I’m sorry.” Gus started to look upset. Brian swept him up in his arms and hugged him giving him a kiss on the cheek tousling his hair. “No worries. You have nothing to be sorry about.”

Brian decided the only way things would get better for Gus was if he was away from those that were making him unhappy. He decided to move to New York and find help for Gus. There was a study being done on psychics and being a telepath seemed to fall within the study. Gus would be the youngest subject and Brian felt mixed about putting Gus in such a study. He was sure that Gus would fail and he would not be able to take it. Maybe Gus would come around and drop this nonsense but the more Brian had been with him the more he was perplexed.

The move was hectic and Brian had to put his work on hold. Moving to New York was more involved because he had to also move his agency. Cynthia, as usual, was a godsend and he wouldn’t have been able to do it as smoothly or as quickly without her. She didn’t mind the move. She had always hoped to live in New York knowing that Brian had wanted to go to New York for many years but had settled for having his own agency in the Pitts.

Brian had found the perfect loft in the Big Apple. It was spacious had several bedrooms one of which he would use as an office and much more. The kitchen was larger than his old loft. There was a bedroom perfect for Gus. It had been created for a young person. Brian had them paint it Gus’ favorite color. His furniture didn’t fit the loft. He didn’t have enough for its spaciousness. He wondered if he would have to get all new. He had ordered a perfect desk for his new office. It wouldn’t be part of the living room.

Gus was wired on his first night in the new loft. He didn’t want to go to sleep. He seemed to be conversing with himself. He was animated. His friends had connected him to new voices and he was having too much fun. Every so often he would say something to no one in particular. Brian just shook his head. Gus wouldn’t be going to a school or to the study interview till next week. Brian figured the boy needed time to accept the change. In actuality, it was Brian that was having a hard time of it away from Michael and the gang. He missed Debbie as well and wished Vic was around to talk to for moments like this.

That first night a new voice taps into Gus sensing a young scared telepath. Gus is scared about many things that he hasn’t told his father. He hasn’t yet come to grips with his gift because of all the disbelieving adults and he is afraid that maybe they are right but he needs his friends. He wants guidance but the little friends can’t give him the guidance he needs and he wants to understand so much. Suddenly, he is connected to an older voice, much older than any other he has heard. Gus’ mind was calling out to understand reaching out for other minds. It met one loving mind.

“Gus, don’t be afraid. I live near you. I am a telepath too. There are many of us. Most of us hide because society doesn’t understand. We reach out to others to communicate. It is as natural as breathing.”

“My daddy brought me here because…”

“I know why. You have been shouting it to anyone who could listen. Our minds communicate differently than most. We don’t have to talk with our mouths. In fact, putting our thoughts into the spoken word doesn’t always work. Go to bed now. We will meet tomorrow. I promise.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Justin, Justin Taylor. Now go to sleep little one and dream of our first meeting tomorrow.”

“Okay, if you promise.”

“I promise. Now go. I want you bright and cheery tomorrow. So we can talk.” Gus giggled at the thought he caught in parting. He crawled into bed and fell asleep quickly content in the knowledge that he was not alone. Someone was going to help him understand.