Birth Of A Journey: The Chronicles Of David Robinson, #1

By Kory StJohn

THE CHRONICLES OF DAVID ROBINSON is an episodic series that takes our main character from birth to the hero he wants to be from his childhood fantasies. The Series starts with his birth in BIRTH OF A JOURNEY and each volume follows where the last one left off. 

 

This first volume is about 295 pages, and takes us from his birth to about age 14. He amasses a great number of abilities which he learns to control while being sheltered from the outside world. His parents and guardians shelter him from the outside world to protect others while he is learning to control his abilities, and to keep him safe from the R.A.T. facility. When his parents and guardians feel that he is mature enough to handle his abilities in the outside world, even with his witty sense of humor, they test the waters at a family campground. 

 

He meets a young girl about his age and it's almost love at first thought. Can he control his emotions enough to control his abilities at the same time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kory StJohn
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201995423

Kory StJohn

I am far from your normal writer. Most of my life I spent doing physically demanding repetitive tasks to earn a living. That is until I became medically discharged from the working world.  I took up creative writing on my own after having a re-occouring dream that gave me the inspiriation for something to write about. Who knew that it would lead to a multi-volume book series.  I had a great deal of fun writing this series, and my hopes are that the readers have as much enjoyment reading it as I had writing it. 

Book preview

CONTENTS

The Birth

It was a bright warm day, The Lunar eclipse was almost at its full effect. Janice and Harry were expecting their first child any day now. They lived in a modest Victorian style farmhouse that was well over 100 years old and kept in great shape both inside and out. It was only about 10 minutes to the nearest town to get groceries, but it was about 2 hours drive to get to the nearest hospital with no traffic.  The first contraction came out of nowhere when the alignment began. It was time! Janice called for Harry, who was in one of the barns readying the equipment for the upcoming harvest. They already had the truck packed with Janice's overnight bag for her stay at the hospital. He had blankets packed just in case the truck broke down and they needed to keep warm. He even had bottles of water in his tool compartments just to keep hydrated. Harry prided himself in being ready for anything, but was he really ready for this?

They got in the truck and started making their way to the hospital. As they got about halfway to the hospital they turned onto the freeway which would drop them off about five minutes to the hospital.

The contractions were getting too close for comfort for Janice, as Harry raced his way to the hospital, like it or not this baby was wanting out soon. The announcer on the radio started reporting about a traffic jam caused by people watching the Lunar Eclipse.

Harry couldn't believe his eyes when just around a long bend of the road people were out of their vehicles gawking at the eclipse blocking the road. There's no time! We have to deliver this baby ourselves.

Janice, if we have to deliver this baby here, then we'd best do it in the box of the truck, Harry told her, and she agreed. Janice called 9-1-1 so that they could assist Harry through the process of delivering a baby safely. She put the cell phone on speakerphone so that Harry's hands would be free to do what was necessary.

At the magical moment, the Eclipse was in full effect, Harry, Janice and the EMT on the phone successfully cheered about the arrival of their newest member of their family, Jonathon Neil Robinson. Harry used the bottles of water to clean his new son, his hands, and patched up his wife following the instructions of the EMT on the phone. Throughout the entire delivery, Jonathon never cried, he actually laughed. Harry told the EMT that he would like to meet with him at the hospital to thank him in person for assisting them through the delivery, he agreed.

It took about thirty minutes for the Eclipse watchers to clear the freeway and get it moving again. About fifteen minutes later they arrived at the Emergency ward of the hospital. They were taken immediately to see a doctor who admitted them into the maternity ward. The baby was weighed and measured like any other baby, but unlike any other baby, Jonathon just smiled throughout the process. The doctor cleaned and wrapped Jonathon in sterile baby dressings and blankets and brought him to his mother, who had already been attended to, by doctors to close the wounds of natural childbirth.

Harry was holding Janice's hand as she lay in the bed awaiting the arrival of the doctor with their son, a nurse came through the door first with the doctor behind her carrying Jonathon. What a remarkable child, I've never seen such a happy newborn. Normally they cry while they are being cleaned and dressed, he laughed like we were tickling him, Laughed Dr. Van Batten. I would like to follow up frequently as he grows up if you don't mind to see his progress for a little while, for interest sake. 

Harry and Janice seemed a bit distressed by Dr. Van Batten's request. Is this a normal request that you do for every baby? Harry asked.  I've never heard of a doctor following up just for interest sake from any of my friends when they had their kids.

No, it's not something I do for every new baby, Replied Dr. Van Batten. This special request is from the curiosity I have because of the thousands of babies I have delivered, and seen as patients, yours is the only one who ever laughed while we were cleaning and changing him. Hopefully, you could see how interesting of a situation this is and I would like you to see the footage from us taping the procedures we performed on him while we checked him over.

The nurse opened a file on her tablet that she was carrying. The hospital starting recording all processes with newborns to clear parents of any doubt that we are not harming their children. Here's the footage. As you can see it starts with you handing over him to Dr. Van Batten, and he takes him to the newborn room. 

The video continues.That's odd! Dr. Van Batten exclaimed. He's not crying, he's smiling. As the doctor got to the cleaning room and uncloaked the child to prepare him for bathing Jonathon started laughing. Dr. Van Batten started chuckling along with him.

He cleaned Jonathon as they both laughed and Jonathon splashed in the water. Harry and Janice both pleased so far in the video giggled at Jonathon playing in the water. OK big boy playtime is over for now. Said Dr. Van Batten as he lifted Jonathon out of the water and dried him off. Jonathon just laughed more.

Harry and Janice both in tears of happiness at how happy their baby boy is watched and giggled.

Now we have to address that umbilical cord. This might not be as fun little man. The doctor said in the playing video. He sewed tied and snipped the cord as he had done so many times before in shock as Jonathon just waved his arms like he was flying and not a tear fell off his face nor swing in his pleasantly happy demeanor. Very strange indeed. Noted Dr, Van Batten. Well, Mr. Happy Pants it's off the scales for you He chuckled.  He carried Jonathon to the scales and wrote down the numbers. 6 pounds 9 ounces, pretty good. 11 and three-quarters inches in length.

Dr., look! The nurse said as she pointed at Jonathon's healing umbilical cord. That's not normal. It looks like it's healed over as if it was done weeks ago.

I see that Nancy. But we need to finish up here, get the dressings. I'll ask the parents if they will allow you and I to follow up off the books. He said in a concerning tone. I hope they will understand the interesting nature of their son, and I think they will want to see him soon! Nancy put a diaper on Jonathon and wrapped him in a blue blanket, put the blue cap on his head and handed him to Dr. Van Batten. This is a happy baby, let him have a childhood not a lifetime of poking and prodding. He smiled and sighed If this was your baby, wouldn't that be what you would want? Just by the look on her face, he could see that she was in agreement. The video ended with the opening of the hospital room door that Janice and Harry were awaiting their son in.

Look, I'm on your side here. Your baby is very special. Dr. Van Batten said quietly. And if the wrong people see this video, Jonathon will spend his life being a science experiment. Please let me help you avoid that. He implored them.

HARRY AND JANICE LOOKED at each other and then at the doctor, nodded their heads in agreement. What do we need to do? Asked Harry. The only thing on their minds was keeping their son safe and happy.

I'll need your address and you need to get out of here!  Dr. Van Batten said. They gave him their address and told him how long it would take to get there from the hospital. I will erase every notion of you being here at all, bring you the birth certificate, death certificate, and adoption papers to hide all traces of Jonathon ever being here or alive at all. You'll need to come up with a new name for him so no paperwork can link to his real existence. We'll meet you at your house tonight at around 7 pm. The five of us are the only ones that should ever know the truth, it's for his safety. Agreed?

They all agreed. Nancy went into the bathroom with Janice to help her get dressed so that she wouldn't damage the stitches from the birthing wounds. Joseph is a good man, a great father, and an amazing husband Nancy exposed the ring on the chain beneath her hospital uniform, and put it back beneath her shirt. He knows some people that can keep this quiet."

Get in your car and meet us near the south side of the hospital. Go! Hurry! Joseph told Harry.

NANCY AND JANICE CAME out of the bathroom. Follow me! Joseph said as he led them out of the room down the hallway to the south exit of the building. Nancy opened the door, Janice went out first and the truck pulled up the greet them. Joseph carried Jonathon through the door as Nancy raced around to open the door to the truck for Janice.

Janice got in and received her son from Joseph. See you tonight, everything will be done by then, Joseph said to Harry and Janice. We've got some work to do! He said to his wife.

Joseph and Nancy spent the next couple hours erasing video recordings of Harry and Janice's visit without interference as the video clerk was easy to persuade to leave the room. This was the easy part for the pair. The toughest part was yet to come as they still needed to arrange for adoption papers for a baby that was never given up by his parents.

Harry and Janice drove to their humble home discussing what the Joseph had said. It's strange that Dr. Van Batten would do all of this even though he's a man of science and still wants to observe and follow up on him, Janice said wondering the motives their new doctor friend. Why would a complete stranger risk all that for us? She questioned Harry.

I don't know babe. All I know is that as long as I live nobody is making a science experiment out of our son! At least we can make sure that we will always be around while Dr. Van Batten does his follow-ups at least until he's gained more of our trust. Harry replied. As they pulled into the driveway to their house Harry looked at the clock on the radio. 4:30 pm they'll be here in a couple of hours. We need to come up with a new name for him while we wait.

HARRY OPENED THE TRUCK door for his wife and new son, guided her up the stairs of the porch and through the door to their awaiting nursery so that Janice could start feeding Jonathon. Harry started making dinner for him and Janice when she appeared in the kitchen doorway about five minutes after feeding Jonathon. How about David Alexander? She queried. She paused for a second For his new name.  A smile came over her face as she sat down for dinner.

HARRY SMILED, WENT over to his wife sitting at the table. He took her hand gently, knelt by her side kissed her hand and said, I like it. He finished preparing the table and they ate their supper. A thought just ran through his head. We forgot about the EMT who helped us deliver the baby. What do we tell him? Harry said wondering.

Guess we'll have something to talk to the doctor about won't we? Janice said.

7:00 pm was nearing as Joseph and Nancy pulled into the driveway. Harry heard the car doors shut and went to the window by the door to see who it was. It's the Doctor and the nurse from the hospital, He said to Janice. He opened the door for his guests, stuck out his hand to gesture a greeting towards his company. Hell of a drive huh? He laughed.

Yeah, it was! Joseph laughed, then smiled at Nancy. But I had a lovely co-pilot Then shook Harry's hand with a smile. They entered the house and Harry showed them to the kitchen table where they would finish their paperwork. The table was small enough in the room not to overcome the space when all the leaves were in the table but big enough to hold 6 people comfortably in it's smallest setting.

Nancy sat beside Joseph on one side of the table and Janice beside Harry on the other side. Harry had prepared a pot of coffee and readied a kettle of water if they wanted tea.

Lovely home you have here! Nancy said as an ice breaker. I love the country setting she smiled.

You must be wondering why all the cloak and dagger about your son. I will explain before we get down to the paperwork at hand. Joseph interrupted. My name is Joseph, I've been a doctor for fifteen years and I've seen a lot of strange things in those fifteen years. He continued. I've seen patients with some abnormal things happen around them and in-explainable medical conditions that boggle the mind. All those patients that had anything in-explainable happen to them got shifted off into a quote special problems file and were sent to a government facility. Nobody at the hospital has any records of these patients ever being treated by our doctors, nor do they know where the facility is. He paused to fix his coffee and took a sip. Your son has an abnormal ability to heal quickly and that would raise some alarms and you would lose him. We know you don't want that. That is one of the reasons we are helping you. The other reason is harder to explain but easier to show. Honey, would you help me with this? He asked Nancy.

They both stood up and went to the sink. Now don't freak out, we've done this before! Nancy said as she grabbed a kitchen knife and thrust it into her bare arm. The knife pierced through to the other side of her arm. She winced as it went in and as she pulled it out. Blood dripped into the sink from her wound. Janice gasped at the horror of someone doing such a deed let alone in her house. Joseph grabbed Nancy's hand with both of his and like magic, the wound stopped dripping and started to close up. Nancy smiled as the wound fully closed and looked at Harry and Janice sitting back astonished at the miracle showed to them.

That's why I became a doctor because I have a unique gift of healing, Joseph said with a smile on his face. There are many people in the world with many different abilities and there are people out there that don't have the same compassion for them. Like I said at the hospital. I'm here to help. If your son's ability gets known to the public, who knows what will happen to him.

OK. YOU'VE PIQUED MY interest in your intentions. What kinds of follow-ups are we talking about? Harry asked. Are you going to slice up my son to see how fast he heals? Are you going to push him down some steps so that he'll break bones to see if he will heal? Harry asked in a bit tempered state.

No! None of that. Joseph interrupted. What my idea of follow-up is monitoring his vitals on a regular basis, beats per minute, blood pressure, nothing intrusive, destructive or harmful. Nothing I wouldn't do to our own son. I won't even extract any blood without your exclusive consent. Joseph explained calmly. What I want you to do is record any injury and signs of healing he performs during normal daily life.

How do we know that it wasn't you that healed our son in the hospital? With your ability? Janice asked.

I can control my ability. He did that on his own. Joseph said with a smile on his face. If you want more proof, check your stitches, Janice. They should still be holding your rips shut. I didn't heal the ripping from when you delivered your son.

JANICE WENT TO THE bathroom to check as Joseph suggested. It was the same as when she left the hospital, still sore, still stitched. She returned to the kitchen. Why didn't you heal me like you just did with your wife? She asked.

Because you would have been freaked out if I had. You probably would have said something to the wrong person saying that I had the touch of a miracle worker and I would have been taken to the facility. I was protecting both your son and myself in not healing your wound. He explained. Take my hands.

She took Joseph's hands and even though she knew she had him by the hands, she could feel a tickle from her wound as it closed and healed. She smiled at him. She raised his hands to her lips and gently kissed them. Thank you. I think we can trust you now.

There was a single woman who came in right after you left. She died during labor. Her baby didn't survive. There was nothing I could do to save her. Joseph started as he pulled out the paperwork to hide Harry and Janice's son's identity.  As far as our hospital records will show, your son passed away due to complications of childbirth, and you've adopted her child.

Won't her parent's or the father come looking for her baby? Harry asked.

Her parents died in a car accident many years ago, and the father committed suicide six months ago, Joseph replied. Her baby would have been orphaned. He paused to drink his coffee. Harry poured another round of coffees for the table. Joseph and Nancy fixed their cups to their liking. All we have to fill out is the names and then it's done. He'll be hidden and safe for now. You must help him realize how important it is to keep this ability from being seen by anybody, not in this room.

One thing we have to ask. I delivered him in the bed of our truck, with the help of a 9-1-1 EMT over the phone. We invited him to see the baby at the hospital. What do we do about that? Harry asked.

Right now there are no records of anybody bringing in a newly delivered baby into the hospital. He won't find anything. Joseph replied. If he comes back tomorrow he'll find out that your baby died due to complications just like anybody else who comes looking. It's covered.  May we see David tonight? It would be nice to see him.

Janice went to get David. Here he is. He's always smiling. She said.

And let's hope he stays that way, Joseph said as Nancy received David from Janice. Such a handsome little man you have there. Joseph rested the back of his finger on David's forehead to take his temperature. Took his pulse and checked the inside of David's mouth. Well, everything is pretty much normal. We will finish our coffee and be on our way. Nancy handed Janice back her son to put him back in his crib.

Funny enough we don't live too far away from you. As the couples finished their coffees Nancy said. I'm surprised we've never met.

Joseph wrote their address on the back of his card. Call me or come see me at home if you have any questions, or if anything happens. Don't go to the hospital with David. I will handle all the medical needs of David from here on out. Joseph said. Joseph and Nancy said their farewells at the door. I'll see you in two weeks to check up on him. I'll keep his records at home, not at the hospital.

AS THE COUPLE GOT IN their car and headed home Harry turned to Janice and sighed. That's one big secret we have to keep. Our best bet is to forget everything we saw, and play the part the good doctor described for David's sake.

Two weeks went by nothing changed much for the Robinson family aside from having a new baby in the house. Joseph and Nancy pulled up the drive early in the afternoon. It was an overcast day cool but not cold, but Autumn was coming. Harry was in the barn working away making sure he was ready for the harvest. Janice called him on the speaker they had hooked up from the house to all the outbuildings. Harry stopped what he was doing, cleaned up to meet with Joseph and Nancy. As Harry stepped up on the porch to visit with his guests, Janice carried David outside and handed him to Nancy for Joseph to give him his check-up. Janice went into the house to bring out a tray of coffee and snacks as a gracious hostess.

Joseph performed a routine non-intrusive check-up, no needles, only a digital thermometer to accurately take his temperature. Healthy, happy, bouncing bundle of joy! Joseph laughed. He fixed his coffee as Nancy gently rocked the smiling David to sleep in her arms. He's grown an inch and gained 2 pounds in two weeks. That's not normal, but everything else is just fine. Joseph said concerned. We'll have to keep an eye on that. Next time you feed him can you set aside a couple of drips of what he's eating? Just for interest sake. We want to make sure that he's eating healthy stuff, just to  make sure that he stays healthy.

It's almost feeding time anyway. If you have time to wait, I can get you a sample today before you leave. Janice replied with a worried look on her face. He doesn't sleep like any of the books I've read that most babies do. He waves his arms and legs like he wants to get moving around and laughs most of the time. He still doesn't cry. Is that something to be alarmed with? She questioned Joseph.

HMM! JOSEPH PAUSED. I wouldn't be concerned about that personally. He said as a thought came to mind. What does he do when he needs changing? Feeding? Or tired? He asked.

It's odd really! Janice laughed. He actually pats his diaper and laughs when he dirties it. He rubs his tummy and makes a motorboat sound when he's hungry. And he just falls fast asleep when he's tired.  She made the sound he makes for feeding. Joseph and Nancy started giggling because of how  Janice explained it, David performed the actions for feeding. Well, I'll be right back. My little man's got a hunger on! She laughed. Nancy gave Janice her son to go inside to feed him. After David had his fill Janice came back to the group with David and a small container with a few drops of her milk. I hope this is enough. She said as she bounced David and patted his back to burp him.

David let out a good healthy burp and passed a bit of wind as an encore. They all giggled as David laughed. Every time! Harry chuckled. That's m' boy

Joseph checked the contents. Plenty! He smiled. Well, I think we've imposed upon you long enough today. We shall see you in a couple of weeks for another check-up. I'll let you know what we find about what he's eating as soon as we get the results. We know of a laboratory that can do this off the books, and under the radar with complete discretion.

They got in the car and drove out onto the road. Everything will be fine. Harry comforted Janice who seemed a little nervous. Let's get inside before the rain starts. Just as Harry finished saying that thunder rumbled in the distance. Harry went to the barn to close up shop, Janice carried David into the house for cover from the weather.

The wind picked up quickly as Harry locked up the shop. He ran towards the house with his shirt covering his head as not to get too wet as the rain poured down. He hopped up on the porch soaked to the bone, Janice met him at the door after placing David in his crib and getting a towel for Harry to dry