In honor of my leaving Harrington’s case, Brid and I went together with him and his family to visit his alma mater. It was something different, to go on a trip with them, and with Brid! I enjoyed it very much. In the car on the way, the family sang songs and played games—my favorite was I Spy, though Brid accused me of helping Isabella too much. It isn’t quite a fair game for her, though, as she’s a bit nearsighted.
The real pleasure, however, was when they arrived at the college. Traffic had made them a bit late, and Harrington was worried about missing the beginning. He kept telling Arthur to hurry up with his chair.
“Easy, Dad, they’re not going to start without you,” Arthur assured him, but once his father was settled, he set off up the sidewalk at a pace that worried Brid.
They arrived without incident, and Arthur was right—those gathered at the side of the building were talking among themselves, having waited for Harrington to arrive. There were many glad cries as he came forward, and people came forward to shake his hand and greet the family.
Then the ceremony began. It was very simple, just a brief speech, really, by the president of the college. “We would not be here without the work of one man,” she declared, “who saw a need in our school and has gone to the effort of meeting that need. What Mr. Price has done will enrich this place by showing that all are welcome here to expand their minds. More importantly, I believe, it proves that sometimes adversity can be used to improve the world, and I find that very reassuring, don’t you?”
Then we all watched as Harrington, with Arthur and Isabella on either side of him, broke ground for the new ramp in the dining hall. By the end of the small gesture, he was sweating and swaying, but I have not seen him smile like that in a very long time.
There is much more work for him to do, work that he will proudly take on. He will be busy and involved and enthusiastic, and through it all his family will be by his side.
“I might end up going here after all,” Arthur said, looking out over the quad.
Harrington looked up at him. “Yeah?” he said, trying to hide how much that pleased him.
“Yeah,” Arthur said, and he grinned at his father.
Harrington laughed and put his arm around his son’s waist. Then he reached out and seized his wife’s hand, and I in turn wrapped my wings around them all.
“Be well,” I said. “Love one another deeply and always.”
“You’ve done very well with them,” Brid told me. She will stay on with Harrington for a few more weeks, but then she too will be moving on.
“We have done well,” I corrected her, and embraced her. “We work well together, do we not?”
“Of course,” she said, waving one hand. “And we will again.” Her smile and her aura both showed how much she looked forward to the opportunity.
So do I! It will only be a few more days before we can meet our new charge, but even that seems a long time. I cannot wait!