Chapter Two – Sticky Note Mystery

It took Banjo a few minutes to get dressed and straighten his room the best he could. It was hard for him to make his bed as he was in a wheelchair. “Banjo, we’re waiting for you. Get your butt in this kitchen,” yelled Willow as she finished cooking the food.

Banjo wheeled himself into the kitchen. “Sorry, I made my bed after I was dressed.” Banjo felt they would allow him time because he was in a wheelchair. He guessed that they’d not allow him extra time.

“Banjo, you don’t get special privileges here. You get no extra time to arrive at the table on time.” Grandma Amelia explained to him.

“He should get extra time as he is disabled. Dad, help Banjo out here, Mom?” Jett was doing his bit to help his brother.

Banjo sat there and listened to everyone talk about him. Why did he have to be the center of attention again? He glanced at Jett as he tried to kick him underneath the table like they used to. That was when he realized his legs weren’t ever going to work. The old times weren’t coming back ever, he thought to himself. Why did he steal his father’s precious car and crash it? Why was he bullied and not Jett? They were his teammates and friends, not his.

Banjo pushed his entire plate of food forward with his cutlery appropriately placed. “Not that hungry. Can I go to the den?” He unlocked his brakes, getting ready to head outside rather than to the den. He never considered the den his bedroom. “Please, can I leave the table?” he asked again politely.

“Yes, you can leave the table,” Archer told him.

Banjo went to the archway in the kitchen and living room. “Banjo, it’s your bedroom now, not a den. Everyone helped you do that. You know that, right?” Willow told her son to make him understand. Banjo didn’t care.

“What about when I needed help with bullies, and nobody helped me? Who helped protect me when I got bullied? Nobody helped protect me, not even the one they had bullied me about because of them. Right Jett, Dad!” Banjo stormed out of the house as best he could. He didn’t even want to be with them. He loved only Luna and Grandma Amelia at that minute.

“What did he mean about your two causing him to be in that wheelchair?” Willow squeezed her lips tight as she raced after her son. “I’ll deal with you later. Banjo needs us right now.” She went to talk with Banjo.

Banjo was by the cars, still wheeling his wheelchair down the street. “Banjo, wait, what is going on?” Willow truly never knew who bullied her son.

“You’re married to him. You should know,” Banjo told his mother. He turned and wheeled further down the road. She walked back to the house.

Banjo glanced down the path. It was a long, winding path with big, pebbly rocks scattered everywhere. It seemed impossible for him to push himself down on it. He knew he needed to build his muscles up before he could push himself down the path. He could get Jett to teach him to drive the little trike one day. He could get miles away from the farm and his family.

“WHY ME? WHY AM I STUCK ON A DUMB FARM? I HATE THIS WHEELCHAIR!” Banjo howled at the top of his lungs. He knew at least one person would come to him.

He looked down the path. He contemplated how far he could get. He wrapped his other hand around his arm muscle and knew then not far. His muscles would need to be large and bulky to leave the farm. Or drive away from the farm. His brother had to help him. Jett had to help him. There was another way to drive away from the farm. He was determined to get away from his father, for sure.

“I’m here. Mommy said I had to help clean the breakfast dishes. I got you breakfast,” Luna gave her brother some sausages and scrambled eggs.

“Thank you. You look out for me all the time.” Banjo loved his little sister. She had the biggest heart in his family.

“I could help you run away if you take me with you?” Luna told her brother.

“Neither of you is running away from here. If I must be here, the whole family must be here.” Willow put her hand on Banjo’s shoulder. “I know it’s hard for you to be here. Moving around on the farm in a wheelchair is extremely hard. I promise we will find ways for you to get around, son.” Willow told her son. He was special to her.

“Mom, what can I do on a farm to help Grandma Amelia? I’m no good in this chair.” Banjo had to admit he’d be no good around wheeling on the dirt in his chair.

“Dad is going to teach you how to use the computer software. I know he doesn’t know how to use it. He’ll need an adolescent mind to help him.” She winked at Banjo. “He’ll need you to help him figure out the computer. We have ordered a new computer to replace that ancient machine.” Willow explained to her son. She knew how smart he was.

Banjo wheeled through the house to find his father in the tiniest room ever. He opened the door and found his father at an old computer. Banjo saw little chance of him getting into the room with his father and sitting on a posh computer chair. “Father, how am I meant to get into the tiny room?” Banjo examined the room from where he stood. He would never get into the room sitting in his wheelchair. “Father, please help me get into that room.”

“Work it out. You have the intelligence to figure out anything you want,” Archer told his son. He knew his son was wiser than anyone. His wife told him five months ago.

“I’m scared, Father. I can’t walk or get around without this chair.” Banjo then remembered what his mom had told him before the accident. ‘You’re smarter than anyone if you only try.’

Banjo got himself out of his wheelchair and crawled to the desk. His father helped him into the computer chair. “Banjo, you ready to learn how to use the computer and software?” Banjo glared at his father for a second without saying a single word. He narrowed his eyes as he thinned his lips and glared at his father. His father should have known better with his choice of words.

“Father, you think you know me well. You know nothing about who I am. I love you, Father. It would be best to get to know your children inside and out. I’m smarter than you are. My I.Q. is far greater than yours.” Banjo admitted that he had noticed the sticky yellow note inside the fridge. “You’ll get your wish sooner than later.” Banjo wondered what it meant. Was this for him or another member of the family? It might be for his Grandma Amelia. What if it was from Grandpa?

“Excuse me? I’m much older than you. My I.Q. is far greater than yours, young man. You are a mere child.” Archer growled at his son, who thought he was more significant than him. Archer thought for a minute. How could an eleven-year-old child have a more significant I.Q. than him? It was impossible. It had to be.

“Want to take an I.Q. test to see who has the best tween us both?” Banjo asked his father.

“This is stupid. I won’t lower myself to a boy.” Archer told his son. “Let’s do this fast.”

Within minutes, Banjo had found an I.Q. test and had whizzed through it with an excellent I.Q. Archer was misled by the I.Q. and how high Banjo had scored. How was he going to beat his eleven-year-old? This would not happen. Archer knew his son knew more about computers than he ever did. Now, he had to teach Banjo how to use the software on the computer. At least he could do that. He could teach Banjo at least one thing: the software and how to use it. This was one up on his son.

“Dad, there is another way to do that,” Banjo told his father. “It will be a better way to use this software. Or we could get cheaper software that does the same thing, which is better and much faster.” Banjo explained to his father. Archer was impressed at his son’s knowledge of computer software. Where did Banjo get his knowledge? He was only a child, a mere child.

“Banjo, you know much more than I ever did when I was your age. I must teach you how to order food and bedding for the animals and pay bills for the farm.” Archer explained. Archer knew it was easy as he knew the software. It might not be, as he was unfamiliar with how he and Grandma Amelia wanted it done. “Grandma Amelia, have it done a certain way. If we change the software, she might grump a lot.” Archer remarked.

“Dad, we should explain to Grandma Amelia how to do her books better on a newer computer, newer software. I’ll ask her if you want me to?” Banjo inquired. He paused for a few moments. He heard voices outside the room.

“I’m not sure she would like a new computer with new software. She is happy and content with this old computer,” Archer told his gifted son.

“She needs a better understanding of what a new computer will do for running the farm. It will help to run the farm. I will teach her how a new computer with better software will help keep her farm running. She’ll be able to keep track of everything like feed, bedding, and crops.” Banjo was good with computers. He could set them up and upgrade them.

“Okay, Banjo, you talk to your grandmother. If she agrees to get a new computer. I will allow you to teach her to use it for the farm.” Archer told his gifted son.

Banjo wheeled himself out of his bedroom, which was the den, before they arrived at the farm. He wheeled around the farmhouse to the kitchen, where he found his Grandma Amelia. He wheeled himself up to her with a huge smile on his face. “Grandma, you know I love you. I want to ask you something important. Is that all right?” Banjo wanted an answer to the question.

“Sure, you can ask me anything you like, my genius grandson. What is your question?” Amelia asked Banjo. She was curious as to what his question was.

Banjo thought a little about how to be gentle with his grandma. “I’d want to ask if Dad and I can get a new computer to replace the old one with new software. We will set it up, show you how it works, and teach you how to use it. I’ll teach you myself. How does that sound, Grandma Amelia?” Banjo had asked his question and hoped she would have said yes. She stood there, put her hand to her forehead, and rubbed her forefinger and thumb. This was major.

“If you teach, I will allow you to upgrade the computer to the newest computer on the market. You chose it and set it up for me. Do we have a deal, kiddo?” Amelia wanted her grandson to be the only one to get the computer and set it up without touching it or teaching her how it works.

“Thank you, Grandma Amelia. You are the best.” Banjo twirled his wheelchair around to see his dad enter the kitchen. “Dad, Grandma said we can get her a new computer. The only rule is I get it, set it up and teach her. Cool, huh!” Banjo was overjoyed.

“Yes, it’s nice, son. We need to find something to eat for lunch. We aren’t going out until we both have lunch,” Archer told Banjo directly. He knew that if they went out after a fleeting time, Banjo would get hungry and want to eat out, which would be costly.

“How about pizza?” Banjo thought. “We could make our own. We got pizza bread in the fridge and the sauce in the cupboard. It’ll be fun. We can make a couple. With our own toppings.” Banjo suggested.

“That sounds like an excellent suggestion. You up for the time it’ll take to cook them?” Archer asked his son.

“Yes. I will make it for lunch. We could have the rest of them for a snack later or tomorrow.” Banjo thought aloud.

Archer knew Banjo loved pizza and cooking anything homemade. This gave them both time to consider what kind of computer they’d get for the farmhouse. Archer knew Banjo would know the best computer on the market. Right now, it is pizza time. “What toppings are you putting on your pizza, Banjo.” Archer would always let his kids make their pizza first.

“I want mushrooms, onions, and sausages cut up small. Can that work?” Banjo hoped they had those ingredients.

“Those ingredients are in the fridge’s bottom trays. The sausages are on a plate in the fridge with clear wrap on them.” Amelia told them.

Banjo began assembling his pizza with his toppings. Once his pizza was done, he wondered if his dad would allow him to put it in the oven. “Can I put it into the oven, please? I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“For safety reasons, I’d rather I put all of them in the oven. Unless Grandma Amelia puts hers and yours into the oven.” Archer told his son. He smiles with a wink.

“I’d rather you do it, Dad. You are steadier than Grandma.” Banjo admitted to himself. He wanted to do it himself.

After they finished making their own pizzas, Grandma Amelia asked Archer to cook her pizza. He agreed to cook all three of them. Three were cooked, and they sat down and had lunch together. They shared their pizzas together. “This is a wonderful lunch. I’m glad I thought of cooking our own pizzas for lunch.” Banjo smiled a massive grin.

Banjo helped his dad clean the kitchen after his grandma had a nap after lunch. Her bedroom was by the family room. The family room was next to the gaming room. He thought they could get some new games while they were out getting a computer and software. It was sound advice for his father. “Dad, if you want to know something, we need some new video games. Can we get some, if not today, another day?” Banjo had asked. Jett could ask in a couple of days. Dad or Mom must cave in to them one day if they keep asking.

“In a few days. Right now, we are going for the computer and software for it. You’ll need to advise me what software it’ll need, though. I know little about new computers and the software they need. Get your coat, and we can get you into the minivan.” Archer told his son. He’s going to resurface the path outside the farmhouse.

Once Archer got Banjo into the silver Buick Terraza. Soon, they were going to drop Banjo off at Grapevine High School. “Banjo, you excited about making some new friends at school?” Archer asked his son. Banjo only sat in his wheelchair, as quiet as a mouse.

Archer drove through to Honiton, where Grapevine High School was. It was the next big city next to Uppottery. Uppottery was a large farming town. It had a couple of small stores and a post office, which was it.

“Father, we are here. Can you please get me out of this vehicle?” Banjo thought he could get himself into the building alone.

“You need me to get inside. They have a disabled ramp around the side of the building.” Archer told his son.

“I told you I can manage by myself. I know I’m in this chair partly due to me, mostly by you. I will do my best to manage by myself.” Banjo knew his father knew the football team bullied him. His father knew that. His father did nothing to help him or his brother Jett. He just pushed Jett more to get more vital as the captain of the football team and the basketball captain.

“I know you told me. I’ll go home then. Call when school is finished.” Your mother will come, or I will get you,” Archer told his son. He drove off.

Banjo wheeled himself around to where he remembered the ramp was on the map. He found a girl there reading a book with her fingers. “You read fast. I can do that, too.” Banjo told the girl. He waited for the girl to answer him.

Then he waited for the girl to answer him. He surveyed the area. The school sounded ghost quiet. A bit too quiet for a high school. “Who are you? Why are you here? Can you help me get my hearing back?” Anne wrote in her notebook. “I’m deaf. I can read lips,” Anne wrote.

“What is your name? I want to learn more about you. Can we become friends, please?” Banjo asked Anne. “It’s Banjo Timber.” He talked slowly so she could read his lips. He smiled wide after he finished talking.

Anne grinned once he stopped. “I thank you for talking slowly to me. I was able to read your lips. I do like your name. I’m Anne Greene. Watch out for bullies in this school. Some will bully you about your name and that you’re in that chair. Do you have any siblings at this school?” Banjo was worried about telling Anne about his jock brother. She might like Jett and not him. He read what she wrote in her notebook.

“I have a brother. He is a joke big-time. His name is Jett Timber. He is a sophomore. I’m a junior. He is sixteen, I’m eleven. I have a big I.Q.” Banjo admitted with a gigantic sigh.

Anne looked wide-eyed at Banjo when she told him his age and that he had a big I.Q., which shocked her. “How big is your I.Q.? I have met no one with a big I.Q. before,” Anne wrote in her notebook.” It shocked her she had met someone younger than her who was smarter than her, younger than her. She had to introduce him to her father. He enjoyed meeting her friends.

Had it been Banjo’s mistake to tell Anne he had a big I.Q… It was why he was in high school in the first place. He had made many mistakes in his life, and he was only eleven years old. Now, he had to get inside the school to find his homeroom to check-in. He hoped Anne might be in his homeroom. Did he have his first crush on a girl? He never felt that way about any girl in his life before. “Can you help me get inside, please?” Banjo looked at her with an enigmatic smile.

“Sure,” She signed to Banjo. It was the first time Anne had signed for him. That was when Banjo wanted to learn sign language. “Can you teach me sign language? I would love to learn to talk to you better. It would confuse my family.” Banjo told her with a big grin