| Changed Forever |
| Part 2 |
| No more memorable dreams ran through Wheeler�s head that night, for it seemed to be only seconds after he had fallen back to sleep when his alarm clock brought him back to a waking state with its steady pulses. With his eyes still closed, he reached one hand out from under the covers and allowed his fingers to land sharply on the snooze bar. The digital clock slipped backward and fell between the nightstand and the wall. With a sigh, Wheeler rolled loose from his covers and clumsily came to his feet. With one hand holding onto the nightstand to support his still sleepy body, he rescued the clock and set it on the edge closest to the pillow. �Man . . . � he muttered once he saw the time shown on the LED display, �I coulda slept another half hour.� With that, Wheeler lay back down, but he did not feel himself sliding back into the dormant state called sleep. � . . . Might as well get up,� he groaned as he rose and pulled his garnet-colored bathrobe from its hook on the bathroom door. Once he had wrapped the terry cloth garment around himself and tied the belt at the waist, Wheeler pondered what he was going to do next. He knew he needed to hear some music, sounds of activity, or human voices to help him wake up, so he turned on his television and was about to produce a home video he had filmed while in an old growth forest in the northwestern United States. However, before he could insert the tape, the news had caught his eye. Instead of broadcasting news about the terrorist assault that claimed so many lives including those of Wheeler�s aunt and best friend, the news unfolded stories of a more positive light. This one, in particular, covered the burst of patriotism that bound the United States closer together than ever before. The anchorperson told about how more and more people were buying out stores� supplies of American flags, and that it could be months before new ones were available. Another facet touched upon by the reporter was the fact that churches were experiencing a rise in attendance since that fateful Tuesday, and that vigils and memorials dedicated to the victims were taking place as means of comfort to those left behind to mourn their loved ones. Once he had seen a video clip featuring many politicians singing �God Bless America� on the front steps of the Capitol, Wheeler gulped and flopped onto the edge of his bed. He felt as if a long-term injury was about to begin its healing process, and that excellent health was around the corner as long as he did his part in his recovery. In an instant, Wheeler tore into the bathroom, shed his robe and sleepwear, cranked up his radio, and jumped into the shower. For the first time in a long while everything appeared to be more real and vivid; the soap and shampoo smelled better; the water seemed to be more energizing; and the bath towel felt even softer. He had just gotten out of the tub when he heard a knock on his door. �Gimme a minute!� he called out as he donned his robe and bound it snuggly around himself. Once he made certain that the robe would remain closed and not accidentally cause any embarrassment, the redhead stepped over to the door and pulled it open enough for him to see whom his visitor happened to be. �Kwame m�man, what�s up?� he asked as he took a couple of paces back and opened the door enough for the black man to enter. �Gi and Ma-Ti are making waffles and fruit cups for breakfast, and they want to know if you are going to join us this morning.� � . . . Uh . . . Sure,� Wheeler answered as he pulled some under shorts from one of the dresser drawers and approached the closet to pick out something to wear. �I gotta ask ya somethin��, Kwame,� he began, retrieving a pair of jeans and an oversized, white T-shirt with the Planeteer insignia. �I wanna talk to Cap after breakfast . . . it�s real important.� �I do not think that would be a problem,� Kwame assured his buddy. �Do you think you are ready to take back your Fire power?� Wheeler paused before answering, �I will once I . . ." He failed to finish his sentence, still feeling uncomfortable in talking about the tragedy. �I gotta do somethin� first . . ." was all he could think to say. Noticing the solemn expression worn by the once jovial New Yorker, Kwame rested a warm hand on Wheeler�s shoulder. �You do know that you can come to any of us and count on us for support. If something is bothering you, we are here for you, my friend.� A slow nod was all Wheeler gave before he ducked behind the bathroom door in order to slip into his shorts and jeans. A minute later he emerged and threw his T-shirt on. �I know man. This is somethin� I�m just not ready to talk about yet. It�s gonna be hard enough to run it by Cap.� �If you would feel more comfortable talking to one of us or Gaia . . . � �Thanks but . . . Cap�s the only one who can help me pull this off.� It only took a few minutes for Wheeler to finish freshening up before following his down-to-earth companion to the common hut. The morning meal was delicious to Wheeler, and he never remembered the berries tasting any sweeter or the waffles being any richer. Even the orange juice, which was not his favorite brand, tasted absolutely wonderful. �I am so glad to see you have regained your appetite, Wheeler,� Kwame stated as he poured some syrup onto his waffles. �Da,� Linka added, sprinkling some white sugar onto her berries and stirring everything around in her custard cup, �now all you have to do is gain back the weight you have lost over these last few weeks.� �I don�t think that�s going to be a problem, �Gi said as she sliced through her butter- and sugar-covered waffles. �It looks to me like you are on your way to recovering, Wheeler.� �Will you be taking back your ring?� Ma-Ti asked, helping himself to another waffle and spreading jam on it. �After I get somethin� done, Wheeler answered before pouring himself another glass of orange juice. �It�s kinda important, and I gotta do it before I go back to fightin� villains and cleanin� up toxic spills.� �How long do you think it will take?� Ma-Ti wanted to know. � . . . Dunno . . . a couple o� days I guess.� �You said, you need Captain Planet�s help with this project,� Kwame pointed out. �Perhaps you can take back your ring after we finish eating, and you can use it to help summon him . . . besides, I feel very uncomfortable with the Fire power. I am always afraid I will accidentally burn myself.� �I don�t think the ring will fit me right now,� Wheeler reminded his pal as he held up his thin right hand. �There are some temporary solutions you can use until you get back to your normal weight,� said Gi. �You could put it on a chain around your neck, you can tape it to your finger with a band-aid, or you can wear it on your thumb.� �Yeah, I guess I could do that.� Wheeler wiped his mouth and collected his empty dishes. Once all the dirty dishes were left to soak in a sink full of hot, soapy water, the Planeteers headed for the beach, and as the booming ocean waves crashed against the shoreline, the five young adults raised their right fists into the air. "Let our Powers combine . . . Earth!� �Fire!� �Wind!� �Water!� �Heart!� The five colored beams met at one common point in the air and formed a swirling rainbow. Suddenly, the green, red, white, blue, and yellow illusion turned into a thundering cloud, then formed in the shape of a floating man. �By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!� �Go, Planet!� the youths called out in unison. Cap took a few seconds to assess his current situation. When he noticed he was still on Hope Island, he descended to the beach and landed gracefully on the warm sand. A smile curved his lips as he saw his team of Planeteers was whole once more. He then approached Wheeler, who was twisting his ring around and around on his right thumb. �Welcome back, Wheeler," he laughed, slapping the redhead on the back. �Thanks, Cap, �the young man said before winking at his peers, signaling for them to give him and the hero some privacy. As soon as the others had stepped away, he looked to Cap with sincerity, and a touch of nervousness reflected in his blue eyes. I gotta talk to you Cap,� he said while the pair began to casually walk along the shoreline. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The plans for Wheeler�s recovery project were falling nicely into place. Cap had agreed to help Wheeler with, perhaps, the most important part, and he said that they would leave just as soon as he checked with Gaia to see if he wouldn�t be needed elsewhere. In the meantime, Wheeler was getting everything together. He had just loaded his mini-cam with a fresh roll of film, and he stuffed his toiletries, sleepwear, and a couple changes of clothes into a blue backpack. He was about to zip the canvas bag closed when he remembered he should take his cell phone in case the Planeteers needed to contact him. While transporting the phone from the drawer to the pack�s smaller pocket, the Brooklyn-born youth passed by his nightstand and accidentally knocked the Bible to the floor when his hip grazed the edge. The hardcover book fell to the floor with a dull thud and landed with its pages open. When he picked it up, Wheeler noticed the letter was sitting right where he had absently placed it � right where the book of Joshua started. Suddenly, he remembered how Mrs. Summers advised him to begin reading the Word, so he grabbed the printout of Trish�s email and flopped into the hunter green beanbag chair he kept in the corner. He glanced at the email and saw that Joshua chapter 1 could provide some help and a source of courage for someone about to undertake a new and scary task, so he closely studied the first nine verses of the chapter and tried to see just how the scriptures could help him in his latest endeavor. �Wheeler!� Cap�s voice could be heard calling from the other side of the door that had been swung shut by the wind gust that had gone unnoticed while the young man was reading. �Ready to go?� Jolted back into the real world, Wheeler inserted the papers into the pages and snapped the Bible shut. �Almost!� he called back as he stuffed it into his backpack and closed it up. Making sure everything he needed was safely packed away, he told Cap to come on in. �Well, as you would say, �Let�s book',� Cap said as he motioned for Wheeler to follow him to the beach. As the palm trees swayed in the blowing wind and the seagulls squawked high above the ocean, Cap and Wheeler prepared for their adventure. With the breeze brushing their backs, Cap stepped behind his companion, intent on wrapping his arms around his middle, but found the backpack Wheeler wore would make it very cumbersome and difficult to do so. �If we�re gonna pull this off, Wheeler, I think I will have to carry the pack,� he suggested. �No problem,� Wheeler shrugged as he relinquished his bag to the superhero. �Ready?� � . . . As I�ll ever be.� Wheeler tightened his grip on his camera and anticipated being literally swept into the seemingly endless, blue skies. Flying through mid air was a very different experience than flying in a Geo-Cruiser. Puffy, clouds that looked like marshmallows from the ground turned out to be cold pockets of misty fog that sent chills through Wheeler�s spine. The view that had normally appeared from the other side of the Cruiser�s window now was brighter, richer and more real. The air was fresh and crisp, and it made Wheeler feel as if his lungs were receiving a thorough cleaning. Before long, the awesome traverse had taken a turn, and Cap prompted, �We�re approaching Ground Zero, Wheeler. Gotcher camera ready?� Wheeler nervously lifted his mini-cam and peered through the viewfinder, dreading what he would see so far below him. As the rolling, endless piles of rubble and devastation scrolled past the camera�s lens, Wheeler felt his stomach lurch and spin with the fury of a dangerous tornado. The many emotions that had wrapped themselves around him like steel bands on September 11th had invited themselves back into his mind and heart. �Are you okay, Wheeler?� Cap asked, growing concerned once he noticed a change in the redhead�s facial expression and breathing pattern. �Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go," Wheeler nervously quoted Joshua 1:9 under his breath, his voice quivering and manifesting the fear and distress he was feeling. Part 3 |