This story is dedicated to Drksideofthemoon, a master storyteller who has had a positive influence on my life and writing.
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"What are you getting for Valentine's Day, Moondog??"
The strident tone of Eddie Kovich's voice cut across the cafteria tables like a sharp knife. His cronies, Frank Urbant and Marvin Koos grinned in phony admiration. Only Scott Thunem, a relative newcomer to the group of nineteen year olds was silent, staring helplessly at the Down Syndrome teenager sitting alone by a table right next to them.
"A kit in da ass!" Moondog's voice was a grating screech, akin to chalk being dragged down a chalkboard.
Frank and Marvin laughed so hard they almost knocked over their flimsy food trays, as Eddie deliberately knocked his chair into Moondog's. Her enormous breasts jiggled, and her hands were forced into her lasagna, splaying the serrated noodle sheets everywhere.
Scott looked away in horror. When his friends first started to tease Moondog, he had gone along completely, afraid he would be rejected by them. Now, he was getting tired of the constant bantering of the defenseless girl. Besides, he had just joined a study group in his Psych 101 class, and Moondog was in it. Scott was ashamed of his past reactions to the handicapped girl, and was determined to make it up to her.
"Enjoying the great cafeteria food, Moony baby?"
Eddie gave Moondog's chair another shove and her hands knocked a milk carton into her lap. She squealed in horror as the cold liquid trickled down her legs. Now, her face was covered with tomato sauce and her midsection was saturated with milk. Even through all the red goo on her face, Scott thought he saw tears falling. Pushing his chair in suddenly, he got up from the table, unable to take any more of his buddys' chinese water torture.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Eddie snarled at Scott in a mocking way.
"I...I have to get ready for my study group."
Scott knew that was lame, but he didn't care so much about what Eddie thought anymore. He walked away from the unpleasant scene as quickly as possible, vaguely aware of Marvin and Frank shaking their heads.
As Scott went up the three flights of stairs to his tiny dorm room, he couldn't stop thinking about Moondog. All he knew about her was that she had just turned 18 and was born with Down Syndrome. Scott knew very little about Down Syndrome, and was determined to find out more. Was Moondog just a "retard", as Eddie would say? How could she go to school and get passing grades if that were true? And how in the world did she get the name "Moondog"? What was her real name?
Scott picked up his psychology book and walked down the hall to the all purpose room to meet with his study group. As he walked through the wide entranceway, his eyes glanced at Moondog sitting on a pillow. She looked up at him pleadingly, as if to say "why didn't you help me?" Scott's cheeks burned as he sat down between two other girls, Jane Paulson and Mary Tutolo. He chose a location where he could look straight at Moondog. With all the distractions in the cafeteria, he had never looked closely at her features.
Moondog looked down at her psychology book as Scott took in her face. Her hair was stringy and dirty blond, and badly needed combing. Something was not quite right with her nose either, as it seemed to be flat and two dimensional. In addition, her mouth and eyes appeared too small for the rest of her face. Yet there was something about her that captivated Scott, a sincerity of expression that turned his brain into cookie dough and paralyzed logical thought.
As the study group got underway, Scott dutifully answered sample test questions in a mechanical voice, being far more interested in staring at Moondog. After a short period, she returned the stare, a marvelous innocent expression like the countenance of a young child. Almost imperceptibly, Moondog's hand went toward Scott's. Her fingers made small circles on his own, as she explored the ridges on his knuckles. Jane and Mary were busily drawing Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs as Scott and Moondog explored their own. No words were spoken as they held hands and smiled at each other like two lovers sharing a delightful secret. Time stood still, and in due time the study group session was over. Scott mumbled goodbyes to Jane and Mary, still holding Moondog's hand.
"See you tomorrow." Scott looked right into the handicapped girl's eyes.
"Fee vou tomvovow." Moondog often could not speak clearly, but Scott understood every word.
Scott walked down the hallway slowly, stealing brief glimpses of Moondog as she shuffled to her room in an adjoining corridor. He was determined to try to defend her the next time he was eating dinner, tired of his wimp image among his guy friends.
The next day was even more painful for Scott to endure. As he entered the sparcely filled cafeteria, he could not believe his eyes. Eddie and company were throwing small tacks, paper clips, and spitballs in Moondog's direction. Her dinner tray was covered with so much debris, she could no longer eat.
Scott sat down quickly next to Eddie, who chucked a small stapler at Moondog's cowering form. It bounced off her back, as she squealed in pain.
"What the hell are you doing?" Scott had a light voice but he tried to sound as menacing as possible.
"Don't worry, 'tards' don't feel pain...I read it a book somewhere." Eddie glowered at Scott in triumph.
"She's not a 'tard', she has Down Syndrome." Scott could feel the desperation in his voice.
Frank let out a whistle and hit the table with his fist. "Well, what have we got here, Albert Einstein?"
Marvin and Eddie almost fell off their seats in laughter. Scott was the smartest of the group, and they never let him forget it.
"Sorry, she's taken buddy boy, Mr. Down popped her cherry last week!"
Eddie looked at Scott for his reaction, but his friend was gone.
