When they arrived at his aunt's flat after stopping at a nice restaurant for dinner, Brant's aunt went immediately to her room to rest, leaving Brant and Randy to unpack and settle in the guestroom.
Brant knew his appointment with the prosthetist was for the next morning. As they lay in bed, he whispered to Randy, "Don't tell my aunt, but I'm scared."
"Why? I mean you've been wanting a leg that doesn't hurt. If they know what they're doing like your aunt says, it's your chance."
"Yeah, but suppose there's no difference, or they want me to have another operation?"
Randy hugged him. "Quit worrying. It's for sure your aunt wouldn't take you someplace wasn't good. You don't know what they can do yet."
"I know, but ..."
"Hey, you've wanted this so bad you're afraid you're expecting more than they can deliver, right?"
"I guess. I just hope it isn't like the other place. That guy was a real grouch. When I said it hurt, he said there wasn't any way to make it better. I'd just have to take it like it was."
"This one will be different, you'll see."
"I hope."
When the taxi dropped them at the entrance, Brant felt a surge of hope. The building was modern, light and airy. After leaving his name at the desk, they sat in the comfortable waiting room for only a few moments before a young man looking no older than Randy walked in. He looked at Brant and Randy and asked, "Which of you is Brantford?" When Brant answered, he introduced himself. "I'm Jim. How can I help you?"
Brant's aunt interrupted. "My nephew needs a decent prosthesis. I believe his appointment is with a Mr. Hanson."
"I'm Jim Hanson
Brant liked him immediately. He stood, prepared to follow.
"Just a minute, young man," his aunt demanded. "I want Brantford seen by someone experienced in these matters."
"I'm a certified prosthetist, ma'am."
"I didn't ask if you are certified. A certificate is just a piece of paper that doesn't mean a damn thing! Do you know what you are doing?"
Hanson stared at her, disconcerted for the moment by her blunt words. "I do. I was asked to see Brantford because fitting young people is my specialty. But regardless of which staff member serves a client, all fittings receive final approval by one of the senior consultants."
Olivia smiled at him. "I like a young man who speaks with assurance." She turned to Randy. "Go with them, Sequoyah."
"Our sessions with a client are private, ma'm."
"Nonsense! Sequoyah helps Brantford when he needs it. You will teach him how to do whatever is needed in a correct manner."
"It's unusual, ma'am." Hanson looked at Brant. "You don't mind?"
"No way. We're brothers."
Hanson's mouth dropped open. He looked at Brant then at Randy, shaking his head. "You're brothers? I'd never have believed it." They walked down the hall to an examining room. Knowing what was expected, Brant dropped his pants at Hanson's gesture and climbed up on the table.
Hanson removed the leg and studied it for a few moments. "How the hell did you manage to walk in here on this?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I don't see how you can walk at all with this thing. The pain must be awful."
"It's pretty bad at times. I use my crutches then."
Randy watched the process of making the mold of Brant's stump with fascination. After he was finished, Hanson had Randy wrap Brant's stump several times until he was satisfied that it was done correctly, then he looked at Brant.
"It takes about a week before we have your leg finished, but we need to discuss the options available to you. Tell you about the kind of life you lead and what you want to do."
After they had talked at length and Randy had told Hanson about the amount of walking and climbing an anthropologist often did, he showed them the types of terminal devices he recommended. Brant immediately chose a carbon-fibre 'foot' of the type used by athletes. Hanson handed Brant a pair of crutches to use while the new leg was being made and they left the clinic.
A short time later Hanson went to the staff lounge for a cup of coffee. A technician hailed him. "Hey, Jim, did you get the kid that came in with the old battle ax?"
"Yeah. Would you believe that kid's eighteen? Hell, his aunt's not a bad old girl, she just wanted to be damn sure we make him a good one. You'll see why if you take a look at that piece of shit the kid had. It was beating his stump up like you wouldn't believe, that's why I wouldn't let him wear it out of here. When I tried to tell her examinations were private, she said the tall one would be taking care of him, and the kid said they were brothers. I don't care what Brant said, those guys sure aren't brothers. That tall one's got to be an Indian and I'll bet he's mean as hell, because when the kid winced once or twice while I was examining his stump, he'd of come after me if the kid hadn't said it was okay. It was really weird," he shook his head, "that Indian was taking in everything I did. I could feel those eyes of his burning right into my back. The kid and the old lady sure seem to like him, but be damned if I can see why."
"Not scared of him, are you?"
"I sure as hell wouldn't want to meet him on a dark street."
The technician laughed. "You wouldn't want to meet the old lady either. She sure fixed Cindy."
"How?"
"You know how many times Doc has been on Cindy for chewing gum? Well, the old lady walked up to the desk while Cindy was on the phone. When Cindy asked her what she wanted, she told her she looked like a cow chewing her cud and to get rid of the gum right then. That old gal had to of been a teacher. Cindy was sure pissed when she came back for some coffee.
A week later they returned for Brant to be fitted with his new leg. After a few steps, he ran down the hall shouting with pleasure. "Oh, wow! It's wonderful! It doesn't hurt a bit and I can run with it. It feels great!"
"I'm delighted, Brantford." His aunt's smile of pleasure turned sober when she looked at Henson. "That is certainly an ungodly appearing device. Is there no way it can be made to look more ... well, normal?"
"Oh, yes. We have a foot available that takes a shoe, but it will be smaller and more restrictive in motion. Someone your nephew's age is more likely to prefer the one he's wearing, particularly since he plans to be physically active."
"He is and will be. But isn't there some way you could provide him with the foot as well and make them interchangeable so that he can wear a shoe for normal occasions?"
He nodded. "Certainly, though that's more expensive because of the second foot and the additions that have to be made."
"I don't give a damn what it costs! Do it! Good God, after what he's put up with, I want him to have the broadest range of options possible."
"It will take a few days."
"What are a few days to a young man?"