The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott Page B

his face. “My name’s Sam,” the man said, his face beaming. He was tall and very large, with the frame of a man who had been an athlete in his youth and whose body, though it was in its forties now, had not relinquished its hold on its former glory. Beneath the dark crown of hair on his head—parted awkwardly on one side—Sam’s face was clean-shaven and with a tinge of childishness about it. “You’re really her, aren’t you?” Sam said.
    Ava’s stomach tightened. Macon had told her that there would be people who wanted to meet her, people who would go to great lengths to do so. “The world is full of strange types,” he had said, his face full of conflict, as if he would not allow himself to say what he really wanted to. “Be careful of those kinds of people,” he said.
    “We should go,” Wash said quickly. He took Ava by the elbow and stepped back.
    “Don’t be afraid,” the man said, holding up his hands passively. He took a step backward almost as quickly as the children did, furthering the distance between them. “You shouldn’t talk to strangers,” Sam said. His voice was full of innocence. “I’m just, well, I’m just excited to meet you. My name’s Sam,” the man said again. He waved at Ava as if they were recognizing each other across a crowded room.
    “We heard you the first time,” Wash said. He tugged Ava’s arm. “Let’s go,” he said, never taking his eyes off Sam. The two of them began walking back down the street, headed to where there was the path that would lead them back to Dr. Arnold’s. Ava walked with her eyes forward, the way she had learned to walk when there were reporters snapping her picture. Wash walked beside her, on the side facing the street and Sam.
    “You’re that boy, aren’t you?” Sam called out to Wash. He remained on the far side of the street, but matched their pace as they walked. “You’re the one she healed!”
    “Just keep walking,” Wash whispered to Ava.
    “No, please,” Sam said, his voice quavered. “Please, I just want to talk to you. Please.”
    Perhaps it was the apologetic tone of his voice. Perhaps it was the childishness in his face. Or perhaps it was the infinite courage of youth, with its inability to understand the harshness that the world is capable of. Whatever the reason, Ava stopped walking away.
    “What are you doing?” Wash asked her.
    “What do you want?” Ava asked, turning to Sam.
    “Ava...” Wash whispered.
    “Nothing,” Sam said. “I just wanted to meet you.” Sam still remained on the far side of the street, doing nothing to try and close the distance. His arms still rested at his sides, and there was something awkward about the way they did. There was something awkward and off about everything Sam did, Ava thought.
    “I’ve got to go,” Ava said.
    “Wait,” Sam replied. “Please.” He lifted his hands in a show of submission. He looked down at his feet for a second, and then he eased down onto the ground and sat with his legs folded. He tucked his hands beneath his, so that he was sitting on them. “Is this better?” he asked.
    Ava and Wash both stared at the man. The size and width of him, which has been intimidating at first, was diminished now that he was sitting on the ground with his hands beneath him. Even Wash felt that, perhaps, the man really did only come to talk. And maybe he wasn’t as bad as first expected.
    “Why did you come here?” Wash asked Sam.
    “To meet her,” Sam replied. “Because you’re something amazing.” The smile he wore widened just a little. “I’ve followed all of this since the very beginning. Since the very first story, my brother and I both.” His voice rose and his body rocked and swayed with the energy of his excitement. “You’re amazing. You really did something!”
    Ava studied Sam. She watched him as if she were watching an envoy of the entire world.
    “How long have you been able to do it?” Sam asked.
    “Can we go, Ava?” Wash said.