Chapter ten

Changes

It was one death and many lives. It was like a splash that sent ripples through multiple consciousnesses. Nora’s death had touched the lives of everyone who lived on Farley Street, each in its own, unique way.

The Copelands had to come to terms with a total breakdown of the structure so fondly called “a family.” Nigel left home almost immediately after Nora’s death and began living with his girlfriend after filing for divorce. Lydia Copeland, who had been happy to remain a stay-at-home mom all her life, had to learn to take the blow of not only losing her only daughter, but the man she promised to love until death.

She had to stop licking her wounds and go out into the real world to get by. She began working at the local library to sustain whatever was left of her family. There was no time or space left for her to nurture the sense of pride around the so-called “happy family” paradigm she had spent years building. Paying her bills was more important at this stage.

Gael’s life was the most affected by Nora’s death. To cope, he began working odd jobs like mowing lawns, raking leaves, and shoveling snow every day after school to get his mind off Nora’s death and to feel productive. Like Zeke, Gael became a far more mature, albeit fractured, fourteen-year-old. He had been a silent sufferer of a serious mental health condition for about a year, and after Mrs. Copeland forced him to go to therapy, his bipolar disorder was finally identified. Nobody in the Copeland family noticed the early signs, but Nora’s death made his condition much more prominent, so much so that therapy and medication were clearly necessary.

He was full of energy one minute and unusually irritable the next, often confronting his mother. The mood swings were affecting his sleep and all his activities. His judgment, behavior, and even his ability to think were lost. He was rapidly losing a lot of weight, too. Slowly these episodes began occurring multiple times a year. From the chubby, ignorant little boy he was, he turned into a frail, mute teenager, disconnecting himself from everyone around him — even his childhood love, Leia.

To make matters worse, Leia was now showing a blatant disinterest in boys, and Gael took it personally. The loss of Nora and the subsequent developments in his life triggered a strange feeling of depravity, an inferiority complex, making him feel he deserved nothing good in life. Zeke saw what Gael was going through, and it made his heart ache. He wanted to help his friend, but his own life wasn’t even on track.

Zeke’s parents always had their differences. Nora’s death and the divorce of the Copelands only brought the gaping holes in their relationship to the forefront. The stark difference between the two was staring them right in the eyes. Zeke and the twins were simply too young to help. The turmoil and torment in Zeke’s life made him look inward. He had come to terms with Nora’s death, but he could see how the people around him were still broken and hurt. He felt an instinctive and benevolent urge to help and to heal them. Nora had told him his mission had begun, and her words rang in his ears day in and day out as he awaited his destiny.

The Tartals had started out as the perfect couple, but time had been against them. Ben had turned into an alcoholic quite early in life and began turning away from his family. He spent most of his days sleeping in his garage, wasting money on betting, and drinking with the other mechanics at the local dive bar. He had no time for his wife and children. Life had disappointed him, and now he had abandoned his dreams. No rehab could change him, and no amount of counseling could save his marriage. His family would never be the same.

Audrey was aware of her own emotional fatigue and the trauma her children were facing but didn’t exactly know how to handle them. Her children were different and were reacting to the growing crises differently. Leia had her own set of issues, and her mother didn’t know what to do about them. She decided to accompany Mrs. Copeland and took Leia for counseling along with Gael.

The two emotionally exhausted mothers had immense respect for each other, sharing the burden of their children’s issues. As a result, they developed a deeper friendship, which they both desperately needed. Lydia Copeland had no choice but to evolve as a person. Faced with an impending divorce, the collapsing psyche of her son and her daughter’s death, she became a much stronger woman. For her to become that woman, she had to lose her only daughter.

Zeke and Kai stood with Gael as he fought his condition, and once he began therapy and medication, he learned to handle his mood swings much better. Zeke would often sit with Gael, not saying anything, so that Gael would know that he wasn’t alone, and that was enough. Gael and Leia bonded over their mutual issues, and although she developed a sense of mutual respect for him, she continued to show no romantic interest in him whatsoever.

Kai also realized he needed to be more responsible towards his family and friends. He secretly harbored internalized guilt for his sister’s death, but it shaped him into a different person. He was the closest to Nora in age among the neighborhood kids and knew how attached Zeke was to her. He realized he needed to be with Zeke more to help him deal with the pain and the changes he was going through. In doing so, he could better manage is own pain and confusion.

• • •

Coconut and Mrs. Braganza were both aging. Coco was mostly found resting in his doghouse now, and Mrs. Braganza was simply too old to continue working. She finally decided to return to her ancestral home in Portugal, leaving behind the family she had grown to love.

Meanwhile, Maya developed a brand-new crush for a new teacher in school, and her habit of dwelling in her little dream world continued. She loved the idea of being in love and had been struck by a common childhood syndrome: hyper-romanticism. This was probably the easy escape route she needed, as she was unwilling to face the harsh realities around her.

While she became an absolute escapist, the same problems turned Zeke into a seeker. He began delving deep into his core, his innermost being, which was helping him find his true voice and become his true authentic self. All the rapid changes around him in less than a year had turned him into an ardent observer of life. The death of Nora came as a profound and life-changing experience for him. It brought a deep sense of realization and awoke something that was lying deep in his subconscious. Her physical death and the metaphysical presence that followed suddenly created a ripple in his quiet life, stirring him, shaking him up from a deep slumber, and transforming him from an innocent, vulnerable, lovelorn child into a wide-eyed young man of wisdom.

“He is strong. He is wise. Look how my friend Zeke flies!” Ziggy was always around to give her two cents.

“Beware, Master Tartal, as your wisdom grows, and your enlightenment draws near, so do the trials that shall come with the answers to your many questions,” Zag warned.

Zeke was used to Zig’s songs, but Zag’s words did more than just concern him. It brought him to a realization. Ziggy Bird and Zag the Leprechaun weren’t just his friends anymore. He understood they had been sent to him with a purpose and carefully listened to their words of wisdom. He also recognized the sign ‘Z’ carved out of the corn maze in his dream as a sign for something bigger that was to come. He realized he needed to be more vigilant, aware, and observant. He didn’t want to miss the point, and he certainly didn’t want to miss the lesson.

Changes come as a gift, a virtue, as preparation for bigger battles in life. One death triggered many conscious and unconscious journeys for each member of Farley Street. They were all making a trip towards evolution in their own, unique ways. Zeke was making his way, too, and he had just now started to realize that.