A Thin Place. Jack Peterson

know about autism, but unless it affects them directly, it’s somebody else’s problem. Even with an autistic grandson, I’ve been burying my head in the sand, subconsciously pretending it wasn’t my problem.”

      “So what are you going to do about it?”

      “Dig myself out!”

      “With Dr. Trent, I presume.”

      Crockett nodded.

      “So tell me about him.”

      Leaning back in his chair, Crockett’s moustache framed a hint of a smile. “Anna, he is fascinating! At ninety years old, he not only looks forty years younger, he’s more physically active than men half his age, and he just might be one of the most scholarly individuals on the planet. Everything he says is calculated and always backed up with facts. He has a theory about what may be causing autism, and I believe it should be taken seriously. The AIDS fiasco already taught us a horrible lesson about what happens when we wait for the other guy to solve a problem. We can’t sit idly by and allow that to happen again.

      Anna was blunt. “All this sounds like it would be a huge task for men half your ages. Are you sure you want to do that at this stage in your life?”

      Crockett’s voice became even more passionate. “I’m afraid it’s taken Dr. Trent to shake me up a bit and bring me to my senses. If his theory is right, we could be in for a challenge that will make the AIDS crisis pale in comparison. We can’t just wonder why this is happening. It isn’t an anomaly, something is causing the increases. We’re playing Russian roulette with our children’s lives!”

      Chapter 30

      September 9, 1992

      Del Mar, California

      The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and fairgrounds occupies two square miles of one of the most beautiful coastal areas in California. Today, the place where the surf meets the turf had three special guests.

      It was closing day for thoroughbred racing in Del Mar and Celia was excited. Any reservations she had about accepting the invitation from Lymburner quickly disappeared moments after her family exited their chartered limousine and were escorted to the private Turf Club for lunch. Her family was on the receiving end of the full VIP treatment, and she had no complaints. San Diego had long ago put its stamp on thoroughbred racing, but today was a first for the entire family and Celia wanted to be sure everyone made the most of it. They would have fun losing money.

      When Lymburner extended his invitation, he explained that his rationale for their day at the track was mostly professional, stating that observing Jonna outside of the Center would give him a less structured view of her activities and would help the Center develop an even more personal behavioral growth strategy. The word mostly stuck in Celia’s mind. She didn’t know what Lymburner meant by it and didn’t care. What she did know was that Lymburner had never been married and was, as far as she was concerned, a very handsome and eligible romantic prospect for her non-existent social life. She mused that she would have accepted a more personal motive for the invitation but accommodating her more intimate needs could wait.

      After lunch in the Turf Club, Lymburner leisurely walked everyone down one level to his private owner’s box to await the start of the first race. Jonna sat quietly, her eyes fixated below toward the horses. The trainers were leading their horses into what Lymburner described was the Parade Ring. Celia made no attempt to mask her confusion. She had no clue what that meant.

      “It’s a place where the spectators can get a final chance to look each horse up close before the race,” Lymburner explained. “For betters, it’s their final chance to possibly pick up some inside information.”

      “How do they do that?”

      “What?”

      “Get inside information?”

      “It’s just a matter of speech, but it does give them an up close and personal pre-race inspection of each horse. At the same time, if they are smart, they will listen for any loose comments made by a groom or trainer regarding their entry. Such comments don’t happen very often, but when they do, it can give someone placing a bet a huge advantage.”

      “So you’re a gambler?”

      “I prefer to call it speculative investment. Most serious betters never pass up an opportunity to possibly enhance their odds. Every investor should explore every alternative before parting with their money. Gamblers who play the ponies are no different.”

      “And you are one of them?”

      “Does it make a difference?”

      Celia lied. “No, just asking.”

      Celia turned her eyes back to the parade ring. She was beginning to blush. She had no idea how many men she had dated since high school, but there were many. All had both positives and negatives. She eventually decided that finding what she perceived to be the entire package in one man was but a dream. Every girl had one. For her, looks were a plus, but not a requirement. Lymburner filled that bill, but he also filled out the rest of her wish list. He was intelligent, an extrovert by nature, had a successful career and, most importantly, appeared to have a very caring heart.

      Lymburner stood, offering Celia his arm. “Let’s take them down,” he said, gesturing toward the parade ring.

      Celia was hesitant. “Are you sure we can do that?”

      Stacey didn’t bother to wait for an answer. She was already up and leading Jonna down the stairs. Celia quickly followed. Lymburner looked at the suddenly vacated chairs and nodded his approval to no one in particular as he scurried to catch up.

      Other than television, Celia was sure that Jonna had never seen a live horse. An overly protective mother, she never allowed her daughter to get close to any animal and now she was about to let her approach a horse that was as big as a car. She was terrified. Her anxiety grew with every step as she followed Stacey and Jonna who were fast closing in on the parade ring. Stacey held a firm grip on Jonna’s waist as she approached the parade ring railing. Resisting Stacey’s offer to pick her up, Jonna opted to stand at the rail. Celia positioned herself next to Lymburner, still within an arms length of Jonna.

      Jonna remained uncharacteristically still, quietly studying the horses as they passed one by one on their way around the parade ring. Celia watched her intently. Displaying any interest at all for her immediate surroundings was not something Jonna had done in over a year.

      Lymburner stood a few steps back, as if to observe Jonna from a better angle. As his eyes danced from Jonna to the horses, Celia remained focused on Jonna. She was recording every move, every detail as each horse passed. She was in her own world, oblivious to her surroundings. Something was happening. Celia was sure of it.