Almost Human

Xanthus and I decide to take an air-shuttle to New Jersey to meet my biological parents instead of driving across the country. We decide to save driving across the country for another trip. We were just expecting Luann and Tin to meet us at the airport, but nearly everyone from my mother's side of the family is there with them, my grandmother, Justine, my Uncle Stan and his wife, Sharron, and their three children, cousins I had never met before, one of Tin's sisters and his parents. They're all people I have no memory of, but they all knew who I was.

I was a little over whelmed by all of it, so many people who loved me and missed me and were waiting for me to discover I was adopted and to rediscover them. There were so many tears as I was passed around for hugs, and many of those tears were mine. Xanthus managed to get away with shaking hands with most of them except for my grandmother, Justine and my biological parents.

We ride with Tin and Luann in their car.

Tin points to a hospital and informs us, "This is the hospital where Luann and I work. It's also where we met and where Eli was born."

"What do you both do there," ask Xanthus.

"I'm the assistant head of third shift housekeeping," answers Luann, "And Tin is a pediatrician."

"A pediatrician," says Xanthus amazed, "That's wonderful. Did you go to college after you gained your freedom?"

"No," answers Tin, "I was a pediatrician before I gained my freedom. Most of the chimps that were owned by the hospital were for housekeeping. But when testing showed we were exceptionally intelligent, then they trained us for other things, usually nursing or radiology. Human doctors don't want to work over night and weekends if they can help it. So I was trained and educated by the hospital as a pediatrician. I look after the newborns and preemies overnight, except I don't have to work every weekend anymore. Now weekends are rotated so no one is stuck working every weekend."

"So, Xanthus, Eli tells us that you work in construction," comments Luann like she's just checking to make sure this young man is good enough for her daughter like any mother would.

Xanthus smiles easily, "Yes, ma'am. I'm a master mason and carpenter. Do a little plumbing and electrical work too. I can provide well for a family if you're worried about that. Even own my own home."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Luann apologizes, "I didn't mean to sound like I'm interrogating you."

Xanthus isn't offended, "You're fine, Luann."

It's such a strange and exciting experience for me. These two people that I don't know, that I don't remember, feel like parents. Their touches don't feel strange or foreign. Their kisses don't feel weird or odd. They don't feel like strangers at all even though I have no memories of them.

We pull into the driveway of a lovely older home with stately mature trees. Luann informs us, "This is our family home. This is where Stan, Laura and I grew up." The other vehicles pull in behind us and park in front of the house.

"Justine lives with Stan and his family now," shares Tin as we head to the front door, "and my parents live here with us. Let's go inside where you can sit down while everyone ask you a billion and one questions."

It's a comfortable home. I wonder if my adoptive mother, Laura, ever misses it. There are family pictures everywhere.

"Is it okay if we look around," I ask as I hold Xanthus hand.

"Of course," Tin answers, "This is your home too."

"Bobby and I will take your bags up while you two take a look around," volunteers my Uncle Stan.

"Thank you, Uncle Stan," I say appreciatively.

My Uncle Stan pauses to stare at me with tears in his eyes.

"Is it alright if I call you uncle," I ask afraid I've offended him.

"Yes, that's fine, Eli," says my Uncle Stan, "I've just waited a long time to hear it."

My Uncle Stan and my cousin, Bobby, tote our bags upstairs. Xanthus and I move into the living room with most everyone else behind us. There are some pictures on the fireplace mantel.

"Is this you Grandma Justine," I ask.

My Grandma Justine strokes my hair as she tells me, "Yes, sweetie, that's me and your Grandpa Franklin when we were newlyweds."

"Grandma and Grandpa Winter, this is you two, right," I ask.

"Yes, dearest, that's us," answers my Grandpa Winter, Tin's father, "That was taken before you were born."

Both of my biological paternal grandparent are quite chimpish looking which explains why my biological father, Tin, is so chimpish looking. It's not something that affects how I see them. I see people first. I've always seen people first and the rest is just stuff I'm aware of the way I'm aware of my little toe most of the time. It's just something I find interesting and fascinating. It's why I study anthropology and zoology.

I point to a picture and look at Tin and Luann as I smile, "This is you."

Tin and Luann both return my smile as Tin confirms, "Yes, that's us."

Luann shares, "That's from our commitment ceremony." Then she asks us, "Are you two considering getting married."

"Eli and I would love to get married," answers Xanthus, "But it's still against the law for chimps and gorillas to marry humans"

"I don't understand," says Luann, "Eli is classified as human. Tin wasn't permitted to sign her birth certificate because he was a slave when she was born."

"Eli may be classified as human," responds Xanthus, "but I'm not, looks like we'll have to settle for a commitment ceremony."

"You're a chimp," says Sharron, my Uncle Stan's wife, shocked.

"Yes, I am," confirms Xanthus.

"Come on, you're pulling our leg," says Grandpa Winter.

"No, sir," responds Xanthus, "I was born into slavery just like you, your wife and your children. My family was owned by Capital Construction, who is now my employer.

"You're a chimp," says my Uncle Stan surprised as he catches what Xanthus explained to Grandpa Winter as he returns downstairs.

"Yes," Xanthus smiles, "I am."

"I bet Laura is having fits," comments my maternal grandmother, Justine

I shake my head as I share, "She doesn't know. Daddy and I both agree that the longer she doesn't know, the better... I'm not usually dishonest, but my mother can be very difficult when it comes to certain things and there's just no getting her to see certain things anyway but her way."

"That's my Laura," says Grandma Justine, "I don't know why she's so extreme. My Franklin was a bit of a perfectionist and workaholic, but Laura takes it to a new level. Franklin knew how to relax and have fun. And I just don't know where she got her strong dislike for advanced chimps and gorillas. Franklin and I never had anything against them and we both always believed slavery is wrong." She shrugs.

Xanthus and I wander into a very comfortably furnished den with a huge high def. TV. Then we wander through a lovely dining room into a large eat in kitchen. Next we head upstairs. But only Tin and Luann follow us up.

"My office," Tin informs us as we peek into a room.

We peek into a comfortably furnished bedroom and Tin informs us, "My parents' room." Then the next is "Guests room," our bags sitting inside was a clue.

"Then this must be your room," I say as I step inside the final bedroom with Xanthus. It's tastefully and comfortably furnished. But that's not what makes my eyes grow wide.

My eyes grow wide and my mouth opens at the site of all the pictures of me. It's almost as if I walked into a shrine dedicated to me.

"Wow," exclaims Xanthus.

The pictures are me as a newborn, all the way to me within the last year. There are newborn picture of me I've never seen before. And they even have all my school pictures from preschool to my college graduation. My father sent them a copy of every picture that was taken of me.

"Dan has been very good about sending us pictures and letting us know how you are doing and what you're up to," shares Luann.

Tears well over from my eyes as Xanthus puts an arm around me and ask, "Are you alright?"

I nod, "It's just that... look at this... And if she had it her way, I would never know... They've been here all this time loving me and missing me and I was oblivious. She couldn't have people know she stole her sister's half chimp baby. And what if I had married a human man like she wanted, what would he be thinking when our first child was born? She was setting me up for a nasty divorce. It's all like some dirty little secret. She can't have all her high class friends knowing I'm half chimp. It might ruin her bridge night."

Xanthus hugs me tightly because I need it.

"I have a right to know, don't I," I ask as I hold tightly to Xanthus.

I look at Luann. "I don't know how often I've heard, 'You look so much like your mother.' None of them have any idea how right they are. I wonder if it ever made her insides jump to hear that I look like my mother and know it was true... I don't even know what I'm supposed to call you."

"We were going to have you call us Mama and Papa," Luann informs me.

"But you'll probably be uncomfortable calling us Mama and Papa," adds Tin. "So it's okay to call us Luann and Tin."

"Mama and Papa," I try out and it doesn't feel uncomfortable. I take Luann's hand, "Mama that feels right."

Luann's eyes tear up as she touches my hair. Tin gently touches my cheek.

"She should have at least told you, you were adopted," says Luann as she gently touches my hair, "But the sooner you knew, the sooner you would have asked questions. Questions Laura didn't ever want to answer."

"Don't let it upset you," Tin tells me, "We're both just grateful you're finally here."

"May I hug you," I ask Luann.

"Of course you can," answers Luann taking me in her arms. "I've been dying to hold you."

It feels so good to hug my mama, Luann. Laura is not a hugger. I'm not even sure how long it's been since the last time I hugged Laura. And suddenly I feel very blessed. In the years since I was adopted, so many things could have happened or not happened so that this happy reunion with my biological parents, my mama and papa, never happened. I could have died during the Barstow Revolt. An accident or illness could have claimed any of our lives. I could have never met Xanthus in the first place or never re-met him after we were both adults. And my adoption, no matter how wrong it was, helped make it possible for me to meet and re-meet Xanthus. The possibilities are endless, and I am grateful to be here with Xanthus getting to know my mama and papa. Besides, how many people get to have a daddy, a mama and a papa? I haven't yet decided if I'll continue to call Laura mother or not.

"Are you hungry," my mama, Luann, ask us.

Xanthus and I both nod, we can eat.

"Well, let's go down and have lunch then," suggest Tin.

My three cousin have lots of questions for me during lunch. Only one is older than me, Bobby. The other two Madison and Joey are younger than me. Xanthus gets his share of questions too.

"You're name is Eleanor," Madison points out. "Why is your nickname Eli instead of Elly?"

"Apparently, I was really good at getting dirty when I was little. Drove my adoptive mother nuts," I share, "She was trying to turn me into a little lady, but it just wasn't working. So I'm playing in a mud puddle, I think I was three, and she gets all in a huff, said something about me always getting dirty like a little boy. Said every time I got dirty like a boy she was going to call me Eli like a boy. I think it was supposed to discourage me from playing in the dirt." I shrug, "Didn't work. I just remember my dad getting me by the hand and saying amused, 'Come on, Eli. Let's get you a bath.' It just stuck. I don't think Elly suits me anyway. Too girly and I'm not a girly-girl."

"Elly doesn't suit you," agrees Xanthus.

"Eli told us you were the boy who saved her during the Barstow Revolt," shares my papa, Tin, during lunch. "Told us she was with you and the other chimp children during those three days she was missing."

"That's true," confirms Xanthus, "I didn't let her out of my sight."

"From what she told us," shares Papa, "I had assumed you were a chimp. But when you got off the air-shuttle with her at the airport, I thought I was mistaken. I whispered to Luann, 'I'm wrong. He's human.'"

"And I whispered back that Laura and Dan had raised Eli to think of herself as human," shares Mama, "so it stands to reason that you've been dating human men."

"None of us has ever seen a blond chimp before," comments Grandpa Winter, "and Cia and I have been around a while now."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters," ask Grandma Winter.

"No," answers Xanthus, "I'm an only child."

"Oh, that's too bad," comments Grandma Justine, "What do your parents think of Eli?"

"I'm sure if they were alive, they would love Eli," answers Xanthus.

"I'm so sorry," Grandma Justine apologizes.

"Were they casualties of the Barstow Revolt," ask Grandma Winter.

"No, they died while I was a baby," shares Xanthus, "What I know about it is from my aunt and grandmother. I was too young to remember. Apparently, they tried to keep me hidden because they knew I would be of interest to the company. But when a couple of over seers discovered I was blond, they immediately tried to take me from my parents. My father was killed preventing me from being taken away and my mother was also permanently damaged. When it was clear a few months later she wouldn't make a full recovery, they put her down. But even with both of my parents dead, it was going to be too hard to take me from my family so they didn't try again. I was mostly raised by my grandmother and my Aunt Yana."

"Put her down," repeats Uncle Stan in disbelief. He looks at Grandma and Grandpa Winter and asks, "Did they really do stuff like that?"

Grandma and Grandpa Winter both nod their confirmation. Grandpa Winter shares, "If you got sick like cancer and needed surgery, radiation treatments et cetera, they didn't invest those types of life saving measures in us because there's no guarantee you'll make a full recovery. They just put you down with a lethal injection, usually sodium pentothal or morphine. If you were injured in an accident on the job and it was going to take multiple surgeries or months of physical therapy and care to recover, they put you down. You lived your life terrified of becoming seriously ill or of being seriously injured. Because if a standard antibiotic, a few stitches or a few weeks in a cast wasn't going to fix you, you were going to die."

"But you're people," says my cousin, Madison, outraged, "You're not dogs and cats. You're people."

"We were property," states Grandma Winter. "When your car breaks down and it's too expensive to repair, you dispose of it and get a new one. We were no different."

"We were only different in that we could be bred," states Grandpa Winter, "like dogs and cats. They discouraged the development of strong family bonds. Except because we are people, we do develop strong family bonds. And if they thought you were too close, too exclusive, you could find yourself or someone you loved being shipped off to a different location. It was a miracle that Cia and I managed to stay together, but it wasn't always easy."

"How did you manage to do it," ask my cousin, Joey.

"If they told you they wanted you to breed with someone else," explains Grandma Winter, "you did it and acted like it didn't bother you to be with someone else. We're common advanced chimps, we have a tendency to settle into monogamous relationships. We're not as free with ourselves as advanced Bonobos. But even advanced Bonobos develop tight family bonds. And if you were a female like myself, you had to also be ready and willing when an overseer wanted you to service him. So on top of the three children we have with each other, we both have children with other chimps."

"So you had to have sex with anyone they told you to," Madison ask Grandma Winter.

Grandma Winter nods, "I have six children total and one is half human, three are with my Abraham, and the other two each have different chimp fathers."

"I have five other children with three other women shares Grandpa Winter.

"Sounds really complicated," comments Joey.

"Chimp families can be very complicated," shares Xanthus, "an only child like me is rare. Most chimps have half brothers and sisters. But my parents were young, I was a first child for both of them."

"A blond chimp like you," says Grandma Winter, "and the first, if they could have gotten you away from your family, they would have auctioned you off, gotten a lot of money for you. And you probably wouldn't have ended up with a family that wanted a child. Most babies that were sold as pets didn't go to families that wanted children. Most went to perverts, pedophiles and child molesters. And when their pet got too old to satisfy their sick desires, they either put their pet down and got a new one or sold them to a brothel and got a new one... Xanthus, you were very fortunate."

"Still, I bet a couple of people lost their job behind your parents' deaths," speculates Grandpa Winter.

"That's a certainty," adds my papa, "They produced the first blond chimp I've ever seen. His company would have wanted them to continue to breed to see if they produced more blonds."

"Now that you mention it," Xanthus recalls, "I remember my grandmother and aunt talking about a couple of overseers being fired for it. Something about they should have reported that I was blond first and not tried to take me on their own and tranquilizer guns should have been used."

"The overseers often got over confident when dealing with chimps that had always been cooperative," says Grandpa Winter, "especially when the chimp was a female that had serviced them without any trouble. They often thought they could just walk up and take a baby from its mother's arms just because she had always been a good chimp in the past. Back fired on them in a big way in Barstow. That revolt had a ripple effect and we all refused to do our jobs until we were free. Of course, Dan played a huge part in helping negotiate our freedom. Now all advanced chimps and gorillas all over the world are free."

"Thank goodness," says Grandma Justine, "Slavery is just plain evil. It was wrong and evil when the Egyptians kept the Jews as slaves. And it was wrong and evil when Africans were slaves four millennia ago on this very continent."

"And we were slaves for over a millennia," says Papa thoughtfully. "Meant to fill positions and do jobs that there weren't enough humans to do after the great plague wiped out over half of the world's human population."

"Well, as far as I'm concerned," says Grandma Justine, "the moment you developed the ability to read and write, you became human. You should of been set free centuries ago."

"If that had happened," says Uncle Stan, "Laura wouldn't have been able to steel Eli because Tin would of been a competent parent, not a slave with no rights."

"Or if they hadn't raised the intelligence test requirements for being legally able a century ago," says Papa.

"The intelligence test requirement was lower," I inquire.

"Yes, confirms Papa, 'the original requirement was a score of seventy."

I hadn't know that, "Why the change? Does anybody know?"

"I think it was done in anticipation of having to one day set us free," speculates Grandpa Winter. "Those that are legally inept only go to school until they're sixteen. Then they're put into job training programs where they are trained for jobs that chimps and gorilla slaves usually do, housekeeping, janitorial, ditch digging, all the things that most legally able humans believe they're too good to do. They did it thinking that most of us would test at a legally inept level and be able to keep us basically as slave labor that way. The legally inept don't have the same rights as the legally able. Their children can be taken from them on a whim by their legally able relatives, and they can be sterilized against their will. They may earn a paycheck, be good hard workers, pay their rent, pay their taxes and have full medical coverage, but they don't have many more rights than we did as slaves"

"But there's still a lot of room for improvement," is my assessment of the way things are.

"Dan is working to close the gaps," says Grandma Justine, "He loves you very much, Eli. It's his worst fear that someone that doesn't need to know discovers you're half chimp and discriminates against you for it."

"Even if they never know she's half chimp," says Xanthus, "choosing to spend her life with me has set her up for some inevitable discrimination. There's nothing like being invited to a pool party and having people freak out when they see your feet for the first time."

"I can't even begin to imagine it," comments Bobby.

After lunch we spend time looking at family photo albums. Grandma Justine catches me up on Fetzer family history. While Grandma and Grandpa Winter catch me up on Winter family history.

When I yawn, Mama says, "My poor baby, you probably have a little jet-lag. There's plenty of time for a nap before dinner. Why don't you and Xanthus take a nap? We've got all weekend to fawn over you."

"I could use a nap," I admit.

"Me too," admits Xanthus. "We had to get up pretty early to catch our flight." He takes my hand, "Let's take a nap."

"Don't let us over sleep," I call back as we head upstairs.

"We won't," Papa calls back.

Xanthus and I make love before our nap. I'm never too tired to make love with him.