Now that Aaron was dead, Harry didn’t have to pretend anymore. A year later, Harry legally changed his last name to “Doubt.”
Chapter 2
Bina Schwartz, Harry’s mother
FOR YEARS, BINA AND AARON tried to have a baby—honestly, it was she who wanted it more than he did. When Bina couldn’t conceive, she sought help from the best Israeli fertility specialists. When Aaron took the job at Global Nation (GN) University in New York City and uprooted them from their home in Tel Aviv, she hoped the change would help.
Her prayers were answered twelve months later when Harrell Doub was born. He was perfect. From his wavy brown hair, to his ice blue eyes, and his chubby fingers and toes. Unfortunately, Aaron never cared much about the baby. He let Bina do all the parenting.
“Harry, you were born to do something memorable,” she often said to him. “You were meant to do great things.”
* * *
After the death of her husband, the strange dreams began. Many nights, Bina woke from her sleep with the dreams still clinging onto her like the cobwebs that sprawled across the doorway of their garden shed. She started documenting all the details in her journal that she could remember. She kept the private journal locked in her nightstand, safely hidden away.
Now that Aaron was gone, Harry was taking care of the household—buying groceries, preparing and cooking meals, and paying the bills. The inheritance money Aaron left for them was substantial…enough to bring out all her long lost in-laws out of the woodwork. Aaron’s brothers and sisters travelled all the way from Tel Aviv and brought their high profile lawyers to claim their share of the inheritance, which left Bina almost penniless.
***
Four years later, Harry was feeling optimistic about the future. He was in his room at his desk, staring at his laptop, re-reading an email that was open on his screen. He had read it so many times that he knew it by heart.
Dear Harry,
Although you will be receiving the official documents from our legal department, I wanted to write to you personally to say that it was a pleasure meeting you. We at Google Inc. are delighted to acquire the rights to your Truth Seekers online game. The legal documents and bank draft have been sent to your home address.
Please reconsider the job offer as we could use someone like you on our team. Feel free to swing by Google Inc. headquarters the next time you are in California.
Sergey Brin
Co-founder, Google Inc.
Harry smiled as he picked up the courier box from his desk. His mother stuck her head in the doorway of his room.
“Dinner is ready, Harry,” she said. She watched him as he opened the box. “Is that what you’ve been waiting for all day today?”
“Yes, Mom,” he said. “It’s finally here.” He ripped open the box and pulled out a thin binder of documents. He reached in again and pulled out an envelope.
“You never told me how much money you sold the Truth Seekers game for. Like I always say, ‘a mother understands what a child does not say.’ You know you created that game when you were only eight years old. I hope you didn’t just give it away to those Google schmucks,” she said as she walked up to him. She frowned, placing her hands on her hips.
Harry stifled a chuckle. What could he say? She was just being who she was—an overprotective mother. Harry tore open the envelope and pulled out the bank draft; the smile on his face stretched wider.
“Harry, did you hear what I said?” Bina asked, raising an eyebrow; which usually meant that her patience was coming to an end.
He waved the bank draft in her face. Bina squinted her eyes to read what was on it.
“Is this a joke, Harrell?” She often referred to his legal birth name when she wanted a serious answer from him.
“No joke, Mom,” Harry said. He stood up and gave her a big hug. “We don’t have to worry about money anymore.”
She nodded her head but the frown remained on her face. “But Harry, this Truth Seekers’ game is your baby. How could you sell it for that pitsvinik? It’s not enough!”
Here we go again. “Mom, are you kidding me? That’s a ten-digit figure. What do you mean it’s not enough?”
She took a deep breath and said, “So my brilliant son thinks ten digits is enough. Why not twenty digits? Thirty? Your game is your life. You know this is true!”
Harry put his arms around his mother’s waist, planting kisses on her cheeks. She pretended to push him away, but he knew she enjoyed the attention he was giving her.
“Stop it, Harry. That’s enough.”
He stepped back and shrugged, hiding his smile from her. “Okay, if you say so.”
“Oh? You stop so easy? Harrell, don’t you love your mother?” Her eyes were wide with surprise.