When Robbie is in high school, he is a coach’s dream with a baseball. There is talk about a farm team scout checking him out while he is still a junior. Robbie is good. Edna talks with Mamacita and with Estrella. She knows that Robbie cannot be alone in a big city. He needs people who love him, to take care of him. For all his athletic ability and good nature, Robbie has too low an IQ to survive in a high stress, high demand environment. Estrella convinces one of Emily’s clients, who is the head of the parks and recreation department, to woo Robbie as the municipal t-ball coach, under the guise of Robbie’s talent for baseball being a saving grace for the little boys who need a coach and role model. She also convinces Emily—and this is the really difficult job—to hire Robbie at the clinic. Emily doesn’t have anything against Robbie personally, but she does have concerns about the safety of her patients. Not wanting to insult Estrella or put her patients at risk, she offers a compromise: Robbie Hightower can come in to Mayfield Veterinary Clinic two hours a day to clean kennels.
The day after graduation from high school, Robbie starts as a cleaner at Dr. M’s clinic. He coaches the t-ball team and finds that he is very satisfied with his life. He loves being around the kids and the animals. He was really scared about moving away from home and is happy to have his mom and dad tell him he can play baseball in Clearwater and doesn’t have to move to Chicago.
Robbie’s sister Sylvia, who breeds miniature Schnauzers, changes her vet to become a client of Emily’s clinic, specifically so Robbie will be there to take care of her girls. His sister Linda, who accumulates needy cats, brings all of her brood to the clinic. Seeing Robbie with these animals convinces Emily that he does belong at her clinic. Robbie never lets intellect get in the way of his connection with the animals in his care.
Robbie learns slowly but carefully and is now, after five years, proficient with all of the equipment at the clinic and is a valued and trusted employee. He never gets careless with his charges, tests, safety procedures, or routines. He is reliable and sweet.
His family is proud that he is a contributing member of society. He is proud to be a real technician and a real coach.
(This completes Robbie Hightower.)
(Stay tuned for Rocko Troy, pet food delivery man and ever-hopeful suitor of Estrella de Ramón.)
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