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    The fourth of September in the year 2019 brought joy to Martin Jackson 

Jones.   He was a man, who stood about six-foot tall, with an athletic build, green 

eyes and shaggy, brown hair.   Martin had been waiting all year to attend the grand 

opening of the newest exhibit in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural 

History. 

    Since childhood, Martin loved dinosaurs.   His college education was centered 

around becoming a paleontologist.   Martin’s inspiration to be a paleontologist came 

from John Horner, a famous paleontologist, who announced he would be at the 

exhibit!

    There was something interesting at the exhibit, as well, for Martin’s little 

brother, Ivan.   The center of the exhibit featured a T-Rex display, sure to fascinate 

his sibling.

    The brothers grew up on a farm in a little country town in the foothills of 

Virginia with only a small, local museum to explore.   Seeing a dinosaur of such large 

size would greatly impress a young boy from rural Virginia like Ivan.

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    Sitting next to his brother, taking in the view of the seemingly rapid 

moving walls of the tunnel, Ivan was intrigued. If he were able to hear the loud 

noises of the train, he would never want to leave. 

    Sadly, his hearing was very limited.   At a young age, Ivan’s hearing was 

affected by Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), a hearing impairment that 

generally affects adults but in rare cases can affect children, such as Ivan.  

Fortunately, Ivan was diagnosed early and received treatment, which allowed him 

to be able to retain some of his hearing.   He retained just enough hearing to 

where loud voices sounded like soft whispers for the average, healthy person.

    In addition to his hearing impairment, Ivan was diagnosed with Dyslexia, 

a slight stutter, and a severe case of ADHD.   Doing well in school had always been 

troublesome for Ivan due to his learning disabilities.   He was also socially 

awkward.   His friends, other than his pets, were his brother, Martin, and Huey, a 

boy from his class.   Cassie, his service dog, and Lola, the barn cat, were always 

sweet, caring, and playful with him.

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Cassie, a black Labrador Retriever, trudged alongside her masters with her ears 

flopping and her tongue resting on the side of her mouth.   A royal blue harness 

rested around the dog’s back indicating she was a service animal.   The conductor of 

the train, used by the brothers to travel to Washington, DC, was frustrated when a 

smelly dog, as he so carelessly murmured, boarded his train.

    Reaching the end of their ride, the two brothers stepped off the train in DC 

with Cassie in tow.   Martin entered the museum destination into the maps 

application on his phone and started navigating his route.   He hoisted Ivan onto his 

shoulders in order to relieve him of the walk to the museum.   After about fifteen 

minutes, Ivan began to speak.

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    “Mar-Mar,” Martin’s six-year-old little brother uttered in his low, stuttering 

voice, “When will we get there?”   Most of the words he spoke were distorted and 

unclear, but Martin always managed to understand his little brother.

    “We are almost there, little buddy,” Martin exclaimed in a loud voice, 

jumping into the air to readjust Ivan and make him giggle.   Startled by the 

movements and noises, Cassie woofed her loud woof, as she had been trained, to 

make sure the situation was under control.

    “I okay,” Ivan screamed at Cassie without realizing it.   He never could 

understand when he was screaming, because screams sounded like normal 

conversations.   Ivan stared at the buildings surrounding them, breathing in the city 

life. Martin’s phone interrupted the peace as it buzzed to life. 

    “You have reached your destination,” the phone alerted, and then shut off.

“Ivan! We are here!” Martin enthusiastically announced as he stared at the large 

elephant inside the building, while striding towards the front doors.   His little brother 

stared in awe of the huge creature.

    Within moments, the two reached the doors with their pre-ordered tickets 

and plenty of money to purchase toys and participate in special exhibits.

    “Big elephant,” Ivan exclaimed after they entered the museum building.

    “Yes, Ivan, big elephant,” Martin replied with a laugh. The pillars of white 

stone and chiseled walls made the museum fit in with the Greek and Roman 

architecture that dominated the city.

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    “You two here for the new exhibit?” asked the an attendant wearing a 

long, brown trench coat to keep warm in the bitter cold of the morning.   He was a 

stout man, several inches shorter than Martin, with rosy red cheeks and brown 

stringy hair.   On the left side of his chest, he wore a fancy engraved name tag that 

read, “Jack Clanger.”

    Martin replied, “Yes Mr. Clanger, we are!”

    “Okay, well enjoy your…” Mr. Clanger cut himself off and frowned towards 

Cassie.   “You cannot bring that dog in here, especially if you want to see the new 

exhibit! That…That mutt might tamper with bones that are millions of years old, 

sir!   I apologize, but I cannot permit you to continue!”

    “Cassie is a highly-trained service dog for my brother!   Do you not see 

the blue vest?” Martin screamed in frustration and exasperation.

    “Sir, I am well aware that it is a service dog,” Mr. Clanger calmly uttered.

    Martin replied, “I read online that well-trained service dogs are welcome 

into your facilities, Mr. Clanger.   I protest your unfair treatment and wish to see 

your supervisor.”

    “I have personally been given authority to deny access to the public in 

cases where I see fit.   Your brother and his service dog are not permitted to 

enter,” Mr. Clanger replied in a snobby tone.   “Good day sir!”

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    “Why do you hate dogs?” Martin yelled at the man.

    “I said, good day sir!” Mr. Clanger replied, with his tone of voice slowly rising.

    “I am not leaving until you tell me why I cannot enter the Smithsonian Natural 

History Museum with my brother and his service dog!”

    “You want to know why?   My sister was denied the opportunity for a service 

dog, because she did not meet the requirements of ownership.   She was struck by a 

car while walking across the street and received a severe head trauma.   As a result, 

she suffers amnesia and does not have full brain capacity.”   Mr. Clanger screamed at 

Martin letting out all the anger and frustration against the unfairness of his sister’s 

situation.

    “I am very sorry to hear that Mr. Clanger, but would your sister really want 

you to take out your frustration on others?” Martin replied softly.

    Mr. Clanger opened his mouth to protest against Martin’s words, but stopped 

himself.

    “Go ahead, kid,” Mr. Clanger replied in exasperation, “I will give you a break,” 

Martin began to walk towards the entrance of the building, but stopped himself.

    Martin asked, “What is your sister's name?”

    “Alicia,” the man paused, clearly not expecting another word from Martin, 

“Alicia Lee Brantley.”

    “Alicia will be in my prayers then.” Martin replied with a smile as he turned and 

entered the building. 

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