Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 08:02:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Zane Green Subject: FIRES-6 Copyright Notice: the author copyrights this story and the author retains all rights. Expressly prohibited is placing this story at a for pay site. It is a fantasy, and is not about anyone real. It has minor characters, and is intended only for a mature audience. None of the characters are based on real people. They all grew up in my imagination. Comments are very welcome and appreciated at ZaneG7@excite.com Flames will go up in smoke. Fires by:Zane Hunter-Green Part 6 We hadn't pulled out of the parking lot, and got back on the highway before Noah had an announcement. "I have to pee real bad, Shane." "Ahh Noh, why didn't you say something back in the store." "I guess I was too excited, I'm sorry." "It's ok, I guess I should have asked." I said thinking that there was a lot about parenting a boy I didn't know. "Yeah, you could have gone in with me and held my hand." He laughed "I don't think so, a grown man holding on to a little boys hand while he pees in a public place might raise a few eyebrows." I said. "Yeah, I'd rather you hold on to my prick, but I guess that is out of the question." He impishly answered back. "You guess right, I know where we can stop." There was a beautiful place a few miles down the road that I had once discovered while looking for a fishing site. I knew that Noh could water the bushes near where I would pull off the road, but maybe I would take him to see the stream. It had been a surprising find in water hungry central California. Once we arrived Noah wanted to walk as much as I did. So after he relieved himself I took him to see the mossy creek bank. He tore off his clothes the little imp, and I had a chance to really see him. He was a boy with all of nature's handiwork. Every time he moved he was a graceful poise. The shadows played hide and seek with the ivory beauty of his flesh. He was a sapling, his man root so tender and teasing as if it was shocked to be part of a male body. His body was at that stage when it was perfect. I had looked in life support class at photographs of children as it was demonstrated the correct way to prop a child's neck while breathing in the life force. I remember the still plastic dolls we worked with, that were atomically perfect. He was beyond that, he was life. His hair was like rays of the sun, glistening in the shadow light, his eyes were bright and full of mischief and questions. He hopped over the creek spraying water with his arched bare feet. I could watch him forever. A bird scolded in the treetop at the laughing imp disturbing its paradise. Did the bird not see that my heart was flying because of the happiness, His robe of sadness had finally been cast off and he grew more beautiful until I could hardly stand it "Shane, I like it here." He announced "I'm glad." I told him. "How come you don't go back and be a fire guy in the movies. You could be an actor if you wanted. You're the handsomist man in the world." Thank you Noh. Of course I'm really not. I once thought about returning and doing demolitions. I still own Hank's business. To tell you the truth there really isn't anyone in Hollywood that I would want to work for. I like being a firefighter." "Did you meet any famous actors?" He asked me. "A few, believe me they are no different from anyone else. Sometimes they get insecure because they know this. Most of them hate to be worshiped like they are somehow better than you or me." "Really?" "Really. Although there are a few that have a special aura, a light. It seems like they were meant to stand out because they use their positions to help people. I can't believe I'm telling you this." "Why not: "Because you are a child." "Shane, when you have seen what I have you are no longer a child." "I know dear" "I can pretend to be a child, but I will never be one again. I don't think I ever was." Noah said realistically "Okay old man, we better go. It gets hot as we drive through the desert. We better head back." I told him "Can we stop here again?" He begged. "Yes, now get dressed." I know that I was now in a position where I may never be able to go back to being a firefighter. How could I keep this boy with me, and return to my old life. I didn't want to hide him at home. I wanted him to have as normal a life as I did under the circumstances. I knew I could list my house, and sell it. I still owned the place in LA where renters had been living since Hank died. I could move back in with Noah. I could re-open Hank's business, I still had a few contacts. The problem was did I really want to set fires that would harm people, even if it were all-imaginary. There were very few directors I would consider working for. I had heard of the works of Steven Kaufmann, I respected his pieces, especially a film he did called Pandora's Box, but I didn't know him, and was not in that special circle of film-makers. Hank had been working on B films, low budget pieces. I don't know. It was all pretty damn scary! All I knew is that Noah needed me. I could not go backwards pretended that he didn't exist. Well I had the beach to look forward too. Maybe everything would work its way out.