Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 22:32:36 +0200 From: hadjo Subject: Harry-11 English is not my native language, so please have some consideration... Chapter 10 ended with: And again he looked a little forlorn... until John suddenly poked him in the ribs. "When you really NEED that attention from everybody, why don't you peel your mask off for a while? But please, stop sulking!" Harry looked at John with very big eyes... he started to say something but stopped... he stared to the ground for a while... and suddenly a broad smile appeared on his face. "You are right! It sounds stupid, but I really missed the attention... wow, you saw right through me! Thank you!" We had our beaming boy back. Chapter 11. From that moment it looked like little Harry was back on earth. He even seemed to have grown a little bit. He sat more straight in his chair and looked around with more proudness and with less dependency in his demeanor. "Are you going to phone that clinic today dad?" "As soon as we are back home." "Perhaps they can help me to get my real face back... I am very glad with my mask but it starts to itch and it feels very sweaty inside. As soon as we are home I'm going to scratch and wash my face with a lot of water!" "What about the hospital?" John asked with a frown on his face, "Harry has to be there within a few days because of his nose and his lips." "Well, let's first phone that clinic and hear what they have to say. After that we can decide what we will do." We went back to the car and drove home, again singing along with the music. After a while Harry and John became more and more silent and drifted off into a slumber. The emotions of the day were clearly taking their toll. They woke up when I turned the car into the driveway. Harry yawned and stretched and tried to scratch behind his mask while John already started to loosen the ropes around the packages. "Let's first go inside and drink some water," I proposed and Harry rushed inside where he tried to peel the mask from his face. "Please will you help me dad, it's sticky everywhere and I am afraid to torn the brim." I helped him out of his mask and with a sigh of relief he shove his head under the tap and turned on the water. "That feels better!" he murmured spluttering and gasping, scratching his face everywhere under the water beam. After that he filled a bowl with warm water and some soap and painstakingly cleaned the mask. He took the model out of the box and draped the mask around it to keep it into shape. He put it on the dresser in clear sight. "That's me, the green alien, freshly cleaned up!" "Sounds like the title of a creepy film," John chuckled. Together we lifted the packages from the roof of the car and carried them upstairs. The first one was no problem, but after the fourth one they suddenly seemed to be a lot heavier. Sweaty and panting we carried the fifth one to the door. "Hello, do you need a hand?" a pleasant voice suddenly sounded and a boy of about John's age with a cheerful looking face and deep brown eyes entered the driveway on his skateboard. He threw his board aside and helped us with carrying the heavy package upstairs. We decided to go on and also carried the sixth package upstairs with the help of the newcomer who now was panting too. John and Harry headed for my bedroom and slumped down on the bed. The new boy looked at me with some hesitance... "Go on, you need your rest too!" I reassured him and ruffled his hair for a moment. A broad smile lightened up his whole face and he threw himself upon the bed next to John and Harry. "Wow, you have a WATERbed!" he exclaimed and started to jump up and down. "Look out before you punch it too much and it empties itself!" little Harry teased him. For a moment the new boy became very silent... "You're crazy!" he decided, tickled Harry between the ribs and started to jump up and down again. "Come on dad, there's place enough for you too!" John beckoned me. I really was tired and carefully laid down on one side of the bed. Of course John and Harry immediately took their places onto me while the new boy looked at us with very big eyes. Slowly his face colored a deep red and I really could feel his longing... This seemed to be a very lonely boy who clearly missed a lot of real love in his life. I closed my eyes for a moment and drifted off, vaguely aware of my boys fighting for the best place on my belly and trying to convince the new boy to participate. But he didn't dare... I awoke with the sound of three boys giggling and shouting in the shower. Clearly John had rebuilt his wall of plastic cups and again was defending it with his life. I dozed a minute longer and then decided to have a look at what they were doing and where they had left the hopefully still dry towels. I opened the door and was greeted by a spectacular sight. Little Harry was defending the wall and jumping up and down trying to rescue all cups that flew through the air. John sat down in one corner with some construction of plastic tubes with a balloon attached at the end, the new boy sat down in the other corner with a similar construction and a totally beaming face. They pushed a cork in the plastic tube, strangled the balloon and with a loud plop the cork headed for the plastic wall and blew away the next cup. "Hi dad! Come on, help me to defend the fort!" Harry shouted and desperately jumped for the next cup. The new boy suddenly looked up at me, flinched, turned around with a very pale face and I could see him tremble with fear. "What's up Davey?" John asked with some concern in his voice and a question mark in his eyes. Little Harry froze on the spot and looked at the new boy with surprise. The boy looked like a trapped animal and suddenly threw himself past me into the hallway. He snatched his clothes from the floor and tumbled down the stairs. After barely twenty seconds we heard the door slam and he was gone, leaving us totally astounded. Two very silent boys dressed and followed me downstairs where we headed for the couch. "Does one of you know what suddenly happened with that new boy?" I asked them after we sat down. "Somehow Davey seemed to be afraid of you... he hesitantly joined us into the shower after we convinced him you really were asleep and wouldn't wake up for the next two hours or so. At first he was very quiet and he didn't do very much, but after a while he seemed to enjoy himself and really started to get into our play. Until he saw you and freaked out..." That wasn't much of an answer... but at least it didn't seem to be my fault or something I had done wrong. "Come on," John beckoned Harry, "let's go to his house and ask him!" They put on their shoes and went out of the house after a quick kiss, leaving me on the coach with my own thoughts. First I went to the kitchen for a cup of strong coffee, after that I started to think. I tried to relive the whole situation and started with the moment I saw the new boy, Davey, offer us a helping hand. He really seemed to be a nice boy with a pretty face and curious and intelligent eyes. I supposed it was the same boy Harry and John talked about the other day, who taught Harry double curves on his skating board and talked with them afterwards. They both seemed to like him. He helped us with carrying the packages upstairs and I was vaguely aware of the fact he tried to avoid bodily contact with me, but I didn't pay much attention to it. Now I realized I also felt a double feeling around him: a longing in his eyes and at the same time a lot of fear. What was the trouble with this boy and why did I feel attracted to him in a strange way? As if I had to protect him... My boys went into the bedroom and slumped down on the bed, leaving Davey standing in the doorway and me in the hallway, one step behind. Again I saw that longing in Davey's eyes when he looked over his shoulder up at me, hesitantly, mingled with some of that same fear. I ruffled his hair and all of the sudden a broad smile lightened up his whole face as if he was very relieved. He really threw himself upon the bed and started to jump up and down. Again I smiled about Harry using my little joke on him and Davey's reaction... I laid down on the bed and both boys climbed onto my belly, giggling and fighting for the best place as usual. Davey's eyes went very big as if he couldn't believe his own eyes. His face colored a deep red and this time I saw so much pain in his eyes... suddenly I was overwhelmed with a lot of compassion and my eyes started to tear up. This was a very wounded boy... I drifted off and awoke with the sound of three happy boys playing in the shower. Again I saw Davey in my mind, sitting in the corner with a look of total happiness on his face. Until he saw me... suddenly his eyes narrowed and again I was overwhelmed. Never in my whole life I had seen so much pain and fear in a small boy's eyes... like a trapped animal desperately trying to escape. I shivered and my whole heart opened for this obviously so severely damaged boy. How could I help him? Was I able to help him? Suddenly I thought I could feel Jack around and I heard his voice somewhere in my head. "He desperately needs you..." The door opened and John and Harry entered the house, followed by a sad looking woman and a very timid looking Davey. I stood up from the couch and welcomed them into my house. My boys settled down onto the couch, the woman and Davey each took a chair. Davey's eyes tried to avoid mine but every time he seemed to be drawn to me with such a longing... "May I have a word in private with you please?" the woman asked with some trepidation. "Yes, of course," I answered and we both went to the kitchen. I closed the door. "My name is Harry," I introduced myself. "I know," she answered, "and please call me Mary. Davey told me everything about meeting your boys yesterday, how your youngest boy burnt his face in a caravan on fire and had to undergo four operations within two years, how he taught him some curves on his skateboard, and how your boys both spoke about you with so much love and respect..." She stopped with tears in her eyes and blow her nose in a Kleenex she put back into her handbag. "The whole day he went around the neighborhood on his skateboard, hoping to meet you and your boys again. He nearly was desperate for he thought he couldn't find you and your boys any more and he didn't exactly know where you lived. He is an only child without any living relatives, and his father is in prison for a very long time. He abused Davey from a very young age and Davey never told me because he believed every father did the same things with his own children. His father so cleverly hided everything from me that I never suspected anything was wrong, until two years ago Davey started to bleed severely from his anus. I took him with me to a hospital where they told me my child was abused... and my whole world scattered into pieces. After a very humiliating process his father was convicted and went to prison without seeing his son back. But Davey still seems to miss him badly despite everything..." She started to sob and I offered her a glass of water. "Half an hour ago Davey suddenly came back, crying his heart out. Still sobbing he told me about you treating him as a friend, ruffling his hair and allowing him to join your waterbed with your own boys. Then your boys started to cuddle with you and he nearly suffocated. His own father never cuddled with him but always tried to touch him everywhere he could. And you did nothing of all that but dozed off... that's when he realized how a real father could be. I didn't understand everything he told me but I think they started a game in the shower and he really enjoyed the company of your boys. Suddenly you appeared in the doorway and everything came back to him about his own father entering the shower every time he was in there and trying to abuse him... and he freaked out. Now he is really desperate and he thinks you would be mad at him for leaving your house all of the sudden without even saying goodbye. Your boys spoke with him and tried to convince him you really weren't mad at him but he's still afraid. I hope I am not imposing too much but Davey NEEDS a grownup in his life..." Her eyes stared into a wide distance and I could feel her pain and her desperation. I made us some coffee to break the tension and after a while Mary dried her eyes and we went back to the living room. All three boys sat behind the computer playing some game. Harry's eyes lighted up when he saw me and a broad smile entered his face. John looked at me with pure love in his eyes, he hinted at Davey and slightly nodded. Davey looked up with some fear in his eyes and flinched a bit. But this time he held my gaze. I smiled at him and slowly his expression changed. "Hi boys, enjoying the game? Who wants something to drink?" I said and three hands went upwards. "Davey, would you mind to give me a hand in the kitchen?" I asked and his face changed with a shocked expression. But he stood up and hesitantly followed me to the kitchen. "Please will you get the cola out of the fridge and pour yourself and the boys a glass of cola? There's a tray on the cupboard." The relief poured from his face and his deep brown eyes started to shine again. Carefully he filled three glasses and put them on the board while I poured Mary and myself another cup of coffee. Together we entered the room and this time he didn't try to avoid bodily contact. Our shoulders lightly touched in the doorway and something electrical exchanged between us. "Thank you my friend. You are a wonderful help!" I told him and his face lit up. "Will you get us some cookies from the cupboard on the left?" Now he definitely looked proud. "Dad?" John asked, "we still have to build together two computer desks. Perhaps Davey could help us tonight?" Davey beamed and his mother nodded her consent. I silently sent my love to my dear friend and he smiled knowingly. "Do you eat with us tonight Mary?" I invited her. "No thank you, another time will be fine but tonight I have something important to do. Will you send Davey home about nine o'clock?" We said our goodbyes and Mary went home with a lot of relief on her face. The three boys went back to the computer and I phoned the number from the piece of paper Peter gave me this morning. I had a short conversation and we made an appointment for Harry within two days. I wrote the address down and thanked them. "Yesssss!" Harry shouted, "I am getting my new face! Thank you dad. You are the best!" He jumped in my arms and melted into me. I held him and kissed him on his nose and on his forehead. Suddenly I saw Davey looking at us with tears in his eyes. I beckoned him and hesitantly he neared us. I freed one arm and tried to put my free arm around his waist but he froze and didn't let me pull him nearer. I clearly had to be very patient and careful with this so damaged boy! But he didn't withdraw and I saw that as a hopeful sign. I tried to radiate my love to him and I really could feel his tension subdue somewhat. John neared us from the other side and softly pushed Davey into me, putting both his arms around Davey, me and little Harry. What a wonderful boy! Within a few seconds Davey slowly let go the tension and melted into us, softly sobbing and now sucking in all love and all warmth like a sponge. John too got tears in his eyes and little Harry beamed and tried to melt into me and into Davey at the same time. We stood there for a long time, unwilling to break the contact. At last little Harry started to flinch. "I have to go to the toilet very badly!" "Where are your pampers?" You're crazy!" and he rushed away. We cooked macaroni with onions, tomatoes and cheese. Harry cooked the macaroni, John sliced the onions, Davey sliced the tomatoes and I sliced the cheese into little peaces. Harry went into his garden and came back with some of his famous herbs and slowly a wonderful aroma filled the kitchen. He baked the onions and mingled everything together with a lot of Maggi and the herbs, John got the plates from the cupboard and Davey scooped everything onto the plates, beaming. I tried to put my arms around him and this time he melted into me! Never in my life I had felt so grateful. The macaroni was tasty, however to my taste Harry used too much onions... but the boys loved it. And you really could smell the love! Well, tonight we probably could smell something else... after eating soo much onions? The boys washed everything and cleared the kitchen; while I prepared four ice-sorbets. We took them with us to the living room. I sat down in the middle of the couch, John nestled himself onto my left side and melted into me, Harry took his place onto my lap and Davey sat himself down onto my right side, nearly touching me. After a while I suddenly felt some contact, very slowly and nearly imperceptible Davey laid his head down on my shoulder. A minute later his knee touched me and five minutes later he suddenly let himself completely go and melted into my right side. I draped my arm around him and he let me pull him even closer with a deep and content sigh. My third boy had found his site. After a while we went upstairs to build the first computer desk together and the rest of the evening we were studying drawings, comparing the lengths of the different screws and trying to decipher what exactly the makers of this puzzle-desk had in mind... Slowly the first desk started to look like a real computer desk and suddenly it was time for Davey to go home. Reluctant he stretched himself out and yawned and I ruffled his hair. This time he looked into my eyes and suddenly he kissed me on my cheek. "Thank you, I really loved being here with you. May I come back tomorrow?" "You may come back every time you wish. You are always welcome here." He got tears in his eyes and softly murmured: "I wish you were my dad..." We went all downstairs and decided to accompany him to his house. We really enjoyed the cool breeze and the bright stars above our heads. We delivered him to his mother and hasted back to our home to try to puzzle the second computer desk together. Fortunately we had learned a lot from the first puzzle and the second desk seemed to be much easier to build. Deadly tired we showered and went to bed. That night I slept peaceful, lying on my back with both boys in my arms. Suddenly there was Jack in a very bright light. "There will be a very difficult time for all three of you, but you will come through and in the end there will be victory!" Slowly the light faded and left me puzzled. What did Jack mean? ------- Chapter 12 will follow... "Over a century ago, back in 1884, a genius called Julius MAGGI invented a powdered pea and bean soup, to provide nutritious, easy to prepare food for busy women who worked in factories and didn't have time to prepare healthy meals. This new product really improved the nutrition of common people, and he followed this first MAGGI product two years later with the invention of ready-to-use soups and liquid seasoning. But he didn't stop there! Soon afterwards, Julius MAGGI perfected bouillon concentrates, first in capsules, then in cubes. More than 100 years later, MAGGI is still a byword for top quality products that combine healthy and varied nutrition, fast and easy preparation and affordable prices." Thank you again for all your wonderful emails. I really love them! A few excerptions: * I read your story yesterday with much pleasure and hope you will continue it as it is extremely well written and has a wonderful story line. I can tell you are a very caring and sensitive person from the way you write. * Please be proud of your accomplishment in writing such a poignant and sensitive story, with very wonderful characters. * Another beautiful chapter. It was beautiful the way Harry helped John with his stiffy. I have been trying to figure out if lil Harry and John are blood related but I don't think so. * I hope the doctor's can help Harry become a smiling happier boy with plastic surgery. I can't wait until the next chapter is out. Please send your comments (or hints how to go on) to my mailbox: mailto:harry@hadjo.nl and thank you very much for reading my first story in the English language. My native language is Dutch (Nederlands) and I am living in The Netherlands.