Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 21:35:32 -0400 From: C. E. Jordan Subject: The VILLAGE BOY - part 13 The Village Boy c.e._jordan@mailandnews.com Copyright c.e. jordan >From last episode: Jeremy's expression darkens and I think he might cry, but he simply sits down next to his mother. I notice how his fingers tangle and struggle together in his lap, just like Eliza's often does. The ambulette arrives for her soon after. Outside, we pile into the back of the small vehicle after Eliza is taken aboard. The rain has stopped. Only bright sun rules the cerulean skies. This is a perfectly beautiful day...for someone, somewhere... _________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________ THE VILLAGE BOY - Part 13 This is our temporary season, my love ...a wild pause, just before the fall towards Winter... 1 "Charles, do you dream?" Jeremy was asking me out of the blue. We'd just left Eliza at the hospital after going through the admission process with her. We were there a long time and would have stayed with her all day in that blank antiseptic room if she'd let us. But she insisted that we leave. After being prodded and poked, all she wanted to do was rest, she said, before it started all over again. And now here was Jeremy asking about dreams. "Uh, what do you mean Jer? "I dunno...I used to have big technicolor dreams about all kinds of stuff....like crazy adventures. I even had that one where my legs seemed stuck in the sidewalk when I should have been running away from some bad guy... "Yeah...I know that one," I said, wondering where this chat was leading. "I don't dream anymore Charles, I don't want to...what's the point of it? Life itself is a dream...maybe a nightmare....you think it's going one way and all of a sudden you're stuck in shit and you can't get out of it no matter how hard you try... Jeremy turned away from me to stare out the car window at the passing traffic. I was stunned at the bitter tone of his words. But I was also glad that he'd begun to talk about his feelings. It was difficult to know how to react--what to say. Meaning only to comfort him, I reached over and touched his shoulder. But Jeremy shrugged off the tentative contact and wouldn't look at me. I didn't insist. "Maybe life can seem like a dream Jeremy, and it can even get nightmarish sometimes...but eventually, we wake up and life goes on to surprise us in ways we could never have imagined... I knew those words weren't exactly comforting in this circumstance, but it was all I could think to say. The boy's forehead was pressed against the cool tinted glass of the car window as he continued staring out at the busy sun-drenched streets. "You know Jer," I continued, "meeting you was one of those things I could never have imagined, but I am so grateful that I did... Jeremy turned slowly around to face me. Those inscrutable dark eyes gazed steadily into mine through a scrim of black hair. He remained silent but his hand crept across the seat until it was safe once again, held tight in my larger hand. 2 It was an emotionally gruelling day for both Jeremy and myself. And finally at home, Jeremy preferred to be alone. He spent much of the evening in the media room by himself listening to music and watching movies one after another. Although worried about him, I respected his mood and kept my distance while occupying my time reading and writing. I hadn't eaten much all day and I was beginning to get hunger pangs. I made a quick check of the media-room, just as Jer was leaving out of it. I was concerned by the sad look on his face. "You okay baby? "Yeah, I'm alright... We stopped at his bedroom door for a minute. "Want me to bring you something to eat Jer..a snack maybe? "No, thanks Charles...I'm not really hungry tonight...I'm just gonna go to bed." Then he gave me a brief hug, perhaps to reassure me that his mood had nothing to do with me. I continued alone into the kitchen as Jeremy entered his room. I needed something hot and comforting to soothe me. I made a quick cup of hot mint-flavoured tea and took it back to my room with me. I entered and halted in surprise, almost spilling the hot tea on myself. Jeremy was sprawled face down on my bed. As I stood there staring, I saw his shoulders shake. And I understood. He was crying. Poor baby. It had all come down to this; a boy weeping for his mother. And perhaps weeping a little bit for himself and his impending loss. I set the tea on the side table and sat on the bed. I stroked the back of his head and murmured soft, silly, comforting things. Nonsensical infantile things, like, "Don't cry baby, everything will be alright.... Which wasn't true. Things were not going to be alright anytime soon. But I couldn't help myself and kept going, "It's okay baby, it's okay, please don't cry.... The muffled sniffles clarified into sobs as the boy turned over onto his back to face me. In the soft lamp light his face was wet and red. The pillow had dark stains from his tears. Jeremy's head lolled near the edge of the bed and his black hair tumbled over the edge almost to the floor. Even then, at his most vulnerable, he was so beautiful that I wanted to kiss him; and I knew he would let me. But I also knew this just wasn't the time. Instead, I lightly touched his face getting my fingertips wet with his tears. "She's supposed to fight back," Jeremy's tone was vaguely accusing, his eyes squinted up at me, "she's not supposed to leave me, she's gonna get better, won't she Charles? I sighed, "I dunno Jer, some things just aren't in our own hands. There was silence for a minute. Then Jeremy abruptly sat up in the bed and reached for my tea. He gulped most of the hot liquid down, burped loudly, then grinned. Darned kids and their mood swings. I couldn't help grinning right back at him, "Hey, who said you could drink my tea? I demanded. "Oh....was that for you?" Jer asked with fake innocence. "You're just a big old tea thief, you faker!" And I attacked his bare torso with tickles. He twisted and giggled and we ended up wrestling on the bed. Jer was laughing out loud, "Oh....stop it Charles....stop it....you're gonna make me barf up all that tea right on your nice bed. "So....go ahead, vomit all you want." And I renewed my attack, relieved and pleased to see him so distracted from his sadness. "Okay, okay......wait a minute Charles, I'll give you back some of your stupid tea... I paused our wrestling for a moment, in confusion, "Huh? How can you give me back what you've already gulped down you lil' dummy... "Like this..." And suddenly his lips were upon my surprised mouth; his probing tongue opened me up...breaking through all my barriers to forge a link deeper than even he could ever understand. I wanted to take him so far inside that he would have to leave some essential and necessary part of himself within me forever. Ahhh, I could taste mint and a little honey and something else that was just Jeremy. I struggled to articulate but could only vocalize a breathless, "...mmmmmm...yeesss. Jer pulled away and for a moment looked down at me with a tiny self-satisfied smile. I began to drag him back down to me because I was thirsty for more of him...of his sweetness. But he resisted, "I got an idea....you wanted tea, I'll give you tea. His eyes were alive and a little brighter than usual. **What trick was he planning?** I wondered as he reached for the tea cup from the side of the bed. Jer filled his mouth with the remaining bit of fragrant liquid, and with great care, leaned over to seal his lips back to mine. I guessed now what it was he intended to do and opened up again to my love as he fed me warm mint tea directly out of his mouth. I was devastated by the intimacy, the sensuality of this simple sharing. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced. ....to be continued.....