Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 14:30:43 -0400 From: C. E. Jordan Subject: THE VILLAGE BOY 3 The Village Boy - III Copyright c.e._jordan@mailandnews.com Jeremy drew near me and slipped his hand into mine once more, "You wanna come in Charles?...We got coke...and Pizza.....". That hand was beginning to feel very comfortable in mine, but I glanced uncertainly at his mother wondering if she noticed any of this. Her eyes, blue--and pale as the rest of her, blinked, and I knew she saw the way we touched. Eliza nodded slowly, "Yes Charles, why don't you come in for awhile." And she led us down the narrow pathway of flat stones to four steps which descended to their basement apartment. I noticed for the first time she was barefoot. Small and fragile, it was still hard to believe that Eliza was old enough to be Jeremy's mother. to be continued.... **** The Village Boy Copyright c.e. jordan The apartment was neat, tiny, but comfortable. It was more or less, one long room with a shower and toilet, plus a closet-sized bedroom for Eliza. Jeremy, I found out, slept on the over-stuffed sofa which divided the kitchen from the living area. We sat around a small table in the bright yellow kitchen eating hot pizza. "Mom, may I have some more coke please?" asked Jeremy, "Sure, baby." Eliza turned to get the drink, but as she passed behind Jeremy, a funny surprised expression flashed across her face. Her son didn't see her lean gasping in pain against the wall for a moment. I stood up concerned. But she quickly put her finger to her lips in a `shush' sign and shook her head. Obviously, she didn't want Jer to know about whatever was bothering her. Jeremy was looking at me, probably wondering what made me stand up so suddenly, "You wanted something Charles?" "Uh....naw...I was gonna get another piece of pizza, but I changed my mind." By this time his mother was back at the table, "Baby, do you mind running to the corner store for another Coke please, we're all out." "Aww, mom...." Jeremy whined a bit, but snatched up the two bucks and was on his way, "I'll be right back Charles, okay?" And I was suddenly alone with his woman-child mother. There was a awkward moment of uncomfortable silence until I blurted, "Are you ill Eliza?" She looked at me quietly for a heartbeat, then asked her own question while ignoring mine. "Do you love my son Charles?" I was totally rattled by her unexpected directness. What did she mean? What kind of love was she talking about? "I....I...of course I love Jeremy, he's a really nice boy..." "That wasn't what I asked you, I'm his mother, I know he's a nice boy...he's also a very beautiful boy. I'm not blind--not yet. I see the way you look at each other and how he touches you...so Charles, do you love him?" I sighed, "Yes, I do....very much." Eliza sagged tiredly back into her chair, "Charles, Jeremy was born when I was his age--just fourteen....his father was Native American and only a year older. When he found out about the baby, he got scared I guess, so he took off, and I haven't seen him since. After Jeremy was born I got so much grief from my family, I took off myself, trying to get as far away as possible...life wasn't easy...it still isn't easy..and it's going to get a lot worse...for Jeremy." "What do you mean?" "Well...in answer to your original question...no, I'm not doing too good...I'm not gonna be around for my tweny-ninth birthday and I don't know what will happen to my baby....he doesn't have anyone but me and I can't see him fending for himself." I was stunned, to put it mildly. Eliza's face crumpled and I couldn't help it, I went around the table and held her delicate body in my arms, doing my best to comfort her. At which point Jeremy came bounding back into the room. His sneakers literally screeched against the old linoleum-covered floor as he came to a sudden halt. I could only imagine how this scene looked to him. There I was, supposedly his new loving friend holding his mom in my arms. Jer looked back and forth from me to his mom and back again. A couple of emotions flickered across his face, mainly confusion, and what appeared to be jealousy, "Hey! What's goin' on here....?" "Your mother's not feeling too well Jeremy, I was just helping her a bit," I blurted out. "It's nothing baby, just a stomach cramp. I must have eaten too much pizza too damned fast..." She laughed uncertainly. Now Jeremy's only expression was one of concern. He put down the brown paper-bag containing the Coca Cola and came around the table to where we were. "You know Mom, I noticed you been getting sick a lot lately...maybe you should go back to the free-clinic on Monday..." "Oh...you worry too much baby.' Eliza kissed her son lightly on the forehead as she poured dark sparkling liquid into a glass from the new bottle of soda. Eliza and I never had a chance to talk about what exactly was wrong with her before the boy returned home, so I jumped in, "Perhaps Jer's right...you should get a really good check up." And ignoring her pointed `cease and desist' looks, I plunged on, "Here's my card Eliza, call me tomorrow and I'll set up something in a proper institution--not the free clinic...and please don't worry about money, okay? I've got more than I can spend in a lifetime." The boy and his mother both blinked and stared at me curiously. And at that moment, I could see how much they actually resembled each other; the oval shape of their faces, full wet-looking lips always slightly parted. But where his mom was all pale light, Jeremy was darker. I didn't intend to let slip that infomation about my wealth, as it was something I normally hid. But it was true, nevertheless. My family had lots of money. But I'd made even more of my own as the wildly successful male writer behind an endless number of embarassing `bodice ripper' romance and gothic novels. For those I used a variety of female `nom de plumes'. I was also a very successful--and very expensive portrait painter. Eliza was beginning to appear fluttery and vague again, it seemed she couldn't decide whether to toss the remaining pizza into the garbage or put it into their little refrigerator. Jer took it from her and put it in the `fridge. "I have to go now...but I want you to call me tomorrow Eliza, don't forget." As I rose to leave she refocused, "Yeah, I'll call tomorrow Charles, we do have a lot to discuss, don't we...." She was watching Jeremy as he came to my side and reached for my hand again. "Mom, I wanna walk with Charles to the subway........may I? ....Pleeeeze mom?" "Alright, just come right back home, it's getting late." **** (to be continued)