Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 10:15:23 -0400 From: C. E. Jordan Subject: THE VILLAGE BOY - Part 5 The Village Boy - Part 5 Copyright c.e._jordan@mailandnews.com From end of previous episode: The Village Boy _______ As I descended the stairs, I decided to tease him a little bit: "And take care of your `other' boyfriend too, give cute Kevy an extra hug for me." "Oh you.......". Jeremy looked around for something to throw at me as I ran down the steps but he couldn't find anything, "I'm gonna get you next time," he yelled. I reached the bottom of the stairs and looked up to see him still standing there silhouetted against the night sky just like the last time.....but this time around I knew I would definitely be seeing him again. "'Bye Chaaarles!" Jeremy shouted at the top of his lungs from the top of the long staircase causing the few other people going up and down the steps to turn and smile at me. I laughed, "'Bye Jeremy," I yelled back just as loud, "call me tomorrow." He was still standing there when I turned a corner deep into the station. __________________________________________ The Village Boy Copyright c.e._jordan@mailandnews.com THE VILLAGE BOY - Part 5 "What a difference a day made, Twenty four little hours, Brought the sun and the flowers... Where there used to be rain..." I was home again, collapsed on my carpeted floor. Sipping sparkling ginger ale and listening to Dinah Washington's lush, caressing voice singing lyrics that were the perfect sentimental punctuation to my day, I was in a mood for the old classics--music by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, Nat King Cole--voices so totally cool, it's all about encompassing warmth. Still, my mind was turning cartwheels: Jeremy, Eliza, Kev. Kevin, Eliza, Jer. I was tired, but restless. All that had happened this day was amazing. "My yesterday was blue dear, Today I'm a part of you dear... My lonely nights are through dear, Since you said you were mine." With the soft flood of music eddying around me, I sat on the floor with my back pressed up against the sofa. I made a mental list of things I had to do. At the top of that list was Jer's mom. I lowered the music and immediately put in a call to Dr. Docter, my personal physician, and left a message on his answering service. The poor guy gets endless grief with folks making fun of the coincidence of his name. But Robert Docter--most folks just called him Dr. Bob--was actually a brilliant Oxford-trained medical whiz. I'll have him take a good look at Eliza as soon as possible. I turned the music up again..... "Lord, what a difference a day makes, There's a rainbow before me. Skies above can't be stormy, Since that moment of bliss .....that thrilling kiss...." "It's heaven when you... Find romance on your menu, What a difference a day made, And the difference ......is you...." As those last words of the song died away, I became aware of another sound, the chiming tones of my doorbell. It was not the more insistent whine sent up from the building's front entrance, but someone was actually right outside the elevator on my floor of which I was the only occupant. Frowning, I headed for the door. I had no idea whom it could be. I didn't expect anyone and nobody just came up to my floor without the doorperson announcing them. So it must be a neighbor from one of the lower floors...or...could it be......Jer?. I was smiling by the time I got to the door. It had to be Jeremy. That little devil must have followed me on the subway and sneaked into my building. If he meant to surprise me, he had certainly done that. I swept open the door. And my mouth fell open in shock. Standing there before me in his baggy clothing, still clutching his skateboard was.........Kevin! "Kevin? Wha.....how...how did you.......?" "I followed you on the subway, I had to know." I was mystified. "Had to know what?" "What you want with Jeremy." The boy glared at me belligerently, balling up his little fists, "Are you one of them child molesters? If you hurt Jer, I'll...I'll......do something....." Belligerence gave way to confusion. Kevin was on the verge of tears. He was a brave kid. It had to take a lot of determination and ingenuity to follow me, to actually get right into my apartment building; and it must have taken even more courage to confront this strange man he knew practically nothing about. I realized at that moment how much he loved Jeremy. "Why don't you come in Kevin." I stepped aside as the curly-haired boy reluctantly entered. He just stood there, a bit unsure of himself. "Please....sit Kevin...I won't bite." He perched at the end of the sofa still holding on to his skateboard like a shield. It appeared as if he was ready to flee at any moment. "I was just having something to drink...would you like a ginger ale, or maybe some coke?" He kept his eyes on me, but didn't say no, so I decided on Coke and poured some for him. As I placed the drink before him he asked again, "What d'you want with Jeremy?" I sighed and sat on the floor near his feet. I looked up into his face, "I don't really know Kevin." "What? You don't know? What do you mean you don't know?" "Well....what do YOU want with him?" I asked. "I........I............" His voice trailed off. The light behind him caught in his hair like a halo of fire. And as the warm glow spread across his cheek, I could see how soft and innocent that face was.....more like a ten year old than a thirteen or fourteen year old teenager. "It's Jeremy you think of the first thing in the morning, and you can't wait to see him every day, and just looking at him does funny things to your insides......you even dream about him sometimes......." Kevin's eyes grew bigger as he listened to me. His lower lip trembled, he reddened, and looked away. I was telling all his deepest secrets. I moved closer to him and spoke softly, "It's okay Kev, it's nothing to be ashamed of....... it seems we are in the same boat. You love him, don't you." A pause, then, still looking away from me, Kevin hugged his skateboard tightly to his body as he whispered the word: "Yes." "Then you don't have to worry Kev, I will never ever hurt Jeremy. You see, I love him also...and I think I can help him--and his mom. I'm not trying to take your place either, I already told Jer that I will love whomever he loves, and he told me he likes you an awful lot....maybe he even loves you too." "You think so?" The question was asked in a small shy voice. "Actually, I'm sure of it." I got up off the floor and sat next to him. I took a chance and put my arms around him and his skateboard. He didn't pull away. I think he just needed to be comforted at that moment. I glanced at my watch, it was almost eleven at night, "Damn! It's late. Your parents must be wondering where you are." He gently untangled himself from me and stood. "Naw, my mom's working until two tonight, she's a waitress...but she usually calls home near twelve to see if I'm alright. She'll get all worried if I don't answer the phone...then I'll be in trouble." I didn't bother to ask about his father, I was sure this boy didn't have a one either. He'd finally relaxed enough to become aware of his surroundings. While drinking his Coke he looked around with an expression close to awe on his face. My place, filled with art and other fine things, must have seemed like something out of a magazine to him. It was redesigned to my specifications on the top floor of the condominium, a former Chelsea factory. I let Kevin wander around investigating things while I called for a car. I don't drive, and I prefer to use New York's subway system to move about the city, but I retain a car service for those times I might need one. I didn't want Kevin riding the subway alone or waiting around for a slow cross-town bus at that time of night. I found Kevin with his forehead pressed up against the glass of the large windows which gave a panoramic view of the city looking uptown. The horizon was a deep purple glow shaded upward into star-studded darkness. Below, the lights of traffic and buildings resembled so many multi-coloured ribbons and sparkling jewels scattered on black velvet. I put an arm around his shoulder once more and I could feel his body slim and firm beneath his clothing. We stood there silently together for a few minutes. "Great view, huh?" "Yeah.....your whole apartment is so totally cool. It's so big!" "Well, Kevin, you're always welcome here....you still have to see the room with my computers, large screen TV and video games......there's even a game about skateboarding." I grinned to see the sparkle of the night had transferred itself to the dark blue of Kevin's eyes. "May I......?" "Nope, not now," I laughed, I have to get you home before your mom calls...but now that you know where I live, I hope you will come visit by yourself--or with Jeremy, okay?" "Alright." I took Kevin down to the car that was already waiting in front of the building. When Kev caught sight of the long sleek car, he whispered almost to himself, "Oh wow.....it's a limo!" Recognizing me, the driver got out and stood waiting beside the opened car door. "Good evening sir." "Good evening Arthur, this is Kevin, you'll be taking him home to the Village, he will give you the address, okay?" "Yes sir." Kevin placed his skateboard on the back seat, but just before entering the vehicle, he pulled me aside, "I have to ask you something Charles..." "Anything." "Please, Charles, don't tell Jeremy what I did...how I sneaked into your building and how I yelled at you...and...and..." "I don't know Kev, I shouldn't be keeping any secrets from Jeremy.....I don't think he'd mind anyway." "Please, pleeease Charles, don't tell him.....he might get mad at me...I couldn't stand it if he got mad at me...please Charles?" The boy was beginning to panic, so I said, "Alright Kevin, I won't say anything, but I think maybe YOU should tell him as soon as possible, you'll see, Jer will understand why you did it, because you care about him, I'm sure he won't be upset with you." "Oh, thanks Charles, thank you..." And impulsively, he wrapped his arms around me, hugging tightly. He abruptly broke away and gave an embarrassed glance at smiling Arthur still patiently waiting there beside the open car door, "Um....I'd better go." "See you soon Kevin." ****** Bemused, I stood watching the shiny black car ride noiselessly off and dissappear from the driveway. My life had suddenly got complicated; full of love, confusion, and uncertainty, it was the beginning of an adventure. Yes, I thought, recalling the words of the song, `what a difference a day made'. (to be continued....)