Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 05:30:44 -0500 From: C. E. Jordan Subject: THE VILLAGE BOY 6 The Village Boy c.e._jordan@mailandnews.com Just a little personal note to all the people who have written to me about the Village Boy. Thanks everyone, I hope I've responded personally to everybody. I'm still overwhelmed that so many folks seem to care about the characters in my story. It appears to have touched many in some essential way. I don't know what it is, but I hope I can keep that connection to readers going in anything I may attempt in the future. Tho' there's often a long lag time between episodes, because of `real life' commitments, you have patiently hung in there with me. Thanks. And you've really inspired me to keep this little saga going. I guess I may be a cockeyed optimist, but I think that whatever problems we happen to meet up with in life can usually be solved with just a little love, kindness, and thoughtfulness, no matter the ages of the persons involved. I apprecieate all the letters. Thanks again. Copyright c.e. Jordan THE VILLAGE BOY - Part 6 The Jazz-age poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, was a morphine addict and a bi-sexual proto-feminist who wrote the famous lines: "My candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night, But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends, it gives a lovely light." Although I had none of that poet's dire obsessions, I have to admit my own candle was now definitely on fire. But I hoped not to burn up in that `lovely light' anytime soon. **** The morning after Kevin's visit, `Dr Bob' returned my call around ten o'clock. I described for him what I had observed, and relayed to the best of my ability the brief information Eliza had given about her illness. Bob was silent for awhile. Then: "Bring her to my office day after tomorrow...it's the earliest I can see her...about nine in the morning. That should give us some time to act if I need to admit her immediately." I got a lump in my throat thinking about the sudden reality that the slight young woman I'd just met--and whom I liked, might actually be dying. I hung up after thanking Dr. Docter. Poor Jeremy. Poor Eliza Bell. It also occurred to me that I was actually two years older than the mother of the boy I loved so much. I had to find a way of letting him know that fact. I wondered how he'd take it. The phone rang again startling me out of my reverie. "Hello?" "Hey!" "Hey yourself....who is this?" I asked trying not to be annoyed. "It's Jeremy..." he said, sounding annoyed himself that I didn't recognize his voice immediately. "Oh, Jer, sorry, my mind was wandering off a bit..." "Well...hurry and catch it before it takes off for good." And he broke up in giggles at his own little joke. His innocent exuberance made me smile, made me feel slightly more optimistic about whatever it was we would have to face...together. "MOM!...." yelled Jeremy in my ear, "I got Charles on the phone..........Mommeee......you coming?" I heard Eliza's voice in the background saying, "I'll be right there baby, calm down...." then she was talking to me. "Charles? Sorry `bout that, Jer is just a wee bit over-excited." But I could hear a smile in her voice. "That's alright Eliza....so, could you guys come spend a day with me...today? "You want us to come visit you today? Umm.....I...I got some stuff to do...washing........er.....do you really want ME to come along? Eliza sounded doubtful. "Of course, I do. Forget the laundry, or just bring it along. I'll have it done for you. Remember, we have to talk...besides, it's getting near the end of summer, you should take a little break from the routine." On the phone I could hear Jer's excited voice in the background begging, "Say yes Mom, say yes....pleeeze?" "I.........okay Charles. When do you want us over?" "I'll send a car for you within the hour, is that alright?" "Yeah, okay." **** As I requested, the doorman notified me when the car was pulling into the long driveway in front of my building. I was already waiting in front of the sliding glass doors of my building when Jer erupted from the limo almost before it glided to a complete stop. The driver was Arthur, the same one who took Kevin home the night before. He and Jer helped Eliza out of the vehicle. She seemed even more insubstantial in the day or so since I last saw her. Jeremy took her hand, "You okay mom?" He sounded concerned. "Yes baby, you worry too much." Then she smiled at me, looking more than ever like a lost young girl, "Hello Charles." "Hi Eliza, glad you could come." And it seemed only natural that I should give her a peck on one cheek, then the other, European style. "Oh....," Her pale blue eyes blinked and she flushed slightly, which Jeremy noticed. "Ooooo Mom, Charles made you blush." His teasing laughter, caused her to redden even more. Her hands, active as usual, flew up to her cheeks as if to wipe away the embarrassing colour. "Leave your mom alone before I kiss you too, right here in public." I said hugging him playfully to me. "Okay....so go ahead, kiss me...I don't care.," said Jeremy, exaggeratedly puckering his lips and tilting his face up close to mine. His expression was pure mischief. Tempted, my head drifted down towards his waiting lips, but just in time, I noticed beyond his head, Eliza and Arthur the driver, standing by the car gazing with interest at our little display. I released Jer just as a neighbor walked by and nodded a curt good morning. "Well, we'd better go inside...." And turning to the driver I said, "Thanks Arthur, see you later." He waved and drove off. **** (to be continued.....)