Falling

Six (The Setup)

A golden ring nudges black sky, pushing the sky's umbra into light gray for a moment. The sky waits, as if holding its breath. 

It gasps when radiant yellow colored bands push away from the sun's fiery center and expand to north and south as far as one can see. Morning sunrise has made its glorious entrance. I can't take my eyes away from this awesome sight.

"Good morning, Sam."

The words speak like silk, spilling out in gentle wisps of caressing air.

Her startling words rush through my brain, jerking my body around.

"Hey! I'm happy to see you." The words fumble sensible sounds onto the edges of my lips.

Lyla reaches out her right hand. I take it in mine, expecting a normal greeting. Her gentle warmth draws a pleasing sound from my body, like the notes of a haunting melody. You're my sunrise today.

"How can I help today?"

A smile takes the corners of her red lips and pushes her light brown cheeks up toward ebony eyes. Two little half moons dance on their languid surfaces.

"Well." The word gets caught in my throat.

I throw my right hand over my mouth and limply cough into the desire her touch has left there.

"Well...Okay...You could help with the bread."

"Sure."

Her eyes catch my attention and draw me into a moment that's calling for more of her touch.

Its ten o'clock and the jangling line of women and children are winding around the corner until they stop in front of an open space under a sign that announces Grace's Kitchen.

"Help!"

A muffled scream reaches out to my attention. The sound forces my eyes away from Lyla's face, turning my vision onto the open street fronting the Kitchen.

"That's right, yell!" Boss Man pokes his forefinger into her side to make her scream louder.

I sees him. Must be that Sam guy. He's run'n down the street after me. And, Lyla is hangin' back.

Good girl.

It'll be ya turn after this little show is done.

"Stop!" He's yelling now.

I turn, face'n him, and be give'n the girl another poke.

"Help...Help!"

The little urchin be scream'n.

I be stand-in still and wait'n.

He stands up real close and be reach'n out his right hand.

"I'll take her now," he says, his eyes all flash'n with light.

The light be smash'n into my eyes and makes my brain go all fuzzy, cause-in my arms to swing away from the little girls body, like some-thins open'n a door.

I hears a car door open behind, I scrambles for it.

I look back as the car door slams shut.

The little girl is run'n into his arms.

Lyla is a rush'n up to where that Sam guy be stand'n.

The roar of the engine be pull'n us away...down the street.

I bends over and rubs my eyes, tryin' to rub the cotton out'a my brain.

"You all right, Boss Man?"

Trip asks from behind the driver's seat. His voice be start'n far away before his words finally crash into ma ears.

"Yeah. It be Lyla's turn now."

The little girl is pushing into my embrace. Retching sobs shudder through her little body. Lyla's warm hand clutches my shoulder.

"Is she okay?"

Her velvet voice is slipping into my brain...soothing rattled nerves that had provoked the light once again.

"Yeah. Let's head back to the Kitchen," the words escape from hurried emotions that have left no time for practical reasoning.

A woman comes running toward us and scoops her up with clinging arms, hugging the small bundle tight against her body while showering her little head with kisses.

The little girl collapses in her mother's arms. Her head dangles over the woman's shoulder.

"Thank you!" Tears are streaming down her black cheeks.

"Are you all right?" Lyla is asking.

My brain is jolted out of the light-induced fog with her warm arms wrapping around my body.

"Wow!" She whispers into my ear. "That was impressive!"

My arms reach around and pull her closer. Ebony eyes draw mine into the dance of those little white moon shapes.

A warm wave washes through my body and I touch her lips with mine.

The day evaporates. There's just us, two warm bodies standing in the aura of a smiling sun.

Gotcha!

The word splashes inside my head. But, in this moment I don't care. I surrender.

I force my face back.

"Hmmm." The low note vibrates in my head. I let my arms fall away from around her body.

Two solitary smiles remain, eyes pondering the other's kiss.

The unexpected moment sends my eyes clamoring. My melting brain is trying to introduce some sense of what just happened into the space between us.

Her face turns away, breaking the spell the kiss has cast over my brain.

She laces her fingers into mine.

"We better get back before someone calls the cops," she says.

I'm still caught in the moment. I don't want to let any of it go. Her hand willfully grasping mine. Her words push some sense of real time into a whole company of rampaging emotions.

Still a question keeps nagging at my brain. What's behind all of this?