On That Day

Chapter 12 - UNUSUALLY LONG COMMA

The Sun was just setting. The Moon had come out. Everywhere was a bright orange – possibly an aurora; something we experience once a year. I have never had the observance to even look into the sky, so that I have only just discovered that clouds move by rolling. Yes: the Sun was just setting. The Moon had come out.

Quite dark at the moment. Then I saw a flash of light, and a stick flew past me. I strained my eyes, but could see no-one. So, I went stealthily, to the almond tree. And I just noticed then, the orange coloring all about.

''Come out, guy, Scythe!''

He made no sound

''Scythe! It's getting late. This should be around 8pm''

Then I saw two people enter the house and bang the gate hard. A boy and his mother. They walked up the elevation of our compound, said something unintelligible and went upstairs

''Charge!''

Then I felt my arm in a piercing grip, shortly after blocking a spear with my shield

''Charge! Got You!''

I breathed hard

''So you've won!''

''Yes – put down your sword. I saw those twerps''

''Who are they?'' said I

''The new tenants''

''Ah. . . hope it's a boy''

''Hope it's one cool boy with PS2. Better that way, and more specific''

''Yeah''

(''Draxler!'')

''Yes. Who's that!''

John, my cousin, walked up to us.

''Let's make houses''

''Oh. Shoot!'' Scythe now was in a dilemma: should he be eccentric and rude, or should he give in to his own wish? ''Erhm . . . what d'you say?'' he turned to me

''What! This is late! But, Okay. Let's start''

So, we got our sand. So, we got our bowls and space. So, we went to the frontyard. So,we sat down.

We worked/played for a long time, in silence. Then June July (another cousin) came in through the gate and said something surprising.

But, first, who is June July? A boy. Yes. Of 12 years. And extremely LAZY. He could pass by the Recharge Card shop but come home and send me out to buy from there. He could bring his food from the kitchen to the sitting-room but send me to the kitchen to bring water. He would open the cabinet twice a minute and tell me to close it back. He couldn't bear to see Scythe and I rest. Above ALL, he could be 16 centimeters away from his phone's charger but call me (lying down in the room) to come and help him fetch it. As expected, whenever I heard his voice my heart would leap.

Who was JuneJuly? The same as he is now. He was sometimes called by his friends: ''Carbon-12'' (I think they were experiencing that Elements, Compounds, Calculations, Atoms, Chemicals, Lab craze, which a certain Tutor of mine has given me reason to firmly remember) – probably because he was as black as coal. These days, I rather think it might be because he was an ardent fan of John Lennon, on whose forehead the media officially stamped ''666''; and Carbon has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.

''Look. Scythe! Errand-Boy!'' he said, pointing upward: ''It's already 10pm, and it's still like this!''

Hmm. . . now this was funny. What was this? True, the Sun had paused, now for about two hours.

''The Sun has paused!''

''The Sun, has, PAUSED!''

We were stupefied, but Scythe spoilt the show by yawning and walking straight into the house. June July meekly followed suit, but I stood gazing at the sky a long time.

I tell the truth: All this is history. As far as I know this is the closest reconstruction of what happened, which my memory can give me. I may have unintentionally distorted some things, but I firmly believe that the climax of this Comma has an indisputable Core. Is it not written in the Book of Jasher? – in case you don't believe me.

I did not look away for thirty minutes, until when I was resurrected by the fright of hearing a cry, seeing artificial stars: resulting in my taking off without my brain's consent.

While running, I glanced back and saw a bag of fat pursuing me (holding an unendingly long 'spear'). Suddenly, I felt much pain on the sole of my right foot (I was not wearing slippers) and fell. It was a nail. I looked up, rubbing the wound, to see how a bag of pillows could be moving of itself.

It was Big, the newboy.