The Boy and the Animal

Part I | Thirteen

It really must have been a long time since I had seen my mother. The strangest feeling overcame me as she opened the door. She used to anticipate when I would come home, swinging the door open just before I reached the garden stones, but today she creaked it open just ajar to peek on the other side.

She was so small, I thought to myself. Her frame was thin, as if the wind could knock her away with just a subtle breeze, and I noticed more wrinkles on her face- and when had she had so many gray hairs. The sight of her hung on my heart, but, the moment she saw me, her sad face lit up.

"Happy birthday, Mama," I greeted her, handing her a single bright pink flower I had collected on the way.

"You damn scoundrel," she laughed, jumping into my arms. I grinned and held her, remembering when I was small enough to fit in those fragile arms. She held me so tightly, as if she was afraid I would disappear, and I kept my arms around her for as long as she needed me to. When she was satisfied, she reached up to cup my cheeks. I leaned down to face her and those warm eyes. "My sweet boy, you should be ashamed of making your mother worry like this."

"Sorry, Ma," I replied, kissing her forehead. "I thought you might forget I was gone with all that gold."

"Why you-" She began to scold me. Then, her eyes caught Jesiter's. For a moment, she seemed to recognize him, and I thought right then and there that the game was up. Then, she smiled and took his hands. I gave an inward sigh of relief. "Hello, you must be the reason for his departure. I'm Tabitha, but you can call me Mama."

Jesiter gave her a blank stare as she spoke. He glanced up at me for help. I couldn't help but laugh at the utterly confused and helpless sweat running down the side of his face.

"Ma," I interrupted them, wrapping my arm around Jesiter's shoulders. "This is Jesiter. He's from Vallywood up North, so he doesn't speak English." My mother pursed her lips for a moment at the name, swallowing, before she mouthed an 'oh' and nodded, turning back to the boy and smiling.

"Well, welcome, Jesiter," she lit up again, "oh, yes, what are we doing, come on in!"

Mom stepped away from the door and gestured for the two of us to enter the house. I took Jesiter's hand again, leading him into the house. Once inside, I was immediately met by the warmth and scent of home, and my heart fluttered.

It'd really been too long.

My mother shuffled passed us with a hurried gesture to follow her on her way to the kitchen and dining room. I turned to the boy, catching the look of deja vu on his face. He glanced up at me, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. I smiled, stroking his cheek with my thumb. Turning away from him then, I led him into the kitchen.

Inside, I found my mother frantically setting the table with our nice china and silverware, my father's only family heirlooms that she refused to sell. My sister stood over a stove as the woman bombarded her with the news of my arrival in such a shrill and excited voice that the girl had trouble understanding her. She turned away from the food and trailed her eyes over to me.

When on Earth had my little sister turned into a young woman? I forbade it, but it seemed, with the mature shape of her figure and face, wise eyes, and knowing lift of her chin, that she disobeyed.

The look of confusion soon melted into surprise, and then she just smiled with the saddest eyes I had ever seen her bear. Wiping those eyes, she set her ladle down and stepped over to me in that calm aura she held so well. Despite her calm, however, she hit me like a rock, squeezing the life out of her big brother with her lady arms. I grinned.

"Aw, come now, Sara, I wasn't gone that long," I chuckled. She kicked my shin.

"Dummy," the girl sniffled. She glanced over at Jesiter and blushed. "O-Oh, you really did find a wife... Are you pregnant yet?"