The Foster Children of Time

Chapter Two: Alexandre

Chapter Two

          Two weeks later, Tony made his way along the North Padre Island beach, weaving through children darting in and out of the surf, college students tossing Frisbees and footballs, and folding beach chairs occupied by pastel-clad retirees solemnly staring at the waves rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico.  Tony’s mother had reluctantly admonished him not to wander too far, but she had her hands full looking after two of her sister Sylvie’s daughters.  Tony’s father had begged off the beach trip, staying behind to do a necessary inventory audit at the hardware store.  Arthur had already rejoined his regiment in Okinawa.  The outing had been planned for weeks, before Tony’s Mexican adventure.  Given the circumstances, Tony was not being trusted to stay home alone, so he had reluctantly tagged along, piling into his mother’s old minivan with his young cousins.  

          Tony’s parents had not reacted as severely as he had feared.  Elena had quite a few choice words for him.  Rudy, quiet as usual, had fixed him with a disappointed stare, which was somehow worse.  Hearing that he was grounded for a month almost seemed a relief after the horrors Tony had envisioned lay in store for him, reform school chief among them.  Fortunately, Elena had convinced the officer to let Tony off with a warning. 

          A flock of pelicans sailed overhead in formation, stately and unhurried, seeming to stand still in the air momentarily before banking towards the ocean.  Tony watched as they retreated into the distance.  A vaguely menacing bank of dark clouds had appeared over the horizon.

          “Are you on the tour?”

          “Huh?” asked Tony, startled.  A young man with sandy blond hair dressed in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers football jersey and shorts stood before him.  Something about him made Tony immediately desire his friendship.

          “Yeah,” said Tony finally, almost involuntarily.

          “I thought so.  I have one just like that,” he said, gesturing at the wolf-and-dragon pendant that Tony was now wearing around his neck. 

          Tony’s new acquaintance stared at him for a second and then grinned.

          You were on the other shuttle, right?”

          “Yeah, I was.” 

Having lied from the outset, Tony felt it would be awkward to retract his statement now.

          “I’m Alexandre.  With an “re” at the end,” he added, giving Tony the sense that this was something he did reflexively every time he introduced himself.

          “Tony.”

          “Cool.  How are you liking it?”

          Tony was momentarily puzzled by the question.  Alexandre sensed Tony’s confusion and made a circular motion with his head while raising his eyebrows, as if scanning the surroundings.

          “Oh!” said Tony.  “Yeah.  It’s alright you know.  Pretty much the same thing every time.  Jocks throwing footballs around, boogie boards, little kids digging with toy shovels throwing sand everywhere.”

          “Some pretty cute girls, huh?” 

          “Sure.”

Alexandre laughed. 

          “Hey, we have a few minutes to grab a Coke before we have to go.” 

Alexandre gestured towards the refreshment stand by the parking lot and trotted in that direction.  Tony followed.  Once they had drinks, they sat at a small round wooden table shaded by an oversized blue umbrella.