Innocent Eyes

Chapter Four

I hope you enjoy listening to My Jolly Sailor Bold by Ashley Serena.
Cheers🥂

"Mason?"
I folded the paper and placed my violin in its case.
"Mason? Granny wants to tell us a tale. Mason come downstairs."

Steve was shouting, calling out my name.
I loved the tales, and I loved The Ugly Duckling more. I believed I was the so-called Ugly Duckling compared to my brother's heavenly beauty. I even asked once why everyone saying 'I am an ugly little boy', and mother assured me I was the cute duckling that would become a beautiful swan one day.

Steve being the older and wiser inculcated me that all mother's sayings were absurd lies and I wouldn't be a beautiful swan. I hated that old woman's odious stories all about wickedness and horrific endings and I always ended up crying out my eyes and begging Steve to stay the night with me.
I didn't want Steve to call me again. I knew too well father would beat the shit out of me if he found out I didn't obey my older brother.
He was the best-loved child and I didn't want father to run wild and break my thump, as he did once and I couldn't play the violin for three months.

I rushed down the stairs to the hall, Steve was already on granny's lap eating my favorite milk chocolate. My 5-year-old mind could not decipher why my father always gave all the chocolates to Steve،and him being a charitable brother gave me some only when I played with him.

"Oh, he finally came.sit on the floor boy."
I crunched down on the floor while eying Steve who was stuffing his face with chocolate. He was staring back at me knowing I wanted some chocolate too.
"Which tale do you like Steve?" She asked as caressing his soft brown hair.
"Umm, what about the mermaid and the sailor?" Grinning wickedly he shoved the last piece of chocolate in his mouth.
I pouted my eyes burning with tears.
It was my punishment for not playing with him in the back yard.

I didn't want to be an annoying weeping little boy in front of that old bitch.She already hated me so much and in her eyes, I was a disgrace for this momentous family.

I leaned to the nearest chair as I was watching granny pecking Steve's cheek.
"Once upon a time there was a beautiful mermaid princess living in the deepest waters, who had a magical spell to make every wish to come true. The king commanded his men to find the princess and bring her to the kingdom. A young brave sailor took his boat and sailed across the seas to find the princess. One night in the midst of the ocean sailor heard a magical and beautiful voice. A voice of a woman singing a beautiful melody.
The sailor knew it was the voice of the princess. There was a light deep in the water approaching the boat. And suddenly a beautiful woman with blue eyes and silver hair came out of the water. The sailor was mesmerized by her beauty, gazing at her beautiful tail covered in shining scales. The mermaid placed her head on the edge of the boat and smiled kindly at the sailor. He didn't know what to say, only came closer to caress her beautiful sparkling silver hair."

"Granny, was the mermaid princess that beautiful?"
Steve asked while he scooped his arms around the granny's neck.
"Of course my little boy, she was so beautiful."
"Granny? Did the sailor take the mermaid to the king?"
She didn't spare me a mere look, only caressed Steve's head.
"Yes...he did" she replied coldly .
"But...but what will happen when a sailor loves a mermaid?"

She instantly turned her head. Covering my mouth with my hand I shivered as I thought I probably talked too much.
"That is a doomed love, leading to death."
I didn't know what she meant.
"Umm, granny? What is a doomed love?"
She glared at me with disgust waving in her eyes.". A sailor can't love a mermaid. If he loves a mermaid he should drown himself deep in the water." I gasped as tears blurred my vision.
I stood and ran out of the hall to my room.
I didn't want the sailor to be drowned, my poor little self wanted him to marry the mermaid. I was sobbing on the floor when the door opened.

"Don't cry."
And instantly I felt arms wrapped me in a tight embrace while caressing my hair "I don't want the sailor to die."
Tears were streaming down my cheeks.
"Granny doesn't know the whole story. They will get married. Now if you stop crying I'll give you chocolate. I saved some for you."Steve said softly.

"How do you know the whole story?"
"I just know" He looked affectionately.
He took out a small piece from his pocket but fisted his palm as I reached to take the chocolate.
"Nah, I'll feed you, open your mouth."
I opened my mouth and he kindly put the chocolate in my mouth.
He chuckled when I closed my eyes in sheer relish, savoring the unexpectedly flawless taste of chocolate melting on my tongue.
He took my hand."Now let's play in the back yard."

My eyes fell on his hand holding mine"But I want to practice my violin lesson."
He frowned "You can practice after playing."
"But...but Mr. Kozlav will punish me if I don't practice the lesson."

"You can already play the violin better than that old man. You know what You love your violin more than me."
He uttered with raging fury in his tone and went straight towards my violin and took the bow in his hand.

I already knew what was about to happen, I could see the vivid image in his glaring eyes.
"Please...please..." I begged in utmost imploration.
"Now you will play with me every day." He said while attempting to bend the bow, and giving more pressure it broke in half.
"NO"
I lunged forward and pushed him hard on the floor.
"NO NO NO"
I was shouting wildly while beating him as hard as I could.

"Mason what are you doing"
Someone grabbed my arm and yanked me roughly away from Steve.
"Tell me what the hell happened"
Father shouted and I flinched wiping my face" He... He broke my violin's bow."
Steve who was now on his feet pouted and looked innocently at father "He's lying. Why would I break it? Dad, I never lie, I swear."
Father averted his raging gaze at me.
"You brat, you lied again." And I felt a burning pain on my cheek as I fell down on the floor. " How dare you accuse your older brother, He never lies. I'll tell Mr. Kozlav to cancel your lessons. There won't be a new bow till Christmas. That's what you deserve."

It was September. Scooping my knees I sobbed.
"Now you'll play with me every day."
I lifted my head to meet the hazel eyes staring back at me.
His hazel eyes.
His innocent eyes.

                                       ****

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