Post by excalibur on Mar 28, 2012 15:32:04 GMT -5
The following Chapter is from my book so please don't use this without strict permission from me 
Prologue
Dreams of Old
““The dust layer was disturbed only by day old tracks, what kind could be anyone’s guess as they faded into the night’s draft of air. Lightning struck in the distance stopping me in my tracks, the air promised rain to the dry earth. I shivered slightly at the chilly breeze that swept past my fur coat, its fingers tracing its way across the land covered by the late dusk’s darkening blanket. The grey clouds were already fading away in its sombre colours. The distant storm only brought a need to make haste to my heart.
The path ahead looked simple, yet somehow I knew something dangerous was hidden from view. I needed to make haste, time was of the essence, ‘Strange… these things that go through my mind, they’re not like me.’ I find myself more than once calculating how to approach the cave up ahead correctly and sneaking silently among the brush. I glance up in the direction of the supposed location of the entrance.
Trying in vain to steady my quivering cold hands as I search for my quarry, feeling irritated at the telltale sound of sandstone rocks crushing under my leather boots up the trodden track. Each intake of breath escapes in small puffs in the cold night air, though nothing completely distracts me of the set determination of what lies ahead.
Taking a few steps around a large boulder next to me I see it, anticipation of the fight tingles through my body. Fight? The thought barrels into my mind. Why would I be excited about a fight? I try to halt the sure footsteps of my traitorous feet. Each taking me closer towards the cave, but nothing, I felt only privy to observation in the body, the true commands for the limbs coming from someone else’s mind. Suddenly afraid of what was happening to me.
Concentrating solely on being silent as the night, the hunting element of me takes the last few soft steps to the side of the cave. Before I realized it I was following him. I tried shaking my head clear but again nothing, my hand reached down to pick up a handful of sand studying it carefully. Senses I never had told me a story that my adversary is close. Thrilling with the success in tracking it down, I take step by step into the cave. I try to breathe silently but the anticipation seems to make everything louder. All I could do was move in a soft steady pace into the pitch black cave.
After a short while I started to feel uncomfortable in the dark. Rather both our minds in the same body realized we can see nothing but blackness.
I was long since afraid of going in further, but only now it seemed to affect this infuriating other part of me. I was almost glad of him a moment later, when he thought of getting some light in the darkness. I was eager when my hand reached for the pouch on my hip. “A flashlight! Finally.” I thought, but then I was surprised when my hand didn’t take out a flashlight, but rather a small stone with a very strange marking on it. I was deeply disappointed, this whole situation was absurd, but a second later I could feel a strange thought surfacing in my mind, activating the glyph?
‘What is going on?’
I couldn’t make out why I was thinking about a glyph, I didn’t even know what it meant. Then only a moment into my deliberations my gloved hand touched the strange marking.
I could feel energy surging towards the stone. All that could describe the feeling was amazement when the stone started to glow with light. Before I could inspect the impossible stone further my head turned away from it and looked deep into the cave. The rock fragment seemed to light a few meters in every direction. Glad for the light I felt strangely at ease again, even though I reluctantly admitted I was on a hunt.
My body sprang into an attack stance a moment later when a small rat like fur ball went scurrying past me. I sighed and let out a breath of relief as I took the tension from my muscles. I ventured deeper into the cave walking until I heard soft breathing sounds from around what seemed a bend in the cave.
My sword hand gripped the hilt tighter bringing the cold blade to my front. I was terrified, but strangely the other side of my split personality soothed my nerves with its calm determination, I hated him for it. Following the sound of the sleeping prey my feet edged forward, slow but certain, I tried in vain to halt them.
Abruptly the equal breathing stopped, and I felt my heart miss a beat.
The hand with the glow stone shot into my pocket as I quickly held my breath. In the darkness I heard a growling voice, “Ah, I wondered… when you would come to face me"
Each word carried calculated malice, but before I could wonder what could make such unearthly sounds I replied with a cool calm voice that startled me with its unfamiliarity, “You will pay for the hundreds that lay dead because of you monster!”
I felt the rage build inside of me for the treachery the creature has committed. My hand brought out the glow stone, casting light to the small cavern.
Lifting my sword I studied the remaining shadows and saw the red glowing eyes of my target, its length only slightly visible. It was four meters to my guess, the scales of its tail grinding over the rock. My heart quivered with fear, but not to my surprise my sword arm was steady and ready for the fight. My feet started toward the higher ground we both desired.
Rain buffeted rock, off to where I knew the entrance to be, lightning struck outside the cave and thundered into its depths as the storm brewed. Small leaks sprung up at places around me, but its lulling distraction was far from my mind. I tensed my muscles swiftly and screamed as I charged the creature. At the same time its maw surged into sight followed by a deafening growl.
Sword leading me I dodged the first strike of its claws…
_
missing piece
_
Chapter One
Waking up
“Calin!!! Wake up! There is nothing there. Wake up.”
Calin opened his eyes as cold sweat dripped from his brow. His throat was dry as he croaked, “It was a dream after all,” to nobody in particular. Then he realized he was gripping someone’s arm.
After a short moment Calin let go and put his hands to his temples and rubbed at the dull throb as a voice hammered into his already aching head. “Thank the heaven your awake, you gave me a right fright there, with all the shouting and bizarre mutterings Calin, you could have woken up an entire street! Small wonder you didn’t wake Misses T—”
Calin spun his head toward the door expecting the worst to happen, but finally he let up and looked to his side to see the tall lean boy with sandy brown hair and a sly smile on his face looming over him, Jerry.
Calin groaned, but said, “Okay Okay I’m awake and Misses T is not coming, so you don’t have to lean over me like I’m going to disappear.” Jerry snorted at him and said, “Well after all you were saying in your sleep, I’m starting to wonder if you won’t jump up and run through the door disappearing into thin air, whoooo” Jerry wagged his fingers like doing hocus pocus. Calin stifled another groan still rubbing his temples as he said, “Okay enough with the spirit fingers, or I’ll throw ice cold water over you next time you sleep!”
Jerry jumped away in mock horror. “Oooh and now I’m supposed to be afraid, it’s not like Misses Talsen will let you go as far as the river alone, never mind the beach. And when we do go, I’d be there watching.” Jerry smiled at his sigh, but Calin relented and said, “True words, anyway I’m not afraid of the river or the sea, unlike you haha, but hey, maybe I’ll get lucky soon, so watch it…and there is always the mill.”
The boy’s eyes narrowed in a ‘you wouldn’t dare look’ at Calin, but Jerry laughed after a moment and moved away from him back toward his own wooden framed bed, lying down with its posts creaking the boy said, “So are you going to tell me what that dream was about? I’m quite curious, I just heard you like, shouting about a vanishing man in the air and something about fighting a monster with a sword, not to mention the war cry you did… so freaked me out that one, but I’m still curious.”
Calin paused while lifting an eyebrow, Jerry was glancing his way and said in an exasperated voice. “Come on. Tell me! It’s not like I’ll go tell Misses Talsen all about your nightmares.”
Calin smiled and nodded in agreement, Jerry wouldn’t dare the feat.
Looking at the ceiling he thought back to what he could remember. The whole thing was crystal clear until he had seen that grey sky, everything seemed so real, it was as if I was there.
Though he utterly believed it couldn’t have been real, there were magic barriers, forests disappearing into thin air and definitely not to mention the scaled, talking monster he had fought. Calin closed his eyes, those things do not exist, but I had a father there? …I wish it could’ve been real. After a moment Calin snorted and chuckled, I must SERIOUSLY be going crazy. Then he became aware that Jerry was calling him.
“Earth to Calin! Wow, welcome back, what were you laughing about?”
Calin sat up glancing for a moment at Jerry, but then dropped his eyes to the cold stone floor when he said. “Nothing… Or Rather at how strange a dream I had, it felt like I was really there seeing the forest disappear behind me, wishing I could go back. Strange enough when I fought, it felt like I was really swinging the blade. I even felt the swings making my muscles tired and yet it felt like I was not there, you understand what I mean.” Calin looked back at Jerry and there was a total bewildered look on the boy’s face.
“Gosh you are going crazy mate, I think you’ve swallowed too much sea water when we went diving last week for food.”
Calin picked up his black shoe, aimed and threw it at Jerry. The shoe barely missed the boy as he dodged, quickly shouting back. “Hey! Watch it!”
Calin only smiled but replied smugly, “Cold water mate, you know it is coming!”
Jerry was pulling a nasty face at him, but the last few years living with Jerry was enough to know that as he turned on his side and closed his eyes that Jerry was smiling. The game was on.
***
Waking up the next morning Calin let out a great yawn. He had slept dreamless the rest of the night, which was a small blessing, Thursdays always promised the most work.
After a few moments of staring at the dark ceiling and the jutting stones out of the wall he slowly got out of bed, still sleepy as he made his way over into the small washing room.
He dragged his hand over his face in an attempt to wipe the sleep away. Though achieving none of it as he looked into the mirror, his stormy blue eyes rimmed with red lines from the rough night. Calin dipped his hands in the cold water and started to splash his face, enjoying the cool effect of it hitting his unlined young seventeen year old face, almost eighteen, he mused.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he was an orphan he knew he would catch more girls’ eyes. He chuckled at himself for the vain thought, he was who he was, nothing I can do about that. Dropping the sombre thought he started to wet his dark brown hair, trying in vain to sort out all the hair standing up.
Satisfied at last he walked to his drawer and quickly donned a slate coloured shirt over his developing shoulders. Cursing at the tight fitting shirt, he struggled into it.
Calin discerned he was growing, even getting broader shoulders, but at this rate he would be forced to go buy new clothes with the little money he can scrape together working at the docks. At least his shorts still fit probably as he buttoned up the black cargo pants. He had scored them from one of the rich kids who had outgrown theirs.
There was a moment when he wished he could climb back in bed as he passed it. He was not sure how to handle the confusing images of the dream.
Normally he would classify a night’s dream as either good or bad and then forgotten quickly as his day started. Yet the dream from the night before was different, it was too vivid and it stuck to his mind like super glue.
An old yearning to belong to a real family tugged at his heart at that instant.
Unfair to his mind that a child should go through his life without knowing his real parents, a cruel joke he sometimes mused. Even though what he had dreamed was his minds working he wondered still if the people in it were somehow the true family he had lost.
He chuckled at himself day dreaming after a fantastical world where he lived with his family, a world full of magic and wonder. Jerry would mock him for weeks if he could read his thoughts now, then he remembered the boy and dismissed his own musings.
***
Calin smiled, walking over to Jerry’s bed with a spring in his step. He didn’t have cold water, this time, but a good fright would go miles too. He stood ready at the drooling unsuspecting kid, sleeping peacefully, totally happy with his lot and leaped on the part of the bed next to him shaking wildly as Calin shouted urgently. “Jerry!! Get up!! You’re late for work! Mr. Brans will have your hide if you don’t get up now!”
It had the desired effect. Jerry started in surprise next to him, totally bewildered as the boy grabbed at his closest clothes. Jerry was jumping up and down trying to get the long pants over his hips. All the while heading for the door, but before he reached it Calin was rolling on the bed laughing.
The frantic struggle of the boy seized and he glanced up to see Jerry casting him a suspicious glare before the boy looked at the clock. It dawned slowly on Jerry’s face as his eyes narrowed with murderous intent.
Calin just shrugged his shoulders with a broad smile. He might need to be getting some distance, but Jerry was at the only door. The tall boy spoke with a harsh tone back at him, but there was a smile touching his lips as he said, “You little... bugger!! I can’t believe you did that. I’m not even working there this week.”
Calin laughed all the harder, but tried to compose himself a bit to reply, “I couldn’t resist buddy.”
The boy jumped at him, but Calin dodged to the side throwing a shirt lying on the floor at Jerry.
He was wrestling with the boy before too long, but the sound of footsteps and a voice down the small tiled hallway stopped him and Jerry in their tracks. “Boys! Are you ready for work? You better be, or I will send you both to work at Mr. Brans’s for a week.”
Both of them glanced in fear at each other before jerking away from their counterpart, trying to look like they were ready as the small rounded woman’s heals clicked closer. Calin was red faced from the wrestling, no doubt about it. He tried to smooth his shirt, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
He held his breath as the woman entered their room. She wore her yellow flowered dress that made him always think she was stuck back in the sixties with her fashion, but he would never tell her that. Even though she took him and Jerry both in out of the kindness of her heart she was downright scary half the other times. She took care of him and has shown Calin something he would never have known on the streets. He was always grateful for everything she gave them, but at moments like these he wished he could disappear.
Before he could ponder the thought further he remembered to breathe, letting it out like a gush.
Talsen spun on him and he couldn’t help but flinch, he wished he was the brick wall next to him. The woman huffed as she said, “You there boy! You look all flushed and bothered. Hiding something? I think... I should send you to Mr. Brans, he would set you right quickly enough. Or you could tell me what you are hiding?”
Calin glanced fearfully around the room seeing Jerry’s head hung low as if to hide his mirth, but there was no time for that now and he replied almost with a stutter. “No...Misses T...T , I splashed my face with hot water a minute ago.” It was half the truth, but he did not want to be rebuked by Mr. Brans at the docks. Talsen scolded with words, but Hugo Brans had a wicked cane he was not scared to use on wayward boys.
The man was a good man, but he had a brutal swing to his arm. Calin almost groaned at the thought, but Talsen quickly spoke her line of thought. “Good to hear you have the sense to wash, unlike your friend here, eh Jerry Jake Eberyn?”
Calin almost felt sorry for the boy, but then again certain she won’t be too hard on him. Jerry had come to the house a couple of years ago to live with them, even though Jerry’s now deceased parents left him enough money to keep him happy for many years.
Calin remembered the surprise when he had discovered the fact and that Jerry was using some of it to help Misses Talsen out at times. He always wanted to ask Jerry why he chose to live such a simple life, but always forgot.
The boy’s expression spoke of his confidence in the fact that she won’t, but they were both wrong as she scolded at Jerry’s smile and said in a testy tone. “Better wipe that smile of your face Jerry, and wash it while you’re at it! I think you will come help me with the laundry ladies today down in mid town square.”
Shocked he glanced to see Jerry’s own frown, but Jerry quickly protested. “Come on Misses T! I hate working there, those ladies pinch my cheeks half the time!”
Calin wanted to laugh but kept his mouth as the woman lifted an eyebrow at Jerry and said, “Eh? Or would you rather go work at Mr. Brans for a week?”
He looked at Jerry and guessed the boy had realized his error. Jerry jumped a little next to him, but quickly responded with an adamant denial. “No Misses T! I will go to the launders with you today.” Standing close to him Calin could barely make out a resigned groan from Jerry.
With that the lady left the room and Calin tried to pinch Jerry’s cheek, but the boy swatted him away and said, “I don’t know about you, but you will be late if you don’t go now.”
Calin saluted Jerry and hurried off out of the house. Today, he thought, was going to be a good day as he closed the dark wooden door behind him, at least he hoped so.
Prologue
Dreams of Old
““The dust layer was disturbed only by day old tracks, what kind could be anyone’s guess as they faded into the night’s draft of air. Lightning struck in the distance stopping me in my tracks, the air promised rain to the dry earth. I shivered slightly at the chilly breeze that swept past my fur coat, its fingers tracing its way across the land covered by the late dusk’s darkening blanket. The grey clouds were already fading away in its sombre colours. The distant storm only brought a need to make haste to my heart.
The path ahead looked simple, yet somehow I knew something dangerous was hidden from view. I needed to make haste, time was of the essence, ‘Strange… these things that go through my mind, they’re not like me.’ I find myself more than once calculating how to approach the cave up ahead correctly and sneaking silently among the brush. I glance up in the direction of the supposed location of the entrance.
Trying in vain to steady my quivering cold hands as I search for my quarry, feeling irritated at the telltale sound of sandstone rocks crushing under my leather boots up the trodden track. Each intake of breath escapes in small puffs in the cold night air, though nothing completely distracts me of the set determination of what lies ahead.
Taking a few steps around a large boulder next to me I see it, anticipation of the fight tingles through my body. Fight? The thought barrels into my mind. Why would I be excited about a fight? I try to halt the sure footsteps of my traitorous feet. Each taking me closer towards the cave, but nothing, I felt only privy to observation in the body, the true commands for the limbs coming from someone else’s mind. Suddenly afraid of what was happening to me.
Concentrating solely on being silent as the night, the hunting element of me takes the last few soft steps to the side of the cave. Before I realized it I was following him. I tried shaking my head clear but again nothing, my hand reached down to pick up a handful of sand studying it carefully. Senses I never had told me a story that my adversary is close. Thrilling with the success in tracking it down, I take step by step into the cave. I try to breathe silently but the anticipation seems to make everything louder. All I could do was move in a soft steady pace into the pitch black cave.
After a short while I started to feel uncomfortable in the dark. Rather both our minds in the same body realized we can see nothing but blackness.
I was long since afraid of going in further, but only now it seemed to affect this infuriating other part of me. I was almost glad of him a moment later, when he thought of getting some light in the darkness. I was eager when my hand reached for the pouch on my hip. “A flashlight! Finally.” I thought, but then I was surprised when my hand didn’t take out a flashlight, but rather a small stone with a very strange marking on it. I was deeply disappointed, this whole situation was absurd, but a second later I could feel a strange thought surfacing in my mind, activating the glyph?
‘What is going on?’
I couldn’t make out why I was thinking about a glyph, I didn’t even know what it meant. Then only a moment into my deliberations my gloved hand touched the strange marking.
I could feel energy surging towards the stone. All that could describe the feeling was amazement when the stone started to glow with light. Before I could inspect the impossible stone further my head turned away from it and looked deep into the cave. The rock fragment seemed to light a few meters in every direction. Glad for the light I felt strangely at ease again, even though I reluctantly admitted I was on a hunt.
My body sprang into an attack stance a moment later when a small rat like fur ball went scurrying past me. I sighed and let out a breath of relief as I took the tension from my muscles. I ventured deeper into the cave walking until I heard soft breathing sounds from around what seemed a bend in the cave.
My sword hand gripped the hilt tighter bringing the cold blade to my front. I was terrified, but strangely the other side of my split personality soothed my nerves with its calm determination, I hated him for it. Following the sound of the sleeping prey my feet edged forward, slow but certain, I tried in vain to halt them.
Abruptly the equal breathing stopped, and I felt my heart miss a beat.
The hand with the glow stone shot into my pocket as I quickly held my breath. In the darkness I heard a growling voice, “Ah, I wondered… when you would come to face me"
Each word carried calculated malice, but before I could wonder what could make such unearthly sounds I replied with a cool calm voice that startled me with its unfamiliarity, “You will pay for the hundreds that lay dead because of you monster!”
I felt the rage build inside of me for the treachery the creature has committed. My hand brought out the glow stone, casting light to the small cavern.
Lifting my sword I studied the remaining shadows and saw the red glowing eyes of my target, its length only slightly visible. It was four meters to my guess, the scales of its tail grinding over the rock. My heart quivered with fear, but not to my surprise my sword arm was steady and ready for the fight. My feet started toward the higher ground we both desired.
Rain buffeted rock, off to where I knew the entrance to be, lightning struck outside the cave and thundered into its depths as the storm brewed. Small leaks sprung up at places around me, but its lulling distraction was far from my mind. I tensed my muscles swiftly and screamed as I charged the creature. At the same time its maw surged into sight followed by a deafening growl.
Sword leading me I dodged the first strike of its claws…
_
missing piece
_
Chapter One
Waking up
“Calin!!! Wake up! There is nothing there. Wake up.”
Calin opened his eyes as cold sweat dripped from his brow. His throat was dry as he croaked, “It was a dream after all,” to nobody in particular. Then he realized he was gripping someone’s arm.
After a short moment Calin let go and put his hands to his temples and rubbed at the dull throb as a voice hammered into his already aching head. “Thank the heaven your awake, you gave me a right fright there, with all the shouting and bizarre mutterings Calin, you could have woken up an entire street! Small wonder you didn’t wake Misses T—”
Calin spun his head toward the door expecting the worst to happen, but finally he let up and looked to his side to see the tall lean boy with sandy brown hair and a sly smile on his face looming over him, Jerry.
Calin groaned, but said, “Okay Okay I’m awake and Misses T is not coming, so you don’t have to lean over me like I’m going to disappear.” Jerry snorted at him and said, “Well after all you were saying in your sleep, I’m starting to wonder if you won’t jump up and run through the door disappearing into thin air, whoooo” Jerry wagged his fingers like doing hocus pocus. Calin stifled another groan still rubbing his temples as he said, “Okay enough with the spirit fingers, or I’ll throw ice cold water over you next time you sleep!”
Jerry jumped away in mock horror. “Oooh and now I’m supposed to be afraid, it’s not like Misses Talsen will let you go as far as the river alone, never mind the beach. And when we do go, I’d be there watching.” Jerry smiled at his sigh, but Calin relented and said, “True words, anyway I’m not afraid of the river or the sea, unlike you haha, but hey, maybe I’ll get lucky soon, so watch it…and there is always the mill.”
The boy’s eyes narrowed in a ‘you wouldn’t dare look’ at Calin, but Jerry laughed after a moment and moved away from him back toward his own wooden framed bed, lying down with its posts creaking the boy said, “So are you going to tell me what that dream was about? I’m quite curious, I just heard you like, shouting about a vanishing man in the air and something about fighting a monster with a sword, not to mention the war cry you did… so freaked me out that one, but I’m still curious.”
Calin paused while lifting an eyebrow, Jerry was glancing his way and said in an exasperated voice. “Come on. Tell me! It’s not like I’ll go tell Misses Talsen all about your nightmares.”
Calin smiled and nodded in agreement, Jerry wouldn’t dare the feat.
Looking at the ceiling he thought back to what he could remember. The whole thing was crystal clear until he had seen that grey sky, everything seemed so real, it was as if I was there.
Though he utterly believed it couldn’t have been real, there were magic barriers, forests disappearing into thin air and definitely not to mention the scaled, talking monster he had fought. Calin closed his eyes, those things do not exist, but I had a father there? …I wish it could’ve been real. After a moment Calin snorted and chuckled, I must SERIOUSLY be going crazy. Then he became aware that Jerry was calling him.
“Earth to Calin! Wow, welcome back, what were you laughing about?”
Calin sat up glancing for a moment at Jerry, but then dropped his eyes to the cold stone floor when he said. “Nothing… Or Rather at how strange a dream I had, it felt like I was really there seeing the forest disappear behind me, wishing I could go back. Strange enough when I fought, it felt like I was really swinging the blade. I even felt the swings making my muscles tired and yet it felt like I was not there, you understand what I mean.” Calin looked back at Jerry and there was a total bewildered look on the boy’s face.
“Gosh you are going crazy mate, I think you’ve swallowed too much sea water when we went diving last week for food.”
Calin picked up his black shoe, aimed and threw it at Jerry. The shoe barely missed the boy as he dodged, quickly shouting back. “Hey! Watch it!”
Calin only smiled but replied smugly, “Cold water mate, you know it is coming!”
Jerry was pulling a nasty face at him, but the last few years living with Jerry was enough to know that as he turned on his side and closed his eyes that Jerry was smiling. The game was on.
***
Waking up the next morning Calin let out a great yawn. He had slept dreamless the rest of the night, which was a small blessing, Thursdays always promised the most work.
After a few moments of staring at the dark ceiling and the jutting stones out of the wall he slowly got out of bed, still sleepy as he made his way over into the small washing room.
He dragged his hand over his face in an attempt to wipe the sleep away. Though achieving none of it as he looked into the mirror, his stormy blue eyes rimmed with red lines from the rough night. Calin dipped his hands in the cold water and started to splash his face, enjoying the cool effect of it hitting his unlined young seventeen year old face, almost eighteen, he mused.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he was an orphan he knew he would catch more girls’ eyes. He chuckled at himself for the vain thought, he was who he was, nothing I can do about that. Dropping the sombre thought he started to wet his dark brown hair, trying in vain to sort out all the hair standing up.
Satisfied at last he walked to his drawer and quickly donned a slate coloured shirt over his developing shoulders. Cursing at the tight fitting shirt, he struggled into it.
Calin discerned he was growing, even getting broader shoulders, but at this rate he would be forced to go buy new clothes with the little money he can scrape together working at the docks. At least his shorts still fit probably as he buttoned up the black cargo pants. He had scored them from one of the rich kids who had outgrown theirs.
There was a moment when he wished he could climb back in bed as he passed it. He was not sure how to handle the confusing images of the dream.
Normally he would classify a night’s dream as either good or bad and then forgotten quickly as his day started. Yet the dream from the night before was different, it was too vivid and it stuck to his mind like super glue.
An old yearning to belong to a real family tugged at his heart at that instant.
Unfair to his mind that a child should go through his life without knowing his real parents, a cruel joke he sometimes mused. Even though what he had dreamed was his minds working he wondered still if the people in it were somehow the true family he had lost.
He chuckled at himself day dreaming after a fantastical world where he lived with his family, a world full of magic and wonder. Jerry would mock him for weeks if he could read his thoughts now, then he remembered the boy and dismissed his own musings.
***
Calin smiled, walking over to Jerry’s bed with a spring in his step. He didn’t have cold water, this time, but a good fright would go miles too. He stood ready at the drooling unsuspecting kid, sleeping peacefully, totally happy with his lot and leaped on the part of the bed next to him shaking wildly as Calin shouted urgently. “Jerry!! Get up!! You’re late for work! Mr. Brans will have your hide if you don’t get up now!”
It had the desired effect. Jerry started in surprise next to him, totally bewildered as the boy grabbed at his closest clothes. Jerry was jumping up and down trying to get the long pants over his hips. All the while heading for the door, but before he reached it Calin was rolling on the bed laughing.
The frantic struggle of the boy seized and he glanced up to see Jerry casting him a suspicious glare before the boy looked at the clock. It dawned slowly on Jerry’s face as his eyes narrowed with murderous intent.
Calin just shrugged his shoulders with a broad smile. He might need to be getting some distance, but Jerry was at the only door. The tall boy spoke with a harsh tone back at him, but there was a smile touching his lips as he said, “You little... bugger!! I can’t believe you did that. I’m not even working there this week.”
Calin laughed all the harder, but tried to compose himself a bit to reply, “I couldn’t resist buddy.”
The boy jumped at him, but Calin dodged to the side throwing a shirt lying on the floor at Jerry.
He was wrestling with the boy before too long, but the sound of footsteps and a voice down the small tiled hallway stopped him and Jerry in their tracks. “Boys! Are you ready for work? You better be, or I will send you both to work at Mr. Brans’s for a week.”
Both of them glanced in fear at each other before jerking away from their counterpart, trying to look like they were ready as the small rounded woman’s heals clicked closer. Calin was red faced from the wrestling, no doubt about it. He tried to smooth his shirt, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
He held his breath as the woman entered their room. She wore her yellow flowered dress that made him always think she was stuck back in the sixties with her fashion, but he would never tell her that. Even though she took him and Jerry both in out of the kindness of her heart she was downright scary half the other times. She took care of him and has shown Calin something he would never have known on the streets. He was always grateful for everything she gave them, but at moments like these he wished he could disappear.
Before he could ponder the thought further he remembered to breathe, letting it out like a gush.
Talsen spun on him and he couldn’t help but flinch, he wished he was the brick wall next to him. The woman huffed as she said, “You there boy! You look all flushed and bothered. Hiding something? I think... I should send you to Mr. Brans, he would set you right quickly enough. Or you could tell me what you are hiding?”
Calin glanced fearfully around the room seeing Jerry’s head hung low as if to hide his mirth, but there was no time for that now and he replied almost with a stutter. “No...Misses T...T , I splashed my face with hot water a minute ago.” It was half the truth, but he did not want to be rebuked by Mr. Brans at the docks. Talsen scolded with words, but Hugo Brans had a wicked cane he was not scared to use on wayward boys.
The man was a good man, but he had a brutal swing to his arm. Calin almost groaned at the thought, but Talsen quickly spoke her line of thought. “Good to hear you have the sense to wash, unlike your friend here, eh Jerry Jake Eberyn?”
Calin almost felt sorry for the boy, but then again certain she won’t be too hard on him. Jerry had come to the house a couple of years ago to live with them, even though Jerry’s now deceased parents left him enough money to keep him happy for many years.
Calin remembered the surprise when he had discovered the fact and that Jerry was using some of it to help Misses Talsen out at times. He always wanted to ask Jerry why he chose to live such a simple life, but always forgot.
The boy’s expression spoke of his confidence in the fact that she won’t, but they were both wrong as she scolded at Jerry’s smile and said in a testy tone. “Better wipe that smile of your face Jerry, and wash it while you’re at it! I think you will come help me with the laundry ladies today down in mid town square.”
Shocked he glanced to see Jerry’s own frown, but Jerry quickly protested. “Come on Misses T! I hate working there, those ladies pinch my cheeks half the time!”
Calin wanted to laugh but kept his mouth as the woman lifted an eyebrow at Jerry and said, “Eh? Or would you rather go work at Mr. Brans for a week?”
He looked at Jerry and guessed the boy had realized his error. Jerry jumped a little next to him, but quickly responded with an adamant denial. “No Misses T! I will go to the launders with you today.” Standing close to him Calin could barely make out a resigned groan from Jerry.
With that the lady left the room and Calin tried to pinch Jerry’s cheek, but the boy swatted him away and said, “I don’t know about you, but you will be late if you don’t go now.”
Calin saluted Jerry and hurried off out of the house. Today, he thought, was going to be a good day as he closed the dark wooden door behind him, at least he hoped so.