Page 44 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 2 #2
P. 44
39 LET ME TELL YOU A STORY
Never too old Jack – we need to go out on bedroom for the last time, smiling in the dark-
“the town together one nyght – it will be ness, assuring him once more that as long as
great – Falcon and Jack’s Great Adventure. I was there, no one and nothing would ever
It will liven up your heart,” Falcon said teas- harm him…….
ingly. Jack laughed his nervous laugh – the was just 13 when I left home and while my
one that told Falcon he hoped it would never I father had contributed importantly to my
come to that. The waitress who had known life, a legacy I still carry, he had also abused
Jack for years walked up to the table and said me terribly. That abuse had left me with a
to Jack, “The usual, hon?” As Jack always did, particular mark of Cain - while I could relate
he blushed slightly, looked down, and nod- to other men and had formed close relation-
ded that he would have the same as usual. She ships with a number of men over the course
turned to Falcon and said, “How bout you, of my life, there was rarely any warmth, com-
hon?” passion, or tenderness. I had come close to
efore Falcon could respond, Jack looked experiencing those things with Doug, another
Bup, grinning, and said, “Falcon will have unlikely friend, but I always seemed to remain
pasta faisola.” detached and at a safe distance.
et me tell you a story……… It rained this ut it was different with Jack. I couldn’t
Lmorning and as I lay wrapped in my bed, Btake care of him, I couldn’t be there for
my first thought was to do what I had done him, I couldn’t stand between Jack and the
for so many mornings. I sat up, looked for world without loving Jack as a son should love
my shoes, and prepared to walk next door to his father, as I should have loved my own but
check on Jack. Checking on Jack was some- never could. I couldn’t keep Jack’s trust with-
thing I did every morning and when I couldn’t out learning to be compassionate, patient, ten-
physically check on him, as I drove by I always der, and kind in ways I never thought possible
made sure that the right lights were on – the for me. I protected Jack because he was im-
ones that told me Jack was up and in his rou- portant to me, important because he was Jack
tine. and I loved him, cared for him, stood against
got as far as the front door before I remem- the world for him………without question.
I bered. Jack isn’t there any longer. I decided Without doubt. Without condition. Because
to walk over any way and as the cold rain scat- from the moment I met him, from the instant
tered over my face, I took my time crossing I extended my hand to him all those years ago,
the distance between our houses. I sat on the Jack had done the same for me, and somehow
porch as Jack and I had done so many times, two lives that should never have touched did.
not for a very long time, just for a few mo- t rains again. Softly. Quietly. Drifting mem-
ments. Just so I could remember. Iories over and around me. Memories of
remembered holding Jack in my arms, Jack. The often wry, irreverent sense of hu-
I assuring him that it would all be alright mour. The smile. The gentle reassurance that
though somewhere within me, I knew it would always seemed to be in his voice. The nyght
not be. I remembered walking Jack to the edge cries for me because I cannot – and so I re-
of the bed and helping him lay down, as I had member. I remember Jack. I hold him close to
always longed to do with my own father. And my heart. This nyght and every nyght as long
I remembered standing in the doorway to his as I shall live.
nyghtvision magazine Return to Contents volume 2, number 2, summer 2012
