Seasons of Heaven (12 page)

At the top of the stairs, Yann called for his mother,

“Mom? Are you there? Hey mom!”

Yann was suddenly awash with a feeling of loneliness as he stood there, arms dangling listening to the impenetrable silence that reigned throughout the house.

He was startled by the ringing of the doorbell.

“I’m coming!” he called out.

He took the stairs at top speed and vehemently clutched the front door knob when he reached it, pulling it open to reveal Shirley on the front step.

“Dear lord, this is the fastest you’ve ever opened the door,” Shirley told him, taking him in her arms.

“I'm so happy to see you Shirley,” Yann told her.

“So am I, sweetie,” she said, kneeling down, “You know what day it is today, don’t you?”

“It’s my birthday; I'm not silly you know I never forget anything.”

“Happy birthday big boy!” she told him with a kiss to his forehead. “You know I have a present waiting for you. Hold on.” Shirley reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a medallion. “Take this, it will protect you if you feel down or go through a hard time. It can also light up your nightmares.”

“That’s not true... I know you are telling me stories, but that’s ok, I love it anyhow, and I love you Shirley.”

“I love you too, my sweetheart. You are really smart for a young boy. You know, when I was younger my grandma used to tell me stories before I went to sleep. She used to say that there existed a magical place... “She wandered away from him as she spoke and excitedly, he said,

“Go on, do not stop, Shirley.”

Smiling at him Shirley said, “In that place it was possible to see once again the people that we love. You can find that place in your dreams. You just think very hard about the persons you love and you can travel and join them, wherever you want.” She was very quiet for a few seconds and then she said, “I will tell you more about that another day, I promise.” 

“I am looking forward to it, Shirley,” he told her.

Shirley and Yann went into the house then and Yann finished dressing and putting on his shoes and jacket. When he was ready they left out the front door, locking it behind them.

“Let’s head to the Mall!” Shirley said.

The drive to the mall took about an hour and by the time they got there, both Shirley and Yann were hungry. They ate at a fast food stand in the food court. That was a big deal for Yann whose parents and babysitter normally didn’t allow him junk food.

After a satisfying meal, Shirley took Yann to the arcade. The place was full of a broad mix of juveniles who were just talking and hanging out and the real gamers who were there for the challenge and the rush of winning their favorite games. To an uninitiated crowd the arcade could be a dark and electrifying place, but to Yann who had his favorite game and could block out all of the chaos around him as he played it the place was an electrifying arena of challenge and magic.

He found his game amongst dozens of arcade games with steering wheels, skateboards or old-fashioned joysticks. It was a “beat them all” fighting game with four environmentalists who attempt to arrest a gang of dinosaur poachers. It was a synopsis that might make a seasoned gangster shake in his boots. Amongst the noise and ever-changing colors Yann began his game.

Shirley allowed him to play until he’d had his fill, not thinking until they were back on the road about the traffic that would have clogged it by now. The daily routine of the traveler in their vast city involved road construction, traffic and a lot of stress. As she maneuvered the car through more than one obstacle Shirley had to wonder if the administration would ever resolve those issues.

Fortunately, the temperatures had dropped after having reached a sizzling point in the afternoon. The end of the afternoon was delicately warm, as the sun caressed the roofs of the neighborhood. When they drove up in front of the Northman’s residence Yann jumped out of the car and looked up at the sun. He was dazzled by its glare and while he stood there looking up he found himself wondering if there was anything else up there…behind the sun. He burned with an avid curiosity…always. Even with the excitement of his birthday pressing down on him from all sides.

As they started towards the house Yann had a strange and sudden feeling that everything he knew was about to change. He felt a sharp, pinching pain in his stomach. It was there one moment and then gone. He shrugged it off as a reminder that he was alive and re-focused his thoughts on his parents being home soon and his birthday celebration. He hoped that they would have a present for him. Youth was that magical moment where every gesture counts, and every action embodies a dream.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“NEW FRIENDSHIPS”

NORTHMAN’S RESIDENCE LATER THAT NIGHT

Yann sat at his chair in the dining room, finishing his dinner when Shirley called out from the kitchen,

“Do you want some more?”

“No thanks, I'm not really hungry...What’s my present?”

“Golly! You are so impatient,” Shirley told him with a smile, “Finish your plate first.”

“It’s so hard to wait...”

Shirley brought out their dessert and sat down at the table with him while they enjoyed it. Yann had almost finished his when he heard the sound of the front door unlocking.

“Daddy, Mommy?” Yann called out.

“Hello my son, I’m coming!” Tim called back.

“Finish your plate please,” Shirley told him. “He’ll come to you.”

Tim came in then and took Yann in his arms, giving him a warm squeeze.

“I bet you are giddy about your birthday,” he said to the boy.

“You have no idea; he’s been spinning around the house for hours,” Shirley told him.

Tim looked at Shirley and with a wink he said,

“So, how was your day? What did you guys do?”

“Tell him Yann,” Shirley said.

“Ahh, what’s that on your face dad? Did you fight?”

“That’s nothing son, you should’ve seen the other guy,” Tim told him, trying to play it off. He didn’t want Yann to worry.

“Did you at least go the hospital, Mr. Northman?” Shirley asked him.

“I’m ok, don’t worry about it Shirley,” he told her. Then, looking back at Yann he said, “Ok, so do I have to beg you to hear what you’ve done today?”

“Ok so… we went to the mall, and Shirley took me to the arcade. It was so much fun... By the way dad, can we play baseball together tomorrow? I want to play but I can’t play alone.”

“Ok, I see. That was a very instructive day!” He winked at Yann, “As for tomorrow, I’ll play with you, but only if you promise not to lose,” he told him with a laugh.

“Mr. Northman, I’ll prepare the cake, Mrs. Northman should be home any minute now,” Shirley told him.

“Great idea, thank you, Shirley.”

“How about my present, does mom have it?” Yann asked him, excitedly.

“Be Zen, my son, and calm yourself down by helping Shirley clear the table. You could also help her prepare the second round.”

“Did you finish? I will put the leftovers in the fridge.” 

“Don’t worry, Shirley, I’ll eat later,” Tim told her. He finally took his coat off and hung it on the coat rack in the hallway as Shirley and Yann cleared the table in the blink of an eye. Tim stood in the doorway for a few minutes when he came back, just watching them. If ever there was a day that he needed a reminder that the whole world hadn’t gone mad, today was the day.

Not long after Tim came home, Yann heard the front door open and close again, and then he heard the sound of his mother’s high heels on the shiny wood floor. He raced from the dining room into the front room to greet her. Shirley and Tim, laughing at his excitement, followed him.

“Mummy!” he yelled as he saw his mother come through the door. Elise looked professional in her perfectly tailored blue suit and heels. She normally wore her hair in a bun to work, but she had taken it out as soon as she got to her car tonight and her hair was hanging loose down her back.

She worked for the U.N. as an International Official. Her job was often stressful, most recently because of the events taking place between the U.S. and Iraq. She had to spend a lot of time at work and the stress of having to spend so much time away from her family had taken its toll as well. In spite of all of that, the sight of her home and her family seemed to wash the worry from her face and the stress was replaced with a look of benevolence and hope.

“Hello honey...” she said to Yann with a smile, “Take it easy sweetie, you’re so agitated.” Elise looked towards his father for answers to their son’s excitement. Tim smiled and said,

“Clearly he’s been this way all day. Shirley was telling me that he couldn’t stop pacing the room.”

“Mom, it’s a dog, isn’t it? It’s talking to me!” Yann jumped up and down, hardly able to contain the excitement that was ripping through his small body.

“How do you know?” Elise asked the boy. Then, turning towards her husband she said, “You just couldn’t hold your tongue, could you?”

Tim held up his hands, palms out and said, “Nope, I haven’t said a word.”

“He’s talking to me, it’s so cool.” Yann told them, only confusing his mother more. How could the dog be talking to him wasn’t the most troubling question. How could he have known about the dog otherwise was what troubled her. It was apparent from Yann’s face that he believed what he was saying to be the absolute truth. 

A little muddled by what her son was telling her, Elise asked him, “What are you talking about?” Then she looked at Tim and said, “Did you really get Yann a dog?”

With a smile that was reserved for a parent with an ecstatic child, Tim said, “Yes we did...but apparently, it’s not a surprise anymore. What do you say, should we give it to him now?”

Elise looked again towards her enthusiastic son and smiled,

“Okay, I guess we have no choice,” she said.

Tim, Shirley and Yann went back into the dining room. Shirley brought the cake out from the kitchen and just as she did, Elise came into the room with a large package. She sat it on the floor next to Yann. His eyes were as wide as saucers as he stared at it, but he stayed in his chair, waiting for permission.

Tim looked at his wife and noticing the lines of worry and fatigue etched into her lovely face he asked her. “Honey, how was your day?”

“Horrible,” Elise said quietly where only Tim could hear. Then she said, “I’ll tell you later...”

Elise looked at her beautiful family, sitting around the table, waiting to celebrate Yann’s birthday. She realized that she didn’t want to talk about her awful day. She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted to completely forget that a truck full of young American soldiers was taken hostage. She wanted to escape the harsh reality of life and her job that was often difficult to cope with and immerse herself in all the positive things she had in her life. The most of which was right in front of her, her family.

While Shirley put the colorful candles on the yummy looking chocolate cake, Yann squirmed in his chair. His impatience was palpable and his parents and Shirley were all able to feed off of the positively animated vibes that the little boy was radiating.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you Yann! Happy birthday to you!” Yann’s face was a wide smile as his family sang to him. He stared wide-eyed at the present on the table, dying to open it. He had to be re-directed back to the cake as his mother told him,

“Go on, make a wish and blow out the candles, Yann!”

“Smile!” Shirley told him, laughing and taking a photo as the little boy blew out his candles all at once. He blew so hard that in his enthusiasm, some of the whipped cream on the cake was gusted off the top and spun around a little while in the air above the room.

“Congratulations my son!” Tim told him.

“I think it’s time you opened your present,” Elise said.

Looking as if he might bust Yann said, “I'm so happy, he’s so cute, isn’t he?”

Tim was still stumped about how Yann knew what was in the box. He whispered to Shirley, “How does he know?” Shirley shrugged, just as clueless as Tim and Elise as they all watched Yann pull the finely wrapped box towards him. He pulled delicately on the ribbon that encircled it and slowly took the lid off the box. There was a quiet moaning coming from inside and as Yann looked in two round dark eyes looked back at him. A pair of funny-looking little ears could be seen sticking out from the box and then suddenly a pair of paws was put up on the side and a little black head poked out over it. The puppy looked around at his new environment.

Yann reached in the box and took out the sweet puppy. He looked at him almost reverently, admiring the dog’s shiny black coat. He had a pure white collar that emphasized the blackness of his fur and he was as soft as down to the touch. Yann brought the puppy up to his shoulder and hugged him gently. Then he held him back and looked at him again. He was so cute with his flat face and funny little ears. Yann thought he looked like a little angel.

The family watched as the two new friends got to know each other. For Yann’s loved ones watching him so happy, falling in instant love with the puppy was an intense experience. It was as if for a few moments time stood still. Shirley at last broke the spell by saying,