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Friday, February 08, 2008Choices 57 The Sleep?Lestat, in a grey blazer with a lavender dress shirt , stepped off the porch. Going out again. If he left I would never catch up, so I yelled,“Hey man! Wait for me! I need-to- ask- you something!” He had been tightening the straps on his shiny black boots. Smiled softly. “Ok let’s hear it.”
My friend regarded me seriously, golden brows arched with a puzzled frown. “Bien entendu (of course) not after … why this all of a sudden?” “I worry. The drowsiness. And you’re usually so active. ”
“Why? Don’t take them.” He laughed heartily. “Oh silly. Those won’t make me go into the Sleep for years and years. Just one dosage to reduce the fluids, notice the sniffling these days.” I felt guilty stab. Failed to notice. He continued, “It’s to help combat that. Then I’ll be well again. I shall promise you that I won’t do so without informing my family first.” “Ok. That’s… great.” He smiled and clasped me against his warm body. “Alright, if nothing more, I’ve gotta run! Au revoir.” My prince, no our prince… such a tenderness always wells up and we wanna protect him. Lestat wasn’t going to hibernate! At this moment I was positive- my passion unbridled, racing untamed and wild! I laughed waving my arms. The winds surrounded my figure, billowing my hair, the birds cried. My hearing extended to them automatically translating. They were giving me joy. Thank you! Louis was concerned. “You alright?” After some time, he came out, wiping his hands. “Come in, dinner’s ready.” We cheered, trooping in. Louis laid out some more food, listening to our day and stuff. Celery, carrots, leeks, garoupa, snapper, roast ham… The phone shrilled. Yuck that tone. want to change it--- he thought. Marc answered. “Hello? Yea, yea haha. No need. We’re eating right now. Really? Oh ok sure. Hmm, ask first. Our aunt’ll be coming. Ok bye.” He came back in and, “Lestat wants to know if we’re accompanying him for mass Sun. Doesn’t Aunt Sue arrive on her flight then?” I considered this. Meanwhile the very considerate Lo commented, “You’re not Catholic. It’s not necessary. I’ll go with him and maybe David. He won’t be alone. ” Marc was munching on meatballs. I tried them too, wow! The secret is in the sauce, part spicy part gooey. Yay! “Actually it’s ok. Mass is eight right? Sure can make it. Our aunt’s often slow…” It was rare that Bondie asked us to go with him, it implied how much he wanted to bond with us. “Really? So naughty.” The vampire said. Stat returned in 10 minutes, upbeat and enthusiastic. He’d been asked by Santino to act in another play. It’d commence early this month. Next week he’d be attending the rehearsals. Beamed all his fangs showing. “Will you be gracious enough to come?” We immediately responded, hard to fight his happiness. “Sweet. I’d better work harder to live up to my good name. Thoughtfully he said, “But isn’t your relative coming over? You can go meet her. It’s no problem for me.” He ought to take the medicine now. In a large bottle, it was a thick viscuous liquid. I wondered where the spoon was. “Nah why bother? I just swallow a few mouthfuls. Can’t find, it’s lost,” Bratprince said. He shook it and screwed it open. “You have to follow the dosage Stat! No wonder get so sleepy.” Louis chided handing him a medical spoon. “Only 15 ml.” The blond read the label, laughing. That was infectious and became even worse for us as he gagged down the concoction. Hysterical mirth! Lestat glanced at us sidelong, then disappeared. We felt his fingers tickle our sides and necks. I tried to stop laughing enough to counterattack but failed to. He stopped his antics and declared, “ Enough! Let’s read a story together. Come.” My little cousin had popped by for a babysitting session. She, a little masked raccoon, was a hit with my friends. She liked to wash her face licking her black paws. Louis cradled her and talked baby talk. Lestat took her in his lap, reading illustrated Peter Pan. ********* On Sunday, however his reticence was stoic, our concern mounted. Was it worry or illness? He simply gazed out the window at the evening setting. As the bus slowed at the street, Lestat still did not reply. “Are you ok? You’re very somber.” Marc spoke, inquisitively. His pupils inflated. Stat started at this. “Oh, yes.… right now, I miss my family. We were not happy, but they were All I got. I try to visualize what it will be like if they were here with me now. You both have each other, even if Mr and Mrs Bratford aren’t around all the time.” His voice was low, steady and not tearful. Inside the church we took a new row to gain new perspective. This time the right wing- middle. We haven’t come for two whole months. It’s still mystical and grandiose to us! The pews, statues and overall coat of paint. The Saints look upon us benevolently. I like to learn interculture and inter-religion. It is ethnocentric and stupid to think yours is superior to others’. Only my friend knelt and crossed himself. For Eastern Orthodox they cross themselves in the opposite direction. My sensei concentrated hard, lips moving slightly. Bro and I admired this piety. In our religion, it’s more of a celebration of being happy and not pentup! Happiness is essential for Shapers, as we intertwine with nature’s gifts and love. If we are sad, the ceremony won’t work. Shapers’ religious worships and dances take place during the daylight. I could bring night people to the opening for visitors’night. They think of making it more official during the open because the heritage needs the tourism dollars. I knelt too beside my friend and concentrated. after a long time, the words flowed eloquently to my brain. Please grant his wish to see his family, he misses them so much. But, I really don’t want him to sleep for 10 or 20 years. I’ll miss him a lot. And I know—Lestat has taken life again and gain, but only the bad guys. I beseech you to forgive him. During the time to say peace to the others, the blond prince turned to me, mild surprise showing on his white face. Almost going to say something, then he bent over and kissed me. I hurriedly reciprocated to some people around me. Lestat’s gloved hands took mine and my brother’s protectively. It was sweet to feel the warmth. After church he left quickly. I was too short to run that fast. Bro Changed into his serval shape and bounded up to him. Wait for us! What’s the hurry? I was pleased he had halted. Then he bent to the statue nearest, touched the toes and closed his eyes for a while. Back to normal Bratprince self, he came to reality and stood up. “Shall we go shopping? Wanna buy a new pair of jeans.” “Yea ok! Um, we were concerned you suddenly became withdrawn,” I said. He looked at the bushes nearby. “Sorry, praying. I’m here for you guys now.” The day was drawing to a close with its final closing of the light. I hoped my friend would not reiterate that he wanted to be in the light. In his perception, seeing the light was like the miracle of a ‘biblical promise unfulfilled for two hundred years’. This would be 300 years I guess. I said that I’d bring them to the Stat smiled, brightening. “There’s this pair going for only 50 or 60 bucks. Greyish blue.” “Ho, you finally think it’s ok to aim for below $100!” I teased. Tapped his wallet. “hey hey. You’re so annoying. Brattie.” “You’re the Only brattie here. Where?” Bantering followed. At the mall Stat walked into the store and told the man he wanted that pair. The salesman led him to the fitting rooms. We headed for the Tshirts and I looked for a violet blouse. It’d be nice to acquire one. I peeked at the blue plastic bag Lestat brought out. He wondered, “Are you going to buy something?” “No. don’t think so.” “Why?” “Just to accompany monsieur.” He sighed. “Come, how about some snacks? Or a drink?” We settled down at a snack café. I ordered some cakes. My sib went to buy a 1 foot long sandwich. I pushed forward a plate of small cakes. “Try one. don’t worry about it being indigestible.”
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