HENRY

Reedsy Prompt: “Write a story in which the natural and the mystical intertwine”

FICTION - SHORT STORY

HENRY

Henry opened his eyes and stared at his mother, then spread his little arms above his head and stretched while lifting his legs. He was awake and ready for a meal. That was his mother’s memory of his first formative years - a quiet baby with serious inquiring eyes who never fussed for attention and enjoyed his meals.

Now at three years old, he stood looking up at his mother while she packed his lunch. “Mummy, I do not want the ripe banana”. Carol looked down at her son’s calm confident face “Why?” He said,“It is always soft when I open the lunch pan at school.” Carol replaced the banana with an otaheite apple. There was no time to eat a complete breakfast having to leave early for school so she added fruit to his lunch. Despite his young age, he enjoyed most food.

Henry had started Kindergarten and it was his third day. He tried to keep steps with his mother as they walked the narrow streets to the school. It was a cool morning, the Tropical sun was late on its job of spreading warmth, until later at noon. They passed homes with the usual flowering gardens at the front yard exhibiting bougainvillea, Chinese hibiscus, croton and fern plants. Ahead, other children were walking to school with quick steps as if going to a fun day instead of school. Approaching the school gates Henry said, “Mummy you do not have to wait all day in the yard for me anymore.” Carol asked, “How do you know that I do?” He said, “I see you through the window sitting near the playground but at break time you are gone.” His mother laughed. "I want to make sure you are alright and be there if you need me.” he said, “At first I was afraid then I saw you outside all day. The Teacher whispered to pay attention and told me to sit somewhere else when I kept looking.” Carol did not tell him the Teacher told her too she was distracting him, and that she waited nearby under the large Royal Poinciana tree laden with bright red flowers overhanging to shade the open Lot where squatting vendors sold to the community. She had explained to the Teacher that she would stay there for a week if he needed her. The Teacher responded it was not necessary as the children were in her care. The school was a small building in a wide bare dirt yard secured with high brick walls and a wooden gate with a chain link fence at the top. Occasionally, Carol walked by anyway to peep through the links, but stayed out of sight, and was the first parent at the gate when school dismissal at 3:00 pm.

Noisy children rushed out the gate with Henry among them. In silence they started the ten-minute walk home. Carol carried his lunch pan. Henry said he ate all his lunch and shared the apple with a classmate who did not know the fruit which tasted so good. He was not a talkative child, they continued walking in silence. Carol asked about the day’s activity. His flow of words started, “The Teacher read a story to us about the farmer and his animals then gave us the book to pass around and see the pictures.” Carol asked the name of the animals and he spelled the names as he said them. Saying, “She said we will learn words better by spelling them out loud.” Carol knew what she meant. “Then we coloured pictures with crayons like those I have at home and she wrote our names on them. She told us to pass them around to see what we did. I was afraid of losing mine but she gave them back to us when we were leaving the classroom. It is in my lunch pan.” Carol stopped to look at the brightly coloured picture of a cow grazing grass and stick-drawings of farmers in the background. He pointed to the bright Summer sun in the sky an showed it in his picture. She commended him on the good formation of the objects in the picture and saw the pleased expression on his face. Always a quiet child even while expressing pleasure. She grasped his little hand for assurance and to prevent other children from walking between and separating them. She felt the contentment of a mother and her child bonding flow in her senses. As they walked, the light tropical breeze cooled the warmth of the sun. They passed the vendors in the open Lot and Carol noticed Henry eagerly staring at them and knew what attracted him. She went to the stalls and told him to choose from the variety of candy and home-made snacks. Sure enough he chose the red and white coconut bar. Her favourite with its sweet crunchy ginger taste. They ate in silence. Suddenly, he stopped walking and exclaimed, “I forgot Christopher and Japhia!” Carol said, “What?” Henry responded, “We have to go back and buy some for them too.” He wanted candy for his cousins and before Carol realized it he grabbed her hand to turn her around and retrace their steps. Carol opened her mouth to resist his gesture and her eyes opened to a cool darkened room of dead quiet as if it absorbed the sun’s warmth of the dream. Her heart sunk in disappointment, then anger. Why does it always happen this way as she was about to enjoy her son’s company? Why can't the Gods give him more spiritual time with his mother who loved him best. The abrupt disconnection drained her mental energy. It was frustrating to awaken to reality. Did they not know Henry's short lived twenty-seven years was not sufficient and his absence these past twenty four years should be made up in these earthly dreams until she sees him again one heavenly day. Carol whispered her son’s name as she gazed in the darkness that seemed to hide the secrets of her dream.

FICTION - Adults; Young Adults; 1029 words.

OVERVIEW.

HENRY

A mother’s dream is the only mental connection with the son she lost over two decades ago. Unknowingly, she enjoyed his company while taking him to his Kindergarten school until the mysterious ‘keeper of dreams’ abruptly disconnected her joy, jerking her into unwanted reality.