Manuela Cardiga's Blog, page 55
November 8, 2014
From this day forth I ask for no more, but offer only tha...
From this day forth I ask for no more, but offer only thanks for all my life is worth.
November 7, 2014
PAWNING PEARL- Part 20
That night after dinner the four of them lingered over a lovely chunky chocolate ice cream Simon had brought home as a treat.
Simon hit his spoon on the table: "Silence in this house!"
Thalie and Isaiah, who had been squabbling over who had the right to first seconds, stopped and stared at him mouths wide open, pink chocolate speckled tongues practically hanging out in astonishment at the severity of his tone, and his mock thunderous frown.
"I have somethingto announce!" He lowered his brows and looked at the children.
"There are going to be some rules in this house. From today on, we are a family,, is that understood? That means I am the boss, and what I say is the law."
Thalie giggled, and Isaiah snorted back his laughter. "I am very serious. I am the big boss here. My first orders is you call me Papa Simon from now on, and we have this chocolate ice cream every night."
A discreet cough and Pearl's flinty stare caused him to amend "We have chocolate ice cream every other nigh!" Another cough, and Pearl raised her eye brows. Simon sighed. "Once a week?" Pearl smiled and nodded.
"YAY!" Cried Thalie, and Isaiah grinned even wider.
"So we are a real family now? A forever family?" he asked.
"Yes," answered Simon quietly. "We are a forever family. No one goes away or leaves. Ever." Simon kept his eyes on the children, longing to look at Pearl, ask her the questions troubling his heart. In an impulse he stretched out his hand to took Thalie's, and she reaching out gripped Isaiah's chocolaty paw, he in turn take Pearl's hand; and Simon turned to her. He reached for her, felt her slim fingers in his. A huge grin dented his cheeks. "A forever family! Thalie, Isaiah, Pearl and Simon!"
She was smiling! Pearl was smiling at him and warmth, tender affection brimmed in her eyes. And she was looking at him, Simon, not at the children. Pearl was lookng at him with something that might be love in her eyes.
The doorbell rang. Silently cursing, Simon jumped up to answer the door.
It was Mr Ratsik. Simon frowned. "Good evening Mr. Ratsik. How can I help you?"
"Mr Thambisa...Good evening Sir."
"Is there a problem at the flat, Mr Ratsik?"
Mr Ratsik shuffled from foot to foot.
"No Sir,not at all."
"And so?"
"Ahm, Mr. Thambisa, I wanted to thank you for the violin Sir. Thank you."
"You are welcome, Mr Ratsik."
Mr. Ratsik did more shuffling from foot to foot. In fact he was almost dancing...
"Sir? Is Miss Chabalala home?"
Simon stared at him in astonishment. "Pearl?" He could swear Mr Ratsik's caramel complexion darkened in a blush.
"Yes Sir, Pearl..."
Frowning, Simon called "Pearl? Could you come here please?"
Pearl peeked into the hall, Thalie at her side.saw the visitor, and immediately she smiled. "Mr Ratsik! How nice to see you!"
Simon noticed for the first time that Mr Ratsik was quite good looking. Tall, and slim, with large soul-ful eyes. Cow-eyes, really! And he was making cow-eyes at Pearl!
Mr. Ratsik, handsome, artistic Mr. Ratsik was making eyes at Pearl.
HIS PEARL!
It could NOT be borne...
Simon was determined not to allow this one moment longer!
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
Simon hit his spoon on the table: "Silence in this house!"
Thalie and Isaiah, who had been squabbling over who had the right to first seconds, stopped and stared at him mouths wide open, pink chocolate speckled tongues practically hanging out in astonishment at the severity of his tone, and his mock thunderous frown.
"I have somethingto announce!" He lowered his brows and looked at the children.
"There are going to be some rules in this house. From today on, we are a family,, is that understood? That means I am the boss, and what I say is the law."
Thalie giggled, and Isaiah snorted back his laughter. "I am very serious. I am the big boss here. My first orders is you call me Papa Simon from now on, and we have this chocolate ice cream every night."
A discreet cough and Pearl's flinty stare caused him to amend "We have chocolate ice cream every other nigh!" Another cough, and Pearl raised her eye brows. Simon sighed. "Once a week?" Pearl smiled and nodded.
"YAY!" Cried Thalie, and Isaiah grinned even wider.
"So we are a real family now? A forever family?" he asked.
"Yes," answered Simon quietly. "We are a forever family. No one goes away or leaves. Ever." Simon kept his eyes on the children, longing to look at Pearl, ask her the questions troubling his heart. In an impulse he stretched out his hand to took Thalie's, and she reaching out gripped Isaiah's chocolaty paw, he in turn take Pearl's hand; and Simon turned to her. He reached for her, felt her slim fingers in his. A huge grin dented his cheeks. "A forever family! Thalie, Isaiah, Pearl and Simon!"
She was smiling! Pearl was smiling at him and warmth, tender affection brimmed in her eyes. And she was looking at him, Simon, not at the children. Pearl was lookng at him with something that might be love in her eyes.
The doorbell rang. Silently cursing, Simon jumped up to answer the door.
It was Mr Ratsik. Simon frowned. "Good evening Mr. Ratsik. How can I help you?"
"Mr Thambisa...Good evening Sir."
"Is there a problem at the flat, Mr Ratsik?"
Mr Ratsik shuffled from foot to foot.
"No Sir,not at all."
"And so?"
"Ahm, Mr. Thambisa, I wanted to thank you for the violin Sir. Thank you."
"You are welcome, Mr Ratsik."
Mr. Ratsik did more shuffling from foot to foot. In fact he was almost dancing...
"Sir? Is Miss Chabalala home?"
Simon stared at him in astonishment. "Pearl?" He could swear Mr Ratsik's caramel complexion darkened in a blush.
"Yes Sir, Pearl..."
Frowning, Simon called "Pearl? Could you come here please?"
Pearl peeked into the hall, Thalie at her side.saw the visitor, and immediately she smiled. "Mr Ratsik! How nice to see you!"
Simon noticed for the first time that Mr Ratsik was quite good looking. Tall, and slim, with large soul-ful eyes. Cow-eyes, really! And he was making cow-eyes at Pearl!
Mr. Ratsik, handsome, artistic Mr. Ratsik was making eyes at Pearl.
HIS PEARL!
It could NOT be borne...
Simon was determined not to allow this one moment longer!
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
November 2, 2014
SLOW BREATHING DEEP KISSBreathe deep.Taste,Scent,KissOf w...
SLOW BREATHING
DEEP KISS
Breathe deep.
Taste,
Scent,
Kiss
Of wind.
Breathe deep.
While you living,
Live.
MC
DEEP KISS
Breathe deep.
Taste,
Scent,
Kiss
Of wind.
Breathe deep.
While you living,
Live.
MC
November 1, 2014
PAWNING PEARL - Part 19
Pearl walked into The Polite Pawn Shop trembling with rage.
“'morning Pearl!” Gideon cried, and Simon looked up from where he was sorting through a pile of comic books from the 60's an old gentlemen had sold him, looking for the possible treasure...That one rarity that would make it worth while buying a stack sight unseen. His heart jumped at the sound of her name, he noted, and jumped again when, looking up, he saw her face.
“Pearl!” He got to his feet, brushed off his knees. “How did it go?”
“Here Sir...” In her hand was a big fat brown envelope with the emblem of the Children's home.
“Here, the papers for the children...” Simon saw that her hand was shaking.
“Pearl? Are you well?”
She shook her head dumbly, lips pressed together, eyes very wide.
“Come with me.” Simon placed a hand on her elbow, lead her to the back office, closed the door, and suddenly she was in his arms. Pearl was in his arms. She was trembling, pressing her face against his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his waist. A child's embrace.
“Pearl!” Simon hesitantly placed his arms around her. How do you comfort someone? Then he knew. He rocked her gently as she sobbed. “Pearl, don't be sad, please...”
“SAD!” Pearl pulled back, stared up at him. Simon saw her eyes were red with tears. “I am so angry, so angry!”
“Why Pearl- what happened?”
“They knew – they knew they were out there, lost, abandoned! They did nothing so they wouldn't get bad publicity. They left my babies out on the streets!”
Simon was outraged “THEY KNEW?”
“I want to hit her, I want to tear off her face! She with her fancy rings, and my babies were eating garbage on the streets.” Pearl was gasping for breath. Her rage overwhelmed her. “I can't, can't feel like that. I can't live with feeling this hate.”
Simon held her tight, and suddenly against his lips he felt the gentle slope of her forehead. She smelled sweet and clean, like Thali after her bath, but under that was a warm mouth-watering spicy scent, like cinnamon, and dark chocolate; and her skin was satiny smooth, soft. She was soft and so warm. Holding Pearl was nothing like holding a child. Not at all...
Simon decided to end the embrace before he embarrassed himself or Pearl.
He cleared his throat and stepped back.“We have the children safe, Pearl, that is what matters now. The rest I will think about, how we bring this into the open with out harming the children. Ours, and the other poor things still in this place.”
Pearl nodded, took a deep breath and attempted a smile.
“Yes, Sir. You are right.” She hesitated, “I am sorry, Sir, for making a fuss.”
“Its quite alright Pearl.” Simon remembered the sweet feel of her in his arms.“You can make a fuss anytime.”
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
“'morning Pearl!” Gideon cried, and Simon looked up from where he was sorting through a pile of comic books from the 60's an old gentlemen had sold him, looking for the possible treasure...That one rarity that would make it worth while buying a stack sight unseen. His heart jumped at the sound of her name, he noted, and jumped again when, looking up, he saw her face.
“Pearl!” He got to his feet, brushed off his knees. “How did it go?”
“Here Sir...” In her hand was a big fat brown envelope with the emblem of the Children's home.
“Here, the papers for the children...” Simon saw that her hand was shaking.
“Pearl? Are you well?”
She shook her head dumbly, lips pressed together, eyes very wide.
“Come with me.” Simon placed a hand on her elbow, lead her to the back office, closed the door, and suddenly she was in his arms. Pearl was in his arms. She was trembling, pressing her face against his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his waist. A child's embrace.
“Pearl!” Simon hesitantly placed his arms around her. How do you comfort someone? Then he knew. He rocked her gently as she sobbed. “Pearl, don't be sad, please...”
“SAD!” Pearl pulled back, stared up at him. Simon saw her eyes were red with tears. “I am so angry, so angry!”
“Why Pearl- what happened?”
“They knew – they knew they were out there, lost, abandoned! They did nothing so they wouldn't get bad publicity. They left my babies out on the streets!”
Simon was outraged “THEY KNEW?”
“I want to hit her, I want to tear off her face! She with her fancy rings, and my babies were eating garbage on the streets.” Pearl was gasping for breath. Her rage overwhelmed her. “I can't, can't feel like that. I can't live with feeling this hate.”
Simon held her tight, and suddenly against his lips he felt the gentle slope of her forehead. She smelled sweet and clean, like Thali after her bath, but under that was a warm mouth-watering spicy scent, like cinnamon, and dark chocolate; and her skin was satiny smooth, soft. She was soft and so warm. Holding Pearl was nothing like holding a child. Not at all...
Simon decided to end the embrace before he embarrassed himself or Pearl.
He cleared his throat and stepped back.“We have the children safe, Pearl, that is what matters now. The rest I will think about, how we bring this into the open with out harming the children. Ours, and the other poor things still in this place.”
Pearl nodded, took a deep breath and attempted a smile.
“Yes, Sir. You are right.” She hesitated, “I am sorry, Sir, for making a fuss.”
“Its quite alright Pearl.” Simon remembered the sweet feel of her in his arms.“You can make a fuss anytime.”
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
October 28, 2014
PAWNING PEARL - Part 18
Mrs. Batuma choked. Her eyes bugged out.
"You - you and your employer frequent the red-light district?"
"Oh no, Madame, Mr Thambisa owns several buildings in Hilbrow, and other areas of the city. The children were sleeping in the doorway of one these buildings."
"Well, Miss Chabalala, if you will tell me where the children are now, I will have them fetched, returned safely to the Home. Surely...Surely there is no need to disturb the authorities. The children are well, and a legal fuss will surely be very upsetting for them..."
"Fetched? Oh no! I don't think so. The children will remain with us. I came for their papers, to enrol them in school, no to return them to THIS." Pearl glanced around at the luxurious office, "I'm afraid our home is not so splendid, but it IS a family home, not an institution. As for the authorities? Tell me, Mrs Batuma, you are not going to report the people who abandoned two of YOUR children in a shopping centre?"
"We were told they had run away."
"Ah...So did you lodge a report with the Police? Two missing children?"
Again Mrs Batuma choked. "Report? We...No...The publicity! We must think of our image...We live from contributions from International Charitable Organizations, you know. Government subsidies are not generous..."
Once again Pearl looked around the splendid office and at the rings on Mrs Batuma's elegant hands. "I can see that. Of course, of course...In that case there will be no difficulty in you attributing Mr Thambisa provisional custody of the children? Discreetly, Madame, no publicity at all..."
Mrs Batuma drew herself up "THAT would be most irregular. From what I understand Mr Thambisa is a single man? We prefer good, stable traditional family structures."
"Mrs Batuma, I am sure if you look into Mr. Thambisa's records you will see he is a most respectable and prosperous business man. He will provide these children with a good home."
Mrs Batuma smiled "Perhaps Mr Thambisa would be willing to contribute to the Darlington Children's Home. We are a very worthy cause, Miss Chabalala..." She paused delicately, "I am sure the Board of Trustees would look most favourably on this case if...Mr Thambisa's generosity was...Well...Generous."
"Oh Mrs Batuma, Mr Thambisa will be most generous. He will refrain from calling the Police and bringing this affair into the public eye and to the attention of your of Board of Trustees. You will find that if you give him the name and address of the people who adopted Thali and Isaiah, Mr Thambisa will be even MORE generous. He will allow you to keep your job."
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
"You - you and your employer frequent the red-light district?"
"Oh no, Madame, Mr Thambisa owns several buildings in Hilbrow, and other areas of the city. The children were sleeping in the doorway of one these buildings."
"Well, Miss Chabalala, if you will tell me where the children are now, I will have them fetched, returned safely to the Home. Surely...Surely there is no need to disturb the authorities. The children are well, and a legal fuss will surely be very upsetting for them..."
"Fetched? Oh no! I don't think so. The children will remain with us. I came for their papers, to enrol them in school, no to return them to THIS." Pearl glanced around at the luxurious office, "I'm afraid our home is not so splendid, but it IS a family home, not an institution. As for the authorities? Tell me, Mrs Batuma, you are not going to report the people who abandoned two of YOUR children in a shopping centre?"
"We were told they had run away."
"Ah...So did you lodge a report with the Police? Two missing children?"
Again Mrs Batuma choked. "Report? We...No...The publicity! We must think of our image...We live from contributions from International Charitable Organizations, you know. Government subsidies are not generous..."
Once again Pearl looked around the splendid office and at the rings on Mrs Batuma's elegant hands. "I can see that. Of course, of course...In that case there will be no difficulty in you attributing Mr Thambisa provisional custody of the children? Discreetly, Madame, no publicity at all..."
Mrs Batuma drew herself up "THAT would be most irregular. From what I understand Mr Thambisa is a single man? We prefer good, stable traditional family structures."
"Mrs Batuma, I am sure if you look into Mr. Thambisa's records you will see he is a most respectable and prosperous business man. He will provide these children with a good home."
Mrs Batuma smiled "Perhaps Mr Thambisa would be willing to contribute to the Darlington Children's Home. We are a very worthy cause, Miss Chabalala..." She paused delicately, "I am sure the Board of Trustees would look most favourably on this case if...Mr Thambisa's generosity was...Well...Generous."
"Oh Mrs Batuma, Mr Thambisa will be most generous. He will refrain from calling the Police and bringing this affair into the public eye and to the attention of your of Board of Trustees. You will find that if you give him the name and address of the people who adopted Thali and Isaiah, Mr Thambisa will be even MORE generous. He will allow you to keep your job."
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
October 26, 2014
PAWNING PEARL- Part 17
The next day Pearl hurried the children through breakfast, took them up to 5 D and handed them into the eager arms of Mrs Markovich.
The previous afternoon's visit had gone particularly well. Mrs Markovich and Thali had hit it off straight away, discovering a mutual passion for glitter and high-heels, while Isaiah had found a treasure trove of stamps and coins from every country in the world where Mrs Markovish had performed in a corner of the lounge.
So to Pearl's chagrin, the trio had turned their backs on her, after a perfunctory "Bye Mamma Pearl", and Mrs Markovish had very nearly closed the door on Pearl's anxious nose. Pearl stood in the corridor and shouted her goodbyes and "Be good!" though the closed door of 5 D.
A rather startled Pearl took the lift down, called a taxi and asked to be taken to the Darlington Children's Home.
The Home was a large old building, and not in a very good state of repair at all. Pearl walked into a gloomy reception where a large lady was busy talking on the phone. Pearl looked around her in disapproval.
The couches were a very unpleasant shade of green, and would not have been attractive new, and now had acquired dents stains and tears through which the spongy guts shyly peeked...One desperate plant was dying in the corner, and dust; dust and spiderwebs were everywhere.
Pearl walked up to the reception guest and waited while the lady explained at length to whoever was on the other side of the line how her son was doing in school, and how her feet hurt in the mornings. Pearl cleared her throat loudly and fixed her basilisk eye on the receptionist.
The woman said her leisurely goodbyes, hung up and turned to Pearl with a superior smile.
"Yes?"
"Good morning." Pearl said with determined politeness, "I would like to speak to the Director, please."
The woman's mouth hung open, "The Director? Do you have an appointment?"
"Good morning," repeated Pearl, "I am afraid I do not have an appointment, but it is very important I speak with her, so if you would announce me, please? Miss Pearl Chabalala."
The woman stared. "The Director doesn't see anyone without an appointment. But you can make an appointment..." she opened a large leather-bound book on her desk, “I can fit you in Thursday-week.”
“Godmorning, Madam. I fear I was not clear, I am Miss Pearl Chabalala I am here to see the Director on behalf of two children I believe are in your charge, and have been missing for six months. I will see the Director here, now; or at the Police Station. Whichever she prefers.”
"Madam!" The woman gasped and reached for the phone. She buzzed into it behind a cupped hand, then turned to Pearl with a forced smile. "Miss Chabalala, Mrs Batuma will see you in a few minutes. Please take a seat," she smiled, "Can I get you some tea, Madam? Or coffee?"
"No thank you, and I would rather stand."
A few minutes later the woman's phone rang, she answered it, glanced up at Pearl, nodded and hung up.
She waddled out from around her desk and invited Pearl to follow her down a short corridor to a door with a shiny plaque proclaiming: Shirley Batuma, DIRECTOR.
The woman knocked, opened the door and gesture Pearl in. What a contrast. Mrs Batuma's office was sparkling clean and beautifully furnished with blond wood book cases and striking Nordic-design chairs and a glass desk...
Mrs Batuma herself was a striking woman. Tall, elegant, and very well turned out in a dark beautifully cut suit. She sat behind her desk and typed busily on a portable silver Apple Personal computer. She looked up at Pearl and smiled.
"Miss Chabalala? Please, sit down. Mrs Fortuna tells me you wish to speak to me about some children needing rescue?"
"Good morning Mrs. Batuma." Pearl seated herself and folded her hands neatly over her handbag. "No indeed. I wish to speak to you about children from your Home that my employer, Mr Simon Thambisa, and myself rescued from the streets."
Mrs Batuma's nostrils flared in outrage "Miss Chabalala, that is quite impossible! Each and everyone of the children in the care of Darlington Children's Home is safe and accounted for!"
"I am afraid not. I am speaking of Isaiah George and Thali Mulemba."
Mrs Batuma turned to her computer, her fingers flew over the keyboard. She perused her screen and turned to Pearl in triumph "Miss Chabalala, the children you speak of were adopted, and are no longer in our care."
"I see. Tell me, Mrs Batuma, do you follow the adoptions? See if the children are well? Well cared for? Happy in their new home?"
"Indeed, yes! Great care is taken in choosing the adoptive parents, and in making sure all goes well with the little ones. We follow our children into adulthood, you know. Once a Darlington Child, always a Darlington Child."
"That is surprising, Mrs Batuma. There must have been a mistake by one of your subordinates, or you would have known that Isaiah George and Thali Mulemba were abandoned by the "parents" at a shopping centre six months ago. A very serious mistake indeed. We found the children living in the streets. In Hilbrow. The red-light district."
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
The previous afternoon's visit had gone particularly well. Mrs Markovich and Thali had hit it off straight away, discovering a mutual passion for glitter and high-heels, while Isaiah had found a treasure trove of stamps and coins from every country in the world where Mrs Markovish had performed in a corner of the lounge.
So to Pearl's chagrin, the trio had turned their backs on her, after a perfunctory "Bye Mamma Pearl", and Mrs Markovish had very nearly closed the door on Pearl's anxious nose. Pearl stood in the corridor and shouted her goodbyes and "Be good!" though the closed door of 5 D.
A rather startled Pearl took the lift down, called a taxi and asked to be taken to the Darlington Children's Home.
The Home was a large old building, and not in a very good state of repair at all. Pearl walked into a gloomy reception where a large lady was busy talking on the phone. Pearl looked around her in disapproval.
The couches were a very unpleasant shade of green, and would not have been attractive new, and now had acquired dents stains and tears through which the spongy guts shyly peeked...One desperate plant was dying in the corner, and dust; dust and spiderwebs were everywhere.
Pearl walked up to the reception guest and waited while the lady explained at length to whoever was on the other side of the line how her son was doing in school, and how her feet hurt in the mornings. Pearl cleared her throat loudly and fixed her basilisk eye on the receptionist.
The woman said her leisurely goodbyes, hung up and turned to Pearl with a superior smile.
"Yes?"
"Good morning." Pearl said with determined politeness, "I would like to speak to the Director, please."
The woman's mouth hung open, "The Director? Do you have an appointment?"
"Good morning," repeated Pearl, "I am afraid I do not have an appointment, but it is very important I speak with her, so if you would announce me, please? Miss Pearl Chabalala."
The woman stared. "The Director doesn't see anyone without an appointment. But you can make an appointment..." she opened a large leather-bound book on her desk, “I can fit you in Thursday-week.”
“Godmorning, Madam. I fear I was not clear, I am Miss Pearl Chabalala I am here to see the Director on behalf of two children I believe are in your charge, and have been missing for six months. I will see the Director here, now; or at the Police Station. Whichever she prefers.”
"Madam!" The woman gasped and reached for the phone. She buzzed into it behind a cupped hand, then turned to Pearl with a forced smile. "Miss Chabalala, Mrs Batuma will see you in a few minutes. Please take a seat," she smiled, "Can I get you some tea, Madam? Or coffee?"
"No thank you, and I would rather stand."
A few minutes later the woman's phone rang, she answered it, glanced up at Pearl, nodded and hung up.
She waddled out from around her desk and invited Pearl to follow her down a short corridor to a door with a shiny plaque proclaiming: Shirley Batuma, DIRECTOR.
The woman knocked, opened the door and gesture Pearl in. What a contrast. Mrs Batuma's office was sparkling clean and beautifully furnished with blond wood book cases and striking Nordic-design chairs and a glass desk...
Mrs Batuma herself was a striking woman. Tall, elegant, and very well turned out in a dark beautifully cut suit. She sat behind her desk and typed busily on a portable silver Apple Personal computer. She looked up at Pearl and smiled.
"Miss Chabalala? Please, sit down. Mrs Fortuna tells me you wish to speak to me about some children needing rescue?"
"Good morning Mrs. Batuma." Pearl seated herself and folded her hands neatly over her handbag. "No indeed. I wish to speak to you about children from your Home that my employer, Mr Simon Thambisa, and myself rescued from the streets."
Mrs Batuma's nostrils flared in outrage "Miss Chabalala, that is quite impossible! Each and everyone of the children in the care of Darlington Children's Home is safe and accounted for!"
"I am afraid not. I am speaking of Isaiah George and Thali Mulemba."
Mrs Batuma turned to her computer, her fingers flew over the keyboard. She perused her screen and turned to Pearl in triumph "Miss Chabalala, the children you speak of were adopted, and are no longer in our care."
"I see. Tell me, Mrs Batuma, do you follow the adoptions? See if the children are well? Well cared for? Happy in their new home?"
"Indeed, yes! Great care is taken in choosing the adoptive parents, and in making sure all goes well with the little ones. We follow our children into adulthood, you know. Once a Darlington Child, always a Darlington Child."
"That is surprising, Mrs Batuma. There must have been a mistake by one of your subordinates, or you would have known that Isaiah George and Thali Mulemba were abandoned by the "parents" at a shopping centre six months ago. A very serious mistake indeed. We found the children living in the streets. In Hilbrow. The red-light district."
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
October 25, 2014
PAWNING PEARL Part 16
After a good breakfast of creamy oatmeal and a big glass of orange juice each, Pearl sent the children off to get dressed. They looked beautiful! Well Thali did. Isaiah looked...energetic and very neat. Pearl sighed. Maybe when he filled out a little...
Truth be told, Isaiah just wasn't a handsome child. He was clever, resourceful, courageous and fiercely loyal. He also looked like an anorectic owl with mangy feathers. Thali, on the other hand, was lovely. She had huge almond-shaped amber eyes, delicate features, and a lovely velvety chocolate complexion. Pearl had a wonderful time brushing out her soft hair, and tying it up on top of her head in a delightfully fluffy pom-pom. She looked a perfect living doll.
“Today we three are going out. First Isaiah, you have to get a hair-cut, then we will go to the doctor for a check-up, then we have lunch. After that we will go up so you can meet Mrs Markovish. You will be spending the day with her tomorrow, because I have errants to run.”
Thali stared at her with frightened eyes, and Isaiah asked sharply: “You will come back, Mamma Pearl?”
“Yes Isaiah, I will.”
The long narrow face with the oversized eyes hardened with a pain beyond its years. “Please don't lie to us, Mamma Pearl. If you don't wants us, tell us. We will go. But don't lie to us or run away. Tell us the truth. We are brave we won't cry or make a fuss.”
Pearl fell to her knees and drew them close. “I am not leaving you, never. But I have a thing to do that is not for children. You will spend the day with a very lovely lady, where you will be safe until I come home.”
Relief washed over the children's faces. “Thali and Isaiah, is that understood? You will NOT be left be anyone in this house.”
Isaiah looked deep into her eyes and smiled. He nodded, and Thali pipped up: “Are you going to go bounce your boobs like Sexy Sally?”
Pearl gasped: “Sexy Sally?”
“Yes, she is a very nice girl. She buys us hot-dogs sometimes, and when it is very cold, and she does not have work, we sleep in her house. But mostly she has work. She bounces boobs. She has big boobs.”
Pearl nodded “I see. No, I...Ahm...I don't bounce boobs. Alright, I will tell you. I am going to go to the Children's Home, to get your papers and Isaiah's. So you can go to school.”
“Oh! I didn't think you bounced boobs. You have very small ones. They hardly move at all. If you took that thing off they would bounce more.”
“That THING is a bra. Ladies wear bras. So we don't bounce. And we call the "boobs" breasts. Ladies have breasts.”
“I don't know if I want to be a lady.”
“Well Thali, lets wait and see. When you grow up you can be what ever you want to be.”
Isaiah grinned: “Thali's small-small! She's the smallest! I bet her boobs won't bounce at all!”
Thali rounded on him ferociously “They WILL bounce! And YOU so skinny-leg you will never play football.”
Pearl sighed. It was going to be a long day...
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
Truth be told, Isaiah just wasn't a handsome child. He was clever, resourceful, courageous and fiercely loyal. He also looked like an anorectic owl with mangy feathers. Thali, on the other hand, was lovely. She had huge almond-shaped amber eyes, delicate features, and a lovely velvety chocolate complexion. Pearl had a wonderful time brushing out her soft hair, and tying it up on top of her head in a delightfully fluffy pom-pom. She looked a perfect living doll.
“Today we three are going out. First Isaiah, you have to get a hair-cut, then we will go to the doctor for a check-up, then we have lunch. After that we will go up so you can meet Mrs Markovish. You will be spending the day with her tomorrow, because I have errants to run.”
Thali stared at her with frightened eyes, and Isaiah asked sharply: “You will come back, Mamma Pearl?”
“Yes Isaiah, I will.”
The long narrow face with the oversized eyes hardened with a pain beyond its years. “Please don't lie to us, Mamma Pearl. If you don't wants us, tell us. We will go. But don't lie to us or run away. Tell us the truth. We are brave we won't cry or make a fuss.”
Pearl fell to her knees and drew them close. “I am not leaving you, never. But I have a thing to do that is not for children. You will spend the day with a very lovely lady, where you will be safe until I come home.”
Relief washed over the children's faces. “Thali and Isaiah, is that understood? You will NOT be left be anyone in this house.”
Isaiah looked deep into her eyes and smiled. He nodded, and Thali pipped up: “Are you going to go bounce your boobs like Sexy Sally?”
Pearl gasped: “Sexy Sally?”
“Yes, she is a very nice girl. She buys us hot-dogs sometimes, and when it is very cold, and she does not have work, we sleep in her house. But mostly she has work. She bounces boobs. She has big boobs.”
Pearl nodded “I see. No, I...Ahm...I don't bounce boobs. Alright, I will tell you. I am going to go to the Children's Home, to get your papers and Isaiah's. So you can go to school.”
“Oh! I didn't think you bounced boobs. You have very small ones. They hardly move at all. If you took that thing off they would bounce more.”
“That THING is a bra. Ladies wear bras. So we don't bounce. And we call the "boobs" breasts. Ladies have breasts.”
“I don't know if I want to be a lady.”
“Well Thali, lets wait and see. When you grow up you can be what ever you want to be.”
Isaiah grinned: “Thali's small-small! She's the smallest! I bet her boobs won't bounce at all!”
Thali rounded on him ferociously “They WILL bounce! And YOU so skinny-leg you will never play football.”
Pearl sighed. It was going to be a long day...
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
October 24, 2014
PAWNING PEARL Part 15
Simon left for the Shop, and Pearl woke the children for breakfast. Thali woke cheerfully enough, but Isaiah grumbled for all he was worth.
“You had best get used to it Isaiah, next week you go to school, you will have to get up even earlier.”
“I don't see WHY I have to go Mamma Pearl. I can read a bit, and count my numbers.”
“There is more to the world than reading street signs and counting money, Isaiah. Much more.”
“Like what? AND...” Isaiah paused triumphant, “A LOT of the older kids on the street had been to school. High school, and they still didn't have jobs.”
“That is true.” Pearl pondered this. “And yet I would rather know, than not know. It is terrible that there are no jobs, but one of the greatest treasures in this world is knowledge. Education. Books, Isaiah. The secrets of the world hide in books.”
“Secrets? What secrets?”
“What do you wonder about? What do you ask yourself? What don't you understand?”
“Why my father died.”
Pearl took a deep breath to steady herself and looked Isaiah in the eye.
“I don't know Isaiah, I won't tell you it is God's will; but I will tell you it is a question many, many wise people have asked.”
“What did they find out?”
“That there are as many true answers to that question as there are people asking it, but I know what my answer was, when my Mother died.”
“What was it, Mamma Pearl?”
“Life is short, but love is long Isaiah. Everyone has a path, and because we love someone we can't understand why their path goes left, and ours goes right. We want to travel with them always, but at that place is where they turn to travel another way. Not because they love us less, or we need them less. And it hurts. And its scary, because now we travel alone. But the love stays with us. And later on, we meet other people on our road and more love grows in us.”
“Like us and you and Mr.Simon.”
“Yes. And you know, I think one day we find everyone we have loved on a road somewhere. So we walk, and who knows? Next bend we find something new to love and to love us.”
“You learn this in the school, Mamma Pearl?”
“No Isaiah, but I learnt how to ask questions, and the words to answer myself.”
“Ah!” Isaiah was silent. “I go, Mamma Pearl. I want to ask a lot of questions.”
He looked up at her with anxious eyes. “You not leaving us yet, Mamma Pearl?”
“No Isaiah, I am not. We have a lot of road, you and I. But not unless you go wash your teeth! You have dead-buffalo breath!”
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
“You had best get used to it Isaiah, next week you go to school, you will have to get up even earlier.”
“I don't see WHY I have to go Mamma Pearl. I can read a bit, and count my numbers.”
“There is more to the world than reading street signs and counting money, Isaiah. Much more.”
“Like what? AND...” Isaiah paused triumphant, “A LOT of the older kids on the street had been to school. High school, and they still didn't have jobs.”
“That is true.” Pearl pondered this. “And yet I would rather know, than not know. It is terrible that there are no jobs, but one of the greatest treasures in this world is knowledge. Education. Books, Isaiah. The secrets of the world hide in books.”
“Secrets? What secrets?”
“What do you wonder about? What do you ask yourself? What don't you understand?”
“Why my father died.”
Pearl took a deep breath to steady herself and looked Isaiah in the eye.
“I don't know Isaiah, I won't tell you it is God's will; but I will tell you it is a question many, many wise people have asked.”
“What did they find out?”
“That there are as many true answers to that question as there are people asking it, but I know what my answer was, when my Mother died.”
“What was it, Mamma Pearl?”
“Life is short, but love is long Isaiah. Everyone has a path, and because we love someone we can't understand why their path goes left, and ours goes right. We want to travel with them always, but at that place is where they turn to travel another way. Not because they love us less, or we need them less. And it hurts. And its scary, because now we travel alone. But the love stays with us. And later on, we meet other people on our road and more love grows in us.”
“Like us and you and Mr.Simon.”
“Yes. And you know, I think one day we find everyone we have loved on a road somewhere. So we walk, and who knows? Next bend we find something new to love and to love us.”
“You learn this in the school, Mamma Pearl?”
“No Isaiah, but I learnt how to ask questions, and the words to answer myself.”
“Ah!” Isaiah was silent. “I go, Mamma Pearl. I want to ask a lot of questions.”
He looked up at her with anxious eyes. “You not leaving us yet, Mamma Pearl?”
“No Isaiah, I am not. We have a lot of road, you and I. But not unless you go wash your teeth! You have dead-buffalo breath!”
MC
TO BE CONTINUED
October 23, 2014
TEA FOR TWO
Let me go,
Let me go!
I cry
I struggle
In the web
Buzz my wings
Rub my legs
Let me go,
Let me go!
I cry
And closer, closer
Gentle as a lover
Spinning silk
Above her
Let me go
Let me go!
I sigh
She veils me
With silver lace
Deep kiss
Sweet embrace
Let me go
Let me go!
I die
Sleep, deep sleep
High cradle
Sweet deadly
Lullaby
“Oh come, come
Into my parlour
Said the Spider
To the Fly,
Tis the prettiest
Little coffin
You ever did spy.”
MC
Let me go!
I cry
I struggle
In the web
Buzz my wings
Rub my legs
Let me go,
Let me go!
I cry
And closer, closer
Gentle as a lover
Spinning silk
Above her
Let me go
Let me go!
I sigh
She veils me
With silver lace
Deep kiss
Sweet embrace
Let me go
Let me go!
I die
Sleep, deep sleep
High cradle
Sweet deadly
Lullaby
“Oh come, come
Into my parlour
Said the Spider
To the Fly,
Tis the prettiest
Little coffin
You ever did spy.”
MC
October 22, 2014
SEE THEE TO THE BEAM I AM CRUSHED BY THE MOTE
God I say a prayer
For patience,
God I say a prayer
For love.
A man cried,
And I said:
“We fall
That we may rise,
We lose
to make space
In our lives;
Every ending
Prepares us
For the joyful
Surprise.”
“If we do not crawl
In darkness
How can we feel
The joy of dancing
In light?”
The man smiled,
And I think:
This is right
Every part
And particle
Of me
Echoes delight.
This is truth,
This is life.
And yet and yet
It shames me
To wake
In the middle
Of the dark night,
And wish for dawn
It shames me
That I still
Wish wish wish
The silence
Would end
And I was
Not a lone
Alone.
MC
For patience,
God I say a prayer
For love.
A man cried,
And I said:
“We fall
That we may rise,
We lose
to make space
In our lives;
Every ending
Prepares us
For the joyful
Surprise.”
“If we do not crawl
In darkness
How can we feel
The joy of dancing
In light?”
The man smiled,
And I think:
This is right
Every part
And particle
Of me
Echoes delight.
This is truth,
This is life.
And yet and yet
It shames me
To wake
In the middle
Of the dark night,
And wish for dawn
It shames me
That I still
Wish wish wish
The silence
Would end
And I was
Not a lone
Alone.
MC
