 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
by
Sleeping blissfully alone on an extra-firm king-sized mattress on the floor of my Connecticut Avenue efficiency, yet sensing that I was not alone, I awoke and found, I hoped without being found out myself, that I was not alone. Sun tanned, jubilant and snapping pictures from the foot of my bed, dressed in Metro Map shirts, and shorts embroidered with Washington D.C. flags, and kind of laughing away and smiling and staring and discussing and pointing at me were what I guessed and later confirmed to be, five handsome, homey all-American looking members of a seven member family consisting of two middle-aged adults, a freckle faced young boy, and a captivating 8ish girl, a cute bubbly teenaged female who devoured me with a video camera, and then- heard but not seen, two happy-to-be-along-with-their-family-on-vacation grandparents who were wandering about surveying the inanimate objects of my abode. By that I mean the things that were not me, nor my bountiful, beautiful, many shades of green hanging plants and Venus fly traps.
That ever so cute little girl, also befreckled like her twin brother, glowed in the warmth of family as they hovered over and around her, and seemed most pleased with and excited by me. I could see by the loving glimmer in her parent’s vibrant blue eyes that they in turn were very proud of their little girl.
All in all it was really quite a marvelous scene to wake up to and indeed when I finally spoke by saying hello and welcoming them to my apartment they all kissed and hugged each other, slapped backs and gave high fives, and so effusively greeted me with smiles and words of love that I almost felt like a part of the family.
Little did I know.
Since I sleep blissfully naked I really wasn’t quite sure just what to do next. After all there were young girls and married women present. But GrandMama reached into a big shopping bag and pulled out gift boxes all wrapped in reflective, shiny side out, aluminum foil just like my family used to do, and presented them to me.
I was so very excited but I still managed to take my time and unwrap each gift slowly and nicely.
“What wonderful clothes!” I said it to them all, and GrandMama, showing her pearly whites, seemed especially pleased.
“We knew you’d like them” she said. “Try them on.”.
I kind of blushed a little and they laughed. Then without my having to ask, and somewhat unnecessarily they all turned their backs and closed their eyes while waiting for me to dress. The teenaged girl peaked and giggled and I smiled at her. How sweet and innocent they often are at that age.
And guess what? Everything fit perfectly, felt comfortable and was absolutely very much to my liking. I gave GrandMama a loving kiss on her plump rosy red cheeks and continued to thank them all for the wonderful gifts.
“You can thank us by showing us where to get a big, dynamite breakfast” said the father.
“Our treat” said the mother.
“I know just the place” I said, and with that they gathered up their belongings, GrandMama discretely slipping two of my best towels into her souvenir bag (I pretended not to notice) and awaited my lead.
Boy could they eat. And at what speed! And with their hands and a minimum use of utensils . Just like me! What fun we had as we sampled the entire breakfast menu eating mounds of scrambled eggs, bowls of fruit salad and mountains pancakes and homefries for a whole hour. And all of it dairy product free!
It was only when our feeding was done that anyone bothered with conversation.
“If you’re not busy today, we’d like you to show us around” said the father and with this the teenage girl twinkled her lovely eyes at me.
But truth be told I was more curious about little Lisa Anne, the eight year old. She just never stopped smiling. Like the little sister I had never had I loved this little girl already.
So I agreed.
And how wonderfully happy I am that I did. We had a splendid time walking haphazardly to and fro about this beautiful city of ours. Like they were testing me they asked me so very curious questions which I delighted in speculating over, they fed me every two hours, and most importantly I was the recipient over and over again of adoration hugs and kisses from one and all.
Eventually, after we had spent a good eight hours getting to know one another and had savored some great seafood down at the wharf, GrandMama and GrandPapa decided to head back.
“You turned out to be a fine young lad” GrandPapa said.
“But we all knew you would. Didn’t we Wendy?” he said, confirming with his wife.
“Yes we did.” She said and hugged little Lisa Anne close to her body. “Yes we did.” And strangely she kissed her first and then me and said “I’m so proud of both of you.”
I kissed the back of her hand. “Thankyou” I said. And for some reason the compliment from this woman meant a whole lot to me.
Well. After the happy couple had gone off arm in arm, my new friends and I danced and played and sang with joy amongst the lovely cherry blossoms. Eventually we just gathered in harmony to enjoy the tenderness. Lisa Anne asked me, as she slipped her hand into mine, if she could hold my hand. Of course I agreed and I also took brother Tommy’s hand and the young boy lit up with joy. I was so happy for this because I knew he felt left out. So I put my arm around him and hugged him close.
And with that, “Let’s go home.” I said. Happily, naturally.
As we walked back to the metro I asked Lisa Anne what she’d done to make GrandMama so proud of her. She just giggled and said, “I’ll tell you tomorrow O.K.?”
“O.K.” I said respectfully while trying not to coerce her.
Then…
“I know a secret”, came Sharina’s voice. Had I been ignoring her? Hadn’t that one smile I’d given her earlier in the day been enough to carry her through? I looked at her and she had that teasing little teenaged “play with me” look about her. Phew.
“I know a secret.” It came again. Boy was she adorable. But I decided to just smile at her again. To show I cared. Anyways I sensed that I would be much happier doing things Lisa Anne’s way.
Then surprisingly, Tommy, whose tiny hand was still in mine, started to cry and said” Shareeeeena. We promised! Pleeeease! We promised. Mommmaaa make her stop!” and with that he ran and hugged his mother tightly.
I was embarrassed because my contempt showed and I didn’t want it to. Imagine! A whiner!
And then I heard it.
“I’m sorry…” he was saying. Like a loving but embarrassed father who obviously was feeling lots of the blame himself. Like he’d been a bad parent and was ashamed for me to find out. He actually got all puffy eyed when he looked at Lisa Anne.
“Tommy sometimes get a little emotional. We try to get him to channel it. It’s difficult because he’s got so much of it.” He said to me.
Well I’ll be.
I could see Sharina was feeling a little guilty as she went over and scooped Tommy into her arms and gave him a big wet raspberry kiss on his cheek. “I was just funnin.” She said and kissed him again and tickled him a little and the youngster cracked a smile.
“I promise”, she said. And with that the little whiner ran over, grabbed my hand again, and squeezed with all his might.
He really needed a big brother. I would try to like him.
Later, after several rousing games of Scrabble and some marvelous charades at my place which Tommy slept through, we said our goodnights. This day had been very special and the Nelson’s said that they would come by at 6:00 the next morning for another day of friendship. Of family?
At 5:55 I was in my kitchen nook cleaning up after my morning feeding and when I finished I found the Nelson’s in my main room ready to get started.
“Could we be the guides today?” Lisa Anne asked in a way that was almost a demand. “There are lots of things that we would like to share with you.”
How could I refuse my young delight?
“I’d be honored.” I said and I kissed her hand.
And with that, like magic, we were standing in a charming little girl’s room. Hanging plants, fichus trees and bonsai trees. Ivy growing inside on the walls! A rubber tree plant and a miniature orange tree. It was like being in a small greenhouse!
Well, almost. Posters of rock and rollers and gorgeous sexy women were everywhere as were stuffed animals and teeny bopper magazines. And an under construction office complex doll house with life like figurines that looked very familiar to me sat on a small papier-mâché hill under a lamp interestingly sculpted in the shape of our sun.
“This is my room.” She said, opening her arms wide and smiling as if to embrace all of existence.
“It’s wonderful.” I said, and at that moment a tiny puppy came barking in. It was a Wire Haired Terrier that playfully nipped at me. And licked my face. Just like my dog Salty I had when I was growing up.
“His name’s Salty” Lisa Anne said.
I didn’t say anything but knew that they knew.
Their place being much larger then mine it took quite a while to show me around This time I asked the questions. There was so much I didn’t really understand.
Eventually we came to a fantastic laboratory with a large viewing room overhead. The overhead room was empty. To bad. I had a feeling that I was to be a subject, and for these friends, this family, if they had wanted I would have enjoyed being on display.
“Please have a seat. We’ll be right back” said Lisa Anne as she guided me to very comfortable looking recliner. With a built in auto-massage.
This I did but after they left I sat down at a desk in the aluminum paneled office adjoining the laboratory and turned on the computer.
There were no passwords, no security devices. Each family member had a floating head icon on the desk top. I clicked on Lisa Anne’s smiling face and what a marvelous world opened up before me.
There was so much to see. The “My Summer Vacation” file seemed like it would give me insight into not only Lisa Anne but into the Nelson family as well.
I opened it up.
Well. Since it wasn’t very large I dialed up my home computer and downloaded the file. The process was done quickly and when I heard the Nelsons looking for me I disconnected.
As expected, they had changed into brightly colored surgical scrubs.
“He’s so inquisitive.” Mr. Nelson observed to his daughter.
“Find anything interesting?” he asked me.
“I don’t know. I didn’t have much time. But I did down load a file into my home computer. I hope you don’t mind”, I said.
“He’s so honest!” Mrs. Nelson said to Lisa Anne.
“You should be very proud of yourself young lady”, said GrandPapa.
“You to young man”, said GrandMama.
And Lisa Anne beamed.
And so did I.
But nobody asked what file I had chosen. That I found a bit curious. But I didn’t pursue it. Only because Lisa Anne spoke before I could.
“If you don’t mind we’d like to take a closer look at how you’ve matured physically”, she said.
“O.K.” was all I mustered. But truth be told, I admit that I kinda wanted to know their thoughts on that subject.
Lisa Anne walked me a dressing room.
“Would you please undress and put on this gown?” she more or less ordered.
Well. That was O.K. to. I like taking orders from children. So I consented.
And with that out came Sharina’s video camera and her cute little pubescent leer. As she stepped into the dressing room with me. I suppressed my smile.
“Sharina!” came her mother’s voice.
“It’s O.K. Mom. It’s important to my research. And besides he wont mind.” Said Lisa Anne.
And she was right. I wouldn’t. Not if it would help little Lisa with her research.
Mom stayed silent.
When I came out in a gown covered in smiley faces, still being filmed, only Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and Lisa Anne remained in the laboratory. GrandPapa and GrandMama waived at me from the viewing gallery. Tommy sat up high in that room playing with Salty.
I signaled my joy at having them there, by waiving back.
“Would you mind laying down on this table?” Lisa Anne asked me, tenderly holding my hand and guiding me to an examination area.
“No. Of course not.” I said, in love with the idea of this quality time we’d be spending together.
In fact the experience was exhilarating. The examination lasted just over three hours and when they were done I felt as if every health problem that I ever had was gone.
As I relished in this, came forth a voice, “We’re done with this phase.” It was Lisa Anne.
“Find anything interesting?” I queried. Hopeful.
“You only needed a tune-up”, she said. “Overall you are quite beautiful I must say.”
“I feel better then ever.”
“I knew you would”, she said. “You can get dressed now”.
I smiled and went back to the dressing room with Sharina and her video camera. Again, I’d have to be careful not to smile at her while we were alone.
Of course I found more gifts and just like the last time I felt ever so comfortable and natural in the clothes they had chosen for me.
“You look great”, said Mr. Nelson.
“He really does, doesn’t he honey?”, said his wife.
“Why thank you kind sir. Madam.” I responded with a gracious smile. Boy this was great.
For the rest of the day they tested my mind, my soul, my everything. Even little Tommy was encouraged to give me an emotional examination. It consisted of virtual reality isolation scenarios. Some where I was alone cut off from everyone that I loved, and other scenarios set up where I was the isolator watching a neglected child shrivel.
Since I love my solitude and experiencing difficult times in order to overcome them, I enjoyed this test quite immensely and it left me in overall good cheer for the 6:00 feeding.
What I couldn’t figure out was why the boy was in such a rotten funk. His experiment had been a rousing success. Even Lisa Anne had congratulated him profusely.
“It shows his wonderfully positive attitude”, she said.
And he cried.
“It’s shows…” and she stopped. Tommy had run off in a tantrum and his father had hugged Mrs. Nelson tightly, patted her head softly and tenderly, kissed her with love on the forehead, and gone off after him.
“ I tried Momma. I tried real hard”, my precious Lisa said.
“I know honey. I know”, she soothed.
“He’ll be stronger for those emotions when he grows up”, I said.
They just looked at me. And then they smiled.
“We hope so”, Momma Nelson said. “We hope so”, and she looked longingly after her small boy and a tear came to her eye.
“Honey, let’s set the table for our guest”, she finally said to her daughter. I offered my help.
She looked at me as if I were her own. “You’re sweet”, she said. “But what else could you possible be?” she asked, and she pulled Lisa Anne in close.
“Let’s whip up a great big bountiful feast”, she announced and with that she was off skipping and running and dancing towards the kitchen. Lisa and I raced to catch up.
Everybody ate heartily except Tommy who had been banished to his room. Of course GrandMama slipped the boy a large plate, desert included, with everyone’s blessing.
But I never saw the kid again.
After the meal the rest of us talked for hours. And it was Lisa Anne who guided us with youthful exuberance and whimsy through many of them. All the while she rarely took her eyes off of me. I felt wonderful and so very much a part of this loving family.
But eventually it was time for me to leave.
“I’d really like it if we could get together some time soon”, I offered. Yet I thought that I already knew their answer and for some reason it would be “No”.
The Nelsons just smiled. And I thought I saw a few tears.
And with that I was back in my room with Lisa Anne and Sharina and her video camera. And Salty.
Well. Salty licked my face: I gave Sharina the passionate kiss we both wanted. It was good, and right. After that she was gone, and Salty with her, and I was alone with Lisa Anne.
“You’re supposed to tell me why GrandMama’s so proud of you”, I said to stall. I didn’t want my new friend to go.
“You’ve already got the answer”, she looked at my computer.
“My Summer Vacation?” , I asked.
She started to cry.
I took her in my arms.
“I have a gift for you”, she said breaking the moment and she held out an aluminum foil gift wrapped package.
“Open it”.
It was a photograph of her, another of her whole family, and copies of the videos that Sharina had been shooting.
“It’s all here. Even the operating room sequence” she said as her pride welled forth.
“I love you my friend”, I said all puffy eyed.
And she smiled and said “I love you to”, and with that she was gone.
Well. I was tired at that point, but ever so curious about Lisa’s summer vacation. But I decided to torture myself instead. So. I ate, showered, and ate again. I watched some of the videos. Remembered the kiss. Mounted the pictures.
And finally pointed and clicked on the “My Summer Vacation” icon and started to read…
My summer vacation was wonderful. Last year we all went white water rafting and my Daddy got us a tour of a big military airplane factory. That was lots of fun to. But this year Mommy and Daddy both took off from work for the whole summer just so we could be together as a family. And GrandMama and GrandPapa Nelson spent the summer with us! I love them lots.
We did everything! And sometimes we even got to bring friends. Like when we went to the big cartoon museum that just opened up near where GrandPapa and GrandMama Mathers live and I got to bring my friend Suzy Hayes from next door.
Well. Daddy always tells my brother Tommy to “Get to the point young man”, so I think if it’s a good thing for him to do then maybe it’s a good thing for me to do even though Daddy never tells me to “Get to the point young lady!”
I spent all my money this summer! At first my Daddy was very mad at me and he argued with Mommy a lot which made Tommy cry and when they argued my big sister Sharina would go away and not come home for several days and I get kinda scared.
But it was my money! And anyways Daddy spends his dollars without asking me! But I wish they hadn’t fought so much.
So I worked real hard to make everything alright. A friend I’d made at the airplane place had sent this fancy letter addressed to me, Lisa Anne Nelson, about this toy science kit he had created for girls and boys like me and my brother Tommy who Daddy doesn’t think is so smart but who really is.
So that was what I had bought. And even though he gave me a good price because I was Daddy’s little girl it still took all of my money.
And I really wanted it and I wouldn’t tell Daddy where I got it and I told him I wouldn’t send it back so I didn’t.
So he tried to take it away from me but Mommy stopped him and the next morning they weren’t arguing anymore and I was so very happy when Daddy told me he was sorry and that if I wanted to show him that he wanted to see what I had done so far.
Mommy gave me a love smile and I knew that she had told him about the wonderful things I had created. So I showed Daddy and he cried and he said he was proud of me and he gave me a wrap around hug and a kiss.
“You’re such a big girl now”, he said. And I smiled big.
“Your mother said that you were doing a good job of bathing it and cleaning up after it, and keeping it fed but it’s your responsibility”, he said as he prepared to go. We’re not going to do it for you.”
“Oh Daddy I love you!”, I said. I’ll take good care of it. I will. You’ll see.” I said.
And I did. And soon the whole family was playing with it and Daddy even told me he thought that I might become a great scientist some day. He even helped me make a promotional video with Sharina for my friends, of everything that I had done. For 25% of the profits. My Daddy’s so smart!
Well that’s about it. My little Earth is doing just great and it’s so cute now. Daddy says that I did such a good job that over the next summer the whole family can go visit earth together and stay as long we like.
Think of all the new tricks I can teach it in a year! I can’t hardly wait! I even know just where I want to go and who I want to visit! I can’t hardly wait! I love my little Earth.
It was a fantasy come true. Scanned into the report there was an adorable little hand drawn map showing our sun and there was Earth with a big red crayon heart drawn around it. And another scanned map of earth itself.
I printed out the Earth map. In full color. It was kinda cute where colors, especially the blues of the ocean didn’t quite stay in the lines. And I could see the eraser marks around South America where Africa used to be, and the little cracks in the map around the California Coast where the original hand drawn version had been folded.
I couldn’t resist. I kissed the map: and gently so, the picture Lisa Anne had given me of herself.
When I went to bed that night, while flopping my mattress onto the floor, I found another aluminum foil wrapped box. Shiny reflective side out. My family always does it like that. Now I know why.
It was Lisa Anne’s promotional video tape, and plans for another kit that the family had bought to create together.
I was so blissfully happy that night as I laid myself down to sleep. I had a loving second family, and maybe, hopefully, a second home.
