The Past
Oscar just watched her. She had started swirling her water in the glass. He quickly changed the subject and more laughing ensued.
Everyone had left; Oscar and Esther worked together this time to clean up the kitchen.
She reached with her left arm to put something away in a cabinet above her head. Her shoulder screamed. ‘No.’ She thought she said it in her head but she must have said it out loud and Oscar heard. While her hand was still on the bowl, above her head, he took it from her putting it away. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“I guess I’d better go too.” She walked toward the door to collect her coat.
Oscar quickly followed her. “Stay.” His hands were on her shoulders. “Please.” Neither of them moved for a moment. “You don’t have any furniture in your house. It would be a shame for you to sleep in a sleeping bag when I have a soft bed. Stay.”
She turned studying his face for a moment. Those big brown eyes were full of sadness again. The ones that only an hour ago were so full of light and laughter. He had his heart on his sleeve. It was easy to tell by the tone of his voice. “As you wish.” She smiled, slightly deflated. But she hated that sleeping bag.
“May we talk for a while?” He looked so lost. Almost like a child.
“Of course.”
He guided her to the couch. As they sat down, he began to speak. “Your word ‘neotenous’ has really bothered me.”
She was floored. After a moment was able to blurt out, “I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t be.” He wasn’t able to look at her. “I’ve thought about it ever since you said it. It hit me like a punch to the gut. I don’t understand why. It’s just a word.” He blushed. “I even had a conversation with our biology teacher about humans as animals. It was brought to my attention that maybe I was looking at this all wrong. Maybe it wasn’t the human aspect of the word at all.” He paused.
For a moment, she thought he was finished. With her voice soft and low, “if I ever say anything to upset you, I am more than willing to help figure out the issue.”
“It’s just a word.” He pleaded.
“It is. But something about it is upsetting.”
He felt a ripple of emotion seize his body. “But why?”
“I am more than willing to help you figure out the why.”
“This is stupid.”
“I disagree. There is a reason for your concern. You may have to sleep on it before an answer reveals itself.”
She took a deep breath, “thank you for changing the topic of conversation earlier.”
“You’re welcome. It was obvious from the way you started nusin’ that glass, that subject needed to go away.” The look on her face was one of utter bewilderment. He laughed. “Nus, nursing.”
“I love it. I’m gonna have to use it.”
“Being a teacher,” he added “you get good at redirecting people. Until my family enters the picture.”
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