NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? part three

NOW WILL YA LEAVE ME ALONE? Part three

Max

* * *

Alongside the massive structure lay a large manmade hill – perfect for winter sledding. Again, Tommy’s mind tried to imagine what it might be like to glide down that hill on a brand-new Flexible Flyer sled.

Tommy, hands in his pockets, was lost – lost in his thoughts of his parents – thinking of how it might have been if they were still alive. He didn’t realize he sighed deeply and loudly.

A sudden imaginary hand tugged at him bringing him back from his memories and his dreams.

Trying not to let his thoughts show, he sat down once again, closer to his pet and absent-mindedly rested his arm around Max’s back. Breaking his mood, he asked abruptly, “Now that ya made a sissy outta my dog, what about yerself? How old are ya? Ya got both parents? Sisters? Brothers? What’s yer story?”

He tried to recapture the sound of disinterest in his voice, yet his thoughts raced through his mind to find something to say … something – anything that would keep Mary Ellen from leaving. He couldn’t explain it but suddenly, to have someone to talk to, someone more his own age, seemed very important.

In a hurried way of speaking that Tommy would soon find frustrating, Mary Ellen answered, “First of all, yes, I do have both my parents. I’m ten years old, and no, I don’t have any brothers or sisters. My mom said that not long after I was born, she got sick and couldn’t have any more kids. I’m in the fifth grade at St. Mary’s School and I didn’t make a sissy out of your dog! He’s just friendly, that’s all.”

As she took a deep breath, she gathered her hair with her hands and pulled the loose ends of her face. The heat of the sun felt warm and put a gentle flush on her cheeks “So, where do you go to school?” she asked idly.

A look came over Tommy’s face that puzzled Mary Ellen and made her sit momentarily still. It was as if a dark cloud suddenly appeared, and the young boy found it necessary to hide behind it. But hide from whom? From her? From the world? His eyes changed and clouded. It was a look she’d never seen before in anyone.

Did she see anger? Hurt? Shame? Fear?

Tommy stood again and leaned against the tree, which seemed to be his grounding force.

It seemed like forever before he answered in a determined voice. “I go ta PS 84 and next year, I’ll be at Marshall Tech. That’s the trade school in the mid-city area. When I’m sixteen, my uncle’s gonna get me an apprenticeship union card. I’m eleven and already have a job. Part time, but still a job! Once I get my card and workin’ papers, I can work full time”.

As Mary Ellen opened her mouth about to speak, Tommy blurted out, “Look, I gotta go. It’s Saturday and my uncle works late. It’s up ta me ta cook supper tonight. See ya. Come on, Max!”

“Tommy,” Mary Ellen began as she started to stand, “how about if I meet you here tomorrow morning? Maybe we can play fetch with Max? Okay?”

Tommy mumbled as he turned to walk away, “Yeah, I guess so. We’ll see.”

Mary Ellen’s eyes followed him as he ran and skipped sideways and played with Max until they were out of sight. As she walked home, she thought about her new friend. Tommy seemed tall for his age and slender, with straight black hair that he careful combed in what seemed to be one sweeping motion from left to right. It was neatly combed off his face, except for one unruly wisp that fell in a curl on his forehead. The brown color of his eyes reminded her of a sad puppy.

She began her short walk home and thought more about Tommy. He seemed to be a puzzle of emotions and attitudes, and yet …

For a boy of eleven, she thought, he keeps himself very clean – not like some of the other boys I’ve seen in the park. I guess his uncle takes very good care of him. Even his fingernails look recently scrubbed and showed no dirt or grime from the job he held – whatever that was!

Tommy didn’t fit the picture his voice described. He looked like he should have the world at his fingertips. Young, handsome, gentle – a boy who loved dogs. Mary Ellen thought that anyone who loved dogs as much as she did, had to be nice.

She could hardly wait to get home and tell her mother about him and Max. Although, she wasn’t quite sure how she’d describe Tommy, or what she could say about him.

Mary Ellen shook her head. For such a handsome boy, he sure does talk weird. I wonder what his problem is! Guess I’ll find out eventually.

She sighed as she turned and began her short walk home and looked forward to tomorrow.

I wonder if he’ll show up. Will he find an excuse not to? He never did say how many times a week he brings Max there. What if he doesn’t come? What if he stays away deliberately to avoid me?

Mary Ellen was always an impatient sort of girl and now her patience would be tested.