Running on Sunday

Grapes and Screendoors

The pavement is smooth. Robert effortlessly rides Sophia along Main Avenue toward his mom's residence. Robert hitches his bike on a stable pole of the Pole Barn in the yard and notices the tail of a vehicle poking from around the corner of the Pole Barn. He walks behind the Pole Barn to find a sleek Purple Vuutrin. He blinks a few time as his brain begins to contemplate a new air of wealth then the shuddering of the screen door echoes from the corridor of his mama's residence. Robert watches Luna crossing her arms outside of the screen door then pursues her re-entering her house.

Robert hears his mother, Luna, speaking as-a-matter-of-factly, "The house isn't the same without me in it, is it. Wouldn't be a house without me. Wouldn't be a farm. Wouldn't be a--" and Robert walks in to a firm stare and a gleeful stare.

"Well, I'll be..." A man begins to approach Robert hesitantly passing Luna, "My goodness has to be in you. You look more like your mother. Your proof--" he turns to face Luna, "your mother and I are a good pair." Luna steps inbetween Robert and the man. "What? I can't say hello to my own son!" Luna quickly rebuts staring the man directly into his eyes,

"I've been enjoying the idea of your goodbye as being permanent." The man takes a step back from Luna then fixes his Green vest jacket after checking his Gold pocket-watch before re-examining the two individuals before him keenly. He walks over to the Purple grapes in a bowl on the counter, farther from the two, though never removing his gaze from either with every grape popping into his mouth.

"Luna, you've been sitting for--how long?" The man gestures his hand through the air as though calculating an insurmountable amount of time before proceeding to pop another grape into his mouth. "Come on. What are you incubating? Do you think the world is going to wait on you?" The man focuses in on Robert standing near the door behind Luna, "You?" Luna steps forward aggressively pressing her hands flat onto the counter.

"Don't. You're not selling anyone here. Plus, your buyers are well-fed. Well taken care of. You thought all your selfish dealing would break the straights and narrows. Crooked roads are paths of their own Gelsh." Gelsh smiles bursting a grape in his fist. Robert stares at Gelsh smearing the grape on the counter before popping another into his mouth. Luna stands her ground, fiercely staring down Gelsh, "What fear has been, keeps pulling people apart, only the amazing, brave, good-great, and honest can remain, or even visit, without riving themselves. The weak have wills of addictions," Luna antagonizes Gelsh now pacing the floor away from the grapes as though attempting to find a way to escape. Beads of sweat roll down Gelsh's cheeks and forehead. Luna closely watches Gelsh then focuses on Robert without moving her eyes from an incoherent Gelsh, "Robert, move away from the door. Come here. Gelsh has to be somewhere." Gelsh retorts,

"I don't have to be anywhere!" Gelsh begins animating himself wildly as though forcing himself within some control out of his control. He fiercely stares at Robert, and Luna stands in front of Robert eyeing Gelsh as though sensing more in his strange behaviours than Gelsh is willing to reveal openly. She speaks to her sensibilities,

"What is it that you want Gelsh? What is it that you really want?" She places an arm barring Robert behind her and readily prepares her other hand calmly on the counter in reaching distance of a knife nearby. Gelsh's eyes are wide as though he is nearly over an edge in his mind, attempting to maintain control. He is unable to answer Luna focusing her piercing gaze on him. Gelsh stands in the the kitchen as though coming to find his recognition of an oasis from the distance has been a mirage. He is alone. Luna senses Gelsh is open, listening--searching, "We're done here Gelsh. Be on your way. You've been making your decisions that are not allowable here. You are no longer wel--" Gelsh is fuming,

"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK THOSE WORDS TO ME, NOT EVER AGAIN, NOT IN FRONT OF MY SON." Luna looks at Gelsh as though remembering a distance which she will never traverse again. She releases a breath to ease any of her own tensions. Luna speaks calmer and more endearing to Gelsh as though speaking to a person she has once truly known,

"Your old battles are no longer here. Your old enemies are no longer here. Your old friends are no longer here. Worlds are growing by the second and our choices guide us among different worlds along our journey." Gelsh stops sweating. Luna feels Robert's breath on her neck, and her tone becomes more present--solid, "Gelsh. You have to leave. Now." Gelsh doesn't look at either Luna or Robert on his way out.

Luna and Robert barely hear the Vuutrin zoom from the yard. Robert talks to his mother now turning away from the window with a deep sigh of relief and makes sense of his undertsandings, "Mom, that's a highly functional steam-electric car." A bubble of laughter bursts from Luna,

"Robert, you are a growing highly functional person!" She smiles at Robert returning a smile of his own. "So, what's the news of your transportation?" Robert's smile stretches even more,

"Sophia! You've got to meet her. She's outback!" Luna doesn't hide the perplexion in her face,

"People and their toys. Alright, come on, show me. I'm right behind you."

Luna and Robert head together into the corridor toward the Pole Barn.