BRIDGING MEMORIES

Prologue Continued...

May Belle dropped the fork she was holding halfway to her mouth. It clunked noisily onto the plate full of steaming hot pancakes. She pushed the plate away with both her hands and it slid forward right to the centre hitting the crystal vase which held a bouquet of fresh daffodils.

“May Belle! Watch it”, her mother said firmly, raising a finger at her. May Belle glared at Jess whose wide toothed smile drooped as he looked around, puzzled at her reaction.

Before he could ask her what was wrong, May Belle stood, pushing her chair out of the way and angrily walked towards him in measured steps. Her eyes narrowed at him.

“ You know what, Jess? That Leslie has been gone a good goddamn ten years. And you call our pet calf with the name she decided?? What the heck! Why don't I get a chance to do that? Get over her already !” May Belle was hissing every word and shocking every other person present there. Jess looked on, speechless and stunned. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over him. Turning around in dejection he strode towards the grassy hill a distance away and barely heard his mother turn on May Belle.

“How dare you spew such nasty words, May Belle Aarons! Leslie was a dear sweet child, a friend of the family and I will have no one, not even my daughter to talk ill of her. If anyone has a right to name the new born calf as Moo-Babe, it's Jess”. Elaine’s eyes welled with unspent tears. Biting her quivering lips, she threw down the kitchen towel she was holding in her trembling hands. Disappointment coursed through her as she dashed out the door after Jess.

Father gave May Belle a stern look and chose not to speak to her about it at the moment. The morning had started awkwardly and May Belle’s words had cut deep into all of them. When the heated situation cooled down amply, he would have a word with her. Meanwhile, the breakfast plates on the kitchen table had remained untouched and the pancakes had gone terribly cold by now. He carefully transferred everything into boxes and stacked them into the refrigerator.

Drinking the lukewarm coffee in one big gulp, he left for work without a backward glance at May Belle. Poor Jess! Hadn't he suffered enough through the years and especially on that particular miserable, ill-fated day ten years ago that May Belle had to be so ruthless towards him and the dear child that lived next door who was no more…

*****

Jess was a sprinter! His mother couldn't catch up with him as he ran uphill and wouldn't stop even as her pleas trailed after him. He felt numb inside!

Leslie, how I wish you were here. You would know what to say, what to do or rather what not to. It's all my fault, Leslie. If only I had asked you to come along with us to the National Gallery on that day….My fault…my fau…lt…it's myyy….faulttt...

He dropped to his knees and lay down on the damp, sweet grass, staring at the sky. It reminded him of the colour of Leslie's eyes.

To Be Continued...

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