Chereads / Northern Downpour / Chapter 6 - The Open Gates (X.II)

Chapter 6 - The Open Gates (X.II)

"Shall we say grace?"

"Not without me!" Micael's mother shouted from afar, and quickly rushed into the table while carrying one dish of scones, and accidentally, she slipped. It was fast. Very fast that no one ever had the chance to bat an eye and react. The scones suddenly turned into free birds flying across the whole length of the room. The plate did, too.

Luckily it was wooden, so it didn't shztter into the smithereens. A thud followed. A sonorous one followed by clusters of thuds ensued by the scones getting tired of flying; gliding, perhaps.

That was unprecedent, unanticipated. Luckily there were scones still lying above the plate above a small wooden table in the kitchen. Everyone sighed.

And all they had seen was that Micael's mother was lying asprawl. Micael quickly grabbed his mother and helped him fetch herself up, and she did.

Though with quite regret, she simply said: "What a nice slip to start dinner, does it?" as if it was not really embarrassing at all, and Micael told him so. "Not really, mother. Have a seat," and all of them was seated. "Do you mind if you say grace, Harry?" said his wife, and Mr. Harry immediately agreed. "Let us all feel his presence."

They all gathered unto peace, held each other's hands, closed their eyes and started praying personally. It was quiet, and yet Micael had to make himself comfortable. He thought of what others might be praying of. The meal? The sail? He did not really know, but he continued on praying. Whilst doing so, Micael came across unto a wandering palaver:

Jack.

Spring-heeled Jack.

What does he want? It was literally years when we departed from detention (they call it the OPEN GATES because it's

the place between life and existence).

It was harsh because one would need to at least give himself a mere sacrifice just for another day of living. It was grey, dark, and very inhospitable inside. Last thing I knew was that it was something gruesome. No one would ever want to go there. There was no light. No. There was light, but only little. It had never come from the sun but from an incandescent bulb. It was orange or yellow, warm and something that would scare the hell out of my ass. As long as I could remember, since I was just thirteen, it was made out of bricks and stones and steel rods. It was dingy, VERY dingy. The only thing that would attract any other outsiders was the information desk, where everyone had this facework kind of thing, and where everyone was doing their very best to hide something not worth revealing. My ticket onto getting inside? I would rather tell-not. It was horrible. No one would ever forget what I did. It was much worse than the worst, I must say. All I can tell is that there were cries, and parents. And after the deafening cries, there were none. Nothing followed and nothing would ever will. But the voice: "Let there be light."

It was something that I will never forget. Like the old tale had given me: "Haunted is not simply just haunted. Being haunted is weirdly being given attention," and the whatsits are something for later.

Mr. Harry finally said the conclusion of his grace, of which everyone did followed but took ya while before Micael had given his Amen. Everyone was staring at them, then after another while, his mother had spoken: "Micael, is everything all right?" she asked. "Yes. Mother. Amen," Micael replied, smiled after giving his Amen. Unaware was he when he was checked by Amy. "Are you really alright? It seems like you are shocked of something," she said. "I am, verily. Maybe 'twas all ensued by hunger. So, what do you want? I will hand it to you." Micael quickly grabbed the lamb from afar, where Amy wasn't really able to reach, or did she? Micael had poured some of the sauce on Amy's plate, and got her a part of the lamb. By the looks, the lamb was tender, delicious, and something that was given enough time and effort to be cooked well. It was something very extraordinary, both for Micael and Amy. Micael also got Amy some asparagus, of which one of his favorites. "You should try this one, Amy. This one is my favorite especially when mother cooks it. It is delicious, I assure you."         

"That's actually very nice of you."

"Your name is beautiful, by the way. Just like you. Bet you got it from your grandma."

"I did! You are such a great reader, I presume," said Amy followed by a quite laugh, and everyone got their food of their own. "Where are you going again, Harry?" asked his father, before eating the lamb. It took a mere five seconds before Harry could utter a reply, for he was already eating. "France, Louis. I just want to check something on there that is, quite remarkable and of importance for us." "I see," and everyone continued to eat, and then Micael had come to ask one question:

"If you don't mind, are you two related? Like something of acquaintance or more than just that?" whilst pointing on both his father and Harry successively. "I was just kind of surprised that father never happened to tell something about you, or even Amy."

"Me and your father are dear business partners, Micael. We partnered on a certain jewelry shop on Melbourne before, and kind of worked out somehow. What's?" replied Harry. "Nothing," Micael replied, then he smiled and continued to eat, as well as the latter of the room, but Amy wasn't really aware that Micael was constantly looking unto her face, something very unique that made Micael dazzled onto her. Into eating they went, while Micael was back again at cloud nine, without the single thought of spring-heeled Jack, whom would haunt him again for the very best of his sleep, which he had already considered as something very inevitable. And it was Eighteen that was still concaving his head, but was something really for later. They continued eating until there was none left, and it seemed like everyone was full based on how they looked. On the verge of sprawling awake, lying on the floor and sleep without even bussing the table. They went on, while the parents of Amy were already wanting to go off, and said: "Louis, mate, me and Elise must go. We have something to do on our room. Business-wise. Amy, should you find yourself sleepy, please do go home and I want Micael to bring you," and they stood, done their posture, slowly opened the door and went on.

And the door went shut. It was silent, except for the breeze coming in from the open window. "So, where are we?" said Micael's father, while bussing the table and cleaning it, where Micael also decided to help. "The lamb was so delicious, Mr. Louis! I am hoping that I will be eating on your place, again," said Amy.

"Oh, Amy. My wife is truly a good cook and you should always come here, as our sail will last for months." They smiled, laughed, and continued on cleaning while Micael's mother was busy bathing. It took them a mere three minutes to finish cleaning and putting the dishes into the kitchen sink. And trust, there were a lot to clean! But it was a great late dinner nonetheless. Amy walked on the front of the window, lied her arm on the side, and looked outside. She had seen the waxing moon, brighter than the stars which surrounded it at that very moment. They were twinkling, as well, but the moon was just so big that if it was twinkling, it would drive some people crazy. "What are you up to?" asked Micael, and looked at Amy's face. "Going home, I think, or going at the upper deck to stargaze," she replied, with some kind of letter hidden between each word. "I shall join you then, if that would be okay to you," said Micael.

"And who said that it is not okay for me?" Amy replied, which sent dopamine into Micael's and they both laughed later on. Got themselves a little more talk, and off they went, at least from the window of Micael's family's room.

And off they two went.

...