lingering around Earl's bed20
Oh, where have you been my blue eyed son?
Where have you been my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the sides of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
Ref.: And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard and it's a hard rain's a gonna fall...
Jay is on his bike again to visit Earl and Maria. they live in an old block in the Nea Hora area. Maria had called earlier and asked him if he could come and visit.
Jay knew what was happening with Earl. No one had told him anything; he just knew...
He was going up the Petrof; the street leading to the main western road through the city.
He turned left into the shabby road in between the main and Petrof road. He stopped in front of the 4 stories tall building. It was a weather and fungi beaten old block. Earl never cared too much about the standard of the house. He was satisfied as long as there was a bedroom he could sleep in and a kitchen he could eat in...
Jay parked his bike in the garage. He rang the bell by the main entrance and waited...
Maria answered on the intercom and opened the door to let him in. He went up the stairs to the third floor. The door was opened ajar.
He entered and said: "hello." Maria came out in the hall looking sad and exhausted. She wore a green all covering apron with short sleeves; it wasn't too clean Jay noticed as he gave her a hug and kissed her cheeks.
She smiled faintly and said: "I am so glad you could make it, Jay!" Tears in her eyes. "Yes I know, Maria", he replied. She told him to go into the bedroom where Earl was waiting for him.
He knocked lightly on the door and could hear Earl's: "come on in, Jay." He opened the door and went in. Just underneath the window where curtains were opened to let the sunshine in. Earl was lying on his back with his head supported by a couple of big pillows; his bushy beard sticking up from the blanket.
"Hello my friend." Earl says, barely audible...
He was skinny and when he put his arms up on the blanket, the skin was hanging in bags from his arms.
Jay puts his hand on one of them and squeezes it. "Not much left of your friend now, Jay", Earl says, "when did you know?"
"I have known a long time, Earl."
"How, who told you?" "L.J. said something some time ago that made me realize..."
"You still talk with him?"
"Yes, almost every day now. We have a great lesson to learn; that is, I have a lot to learn."
"You know, Jay, I've wanted to tell you, but I am not good at this; always independent and stubborn."
"Would you like me to come around and be with you now and then?"
Yes, that what I wanted to ask you. I have a lot to talk about too,
with you and possibly the little one."
"I will have to put it to him then, ok? Actually he is here now. He
knows how much you mean to me." Tears were flowing from Earl's eyes and he dried them off on the bed sheets.
"Just let it come, Earl; tears are cleansing ans supporting. You don't need to hold anything back anymore my friend."
"How is Maria doing in all this happening to you?" Now tears are pouring out of Earl as all the tears he had held back his whole life suddenly were released in a waterfall. Now he just let them flow freely. He didn't try to dry them this time...
After some time he stuttered through his still flowing streams of tears: "she is devastated, Jay and she is angry with me for not telling her!"
"Can you understand that, Earl?" "Yes I really can, but I have had to prove that I was the strong one who could handle everything, you know."
"And you did, Earl. You have given Maria a good life and the best of companionships! You are a fine and noble man, my friend!
Maria came in and said to them both; "yes he is! You are, my love. You have given me the best years of my life." she sat down by him and stroked his bushy hair and beard; "my fine, honest and righteous man."
Tears flowing all the way down Earl's cheeks and then he started to
laugh: "I have always felt happy to have you with me, Maria and you too Jay. His head fell down on his chest and he whispered: " I need to rest now..."
Jay put his hand on his head and said: "be sure to call me in whenever you need to, Earl. don't forget and that goes for you too, Maria."
He went into the kitchen and sat down to wait for Maria. she came soon after him and joined him by the table. "You want something to drink? I have some wine or Tsekoudia if you want?" she asked him.
"If you could make a cup of tea I would like that", Jay replied.
"As you wish, Jay." She made the tea and put it on the table with some sweet pastry...
"Maria", Jay said, "can you tell me how long this has been going on with Earl?"
"For a long time, but it's gotten worse and worse the last two months."
"Excuse me, I think I am guessing right, but can you confirm what kind of disease this is?" "Cancer; spreading to all inner organs and the doctor told us that he cannot last more 2 weeks, from today. He was here this morning." "Ok, it is as I guessed then", Jay said.
Maria was crying. She dried the tears off her face and took Jay's hand in hers. "I am really glad that we have you with us Jay. You seem to know a lot about these kind of things and death too, I believe... Earl loves you very much you know."
He let her hold his hand. He said:" Maria, remember to ask me anything you want, whenever you want. I will be here for you and so will Pearly, I know, although I haven't told her yet, but she knows something is burdening me these days."
"You know that I am not a man of the church, Maria, but I have some believes that can match any religion. I am saying this just to ensure you that I can be talked with. Are you a member of the Orthodox Church?"
"No, I left it when I was very young."
"Then just let me know when you need help ans support, please."
"Thank you so much, Jay, I really appreciate your help."
With these words she loosens her grip on his hand and says:"I have to go and stay with him now, if you will excuse?"
"Of course, Maria. We'll see each other soon."
He kissed her on both cheeks and left...
Coming down in the garage he decided to pop into the Cafeneion, which wasn't too far from here.
He unlocked his bike and went out into the street. He cycled against the traffic, but that was no problem in Chania, where cyclists were regarded as pedestrians on wheels. Not respected until the cyclist showed them that he could be as pushy as the drivers in cars and on motrbikes...
Jay had learned this and showed no weakness when he was riding in the stampede of cars. The Cretans understand and value it when a man is showing a decisive attitude...
He reached the platia in front of the Cafeneion and was happy to see both Gortex and Basia in full work around and inside. They had just placed a bamboo fence around the outside tables and decorated the area with flowerpots hanging from the roof. From inside he could smell a delicious aroma of food and he just had to go inside and have a closer look. He found Basia in the kitchen and asked her what she was cooking today. She told him she was trying out different hybrid Polish/Cretan dishes. She asked him if he wanted to have a taste. He couldn't say no to such an offer and she placed the just finished dish in front of him...
Basia was a beautiful Polish woman and the girlfriend of Gortex. They were both enthusiastic about their future plans for the Cafeneion and further on with their plans for establishing a tour operator service; mostly in cooperation with Polish travel Agencies.
The Cafe would only be a stepping stone for their future plans...
Jay sat down outside. Gortex came driving back from the alley and parked in front of the Cafe.
He jumped out of the car and said: "Hi Jay!" He went to open the boot and pulled out a large amount of shopping bags. "Do you want some help with those?" Jay said. "Not too much, but you can take some of the bags and carry them inside."
Jay got up from his chair and walked over to the car. The whole backseat and boot was full of plastic bags, mostly from the Lidle shopping center.
Jay carried 5-6 bags inside and Gortex tells him to just take it easy... "No problem, I need to exercise, you see. So I always take opportunities like this as gifts."
All placed inside; Gortex comes out to join him.
He looks inside the cafe before he asks Jay:" what on earth happened to Asa the other night? I was taking her to the hotel and she was happy with that, but the day after she called me and asked me if I could take her out to the airport. I said yes, but I thought she was going to stay for a week? I picked her up and we went over there, but she didn't say a word; just thank you, when I helped her into the airport... she looked very sad!"
"I can imagine that, but she didn't have a good time the night we went out to have a meal and listen to Cretan music at the TamAm. She actually ruined the whole party, poor woman."
Gortex just looked at him. "Please don't tell Basia about this, she got jealous when I told her about the meeting with her."
Jay, couldn't but smile, but promised not to bring it further.
"Do you want a beer, Jay? I am going to have one."
"No thanks. I'd better be on my way home. I have to prepare for a group I am going to have this weekend. 6 people will arrive in two days from Canada and we are going to paint and dance and talk a lot. "Can I come too?" Gortex asked. "You can come if you want to, but we are going to go deep into psychological issues and there will be tears and snot and screaming..." Gortex smiles and shakes his head saying:"OK, I get it. I have a lot to do, so I will stick to that instead." He smiles again. "Are you sure you won't have a beer?" Jay shakes his head and goes inside to pay. Basia is behind the counter and she smiles when he enters. "Did you like it?" "Absolutely! Very delicious!" She smiled again and looked satisfied.
"You don't have to pay", she said, "it was just a test of the new product."
Once more she smiled her lovely smile...
Jay felt happy too as he rode down the road to his house. He felt good and sad at the same time. Thinking of all the twists and turns life was giving him these days.
He arrived home without accidents and started to arrange the biggest bedroom for his weekend sessions with the Canadians. Pearly had already arranged with covering the floor in a double layer of strong plastic sheets. Later they would go together to pick up some mattresses from a storehouse in the harbour...
croenning@rocketmail.com
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