Chapter Four

My Mommy Now

Temple couldn't help but wonder why his father sent him to live with the ghastly Mrs. Veins, and without even saying goodbye. He took a scoop of fruit and picked a piece off the tip of his spoon that looked somewhat like a blueberry, however, sparkled with a slight glow that came from within it. Temple was pretty sure he knew why he'd been sent away. He looked at his lap.

“I died my mommy with my ball.” he said and let his spoon full of shimmery fruit splat to the plate.

Mrs. Veins took a deep breath, pulled her hair back and poured herself a drink, never once removing Temple from her sight.

“Do you remember what happened?”

“Are you going to be my mommy now?”

Mrs. Veins sat down facing Temple and grasped his hands between hers. Her hands were hot. She locked her eyes on his and then pulled him in close holding him so tight he couldn't pull back. But, Temple didn't mind. It felt good to be held so tightly.

“Young Temple. The pain of my face is no comparison to your broken heart. I cannot be your mother as much as it would please me. I can, however, help you remember her. Do you know where she is?

Temple knew where his mother was, dead that's where, and he didn't want to think about it anymore. “Can I get a new mommy soon. I’ve never been without a mommy. I've never done this before. How am I supposed to do this alone?”

Mrs. Veins smiled the saddest smile Temple had ever seen. She pulled him to her lap and hugged him tightly. “I don't know, but we'll do it together.” She said.

Temple’s eyes burned, and he felt the heat on his cheeks. Once he saw the tears on his fingers, he couldn't hold back. Temple sobbed.

“Everything will be OK. You're here with me, and together we'll get you happy.” She whispered in his ear, “I'll show you where she is tomorrow. You're in for a lot of surprises young Temple, yes, tomorrow you'll be happy.”

“I want to be happy,” Temple said rubbing his eyes dry. Then he snuggled into Mrs. Veins arms and fell fast asleep.

Awoken by the sun's glow through his eyelids the next morning, Temple felt warmth radiated on his face letting him know a new day had come. He smiled and thought purposely about seeing his mother.

“Mom, I can't wait to find you today.” he said aloud, expecting her to be lurking around the corner, giggling, waiting to surprise him.

Afterall, Mrs. Veins told him she was going to show him where his mother was; she must be close by. That’s why his father sent him there, to be with her, now he understood perfectly. He closed his eyes. “I won't peek. I promise mommy, where are you?”

A knock on his door pulled his attention, “I thought I’d never see you again mommy.” he ran and turned the knob. Temple stepped back. Mrs. Veins entered. Temples heart sank, and his smile vanished as he looked up.

“I'm not very happy today am I Mrs. Veins? I'm not going to see my mommy again, am I?”

Mrs. Veins took Temples hand.

“Maybe not as you think, but you will see her today in another way. I will help you.”

She walked him to the back of her house and out the door into a lush English garden. In the middle was a domed hut fashioned of branches and leaves with a small opening covered by an animal hide for a door. Surrounding the shelter at North, South, East, and West positions, log stools stood set in pairs.

“First we will go inside and find her. Then we will come outside and spend time with her at the stools.”

Mrs. Veins held back the hide. Temple ducked in. The soft dirt floor felt cool under his bare feet, even though red embers crackled in a pit centered on the floor. Smoke rose up and out a hole in the structure's top. The smell of earth filled Temple’s nose as he wondered at the small beam of sunlight that made a white spot on the floor around an old terracotta bowl filled with liquid.

“What is this place?” Temple asked.

“This is a place to remember and see, a place in no time. Every experience you've ever had, you are there without a choice of anywhere else. In here you can be at any moment at any time you choose as if time doesn't exist.”

“Will I see my mommy?”