Unseen

..:: Unseen ::..

Curzio was blubbing out of hunger, sitting on his tomb. He could no
longer remember, nor cared to, when her mother had left him alone in
this depressing shadow, but these last five days had been the worst in
his young life. The previous Sunday the fever had gripped him in his
stony bed and it was not but a few hours ago that suddenly his sickness
disappeared, yet in all this time he had not been able to snatch
anything from trash bins nor beg, just lie alone in pain, sweat and
angst.

Nobody loved Antonia anymore. She was a lady of 66 springs and 67
winters who barely survived on a meager pension. She still could
remember the days of prosperity, before the US turned into a third
world nation. It came bit by bit, small things few noticed before it
was too late. Today, however, she was still cheerful, still $250,000
were in her account; enough for ten pounds of rice or pasta and maybe
some onions and salt.

Harry, oh she loved Harry so much. The old man died five years ago on
his bed peacefully, never complaining for his cancer, nor for the lack
of medicines; instead he read the Bible to her every day, as a
blessing. Somehow, when she visited his tomb everyday, she believed she
could listen good Harry singing the psalms. Oh, what a joyful
noise!

Because of him she braved the ghouls that roamed the public cemeteries
all around the nation. Those poor homeless souls had found in the
crypts and sepulchers a place to warm themselves. From time to time
police would come to arrest one or two, although mostly harmless some
actually engaged in robbery and, of course, stories were heard...

The time I am going to tell you she went bolder than ever, after a day
of street bartering for clothes she had missed her morning visit,
so
braving night and rain, under a black umbrella, she walked along the
long wooded path that led to the graveyard.

She did not see even the faintest glimpse of a phantom. Not Mary Rose,
the fair young lady who suicided unwed after suffocating her baby, and
now wandered in despair with a rag doll on her hands, nor little
Annette flying around the trees, nor any of the rest of the troubled
spirits who roamed the roundabouts of the holy fields. Grown up as an
sceptic she was blind and deaf to them. Instead she feared the
invisible robbers who could be hidden after every rock, or the
ragamuffins who might want to have some fun out of her. Besides an
eerie feeling came no ill, though and the shadowy gates found her safe
and resolute.

Ghoul! Curzio hated that word almost as much as Aurolac. The first was
used to curse him because he lived alone between tombs, the second for
the inhalant every street child was supposed to be using. Not him,
before whatever he had decided not to remember happened, he have had a
good mom. Yet, the word was haunting his spirit, he dreaded looking at
himself as he would see a gaunt memory of a boy of twelve who looked
like ten, in rags, baptized of stone dust which, in places, marked as
mud the path of his tears, and pale as the moon. Ghoul!, he did looked
like one, and the thought of it renewed his despair.

Antonia was finally before her loved pink wooden cross, smiling.
Somewhere, somehow she allowed herself to believe that Harry was there
reading to her...Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall
dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh
righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. ... oh yes, indeed
she was listening his whispering voice, but above it there was
something strange.

Curzio felt a cold touch running down his spine and immediately turned
to see a long moonlight shadow crawling slowly to his bare feet.
With the rest of the mice he sneaked behind the barbed shrubs, almost
fading in them.

Peeping up again he could see no fearful creature but more clever than
brave he hid again. For seven minutes he stayed quiet till suddenly
scores of rats and mice ran from every direction to him. Curzio
loosened his shirt to let them take refuge inside; with him they mutely
breathed till the ominous shadow covered them, settling every rat and
mouse but one scattering away.

It was only a floating shadow but Curzio knew at once that it was
mother death herself. Kik, the little grey mouse on his belly was
careesed first and at once slept to death smiling, then the black cloud
touched him. Finally he would pass away, no more sobbing, hunger nor
hate, just a sleep of eons.

Antonia was walking away of the cemetery when she spotted something in
the bushes; being more brave than clever she walked towards it to
discover little Curzio mingled between the branches. Normally she would
have never approached a gamin, but the renewed love Harry had given her
and an immense pity of the poor boy born the miracle; she kissed him in
the forefront. Curzio opened his eyes and answered with a smile, there
is no fear in love, then, weakened, in a fathomless sleep he slipped
into the duskiness.

Antonia lost him for a second and them found him again on the barbs.
With care she held him up in her arms. Curzio weighted almost nothing!,
"just skin and bones" she thought with a sigh...

Curzio woke up to a world of flowers, of cuteness and neatness. He was
on a double bed, clean, smelling of cologne and lavender, wearing a
spaceship captain pajamas. At his side, sat on the old sofa where she
had obviously spent this night, Antonia was dimpling...

Many days passed of joy and affection; Antonia pretended not to hear
the many cuss words of Curzio while noticing his struggle to behave.
They knew it would not work but they kept on giving chances to each
other. Rice was usual, chicken uncommon, chocolate once, love
unending.

Antonia, however, was an adult and she knew she had to tell the
authorities about him, maybe they would allow her to keep him, yes they
had to! or maybe not she cried to herself, but sooner or later someone
would find out and phone about an old woman that has a child nobody
knows of, and then she will lose him, and he will lose her. So,
praying, she phoned them.

Two weeks later the social worker came. She was Louise, a woman of 27
tired and casually clothed but with that inspiring charm of the people
with a sunny heart. Antonia, trembling, led the professional to her
dining room where Curzio was standing, clothed in a blue suit of
velvet, trying to appear as the perfect lad.

Where's he? Louise asked
Can't you see him?! Right before you!

Louise could not see him, no, for her Curzio was not anywhere... After
an uneasy minute she smiled back to Antonia and told her to take two of
some white pills today and see her doctor tomorrow. After that she left
with promises of coming back that she could not comply.

Antonia, embarrassed and sad dropped herself on the couch and sobbed.
It was not the humbling, nor the fear of a mental institution but the
dread of losing her boy, indeed that she had never had him.

"No, mom, don't cry. I am a ghost"
"Well", she replied, "it was just that!"

And so merrily they went on for many years, till Antonia died and
together with Harry slept till the Day without a night.

..::The End::..