Post by Honey_Bunny on Jan 17, 2009 21:31:18 GMT 12
It is not every day that a man turns 30. In fact, it happens only once to a man (unless they time travel). 30 is a big stage in one’s life. If you can visualize a bell-shaped shape: at the bottom you have the one digit years (which include 10 and 11), then you go up the curve (the teenage years-very bumpy indeed), then less bumpy are the 20s (the out-of-teenage phase) and then at the peak there sits the 30s.You are not a teenager, you had your 10 years to get established in your present and future... the rest is history, as they say. The curve goes down. Then again, there are many different shapes of bells. You could have flat topped ones, and so in that case, the 30s mark the beginning of stable life and the 50s end it. Or you could have an up-flat-down bell... everyone’s bell is shaped differently and everyone’s bell rings differently. So what was all this about then, you might as well be wondering (and if I were the reader, I would be). It so happens that it is 23rd of May. It is a full moon. Today is Harry’s birthday. Up until now he was 29. At 30 his bell will ring silence.
It was the third week that Lana and Kite were away at Noglee. At least that’s what Albert believed, afterall they can go where ever they like now that Lana has a rocket. You can imagine Albert’s joy: 3 weeks alone in kite’s big house... the first week was fab, the second alright and now it was the beginning of the third. Yes, Albert was getting lonely. Harry didn’t come to visit him much, which was a surprise rather, normally Harry would come every day (with or without knocking). However Harry did host Billy in his house, and they haven’t seen each other for a good 10 years so they were probably catching up and reminiscing (for three weeks! Thought Albert). Over the course of those days when Albert was alone in the house (alone equals the existence of the Cat and Eric in the house) he grew fond of the music of Pink Floyd and even learnt how to use the record player! (All by himself!) Albert put on The Division Bell and let the music take him away. Sadly for him the Cat jumped on to the sofa next to him and began to meow. Albert opened his eyes.
“What is it Cat?”
“It’s lunch time” said the cat and rubbed himself against Albert
“Yeah, alright alright, good cat, nice kitty” Albert said rather irritated while patting the cat
“Now will be good”
“Yes alright, let the song finish”
“I will scratch you” the cat said with a crooked smile and began to sharpen his paws
“Don’t scratch the bloody settee!” Albert shouted, got up and switched off the music “I’m going! I’m going.” The cat seemed happy and followed Albert to the kitchen. Good thing that the cat didn’t hear Albert mutter under his breath “Black mailer!” While making food (furiously) Albert was whining to the cat who didn’t listen but watched every move Albert made. “You’ll see you will, when the boy comes he will say ‘Albert! Why is the settee scratched!’ and I will answer him ‘it ain’t me boy it is the cat’ and he will say ‘well couldn’t you have stopped him’ and then he will go on and on about how I should not be --- oh the door!” As you can imagine there was someone at the door. Couldn’t have been Harry (for he wouldn’t have knocked) perhaps it is the postman, or even better... the boy! “Ah Harry! Something wrong? You knocked!” Albert exclaimed letting the man in. Harry wasn’t his usual self. He didn’t greet Albert back – just gave him a weak smile, he didn’t even laugh at the joke-he just looked down , and above all else he knocked. “Have you come to eat dinner with us?” Albert asked while keeping looking over his shoulder in order to watch that his dinner won’t burn (as it usually does). Harry muttered something inaudibly and it began to sway
“Easy does it mate” Albert said in a friendly way and sat Harry on the settee (by the newly made scratch). Albert left him there for a couple of minutes while getting his dinner ready and some tea for Harry. When he came back Harry was sitting with his head in his hands.
“Speak up man” Albert said while eating his spaghetti “there’s no reason to keep it all inside” suddenly Albert remembered that it was Harry’s birthday (so why is he so sad? Surely not because he is aging!) “Happy birthday Harry!” silence. “Eh, there’s even a full moon for you” Harry sighed “How old are you... still younger than the boy eh...?” a slow nod “My! You are 30!” Albert raised his cup of tea as if to toast
“Yes” Harry spoke finally “that’s exactly how my brother died”
“Your brother...?” Albert asked genuinely confused
“He was 30 too—”
“but you are 30”
“I mean, he was 30 as well... and it was a full moon that night” Harry took his cup of tea in his hands but didn’t drink it
“Oh” Albert said realizing the problem “And you are worried that the same fate will come to you” Albert said setting his finished plate aside and devoting himself to his tea
“N-no... well, yes...” Harry said quietly “Albert, tell me about the secret of reincarnation” At that moment the cat jumped onto Harry’s lap and Albert chocked on his tea.
“Y’what!” he exclaimed “What brought that on! You are not asking me to bring your brother back...?”
“No! No!” Harry said in somewhat of a fright “C-can anyone learn the secret?”
“Nope” Albert eyed Harry carefully “Tell me what’s bothering you” but Harry said nothing “Forget the past, it won’t haunt you. Go home, bring Billy here and we shall do you a party eh whatdaya say?” Albert said as he could indeed do with a cake and other party goodies
“Billy won’t come” Harry said looking into his tea
“Why?”
“Billy left”
“Oh did he? Where”
“Albert, I am going to tell you my story” taking a deep breath Harry began his tale.
The moonlight shines a lonely path
Penetrating through an epitaph
The man there standing is flooded by light
Yet the grave as his shadow is black as the night
He stands by his this grave once a year
After all this time he still sheds a tear
He knows that even when he's asleep
His love... is very deep
When he was a young a boy
He experienced no love, no joy
His brother always was the better one
And in the family - the favoured son
And when his parents passed away
He went to the library everyday
Through one book, he realized
He can master at least one thing: to hypnotize
He controlled his brother now
The two of them never again had a row
All he wanted now was to love a young girl
And he wil be the happiest man in the world
She was a kind woman but she didn't love him much
Nothing could have stopped him, he kept swinging the watch
He made her beleive he's the love of her life
The next thing they knew, he was a husband, she- a wife
Life was incomparable to what it was before
It was perfect! He couldn't ask for more
His brother loved him and so did she
At last he was living in peace and harmony
He wanted this life to go on forever
It wil never stop, never!
Unless of course, after sunset and before sunrise
He wil forget to hypnotize
The three of them were together
And even though it appeared a bad weather
They were watching the sunset
And needless to say he did forget...
They knew they were controlled
His secret was now exposed
Rage inside him burned like flames
When his bother called him horrible names
How could the brother he so cared for
Be taking his wife towards the door?
Consumed in anger, a blow to the head
The brother fell on the ground dead
At that moment lighting split the sky into two
"You're a madman! I never loved you!"
He didn't think before he grabbed the knife
And a second flat he had no wife
Trembling he asked himself "what have I done?"
A voice from noweher told him the world is too small to run
So he burried them next to eachother
His beautiful wife and beloved brother
Cold shivering and afraid, he stood in the pouring rain
He thought it would be better to live another life and change his name
Yes, he will start a new life, wipe away al the dust
But one thing he made himself promise to never dig up the past
And so he became a grave digger, working with the dead
He worked in a cemetry that was close to a house with a shed
He made some friends, his life was set in the right direction
He never used the watch, only in grave situations
Every year on their deathday by the grave he stands
Wiping tearful eyes with shaking shameful hands
"How could someone do this? Why do it to them and me?
The man must have been heartless and had a loveless family"
The only witness is the ageing tree
For it has seen all there is to see
The wind howls and spreads the cold
And while the tree mourns, its leaves begin to fall
There was a very uncomfortable silence until Albert asked
“Harry, where is Billy?”
“He found out” Harry said and his voice began to tremble “I didn’t mean it to happen! He found my secret ... he couldn’t believe it... couldn’t believe that I done it... couldn’t believe that I kept it from him all this time... I don’t know what came over me.... I took a candle stick... and... hit him!” he buried his face in his hands and began to cry.
Albert didn’t know what to say to make the man feel better. There are no words that could lift up his spirit... but that is a choice of words
“I am a terrible man, I know that! But, I do not want to die now! I am too young. I can be a better person.... in another life... leave bad Harry in this life and be a better Harry in another... Please Albert say you could help me?”
“No Harry” Albert spoke these words with difficulty “the secret of reincarnation is only , and will only be known to the few who know it”
“Oh no!” Harry wailed and buried his face again in his hands
“But perhaps there is no need for another life” albert said and came to sit by his distressed friend “you have cleared your conscious , you have admitted to yourself and me that you have wronged and sinned but if you can make your life now better, if you from now on can change your life for the better, there is no need of seeking other life. Don’t escape life, live it”. There was silence until Harry stood up boldly.
“You are right. Thank you for listening to me”
“You are most welcome.” Albert said and patted Harry on the shoulder yet he could sense little truth in Harry’s words
“Would you like me to walk with you home?” Albert offered, just to be on the safe side
“No, it’s alright. I’ll be quite alright” At that moment there was a great light in the sky a rocket fell just centimetres away from Albert and Harry.
“Albert! Harry!” Lana exclaimed hugging the two. Kite followed.
“We were just having a little birthday celebration for Harry” Albert lied “in fact why don’t we continue?” everyone, even Harry agreed and they all went inside the house. Drink, laughter , music, and chat filled the room and the moon grew bigger and whiter. The party has come to an end. They first farewelled Lana and off she went in her rocket. Harry went cheerfully to his house and Kite and Albert stayed at home.
“So how was your trip, boy?” Albert asked once everyone left
“Hold on Albert, I have a present for Harry. I’ll go give it to him” Kite was already out of the door before Albert could have said anything. After about 10 minutes Kite rushed into the house and headed straight for the phone. Albert came downstairs as quickly as he could.
“What’s the matter boy?” Albert asked but he didn’t need to. Reading the boy’s horror stricken face told him the answer he feared was true.
“Harry is...dead”
to be continued
It was the third week that Lana and Kite were away at Noglee. At least that’s what Albert believed, afterall they can go where ever they like now that Lana has a rocket. You can imagine Albert’s joy: 3 weeks alone in kite’s big house... the first week was fab, the second alright and now it was the beginning of the third. Yes, Albert was getting lonely. Harry didn’t come to visit him much, which was a surprise rather, normally Harry would come every day (with or without knocking). However Harry did host Billy in his house, and they haven’t seen each other for a good 10 years so they were probably catching up and reminiscing (for three weeks! Thought Albert). Over the course of those days when Albert was alone in the house (alone equals the existence of the Cat and Eric in the house) he grew fond of the music of Pink Floyd and even learnt how to use the record player! (All by himself!) Albert put on The Division Bell and let the music take him away. Sadly for him the Cat jumped on to the sofa next to him and began to meow. Albert opened his eyes.
“What is it Cat?”
“It’s lunch time” said the cat and rubbed himself against Albert
“Yeah, alright alright, good cat, nice kitty” Albert said rather irritated while patting the cat
“Now will be good”
“Yes alright, let the song finish”
“I will scratch you” the cat said with a crooked smile and began to sharpen his paws
“Don’t scratch the bloody settee!” Albert shouted, got up and switched off the music “I’m going! I’m going.” The cat seemed happy and followed Albert to the kitchen. Good thing that the cat didn’t hear Albert mutter under his breath “Black mailer!” While making food (furiously) Albert was whining to the cat who didn’t listen but watched every move Albert made. “You’ll see you will, when the boy comes he will say ‘Albert! Why is the settee scratched!’ and I will answer him ‘it ain’t me boy it is the cat’ and he will say ‘well couldn’t you have stopped him’ and then he will go on and on about how I should not be --- oh the door!” As you can imagine there was someone at the door. Couldn’t have been Harry (for he wouldn’t have knocked) perhaps it is the postman, or even better... the boy! “Ah Harry! Something wrong? You knocked!” Albert exclaimed letting the man in. Harry wasn’t his usual self. He didn’t greet Albert back – just gave him a weak smile, he didn’t even laugh at the joke-he just looked down , and above all else he knocked. “Have you come to eat dinner with us?” Albert asked while keeping looking over his shoulder in order to watch that his dinner won’t burn (as it usually does). Harry muttered something inaudibly and it began to sway
“Easy does it mate” Albert said in a friendly way and sat Harry on the settee (by the newly made scratch). Albert left him there for a couple of minutes while getting his dinner ready and some tea for Harry. When he came back Harry was sitting with his head in his hands.
“Speak up man” Albert said while eating his spaghetti “there’s no reason to keep it all inside” suddenly Albert remembered that it was Harry’s birthday (so why is he so sad? Surely not because he is aging!) “Happy birthday Harry!” silence. “Eh, there’s even a full moon for you” Harry sighed “How old are you... still younger than the boy eh...?” a slow nod “My! You are 30!” Albert raised his cup of tea as if to toast
“Yes” Harry spoke finally “that’s exactly how my brother died”
“Your brother...?” Albert asked genuinely confused
“He was 30 too—”
“but you are 30”
“I mean, he was 30 as well... and it was a full moon that night” Harry took his cup of tea in his hands but didn’t drink it
“Oh” Albert said realizing the problem “And you are worried that the same fate will come to you” Albert said setting his finished plate aside and devoting himself to his tea
“N-no... well, yes...” Harry said quietly “Albert, tell me about the secret of reincarnation” At that moment the cat jumped onto Harry’s lap and Albert chocked on his tea.
“Y’what!” he exclaimed “What brought that on! You are not asking me to bring your brother back...?”
“No! No!” Harry said in somewhat of a fright “C-can anyone learn the secret?”
“Nope” Albert eyed Harry carefully “Tell me what’s bothering you” but Harry said nothing “Forget the past, it won’t haunt you. Go home, bring Billy here and we shall do you a party eh whatdaya say?” Albert said as he could indeed do with a cake and other party goodies
“Billy won’t come” Harry said looking into his tea
“Why?”
“Billy left”
“Oh did he? Where”
“Albert, I am going to tell you my story” taking a deep breath Harry began his tale.
The moonlight shines a lonely path
Penetrating through an epitaph
The man there standing is flooded by light
Yet the grave as his shadow is black as the night
He stands by his this grave once a year
After all this time he still sheds a tear
He knows that even when he's asleep
His love... is very deep
When he was a young a boy
He experienced no love, no joy
His brother always was the better one
And in the family - the favoured son
And when his parents passed away
He went to the library everyday
Through one book, he realized
He can master at least one thing: to hypnotize
He controlled his brother now
The two of them never again had a row
All he wanted now was to love a young girl
And he wil be the happiest man in the world
She was a kind woman but she didn't love him much
Nothing could have stopped him, he kept swinging the watch
He made her beleive he's the love of her life
The next thing they knew, he was a husband, she- a wife
Life was incomparable to what it was before
It was perfect! He couldn't ask for more
His brother loved him and so did she
At last he was living in peace and harmony
He wanted this life to go on forever
It wil never stop, never!
Unless of course, after sunset and before sunrise
He wil forget to hypnotize
The three of them were together
And even though it appeared a bad weather
They were watching the sunset
And needless to say he did forget...
They knew they were controlled
His secret was now exposed
Rage inside him burned like flames
When his bother called him horrible names
How could the brother he so cared for
Be taking his wife towards the door?
Consumed in anger, a blow to the head
The brother fell on the ground dead
At that moment lighting split the sky into two
"You're a madman! I never loved you!"
He didn't think before he grabbed the knife
And a second flat he had no wife
Trembling he asked himself "what have I done?"
A voice from noweher told him the world is too small to run
So he burried them next to eachother
His beautiful wife and beloved brother
Cold shivering and afraid, he stood in the pouring rain
He thought it would be better to live another life and change his name
Yes, he will start a new life, wipe away al the dust
But one thing he made himself promise to never dig up the past
And so he became a grave digger, working with the dead
He worked in a cemetry that was close to a house with a shed
He made some friends, his life was set in the right direction
He never used the watch, only in grave situations
Every year on their deathday by the grave he stands
Wiping tearful eyes with shaking shameful hands
"How could someone do this? Why do it to them and me?
The man must have been heartless and had a loveless family"
The only witness is the ageing tree
For it has seen all there is to see
The wind howls and spreads the cold
And while the tree mourns, its leaves begin to fall
There was a very uncomfortable silence until Albert asked
“Harry, where is Billy?”
“He found out” Harry said and his voice began to tremble “I didn’t mean it to happen! He found my secret ... he couldn’t believe it... couldn’t believe that I done it... couldn’t believe that I kept it from him all this time... I don’t know what came over me.... I took a candle stick... and... hit him!” he buried his face in his hands and began to cry.
Albert didn’t know what to say to make the man feel better. There are no words that could lift up his spirit... but that is a choice of words
“I am a terrible man, I know that! But, I do not want to die now! I am too young. I can be a better person.... in another life... leave bad Harry in this life and be a better Harry in another... Please Albert say you could help me?”
“No Harry” Albert spoke these words with difficulty “the secret of reincarnation is only , and will only be known to the few who know it”
“Oh no!” Harry wailed and buried his face again in his hands
“But perhaps there is no need for another life” albert said and came to sit by his distressed friend “you have cleared your conscious , you have admitted to yourself and me that you have wronged and sinned but if you can make your life now better, if you from now on can change your life for the better, there is no need of seeking other life. Don’t escape life, live it”. There was silence until Harry stood up boldly.
“You are right. Thank you for listening to me”
“You are most welcome.” Albert said and patted Harry on the shoulder yet he could sense little truth in Harry’s words
“Would you like me to walk with you home?” Albert offered, just to be on the safe side
“No, it’s alright. I’ll be quite alright” At that moment there was a great light in the sky a rocket fell just centimetres away from Albert and Harry.
“Albert! Harry!” Lana exclaimed hugging the two. Kite followed.
“We were just having a little birthday celebration for Harry” Albert lied “in fact why don’t we continue?” everyone, even Harry agreed and they all went inside the house. Drink, laughter , music, and chat filled the room and the moon grew bigger and whiter. The party has come to an end. They first farewelled Lana and off she went in her rocket. Harry went cheerfully to his house and Kite and Albert stayed at home.
“So how was your trip, boy?” Albert asked once everyone left
“Hold on Albert, I have a present for Harry. I’ll go give it to him” Kite was already out of the door before Albert could have said anything. After about 10 minutes Kite rushed into the house and headed straight for the phone. Albert came downstairs as quickly as he could.
“What’s the matter boy?” Albert asked but he didn’t need to. Reading the boy’s horror stricken face told him the answer he feared was true.
“Harry is...dead”
to be continued