Reunited

Let us walk into town, said Mother.

The family agreed and walked as a unit.  Though the sun did not oppress, the family made use of the shade from the leafy, street-lining trees.  Walkways joined and split from the path chosen by the family, as a river sheds and regains tributaries, more frequently as they neared civilization.  Soon, people were milling by them in all directions.

For an instant, Charley started as he spotted a familiar pair of dark, brooding eyes in the crowd.  He stood still as he scanned the crowd trying to find them again, but did so to no avail.

What is it, Clytie murmured in his ear.

It was nothing at all.

His father secured an empty bench and beckoned to the rest.  Charley’s mother sat beneath his father’s resting arm.  Then Clytie.  Then Charley on the end, intently scanning the crowd.  Clytie and his mother gabbed, the ebb and flow of conversation slowly gaining momentum until words babbled out of the lips in a ferocious rush.  Charley listened to the rhythms of speech without hearing words.  Silence grabbed a foothold and all eyes went to Charley.

Mother spoke slowly, a clear indication that she was repeating something she had just said, Charley, would you like to see the rest of the family.

Sure thing, Mother.

The family rose together and headed through the heart of the city.  A few children tossed a ball back and forth, every three or four throws running backward a few paces until they had to coil their bodies and whip the ball with all of their strength to get it across the vast space between them.  A stocky blonde overthrew his companions and the ball caught a marble walkway that escorted it fifty yards before depositing it in front of a marble spire.  As Charley passed, he squatted to pick up the ball.  He planted his feet, coiled his hips, and let his arm be flung by the torque.  The ball sailed through the blue sky, true, finding its way to one of the smaller boys, who gave Charley a meek smile and a short wave before turning back to the game.

That was a nice toss, Charley, his wife cooed.

He always was a fine ball-player, Father asserted.

Charley craned his neck to see the top of the spire.  Due to its continuous-but slight-tapering, from its base, it seemed to disappear into the sky.  Charley could touch two corners by spreading his arms wide.  He pressed his face against the cool, smooth marble.

Father raised his ropy forearm slowly and extended a stubby finger.  He pointed at another courthouse-type building, once again marble gilded with gold, about a quarter of a mile away.  That is our destination, he said.  Shall we race.

Charley began sprinting without giving warning.  Father reacted instantly, furiously pumping his arms and legs.  Charley soon found his stride and felt himself slicing through the air effortlessly, slowly putting distance between him and his father, whose legs were wind-milling frantically.  Charley began to revel in the feel of a body in motion, functioning perfectly and efficiently, when he was nudged from the walkway by a giggling Clytie.  By the time he recovered, Clytie was bent over on the front steps, doubled with laughter.  She laughed so heartily that he could not help but join in.  Soon Father and Mother were afflicted, and the whole party laughed together.

They pushed through the door, still winded from laughter, and came upon an entire mass of people.

This many, Charley asked.

Yes, back many generations.

The men, handsome and straight, walked about from person to person, each paying or receiving deference from a family member.  A small nod or a blink, enough to signify the respect from one generation to another.

A man walked up to Charley that could have been Father’s doppelganger.  The same unruly hair, but somewhat squatter in stature.

Grandfather, Charley mumbled.

Hello, child, Grandfather tendered.

They embraced, and Charley saw his grandmother standing behind, gracefully waiting for her moment.  A hearty Welshwoman she, they embraced tightly while she ran her meaty fingers through his curls.

From some corner, tones from a guitar flew through the room.  The acoustics of the room added resonance to the tone.  Soon, a few people began singing, then most of the room joined.  The laughter and singing continued late into the night, when finally Charley and Clytie slipped out so that they could lay together once again.