Sugar Cane

Chapter Six

        After allowing Julian to rest some more and making him drink plenty of water, he gathered up their stuff and headed back to the village. He made Julian stop a few more times on the way to rest and drink water. On the way Jonah had caught Julian staring at him a few times, as if he was trying to decide something. Julian had tried to convince him not to tell his mother, but Jonah had refused. Knowing that Mary was observant enough of her son to know when something terrible had happened to him.

        When they arrived back to the village it was mid-afternoon and Mary was already back from her rounds. As they approached she walked outside onto the porch with a smile on her face, the smile dropped instantly when she saw how pale Julian was.

        “What on earth happened?” She ran to Julian and cradled his face in her hands. Feeling his temperature, “Come lets get you to inside.” Once Julian had changed into different clothes they gathered around the kitchen table with hot cups of tea. After Jonah had recounted what had happened, Mary was furious with Julian.

        “Is what he said true, Julian?” She said with a stern look.

        “Yes, Mama,” he said eyes downcast, “Jonah saved me.” He turned up and smiled at Jonah. Jonah gave him a half smile. Even if Talis came to get him now it would have been worth jumping into the water to save Julian, but hopefully that didn’t happen. After hearing the news that Jonah had saved her son, she had given him a great hug with a whispered thank you. Jonah had patted her back and reassured her that it was nothing. Sitting back down Jonah looked at Julian.

        “Next time, we’ll do something a little safer,” he reached over and ruffled his hair “how does that sound little man?” Julian smiled, relieved that Jonah still wanted to be his friend.

        “Alright.” Mary frowned at Julian’s smile. She had much to be grateful for, Julian was known for sneaking off to the southern shore to go fishing. She was mad at Julian, but even more grateful that her son hadn’t drowned. She looked outside at the sun.

        “Oh! I almost forgot that you are meeting the Clergyman for dinner tonight.” She looked looked out the opposite window to Liam’s shop. “Liam should be back from work soon, after he is cleaned up I am afraid that just you and him should go. I don’t want to leave Julian tonight.”

        “Don’t you think Liam would want to stay here with Julian too? Perhaps we can postpone it another night?” Jonah asked hopefully.

        “Nonsense,” Mary said “The Clergyman is famous for fixing a good dinner and I am afraid that I don’t have the energy to make a full dinner tonight for the both of you. I’m sorry, you should go to the dinner.” She looked at Jonah’s clothes, that were now more worse for wear.

        “Let me find you some nicer clothes to wear for tonight,” with that she stood up and walked down the hall. Jonah sighed, he’ll just have to live through it. Luckily, Liam will be there too. He didn’t want to be around the Clergyman on his own.

        As he was thinking Liam came through the door, sweaty and covered in soot. Leaving his boots outside, he walked in and glanced at Jonah.

        “Did you have a good day with Julian?” He asked with a smile, using a towel on a hook by the door to wipe his hands. Jonah opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak Mary bustled into the room holding clothes for Jonah.

        “Jonah saved Julian’s life today,” gently handing Jonah some clothes with a smile “They went to the Southern Shore to go fishing, and Julian slipped and fell into the water. Jonah jumped in after him.” She looked at Liam who was still wiping his hands on the towel, he had a look of contemplation on his face.

        “Then we are grateful to you,” Liam said to Jonah. He looked at Julian who was also sitting at the table. He had a funny look on his face when as he looked at Jonah sitting next to him. Jonah nodded at Liam and stood up. He walked down the hallway to his room to change while Liam watched him go. Looking at Julian he focused his attention on him.

        “Julian are you okay?” He walked over to him and crouched down beside him. One arm was slung on the back of his chair. Julian looked down for a moment and remarked.

        “Yes, thanks to Jonah,” he said, “But it was really weird, when Jonah pulled me up on the beach he looked like a fish.” He bowed his head again. “I know that is a silly thing to say, but the more I think about it the more I picture Jonah with a tail.” Mary let out a little laugh

        “Julian, there are no such things as mermen,” she chuckled, reaching over and ruffling his hair “You had probably swallowed too much seawater.” Mary looked at Liam with a smile, but he was looking away with a strange look on his face. Mary frowned. “Surely you don’t believe that Jonah is a merman do you?” she asked Liam. Liam looked at her and let out a little chuckle.

        “Of course not Mary,” he looked at Julian “But don’t go spreading that around the village. Who knows what would happen if they all thought Jonah was a merman.” Julian nodded. Finally, Giving Julian a firm squeeze on the shoulder he left to his room to get ready for the Clergyman dinner.

        In his room, Jonah had heard the whole thing. His heart had raced, hoping that Liam didn’t believe it. He had been relieved to hear Mary and Liam’s responses. He was most relieved though to hear Liam’s admonitions to Julian about telling the village. He started to get changed, once he had taken his shirt off he paused and looked at his pendant. Using a hand he lifted it up so he could see the symbol of the seahorse on it. Longing filled him, he missed his father and deeper then that he missed Talis. With a shake of his head he squashed the feeling, knowing that it would do him no good. Letting the Pendant fall to his chest he finished changing and met Liam in the kitchen. After saying their good byes they headed for Clergyman Michael’s house.