28 Boys by Ashleigh Giannoccaro

Author:Ashleigh Giannoccaro [Giannoccaro, Ashleigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B06XQ2QGL3
Published: 2017-03-29T18:30:00+00:00

The sun is warming up already as we get the push-chair out the front door. Ma helps me carry it down the stairs to the path.

The wheels keep catching on the uneven paving as we battle our way to the pavement, so we can walk in the blistering heat to the church. I see him walking to the front door, he’s in fancy clothes.

He didn’t look that way when he left. I know, I remember the way his white t-shirt felt when my hands ran up against it. Those aren’t his faded jeans either. He looks like he doesn’t belong here. He looks like Eiran. His hands are in his pockets, his dark eyes on me, like they have been since the moment he came home. He stops before he gets to the steps and turns to look at us, a smile pulling one side of his mouth.

“Ons gaan kerk toe.” We’re going to church, I say before I know what I’m doing, his smile made me feel silly. “Kom jy?” Are you coming?

I’ve lost my mind. Francis swings around and walks towards the gate. I can see the one crooked tooth as his mouth opens in a wide grin, like I just asked him for ice-cream, and not to go to church.

“Ek kan kom.” I can come. He’s already crossing the street when he answers me. Ma shakes her head, I see it out the corner of my eye as Francis steps up on the pavement with us. “Let me push the pram.”

His hand takes the one handle I let go of, and the other brushes mine as he moves it out the way. Ma walks in front, and him and me are side by side, with the pram in front of us, and little Dan is squealing because the bumpy ride to church is his favorite thing.

There are no more words spoken, we just walk. There are other families walking to church. The older Ooms (uncles) have hats on, with ties and polished shoes. The Aunties all have their best dresses and heels on.

Their faith astounds me. I go begrudgingly to church every week; I have no hope that things will ever change. Yet, they have blind faith that their God will just make this world right somehow.

Halfway down our street, just before the corner where we will turn for church, Francis takes my hand in his, pushing Dan with one hand.

I want to pull it away, I want to cry, but it also feels so special.

No one has held my hand before.

Nothing about Nathaniel was ever soft or loving, and sweet like this. He was all passion and physicality, he just bulldozed me, broke me and made we weak.

Francis holding my hand doesn’t feel like any of that, instead I stand a little straighter and a smile pulls at my lips. Sneaking a glance at him I see his smile too.

Maybe he is good.

I just don’t know if I want to find out.

Right now, this very minute, he feels good.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.