What happens at 11?
727 Words
“Can you come over??” Tania asks through the phone, her voice a little shaky.
“Hmmm, I know we need to talk about JJ, Tee” Luke sighed down the phone. “I’ll be over in 10”
“Make it 30, I don’t want JJ to know” Tania said quietly before ending the call.
30 minutes later Luke was letting himself into her tiny flat, grabbed a drink from her fridge and sat down on her sofa.
“Soo 3 months and then he is 11??!!” Luke said a little flatly.
“I know what this means from my side of the family but what about yours??”
“For us it’s just a coming of age, the matriarch of the family speaks a blessing over the child and that’s about it really. Most things come in later in life.” Luke explained. “And your family?”
Tania stared out the window before replying. “Similar for us, a family gift is presented, something passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes the males in our family find their “special thing” or so to speak” Tania added the air quotes for effect.
Luke sat up a bit “what do you mean special thing?” He questioned.
“A special talent of some sort, it’s not always extraordinarily but it can be. When the older of my two brothers came of age he discovered he had a gift for realistic drawings.” She said with a small tear in her eye, remembering the first drawing he had done for her.
“And, well my youngest brother he had not come of age yet” she turned away wiping the tears from her eyes. She missed her brothers terribly. But she knew what she had done was all for her son.
“But who knows with JJ. He is already so gifted” Tania said quickly bringing her thoughts back to the conversation.
“Um, so he may or may not get a gift or talent?” Luke said scratching his head. “Our family normally get those sorts of things when we turn 13 and then again at 21. Well most of the time.”
“ and what of your brothers Luke?”
“Well you know JJ’s father was given the gift of leadership and war. And our younger brother the gift of manipulation.” Luke hung his head, he knew the direction of this conversation as soon as the words left his mouth.
Tania was shocked, she knew his younger brother was cunning and had a good number of friends but was not aware he had the gift of manipulation. She also knew this was not the time and place to get into that conversation. JJ was more important.
“Okay, lets shelf that for another day. So basically he could receive his gifts at any time. We will just have to keep a closer eye on him in the next few months”
“A closer eye?!” Luke almost choking on his drink. “The only time he is not with us or GiGi he is at school. What else are we meant to do? Go to school with him?”
Tania tensed in her chair, she knew he was right but she had to protect her son.
“He must be protected” raising her voice.
“Tee, I know that more than anyone. But we have been here 10 years with no disturbances. We are safe” Luke used his calm and collected voice to try and sooth her.
It worked. Tania unclenched her fists.
“You are right” she relaxed back into her chair. “As always” she muttered to herself.
“Can I have that in writing?” Luke bantered.
“No!!!” Tania throw a cushion at his head and laughed.
They both laughed for a moment. Then Tania remembered the restaurant...
“Luke, I’m not sure it’s JJ we have to worry about though. Today when I was with Gigi at the restaurant I felt like I was being watched.”
“Tee come on? How would anyone find us here? I think you are getting jumping because of JJs birthday coming up. You do this every year!”
“Okay okay, but keep an eye out please?!”
Luke got up, “you know me, got all ears and eyes open. And on that note I’m going to bed... ALONE, no thanks to you” and with that he waved and walked out.
Tania get herself ready for bed, but all the while she couldn’t help but wonder if it was paranoia or was she really being watched.
- Writer
