Dominic Luco Orlando
913 Words
For the next few days, I sat in my house, itching like an addict. I was torn between wanting to see Dominic again but also scared. He wasn't normal, he was strange and distant. He felt dangerous.
"Hey sweetie," Dad ruffled my hair as he sat down on the couch with me.
"What're you gonna do today?" he asked.
I shrugged, "Not sure."
"You should get out and meet some kids in the neighbourhood."
"I have," I sorta lied.
"Who?" he asked.
"Umm, Dominic, the guy around the corner in that big mansion." I rolled my eyes as he instantly turned to look at me.
"How old is this boy?"
I shrugged.
"How old do you think he is?"
"Maybe eighteen?" I suggested.
"That's too old,"
"For what?" I side eyed his reaction.
"You know what," Dad poked me in the ribs playfully.
"Don't worry, it's not like that." I giggled.
"Well, why don't you meet some girls? The family next door has a girl your age." Dad sipped on his coffee thoughtfully, "I know I said I'd finish unpacking today, but I get paid double on weekends." He got up and kissed me on the head.
"I know, dad, it's okay. I'll leave your dinner in the microwave for you." I watched him shove his big feet into his worn steel cap boots.
After he left, I decided to get dressed. the day was on the warmer side, so I picked out some denim shorts and a tank top.
I wandered down the street once again, walking towards Dominics' house. But this time, the iron gates were open. A silent invitation.
My shoes crunched on the white pebbles of the driveway as I walked up to the looming front door.
Before, I'd barely knocked once the door opened.
"Hello," Dominic greeted me with a smirk.
"Hi," was all I managed to say.
"Would you like to come in?" He offered.
"Yeah, thanks." I stepped inside. this time, the house was warmer. it smelt less stagnant. More homely.
"I was woundering I'd you'd like to see something?" Dominic asked as ge handed me a glass of cold lemonade.
"depends what it is," I smiled up at him, over the rim of the tall glass I held.
"Come, find out." he enticed me.
I followed him, up the grand stair case, all the way to the attic. A wide grin spread across dominics face when I noticed small cries coming from the corner of the room.
I tip toed over and found three tiny kittens and a mother cat, laying in a nest of old bed sheets and curtains.
"I found them yesterday." Dominic whispered from behind me, I could feel him almost against me as I leant down to feel the silkiness of the kittens fur.
"Are you going to keep them?" I asked.
"I suppose, but, if you wanted, when they're old enough, you could have one." He offered.
"I don't know if my dad will let me," I sighed, longing to take home one of the fluffy babies.
two of the kittens were back with white socks while the third was white and ginger.
the mother was a pure black cat.
"You can name them if you like." Dominc spoke as he watched me study the kittens.
"I'll name them when I get a chance to see their personalities." I decided.
"You'll have to come by regularly then to get to know them." He insisted.
"Okay," I agreed, happy to have an ongoing excuse to keep visiting.
"What do you do around here besides gardening and bird watching?"
We sat outside on the white wooden bench.
he sat so far away from me, but seemed to still lean towards me at the same time, an internal struggle of some sort battle behind his silver eyes.
I realised that I loved his eyes, they were like liquid mercury. He watched me for a few minutes before he answered my question.
"I also watch people and occasionally travel." He chuckled, almost to himself.
"What do you mean, you watch people?"
"Sometimes I climb the trees," he pointed to the tree I saw him sitting in on the first night, "And I just watch people, I think about their lives and imagine what they do, where they live who they go home to." He shrugged, "it's like a game."
"And where do you travel?" I had always wanted to go places, see tropical islands and ruins of ancient cities.
"I often go back to where my ancestors called home, Italy." He smiled, a toothy genuine smile.
"What's it like there?"
"Beautiful, my favourite place, the beaches are so clear and shimmer like jewels, the land is covered in vineyards and homes. The people are always welcoming."
He seemed to sadden as he thought more and more of this place.
"I wish I could visit," I sighed.
"Maybe one day you will." He checked a watch on his wrist and stared up at the sun, "I have a visitor coming soon, a grumpy old man. you'll want to get going." He seemed to be reluctant to ask me to leave, but I knew I should go.
"I'll come by tomorrow, to see the kittens?" I checked and he nodded as he walked me to the door.
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow morning, about ten?"
"Sounds good, I'll see you then." I said as I made my way back down the drive way and heading home.
- Writer
