Progeny

by Erik Schubach

  Marie and Brent, who have already become inseparable would go fourth to forge their own way in the world the following year. It was fun to listen to their plans for the future, as they already included each other.

  Zil would be in it for the long haul with us, as she was a freshman as well. But I could already tell, that no matter where life took her or us, she was going to be one of those friends you called late at night to share the amazing things in your life as they happened.

  Then there was Kat, she would always be part of us, an immovable fixture around the campus. She would usher future misfit groups through the trials and tribulations of college life long after we graduated and moved on in our lives.

  A hand was waving in front of my face and a silly voice calling out, “Earth to Hank! Hello? You in there?”

  I snapped out of my musings and giggled. “Sorry, I was waxing poetic about our group. I love you guys.”

  This got me some, “Aaaw”s and some “Love you too”s. And a quick sneak attack peck on my lips from the object of my desire.

  She whispered, “Would you like to go out again tonight?” I just nodded with a silly grin on my face.

  As usual our “brunch” didn't break up until well after noon. I spent the entire afternoon trying to figure out what to wear for Abbey on our second date.

  I sent an SOS text to June, who comically walked through the door literally three seconds after I sent it, saying, “I was waiting out there for the call.” I rolled my eyes as Zil almost giggled herself into a coma.

  I threw one of my pillows at the goth, blurting out, “It wasn't that funny.”

  She gasped for air and calmed herself a bit, saying, “Oh yes, it was.”

  I looked at June who was nodding with a serious look on her face, and affirmed, “Sorry Hank, but it was.”

  I pushed her shoulder with an embarrassed smile on my lips and surrendered. “Fine you bloody evil birds.” Then I got serious. “Thanks JW. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

  She looked to be in mock serious thought then said, “Probably flunk out and wind up on the streets. Pass out in an alley somewhere and wake up in some third world country where you don't speak the language. Then spend months making your way back to the States only to find that you don't have your passport and can't enter the country because of your British accent. Then get yer butt shipped off to England.”

  Both she and Zil were nodding at each other with those mock serious expressions. Zil said, “Yes. Most likely.”

  I presented each of them with their very own smacks with my other pillow. Then I thought for a second. “You're probably right.” Which just caused us all to explode into laughter.

  After we calmed down, June went about the task of making me look like... well, me... for my girl. I smiled at that thought and just wanted to hug myself as a reward for thinking of Abbey. I was supposed to dress casual tonight, so I wound up in some tight jeans and layered tanks and my leather jacket.

  I twirled for the girls and got their thumbs up. We sat and chatted until six thirty, when she was supposed to pick me up. Just like clockwork there was a light knock on the door. Zil called out, “It's always open Abs.”

  I smiled and almost skipped to the door and opened it. She was in some tight torn jeans and a cute top and a light jacket, with her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. I mouthed, “Wow.” to her and got lost on those amber eyes, swirling with orange flecks.

  We finally broke our gaze when June cleared her throat. We grinned and looked at her. She again had her head resting on Zil's shoulder saying, “Don't be out too late girls. She has homework to do AJ.”

  Abbey grinned and pouted out, “Yes mother.”

  Zil added as we left, “Remember to use protection.” I blushed profusely at that and Abbey looked about to burst too. We hurried off to the sound of the two evil birds laughing behind the door.

  She whispered, “They are so evil.”

  I nodded. “Yeah... I love 'em.”

  She giggled out, “Me too!”

  Then we loaded up into the Range Rover and were driving through the city. I looked over at her and asked, “So where are we going?”

  She just grinned and refused to look at me, with a sly smile on her face and said, “You'll see. Now just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  I shot her a nose crinkle then relaxed back in my seat and watched the city pass by. I'm positive my smile couldn't have gotten any bigger as she pulled into the parking lot at Coney Island. She helped me out of the car then dragged me giggling to the amusement park.

  Before we did any of the normal things one would do at Coney Island, she brought me to the multi-arts center and to a museum. I didn't know that Coney Island had a museum, and I had been to New York a lot when I was younger!

  She smiled at me sheepishly and shrugged when I looked at her with a smile. “I like museums,” she muttered.

  I nodded in agreement and said, “I'd live in them if I could!” We went through and looked at the creative exhibits. I had to grin when we came across some work by Robin from our school. I pointed it out to a grinning Abbey. I was enamored with her childlike delight at the art around us. It made me feel even closer to her if that was even possible.

  We sat on a bench in front of an impressionistic sculpture, as I sketched in my sketchbook. She looked at me with her twinkling eyes. “I just wanted this night to be special for you. I know it sounds stupid, but I really enjoy watching you experience things. It gives me a warm feeling inside.”

  I was entranced by her and whispered, “At the risk of sounding like a bloody git here... Abbey, every day is a gift, and I want to fill all my days with you.”

  She looked shocked for a moment then something unexpected happened. A tear... a single solitary tear, rolled down her cheek. She was smiling hugely now and stood with me. Lacing our fingers together with a look of mixed awe and pride on her face. What did I say? She shared the softest kiss with me then. A kiss that I know will be unrivaled my entire life. It was a kiss that conveyed a promise. A promise that I would hold dear in my heart forever.

  Then she led me to an amusement park and proceeded to share with me one of the most fun times of my life. I'm pretty sure our hands were inseparable that night. We shared something that I still to this day cannot explain. Except, I was positive of the impossible fact that I was in love with this woman. I had known her for three weeks and she was the most important thing to me already. I made a pact with myself, to give her as much happiness and joy as she gave to me. It was a pact I honor happily even today.

  When we got back to the dorm later that night with a huge stuffed platypus, that Abbey had won for me in the ring toss. She stubbornly spent almost an hour at it until she finally won a prize of her choice. She let me choose and snorted with the cutest smile when I squeaked out that I wanted the platypus.

  We walked in and Zil, Will, and June were munching on pizza and watching television. June smiled at us in mischief, but then her face went serious as she looked at us. She whispered, “Oh... So it's like that?” With a soft smile, she then grabbed William by the hand and dragged him out of the room with her. She shot us a knowing smile as they left.

  I snorted when the door reopened and June's hand reached in and grabbed Zil's hand and dragged her out with them.

  I blushed. I had never been so embarrassed in my life. I know what they were expecting. But let me tell you, we did something even more personal, more intimate than in their wildest imaginations.

  We turned out all the lights except the little lamp on my nightstand and sat on my bed facing each other, holding each other's hands and talked. We talked about everything and nothing. About the future and our dreams, about how we felt about each other. I believed I could see her soul as the night went on. Our voices a whisper in case the universe would hear and tell us this was just a dream.

  We were laying on the bed our heads on my pillows, facing each other and still talking when Zil poked her head back in the room around
four in the morning. She had an odd look on her face when she saw us still talking. It turned to a soft smile as she got under her covers and turned away from us.

  We both smiled in her direction then kept talking until we fell asleep, facing each other, still holding hands.

  I kept my word. I filled every day with Abbey, because every day truly was a gift. She was my gift. A gift I would treasure always.

  Bloody hell. We were inseparable after that. We would travel home during every holiday, every break. By the end of the school year, I was already seeing Mia as a third mother. I loved her like my own parents. I spent Christmas with the Jacobs instead of my own family that year. It was so intimate, just the three of us. I almost cried realizing that they were all each other had before me. I understood their bond even more now. After that, I vowed that my family would invade their lives and make them feel included.

  I had to hide myself away and cry myself out after Abbey performed her spoken word project in front of the student body at the end of the semester. She spoke of hope. Of finding something new, something unexpected. Of the wonder of discovery. The emotion of it all hit everyone as a wall of heartache that changed to one of life, and love. She spoke of her heart, then she gave it a name. The final line in her reading. “My Sam.”

  My project was selected to travel in an international exhibit. People were awed by the invisible heroes on the streets. Aunt Sandra cried when she saw it and said, “I'm so very proud of you Sammie.” That was a very important and defining moment in my life, as well.

  That was the night Abbey chose for us to finally be... together. She had made a production of hanging a sock on the doorknob and pointing at it. Zil grinned hugely and left the room. We knew she was heading to her new boyfriend's place, another freshman named Roger Lightman. We approved of him, he treated Zilrita like a lady. She was quite taken by him.

  Abbey showed me what it was to be a woman that night. We both showed our love for each other in our actions, our words, our lips. It was the most beautiful night of my life. I have never felt so... loved, so... complete? Than that night with Abbey.

  Time marched on as it invariably does, and all too soon, it was the end of an era when June graduated with high honors at the end of the year. We had a final farewell brunch with our mentor, our guru, our friend, the leader of June's Eight.

  I was a little sad because June and William had agreed to go their separate ways after graduation since he lived in Georgia and her in Vancouver. I signed to her that I would miss her. My signing was getting acceptable after my first American Sign Language course. Something I would pursue my entire academic career.

  June kissed me on the cheek, “Chin up and smile Hank. This is the beginning of a new chapter, you'll be great, and I'm always a phone call away. God knows you two will always be 'my frosh.' Besides Sammie, you'll be seeing me back home in a couple days for summer break. I think it is time we all terrorize another city.”

  I nodded through tears as she moved to Abbey, “AJ.” She smiled hugely then her tone softened, “Abbey, you're everyone's hero, our warrior. Take care of Hank. She's kind of breakable. I'll see you in a couple days.” Then I saw a rare thing as Abbey cried as she nodded.

  I was sketching in a pad, capturing the moment, as June made the rounds to the others then grabbed William, saying in a hoarse voice, “Let's go before I friggin' cry Will. Drive me to the airport?”

  I pictured one of those old western movies that Mumsy likes so much as we watched June ride off into the sunset.

  Chapter 20 – She Distracted Me With A Kiss

  The years that followed felt to me like an adventure. An adventure I gladly experienced with the object of my affection by my side, leading the way into the future unflinchingly.

  June surprised us the first day of our sophomore year when she showed up at the dorm room I shared with Abbey. “Surprise!” She giggled out to us as we all hugged. We had just seen her a couple days a go at Harmony Trax but it was like seeing an old friend we thought never to see again here at the Academy.

  I sputtered out, “What are you doing here JW?”

  She gave us a conspiratorial look then replied, “Well, I knew you'd miss me too much to function...” she left that hanging and I swear I could hear crickets chirping before she continued, “Fine whatever. I'm doing my post grad work as an aid to Prof McGill, looks like you two are stuck with me another year.”

  They must have heard our bloody squeals of glee all the way back in Seattle. Now I know what people talk about when they say 'squeeing'. After our hugfest we made our way to Campus Grounds to share the good news with Kat, Zil, Marie, and Brent. Zil captured each of us in a giggly squid hug. That was the last year with all of us together. Seven of June's Eight. It was epic!

  More often than not, my family was over at Mia's place or they were at ours during our breaks. Mia took quite a shine to Aunt Amber and Kylee and started hanging out with them and my parents when we were away at school. I thought it was interesting since Mia, and Amber and Kylee were polar opposites. Then I grinned, that's how friendships sometimes work the best.

  The days flew by faster and faster, time only slowed down when Abbey was there. Sharing, a smile, a touch, a look, a kiss. I seriously couldn't imagine a time when she wasn't there now. Is it possible for your love to continually get stronger as time progressed?

  We finally lost June, Brent, and Marie for good at the Academy at the end of that year. We half expected June to pop up in our junior year. Though she did comically call us our first day, “You guys got this shit? Or do I need to come hold your hands?” We laughed until we realized we really would miss her there.

  June is a constant fixture in our lives back home. She is there to share everything during our breaks.

  During our senior year, she and Abbey kept sneaking off to discuss something. June even showed up on campus to steal Abbey away for a bit before Christmas break. When I asked what she was doing in New York she comically scrunched her nose and said, “I was just in the neighborhood Hank.” Abbey just grinned hugely at me and nodded. What are those two up to? With JW involved, it can’t be anything good. I threatened them with my stuffed platypus to no effect. Fat lot of good he does me if he can't intimidate them.

  We had brunch the next morning with the rest of our dwindling group. We all caught up with June then she had us drop her at the airport. She shared a conspiratorial grin with Abbey then kissed me on the cheek and said, “See you on winter break Hank. I love you ladies.” And she was gone like a bloody ghost.

  Abs kept getting more and more excited the closer it got to winter break. Then it finally arrived. She kept giving me such a loving look on the plane ride home. I marveled at how bloody lucky I was that she had chosen me. I looked at her lovingly and asked, “Abs?” She cocked an eyebrow cutely at me. I smiled and continued, “When did you know? I mean... that I was the one?”

  She didn't answer, but instead she distracted me by kissing me so passionately that I lost my train of thought. She easily defeated me in our tongues' battle for dominance. Gawd did I enjoy losing to her. Go me!

  I'm sure I had a dazed look and silly grin on my face the rest of the flight. My body was buzzing and it was frustrating that there wasn't anything I could bloody do about it. I caught myself entertaining the thought of joining the mile high club with Abbey in the restroom, when the 'fasten seatbelts' sign lit up. Bloody Hell! I crossed my legs in frustration.

  Mia met us at the airport. She was, as usual, against a far wall and avoiding contact with people. I gave her a tiny wave as we approached.

  First Abbey, then I were engulfed in a warm Mia hug. She looked us both up and down with an appraising look that only a mother could accomplish as she said, “I love you girls.” as she straightened our clothes a bit.

  We let her know we loved her too and we were off to their house on the lake. I was amazed how beautifully Mia always decorated around Christmas. Abbey had cryptically told me once that Christmas was one of the most imp
ortant memories that her mother had and that everything had to be perfect.

  We sat around for about an hour chatting then Mia excused herself to her studio in the garage. “I'm sorry ladies but I have to finish up the exhibit early. They want it tonight instead of tomorrow for the Christmas showing. Can you please come in and get me at exactly six baby girl?” Abbey nodded with a smile.

  I spent the time chatting with my girl. Then Abbey checked her mobile and grinned. We went into the garage to see Mia standing by her finished artwork. I was distracted by the spectacular canvases while the two ladies bantered about the time.

  These were some of her best work, almost as good as the private ones on the wall.

  I smiled at the poems that overlapped the pictures of Abbey's deceased mother. They were some of my favorite poems. I looked at the Jacobs two and said quietly, “I know those poems. We read them in our contemporary American Literature class. They're by Vee A. Jacobs.”

  My eyes snapped wide. Vee A. JACOBS?! Like Abbey and Mia Jacobs? Mia's wife's name was Valla! Vee! How had I not seen this before? I saw Abbey's smile growing on her face at my realization. The minx had just confirmed the final secret she had kept from me.

  I blurted out, “Oh my God! Not only is your mother Mia friggin' Jacobs, but your other mom is Vee Jacobs?!? Why didn't either of you ever tell me?” Abbey bit her lower lip. Oh... OK, she's forgiven. I melted a bit.

  She shrugged with a mock innocent look on her face as I looked back at the canvases. “Well, it kinda never came up. I keep forgetting that my parents are famous, I just see them as, well, just my moms. I told you she dabbled in poetry.”

  I snorted. “Dabbled?” I re-examined the second canvas, that poem on it was my favorite Vee A. Jacobs poem. Hmm... A as in Abbey? That last line “A deafening whisper.”, has always struck me as so profound and powerful without even knowing why. I smiled and turned back to the two women, shaking my head in disbelief.

  Mia grabbed our hands and dragged us back into the house. I kept getting distracted by the shy smiles Abbey was shooting me.