"A Boy on the Road:" A Story

“Why must I stay here?” the little boy asked, his eyes blinking in the bright lights.

“Oh, but you must,” replied the Mother. Her voice was warm and kind, and very, very firm, “for it is not your time to join me quite yet.

“I don’t want to!” he whined, “It’s messy and loud and very fast, and in a strange way, very slow here. People are so clumsy and square shaped. They clop their heavy feet around and never stop to notice anything. They look straight ahead and neglect to note the beautiful swirls dancing in corners.” he continued. “I want so much to come home to you now, as I feel tired and so old for my young years. I hobble through my days and wonder where I will go. I am ready now! I want to rest my head in your lap. You can rock me and hum sweet songs for me to sleep… like when I was a baby.”

The Mother was silent and still for a few moments. The air hung in the most beautiful way between them. The fluidity of the deep ocean buzzed inside his head and soothed his restlessness. He always felt safe with his mother.

The boy moved in a deeper way towards her embrace. She breathed and he noticed (remember!) the rocking rhythm from within her chest. He laid his head upon her lap and let his eyelids drape over his outer view. Inside, he searched through the layers until he found the tether between them, rooted down below. He tugged a bit and sighed with relief – assured of their depth.

“Really!” He pleaded, “This is so much better. The roads out there are filled with debris and I stumble and skin my knees! My body is bruised and weary. I am ready now.” he pleaded. The faces are all blank and busy and I am lonely. Let me come home to this rhythm that awakens the sparks of dancing light within my cells, and brings me good sleep. I am ready to rest.”

A small smile arose on the mothers lips; she gently lifted him down from her lap. She swallowed and let the warm air into her nose. It filled her and expanded her warm form. She set her soft gaze firmly upon him. The boy felt tendrils of light, shower over his being. He let it seep into his skin and directed his attention deeper in. He stood on his feet and felt the strength of his legs holding him up. His trunk rose from his pelvis and his spine grew into a fine pedestal. The roundness of his head perched itself lightly on top of the staff - a flower in bloom. The expanses of heaven filled him as the flame within his bones ignited itself and warmed his weary flesh.

“You will go. You must.” the mother explained, with an ease in her voice. “There are paths to unknown lands you have not seen yet! There’s unheard music for your ears and blooms of glorious fragrance that will drift into your nose while you sleep! There are foods you must taste and succulent fruits for your tongue! “ Her voice was melodic, like a laughing brook. “ There are rainbows that sit patiently to bring you colors of a limitless spectrum to fill and soothe your tired eyes. It is all waiting for you – behind the curtains.” She patted the top of his head; he felt the warmth emanate from her steady hand. “You are young, and tired I know, but the journey awaits you, for the highest and good.“

The boy focused his gaze on her. He sat into himself and let the silence warp itself into the scene. Words bubbled into his throat; he swallowed and reached deeper into the giant, silent arms that embraced them.

They stayed there like that, the mother and son, for quite a while. The sun rose and gave the sky to the moons- and back again. The leaves changed their colors and offered their brown shriveled shapes to the earth. Fine sheets of snow covered the plains and seeds tucked themselves under the blankets for naps. The stars rearranged themselves in the night and the sky greeted the fluff of clouds as they passed. Fine buds woke the trees from the tips of their branches as fingered roots set themselves deep- to the core. Seedlings sang out, for the glory of it, and sent themselves into the wind.

One spring day, a breath woke the boy. He looked deeply into his mother and silently nodded his head. She met his gaze and a deep knowing pushed through the sides of the silence surrounding them. He tested his feet and his limbs flowed! - like ethereal water, into the spaces around him. He felt the gentle heat of the steady flame deep within his bones. He turned and wordlessly made his way down the path. She gazed at his form in the distance and smiled inside. A small tear formed at the edge of her eye.

As he walked, the boy cocked his ear and listened to the silent sounds hidden inside the moments. He let his eyes land upon colors without limits and let himself fill with all she had promised. He felt the stable earth under the soles of his feet, and the sturdy rhythm of his gait. He let the thin arms of flowers enter his nose and listened for their song. He paused for a berry and the low lying fruit, and rested in the shade of the trees when the road grew too hot.

He didn’t know when he would see his mother again, but he remembered -always- all the knowing they shared.