New Home
Part Three
By Christine Demerath

Jean-Luc spent the rest of the night with Remy, he felt a little acquired sitting there, but Remy needed someone next to him. His body was aching, even though Remy was small he was strong, leaving various bruises all over Jean's head, legs, and arms. He looked at the teeth-marks, which Remy left. He'd hardly moved sense Remy fell asleep, the boy's small head lay in his lap. Remy was sleeping in a fetal possion, save his head. He still couldn't get the child's words out of his head, the fear nor the words after. The sun began to rises, trying carefully not to wake Remy Jean tried to slip out of the bed.

"What?" Remy said through his tiered voice.

"I'm sorry, Remy, I've got ta get up. Go back ta bed." Jean-Luc pulled the blanket over the small body, gripping his pillow Remy fell asleep.

"Tantie. Henri." Jean-Luc greeted them.

"Morning, Jean-Luc."

"Father. How is the boy?"

"Fine," he took his food from Tantie. "I'll talk to him tonight. Tantie, I know this is asking a lot, but could you stay a few more nights. I know ya where suppose to go home yesterday, sense it was my first day out of house, sense I got "ill", but with Remy I need a little help."

"Jean, I'd be glad to."

"Father, I still don't understand why you do this."

"Henri?"

"I'm not saying that you should cast the boy out, but why did you bring him home?"

"He appealed to me."

"Father, is that a good enough reason?"

"Leave it at that."

"Jean, you look awful." A dark ring had started to form around Jean's eye.

"Feel that way, too. He packs a good punch," he smiled, "and bite for that matter."

"Do you have any idea what happened last night?"

"Can't say I do. I better get ready. Henri, are you coming today?"

"Oui, but I'm coming back early, got a job tonight."

"I'll be ready ta leave in ten."

Tantie Mattie worked with Remy on his learning to read for two or more hours. Many times Remy became frustrated with himself, but it only made him increase his attention, after cooling off. He was right in telling Tantie Mattie that he was a fast learner, he was doing well with sounding out words by the time they were finished for the day.

"Can I go outside?" Remy asked later. "Yes, but stay outta the swamp, hear?" "Oui." Remy went charging out the back door. Tantie moved to the window to watch him, for a bit. The first thing he did was take his shoes off, then looked around for something to do. There were a few gardeners spread about. An enormously old tree stood in the middle of the beautiful garden. Remy quickly raced toward the tree, catching a few of the gardeners' attentions, and up it. Which is not an easy task sense the trunk was almost strait up and down. Boy is like a cat. Tantie smiled. Remy climbed all through the tree swinging from branches to branches, laughing and enjoying himself. Or a monkey.

"What ya lookin` at Tantie?"

"Remy."

"Mmm?"

"Come look."

"He's having fun, huh?" Henri couldn't help but smile. Feeling that he was being watched by more then the gardeners, Remy swung to a low branch and look toward the house, to see Henri and Tantie Mattie watching him. Quickly dropping to the ground Remy ran to the house, grabbing his shoes on the way.

"Ya need help?" He smiled at Tantie, his face red.

"Non, we were just watching ya," Henri.

"Oh. Is Jean back?" He looked toward the living room.

"Non."

"Here," Tantie handed Remy some water.

"Buie. Can I go ta my room?"

"`Course."

"Bonsor." Remy grabbed some papers and a book from the table and headed for his room.

"I don't think he's comfortable `round me."

"Non, he don't know ya yet, don't trust ya enough."

"Oui, but how can I get him ta?"

"You'll find a way, Henri."

*Knock* *Knock*

"Gave `m a minute." Remy shoved his things under his bed. "Come in." Remy was disappointed to see Henri enter through his door and not his `pappa`.

"Remy, would you like ta play a game of chess?"

"Sure." Remy hopped of his bed and walked toward Henri. "Need practice if I'm gonna bet Jean," he said with a sly smile.

Remy was holding up pretty good under the pressure, but slowly he was being disarmed. So when Jean came home he was more than happy to forget the game.

"Jean!"

"How was your day?" Jean asked as Remy came running up to him.

"Great, got ta go in da backyard in play for a while, wasn't very long but had fun."

"Good, what's for dinner?"

"Don't know, I've been losing.. I mean playin` chess with Henri."

"Winning?"

"Non."

"Remy after dinner I need ta talk ta ya." He announced a little to serious to Remy's liking.

"Okay," answered uneasily.

"I'm going ta go talk ta Tantie, why don't ya go finish your game?"

"`kay," Jean could tell that he'd rather stay with him.

"Good job."

"What ya mean "good job"? I lost!"

"Ya but ya put up a good fight."

"So, don't mean crap in de end." He wasn't talking about the game.

"Don't say dat boy."

"Why not?"

"`Cause it ain't true, the attempt is everything."

"Not in dis world it ain't." He quickly got up and went to the kitchen to find Jean.

"Da boy's been on his own to long. Such a young soul to be tortured.

While Remy waits for Jean to come up, he plays a game of solitaire. Wonder what da others doing? Miss da guys, but I sure as hell don't want ta go back. He was scared that's why Jean wanted to talk to him.

"Remy?" Jean walked in.

"Hi, what ya want ta talk ta me `bout?"

"Last night."

No no no no! His mind screamed. "Oui?"

"This is hard for me ta ask ya but..." he paused.

No no no no.... he repeated over and over in his mind.

".....what was that about?"

What? He ain't kicking me out!?! Wait a minute, Remy, ya don't know if he done yet. "What?"

"I know it isn't something you want to talk about, but you can't keep it inside."

Remy did say anything for a long time, Jean waited patently. "I don't remember."

"Really?" he was shocked. Remy took more time to think.

Oh, my god! Her remembered bits and pieces of what happened the night before, but only what he did, not the flashback. He remembered hitting Jean and Jean trying to help him. His mind began to panic, "I didn't mean ta hurt ya! I don't know why I did! It won't happen again, please don't hate me. Don't leave me alone, don't make me leave." He was trying his hardest not to cry. "please… I'm sorry… I didn't mean ta." He pleaded through his sobs and began to rock himself.

"Remy, Remy, don't get upset, you ain't going anywhere, kay?"

"I'm sorry….. I sorry..." He hadn't heard Jean's words.

"Remy, you listening? You're staying right here! It wasn't your fault!" He grabbed Remy's shoulder.

Remy suddenly stopped and looked up at him wide eyed. "But I..."

"Remy you didn't know what you were doing, I know you didn't mean to." He opened his arms to hug Remy, he looked at the out stretched arm carefully then took the offering.

"So ya don't remember what ya were thinkin`?"

"Non."

"That's okay. We won't talk about it again if ya don't want."

"I don't." He yawned.

"Okay, see ya in the morning."

"Night, pappa."

"Sleep well, Remy."

"He left half-n-hour ago."

"He's feeling better. He doesn't remember all of it. Just what happened not dream." He answered her unspoken question. "He was afraid I'd make him leave. He's so scared I wish I knew how to make it go away."

"All ya can do for him is pray and hope the saints are listening."

"I do."