Arthur

There are so many people in this world who are oblivious. Things are happening underneath the noses of most normal people and they never seem to realize that what they are being told is not always the truth. Perhaps some do know, but they are afraid of what they don't understand or they simply prefer their lifestyles of black and white. That the known is easier to manage than the unknown, longing to remain in an easier place where a person sticks to the predetermined schedule of work and social interactions that govern their lives. But I'm getting away from the subject at hand. Best to leave that to another day.

What is this truth that no one seems to know? I shall put it in simple terms. It is that not all of those ridiculous tales of people with unique, ah shall we say talents?, are false.

For as long as history has been recorded there have been others alongside the humans. I couldn't say the scientific reasons for the co-existence, why they appeared, or how it is determined that someone is normal or not. From the outside, you cannot tell one from the other. And yet, whatever difference there is, it presents itself in extraordinary ways.

These traits are present throughout a person's life. They learn to control them as easily as walking, eating, or breathing. It really does become second nature. This is lucky for the few that possess these traits, as they are better able to hide them from the rest of the world.

In the past, people with these traits went by various names: some cultures referred to them as gods or demons, sometimes witches or creatures from legend. Whatever the name, they are always met with fear when discovered and were sought to be destroyed.

In current times, those that are found are removed from society. This practiced everywhere, from the frozen tundras of Russia to the busy city streets of America. A person will simple vanish during the night with no clues as to their whereabouts. People continue on without them, their possessions are sold, and their memory fades. I am unaware of the fate of these people, but of this one thing I am certain: of all those who have gone, none have ever returned.

I am one of the chosen few that hide their true identity. I am somewhat unique for even my kind, as I have a larger assortment of possibilities. In the past, I would have been known as a sorcerer, as I can manipulate objects and create a few others. It has its uses when it comes to house maintenance.

I cannot, however, use these things around my own house. I foolishly fell in love with a normal human. We have been friends since we were both children living in the same neighborhood. He does not know what I am. I also cannot tell him. There is no telling how he would react to the news. I would assume that he must care for me enough that he would never have me sent away, but it's a chance I cannot take.

There are people who do know about me in the underground circles. Generally, the information is passed to those in need of aid and I receive a phone call for help. Normally it is for small favors or a decent meal and directions to someone passing through the area. It was because of this that I have found myself in my current situation.

It was late one evening that I answered the knocking at my door. I was home alone that night, enjoying tea and a good book and hadn't been expecting company. On my doorstep was a woman, blonde, quite young and showing signs she was in the final term of pregnancy. I am a gentleman, and invited her in, setting her on the couch and fetching her something to drink.

I listened carefully as she told me her current plight and why she had sought me out per someone's suggestion. She was still in school and the father non-existent and had no means to raise children on her own. She was also concerned if the children were like us and having to try to hide whatever traits they could present with. She pleaded with me her case in the hopes that I knew of someplace that would be able to adopt and raise the twins she was carrying.

Her tale struck some chord within me that I was unsure existed. I assured her that I would be able to find a family and sent her home for that evening. I had preparations to complete.

When Francis came through the door the following evening, he was greeted with our kitchen table decorated in lit candles and our best dishes. I ordered food from a nearby restaurant he favored, knowing he wouldn't be as appreciative of my home cooking (even though there is nothing wrong with it, damn it). I put in the center of our table a vase filled with a mixture of red roses and white irises, our favorite flowers, and even though I tend to leave all romantic gestures to Francis, I felt it added a nice touch to the display.

I had great sense of pleasure as I watched the momentary pause and the confusion of those captivating blue eyes while their owner went through his mental calendar of all possible events that could be the cause of such celebrations. I couldn't contain the smug grin as I noted that I should do this again in the future when I didn't have ulterior motives.

Satisfied that he wasn't forgetting an anniversary or birthday, Francis's eyes had changed to one of suspicion when he inquired the occasion for our nice little dinner. I tried to brush it off as we took our seats, but he had known me for far too long to believe that. I waited until half way through our meal before I asked. It hadn't been anything that we had previously discussed, and it must have seemed sudden for him that I would suddenly bring up a desire for children.

Francis had calmly laid his knife and fork beside his plate before delivering his backhanded comment inferring that my intelligence was lacking as two men could not have children. Bloody frog, why do I put up with his constant insults?

Understandably, my temper flared and I corrected him, adding in the word 'adopt' to the request. The silence that followed was unbearable. I wasn't going to back down on this, and had come up with as many valid arguments for my case as there would be against, but in the end there weren't needed. Francis agreed and it was my turn to be stunned into silence. He returned to his meal and smirked at my shocked expression while I was still collecting myself at the easiest battle I'd won against him yet. He always makes comments at how amusing my face can be with certain expressions. I believe the one I made that night was among his favorites.

I was snapped out of my trance when he had me explain how I had come to this new decision and I told him of the young woman I had met and how I wanted to help her. I left out the part where she was different and her children most likely were as well. Instead I spun a tale of how I met her on my way into work and she had tearfully told me her troubles and I offered to help. I didn't think that Francis bought my story, but he didn't question it further and we turned our attention to practical matters of space, needed supplies, and how we would manage it all in the short amount of time.

After that I remember very little because of the alcohol we shared in celebration. What I do remember though was quite memorable.

The several weeks since then have rushed by, with us preparing for the new arrivals. We finally got the call and both dropped everything to rush to the hospital. And now we are waiting. It's been hours since we've arrived and no news has traveled back to us yet as we paced the small waiting room and drank terrible cups of tea and coffee. The sun is setting and I watch it lower towards the horizon with the arrangements of orange and pink as the light slowly diminishes when a nurse enters the room and calls our names. I glance at Francis and we begin to follow the woman through the corridors to small room and are each handed a small bundle wrapped in blue blanket. I've never seen anything so small in my life and I can already feel panic in my chest as to the number of things I can do wrong in trying to raise them.

They are both sleeping peacefully and I'm afraid to speak for fear of waking them. I don't know how long I stayed like that when I realized Francis was watching me. He smiles when I look up him and I know that we've made the right decision. A small noise from arms causes me to look down and greet a pair of bright blue eyes. Their owner's mouth is pulled open into a wide toothless grin when he gained my attention and begins to wave tiny hands at me and make more noise. I carefully readjust my hold to free a hand and I offer my finger to the animated infant. He grasps it, barely able to reach his hand around, and laughs loudly clearly amused. I join in with him, if nothing more for his ability to be easily entertained.

Francis chuckles at the sight of us and there is a large yawn from his arms and the violet eyes close and snuggling into Francis's chest. Their mother has named them Alfred and Matthew before giving them over to us.

Alfred. Matthew. I do not know what the future holds and I cannot make promises that things will work out. You are most likely joining a world where you will have to pretend that you are something you are not including lying to your own family and any friends you pick up along the way. Things may get difficult for the both of you in the years ahead.

What I can promise is that I will look out for you and care for you to the best of my ability. I will find a way to make sure that you are both safe until I can no longer look out for you. I promised your mother and now I am promising you as well. You both look so innocent while you sleep with no understandings of the world. I want to shut you inside the house so that you'll never know troubles.

Francis, you still don't know everything, and I will never admit this to you, but I need your help with them.

Sleep for now, small ones. Tomorrow begins a new day.

Several months have passed and I have decided to pay a visit to the boys' mother to update her on their progress. I am always armed with photos of them, like the proud parent that I am who cannot recall the last time he had a decent nights sleep. I turn my car down the street and slow down slightly as I near the apartment complex where she lives. As it comes into view I can see the windows where she lives and notice they are dark and there is nothing in the rooms beyond them. There's also a large sign on the front of the building that advertises the available space.

I don't stop my vehicle. I exit the street and head back home to my waiting family.