A/N: Ooo boy am I turning out the stories this weekend! I guess it's because I'm finally able to post, and I have all these stories and ideas I've had written or hanging in my head. This particular story, on the other hand, literally came into my head two hours ago (I was working on physics - don't ask me for the connection there) and so, abandoning said physics, I worked on this instead. I hope it doesn't seem to repetitive, but it is supposed to have the question between each paragraph like that.
- - -
Can you keep a secret?
Five simple words that form a rather simple question. Can you keep a secret? The answer is almost always yes. Yes, of course, because one would like to hear this secret, and consequently one is not thinking about keeping that secret. But the keeping of the secret is the hard part, and should not be taken so lightly.
Can you keep a secret?
Tommy Thornskin had heard those words hundreds of times from his friend Edmund Pevensie. It was the sort of question Edmund would ask before telling Tommy about the frog in Susan's bed, or the missing pie from the windowsill. And Tommy always said yes, always, because they were best friends after all, and the secrets were easy enough to keep.
Can you keep a secret?
Tommy hadn't heard those words for a long time now, not since before Edmund and his family had been sent to the countryside during the war. Edmund had come back changed, a little more grown up, and had lost interest in the pranks he used to play. Tommy didn't mind, but he felt a slight thrill of excitement as he heard the question again, thinking that perhaps Edmund was regaining his old self once more.
Can you keep a secret?
Edmund looked so serious when he asked Tommy, as if he had never had a more precious secret to tell than this. It gave Tommy a sense of pride to hear that he would be entrusted again. The answer was easy. Yes, of course. But Edmund didn't want such an eager answer this time. Tommy could tell from his eyes that he regretted asking such a question.
Can you keep a secret?
Edmund had always said that Tommy was the best secret-keeper he knew. Better even than Peter, with his honest face. Now Tommy couldn't understand the distrust that crept into Edmund's eyes as he looked away. Tommy wondered now if Edmund had been hoping for a different answer, with more assurance, or even a denial.
Can you keep a secret?
It made Tommy think of children in attics, telling each other of bad deeds they had done. But there were other secrets too; secrets about death, changes, surprises. What kind of secret? That was important too. But maybe Edmund didn't want to say, for he bit his lip and turned his head. And Tommy felt a gap between then, unapparent before now, and it was all he could do to sit still and say nothing.
Can you keep a secret?
What kind of secret?
Something important. Something more important to me than anything else in the world. In any world.
Can you keep a secret?
Curiosity was beginning to grow. Tommy wanted to know, needed to know this secret. A secret shared would close the sudden rift between them, heal the friendship, close the wound. Of course I can. Curiosity coloured the answer. So did hurt. Hurt at the distrust Edmund seemed to show. Hurt at the uncertainty in Edmund's posture.
Can you keep a secret?
The answer was too quick, too insincere. Something closed behind Edmund's eyes. The chance passed. A shake of the head and Edmund left. Left Tommy sitting on the floor, contemplating a question. Contemplating an answer.
Can you keep a secret?
No, Tommy realized, Maybe I can't.
- - -
PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW IF I"M LOVED!!!