The party had been a success. Towards the end of the afternoon, there was a spirit of joy in the air as Lana, Clark and eight other little children waited eagerly for Lana to open her last few gifts.
After unwrapping her third Barbie, and yet still screaming for joy when she saw it, the only presents left were Clark's and Nell's. We were all seated around the living room. The curtains were drawn back revealing a gloriously sunny day. I smiled content as I watched Clark's non-stop grin as he sat next to Lana. After each present was opened, she would say, "Look Clark!" And he would smile even bigger.
"Alright, what present's next?" Nell asked.
"Oooo Lana! Open this one! It's pretty!"
One of the little girls held up Nell's little lead box, now covered in shiny metallic purple wrapping paper, with a frilly, silky bow right on top of it. Lana smiled, took the present and placed it in her lap to unwrap it.
She turned her head to face Clark and all of a sudden it seemed as though time slowed down to me. All sound ceased to exist. Her hazel eyes locked with his aqua ones in a minute of pure joy. She grinned at Clark, who gave her a grin in return. Their faces appeared frozen in the moment to me. I soaked up every little detail I could from that scene. I had the strangest, depressing emotion, that I would never see them like this again.
And then it was over. The thundering laughter and chatter of ten first graders fell back into my ears. I shook my head, as if trying to regain reality. I watched as Lana tore off the purple wrapping paper and revealed the delicately crafted lead box. Their smiles were momentarily replaced by curiosity. Lana held the box up so sunbeams shone on it. And then, ever so gently, she lifted the lid.
Her face turned into a face of wonder as she gazed at the enthralling jewelry before her. It's sparkling green gem reflected in her eyes. She softly smiled at it, entranced by its mysterious appearance. She picked it up and put the lead box down in front of her. We all watched wordlessly as she clasped the silver chain around her neck.
As though, in a trance, suddenly a loud crash jolted the rest of us back. I turned my head to discover a fearsome sight. The small trunk had been knocked open, scattering and breaking Clark's masterful creations upon the ground. A broken fairy head rolled and hit my shoe. And on top of the desolated pieces lay a tiny boy. Clark!
How strange for me to not realize it was him when I saw him! Panic suddenly seized my heart, squeezing it, until I felt I could not breathe. I rushed to him before anyone could say anything. I quickly turned his small body over. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes, a grimace on his face. His chest rapidly raised up and down, as he gasped for breath. But it seemed as though no breath would come. His face scrunched up in pain as he looked into my eyes.
"Clark!"
His eyes rolled back, leaving frightening whites. I noticed a deep scratch on his cheek. I gasped. A scratch!! How could he get hurt so easily?
"Clark! Clark, honey, wake up!"
But he didn't stir. His body felt lifeless, and limp in my arms. Was he dead? No, of course not Martha! Don't panic, don't panic. I gently slapped his face, and then slapped it harder.
"Clark wake up!"
This has never happened to him before. What's wrong? What's wrong? I held him up against my chest, shaking him slightly. He had a sickly appearance. Pale.
"Martha, should I call 911?"
911? Should she? No, she can't! He can't be examined by doctors. I have to...I have to...oh, I don't know, what should I do? Jonathan!
"No, no, he's gonna be okay, I'm just going to take him home for a little bit. He'll be okay."
I picked Clark up in my arms and struggled to stand. I waded my way through little eyes staring, not sure what was happening.
"NO!" Shrieked a shrill voice. "No Clark! We're supposed to be happy! No! He has to be okay!" I felt Lana's little hands grasp at Clark's dangling arm, pulling at it. Tears had already started streaming down her face. She knew as I knew that something was wrong, very wrong. Poor child, she's had enough tragedy already!
"Lana!" Nell pulled her off of Clark. I turned to Lana, wanting to reassure both her and myself at the same time.
"He's going to be okay Lana. I promise." I promise! Why did I say that? But no matter, I rushed toward the door, my arms already beginning to tire from the load.
"Here, Martha, take my car." Nell handed me her keys. I ran towards her car, lay Clark on the seat next to me and peeled out of the Lang driveway.
I think the only sound I was aware of was the beating of my heart. What was wrong with Clark? Why wouldn't he wake up? My child, my baby!
As we approached the house, I heard a moan beside me. And then to my ultimate relief, I heard the word, "Mommy?"
Oh, Clark! I pulled up to the house and parked the car.
"Clark! You're okay!"
He sat up and looked confused. I grabbed him into a hug.
"Mommy? What happened?"
"I was just going to ask you the same thing."
He scrunched up his little face, trying to remember. How strange, he looked completely healthy now, almost as if nothing had just happened. And the scratch - it was no where in sight! I marveled at this little boy. And thanked God he was alright.
"The last thing I remember was feeling awful. Worse than I've ever felt. It was terrible, Mommy. I think I tried to get to you, to make it better, but I didn't make it. I tripped, and - oh no! Lana's present!"
A look of urgency entered his face. Sadly, I had to reveal the truth.
"Clark, many of the fairies and their houses were broken."
And then I watched silently as sorrow overtook Clark's young face as he realized all his hard work had been destroyed.
"Lana's present, I ruined it. I ruined everything."
"No, no Clark, you did not. Sometimes things break and we feel bad, but they can be fixed, too. We'll figure out a way to repair your present. Many times the reason things break is just so we can learn to mend them. Nothing is broken forever, no matter how hard it may hurt."
He looked up to me, hanging onto every word I said. Never have I seen a child that intently listened to an adult's every word.
"I have to go back, I have to-"
"You're not going anywhere for the rest of the day, Mister. Something terrible just happened, and we don't know why. I want you to stay home."
Meekly he rebelled, "But it's Lana's special day. I have to be there."
"Clark. You know how much Lana cares for you. She'd rather you be alive and healthy, then playing pin the tail on the donkey with her. We'll call them and let her know you're all right."
Clark frowned. But then nodded. He began to open the door but I grabbed his shoulder. He looks back at me questioning. I can't say the words that are bursting within me, it would show how very frightened I was. I think I almost lost you today. You. My only child. My special baby from the stars. I don't know if I could go on living without you. Don't you ever do that, ever again.
I hug him hard one last time before letting him go find his father. I remain in the driving seat thinking that if Clark could read minds, he'd know how weak I really am. I sigh. Both my boys have false illusions of me. I'm not strong, or courageous, I'm just me. A worry-a-holic.
A few minutes later a hand rests on my open window. Calloused, tan, and rugged, his hands are beautiful to me. I look up at him. He softly smiles.
"I know what you're thinking. But the truth is Martha, you are the bravest woman I've ever known. And there's no one more capable of raising Clark then you are."
I quietly chuckle as he opens my car door and lends me a hand out.
"Now, why don't we figure out what happened together?