Telepathy
Chapter Twenty-one
Smiling, Cherub ran to the beach; Freja had told him the Selkies were already there. He had picked up the ball they played with last night and was looking forward to a fun afternoon with his new friend.
"Hello, Cherub how was your afternoon?" Jacob asked once the small boy was close.
"It was so much fun! I got to pick all sorts of vegetables and peaches. Mrs. Atchison let me pet, lambs, chickens, cats, pigs, and her sheep dog Pesky!" Cherub bounced in place as he excitedly described his day. "I thought of a name for your son if you still want me to name him?"
Jacob smiled, "Yes, I still want you to give him a human name."
Cherub twisted the hem of his shirt and looked down at the ground nervously saying, "Um, well, I was thinking that the name Jaime would be nice." Cherub looked up at Jacob through the bits of his wild black fringe that peeked out from under the white headscarf.
Jacob smiled at the small boy's nervousness. "I think Jaime is a fine name."
Cherub's smile lit his whole face as he turned to the small seal. "Hello, how are you today? Your dad asked me to give you a human name. I picked Jaime. Do you like it?"
The small seal tilted his head in thought. "Jaime, yes, I like it. Tell me about your day."
Cherub smiled and sat down in the waves. He tossed the ball to Jaime and then began to share his day. It was much easier to send pictures and feelings than words, so Jaime got to experience Cherub's day in detail.
"Wait," Jaime said, "what are those beautiful glowing things?"
"These?" Cherub asked showing the memory of small, delicate creatures. They flitted about the plants on the farm, caring for the plants and helping them grow beautiful and strong. They glowed in soft sunset colors, their translucent wings catching the sun as they moved. They seemed to be dressed in wisps of cloud and their small arms and legs were sun-kissed bronze.
"Yes," replied Jaime.
"They are a type of fairy I think. They taught me all about how the plants grow, and what they need. There were even fairies for the animals – although they didn't come up to me." Cherub paused for a moment collecting his thoughts. "Some of the fairies landed on my hand, and told me about themselves and the kind of magic they do, just like you did. It was amazing; they even let me practice when no one was looking. I couldn't really see a difference, but they said the plant was stronger after I helped."
"I never knew there were different types of magic. Next year when you come you will have to tell me if you find out about any more." Jaime said excitedly.
Cherub smiled, "I will. Why don't I see if one of the adults will come into the water so we can go swimming?"
"Why do you need one of them?" Jaime asked; he sounded confused.
Cherub shrugged, "They told me I did."
The adults in question were sitting up on the dry sand talking and watching the two boys, keenly aware that Cherub retained the ability to communicate telepathically with the Selkie.
"Jaime and I want to go swimming, will someone come in with me, please?" Cherub asked from the water's edge.
Adonis smiled, "I will."
"Thank you."
Adonis stayed near Cherub, while letting him move freely. It took a bit for Cherub to work out the way his body moved with the information Jaime had given on swimming. Soon, however, he was off and playing alongside the small seal as if he had been born a Selkie.
Adonis looked on in wonder; who knew what amazing things Cherub would learn and accomplish with this gift?
Cherub sat in-between Jaime and Mudiwa waiting for Soto and Adonis to bring out dinner. Miriam had changed into her human form that afternoon, and now sat on the other side of Jaime talking to Ria. Like all Selkie, Miriam had dark hair, which was curly and long, deep brown/black eyes, pale skin, and an ethereal beauty that could easily entrance.
The long, low table they used when they had kabobs was set up and there were several covered dishes whose enticing aromas were making Cherub squirm in anticipation. Looking up he saw the outlines of Adonis and Soto in the soft twilight. They both carried large wooden trays. Cherub didn't recognize the small round pieces of food covering the trays.
"Do you know what it is," he asked Jaime.
"No, but da' said it is really good and to avoid the green paste," replied Jaime looking at all of the food.
Soto walked over to Cherub and Jaime and, smoothly kneeling before them, handed them each a plate.
"This is sushi; my parents taught me how to make it when I was a little boy in Japan," Soto explained. "It is rice, nori, and either fish, cucumber or avocado in the center." Soto pointed out. "To add different flavors to the sushi we have tamari and pickled ginger. I will come back with a bowl of noodles for each of you."
Miriam picked up a piece of the sushi, lightly dipped it in the tamari and held it out for Jaime. The baby seal sniffed the foreign food then carefully took it from his mother.
"Yum! Cherub this is good – try the kind with the pink center." Jaimie said as he took another bite from his mum.
Cherub, encouraged by his friend and the adults around him so obviously enjoying their meal, popped a piece of sushi in his mouth. Carefully he chewed, the delicate flavors flowed over his tongue, and he hummed. This was good! Picking another piece he carefully dipped it in the tamari, then decided to try the ginger. His eyes widened in surprise at the sharpness of the pickled ginger slice, but the cool creaminess of the sushi complemented it perfectly.
"Have you tried the ginger? It is really good," Cherub asked his friend.
The rest of the meal the two friends talked and gave their critique of the new foods. They both loved the sushi. Jaime thought the noodles were okay, while Cherub hummed his approval loudly. With every hum from Cherub, Soto smiled.
When Cherub was finished eating he turned to Soto. "Thank you for making dinner tonight, Soto, it was wonderful."
"Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it." Soto said inclining his head.
"Yes, Soto, it was wonderful." Ria said. "You have such luck getting fresh fish. And the prawns you brought me are beautiful. What is your secret?"
Soto smiled softly, "I have friends who own the local fish market, they help me out."
Vincent inwardly smirked. Soto was a very private man, however in certain towns they regularly visited Soto seemed to find something, which left him feeling very relaxed and content.
Cherub fell asleep that night curled up in Vincent's lap while Miriam and Jacob told stories of the Selkies. The last thing Cherub remembered was Freja laughing as Miriam admitted that the reason for the myth that a Selkie could only visit a human once every seven years was to keep human women from expecting more than a night with lecherous Selkie men.
Thursday, June 19
The next day Cherub and Jaime spent every free moment together. They played in the waves, hunted through the tide pools looking at different creatures, and swam until they couldn't move. Both boys promised to see the other next year and to share all the new things they had learned as they tearfully said goodbye.
Cherub sniffed, his eyes filled with tears. "Do we have to leave?"
Vincent gently wiped the tears from the soft cheeks. "Yes, we do. That is one of the good and bad things about being a gypsy. We move around from place to place, meeting all sorts of interesting people and making many friends. Some are just friends for a moment, and some will be our friends for a lifetime."
Mudiwa sat behind Vincent and took Cherub's small hand. "Think of your sandcastle. You had fun building it, and it was lovely to see, but then things changed and the tide washed it away. Life can be like that; moving and changing things. The idea is to enjoy what you have right now, and cherish the memories of the people you have known, the places you have gone, and the things you have done."
Cherub sniffed again then nodded. Yes, he would see Jaime again, and he would do lots of new things and meet lots of people so he would have plenty to tell Jaime next summer.
Vincent smiled as he felt Cherub calm down. "Let's get you to bed, little one; tomorrow is a big day."