The step creaks as you sit on it. Your friend from school, Kyn, has arrived and she sits next to you. Around the edge of the house porch, rain falls...dripping, spreading cool wisps of spray across your bare legs and feet. You hold your feet out in front of you, allowing the water to steadily forge its way through your toes, painting trails as it goes. Kyn has rolled up her pants as well, and sits much as you do, with her back to the hard, paint-flecking wall and has her legs curled over the edge of the step. A small bowl sits between you and it holds the pits from several starfruits. Your fingers feel coated with juice...sticky...but your stomach feels full.
She sighs loudly, rocking her backside into the grained surface. You glance sideways and shake your head to answer her question before she asks it. "No, Kyn, I am not ready for classes to begin."
"Neither am I, Tira...neither am I. This week has certainly been...eventful." Your friend glances down at the fruit that she holds and lifts her wrist to her mouth to lick at the juice as it rolls down the skin there. She is a year older than you and seems worlds apart at times, but she is the closest friend that you have.
"I wish times like this could go on forever...I wish..." You sigh, and shift, listening to the steady fall of rain on the wood slats overhead for a moment before continuing. "Sometimes I wish time would stand still."
"It never will."
"I know."
The two of you lapse into silence, letting nature sing and sigh with the gentle falling rain. After a few minutes, there is a clattering as Kyn throws another pit into the metal embrace of the bowl. She glances at you and you know that she is thinking of other things. "And this Qui-Gon Jinn...?"
"Is a Jedi Apprentice...and will be leaving soon."
"But you have become friends with him?" She asks. For a moment, you wish your mother would remain quiet about things, but then you realize that you would have told Kyn yourself about your new friend if your mother had not. You nod, leaning back on your hands.
"Yes...he is someone that I call friend. He is more like you and I than anyone else I know. He would be at the school with us if he were not Force sensitive." You comment. Although you do not like to say that you are different, others will not let you forget it. A gust of wind flushes through the porch and sends a crested air wave with spray against your legs. You shiver and draw the wet, cool legs up against your chest. "I could quote Hirdonian..."
Kyn closes her eyes and throws back her head theatrically. "Those cut of the cloth of kindred spirits will become like pants and vests. Ensembles of heavenly bliss."
You sigh and shake your head at your friend's actions. "It is not completely like that...and I won't say that I know I will see him again. I just know..." you bite your lip and smile. "I will not regret getting knocked down by him, nor will I regret the week of knowing him. And regardless if I see him again, I am content with what occurred."
"The hell you are."
You gasp at the vulgarity out of Kyn's mouth and then collapse in laughter. Your friend knows you well. "There is nothing I can do about it, Kyn. Life has already plotted the course, I merely sail."
"Now you sound like Teacher Johnson." Kyn mumbles.
You open your mouth to answer her when there is the sound of leaves and branches colliding and twigs breaking under the weight of a great many feet off to the side of the house. Suddenly, Hag and Geon rocket out of the forest and sprint toward the steps. Kyn and you pull up your legs and huddle, knowing that they will run you over before they will even think to stop. Although Kyn is a pretty girl with long midnight hued locks and haunting green eyes, your brothers have classified her like they have classified you: different, removed and lacking reality base. Although you know that your family loves you very much, and that they would fight, attack anyone that harmed you, you also know that they do not completely understand you. And although they would flirt with Kyn, they don't because she is a student like you. Running her down is not an issue that they would address.
Another body flies out of the forest at an incredible pace, an impossible speed. It slows as it passes your brothers and stops at the bottom of the worn steps. You see that it is Qui-Gon, rain splattered and looking like a lost, wet animal. His white tunic is plastered to his skin, now almost see through and the moisture tightens his brown pants. He does not look as he has this last week, as his boots are...finally...clean. Rivets of water run out of his short, almost spiky hair, down over his asymmetrical nose to glance at the corner of his mouth. The long hairs that make up his ponytail are wet and act like a whip against his skin as he skids to a stop. "Hello."
Kyn sighs lowly and nods to Qui-Gon. You look at her and then address Jinn. "This is my friend and classmate, Kyn....Kyn, this is Qui-Gon Jinn."
Qui-Gon looks her over, taking in her dark straight hair and elfin like face and nods. "My pleasure."
Looking behind Qui-Gon to the forest, you see the rest of your brothers and some of their friends break from the tree line and sprint for the house. "Have you incited the natives?"
Qui-Gon barks a laugh and shakes his head. "No...we have been...boar hunting."
"Oh Gods..." Kyn groans, knowing instinctively why the boys are running at the speed they are. "You didn't catch it, did you?"
His boots clatter as he climbs the steps to the porch. "No."
You push to your feet. "Not using the Force again..." you comment.
"I felt in the Force that it did not WANT to be caught, and as it is only for sport..." the Jedi shrugs, with a half-smile on his face. "And apparently, part of the fun is to not catch it and to try and out run it."
Turning, you nod and let Kyn run ahead of you to the house. Your brothers and friends launch themselves up the steps and toward the door. You stand back, allowing them to pile, on atop of another, in the door. From the edge of the forest, you hear the snorts and heavy breaths of a boar that has been disturbed and enraged. Small plants begin to shake and you know that the animal will be pushing out of the undergrowth any minute. The boys still block the doorway, stumbling and laughing as they climb over each other to get in the door.
Qui-Gon trains his eyes on the edge of the trees and lets go a low whistle as the animal emerges from the forest and re-establishes its sense of direction in the clearing. "Everybody in."
You find that you are entranced with the sight of the boar. Water does not wet its coarse fur; it beads and falls. Its fangs curl upwards, reaching even with its snout. Suddenly a weight descends on your arm and you feel Qui-Gon's hand curl into your elbow. "Come on, Tira...in the house..."
You turn to glance at Jinn, watching as the last of the water courses out of his hair and down his cheek. He smiles and twirls you around and pushes you toward the door. His arm extends over your head as he holds the door open for you. With a sigh, you ask: "Did you make it mad on purpose?"
He grins down at you.
With a grunt, you press ahead and feel his body as he pushes in behind you. The door slams shut behind you, the screen clattering in its frame.
**
The rain stops that evening and you venture out onto the porch, shuffling your feet in the accumulated puddles. The coolness is like a blanket...falling to cover you, but you don't really acknowledge its existence. Warmth from the end of the day extends to you like a lover's embrace and you see small wisps of steam rising from various puddles. It is truly the end of the summer. Even the deep orange in the sunset, the call of birds as they alight to migrate, the smell of fallen wet leaves lets you know that it is indeed the end of another harvest time.
Warmth embraces you from behind, floating out of the house to wrap its great arms around you. Laughter joins the heat of the hearth to warm you; only its heat comes from the inside, like an inferno rising from a fire in your soul. You will miss home when you travel to school. And you will miss those that make the house a home. Miss your mother's cooking, her continuous tongue clucking, her smiles and the heavenly bread that she makes. You will miss your father, his knowing nods and deep voice. And you will miss your brothers...and their incessant teases.
But they will be here when you return. And so will the house, the stream, and the trees...everything...just as you see it now. It will not change.
A deep voice answers the rest and it seems nearer than the others. You realize that it is Qui-Gon's...that he is saying his final goodbye to your family and extending his thanks. He leaves the next day, at the first light...on a negotiation mission with his Master, Yoda. They will travel to the far side of the galaxy on an errand for the Galactic Senate. It seems to be such an important job for one such as Qui-Gon. He walks out on the porch, his booted feet sounding like a clock marking off the passage of time.
"Tira..." he says, his voice low in the evening. You can tell that he smiles before you turn. "You are trying to absorb too much...any more absorbent and you will turn into a sponge."
"Mindless..." you smile in return. "Sounds perfect."
His laugh is strong. "I agree."
You tilt your head. "So you are off to knock down another person on another planet?"
Qui-Gon shakes his head, still laughing. "You were the first to have that happen, Tira...I don't think it will happen again."
With a nod, you walk forward, your bare feet splashing back through the puddles. Your skirt is tied up on the side to keep it out of the water, but you can feel that the ends of it are still very wet. As you approach him, you hold out your hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Qui-Gon Jinn."
"And it was a pleasure to meet you, Tira." He answers, his large hand encompassing yours and shaking it firmly. "And I thank you for your friendship...it was offered...freely."
You nod. It had been. "And thank you for yours. I learned...things I don't normally learn..."
"How to avoid a wild boar when it lays siege to your house? Or how to get twigs out of your hair?"
"That, among other things, Qui-Gon."
"That there are others like you, everywhere." He returns, smiling down at you.
You laugh and nod. It is true...meeting Qui-Gon showed you that there are others like you...everywhere...even on Coruscant. You tilt you head and watch as he holds out his hand to the side, as if escorting you to the edge of the porch. Joining him in stride, you walk with your hands held behind your back to the top step leading off the platform. The smell of wet earth is strong here and you inhale deeply.
He does the same. "If evening actually had an aroma," he states, "it would smell like this."
Startled, you turn and nod. After a minute, you say: "Will you come back this way again, Jedi?"
His eyes grow a little dark, like dusk encroaching on the day. "It is possible, Tira...but I can't say for sure."
Your eyes drift past his shoulder to look out at the trees. Their dark spires climb into the sky, itself now a dark dusk purple. "If you do come back to Alderaan, Qui-Gon, you are welcome here...I'm sure my mother and father told you such."
"Yes, they did, but it is good to hear it from you again. Friends are hard to get and even harder to hold with a life as a Jedi." He comments, as he steps down to the next step. His shoulders are straight and his back is like a bow, flexed and ready. "And if I am on Alderaan again, I will look for you."
"Either here or at school, Jinn...you are welcome at both places." You sigh and move to the edge of the step, curling your toes over the edge. After a moment, you shake your head forcefully. "I wish that there was no purpose to drive me...and could just let me be..."
"And you would have a boring life...purpose drives us all and defines who we are...or at least it defines me."
You agree with a shake of your head. "Good luck, Padawan."
"And to you..." he answers, stepping down another step. Turning, he looks up at you. " Do you write?"
"If you mean letters, then yes..." you states, sinking into a crouch on the top step, holding your knees.
"Good." He smiles, but offers nothing else by way of comment. "Good night, Tira."
"Good night, Qui-Gon. And safe travels."
He nods and finally steps down onto the crushed shells that compose the front walk of your home. Within seconds, he begins to stride away from you, his form outlined by the deep hues of the dusk. His tunic seems surreal, ghostly in the night. He calls over his shoulder, turning in his stride before he reaches the edge of the trees where the stream winds gently in a wide bend. "Goodbye!" His hand waves above his head and suddenly you hear a laugh in your head.
With a grimace, you know that he is talking in your mind. "Goodbye," you think, rocking back on your backside to look at the skyline. He stands for a moment and then turns, disappearing into the thick growth that surrounds your home. You see the white of his tunic for another moment and then it disappears completely, swallowed like a shadow in the night.
You sit there for a long time, enjoying the play of breeze across your brow and skin. It is almost as if the evening is kissing you goodnight and tucking you into its warm bed. There is a creak at the door behind you and you sense a person standing on the porch with you. After the space of several breaths, your father sinks into a seated position on the step next to you.
"You make friends too easily sometimes, Tira."
With a nod, you agree.
"It will hurt you someday."
After another breath, you agree again.
Your father's hand falls to the porch behind you, making the board on which you sit, bend. "And a friendship with a Jedi..."
"He is a person as well, Father."
"Yes, he is..." your father agrees, his bright auburn hair sweeping across his brow to obscure his eyesight. "And a good one...but...I would not expect to see him again, dear."
"If I see him, I see him, Papa." You answer, knowing that your father will understand. He is one of the few of your family that thinks as you do. "It was a good week."
"Yes, it was." Papa sighs and shifts his weight. "And that is what is important. Regardless of what the future brings, you always have your memories."
You turn to glance at your father. His smile is wide and it gleams in the late summer moonlight. He puts his hand on your shoulder and tilts his head down as though to scold, but he continues to smile. "Come inside...your mother has made moonberry pie."
With a smile that you know looks much like his, you answer. "In a minute, Papa."
He nods and rises, turning to glance at the path for a moment before he walks toward the house. The boards creak again, following his progress until the door open, rattling screen and all. You are left alone on the porch, watching the very last of the sun's rays as they fight to be seen in the sky. The purple fades to charcoal gray and then finally to that night black that is never quite completely black. Stars peak out and you watch as clouds drift by, obliterating their light for a short period.
With a sigh, you lower your head to your knees and rock for a moment. Then you stand and walk back to the house. There is little pain in parting, you think. You did not know him long...it is only the pain of thinking of what the friendship might have become that affects you. No regrets. You pull on the door and walk into the warmth of the kitchen.
She sighs loudly, rocking her backside into the grained surface. You glance sideways and shake your head to answer her question before she asks it. "No, Kyn, I am not ready for classes to begin."
"Neither am I, Tira...neither am I. This week has certainly been...eventful." Your friend glances down at the fruit that she holds and lifts her wrist to her mouth to lick at the juice as it rolls down the skin there. She is a year older than you and seems worlds apart at times, but she is the closest friend that you have.
"I wish times like this could go on forever...I wish..." You sigh, and shift, listening to the steady fall of rain on the wood slats overhead for a moment before continuing. "Sometimes I wish time would stand still."
"It never will."
"I know."
The two of you lapse into silence, letting nature sing and sigh with the gentle falling rain. After a few minutes, there is a clattering as Kyn throws another pit into the metal embrace of the bowl. She glances at you and you know that she is thinking of other things. "And this Qui-Gon Jinn...?"
"Is a Jedi Apprentice...and will be leaving soon."
"But you have become friends with him?" She asks. For a moment, you wish your mother would remain quiet about things, but then you realize that you would have told Kyn yourself about your new friend if your mother had not. You nod, leaning back on your hands.
"Yes...he is someone that I call friend. He is more like you and I than anyone else I know. He would be at the school with us if he were not Force sensitive." You comment. Although you do not like to say that you are different, others will not let you forget it. A gust of wind flushes through the porch and sends a crested air wave with spray against your legs. You shiver and draw the wet, cool legs up against your chest. "I could quote Hirdonian..."
Kyn closes her eyes and throws back her head theatrically. "Those cut of the cloth of kindred spirits will become like pants and vests. Ensembles of heavenly bliss."
You sigh and shake your head at your friend's actions. "It is not completely like that...and I won't say that I know I will see him again. I just know..." you bite your lip and smile. "I will not regret getting knocked down by him, nor will I regret the week of knowing him. And regardless if I see him again, I am content with what occurred."
"The hell you are."
You gasp at the vulgarity out of Kyn's mouth and then collapse in laughter. Your friend knows you well. "There is nothing I can do about it, Kyn. Life has already plotted the course, I merely sail."
"Now you sound like Teacher Johnson." Kyn mumbles.
You open your mouth to answer her when there is the sound of leaves and branches colliding and twigs breaking under the weight of a great many feet off to the side of the house. Suddenly, Hag and Geon rocket out of the forest and sprint toward the steps. Kyn and you pull up your legs and huddle, knowing that they will run you over before they will even think to stop. Although Kyn is a pretty girl with long midnight hued locks and haunting green eyes, your brothers have classified her like they have classified you: different, removed and lacking reality base. Although you know that your family loves you very much, and that they would fight, attack anyone that harmed you, you also know that they do not completely understand you. And although they would flirt with Kyn, they don't because she is a student like you. Running her down is not an issue that they would address.
Another body flies out of the forest at an incredible pace, an impossible speed. It slows as it passes your brothers and stops at the bottom of the worn steps. You see that it is Qui-Gon, rain splattered and looking like a lost, wet animal. His white tunic is plastered to his skin, now almost see through and the moisture tightens his brown pants. He does not look as he has this last week, as his boots are...finally...clean. Rivets of water run out of his short, almost spiky hair, down over his asymmetrical nose to glance at the corner of his mouth. The long hairs that make up his ponytail are wet and act like a whip against his skin as he skids to a stop. "Hello."
Kyn sighs lowly and nods to Qui-Gon. You look at her and then address Jinn. "This is my friend and classmate, Kyn....Kyn, this is Qui-Gon Jinn."
Qui-Gon looks her over, taking in her dark straight hair and elfin like face and nods. "My pleasure."
Looking behind Qui-Gon to the forest, you see the rest of your brothers and some of their friends break from the tree line and sprint for the house. "Have you incited the natives?"
Qui-Gon barks a laugh and shakes his head. "No...we have been...boar hunting."
"Oh Gods..." Kyn groans, knowing instinctively why the boys are running at the speed they are. "You didn't catch it, did you?"
His boots clatter as he climbs the steps to the porch. "No."
You push to your feet. "Not using the Force again..." you comment.
"I felt in the Force that it did not WANT to be caught, and as it is only for sport..." the Jedi shrugs, with a half-smile on his face. "And apparently, part of the fun is to not catch it and to try and out run it."
Turning, you nod and let Kyn run ahead of you to the house. Your brothers and friends launch themselves up the steps and toward the door. You stand back, allowing them to pile, on atop of another, in the door. From the edge of the forest, you hear the snorts and heavy breaths of a boar that has been disturbed and enraged. Small plants begin to shake and you know that the animal will be pushing out of the undergrowth any minute. The boys still block the doorway, stumbling and laughing as they climb over each other to get in the door.
Qui-Gon trains his eyes on the edge of the trees and lets go a low whistle as the animal emerges from the forest and re-establishes its sense of direction in the clearing. "Everybody in."
You find that you are entranced with the sight of the boar. Water does not wet its coarse fur; it beads and falls. Its fangs curl upwards, reaching even with its snout. Suddenly a weight descends on your arm and you feel Qui-Gon's hand curl into your elbow. "Come on, Tira...in the house..."
You turn to glance at Jinn, watching as the last of the water courses out of his hair and down his cheek. He smiles and twirls you around and pushes you toward the door. His arm extends over your head as he holds the door open for you. With a sigh, you ask: "Did you make it mad on purpose?"
He grins down at you.
With a grunt, you press ahead and feel his body as he pushes in behind you. The door slams shut behind you, the screen clattering in its frame.
**
The rain stops that evening and you venture out onto the porch, shuffling your feet in the accumulated puddles. The coolness is like a blanket...falling to cover you, but you don't really acknowledge its existence. Warmth from the end of the day extends to you like a lover's embrace and you see small wisps of steam rising from various puddles. It is truly the end of the summer. Even the deep orange in the sunset, the call of birds as they alight to migrate, the smell of fallen wet leaves lets you know that it is indeed the end of another harvest time.
Warmth embraces you from behind, floating out of the house to wrap its great arms around you. Laughter joins the heat of the hearth to warm you; only its heat comes from the inside, like an inferno rising from a fire in your soul. You will miss home when you travel to school. And you will miss those that make the house a home. Miss your mother's cooking, her continuous tongue clucking, her smiles and the heavenly bread that she makes. You will miss your father, his knowing nods and deep voice. And you will miss your brothers...and their incessant teases.
But they will be here when you return. And so will the house, the stream, and the trees...everything...just as you see it now. It will not change.
A deep voice answers the rest and it seems nearer than the others. You realize that it is Qui-Gon's...that he is saying his final goodbye to your family and extending his thanks. He leaves the next day, at the first light...on a negotiation mission with his Master, Yoda. They will travel to the far side of the galaxy on an errand for the Galactic Senate. It seems to be such an important job for one such as Qui-Gon. He walks out on the porch, his booted feet sounding like a clock marking off the passage of time.
"Tira..." he says, his voice low in the evening. You can tell that he smiles before you turn. "You are trying to absorb too much...any more absorbent and you will turn into a sponge."
"Mindless..." you smile in return. "Sounds perfect."
His laugh is strong. "I agree."
You tilt your head. "So you are off to knock down another person on another planet?"
Qui-Gon shakes his head, still laughing. "You were the first to have that happen, Tira...I don't think it will happen again."
With a nod, you walk forward, your bare feet splashing back through the puddles. Your skirt is tied up on the side to keep it out of the water, but you can feel that the ends of it are still very wet. As you approach him, you hold out your hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Qui-Gon Jinn."
"And it was a pleasure to meet you, Tira." He answers, his large hand encompassing yours and shaking it firmly. "And I thank you for your friendship...it was offered...freely."
You nod. It had been. "And thank you for yours. I learned...things I don't normally learn..."
"How to avoid a wild boar when it lays siege to your house? Or how to get twigs out of your hair?"
"That, among other things, Qui-Gon."
"That there are others like you, everywhere." He returns, smiling down at you.
You laugh and nod. It is true...meeting Qui-Gon showed you that there are others like you...everywhere...even on Coruscant. You tilt you head and watch as he holds out his hand to the side, as if escorting you to the edge of the porch. Joining him in stride, you walk with your hands held behind your back to the top step leading off the platform. The smell of wet earth is strong here and you inhale deeply.
He does the same. "If evening actually had an aroma," he states, "it would smell like this."
Startled, you turn and nod. After a minute, you say: "Will you come back this way again, Jedi?"
His eyes grow a little dark, like dusk encroaching on the day. "It is possible, Tira...but I can't say for sure."
Your eyes drift past his shoulder to look out at the trees. Their dark spires climb into the sky, itself now a dark dusk purple. "If you do come back to Alderaan, Qui-Gon, you are welcome here...I'm sure my mother and father told you such."
"Yes, they did, but it is good to hear it from you again. Friends are hard to get and even harder to hold with a life as a Jedi." He comments, as he steps down to the next step. His shoulders are straight and his back is like a bow, flexed and ready. "And if I am on Alderaan again, I will look for you."
"Either here or at school, Jinn...you are welcome at both places." You sigh and move to the edge of the step, curling your toes over the edge. After a moment, you shake your head forcefully. "I wish that there was no purpose to drive me...and could just let me be..."
"And you would have a boring life...purpose drives us all and defines who we are...or at least it defines me."
You agree with a shake of your head. "Good luck, Padawan."
"And to you..." he answers, stepping down another step. Turning, he looks up at you. " Do you write?"
"If you mean letters, then yes..." you states, sinking into a crouch on the top step, holding your knees.
"Good." He smiles, but offers nothing else by way of comment. "Good night, Tira."
"Good night, Qui-Gon. And safe travels."
He nods and finally steps down onto the crushed shells that compose the front walk of your home. Within seconds, he begins to stride away from you, his form outlined by the deep hues of the dusk. His tunic seems surreal, ghostly in the night. He calls over his shoulder, turning in his stride before he reaches the edge of the trees where the stream winds gently in a wide bend. "Goodbye!" His hand waves above his head and suddenly you hear a laugh in your head.
With a grimace, you know that he is talking in your mind. "Goodbye," you think, rocking back on your backside to look at the skyline. He stands for a moment and then turns, disappearing into the thick growth that surrounds your home. You see the white of his tunic for another moment and then it disappears completely, swallowed like a shadow in the night.
You sit there for a long time, enjoying the play of breeze across your brow and skin. It is almost as if the evening is kissing you goodnight and tucking you into its warm bed. There is a creak at the door behind you and you sense a person standing on the porch with you. After the space of several breaths, your father sinks into a seated position on the step next to you.
"You make friends too easily sometimes, Tira."
With a nod, you agree.
"It will hurt you someday."
After another breath, you agree again.
Your father's hand falls to the porch behind you, making the board on which you sit, bend. "And a friendship with a Jedi..."
"He is a person as well, Father."
"Yes, he is..." your father agrees, his bright auburn hair sweeping across his brow to obscure his eyesight. "And a good one...but...I would not expect to see him again, dear."
"If I see him, I see him, Papa." You answer, knowing that your father will understand. He is one of the few of your family that thinks as you do. "It was a good week."
"Yes, it was." Papa sighs and shifts his weight. "And that is what is important. Regardless of what the future brings, you always have your memories."
You turn to glance at your father. His smile is wide and it gleams in the late summer moonlight. He puts his hand on your shoulder and tilts his head down as though to scold, but he continues to smile. "Come inside...your mother has made moonberry pie."
With a smile that you know looks much like his, you answer. "In a minute, Papa."
He nods and rises, turning to glance at the path for a moment before he walks toward the house. The boards creak again, following his progress until the door open, rattling screen and all. You are left alone on the porch, watching the very last of the sun's rays as they fight to be seen in the sky. The purple fades to charcoal gray and then finally to that night black that is never quite completely black. Stars peak out and you watch as clouds drift by, obliterating their light for a short period.
With a sigh, you lower your head to your knees and rock for a moment. Then you stand and walk back to the house. There is little pain in parting, you think. You did not know him long...it is only the pain of thinking of what the friendship might have become that affects you. No regrets. You pull on the door and walk into the warmth of the kitchen.