Several nights later, James awoke with a start, the terrible images still visible for a few moments. He gasped for breath as they faded, replaced by the darkness of the motel room they were staying in. James couldn't catch his breath, and his skin felt electric with fear as he tried to calm down. Mr. Grasshopper shifted beside him then spoke.
"Everything alright, James?"
There was a pause then James spoke in a tiny voice. "No, actually."
Immediately, Mr. Grasshopper was more awake, and he shifted and clicked on the light. James flinched, rubbing his eyes at the sudden brightness. When he lowered his hands, he saw Mr. Grasshopper peering intently at him. James looked away and curled his arms around his knees, stifling a yawn. Mr. Grasshopper reached over and ruffled James's tousled hair.
"What's wrong, my dear boy?" he asked.
"Oh, just a nightmare," James said.
"I see. Would you like to talk about this nightmare?"
James didn't answer for several minutes. He gazed across the room, his eyes staring at nothing. Finally, he spoke.
"Yes, please."
Mr. Grasshopper sat up straight and held out his left arms in an invitation. James smiled and snuggled close, leaning into his guardian. They sat there like that for awhile then Mr. Grasshopper shook James gently. James's eyes flickered up to see his guardian's smiling face.
"Do you ever have nightmares?" James asked earnestly.
Mr. Grasshopper nodded. "I'm afraid I do. Far more often than I'd like, actually."
"What are they about?" James asked.
"Gary," Mr. Grasshopper said. Then he grimaced and reached up to gingerly cradle his right side. James reached over, too, and rested his small, soft hand on his guardian's thin, green one. Mr. Grasshopper chirruped low in his throat, and he squeezed James tighter as he lowered his hand back in his lap.
"I understand why you'd have nightmares of him," James said. "But Thomas isn't in mine. He's nothing compared to my aunts." He looked up at his guardian. "They're the reason I know I can take a hit. They'd do that a lot."
Mr. Grasshopper nodded. "I see. Do you want to tell me about it? Or do you just want to try and sleep?"
James tapped his chin. "I think I want to talk about it."
"Very well. Go on."
There was another silence as James considered how to start. "Well," he said slowly. He tugged up his nightshirt sleeve, and Mr. Grasshopper saw three round, shiny marks that stood out on James's forearm. He sucked in a breath and reached over before he stopped himself.
"It's okay," James said. "Go on."
Mr. Grasshopper took James's arm in his lower left hand and gently ran the fingers of his upper left hand across the scars. They were unnatural markings that felt different from James's unmarred flesh. It made the old insect feel ill to think of any harm coming to the kind boy in front of him.
"Oh, James," Mr. Grasshopper said softly, his voice shaking. "Oh, my dear, dear James."
"They smoked lots of cigarettes," James said quietly. "Once I dropped the fireplace ashes on the carpet. Auntie Spiker did this one." He pointed at the one closest to his elbow. "It was the first time. It really scared me. The burns were the worst because they just lasted and lasted."
Mr. Grasshopper wanted to be sick, but he stayed calm for James. "I'm so sorry, James. I can't really imagine a burn in your sense. My exoskeleton doesn't burn. I simply recoil from heat. It doesn't injure me like it does for you."
"I've never considered that," James said thoughtfully. He tugged his nightshirt sleeve down and leaned into his guardian. "I think you're lucky you don't burn. It really hurts."
"I'm certain it does." Mr Grasshopper's lower right hand unconsciously cradled his side again. "It certainly hurt when Gary kicked through my exoskeleton. I had never experienced anything quite so… primal, shall we say. It was very unpleasant."
"Did he fight you a lot?"
"Multiple times, but I don't have an exact number. Those memories are far different than the ones after the crocodile tongues."
"Interesting." James paused. "They used to lock me in the basement sometimes. There weren't any windows, and it was so very dark, especially at night. It got cold, too. I felt so alone down there, Mr. Grasshopper." He looked into Mr. Grasshopper's face. "Have you ever felt that way?"
Mr. Grasshopper tapped his chin, squeezing James against his side. "I have. Sometimes when things are rough at home, I remember that I'm just a grasshopper that was blessed with an unusual life, and that there is not a single other being in the world like me, and I feel very alone indeed."
James giggled. "Do all grownups think like you do?"
"What do you mean?" Mr. Grasshopper asked, grinning down at the boy.
"You seem to have a lot of big thoughts in your head that are quite serious indeed."
"We all do, James. Living life, and especially enjoying it, is a serious business indeed." Mr. Grasshopper shook James a little. "The dark doesn't scare me so much as the sense of being hunted."
"Hunted," James said slowly, testing the word. "That's how I feel with Thomas."
"And your aunts?"
"No. Not with them. I felt caught already. That's different, I think."
"It very much is," Mr. Grasshopper agreed. He touched the boy's arm and peered earnestly at him. "I am very sorry for all your aunts did. And I would take away every scar if I could, my dear boy."
James smiled and reached over to touch the hand that hovered over Mr. Grasshopper's scar. The insect was embarrassed that he hadn't even noticed what he was doing, but James's kind smile put him at ease. The insect hugged James fiercely then glanced at the clock.
"Well, it's almost five. Do we try and get some more sleep or do we resign ourselves to face the day now?"
"Which one involves finding breakfast sooner?" James asked.
Mr. Grasshopper grinned. "Bakeries should be opening soon. What say we get ready and go on a hunt for the best breakfast we can find?"
James's face lit up. "Sounds like fun!"
Mr. Grasshopper watched as the boy hurried to get ready for the special treat. As he thought about those wretched aunts and the round scars, the grasshopper felt a severe urge to protect James. He knew he wouldn't always be there for him, and he was very glad that the boy was willing to learn to protect himself. But until then, he was determined that he would be there no matter what.
