Neutral Space(40)

Kheda saved me the awkward silence. She came out on the porch and stood beside me. “Go put something else on so we can wash this.”

“What? Everything is dirty?” I asked her.

“Borrow some of mine, Jackson. They’re in Sarah’s room.” Mark offered. I straightened from the rail and finished my beer.

She smacked my ass as I walked away. I looked to Mark. “One hour and she’s already learning your bad habits.”

“Do you need help?” She asked in Kelsairan.

“No, I think I can manage.” I countered in English to embarrass her a little. My dad chuckled and rocked back and forth in his chair. I found some clothes in Sarah’s room and changed in my own. Thankfully, I’d left some of my underwear at home. Why I’d taken the rest, I had no idea. I was beginning to see the logic in Kheda’s storehouses of clothes. I brought my dirty clothes back downstairs and threw them in a pile to be washed.

I found her on the porch with a beer in hand. “More bad habits, Mark?”

“She got that one from you.” The boys came running out of the house and went down into the yard. They were pretending to shoot one another. Mark saw them. “Hey you two, stop that right now.” He was off the porch and between them within moments. “What have I told you about that?”

“But dad, Uncle Jackson is in the army. We thought…”

“You thought wrong,” I was beside Mark now. “fighting is not the answer.”

“But Uncle Jackson, you…”

“I know Gabriel, but does it look like fighting is the answer? Is that what I’m doing with Kheda? She’s Kelsairan she was in the army too, but we both decided enough is enough.”

“The government said that…” Matthew started in his brother’s defense.

“The government was wrong, both of them. No more fighting, all right?” I was exasperated to see it starting so early. They had a Kelsairan in front of them who meant them no harm and yet they would play such a game. “Go find a different game to play, all right?”

“I have a better idea. Go find your mother and grab your readers on the way.” Mark countered.

“Dad,” they groaned in unison.

“Can we have a lesson together?” Kheda asked the boys. They brightened. “I cannot read in English yet.”

“But you’re old,” Matthew said.

“And I speak three languages. It’s only the one I cannot read in.” She corrected.

“We’ll show you, Aunt Kheda.” Gabriel offered taking her hand.

She let them lead her inside. I went back onto the porch. “Sounds like words from a wise man.” My father said as he got up and leaned on the rail.

“Words of regret, I think. I was young and stupid when I left, and the only good that came of it was Kheda.” I leaned on the rail beside him. “Maybe if I had stayed, then Luke would have, too.”

“Luke was determined to go no matter what you said. You were the only thing that made him wait as long as he did. He believed even more strongly than you did.”

“Thanks, Jackson, we’ve been trying to keep them as far from this as possible,” Mark said as he came up the stairs.

“I think I’m only causing trouble.”

“They try it at least once a week, whether you’re here or not. Maybe now they’ll think twice.” I picked up Kheda’s beer, expecting there to be something left but it was empty.

“Did you have to give her a full can?” I complained. They looked at each other. “Kelsairans don’t metabolize alcohol well, and she’s needy when she’s drunk.” They both laughed at me.

After dinner, I helped Kheda fold our laundry. “Those boys really look up to you.”

“Yeah, I know, but they should look up to Mark.”

“Maybe you should tell them that.” She looked at the stack of clothes beside her “Jackson, I heard what you told your father. You should not regret your service to your people. You did something you believed in.”

“I know, Kheda,”

“And you’re brother’s death was not your fault.” I threw my arms around her feeling lost entirely. She held me a long moment before kissing me.

“Ahh, Uncle Jackson’s kissing in the living room.” I sighed.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?” I called up the stairs to where I knew they were watching us from. I could hear them run and then Mark’s footsteps after them.

“Maybe you should let them see, better to kiss a Kelsairan than kill one. Perhaps then they will follow that path as well.”

“Kheda I’m hoping there won’t be a war by then.” She smiled at the thought. “Perhaps then we could have children of our own to yell at.”

“One step at a time, Jackson.”





Chapter 16





T



he next morning I lay in bed listening to the sound of a busy house the. I heard Sarah wake the boys and get them ready. I heard Mark, and my father head out the front door and the transport start. I heard Sarah, and the boys head out as well and then the screen door out back bang. Everyone would be out for a while.

Kheda kissed me, apparently hearing the same things. She moved into my arms and helped me out of my pants. I pulled off her shirt and threw it on the floor. She kissed me again urging me on.