My contribution this week is actually a short section from a longer story.  Hope you enjoy:

Communion

by

Joseph Paul Haines

Tanicia pulled the covers up to Jacob’s chin.  Tomorrow was a big day.  He needed a good night’s sleep.  Tomorrow, her son would take the communion.  Death would no longer stalk him.

Jacob fidgeted until he freed his arms from the blankets.  ”Cubbie,” he said, and his favorite brown teddy bear appeared in his arms, the right ear chewed off by their dog, Prince. It had been months since Jacob slept with Cubbie.

“You okay, sweetie?”

Jacob nodded, but his eyes were wide.

“It’s nothing to be worried about,” she said.  ”It’s just like permanent medicine.”

“And grandpa made it?”

Tanicia nodded.  ”He did.  Your grandpa was one of the most famous people in the world.  Because of him, we don’t have to suffer like people used to.”

“The little people take care of me?”

“Yes sweetie, they take care of you.  If something goes wrong with your body,” she said as she ran her first two fingers along his tummy, pretending like they were legs, “the little people rush to whatever is broken and fix it for you.  You don’t have to worry about getting sick anymore.”

“So I won’t die?” Jacob asked.

She looked into his eyes, searching.  ”Not until you’re ready to.”

Jacob squeezed Cubbie tighter.  ”Does it hurt?”

Tanicia brushed his hair back and stroked his head.  ”Does what hurt, honey?” she asked.

“Communion,” he said.  ”Does it hurt when they put the little people inside me?”

“No honey, it doesn’t hurt.  It looks kind of scary, but it doesn’t hurt at all,” she said.  ”And they’re not really little people.  They’re tiny little machines, so small you can’t see them.”

Jacob leaned in close.  ”They don’t make you bad?” he whispered.

She pulled back in surprise.  ”Bad?  Where did you get an idea like that?”

“A boy at school said that they were little people, and that if you put them in your body you were a bad person ‘cuz you were making the little people do what you want them to do without their permission.”

Tanicia pursed her lips.  ”That’s nonsense,” she said.  ”They’re an artificial . . .they don’t really think, honey.  They’re machines.  They’re made to seem like they think.  Just like Prince.”

“Oh,” he said, leaning back into his pillows.

Tanicia sat with his for a few minutes until his eyelids started to get heavy.  ”You want Prince to sleep with you tonight?”

Jacob nodded.

“Prince,” she said.  A moment later, the big German Sheppard loped in.  ”Comfort,” she said and watched as Prince leapt onto the bed and laid his chin across Jacob’s ankles.  She stood up and walked toward the door.

“Mom?”

“Yes, honey?”

“I don’t have to do it tomorrow, do I?”

She’d been afraid of this.  ”No honey.  The law says it’s your decision.  I’d really like it if you did, but if you don’t want to then that’s your choice.  You can always take it on your next birthday if you change your mind.”

“Maybe I should just–”

“Why don’t you sleep on it, honey?  We’ll talk more about it in the morning.”

“Are you mad?” Jacob asked.

“Of course not.  Just a little disappointed.  Let’s wait until the morning to decide though, okay?”  She turned to leave.

“Mom?”

She stopped.  ”What?”

“I’ll do it.”

She turned to face him and smiled.  ”I love you, sweetie,” she said.

“Love you too, Mom.”