Foster's World

Chapter 7: The New Life

They held hands, taking comfort for a moment.

“Ahhh?” both at the same time. “Excuse…” they laughed.

“I don’t seem to know…” the woman started.

“Who you are?” the boy finished. “Yeah, me too…”

That they were naked and alone on a beach didn’t seem so important.

The boy said. “I don’t seem to remember my name. Do you know me?” a quiver in his voice. For a moment he felt lost, then found the woman’s hand again.

The woman bit her lip, puzzled. “No. No I don’t. I don’t know who I am, either. I don’t know what I am!” Then, “What am I?”

The boy looked at her eyes…, he brushed away the tear that was forming. He looked at her breasts too, he was a boy after all. He thought seriously for a moment. “You’re a Frankie. You’re Frankie…” He didn’t know how he knew that, but he knew the right word for her. She was a Frankie, it was what she was. It was who she was. Simple.

He looked at her expectantly. She brightened; this was easy. “Mac. You’re a Mac.” He was.

He thought about it, “I’m a Mac?” well, he had to be something, why not a Mac? “OK, I’m Mac the Mac” he said.

She laughed “Hello Mac, the Mac! I’m Frankie, the Frankie”

Somehow that was funny, it was the funniest thing they had ever heard. They began to laugh hysterically and fell into each other’s arms.

They played with each other’s names. Then seriously, the boy looked into her eyes. “I think… I am Frankie’s Mac?”

She ruffled his hair, “Not sure?” she joked. “I am Mac’s Frankie! And I AM VERY SURE OF THAT.”

What else was there to do except kiss each other, for a very long time. Between bouts of laughter.

The silver falcon owl looked on them a little scornfully, not really understanding what the kids found so funny. The Goddess looking through its eyes, though, smiled.

They swam the river easily, coasting through the waves, marveling how easily it was. It seemed moments later they were on the shore of the grassland. They held hands. The naked woman and boy and marveled at the animals, and plants and all things good they saw, but had no names for. They would need to name the names. They would take turns.

It would be the first game they played.

There would be other games to play.

It was going to be all right.

Overhead, a great bird circled, keeping watch. It’s silver tailfeathers glowing in the sunless light of the afternoon.