During his walk home, Ragden kept playing out the events of the day in his mind. This was not how he had planned his day going when he rolled out of bed this morning. Parts of him were aghast at what he did. Was he possessed? How was it that he had done those things? Yet, he could still feel their hands on him. His body remembered. His loins stirred at the thought of it all.
As he walked up the quiet path through his yard, his gaze passed over the vibrant bushes and flowers in his yard. The bees buzzed; birds chirped in the air. So much life and love. He brushed his hands over a rose bush, the textures of the leaves playing along his fingers. Then he opened the door and headed inside.
“Mom? Dad? I am home!”
A silent house greeted him. He slipped off his shoes and stored them with all the rest. He noted that his father’s boots were not among them. Then he walked through the living room into the kitchen. He felt the absence and quiet stillness of the house. He headed to the back of the house.
The back door opened onto a small 10’x 10’ concrete patio. Just beyond was a lush patch of grass, with flower beds all around it. What appeared to be a young woman knelt in the yard; her auburn hair pulled into a bun. A pair of jean shorts tight on her plump ass as she knelt in the dirt, her bare feet in the grass. A small shirt was tied under ample breasts. She turned and smiled as Ragden stepped out of the house. She pulled her hands out of the dirt, stood up, and brushed her hands and her knees off as she stepped towards him.
“Ragden! Son! You are home early.” She stepped into his arms and gave him a warm hug. Then she rested her head on his chest. “Is everything okay?”
She looked up into his face and saw the conflicted emotions playing across him. Her look went stern. “What happened at school today?”
Ragden frowned. “A... A lot, Mom. When will Dad be home? I would like to include him in this conversation.”
“Oh honey, he had to go into town. He will not be home until late.” She saw the look of concern on Ragden’s face, she smiled and patted him on the back. “I won’t pry honey. Go in and do your homework. Once I finish this up, I will come in and make something for dinner.”
Ragden nodded and turned to head back into the house as his mom walked back over to the fresh garden bed. She sank back to her knees and dug her hands into the soil again. She hummed softly to herself. Ragden went back through the house and made his way upstairs to his room.
He pulled his chair out from his desk and dropped down into it. His mind reeled from all the events of the day. He opened his backpack and pulled out a few schoolbooks. He flipped through the pages, found his assignments for the day, and started working on them. He tried to forget about everything else.
Several hours passed as Ragden struggled through his schoolwork. Some progress was made, but his mind kept skipping back to Aria, Emily, and Sarah. The looks on their faces. The feel of their bodies under his hands and against his skin. He could not shake it. He sat back in his chair and closed his schoolbook. With one hand on his forehead, he closed his eyes and tried to puzzle through what all of this meant.
Then Ragden heard pots and pans in the kitchen. His mother was making dinner. His mouth watered. Ragden realized just how hungry he really was. He packed his schoolwork back into his bag and placed the books in it as well. Then dropped off the pack next to his door before he headed downstairs.
He found his mother as she moved around the kitchen dropping things into a crockpot. A soft melody hummed on her lips. Ragden walked over to the island and plopped himself down on a stool.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Farfalle with chicken in an alfredo sauce with broccoli and spinach.” She winked at him. “You need some good comfort food after your grueling day. Pasta always works.”
Ragden smiled. ”Sounds great, can I help?”
“Sure. Grab that cutting board and slice the broccoli please.”
Ragden and his mom finished the prep, then dropped the noodles into the pot, and slipped the broccoli into the oven. His mother could see something different about him, but true to her words, asked no questions. Ragden focused on his tasks and let everything else slip from his mind. He took comfort in the simplicity of preparing dinner.
The two of them enjoyed a quiet dinner together, and then cleaned up the dishes. His mother kissed him softly on the cheek. “Go get some rest dear, I’ll wake you when your father gets home.”
He nodded in agreement, feeling a weariness in his bones he did not know was there.
Ragden headed upstairs and lay down on his bed. He stared up at the ceiling in his room. Four words played through his mind, “What have I done?”
***
Ragden was awakened by low voices outside his window. His eyes snapped open, quickly taking in the room around him. The lights were out in his bedroom, though he was still fully clothed, lying on top of the covers. He had come up to rest and passed out. The day had been more draining than he could have imagined. As that thought played over, the day's events came rushing back like a locomotive running through his mind.
Then he heard the voices again. Ragden rolled over and peered through the blinds on his window. Two figures stood in the backyard. One familiar. Tall, with broad shoulders. Mostly bald, with licks of blonde hair around the edges of his head. His thick beard was down to his bare chest. Dad! The other figure, a total stranger, bathed in flames that seemed to come out of his own feet, licked up around him. Just as tall as his dad, his skin blackened by the flames. Yet he took no notice of them. Instead of hair, flames licked from his scalp, flickering as if in the wind. The eyes were a burning yellow.
The two seemed to be in a heated debate. Ragden placed his ear to the window, hoping to make out some words.
“...Your son!”
“Is just a boy...”
“His actions today.... I warn you now, he is on the map.”
Ragden’s father waved his hand, a dismissive gesture. The other figure seemed exasperated.
“I come to you today as a friend...”
“Burning up my wife’s garden? Some friend you are. Why the spectacle? This is nothing compared to the things we did...”
“The Primals sent me. This was supposed to be a friendly visit.”
“Have you forgotten how to present yourself as a friend? How many years has it been?”
“Too many. I’m... I am sorry... “
Ragden’s father’s voice laughed, a deep booming sound. Then his voice changed. It sounded almost feminine, seductive. “If you really want to apologize...”
The other figure laughed, his flames winking out. “I’ve missed you, old friend.”
Then the figure looked up towards Ragden’s window. Ragden fell backward against his bed startled. They could not see him, could they? How?
“Your son is awake. Best you have words with him...”
Ragden’s father’s voice sounded normal, but tired. “Indeed.”
Ragden leaned forward to the window and saw that neither figure was there any longer. His heart thumped as he walked downstairs into the kitchen. As he rounded the corner, the massive figure of his father stepped out to him, arms outstretched, “Ragden, my boy! Good to see you!”
The taller man engulfed Ragden in his arms and pulled him into a warm embrace. Ragden pulled himself against his father and put his face against the bare chest which smelled of earthy things. Warmth and heat radiated off his father and Ragden soaked it up, feeling his heart slow knowing that everything would be okay.
“Who... Who was that?” Ragden asked tentatively, looking at the back door as his father guided him to the kitchen table.
“Nobody you need to worry about. A story for another day.” The older man turned back towards where Ragden’s mother waited by the island, “Jennifer, some tea, please.”
“Of course, Michael.”
Ragden could not help but smile in response to the smile he heard in his mother’s voice. “Come now boy,” Michael’s voice was soothing, compassionate. “Tell me what happened today.”
Ragden explained everything, sparing no detail. Jennifer brought three mugs of tea to the table. Placed one in front of Michael, and the other in front of Ragden. Then she seated herself across from her husband. As his story ended, Ragden looked at his parents, tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I do not know what came over me.”