The Eyes of Midnight

by Mark Holtzclaw

  She turned it over. On the cover was a picture of a lovely woman with a monster. The book was "Beauty and the Beast".

  Karen looked at the book in wonder.

  "I have the exact same copy of this at home." she said. "My father gave it to me for Christmas when I was little."

  "Well, this once belonged to my mother. She lived here a long time ago, before she had me, when she was still alive."

  His voice trailed off and Karen remembered what Maude had told her about Drew's parents abandoning him. Then she started to feel uncomfortable again.

  "So, looks like we have something in common." he said reaching for the book, then accidentally placing his hand on hers. Karen was startled and jumped up from her seat.

  "I'm sorry; I usually don't grope the hired-help until the second week."

  She recalled what he said about his humor and tried not to take him so seriously.

  "I shouldn't have said that," he lamented. "I'm not being a proper host, but to be honest with you, Karen."

  And here he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

  "I was actually kind of nervous meeting you today. And being the awkward guy that I am, I don't always think before I speak. What I lack in vision, I overcompensate with my mouth. I really hope you can forgive me."

  Karen found it difficult to believe that such a beautiful person would feel nervous meeting someone such as herself.

  "I'm nervous too," she confided. "I didn't expect you to be so -" Her voice trailed off. "Well, you know?"

  "What? Grown up and blind?" he supplied.

  "No, it's not that. I'm sure you heard this before, but you sort of look like a movie star."

  Drew waved his hands in the air.

  "Ah, that's just the sunglasses. Don't let them fool you. I'm really just a down-to-earth person like you."

  Karen was beginning to warm up to him. Drew's personality had charmed her, though his humor was somewhat unpredictable.

  "Actually,” he confided, “I’ve never been told that before. So which movie star do I look like? Tom Cruise?"

  Karen wasn't sure how to answer the question.

  "I really don’t know, but you look like someone who might be famous.”

  "Oh, but I am, don't you know? I am the beast of Waverly Hall, and you are my beauty, come to rescue me."

  "Thank you," she said, "For making me feel comfortable and at home here.”

  He leaned closer. His eyebrows arched behind the dark shades.

  "Is that your way of flirting with me, Karen? You do know that I am betrothed to another?"

  She blushed and was relieved that he could not see her face.

  “Yes, you mentioned that you have a girlfriend named Dalice.”

  “Excellent memory,” he grinned, “I will tell grandmother to hire you at once. But I must warn you, that I can be a handful.”

  “Yes,” she agreed, “I’ve noticed.” And Karen was surprised how comfortable she was to admit this.

  And with that, the front door opened and Maude entered with a tray of sandwiches.

  "I was wondering what was keeping you, grandmother. Did you purposely take your time, so we could get to know each other?"

  Maude set the tray on the table in front of the sofa and laughed.

  "You know your old grandmother too well." she answered. "Help yourself Karen. They're watercress, I hope that's okay."

  "I've never actually had one before. But I like trying new things. Thanks!"

  Karen reached for a sandwich and took a bite, and then Maude placed a sandwich in Drew's hand.

  "So we're out of peanut butter and jelly again?"

  Maude shook her head.

  "Don't pay any attention to him, Karen. My grandson thinks he's a comedian."

  "Grandmother, did you know that Karen writes poetry?"

  "No, we didn't get around to that yet. I just knew you two would get along together." Then she turned to Drew. "So what's the verdict, mister?" she asked.

  Grinning, he signaled her with a thumb-up of approval, and Maude gave Karen a wink.

  "Looks like you're part of the family now."

  * * *

  On the bus ride home, Karen reflected on the day’s events. After leaving the cottage, she had talked with Maude regarding her schedule and wages. She would arrive every day at noon and work until eight p.m. Maude was looking primarily for someone to keep her grandson company during the summer months away from school. And the salary was quite generous. She would begin tomorrow afternoon.

  When she returned to the boarding house, she looked through her poetry journal. Was there anything she could share with Drew? The only thing she could find was a short poem written about an imaginary friend she had as a child.

  Karen slipped her journal in a knapsack to take with her in the morning, and then fixed herself something to eat. After getting ready for bed, she gazed out the window. The night had come again and she wondered what Drew was doing right now. And was he thinking about her?

  She slipped into bed and closed her eyes. In the blackness she wondered what it was like to be blind. Never to see anything at all, or experience colors. He could only see the shade of midnight. An ebony world painted forever black.

  Did he ever dream? And if he did, what were they like? Were they just sounds echoing across an evening sky? Only Drew knew the answers to all her questions.

  Night soon became dawn, and Karen found the familiar trail back to the Waverly house. She arrived early and didn't see anyone about, so she opened the gate and walked up the path to the Victorian house.

  Maude opened the front door as she arrived at the porch.

  "Hello Karen," she said, "Aren't you the early bird this morning?"

  "I wasn't sure how long the bus would take, and I didn't want to be late for my first day."

  "Yes, I understand. You don't need to explain. Here, come on inside."

  Karen entered a hallway with a stairway at the back. On her left was a drawing room, and on the right a dining area.

  She followed Maude into the drawing room and sat beside her on the davenport. The curtains rustled in a breeze with the scent of roses from the garden.

  "So, what do you think of my grandson, Karen?"

  She thought a moment. “I think he's very friendly." she said simply.

  Maude smiled and offered her a candy dish. Karen picked out a peppermint.

  "He mentioned a birthday party next week."

  Maude nodded.

  "Yes, my grandson will be twenty-five on the twelfth."

  Karen leaned forward.

  "He also said that it would be just you, me and his girlfriend, Dalice."

  Maude sat quietly.

  "Yes, that's right. You haven't met Dalice yet. She works at the school that Drew attends. She’s a lovely girl."

  "Is there anything you could recommend for a gift?" Karen asked.

  Maude stood up and walked over to the window.

  "Well, you really don't need to bring a present. But if you would like to, I would say something personal that's meaningful to you."

  That was completely unexpected. Karen felt inadequate, and she was afraid to share any part of herself. What if she was rejected?

  Maude turned away from the window.

  "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

  "What's that?"

  "I know the bus ride must take a while from Valley Home to Maryvale, and considering you'll be doing this every day for the next three months."

  Maude sat down beside her.

  "This house is big and empty and has many spare rooms. If you would like, you could stay here with me."

  Karen smiled.

  "That's very kind of you and that would definitely save me some time and money." She paused and looked out the window and after some thought turned to face Maude again.

  "I would be happy to stay here during the week, and check things back home on the weekends."

  Maude took
her around the house and showed her the different rooms. Karen chose the bedroom facing east on the second floor. It had a clear view of Drew's cottage. She set her knapsack down and removed the journal of poetry. Taking the book, she descended the stairs and journeyed off to the cottage. And so began her first day.

  * * *

  When Karen arrived at the cottage, she knocked on the door. She waited, and when there was no answer, she peered through the window. The room with the fireplace was empty. Walking around to the back, she looked through another window. There was no sign of Drew here either. Where could he have gone?

  Then she heard a sound behind her and swung around. Drew stood before her with his dark glasses and walking cane.

  "Sorry if I frightened you, Karen. I was just returning from the garden."

  She breathed a sigh of relief.

  "I'm glad you're alright," she said. "Where is this garden?"

  Drew gestured with the cane to the right side.

  "Grandmother's garden has bouquets of many flavors. Two of them are larkspur and jasmine."

  He smiled and held out his hand.

  "Here, I'll take you there and show you."

  Karen took his hand and felt its warmth resonate in her.

  They strolled through a throng of white birches while the birds sang above in a canopy of leaves.

  "How do you know where it is?" Karen asked.

  Drew turned his head toward her.

  "I know how many paces it takes to get there. And the fragrance tells me which direction to go."

  He paused. "Just a few more steps and you'll see it on your left."

  And he was correct. After three steps, they arrived at an enclosed garden. There was a low stone wall circling around its perimeter. Inside there was a bird bath, a statue of a maiden and fountain. A mosaic of flowers blossomed around them.

  "How enchanting this is!" Karen breathed.

  Drew led her towards the sound of the fountain.

  "There's a place around here where you can sit." he offered.

  Karen saw the stone bench and let go of his hand to sit down.

  "So do you come here often, Drew?"

  His face moved in the direction of her voice.

  "Almost every day,” he answered. “It's a private and quiet place to collect one's thoughts."

  Karen felt like she had been transported in time to a place where technology was still a dream.

  "Thank you for sharing this place with me." She looked up at him and noticed that he was searching for something with his cane.

  "What are you looking for?" she asked.

  "Many years ago, I buried something special in this garden. I vowed to myself then, that I would recover it when the time was right."

  Karen was intrigued by this.

  "Have a question for you," she said. "Why wouldn’t you just put it in a safe place in the cottage?"

  Drew moved closer and felt the bench, sitting himself down beside her.

  "That's s a good question. And you know, I'm not sure what my thought was back when I was only ten. But I know, above the ground, things get changed and moved around. I thought of it, as sort of a time capsule, preserved by the earth."

  Karen looked around the garden, searching for that secret area, but seeing nothing. She realized that the ground would have healed itself after fifteen years. There were no scars left from digging anymore.

  "You got be curious now." she ventured. "May I ask what it was that you buried here?"

  A smile spread across his face.

  "The time is not right yet, so I must not disturb it.”

  Karen did not want to pry, so she changed the subject.

  "I brought my poem with me today." she said removing the journal from her pocket.

  His face immediately brightened.

  "Ah, thank you for reminding me. Could you read it to me, please?"

  "Sure, here goes:

  You have been my sole delight

  You are with me day and night

  By sun, we play forever outside.

  By rain, we stay together inside.

  Please be with me always, my friend.

  Even if you are only pretend. "

  Drew appeared to be deep in thought after she finished reading the poem, then he spoke:

  "It has a simple quality that I like." His dark sunglasses twinkled in the sunlight. "So you have an imaginary friend?"

  Karen watched his lips as he spoke.

  "Well I did, when I was about seven. I had this invisible playmate named Mary Jane. We did all sorts of things together. And then, one day she disappeared. But I still think about her."

  Drew propped his walking stick beside the bench and then placed his hand on her back.

  "That sounds very lonely," he said. "Did you have many friends growing up?"

  Karen thought about how to answer this question without sounding too pathetic.

  "Well, my brother and I usually did things together. We were quite close."

  Drew's hand patted her gently.

  "I can relate. I didn't have many friends growing up. It was just my grandmother always there, taking care of me. Then when I finally started school, I never really had anyone close until I met Dalice. "

  Then there was a long silence making Karen uncomfortable. She needed to fill the void.

  "Well, I'm happy you have someone now." she said, "Are you engaged to Dalice?"

  He bent his head closer.

  "Yes, I am." He gently touched her hair. "Trust me, you will find someone, Karen."

  She felt that sad feeling creep up her throat. It often occurred just before she cried. And then without warning, the tears began to fall.

  Drew could sense her change in demeanor.

  "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

  "No, no, it's nothing you said. It's me." She heaved a sigh and felt the need to explain. "I've never really had any real friends in my life, and I honestly don't know why. People come and people go, and I've always wanted to have that one special friend. Someone who would stay, you know?"

  Drew placed his arm around Karen, holding her close.

  "Karen, you'll find that special friend someday. And until then, you have me. I won't ever leave you."

  Tears flooded her eyes and she crumpled in his arms.

  "Forgive me, Drew. I am the one who is supposed to be there for you."

  "It's alright," he said softly. "We can be there for each other."

  Then reaching out he placed his hand over hers.

  Karen could not believe this was the same person she had only met yesterday. Then he was funny and outspoken. Now he was sensitive and vulnerable. Or perhaps she was the one who changed, and he had adapted himself like a chameleon to her. Karen didn't know him very well yet, but one thing she was certain of, he was special and in a good way. For this she was thankful, that he had come into her life now. What once was dark had become light; and that which was empty, was now full. She hoped that she could be there for him as well, to somehow light the darkness of his world. But in many ways, she also was blind and unaware of the life and love that moved through the world each day. And just now, for a small glimmer of time, she could really see.

  * * *

  Later that night, Karen got ready for bed at the Waverly house. She parted the curtains and looked at the cottage in the distance. The stars were the only light now since the house was dark. Of course, Drew would not need any light in his world. So Karen would not know if he was asleep or awake.

  Finally surrendering to sleep, she laid herself down and pulled the coverlet over her. After she closed her eyes, she began to drift. She was in a twilight realm of sleep, when the man of her dreams appeared. He embraced Karen tenderly and caressed her hair. Whispering in her ear in hushed tones with refrains of love. Placing his lips over hers, he kissed her affectionately. Then as he called her name, his voice became familiar. Karen pulled back and looked up at his face
, which was no longer in the shadows. He was wearing a pair of black shades over his eyes.

  Karen awakened, and looking into the darkness, she suddenly realized who it was. It was Drew Lamont, and she knew that a part of her was falling in love with this young man; a man who was engaged to another. How could she stop herself? What could she do to prevent from falling further? This was a place of work, and Maude expected her to conduct herself as such. Karen resolved not to let her feelings interfere with the job. And with that, she went back to sleep.

  * * *

  The next morning was cloudy and it began to rain later in the day. Karen spent most of her time inside the cottage reading to Drew.

  "Beauty rose at four in the morning," Karen read, "and made haste to have the house clean and dinner ready for the family."

  Drew listened intently to the sound and rhythm of her voice. He was entertained by how she could change it for each character. Even though Karen did not wear perfume, she had a fragrance of her own he was most fond of.

  "I have saved your life by receiving you into my castle," Karen continued, " And in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond anything in the universe, but you shall die for it; I give you but a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself, and say your prayers."

  Drew reached out his hand and in a deep voice said, "You have stolen my heart and bewitched me, Karen."

  She looked up from the book and laughed.

  "You startled me, Drew. I thought you really were the beast." Then standing up she said, "Did you want to take a break and get something to eat?"

  "As long as it's not watercress sandwiches." he laughed.

  Karen walked to the kitchenette and put together slices of ham and cheese with a bowl of fruit. Drew listened to her careful movements. Her scent intertwined with the food had a calming effect on him, and he felt content.

  She brought the food over and set it down on the table.

  "Before you came here," he said, "I listened to my classical records. But now that you're here, I have the music of your voice."

  "And you think I'm the poet?" she giggled.

  "Well, I'm trying to speak your language, Karen.”

  She smiled and slapped him playfully on the head.

  "I dare you to do that again." he challenged her.

  She took a couple steps towards him and then he stood up and reached out for her.

  "Can I see what you look like?" he asked.

  "See?" she repeated.

  "With my hands,” he answered. “They can translate the landscape of your face."

  Karen took a deep breath. Once he touched her, he would realize just how terribly plain she was.

  "Come on," he begged her, "Just close your eyes."