Like Eve To Cain



It was past midnight when Nora began cleaning the table.  One of the women they'd hired earlier in the day began to help, but she shook her head, warding her to another task.  Even when they had been rich layabouts, there were some things Nora Walker liked doing for herself.

 

She wasn't alone in being obsessed with her son.  They had a staff of fifty who did all their work for free.  In fact, they donated their own money to the religion of his celebrity.

 

It was refreshing not to have to think of herself anymore.  Nora had always been bad at that.  Her whole life had been lived for her husbands, and while it had gotten her nowhere quickly at least the burden of her choices were not her own.  Tommy had demanded she take control of her own choices, live simply, live humbly, live in worship of him.  She did not find this narcissistic.  How could a deaf, dumb, blind mute be a narcissist?  A better question: who would have thought that her inability to be calm, to be patient, to follow the virtues so often ascribed to her personality would bring about the necessary changes in her son?

 

Nothing had worked until she pitched a temper tantrum. 

 

You told him not to see anything.  Not to hear anything...

 

She thought she had long put away that nagging voice in the back of her head, reminding her of what she had insisted he do.  If only Frank...

 

...But she had never blamed him.  She didn't even blame herself anymore.  Her son had magically found himself, and she was overjoyed with it.

 

There was such little time to express that joy to her son alone.   There were always people around - had been ever since the miracle.  A wall of people between herself and her son.  She disliked them but Frank insisted they were necessary.  They couldn't well run this camp by themselves!

 

Tommy's Holiday Camp.  It seemed to run opposite of everything her son had espoused in his public speaking engagements, but Frank had insisted that this must be the way things were run.  It was the only way he knew.  After he had taken notice of the masses coming to their door day in and out, the old gleam had returned to his eyes, the one she recognized from their first meeting.  It hadn't been there for so long....

 

And it was all because of Tommy!  Tommy, who had made everything beyond perfect.  Tommy, her reason for rising in the morning and sleeping at night.  Tommy, the reason she hadn't taken her life when her husband died. 

 

The sudden sight of him made her want to swoon.  He was always perfect in her eyes.

 

"Tommy?" He turned to her.  Her heart nearly burst.  "I had someone fill a tub for you."

 

He considered this.  "Thanks, mum.  But I'd rather go out to the pool."

 

She frowned.  "Do you think it's all right?"

 

"Yes, I think it's all right." His smile was a dazzlement, but thunder rolled in his eyes.  He couldn't have possibly heard her talking to Frank during his childhood hears.  "Come tell me when the next train comes from Victoria Station."

 

She knew he would want to hear this news from her - only her.  She tried to make her smile as dazzling as he disappeared down the hall among the grasping arms of his followers.  Alone, she nearly wept.  He was a magnificent god!  And yet...

 

This is for you, Nora.  He's doing it because of you, and you bloody well know it.  And if the worst happens, it's your fault.

 

Nora calmed.  She had time to talk to him, now.  To teach him what every boy needed to know, what every young man yearned to hear from their mothers.  There would be years ahead to figure these things out.  It was a mother's job to listen, now that he could talk.  Her job to speak, now that he could hear.  Her job to be lovely, now that he could see....


The End