Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 15:23:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: c.e. Jordan <carlosio5@yahoo.com>
Subject: BROOKLYN BLUES: TYSON AND SHAWN - PART 4

c. e. jordan
zedzero5@hotmail.com


>From the previous episode:


     "Wait up Ty...um, err, can you sleep over at my place tonight? My
mother wouldn't care, she probably ain't even gonna be here most of the
time..."

"I dun no...  my mom rarely lets me do stuff like that... but then, you
are right next door so I don't know... but I will ask, alright?"

     "Great! Don't forget!"

     "Oh no, I shan't forget," said Tyson, unconsciously slipping into
his very proper British accent which made Shawn laugh.

_____________________


                 BROOKLYN BLUES: TYSON AND SHAWN PART 4


     "Mom... um... may I stay over at Shawn's tonight? Then you won't
have to pay Mrs. Dilly to baby-sit me. I don't need a babysitter
anyway."

     Judith, his mother, still dressed only in underwear, carefully
laid her champagne coloured gown across the bed, "Honey, remember...
you're still only twelve," she said.

     Ty was distracted for a moment by the dress, the delicate flow of
the fabric; tiny sparkly things glittered like a small constellation of
stars caught in its folds. His mother paused and turned to look at him.
"Hmm, since when did you and that boy get to be such good friends?"

     "When I go out for the mail we talk sometimes... he's really nice
mom."

     "Well..." said Judith, "perhaps you are stuck in this apartment by
yourself a bit too much... and as far as I can see... Shawn doesn't
seem to be in any trouble around here..." She spoke very quietly^Ö^Ömore
to herself than to her son. Then to Tyson she said, "I'll have to speak
with his mother soon... are you sure this sleep-over thing is okay with
her?"

     "Yes mommy."

     Tyson sat carefully on the bed next to the dress. He couldn't help
briefly running his fingers across the delicate material. He watched
his mother fuss with her makeup and hair. Now, carefully, she painted
dark cherry-coloured lipstick onto the arc of her top lip, and then
again to the bottom one. She pressed her lips together with an audible
smack. Ty was always fascinated by this ritual transformation of his
mother from daytime accountant into something entirely different. He
wondered what it was like in the Manhattan supper club where she spent
three nights a week singing and playing piano. He imagined it was like
an old black and white movie. There would be all these well-dressed
romantic couples discretely clinking wine glasses in the background as
the warm contralto sound of his mother's voice filled the darkened
room...

     "Zip me up honey, will you please?"

     "Okay mommy." While Ty slid the zipper closed, Judith talked to
Mrs. Dilly on the phone, "Sorry to be so last minute about this dear,
but we won't be needing you to take care of Tyson tonight, he'll be
staying with a friend."

     Finally dressed, his sleek young mother seemed suddenly distant
from him, so very far from his own everyday world. She looked beautiful
and remote just like all the images of celebrities and movie stars he'd
seen in glossy magazines. It was hard for him to think of this cool,
glamorous creature as his mother.

     "Are you ready to go Ty? I have to leave now or I'll be late."

     "You don't have to wait for me mom, I'll be ready in a few minutes
I'm only going next door." He laughed a little bit.

     "Oh... alright little Mr. grownup," she smiled and ruffled his
hair through her slim fingers, "just remember to lock the door when you
leave, okay?" And she was on her way leaving behind only a vague scent
of Gardenias....

     Tyson ran over to the window to watch his elegant mother glide her
way across the courtyard and out of the gates to a waiting car. He was
amused to see how out of place she looked in the run-down surroundings
and how everybody down there stopped whatever they were doing to watch
her pass by.

     Tyson was nearly ready to leave the apartment when his phone rang.
"Hey Ty, I just saw your momma leavin'... man, she looks so great, just
like Halle Berry... how come you don't look good like her?"

"Err... I... I... um...." Ty was at a loss for words. But Shawn was
laughing. "I'm just kidding mousey," and in a softer voice, almost a
whisper he continued, "I like how you look."

     "Oh..." Tyson blushed even though he was alone. His new friend had
a way of taking his breath away... always keeping him off balance.

     "So.... you coming now Ty?"

     "Yep... just getting my sleeping bag."

     "What you need that for? You sleepin' in my bed. All you need to
bring is your pajamas... that is, if you wear `em... I don't."

     Tyson restrained the impulse to ask exactly what Shawn wore when
he went to bed, **I'll find out about that soon enough*, he thought to
himself.

     "Alright... I'll be right there. See ya."

****

To be continued....