“Papa?” asked Kyra.
“Yes, my dear?”
“You never did answer my question. And you know what?”
Papa played serious. “Tell me my precocious one, what?”
“I’m holding you hostage, til’ you talk.”
“Is that right?” responded Papa, trying his best to hold back a grin.
“Right as rain off a pampus' back,” shot back Kyra in all seriousness.
“Well, we can’t have that now can we. Repeat the question.”
“You told me you painted because of Luin, but you didn’t say why?”
“Didn’t I?” Papa smiled.
“Oh Grand?,” called Kyra.
“Hey, hey, now I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you, but wouldn’t you rather I show you?”
Kyra frowned.
“Okay. How bout this. I show and tell?” Papa held out his hands.
Kyra hesitated before slapping both her hands down on his aged palms, weathered soft with care and concern. “Deal!”
“Come here child.” He motioned to a blank canvas. “Tell me what you see?”
Kyra squirreled her cheeks into the dimples that would later melt hearts. “I see a Papa messing with my deal.”
“How so?” asked Papa with false indignation, tilting his head and widening his eyes for effect.
Kyra huffed, “You said show and tell.” Then matching him, for effect, she put her hands on her hips. “Not, tell and show.”
Papa couldn’t hold back as laughter rolled from belly to cheeks. Then he lowered his voice and his face took a serious tone. “I paint because it makes you smile.”
Kyra looked into his eyes and Papa returned the gaze. Then quick as lightning she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love you Papa.”
“But I’m not finished. Don’t you want to hear the rest?”
“No, not really. Got what I needed.” Then Kyra jumped off his lap and skipped away.
“Zeke?” asked Grand, watching Kyra fly past her.
“Yes dear?”
“What did you do now?”
“Whaaat? I was just educating the girl on the aesthetic philosophies of Luin.”
Shaking her head Grand smiled.
“See. It works.” Papa smiled and opened his arms. Grand folded into the embrace, warmth on warmth, her head on his chest finding comfort in the beating of his bottomless heart.
“You haven’t told her yet?” asked Grand, her voice barely a whisper.
“No.”
Categories: Story, Papa, Kyra, Grandma Kyra
14 comments:
This chapter is a smile from start and beyond the ending. How you do it, I don't know, perhaps it's in the suggestion and our having to fill in the blanks, but your scenes, and so noticably here, are so alive, your words form pictures and sounds in the imagination and it's watched rather than read. So full of warmth and love once again, this scene between Papa and Kyra, and it follows through to the embrace between he and Grand, which though we have heard of their love and seen a little of, this is the first time, it's been so visual. There was pure, unadulterated joy reading this chapter, as Papa spreads smiles or happiness with his art, so to do these chapters, this story do the same. What a gift to give! Loved every moment, and the way it reached beyond this scene to the others between them and Kyra now, to the dock scene, walking along the beach, the owls, it all. Wonderful!
The two margin crosses to make would be Kyra's satisfaction with his answer and the question at the end. Just as one was answered, simply and with the same reason given in response to so many other questions within this story, another appeared and one has to wonder whether once again, whatever the question means, it does not relay the same message.
Through ups and downs, loss, hardship, pain, battle, laughter, happiness and fun, from the embrace between Zeke and Von and the care of Ji, through every thing known and yet unknown in between to the supportiveness between Rog and Kyra as they are interviewed on Earth years later, there is love above all else.
This story is the rocking chair now. It's a beautiful dream that one never wants to end. It's a magical blanket, to warm and to keep within, and well, I'm headed blindly into cliche as I search to find words for exactly how entering into the world of Kyra, Papa and the others feels. Precious and cherished and truthfully, I just cannot bear to think that if not for a chance meeting, I would never have had the opportunity to follow this story as it came to life. As deeply as it touches, as wide do I smile at the thought that a person, through words, through story-telling, is able to do this to another, and yet you as well as any of us has experienced that, to float within someone else's words.
And like Alice in Wonderland, each chapter takes me to a very special, magical place, where the outside world has no memory for the time that I am there, yet the memories therefrom follow and stay, the joy and the pleasure and the love. Yes, the rocking chair now, that's the best way I know how to tell you, what a special gift you have, you are.
Sweetest, let me start by saying it is comments like these two that give me all the energy and desire I need to keep the story moving forward. I love the engaged interaction and seeing the things you see and others see in this story. I'm often surprised at what chapters affect others the most and I can never predict when a chapter is going to be well received or not. For example, the chapter on Luin below sat in my saved folder for four days. I wasn't going to publish it and believe it or not, of the almost 300 chapters in the story so far, this is the first time I've written one and it sat. Every other chapter was published within hours of having been drafted, many were written straight into blogger, which is to say, not in Word and then transferred. So, when I got the reaction to Luin that I did, I was almost dumbfounded. :-D
As for this chapter, I don't know how to explain it, but it just flowed, as do almost all the Papa and Kyra chapters. I have no idea why, but when they interact I just start typing, not knowing where the conversation is going to go, and seemingly without effort, the dialogue just appears. I wish I could say that was the case with all the characters and chapters. The only other ones that come close are the "snoot and amsec" chapters that involve Rog and Von and John. Those just kinda flow without effort too. ;-)
Running late for the airport, so I need to cut this comment short. Should have internet when I get where I'm going, but if not, I'll be back Wednesday night. Take care and thanks again for your fantabulous comments. :-)
And yet they all flow so perfectly, within themselves and from chapter to chapter, as I have said a time or two at least despite changes in time, style, action, world, and more. Those two that you mention though, these between Papa and Kyra, and the ones between the boys, do have such a wonderful intimacy, where we may watch the other chapters and be very comfortable in that spot, these draw us just a little deeper somehow, and not through the intensity of chapters such as the one where Rog finds Yul to cite just one example of the kind of chapter I refer to, but through the simplicity, the feeling of this being just one moment of many, of an ongoing togetherness. I know what I mean. :-)
Safe journey, Poppet, missing you already. :-)
I love the feeling I get from reading about Kyra and Papa. There is a special bond, more special than just father and daughter (if that's possible). It's pure love, every word and you convey that so well. I alos sense that much of this that we feel is from your soul; the love you have inside. Bravo :-)
*HUGS & KISSES* to you and Jack!
Karen, that is a comment I could take to the bank. I think you just earned honorary groupie status or maybe lifetime membership. I do deeply appreciate those very kind words. Jack and I thank you tautly and tumidly. :-D
Papa...
hey...does your Kyra know the kyra who paints..aka savy?
She smile too when she paints :)
Mona, I don't know Savy. Tell me more.
I have to admit, it's a little unnerving to see the parallels you mentioned in my own life this week and your story (aside from my own name.) Thank you for visiting my blog and pointing me here. :)
Savy, when I read your current post I almost couldn't believe it. What is interesting is that you said many things I did not let Papa give voice to--I was planning on having him talk a lot more about why he painted but in the spur of the moment of writing, I took a more simplistic direction. I look forward to taking time to explore your artwork and your blogs. Running to the airport in just a minute. Thanks for stopping by Savy, aka Kyra. :-)
I sure do love these exchanges between Kyra and Papa, Precious Man. And you added another one of your delightful story-line hooks---I'm all excited now wondering what exactly it is that Papa hasn't told Kyra "yet". Woohoo! So many things to look forward to. You are quite like Papa in this way. :) The love between Kyra and Papa are...well, I can't think of how to word this. One thing in this story that will maintain it's continuity, and that feels so good. What it must be like to be a Kyra and have had a Papa like that. I'm glad you give us that. I bet most people have not had a Papa like that. So here, another gift you are giving us, Precious Man. I think that who you are is both Kyra and Papa. Of course, all of the other characters as well. I love reading the comments, am reading the second one from Autumn right now and I love the way she expresses herself and the way things she says are things I would want to say, if only I were as articulate as Autumn is.
My dear Beautiful Soul, I think you are the first to articulate it, but I am both. As I raise my own son, I'm Papa and as I think back on my own childhood, I'm Kyra. Those two characters, more than all the rest, I identify with, although there are times when me and Yul are pretty tight. :-D
Now, having said that, from an emotional point of view, I see myself much more like Kyra than Papa, and in that regard, Papa is idealization of all the mentors I have ever had in my life whereas Kyra, many times, walks in my skin and I walk in hers. I have given her chapters that have come directly from my own life and so, in that way, we share a past. And, as I've said many times, I do love Kyra most of all. She was my first, character that is. ;-)
Oliviah, smiling from ear to ear at what you wrote about my comment for two reasons, firstly I always come out of those things wondering how it is that I never actually got around to saying what I wanted to say when I started, and secondly because so very, very often I have read one of your comments and just been thoroughly enthralled by how you manage to express exactly the emotion that the chapter evoked within me, and so beautifully. :-)
Beautiful Soul, think December 22nd, 2005. ;-)
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