Page 73 of Severed Heart

“Not nothing, never nothing. God provides,” I say, soaking in the peace surrounding us. “He gave us everything we need. He mapped this earth with hints and clues, colored nutritious food. He marked snakes and other animals for danger. God gave usso muchto guide us.”

“Let me guess, Matis taught you that?”

I nod, scanning my sucker scenery view as the last of the sun sinks behind the hills. “My papa ... Matis was so smart, Tyler,” I relay, my whisper strained.

“So is his daughter,” he relays in a rough whisper of his own, gripping my hand and lifting it slowly to his lips. My chest stutters at the look in his eyes. A look he maintains as he presses and holds his warm lips to my hand before lowering it, spreading his thumbs across where the kiss lingers as if to push it further into my skin.

Ripping my hand away, I ignore his flinch, playing blind to it as I turn and begin to walk toward the dock. Equally and purposely deafening myself to the “I’m sorry,” which carries on the wind behind me as he quickly snuffs the fire out by kicking dirt over it with his boots.

Not long after, those boots sound on the wood planks of the dock before Tyler slowly takes a seat next to me, lighting the space between us with the soft glow of the lanterns. We sit for many uncomfortable minutes, casting our lines as my anxiety continues to build from our exchange on the hilltop. Cursing my stupidity, I turn to him to ask him to take me home when he speaks up.

“I didn’t forget,” he utters softly, opening the cooler before lifting a flask toward me.

Shame fills me at the sight of it, and I bite my lip and nod in silent thank you. Taking several numbing sips, I mull over the nature of our unconventional friendship, of my influence, and the unfriendly kiss and discomfort now between us because of it. Disheartened, I’m just about to speak when he nudges me.

“Come on, fishin’ buddy, cast your line. I need to catch at least one before we go home, or my man card might get revoked.”

Nodding, I cast my line before slowly easing back into the peace surrounding us, the cicadas calling loudly on the chilly breeze as night sets in. “Tyler?”

“Hmm?”

“What is man card?”

* * *

General Half-Pint: Tyler is Delphne questn for sodler

I know who it is, General. Sure, what’s your question?

General Half-Pint: Can fish todya

Sorry, I can’t fish today. I’m in class and have errands to run for my mom after. How about tomorrow after class? I get out at noon.

General Half-Pint: Oui m erci pleas e vry muc h want to fish with solder

I want to fish with you again, too, General. I’m looking forward to it.

General Half-Pint: one more queston for solder

Anything.

General Half-Pint: Be honets wiht me

Of course, I’ll be honest. No tap dancing around the truth. Promise.

General Half-Pint: Jean domicn humulate tell me my tex t is so bad d

I will not lie. Your texting is rough. You get letters backward, use space when you shouldn’t, and often misspell by a letter or two. No punctuation either.

General Half-Pint: Merde I knw Jean not li e

General Half-Pint: Merde is shit in French

I know what it means. And you didn’t misspell that. Ha Ha!

General Half-Pint: ha ha funy I resad and wri et so bettr before haze

You read and wrote better before the haze?