“Why Do You Take Such An Interest In Him?”
May 27, 2023
The Night Before, I dreamt again. I was awoken by a woman’s voice.
“You should get up! We have much to discuss!” I heard. I woke up sitting on a bench.
“Well, we meet again!” The woman said. I looked over to my left and there was Elsa Kulka- Tomas’s mother. She wore her white dress, a nice hat and a lovely grey coat.
“Oh, hello,” I said, trying to adjust to my surroundings.
“Tomas, he’ll join us later,” Elsa said. My head hurt.
“I know I was a little harsh on you, the last time we met,” She said.
I looked at my wrist where she had grabbed me.
“I can still feel it,” I said. She looked at me in surprise.
“Feel what?” She asked.
“Your grip on my wrist,” I replied.
“Sorry. Didn’t realize I grabbed you that hard,” She said.
We sat in silence, but only for a moment.
“I’m here to talk about Tomas,” She said.
“Ok, what about him?” I asked. She took a deep sigh.
“Why do you take such an interest in him?” She asked. I looked at her.
“I-” I tried to answer. She got impatient.
“Well, you must have a reason why you’re so interested in him,” She said.
“I was going to give you my answer, if you let me talk,” I said. She sighed again.
“I’m interested cause,” I tried to say.
“What is your attraction to him?” She yelled.
I looked at her in shock.
“Attraction? I don’t have an attraction to him at all — not like that,” I said, angerly.
“Then why do you care about him? You didn’t know him in normal life?” Elsa asked.
I was trying to think of something to say- but I think she read my mind. She looked at me- then she stood up.
“What do you mean? How could he have found you?” She asked, pulling me to stand up.
“He found me- somehow- and my mission is to keep that little boy alive! That’s all!” I said. I then felt little arms around my stomach.
“Please! Don’t leave me Kay-tee,” Tomas said.
His mother looked at me- glaring.
“Tommy, let mommy talk to your friend,” She said. Tomas didn’t move.
“Tomáš!” His mother yelled. Tomas let go and walked to his mother.
“Go Play! Mummy just wants to talk to her,” Elsa said. Tomas ran to the playground.
“Now, why did you talk about his death with him?” She asked. I knew what she was talking about.
“He asked me- that’s all,” I answered.
“I don’t want him thinking about it,” His mother said.
“You just want him to-” I tried to answer.
“I want him to be himself, not thinking about his death. He’s trying his hardest to keep you alive- that’s enough for a 7 year-old,” She said.
“I told him-that he needed to help me with details,” I said. She grabbedm y wrist and squeezed it tightly.
“LISTEN! That Little boy is happy and for some reason- he likes you! He’s trying to focus on you- don’t bring up the past- especially not his!” She said as her grip got tighter.
“You’re hurting me! Please let go!” I pleaded.
“My child — he has some attachement to you! Do not take that lightly!” Elsa yelled.
I tried to get her to let go of my wrist, but she ended up grabbing both of my wrists.
“Do not take my child for granted! He is a privilege- not a right!” She yelled.
Tomas must have noticed us, because he ran over to us. He tried to pull his mother’s hands off my wrists.
“Mama! I asked! Don’t take it out on her! Please! She’s trying to help!” Tomas cried.
She looked at us.
“She needs help! She’s getting better! Please! Mama! I want to know about her!” Tomas cried.
Elsa looked at me. She still had her hands clutching my writsts.
“Tommy, this is between me and your friend,” She said, sternly.
Just then I heard a man’s voice.
“Elsa, let me handle this.” It was Robert Kulka, Tomas’s father. He was a bald man and he wore a very nice suit. he walked over to us. Elsa finally let go of my wrists.
“Now, this is the girl that our little boy talks of,” He said, as he placed his hands on the sides of my face.
He looked into my eyes. He smiled at me.
“She means no harm to our child, Elsa. Tomáš just wants to help her,” Robert said. He told me to come with him. HE placed his hand on my back to lead me away from Elsa. He called Tomáš over.
“So we will have a -what is you Americans call it? ‘Heart to Heart’ talk? Yes- let’s have one,” Robert said. Tomáš ran up to me and held my hand. We began walking in a park.
“I apologize about my wife-she’s not use to Tomáš having alive attention, if you know what I mean,” He said. Tomas wouldn’t let go of my hand.
“You have earned my son’s trust over the years,” He said. TOmas smiled at me.
“Tomáš, let us talk alone, please!” He said. Tomas let go of my hand. He ran to a little playground and started swinging on the swings.
He truned me to face him.
“My son needs you- as so do I and yes, even my wife. I know Tomáš has been visiting you these past few weeks, but he’s doing that becasue he loves you. My son does not attach himself to living people very often. I know in your mind, you have those dark thoughts, but please- think of my child when you’re having a breakdown. He wanted to break through and help you, but he couldn’t. He cried for you- please know- he wanted to help you- he loves you. Whenever you feel that way- close your eyes and listen to your heart, but call out for my child- he will hear yo and he will do his best to help. That I promise,” Robert said. Tomas swang on the swing.
“My child died- not because he wanted to-” Robert said.
“Because he had to,” I said. Robert looked at me and said, “Protect him, as he protects you.” He gently kissed me on the forehead and then I fell back asleep.
