MANSTORY
For in the beginning there was nothing...then God created Adam
written and dreamt by: PMH

Send email to: DancingSatyr@excite.com

Graham gave me shit as soon as I got back into work but eyed the gift I had in my hands curiously. He asked if I thought perhaps I was being a bit rash in my decision to start giving Harriet gifts. I think he also made some comment about her being a garden trimmer.

"Listen, you just cover for me as I go meet Harriet and I promise I'll make it up to you at the pub tonight." I said quickly and he smiled and said, "Who says I haven't already been covering for you?"

"What? Am I already in trouble?"

"No, thanks to me, but you stay gone another two hours and I'm sure you'll be doing chalk drawings in the middle of the square by tomorrow." Graham said, and I detected the honest concern in his voice.

"Then I'll owe you a double round at the pub, but I have to go. No time to chat. Cheers!" I said waving and rushed off to meet Harriet.

When Harriet walked in, I felt my heart race and my face flush, but I forced myself to remain calm. She didn't respond to my effort to give her a hug but dodged past me and down into a chair. As soon as she sat down a waitress brought over a cup of tea and I offered Harriet a biscuit (cookie).

"No thank you. I shant be staying long, I have quite a bit of work to do." Harriet said boldly and my heart raced.

"Well, if you won't take a little time to get to know me, then at least let me give you this gift." and I placed the small box with it's old world wrapping paper in front of her. I saw her eyes light up and she smiled a little, but then she pushed the package back at me.

"No." was all she said.

"No? But why?" I asked dispiritedly.

"Because I don't know you and I'm not about to accept a gift from someone I don't know." She said, her eyes still on the box.

"Hmmm..." I said thinking fast, "My name is Matthew Creech, but I sometimes go by other names, and I'm from America, but that is just a name for a land that has been so much more than that. I have a rather large and close family and I came to this country and this job to find you. Now that I've found you, I want only for you to accept this gift. After that, if you still no longer want to see me, I will leave and never bother you again."

She snickered for a moment and then she said, "You came all the way from America to meet me?"

"Yes."

"Why, in heaven's name, would you do such a thing?" She asked, her hands now on the box, muddling with the ribbon.

"Open it." I said, looking into her beautiful eyes, getting lost in the pools of color that reflected from her hair.

Her hands fumbled with the box and she pushed it away and then she pulled it toward her again and then she said, "Ok, I'll open it. But if this is something sick, then I'm never going to speak with you again."

She tore open the packaging and then she slowly lifted the lid. I saw the light flood immediately out of the package and then fade to normal. Instead of the happy, almost dreamlike response I had hoped for, she gave me a solemn stare and then she threw the box at me and got up from the table!

"This is the last time you make a fool of me! Now good day to you." Harriet said and I picked up the box and muttered three words and then took a risk and took Harriet's arm and stopped her. She turned to me and slapped me with her eyes and I released her arm.

"Wait! I think you just couldn't see it. It can be very hard to see at first." I said. I was a little disappointed that she wasn't able to see the stone right away, but then most people can't. Most people only see what they want to see and she wanted to see nothing and that is what she saw. So I helped her and now, "Ok, but if this is some kind of juvenile prank, then I'll make sure..."

"Harriet?"

"What?!"

"Just trust me. OK?"

She gave me another look of forlorn doom and then she opened the package and her eyes lit up like the fourth of July. Her smile and her beautiful little dimples and the sparkle in her eyes made it all worth while. My sister was wrong, Harriet was worth it. Beautiful, intelligent and now creative, she was everything I was looking for and she is everything I need.

"Too bad it doesn't have a chain. It would make a spectacular necklace!" She said looking at me, almost pleadingly.

"Look again." I said smiling.

"Ohhhh, my...now wait! That didn't have a chain just a moment ago! What did you do?" Harriet exclaimed.

"Try it on. I want to see it on you." I said. Harriet lifted the golden sparkling chain out and I was amazed at the creative luxury that Harriet had put into the chain. But that was nothing compared to the creative spin she had placed on the stone. My little Harriet had quite the imagination and taste for luxury. She turned to our waitress and asked, "How does it look on me?" The waitress just looked at Harriet and said, "Ummm..Here is your cheque."

"Harriet?" I said dreamily, "You may want to wear that under your blouse for now. I believe that there will be those who... well, those who won't see it as you do."

"Yes, perhaps you are right. I don't want people to think me a braggart."

She held it up one more time and I saw the colors in the stone shift and out of the corner of my eyes I saw my sister walk past and out the door. I ignored the contempt I felt from her and focused on my lovely Harriet, so newly amazed and I wondered how opening her eyes to my world would effect my lovely angel? She didn't give me time to answer or to even compliment her on her exquisite beauty, but she stood beside her chair and gathered the box and her things and then turned to me. She looked again at the stone and then she leaned down to kiss me. For one brief second, I saw the creamy skin of her right breast and just the slightest hint of her pinkish nipple as her bra folded away so that I could catch a glimpse. I immediately caught myself and felt the shame at such a immature act as looking down a woman's shirt. Harriet didn't seem to notice and her lips touched my cheek and my skin burned for several hours after. Then she was gone. Not a word, not a thank you. Just gone.

"WHAT!? No thank you!" Graham said that evening in the pub.

"It's ok Graham, I really didn't expect anything from her in return. I really think she will be back to talk with me later." I said knowing full well that she would. I was a bit worried about my sister.

"I think you should just forget about her. She isn't any good for you. I mean not even a thank you and you give her, you give...wait, what did you give her again?" Graham asked.

"A stone, a dream stone." I said, knowing that he was too drunk to know or care what a dream stone is.

"What the bloody hell is that?" He asked.

"Why do you think she's no good for me?" I asked.

"Oh. I just do. She isn't your type. Trust me on this one." Graham said and I detected his jealousy.

"Graham?" I said looking into his eyes.

"What?" He asked drunkenly.

"Are you jealous of Harriet?" I asked boldly and rather stupidly.

Immediately Graham stood up and knocked over his drink. He balled his hand into a fist and held it out from him, shaking. I didn't move and wasn't afraid, but I was concerned, I hadn't expected such a violent reaction. But it told me all I needed to know and I watched, wondering if he would actually hit me for so boldly outing him in public.

"Whyyyy yooouuuu, how dare you even suggest that I'm a poof!" He said drunkenly and he almost fell on me as he said it.

"Graham, would you like me to take you home?" I asked gently.

"I don't need no help from a bleedin' fairie! Sod off, you fuckin' fudge packer." He said angrily and I had to laugh at the last part as it came out, "phhhuchin' phhuchhhh pasher".

"Oh, laughin' at me now, are ya?"

"No, Graham, I wasn't, it's just that you are..." Then he took a swing at me. I caught his fist easily in my palm and twisted him down and he gave in, weak from alcohol. I just hoped I could get him out the door before he started crying. I left a few pounds on the bar, much more than the actual amount of my bill and took Graham out into the rain and helped him walk back home.