Read Online A Small Miracle Happened by Mari Donne - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mari Donne
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the one for you.
Dan thought about changing the subject again, but what the hell. A big sister had to be useful for something. So he dumped some of his insecurity on her. But am I the one for him?
Sharon: If you think you could be, take care of him right back. Show him you’ll be there if he needs you.
Dan: I don’t know how to do that.
Sharon: Duh. Figure out what he needs. If he doesn’t need anything, figure out what he wants.
Chris had made it pretty clear he wanted Dan’s ass, but since he’d already had it, that didn’t help. Besides, Dan was so over talking about body parts with his sister. I’ll try.
Sharon: Good. I’m e-mailing baby pics. You’re required to say Aw! or How cute! for each one.
Dan: I’ll make a note of it.
Dan once believed there was a law against following your sister’s advice about anything, but maybe the statute expired after you turned twenty-one. Chris had been a rock yesterday. But he’d be within his rights to back away now that he’d had a taste of the behavior that caused Dan’s grandmother to label him “highly strung.”
No use wishing he hadn’t fallen apart in front of someone he hadn’t known a week. Now it was time to demonstrate some redeeming qualities. If only he could dredge some up.
He went out for lunch, but only grabbed a sandwich from a local shop and stuck it in his backpack. He’d eat at his desk later. He spent the rest of his break in a used bookstore.
The small hardcover had obviously been read, but it was in good condition. When Dan saw how Chris ran a hand lovingly over the cover, he knew he’d chosen well.
“ Leaves of Grass . How did you know?” Chris opened the book like a man welcoming an old friend. “Whitman is one of my favorites. I found him when I was in middle school, and no one told my parents he was gay, so I was allowed to keep him.”
“The copy on your dresser was a clue. And I thought you might need a new one, because when I tried to pick it up this morning, the spine was split and it came apart in my hand. I’d have bought a new edition, but the only bookstore nearby sells used books, so…” He shrugged.
Chris smiled. “I love used books. I like to think they connect me to the people who’ve read them before.” He set it down on the coffee table, then kissed Dan in that gentle way he had, hands resting on shoulders, lips open but not insistent. It turned Dan’s stomach to mush and made him want to grab Chris and perform all kinds of fierce and lascivious acts on him.
Chris released him, then went into the kitchen to check on dinner, so instead Dan began to set candles in the menorah, carefully moving from right to left.
Chris came into the room and began paging through the book, stopping to read a few lines here and there, reading with the assurance of someone who already knew the text well. A buzzer sounded again. Chris returned to the kitchen, leaving his gift on the coffee table.
Dan picked up the book. It was well thumbed enough it had remained open at the page Chris had been reading, even without a bookmark.
Are you the new person drawn toward me?
To begin with, take warning—I am surely far different from what you suppose;
Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal?
Do you think it so easy to have me become your lover?
Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloy’d satisfaction?
Do you think I am trusty and faithful?
Do you see no further than this facade—this smooth and tolerant manner of me?
Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a real heroic man?
Have you no thought, O dreamer, that it may be all maya, illusion?
Dan looked at the menorah. Only one space was empty tonight, and tomorrow that too would be filled with a candle. All the lights would burn for an hour and then…would their little Hanukkah miracle end too?
Would the connection Dan hoped they’d made this past week fray instead of growing stronger? Would Chris realize Dan was just a
Dan thought about changing the subject again, but what the hell. A big sister had to be useful for something. So he dumped some of his insecurity on her. But am I the one for him?
Sharon: If you think you could be, take care of him right back. Show him you’ll be there if he needs you.
Dan: I don’t know how to do that.
Sharon: Duh. Figure out what he needs. If he doesn’t need anything, figure out what he wants.
Chris had made it pretty clear he wanted Dan’s ass, but since he’d already had it, that didn’t help. Besides, Dan was so over talking about body parts with his sister. I’ll try.
Sharon: Good. I’m e-mailing baby pics. You’re required to say Aw! or How cute! for each one.
Dan: I’ll make a note of it.
Dan once believed there was a law against following your sister’s advice about anything, but maybe the statute expired after you turned twenty-one. Chris had been a rock yesterday. But he’d be within his rights to back away now that he’d had a taste of the behavior that caused Dan’s grandmother to label him “highly strung.”
No use wishing he hadn’t fallen apart in front of someone he hadn’t known a week. Now it was time to demonstrate some redeeming qualities. If only he could dredge some up.
He went out for lunch, but only grabbed a sandwich from a local shop and stuck it in his backpack. He’d eat at his desk later. He spent the rest of his break in a used bookstore.
The small hardcover had obviously been read, but it was in good condition. When Dan saw how Chris ran a hand lovingly over the cover, he knew he’d chosen well.
“ Leaves of Grass . How did you know?” Chris opened the book like a man welcoming an old friend. “Whitman is one of my favorites. I found him when I was in middle school, and no one told my parents he was gay, so I was allowed to keep him.”
“The copy on your dresser was a clue. And I thought you might need a new one, because when I tried to pick it up this morning, the spine was split and it came apart in my hand. I’d have bought a new edition, but the only bookstore nearby sells used books, so…” He shrugged.
Chris smiled. “I love used books. I like to think they connect me to the people who’ve read them before.” He set it down on the coffee table, then kissed Dan in that gentle way he had, hands resting on shoulders, lips open but not insistent. It turned Dan’s stomach to mush and made him want to grab Chris and perform all kinds of fierce and lascivious acts on him.
Chris released him, then went into the kitchen to check on dinner, so instead Dan began to set candles in the menorah, carefully moving from right to left.
Chris came into the room and began paging through the book, stopping to read a few lines here and there, reading with the assurance of someone who already knew the text well. A buzzer sounded again. Chris returned to the kitchen, leaving his gift on the coffee table.
Dan picked up the book. It was well thumbed enough it had remained open at the page Chris had been reading, even without a bookmark.
Are you the new person drawn toward me?
To begin with, take warning—I am surely far different from what you suppose;
Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal?
Do you think it so easy to have me become your lover?
Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloy’d satisfaction?
Do you think I am trusty and faithful?
Do you see no further than this facade—this smooth and tolerant manner of me?
Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a real heroic man?
Have you no thought, O dreamer, that it may be all maya, illusion?
Dan looked at the menorah. Only one space was empty tonight, and tomorrow that too would be filled with a candle. All the lights would burn for an hour and then…would their little Hanukkah miracle end too?
Would the connection Dan hoped they’d made this past week fray instead of growing stronger? Would Chris realize Dan was just a
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