Wounded Warrior

“Goodnight,” I called to the closing crew as I walked out of the McDonalds.

It was ten o’ clock and I couldn’t wait for a shower. I smelled like fry oil and hamburgers. I hated my job but it paid for my car and new clothes Mom couldn’t afford.

The December night wrapped around me, holding me in its grips. I unlocked the Dodge, thankful the locks weren’t frozen again. I bundled in, started the engine and screamed. A figure was belted into the passenger seat. I hopped out, turning on the dome lights. “Holy Shit!”

Winnie the Pooh smiled and winked at me bearing a card. I glanced around the empty parking lot embarrassed by my charades.

I climbed back into the car and opened the card. It was a handmade hear cut out of construction paper.

Brig,
Thanks for being there on Thanksgiving.
Love,
Jonah

I held the heart to my chest and smiled. Pooh seemed to giggle. We drove the six blocks to my house, two friends enamored and grinning. I pulled up the driveway to Jonah’s beamer. I hadn’t seen him since Thanksgiving and I hadn’t talked to him since I’d lunched with Maureen.

I walked to the backyard carrying Pooh by a paw as not to get any uniform stench on his fur. Jonah sat on the picnic table staring up at the night sky.

“Hi,” he said.

“Your little friend here gave me quite a scare,” I said.

“Pooh didn’t mean may harm,” he laughed. “Did you scream?”

I chuckled. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”

Jonah took Pooh from me and sat him on the picnic table beside himself.

“Baby its freezing. Let’s go inside.”

“I have something I want to show you first. Come here.” He motioned for me to sit.
“See that?” he asked pointing up.

“Orion.”

“Do you know what’s chasing him?” he asked looking at me.

“No.”

“Scorpio,” he said looking back up. “Scorpio can only be seen in the summer, pursuing Orion which is a winter constellation. Orion, the famed hunter, said there was nothing that he couldn't kill or escape from. Juno sent Scorpio to kill Orion because of his arrogance. The scorpion finally caught up with him, stung him and killed him.”

“Okay?”

“You’re my wounded warrior. But it was you, Scorpio, that injured yourself.”

I wept as he told me this. Hot tears froze quickly.

“Why are you crying?” he asked.

“Because I love you,” I whispered.

“What?” he asked lifting my chin with one curled finger.

“I love you.”

Jonah stared at me shocked and speechless. Maybe this came too late.

Jonah looked down at his shaking clasped hands. “I feel like I’ve been waiting half my life to hear you say that.”

“I love you Jonah.” I touched my hand his cheek – flushed despite the chill – and pulled him into me. It was the our first kiss since the night we shared on the rocks at summer camp. It was innocent yet searching. I pulled away from Jonah when I felt dampness on my cheeks. He was crying.

Photo:Filjka