Those eyes could dance, I tell
you. They could dance and even smile,with a twinkle added. Shades of light
could work magic with those eyes – they were by far the most brilliant eyes I
had ever seen and would later realise I ‘d ever see, ever. We were at the
church, I was on my congos holding them between my legs and engrossed with the
choir, we were rehearsing it was a native song sung in our native tongue, the
emptiness of the parish made the music seem hollow and loud but we were
oblivious to all that the choir was howling out the song, craning their necks,
eyes cringed and shut, arms bent , fists clenched with a sense of
concentration, they were moving their lower body like a lazy pendulum, my head
was bent low and it was also nodding thither , hither while I also had my eyes
shut I did keep opening them once a while just to observe the rhythmic balance
and it was during one of those sessions that I noticed Annie walking into the
aisle, quiet, calm and composed.
She looked at me and then beyond
her sight seemed travelling almost through me as she evaluated the choir, the
light from the glass panes of the tall coney church tower came in like shafts,
the images of gods and angels had doves and bats for company, the Choir master
was clapping and was completely entranced, I smiled at her and waved, she refused
to acknowledge, she was trying her best to remain solemn and that made me smile
even wider as I shook my head and continued banging my congos in a rhythm that
bordered on a sense of youthful fun.
She stepped aside and hurriedly kneeled onto the bench the sunlight gave her thin hair a brownish halo but yet
I realised She had’t had her bath, at least She had’t washed her hair, so it
had that typical dry, overnight look and I could smell them even from a distance,
they still had a heady feel to them, despite their lack of freshness. Annie had
made herself oblivious to all of what was going on around, I knew that She knew
that I was happily watching her every move while continuing to play with the
choir and not allowing anyone notice my object and subject of amusement. Annie
was praying her arms folded and palms grasping each other and soft mumbles
dropping out of her lips, Annie was a crazy, crazy bug, I tell you – I wanted
to howl and laugh out so loud I thought even the gigantic Church spire would
crash with the after effect such was the hilariousness of the scene being
enacted. Annie squeezed open one eye and looked straight at me, satisfied
herself that she continued to have my amused attention and then promptly went
back to her prayers – did I see a smile ? did I ????
Jesus on the cross continued to
bleed.
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