A Friend for Joseph (youngsters:fantasy, 6804 words)
Author: Loren	Added: Nov 18 2006	Views/Reads: 12365/3212	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Joseph horribly witnessed his parents taken from him when he was very young. His childhood seems nearly lost forever, until his uncle David pairs him up with a special creature with a wondrous ability to heal...

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

men in the doorway, he also froze. The man took out the cigarette and 
blew into the house. “Come with me, both of you,” he boomed. They stood 
together, looking terribly hesitant. Joseph noticed their legs were 
very stiff and they shivered a little. He then knew that something was 
terribly wrong. 

When the man saw that they did not comply, he motioned for the two men
behind him. Coldly, as if they were made of stone, they came into the 
house and took Joseph's parents by the shoulders and began leading them 
outside. His father began saying something to the men. Joseph didn't 
hear or understand it that well—it sounded like a question. 

A new fear and a new pain showed itself to Joseph's childish innocence.
He was witnessing something a child dreaded to see, above all else. His 
mom and dad were being taken away from him. His eyes went wide and he 
breathed as if ready to cry in fright. 

When the men finally pulled his mother out of the house, she struggled
to turn around. “Joseph, Run! Run!” she yelled. But Joseph could not 
move at the desperate sound of her voice, and instead he stood stiff 
where he was, with an icy cold fear running through him. The men took 
them outside, and Joseph could still hear them struggling. 

Soon it became too much for him, and he ran to the back of the room and
hid behind the lamp table, where he fretted, holding his knees 
together. 

Then he heard the noise...the loud, banging, heart shattering noise... 

Joseph gasped and jumped. His heart skipped a beat. There was the sound
of a car driving off, and at that, Joseph quickly ran to the door way, 
calling for his mom and dad. But when he reached the doorway...no one 
was there. The streets were empty. 

Joseph stood alone in the cold, lonesome breeze under a lamppost. All
was quiet and utterly still. 

“Mommy?” Joseph called into the street. “Daddy?” 

His childhood blood ran stone cold, and he beginning to shiver, he sat
on the stone pavement in the frigid, lonesome breeze, holding knees 
together, and he subtly began rocking back and forth... 

*** 

From what Joseph could remember when he was older, he had called his
grandma and told her what had happened. Some minutes later his grandpa 
came for him in his car, and brought him home. For some days he lived 
with his grandparents, who were kind to him after he saw his mother and 
father taken from him. At nights, before he went to bed, he missed them 
especially. His mother would not come to tuck him in and kiss his 
cheek. His father would not come to read him a story. He cried nearly 
every night in bed, at which his loving grandma would come to hug him 
consolingly, while his grandpa sat at his side for strength. 

He could not get the event out of his head. He had nightmares nearly
every other night about it. 

One morning his older cousins came to visit and to talk about what had
happened to Joseph's parents. Everyone was gravely concerned. When they 
asked Joseph about what had happened, he could not tell them, and they 
would understand. 

After they had finished talking, which they had been doing for a most of
the day, his cousin Max took him in his arms, and his grandparents and 
cousins seemed to be saying good-bye. When Joseph asked what was 
happening, his grandma said dearly, “Your cousins are going to take you 
to live with your uncle David. Grandpa and I are coming too, for the 
ride.” 

They drove him miles and miles for nearly six hours into the mountains,
to a quaint neighborhood with sloping roads and a great deal of 
plantation. The small town rounded a wide body of water which Joseph 
presumed was the ocean. He learned much later that it was a lake, 
nearly wide enough to be a sea, with waves that could roll at 
good-sized heights. 

At last they drove up to a small house, whose walls were cracked with
age in many places. When they got out of the car the air was cold and 
the skies were gray, much to Joseph's inner sadness. 

And sitting in a fold-up chair on the front lawn, under the gray,
clouded skies and the frigid breeze, was Joseph's Uncle David, reading 
a book that looked small in his enormous hands. He was a grown and 
hearty man with swarthy skin and a trimmed black beard. When he saw 
Joseph's cousins and grandparents pull up in the driveway he got up and 
looked at Joseph with a look in his beady constricted eyes that was 
somehow intimidating. 

Joseph's cousin Max led him up to his uncle. Uncle David looked down at
Joseph from his unusual height, and the first noise he made was an 
awkward, horse grunting sound from his throat. He then nodded with the 
same rough, frowning expression on his face, but there was clear 
sympathy in his small eyes under the shade of his heavy brows. 

“Joseph,” he greeted 

Joseph looked up with a young, sullen, almost pained expression. He
looked over his shoulder at his cousin max. 

“Say hello, Joseph,” Max said. 

Joseph turned and looked back up at his uncle, but he did not say
anything. 

Uncle David knelt on one knee and put his large hand and pulled him to
his side with his strong, but gentle arm. His grasp felt somehow 
strengthening. 

“He's had quite a shock,” Max said. 

Uncle David nodded to him without saying a word. He turned to Joseph and
cleared his throat. “Poor kid,” he said, tightening his grasp. Joseph's 
grandma and grandpa walked up from the driveway. “Hello, David,” said 
Joseph's grandma. 

“Mom,” greeted Uncle David simply with a nod. She wasn't truly his
mother, but he called her that. 

“Hey, there, David,” said Joseph's grandpa, not too jovially. Uncle
David nodded, still frowning but keeping the unmistakable concerned 
look in his minute eyes. 

“It's been rough,” Joseph's grandpa went on. 

“I know,” said Uncle David. He turned to Joseph, who stood very still,
looking down at the grass. He cleared his throat once more and 
tightened his warm, strong grasp on Joseph's shoulder for strength. 
“But don't you worry,” he continued. “I'm gonna' take good care of this 
kid...” 

*** 

Joseph's next few years passed under the guardianship of his Uncle
David. His uncle was quiet most of the time, and often quite grouchy, 
but very caring to Joseph in his circumstance. 

His grandparents came and visited him twice a month, which was generous,
for they could hardly afford the trip. As Joseph seemingly became more 
able to handle what had happened to him on his own, however, they did 
not come as much. 

Joseph and his uncle David spent little time interacting with one
another, but they certainly talked a little every day. Each day they 
spoke of small things, and each day they also spoke of big things. 
Sometimes Uncle David would try to keep Joseph entertained by taking 
him with him on his walks over the shore of the lake. Only some days, 
however, did Joseph feel like making sandcastles or collecting shells, 
and even swimming in the summer time. What he would do most of the time 
was simply trudge wherever his uncle David walked, with his eyes on the 
sand. And wherever his Uncle David would sit, he would sit there too, 
just looking at the ground, or watching the seagulls fly with his 
childishly sullen eyes. 

There were also some days when Uncle David would leave him at his aunt
May's while he “went somewhere.” He did this regularly every month, 
though Joseph never imagined why... 

When he was seven, he was not quite old enough to remember the events
that had happened to his family on the fateful night in Jett as 
vividly, but the emotions of the incident stayed with him. He carried 
it with him heavily in his heart each day. Most of the time he didn't 
even think about why he was carrying those feelings. He almost seemed 
to forget they were even there, or that they were even affecting him. 

There were not any others of Joseph's age by the lake, but he was able
to make friends with a group of teenagers that Uncle David knew. They 
would often go out into the lake on a motor boat to fish and at times 
they would take Joseph along with them. Though much older than he was, 
they were still nice to him. He couldn't always talk to them, as they 
conversed among themselves—mostly of the time about grown-up 
things—most of which Joseph could hardly understand. 

Then, one day, on their boat trip as they fished, Adam glanced over to
Joseph with intelligent eyes looking through his round glasses. “Is it 
okay if I ask you something, Joseph?” 

“Sure,” Joseph replied, looking up at him. His eyes had been gazing
overboard at the sparkling water, which did not seem to give him any 
joy. 

“Where did you get that scar?” Adam asked. 

“What scar?” 

“That little dash on your cheek,” Adam said rubbing his hand over his
right cheek. 

Joseph did the same, trying to feel it, and he thought he felt something
there. Then he remembered what it must have been. He had seen it in the 
mirror since he was very young, but not until lately had he taken much 
consideration that it was even there. “I don't know,” he finally told 
him. 

There was, however, one particular memory that he wasn't sure was real
or not, and he went on answering, “I think someone gave came into the 
house and gave it to me, on the day the men took...” he paused. “...my 
parents.” 

At his own words, Joseph felt a deep grief, and sank into a quiet
depression. He had forgotten how much it hurt to think or talk about 
his parent‘s tragedy, even if he couldn't remember everything that 
happened clearly. Then his mind began to race and pictures flashed. 
Most of them were from his nightmares. They were all about the event or 
in some relation to it, yet all the events were very different. Often, 
he had dreamed about the man with the knife, and bleeding. Sometimes he 
was afraid if it was really was his parent's blood on him, and that 
they might be lying hurt in the house somewhere. Joseph would look all 
over the house for them, but he would never find them. 

*** 

That dark-blue evening was one of the evenings that Uncle David left
Joseph at his aunt May's...while he disappeared as his monthly 
routine... 

Aunt May served him turtle soup for lunch, which was made quite hearty.
Today she also treated him to her warm, home-made vanilla pudding. 

“What have you and Uncle David been doing lately?” she asked. 

But Joseph had his eyes on a picture, a picture of two men, standing by
a river. One of the men was holding a fish in his arm and he also had 
wings that gave a peculiar white radiance. Joseph was not used to 
seeing paintings of things that people did not usually see in real 
life. “Who's that?” he asked. 

Aunt May looked over and smiled. “That's a picture of the Angel Raphael
walking with a traveler on a journey.” 

“The Angel Raphael?” Joseph asked looking over at Aunt May. 

“Mm, hmm. He's the patron saint of travelers, happy meetings and
healing. I'm especially fond of him.” 

Joseph looked back at the picture. Raphael...Joseph carefully examined
the picture and for a brief moment it seemed to make itself unusually 
prominent to him... But then he had a sudden change of heart, and lost 
interest, and for a much longer moment he felt a little down for a 
while. He found himself rather preoccupied with the tragedy. The 
experience was still fresh in his psyche. 

“Aunt May, could we read something before Uncle David comes back?”
Joseph said. 

“Certainly, if you want.” 

*** 

A week later, on a cloudy, gray Saturday, Uncle David brought Joseph to
a park by the water's edge. The park had a large playground where few 
other children played, most of whom were either younger or older than 
he was. 

Joseph swung himself back and forth on a toy seal. He did not play with
any of the other kids. He did not even look up. He did not smile or 
laugh. He simply rocked himself back a forth slowly, a frown on his 
face, looking down with quiet grief in his eyes. 

*** 

That night, Joseph wanted to ask Uncle David something, as they quietly
ate their cheese soup. “Uncle David?” he said. 

“Mm, hmm,” David responded quietly, his eyes on his soup. Joseph
hesitated to bring it up, and then he found that the matter had him so 
bad he could hardly speak. He sat in his chair with his spoon in his 
hand, and his chin fell to his chest. “Never mind.” 

Uncle David looked up with his tiny, fixed eyes, which were hard to see
on his large head, and raised his brow. “Something wrong?” he inquired 
seriously. 

“No... I guess not.” 

Uncle David gave a careful look at him once more and nodded, returning
to his soup, uttering one of his gruff sounds that he usually made. 
Joseph still did not know why he made those sounds. “Go on. Eat your 
soup,” said Uncle David. 

Joseph fiddled his spoon in his soup and sipped it the best he could. 

Later, as Uncle David read to himself by the lamp, his small, square
reading glasses over his eyes, Joseph had to ask again, knowing it may 
only hurt him to know. “Uncle David.” 

“Mm?” Uncle David 

Joseph swallowed. “What happened to my mom and dad?” 

Uncle David quickly looked up, and for once Joseph could clearly make
out his eyes. He put his book down and took off his glasses and folded 
them. “Come here,” he beckoned. Joseph sat himself on the couch and 
Uncle David put his massive arm around him. “Nobody knows what happened 
to your parents,” he said, a sad twinkle in his eye. 

“...How come?” asked Joseph. 

“No can figure it out,” Uncle David said. “Not even the police...All we
really know is that there was...there was something strange going on 
with them before they were taken.” 

“What do you mean?” Joseph asked, his heart beginning to throb with
grief again. 

“Well...We think they were keeping something from us....There was
something they weren't telling us, and we were afraid something might 
happen.” 

Joseph let his head fall on Uncle David's lap. 

“I'm so sorry Joseph,” Uncle David said rubbing his back. 

“...I miss them...” Joseph said, his eyes watering. 

“I know,” Uncle David said. “The best thing is that you're safe, you
know.” Uncle David said, hugging his shoulder. 

“I guess...” Joseph replied in a weeping voice. 

*** 

The next few nights Joseph began having more nightmares. They were more
horrible, more weakening and longer than ever. Uncle David noticed that 
he was not often in the mood to go outside. He saw how tired he was, 
how weary. For Joseph, the cold, lake air was bitter in his aching 
heart. The quietness in the house made him feel worse, somehow. He was 
not as talkative and the worst that Uncle David could see was that 
Joseph kept skipping meals. David tried to talk him into eating, but 
with no success. 

One morning, as Joseph awoke to the dim, dreary morning, hearing the
lulling, tiring voice of the lake waving on the shore, Uncle David came 
into his room and knelt by his bedside. Their eyes met, and quietly 
Uncle David asked, “Would you like to go to the doctor, Joseph.” 

Joseph looked up with red eyes, though he had not been crying. He had
not cried for a long time. “What for?” he asked. 

Uncle David shrugged his great shoulders. “Just a check-up.” 

Joseph thought about it the best his preoccupied mind could, and nodded.
He was slow to get out of bed, for lately every day was a struggle to 
function. He staggered with his uncle under the creamy-gray sky to the 
car. 

Uncle David was so big he looked like he could hardly fit in the
driver's seat, but he managed quite well. On their way along the roads, 
Joseph looked outside the window. The light shedding through the 
clouds, the decorative old homes and tall trees and gardens, children 
playing with each other in the front yards under their parents eyes. 
All the sights looked beautiful. But none of it mattered to Joseph. 
They didn't mean anything. They were so blind. This world was not 
beautiful. What kind of world is beautiful when things can happen such 
as what happened to him in Jett? So he just looked, carrying deep 
grief, overtaken by an almighty despair, convinced that to be happy was 
to live a lie. 

Uncle David glanced at him for a moment and his brow contracted. He put
his big hand out and felt his nephew's head. Joseph almost didn't care 
to ask why, but somehow he did after all. 

“You just look pretty flushed,” Uncle David replied. He returned to his
driving. 

*** 

A long wait after Joseph's checkup—and it is safe to say it was a little
more than a checkup—Doctor Finch walked into the door, carrying her 
notes. “All right,” she announced. “Mr. Johnston, I'm sorry for the 
long wait, I just wanted to make sure of my diagnosis. I sincerely 
apologize.” 

“Go on,” Uncle David said gruffly. 

Doctor Finch put on her glasses and looked at her notes. “You say that
your nephew...” she hesitated, and continued a little more quietly, 
“witnessed his parents being violently taken from him by several 
mystery men?” 

“Mm, hmm.” 

“And for the first year or so after this event Joseph underwent quite a
shock over the matter.” 

“Mm, hmm. Yes.” 

“It's seems somewhat clear to me, as a bachelor in psychiatry,
that...your nephew is experiencing some kind of traumatic depression.” 

“Depression...” said Uncle David quite agreeably. 

“I've never seen anything exactly like it before,“ said Doctor Finch.
She turned a page in her notes. “Um...you are aware of the new drugs 
approved for marketing? Logixen, by Karma Healing Industries. There's a 
brand you can purchase over the counter for children. I believe it may 
help until you can get better medication from a more professional 
psychiatrist.” 

“Mm, hmm. He doesn't need medication,” Uncle David replied. 

Joseph listened with an ever gloomy face. Medication? It frightened him
a little, as he could tell his case was serious, but he didn't care for 
himself all that much anymore. He missed his mom and dad. More than 
ever now. 

“In my educated recommendation,” Doctor Finch continued, “I strongly
suggest that you medicate your nephew. He's not eating! He's 
exhausted...” 

“He doesn't need medication,” Uncle David said simply. 

Doctor Finch took off her glasses, and locked eyes with the giant. “What
do you mean, he doesn't need medication?” Uncle David stared with his 
serious, beady eyes with his great arms folded. 

“You are a responsible guardian for this child, and he needs help,”
Finch persisted. “At least try it.” 

Uncle David was still for a while. “All right,” he said at last. “I'll
purchase it at least.” He got up and Joseph weakly jumped off the 
table. 

“Oh and um...” Uncle David said, turning around. “I am a responsible
man,” Uncle David apologized. “I...its one of the things I used to do, 
help children with serious depression and disabilities.” Doctor Finch 
looked at him with the same sternness on her face, but she nodded and 
let him go. 

On their way home, Joseph lay his head on the car door, his eyes closed,
carrying the gloom and despair with him. The beauties behind the window 
shone on him, but Joseph knew they would never affect him again. He 
would never be happy again. 

When the car rolled up the parking drive he knew they were home, and it
would be exhausting to walk into the house. Somehow he managed. It was 
drawing late in the afternoon and the air was warm, making him drowsy. 

“Why don't you have a little something to eat, Joseph,” said Uncle David
shutting the door. “I'm going to take you somewhere in a few minutes.” 

“No. I'm not hungry.” 

“Mm, suit yourself,” said Uncle David, not indifferently. 

Joseph staggered to his room and fell upon his soft bed, where the warm
sunlight shone through the spaces of the blinded window. There, he 
quickly dozed off and fell asleep. 

*** 

When he awoke, it was darker and grayer. Feeling too restless to lie in
bed any longer he rose and walked into the living room, where his uncle 
had just come in through the front door. 

“Well, Joseph, are you ready to go?” he said. 

“Sure,” replied Joseph taciturnly. 

Uncle David made one of his grunting noises again. “I would've taken you
yesterday, but it looked like you were too tired and needed a rest.” 

“Is it morning?” asked Joseph. 

“Yes. Friday.” 

Joseph looked down and felt some relief that he had not had any
nightmares. Uncle David walked heavily into the kitchen. “You want any 
breakfast before we leave?” 

“Maybe when we come back.” 

“...All right then,” said Uncle David. “When we come back...” 

*** 

The clouds were thick and gray as usual, and a very light sprinkle was
in the air. Uncle David walked Joseph down the sidewalk and through the 
neighborhood, as he usually did on his walks across the shore of the 
lake. It stopped sprinkling on their way. 

“Where are we going?” Joseph asked feeling a more sufficiently
energized. 

“I'll tell you in a bit,” Uncle David replied. 

Surely enough, Uncle David walked Joseph to the shore. From there they
took a long walk to Uncle David's personal harbor, while Joseph looked 
up across the sea-like lake with his hands in his jacket pockets. 

Uncle David's harbor wasn't at all big. Just a wooden pier across the
water with a motor boat docked at the side. Joseph looked at the boat 
and out over the lake. “Are we going out in the water?” he asked. 

Uncle David looked over and nodded. He then pointed out to a small,
remote island, barely visible behind the mist. “We're going over 
there,” he said, as if he was trying to keep a secret. “I've sort 
of...made a friend for you.” 

Joseph gave a look of confusion behind his grief. 

“You'll understand when we get there,” continued Uncle David 

Joseph climbed into the boat and Uncle David sent them out into the
lake. 

Uncle David's eyes were fixed on the island, while Joseph kept shivering
and keeping his arm's warm in his jacket sleeves. Slowly, through the 
cold wind, Joseph watched as the island grew closer and closer. 

On their way, Uncle David looked over his shoulder at Joseph. “Now,
Joseph,” he said, “You shouldn't tell anyone about the place I'm taking 
you.” 

Joseph looked up, his fair blonde hair blowing in the breeze. “Why not?”
he asked. 

“It's a reserve, for something important,” he said. 

Joseph didn't quite understand what he was talking about, but he said
nothing more. He just watched as the island drew closer as their boat 
bobbed up and down against the waves. 

Then, to Joseph's surprise, their boat came up to a wire gate hanging
from piers rising out of the water. Joseph looked out as far as he 
could see. The net seemed to surround the whole island. Uncle David 
stopped the boat at some kind of gate, and pulled out a key from his 
pocket. 

It was then that Joseph looked up and found a “No Trespassing” sign. He
looked back up at his uncle. “Uncle David, the sign says, ‘No 
Trespassing,” he said. 

“It's okay,” said Uncle David. “I come here every month. It's where I
work.” He opened the gate and their boat passed through. Joseph was 
puzzled as they drew closer. The island looked like an enormous, solid 
rock in the middle of the lake, but as they drew quite close, he could 
make out a cove in its side, which appeared to be their bound 
destination. The boat drifted toward the cove, and with careful 
maneuvering, Uncle David docked there, and tied the boat to a jetting 
rock. 

Joseph looked inside the cove. There wasn't much inside that he could
see. It was dark inside, and wind blew out from it, making howling 
sounds. There was hardly any dry ground from which to enter it either. 

“I don't understand, Uncle David,” Joseph said. 

“You will. This cove leads to a long cave that goes into the center of
the rock. There's no dry floor for some ways into the cave, so you 
might want to take off your shoes,” he said, removing his own. Joseph 
carefully climbed out of the boat barefoot into icy water that reach up 
to his shins, and boldly followed his uncle into the cleft. Sometimes 
the rocks were sharp under his feet, and the cold water numbed them. As 
they walked farther in, Joseph realized that they would go into a 
clearing of the caverns into the light of day, and then back into the 
darkness of the caves. 

“Who lives here?” Joseph asked. 

“There's a family of creatures that dwells here,” said Uncle David.
"They're just up ahead. Now, try to be quiet, and walk slowly.” 

Creatures, Joseph wondered? What kind? 

Joseph saw that they were turning a corner up ahead. He trod through the
water carefully, trying to see whatever was on the other side of the 
turn. 

Then Joseph saw them, gathered over the wet sandy floor in a shadowed,
wide ravine. Though he could still feel his grief, something about the 
sight of the creatures made him forget about it. The creatures were 
much unlike anything he'd seen before, and he gaped, unable to take his 
eyes off of them. 

Uncle David must have noticed his amazement, because he turned around,
smiled and put a finger to his lips, reminding him to be quiet. Joseph 
nodded. 

Uncle David continued to lead him until they came up on the sandy floor
to a quiet, undisturbed corner, where Joseph could get a much better 
view of them... 

They stood on two strong legs, with their heels up. They had strong,
heavy tails to support their upright bodies. From the looks of it, they 
stood nearly as tall as people, or maybe slightly taller. Their chests 
were stressed over their slim diaphragms. Their arms were thin and 
their hands were small and stubby. Their heads were shaped somewhat 
like the heads of sea horses, and two skin-covered horns grew the back 
of their heads and curled just slightly back, like a crest. They had, 
short, slimmed muzzles with small slits for nostrils. They had no fur, 
only skin, which was as white as snow and marvelously radiant. Nothing 
about them was sharp and rough, from the way they looked. 

“They're called, Raphamues,” said Uncle David, in the midst of Joseph's
awe. 

“Raphamues?” asked Joseph, turning to his uncle. 

“I work with them,” Uncle David continued. “They're very good with
people.” 

Joseph's eyes watched widely at the magnificent creatures. “What kind of
creatures are they?” he asked. 

“They're marsupials,” Uncle David replied. 

“Marsupials?” asked Joseph. 

“Mm, hmm. Just like kangaroos.” 

Joseph suddenly watched as a peculiarly white Raphamue walked closely
and quietly into view. Joseph felt an odd tugging at his heart-strings 
just by the mere sight of the creature. Excitement filled him and he 
kept very attentive. 

Uncle David crouched by him. “That one's name is Nirvana,” he said. “I
thought you two could get to know each other.” 

“W-what?!” Joseph exclaimed, looking up to him with surprised eyes.
Reluctance came over him. When Joseph looked back, he saw the creature 
turned its head and suddenly looked right at him. Joseph was moved and 
hesitant at the same time. The Raphamue watched him curiously with its 
dark, glossy eyes. 

“He sees you...” Uncle David commented. 

Joseph looked at his uncle, and his heart raced with excitement. He
wanted to ask him what to do. 

“Go on. Go up to him,” Uncle David said simply. Joseph turned and
swallowed, and nervously stood up and walked onto the sand. 

The other Raphamues turned to look at him, as if to say, “Look, a
person.” 

Nirvana did not look at all dangerous, but as Joseph got closer to him
he was still quite nervous, as he found he was only up to the 
creature's heart. Nirvana's eyes were beautifully dark and deep, and 
Joseph could see his reflection in them. 

Joseph watched as the creature cocked his head and looked like he wanted
a closer look at him. Joseph could see how careful and gentle he was, 
and he began to relax. The Raphamue took a careful step closer to him, 
and Joseph thought how gracefully he walked. The creature lowered his 
head and much Joseph's surprise gently laid it over his shoulder. 
“Woe!” Joseph exclaimed, trying to keep very still. His eyes turned 
bright and he smiled. 

“It's all right. He's making friends with you,” said Uncle David 

“Can I pet him?” asked Joseph. 

“You may. But be very gentle.” 

“I know,” said Joseph. He slowly lifted his arm and his fingers touched
the creature's chest. Nirvana only watched Joseph's arm and let him 
handle him. 

“Wow...” Joseph said, “His skin feels so soft...like the finest velvet
ever,” Joseph said. 

“Yes,” said Uncle David. “That helps them swim.” 

“They can swim?” asked Joseph, a little surprised. 

“Mm, hmm. Quite well,” said Uncle David. “They're the only marsupials
that can swim.” 

Joseph gently moved his hand up and down the creature's chest. The
Raphamue cued softly at his touch and began to walk carefully around 
him, curling his tail around him as he did so. Joseph laughed a little 
at it, and when Nirvana came in front of him again, Joseph reached up 
and petted him a little more. The Raphamue made another affectionate 
cueing sound. “He's sure likes to be petted,” Joseph said. 

“Yes,” said Uncle David. “Raphamue's are very affectionate creatures,
and they're very physical,” Uncle David said. “Nirvana especially likes 
having his belly rubbed.” 

Joseph carefully bent his knees, reached out with his hand to try it.
Nirvana must have realized what he was going to do, because he mewed 
pleasantly, gently laid down on his side and rolled on his back with 
his marsupial feet in the air. Joseph laughed a little in amazement, 
knelt down and gently stroked creature's soft, smooth tummy. The 
Raphamue cued, all the while gazing up at Joseph with his wide eyes. 
Every time Joseph looked at Nirvana's face he always found that he had 
the Raphamue's careful attention. 

“Wow,” Joseph said. “He looks right at me...just like he's human.” 

Uncle David smiled. “Yes,” he said. “There are many ways people and
Raphamues are alike. That's how they connect so well. They're very 
intelligent like us, they walk on two feet in much the same style that 
we do, and they make plenty of eye contact, and there are so many other 
ways we're alike. A Raphamue even has a belly-button just like people.” 


“It does?” asked Joseph, and after a moments searching he found it.
“Wow... They really do!” exclaimed Joseph as he stroked. “Gee, I 
thought only people had them...” 

“Raphamues also seem to have capabilities we humans don't have. They
live simple lives with no need for great expansion or growth, and they 
never hurt people, no matter how much people harm them. Also, there's 
just something about their complexion that has a strange power on human 
heart-strings that we cannot easily understand.” 

“When can I stop?” Joseph asked, still rubbing Nirvana's belly. 

“Whenever you please. He won't mind.” 

Joseph stopped petting the creature, and Nirvana turned on his side and
leaned upright, making several rapid smacking sounds with his tongue 
out of satisfaction. 

“How old is Nirvana?” asked Joseph. 

“Oh, about your age. I figured if you were going to keep him he should
be about as old as you.” 

“K-keep him?” Joseph asked, surprised, and elated. He looked up at the
creature, who cocked his head and gently swung his tail left and right 
in the air, like a pendulum. 

“Not as a mere pet, but as a companion who can help treat you,” Uncle
David said. Joseph looked back at Nirvana, who watched him attentively. 
My own Raphamue? thought Joseph, a light in his eyes. Joseph noticed 
how the creature looked directly into his eyes, and he swallowed, 
feeling a strange warmth from the creature's gaze. Joseph could almost 
feel the creature looking into his soul. The Raphamue's eyes were so 
full and so deep, so wise and so strong. Something about his gaze was 
familiar... Why, it's almost just the way my parents used to look at 
me, thought Joseph. 

Then Joseph, who had long been holding in his despairing emotions,
suddenly recalled what had happened to his parents. It happened to 
them. The men came and took them. He heard the gunshots. That was his 
last day he ever saw them. He would never see them again. The memories 
seemed so clear now, and it made him tremble with grief. Joseph looked 
back up at his Raphamue. Something in the look of Nirvana's deep eyes 
convinced Joseph that the creature suddenly knew what had happened as 
well. 

Joseph bowed his head and large, heavy tears suddenly spilt from his
eyes, and he choked and sobbed. His psyche had long been so full of 
pain and ills that it was nearly bursting, and now all the emotions 
were beginning to leak out. Joseph wasn't sure if he was crying because 
of his parent's tragedy, or because it was so wonderful to have a 
friend Raphamue after all his strife. He wished he could cry more, to 
make up for the years. 

The Raphamue whistled several times, and sensed all the stress that
Joseph had kept himself in. He leaned over and kissed his tears and 
rubbed heads with him, helping him to let it out, to open the flow. 
Joseph uttered and then ululated, half in grief, half in gratitude, 
until a dramatic thirst for consolation overcame him, and he wrapped 
his arms around the Raphamue and hugged him. Nirvana didn't even 
flinch, but seemed to know exactly what Joseph wanted... 

When Joseph was finally done, and emptied of heart-ills, he let go of
the Raphamue, and stared at the floor, drying his tears and smiling in 
quiet cheer. 

Uncle David walked closer onto the sand. “Good,” he said, approvingly.
“Now that he's yours now, you can change his name, if you like.” 

Joseph dried his eyes and smiled. “Me? Change his name? Well...I don't
know. How about...” he turned and saw his reflection in the watchful 
eyes of his new companion, wise, protective, and loving, and the name 
came to him. “...Raphael! That's what I'll call him...Raphael.” 

“Raphael. That's a nice name,” said Uncle David. “Now, I'm afraid we
can't take him home just yet. He's still nursing. Do you think you can 
wait another month or so?” 

Joseph looked up quickly at Raphael and thought a moment. “Well,” he
said, “yes. I guess so. But, if I ever...need him again, can we come 
back?” he asked. 

“Of course,” Uncle David heartily replied. “As often as you need to.” 

Joseph rose and said good-bye to Raphael, and he and his uncle went back
through the water cave. As they walked, Joseph looked back one last 
time, and saw his new friend looking back at him from across the wide 
chasm. Joseph smiled, and his eyes watered once again, happily. 

Uncle David led him through the narrow cleft and out onto the lake. How
bright and beautiful and white sunlight shone through the clouds. How 
deeply blue the sea-like lake. Brilliant seagulls called above their 
heads from their nests in the rocks. Joseph and his uncle put their 
shoes back on and started the boat. 

“So, you want any breakfast when we get home?” Uncle David asked. 

“Yeah. I'm starving!” Joseph replied. 

They made there way back home, and Joseph was quite able to enjoy it
indeed. 


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