AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“In your life you have waited for things to happen at the right time. And they always have. Turn on your back.”
“Where is it going?”
“Above your pec. That is where he will live.”
He begins to draw a shape I can’t identify at first. But I’m not going to ask.
“There is deep spiritual meaning attached to animal tattoos. They tell of our personal journeys.”
“So what kind of animal am I getting? A lion? Or a tiger?”
“The ancestors are sending you a turtle. Not a tortoise. That is strictly a land animal. The turtle moves between land and water.”
“Oh. It looks so cool already, Alek,” I assure him.
“The turtle is strength and stamina. Its shell protects them from predators. It represents a lengthy life span, but is a link between this life and the next. Your ancestors are standing with you now, as you discover your destiny.”
Discover his destiny? Am I part of that? Big Lucky begins the tap tap tap of the moli, to the cadence of a heartbeat. The sound has a certain beauty to it. My man is being brave, but I see his jaw tighten every so often. Poor guy. After a few minutes a tear runs out the corner of his eye and streams down the side of his face.
“You crying, bruddah?” a high Oscar asks.
“Don’t be an asshole. It’s making my eyes water.”
Big Lucky pays them no mind. He just tap, tap, taps.
Chapter 17
ALEK
“She’s still in surgery.”
“Call me when she’s in recovery,” Mak says. “Has Noa been there?”
“He’s making rounds. Lani is here.”
“That’s nice. He’s a good guy, huh?”
“Yeah. Wait. Noa’s coming. Call you later.”
Seeing my younger brother walk the halls of the hospital is like watching the opening of some medical television series, where all the characters are attractive and they all want to fuck each other between emergencies.
I see the looks he gets. And gives. The nurses, some doctors, once in a while a healthier patient trailing an IV pole. And it is not just the ladies. He would be some gay guy’s wet dream. Buff, good dresser, a dry wit. Not interested in the states of matrimony or monogamy. Not anymore. Whenever I call him a whore, he agrees. Surprised he didn’t go into gynecology. That would have cut out the middleman. Fortunately, he chose Pediatric Orthopedics.
“Hi.”
His eyes settle on Lani, the only other person in the family waiting room. We get up, anticipating an update.
“This is Lani,” I say. “My brother, Noa.”
“Good to meet you, Lani. You’re the man, I hear.”
“Well, if you heard it from your mother, that makes me happy.”
“I did. She said good things about you.”
“And she talks with pride about her son, the doctor. Have you heard any news? Pardon me for asking, Alek, but I’m worried.”
Did his voice just break? Are those tears I see gathering? Noa notices too. He puts a hand on his shoulder and pats it like he’s comforting a child.
