Kris by J. J. Ruscella, Joseph Kenny Read Free Book Online

attentions.
    But Markus, Noel, and Jonas did. Their jealousy was obvious when they saw how Sarah affected me. And I knew they would do their best to make me look the fool and embarrass me before her. Noel glared at me from behind a stack of boards and tossed a chunk of wood onto a scrap pile in the corner.

    Over the coming months, I would continue with my tasks as Sarah came and went each day to steal a glance at projects I was struggling tomaster. She tried so hard to appear detached, as if she did not care what I was doing, but when I would look away or return to my work, she would sometimes sneak behind me to lightly tap me on the shoulder or brush past me when she left for home. Her playfulness made her all the more beautiful to me, but I could not easily release my guard and speak with her freely. I thought her so kind to take an interest in a broken soul like me. But she didn’t know the horrible things I had done. I was sure if she looked into my eyes she would discover the truth, so I maintained a distance, telling myself that any distraction would keep me from attaining my goals. But she kept coming, and, in secret, I took comfort in her presence.
    Gabriella, too, would watch us work from time to time, and on special days might bring us muffins or a plate of cookies to reward us for our efforts. The other boys would race to snatch as many cookies as they might, but I refused to fight them for the crumbs and pieces they would squabble over and stayed focused on my duties.
    One day, as Gabriella noticed this, she called me aside and handed me a small platter of frosted cookies all my own. Markus was jealous, envious that I received this special attention. Jonas smiled at me. We shared a similar status, and he understood how significant these small joys were. But Noel was furious in his resentment as I took a generous bite and proudly set the platter near my workbench. And how utterly aghast they all were when Sarah entered the room and I proffered her my plate.
    â€œWould you share these with me?”
    Sarah looked at me in surprise. I had never before spoken to her. In all this time, and under her subtle attentions, I had never said a word to her. She paused and looked at me to consider my offering.
    Somehow I found myself talking: “You brought me bread and honey. Now I would like to share with you.”
    Then Sarah smiled. Her eyes sparkled. She reached out and took the frosted cookie I was holding. She was supposed to take one of the cookies from the plate I held out to her. But as she grasped one side of the cookie, I held the other firmly, almost not knowing what to do, and neither of us released our hold. That awkward moment was one of the most wondrously embarrassing of my life. And when I finally snapped out of my delirium, watching her take a bite from the cookie was a fourteen-year-old boy’s dream.
    Marcus dropped a log on Noel’s foot, and his piercing howls made Sarah laugh. I had forgotten how lovely the sound of laughter could be.
    â€œYou don’t talk much,” was all she said as she turned to leave.

    There were always chores for us to do at the carpentry, and we stayed forever busy organizing supplies, cutting wood, sharpening tools, and cleaning up debris. Josef taught us to keep an orderly shop, to value hard work, and to dedicate ourselves to a job well done. He demanded that we put forth our best efforts at all times and increase our skills and productivity. The work was satisfying, and we were well looked after.
    I went about my duties each day in silence, though the other boys often bickered or taunted one another as they carried out their tasks. I did not have a need to talk and rarely spoke, as my thoughts were occupied by the projects I worked on and the objects I helped Josef create.
    One day, while I was sitting at a worktable eating a delicious and generous lunch that Gabriella had brought us, she surprised me as she placed a crisp, leather-bound journal near