365 Days (Part 1) | ✓

128. The Promise

128. The Promise: Write about a promise you've made to someone. Did you keep that promise?

Time and Eternity

10
Bebe stood for "Beatrice" -- and Beatrice hated both her name and her nickname. It was one of the first things she told Harry that day on the beach, in the golden year of 1946. "Harry," she said importantly. "If you call me by either name I will punch you." (She had already threatened to do so already, and had not, so maybe Harry thought he was safe.)

He smiled up at her and said, "Bebe."

He learned that day not to underestimate her, for she punched him and he fell back into their sandcastle. That was the beginning of Harry and Bebe and their love story.

"How dare you?" Bebe demanded. "I will hate you for all time."

"Time is relative," he had said, which he thought made him sound smart.

"Then I shall hate you for all eternity," Bebe said, and flounced off.

"All time and eternity!" he shouted after her.

*

20

He was a college student, pretending he belonged, and she was a college student, pretending she didn't belong. It was the first day of history class --Harry was into it. Then Bebe stood up, and he knew he was in for it. Of course he recognized her. He had promised her all time and eternity, hadn't he?

She had bright eyes, and looked just as fiesty and cute as she always had.

Of course Harry caught up with her after class. Of course he did. Of course he asked her if she knew him and of course she did. And when he asked her out to coffee -- why, of course she said yes.

*

30
There was no crying. There was no room for that. There was just blank staring at the wall and a face like granite, tortured into nonfeeling. And a man, dying by himself, a woman dying in herself, and a baby who simply died.

"Bebe?" was asked hesitantly.

No answer.

"I'm sorry."

A painful silence. It had been better when undisturbed by words.

"We lost another one, Harry."

"I know, Bebe, I know--"

She turned her eyes, positively burning with anguish, onto her husband's. "How many children have I killed now?"

"It's not your fault... a miscarriage..."

"So many," Bebe moaned.

"But, love, we still have Jean!" he said desperately. "One twin survived. Don't forget her."

"She will die, like the rest," Bebe said sorrowfully.

"She hasn't yet," Harry said.

Burning eyes met each other. Bebe nodded.

*

40
Colors: bright and happy and cheerful. They were also words that described the elementary school art room, looking at the different art. All of the kids of Jean's fifth grade class were excited to show their parents what they drew.