I was our Gypsy Leader 1 - My reincarnated Soul Mate - 10. Chapter 10. Getting used to seeing a badly burnt boy.

Trying to take revenge on my boy who had teased me with being absent-minded, I just grabbed his waist and tossed him onto my bed... For a split second, he seemed to feel disorientated, while his bright blue eyes pierced deeply into mine as if looking for any signs of anger. Then, he felt the wobbling waterbed! Quickly, he clambered upright and started to bounce up and down with all of his might. Throwing himself at the wobbles, his deep baritone voice shouted:

"Yippee, you have a WATER bed!"

Still trying to get even with my boy's teasing, I warned him:

"Don't punch a hole in the water so that the bed starts leaking..."

At hearing my cryptic warning, my boy fell quiet, as if he had to think my words over first. After a moment of pondering, he also left the wobbly waterbed and started to look it over for any visible leaks. When he still couldn't find anything wet or broken, his by now very tiny sounding deep baritone voice asked me:

"Is this for real, or are you pulling my leg?"

Chuckling triumphantly, I told him:

"Of course not, silly. I am only teasing you; because this waterbed can easily carry at least two elephants without leaking!"

Chuckling back, my insolent imp concluded:

"I think that YOU are such a leaky elephant!"

Again, he started to test the waterbed, by jumping up and down as high as he could. His over-enthusiastic jumps and funny pranks were a joyful sight, so that I enjoyed myself immensely watching his again beaming face and brightly sparkling blue eyes. Although he had been around me for less than an hour, I was already starting to love my so spontaneous little Gypsy friend more and more, while he was working his way even deeper into my heart! Still enjoying his happy pranks and funny antics, I sat down on a corner of my wobbling waterbed and waited until he would get too tired and wind down.

Finally, my boy seemed to feel satisfied. After performing his last jump on the wobbling bed, he sprang towards me and trustingly threw himself onto my lap. Whilst heaving deep sighs of utmost content, he tried to melt away even more into my safely enveloping arms...

Gently, I pulled him even closer against my chest, whilst realizing that I more and more started to enjoy being the new 'Big Friend' of this extremely special child! Surprisingly, all my former qualms about not being able to raise him had already faded away. From now on, I would do everything I could to be there for my little soul mate who so totally and trustfully committed himself to me. I absolutely hoped that 'Cee Pee Es' would allow me to keep him forever!

For quite some time, my boy and I cuddled whilst basking in each other's close togetherness and our mutual love that also was growing by leaps and bounds. Now and then, I kissed the top of his blond head, which made him try to melt into my arms even deeper. That is, until he started to produce another series of heartfelt yawns, so that I thought now would be an excellent time to put him to bed. After again kissing the top of his unruly blond hair, I asked him:

"Shall I bring you to bed now?"

Showing me a happy smile, my boy trustfully lifted his arms into the air, as if wanting ME to undress him. Feeling elated, I helped him shuck his shirt, as I had done with my little daughters so many times before, while blissful memories showed up in my mind of my girls being in their carefree youth full of joy and happiness. How I wished I would be able to give my little soul mate the same carefree youth that my own young daughters had, despite his so badly burnt face! All the time, my boy had a broad smile on his happy looking face, as if he enjoyed my help very much and life was good. After I had helped him with his shirt, he also hopped off my lap and onto the floor, from where he seemed to wait for me to unbuckle his trousers...

Suddenly, I started to feel unsure. My boy had already told me that he used to sleep naked, because his burns started to itch under too much pressure or in a too warm bed. Therefore, would he really want me to take off his underwear as well? Wouldn't that be extremely inappropriate, for somebody who was not related to him and who had known him for only a few hours? How would our Big Brother society react, if they ever heard of my undressing this tiny boy to nakedness? Wouldn't they feel very upset and perhaps even try to convict me, for performing 'improper behavior' with an 'unrelated minor'? Although I certainly didn't want to be convicted for their ungrounded beliefs; at the same time, I also didn't want to reject or disappoint my little soul mate who clearly trusted me absolutely and therefore also wanted me to help him with his undressing... Deciding that I needed to have my boy's explicit permission first, to play it safe, I asked him:

"Do you want me to take off your underwear as well?"

For a moment, my boy looked surprised, as if he didn't understand why I even bothered asking him such a superfluous question... Then, I sensed how he entered my mind and paged through my thoughts, as if wanting to comprehend what I was thinking. Wow, what a powerful little Shaman was he! Was this boy really only eight years old? After reading my thoughts, he first smiled apologetically, as if excusing himself for perhaps being too nosy... Then, he held his head a little bit askew, as if he could be listening to someone else. With a surprised sounding deep baritone voice, he explained:

"Jack is here, and he wants me to tell you to stop making yourself unsure, because nobody will ever know what we are doing in private. We only have to be very careful around other people, except for John who always knows everything about me; but John will never betray any of us, plus he will defend us with his own life if ever necessary! Besides, you didn't do anything with me that I didn't want you to do; and I've already told you that I'm always sleeping naked because my burns start itching under too much pressure or in a too warm bed. By the way, do you happen to have some soothing oil to rub it into my scars? Jack told me that my old bottle got lost forever..."

Involuntarily feeling relieved now that even our Spirit Guide, Jack, told me to stop making myself unsure, I just smiled at my so powerful little Shaman who happily smiled back at me. What a truly special child was he! Regarding his question about some soothing oil, I first thought for a second before I hesitatingly answered:

"Well, I'm not sure. Will a few drops of massage oil do?"

"I don't know, because my doctors never used any massage oil on my scars. Will you wash it off if it makes the itching worse?"

"I promise, but let's try out my oil on a smaller scar first."

This time without being unsure, I unbuckled my boy's blue jeans and slid them down his legs, together with his loose fitting underpants, while I tried not to look at his again totally naked body. Of course, I didn't want him, or Jack, to think I could be a 'dirty old man' lusting over little children... Then, I just couldn't help staring at all those scars and still growing strings of wild flesh that unfolded in front of my involuntarily peeking eyes. What a terrible mess, and this was on a human being that should have been perfect and beautiful... Again, I nearly started to cry from my shocked emotions, although this time also from feeling angry and totally helpless.

Why, for heaven's sake, had life been so extremely harsh to such an innocent child? Or, could my old Shaman have been right with his ancient Indian belief that everybody always has to make up for any bad things they once did? According to the so-called 'Law of Karma' that tells us 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth', we always have to undergo the same things, not as punishment, but to develop more Compassion and Real Love for our former 'victims'... At that time, I didn't believe the old Shaman and thought that he only explained his ancient Indian belief to me. But, later on in my life, I found out that almost every other religion in the world also believes in at least some form of punishment or redemption for our formerly committed sins! However, what kind of 'committed sin' could demand such a harsh punishment? Involuntarily, I got tears in my eyes...

Again, I sensed how my little Shaman entered my mind and read my thoughts, this time because he wanted to know why I got tears in my eyes. Then, he looked up at me and stared deeply into my eyes, while his blue orbs filled with more and more love and compassion. Finally, he just put his small arms around my waist and hugged me. Obviously, after reading my sad thoughts, he also wanted to help me feel better, just like his bigger brother John had done the other day. After hugging me fiercely, he took a couple of steps backwards and slowly started to turn around. Whilst looking at me with his still very understandingly looking bright blue orbs, he told me:

"I know that my burns and scars can have such an effect on people, even on my doctors and nurses in the hospital. Could you please start taking a really good look at all those burns and scars, so that you get used to seeing them? Then, please, try to understand that the REAL Harry is not this body, but I am only temporarily living in it; and then never pity me again, because the REAL Harry is NOT a cripple!"

For quite some time, my boy just continued to turn around, to let me take a really good look at all those ugly burns and scars, as seen from every possible position... Again, I could sense his astonishing maturity, next to a huge amount of Inner Pride in his proud demeanor, as if this tiny child could be a little Aristocrat! Was this so extremely mature boy only eight years old? What an astonishing insight did my boy have in who he really was, for such a small child. Had I ever been afraid I would not be able to raise HIM? I was now sure that my boy would be able to raise ME, easily and effortlessly, and he certainly would perform a more than excellent job! Whilst doing as he told me, I also started to think over what my brave little soldier had told me, about the REAL Harry being NOT a 'cripple'...

Suddenly, I choked up and started to cry uncontrollably, and again I couldn't help it. As in a blur, I saw my so extremely mature little friend slowly turning around and around, whilst trustingly showing me every single detail of his badly burnt little body with all those ugly scars and all those still growing strings of wild flesh. Even his little pecker looked reddish and crumpled, as if also damaged by the fire. Would this poor boy ever be able to marry and make his own children, or would he remain single as a 'cripple' for the remainder of his life? Again, I decided to do everything that I could, to help him...

At last, I took a couple of deep breaths and then forcefully pulled myself together, because I wanted to be strong for my boy. Of course, he was right, and I HAD to get used to seeing his so badly burnt body as soon as possible! Overflowing with pure love and compassion for my so special little friend, I refolded my arms around his tiny frame and gently pulled him back onto my lap and into my arms.

Without any hesitancy, my naked boy just returned onto my lap and again tried to melt away into my enveloping arms, whilst heaving several deep sighs of utmost content. Again, he opened up completely, to let me read his inside like an open book! This time, I could sense him leaving even the last traces of his old fears, while at the same time establishing an unbreakable bond with me. From now on, he and I would always be friends forever; and, for the remainder of our lives, he would be totally devoted to me, his new 'Big Friend' who once had been his 'Beloved Gypsy Monarch Harold the Great', next to being his former 'trapper Dad'. Working closely together, nobody would ever be able to separate us from each other, not even our so meddlesome 'society'; and my inside was now sure that this also included John!

Feeling an intense gratitude, I again got tears in my eyes, although this time from pure joy and sheer happiness, while I continued to cuddle my again yawning little namesake; until he started to yawn too much and nearly fell asleep on my lap. Then, he woke up some and sat upright, whilst looking at my again teary eyes. Without saying a word, he slid of my lap, trotted towards my 'lost' packet of tissues on my nightstand, and adeptly opened it. Carrying several tissues, he returned to me and just climbed back onto my lap. Whilst wiping my still dripping tears away, he gently admonished me:

"Now stop crying and only enjoy my pleasant company!"

Again, I saw my boy's extremely proud aura of pure Nobility, as if this tiny Gypsy child also was of Royal Heritage. He could easily be a little Prince who was used to giving orders to his subjects!

Involuntarily, I started to laugh, because my boy had already taken the next tissue and this time even tried to let me blow my nose in it! Smilingly, I took the tissue out of his hands and blew my own nose, while my boy started to yawn again. Obviously, next to being a proud 'Gypsy Prince' who helped a crying subject, he also was a sleepy little boy who still had to resume his interrupted sleep!

Carrying my boy to bed made me think of another important thing. Could I just take his burnt frame into my arms and carry him towards his folding bed; or had I to be more careful with touching his reddish scars and all those strings of still growing wild flesh? Hesitatingly, I touched a fat string of wild flesh on my boy's right hip; but he didn't even flinch and only yawned again. Because I wanted to be absolutely sure before I lifted him into my arms, I first asked him:

"When, or where, do I have to be careful with your burns, or with any of those fat strings of still growing wild flesh?"

Whilst yawning again, my brave little soldier explained:

"Most of the time, touching my burns only tickles a little bit, but my burnt skin starts hurting seriously when it becomes too tight. Then, I have to go back to the hospital, where my doctors will again loosen some too tight skin and also remove any excessive wild flesh. The last time, after I asked them about still feeling all the important sensations like pain, touch, hot, and cold, unlike most other burnt victims; they explained that I am extremely lucky because, under my burns, all my important nerves are still intact, because somebody found me just in time and immediately started turning me around and around in some dewed and therefore already cold and wet grass! Then, Jack told me that he suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, couldn't sleep anymore, and therefore he went outside to take a walk and a breath of fresh air, before going back to bed. Immediately when he saw our burning caravan, he raced towards it and rescued me just in time, by rolling me around in lots of wet grass to cool me off."

After another heartfelt yawn, my boy tried to continue:

"My burns start itching terribly if there is too much pressure on them, or when I am wearing too tight clothes or sleeping in a too warm bed. My doctor had prescribed some medical soothing oil, but the movers threw it away together with Jack's other possessions. But I am too sleepy now to tell you more. Therefore, could you please put me to bed now? Tomorrow, early in the morning, as soon as we are awake, I will try to tell you all the rest, for as far as I can."

Well, as my boy's responsible grownup, I should have thought of putting him to bed even before he started asking me for it! Although my little soul mate seemed to act extremely mature for such a young child, ultimately, he was still only a tiny boy, and I remembered from my own daughters that young kids always needed lots of sleep to stay healthy! Feeling all mushy and full of love for my again yawning boy who so totally and absolutely committed himself to me, I just lifted him off my lap and took him into my arms. Without thinking, I also put one hand under his unclad little bottom, to support his weight...

OOPS! Wouldn't touching this most private part of such a naked child be way too improper for an 'old man' who wasn't related to him in any way and had known him for only a few hours? However, my boy didn't even flinch and just let me do, probably because he was already used to being carried around like this. He only snuggled even closer against my chest and cozily pushed his head under my chin. Feeling reassured, I decided to leave my hand where it was, while I carried him into his own bedroom. After yawning again, my boy just crawled under the blankets and happily closed his eyes.

Only, I still had to look for my bottle of massage oil! Hurriedly, I trotted downstairs and dived into a few still halfway filled cardboard boxes. Fortunately, I found the small bottle within only a few seconds. Quickly, I returned into my boy's bedroom, with the bottle of massage oil in my hand and ready to anoint his itchy scars. However, my again yawning boy opened his eyes only a little bit while he mumbled:

"This bed isn't too warm, so I think I don't need the oil."

Smiling apologetically, he closed his eyes and almost immediately disappeared into dreamland... Again feeling full of love and all mushy inside, I tiptoed out of his room while leaving the door ajar. Although I didn't really believe in any Supreme Being, inwardly, I prayed that CPS would allow me to keep my boy for as long as he wanted to stay with me; and I also promised I would do everything that I could, to be a real 'Big Friend' to my softly snoring little soul mate who clearly still needed me, despite his astonishing maturity.

After returning in my bedroom, I first folded my boy's clothes and put them onto a chair. Tomorrow morning, my little neighbors would bring all his other possessions, and then John would help him and me with setting up his 'old' room. After they were ready, I wanted to take my boy downtown, to buy him new clothes if he needed any. I also wanted to buy him some nice looking furniture, to decorate his old bedroom. And I also needed to refill my almost empty refrigerator!

Still thinking and pondering, I shucked my clothes and entered my new bathroom, to take a warm shower before I went to bed. However, even after lots of trying, the light bulb over my head plainly refused to switch on! Feeling more and more irritated, also because I didn't know how to use my built-in shower enclosure in the pitch dark, I went downstairs, entered my kitchen, and again washed myself with cold water as I had already done before. Why hadn't I looked earlier at all those more or less important things in my newly bought house while there was still enough light? Tomorrow, next to finding a local supermarket and buying some much-needed food, I also had to ask a more technical person to repair the clearly defective light bulb!