Beat 88: The Greatest Euphemism
“The madam…?” Deirdre
asked. “You mean --?”
Sheila nodded
slowly. “My mom. He’s…he’s talking about my mom. Though I don’t really know what he’s getting
at here.”
“Worry not. Everything will become clear soon enough,”
said Lloyd. “Rest assured, she is as
much the key to your transformation as the concept of dreams. But in order to expound on either of them,
there’s a topic that we have to discuss at some length. One that’s been on my mind for quite some
time, even before her entry and departure from this audition room.”
“Wh-what’s that?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Child-rearing.”
For a second it looked
as if both the girls might fall right off the stage -- and if Deirdre hadn’t
been fused to said stage, she very well might have.
“My. That’s quite a reaction from a pair of ladies
that had aims to do something so scandalous,” Lloyd said as he stroked his
chin. “Could it be that in spite of all
your bluster, neither of you are quite ready to take that fateful plunge?”
“Don’t get smart with
me, boy!” Deirdre snapped.
He paused for a moment
to allow for outbursts, but received none -- just a look of acceptance from
Sheila, and a look of apprehension from Deirdre. “Unfortunately, there are a number of vital
points the two of you are glossing over for the sake of your goal. The first: I have a strong suspicion that
neither of you have put much thought into the ramifications of giving birth to
children of your own. Do either of you
have a plan for what happens after the birth of your first hypothetical
child? Do either of you have a plan for
what happens before the birth?” His brow tightened. “To build and nurture a family is an arduous
task indeed, but a rewarding one all the same.
Yet, if you were to consider having a child merely for the sake of your
own satisfaction…I’m afraid that the two of you would be some of the worst people
imaginable.”
Sheila yelped softly,
and turned her head away. Deirdre folded
her arms and looked in the opposite direction, still tense, but with a slightly
softer gaze.
“…Well, it’s fortunate
that we’re only dealing with theory, not practice,” Lloyd said with a quick
laugh. “But the second point I have
still stands. From what I can gather,
your intention is to have a child so that you can stand on -- and eventually
surpass -- the same plateau as Madam O’Leary.
In your eyes, to become a mother is the ultimate state of being. And while I wouldn’t discount such a noble
profession so recklessly, there’s a fatal flaw in that mindset.” He held up a finger. “The assumption is that by doing precisely
what your mother has already done, you’ll be able to equal and supersede
her. A hasty -- and ultimately wrong --
conclusion. The act is simple enough;
the quality is what will decide it…and I suspect that as you are, neither of you
can do as fine a job as the madam has done for you. It’s a testament to the bond that you share
with her, and the respect inlaid within; at the same time, it’s a mindset
that’s crippled and limited you. It’s
left you -- both of you -- unable to see the possibilities that exist all
around you.”
“Possibilities?” Sheila
asked. “So what do you want us to
do? What can we do?”
“Unite with your other
half, and begin your life -- the adventure of merely facing each day -- in
earnest.”
“Th-that’s…I’m sorry,
but I just don’t think it’s an option.”
“She’s got that right,”
said Deirdre. “It’s impossible. There’s no way for us to do it.”
And once more, they try to have this argument spin in circles,
Lloyd thought with a sigh. “Then let me
ask the two of you something: why?”
“Why?”
“Yes, why? What makes you think that it’s so impossible
for the two of you to reconcile? For the
longest, the two of you have been demanding that I offer up proof, if not
telling me outright that I’m wrong. So
where, exactly is YOUR proof? Can either
of you conclusively explain just why exactly you haven’t been able to work
together? Can either of you give
decisive evidence that shows your cooperation in the world at large -- your
pursuit of a new life -- is nothing more than a dying man’s dream?”
“W-well, I…I, uh…” Deirdre tightened her arms’ grip around her
body. “Th-there’s gotta be
something! I just can’t think of it
yet!”
“I can,” said
Sheila. “It’s because everything up to
this point hasn’t worked out too well for me.
It’s like no matter what I do or how hard I try, I always end up being
the loser. The butt of everyone’s joke.”
Rather than deny her
outright, Lloyd merely gave her a nod.
“And what exactly have you done, Miss O’Leary? How hard have you tried?”
“I -- I, um…th-there
was this one time when I…uh…” She shook
her head rapidly, sending her braids bouncing across her face. “N-n-never mind.”
“So up to this point,
it’s as if you’ve never tried at all,” said Lloyd. “I see.
Regrettable, but viable nonetheless.
With that said, it’s only natural that a change is enacted. It’s a change that the two of you, working in
tandem, can bring about…and more importantly, a change that I intend to help
you with.”
“How are you gonna do
that?”
“With a pledge. To help you here, and to help you elsewhere. I believe that collectively, the two of you
have the ability to do what I could never hope to do, if only you break out of
this cycle that binds you so.” He
offered Sheila a hand. “I’ve seen your
raw talent, and know your inlaid gentility -- that kindhearted temperance that
belies the resolve and strength you’ve hidden.”
And he offered Deirdre a hand.
“And I’ve seen your overwhelming force of will -- that strength personified,
with a level of creativity and cleverness -- and of course, courage -- that can
make any dream a reality.”
He pressed his palms
together. “It may be true that neither
of you have a dream, and it may be true that both of you have been
wronged. And it’s certainly true that
the world can be a harsh and oppressive place.
But you both have the power needed to overcome it. You have the potential to surpass any trial
that comes your way, and any rival that would dare to shame you. You can become the greatest of all. You can overcome the past -- and the mother
-- that made you the women that you are now.
Working as one, the two of you can sow the seeds that will one day beautify
the land; yet even at this very moment, you are the flowers that bloom and entice
by way of your mere presence. As such…”
He took a few steps
backward, and bowed deeply. “I consider
it a great honor to be in your presence.
And I would ask -- if not beg -- that I can continue to be a presence in
your lives. Not just as a would-be
father. Not just as a counselor, or some
sort of life coach. Not even as a mere
friend.” Lloyd raised his head and
smiled. “I wish to be a part of you.”
“O-of who?” Sheila
asked.
“Of both of you. You are one and the same, but if this venture
has been any indication, you’re both in need of aid.” He laughed to himself. “I suppose the same could be said of all men
and women -- including myself. So I want
to take a genuine, undisputable step toward lending my aid. If you have a problem, I’ll help you. If you fall to fear, I’ll help you. If you desire for the sake of your dream,
I’ll help you. If for some reason there
is ever -- ever a reason for you to
despair, then I will be there.” He shook
his head. “No. I won’t just be there if you call on me. I will always
be there for you, by your side, in body or in spirit.”
“You really mean that?”
Deirdre asked.
“Of course. Wherever a hole may appear, it’s my duty to
fill it with all that I have -- with the passion that drives me so.”
Deirdre sighed, and
pressed a hand to her forehead. “That
sounded surprisingly sexual.”
“Eh? It did?”
Deirdre just kept
shaking her head -- but as she did, a smile stretched across her face. “Heh heh…it seems like no matter what I do, I
can’t get you to shut up. That mouth of
yours is all you’ve got…but I guess right now, that’s the only weapon you
need.” She broke into a fit of quiet
laughter, and after a half-minute of easy chuckles she sighed and looked down
at Lloyd. “I just can’t win against you,
can I? If I even try it, we’ll just end
up going around in circles all over again.
And honestly? The same old, same
old just doesn’t have the allure that it used to.”
“Miss O’Leary --”
Deirdre nodded and
threw up her hands. “I admit
defeat. I guess I’d better, before this
thing goes on for another half-century.”
She peeked at Sheila from the corner of her eye. “So, what does my other half think?”
“I…I…” Sheila clasped her hands tightly and pursed
her lips. “I -- I just don’t understand
you.”
“What is there to
understand?” Lloyd asked.
“It doesn’t make any
sense. Why would anyone…why would you try so hard to help me? I’m nobody…I’ve caused so much trouble…I’ve
made so many mistakes…” She sniffled --
and in spite of her best efforts, she couldn’t hide her tears from Lloyd. “I-I’m sorry.
It’s just…I-I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before.”
“I’d recommend you get
used to it then. I’ll be showing you
plenty of new experiences in the future.”
“But why? I just -- I just can’t figure it out. Why would you go so far for me?”
She shook her head slowly. “I’m
nothing special to you. I barely even
know you. I…I don’t even love you.”
Lloyd’s eyes widened at
the sentiment -- but before he could say anything rash, he just hung his head
and laughed curtly. “Of course you
don’t. It would be outright silly for
you to fall in love with me, wouldn’t it?”
He pressed a palm to his face -- and after brushing aside a few bangs,
he looked back to her with a weary smile.
“I don’t do what I do just to earn favor. You have a heart, Miss O’Leary
-- and it’s my duty to mend it however I can, whenever I can. That’s what I live for…and I ask for just one
thing in return.”
“What?”
“Become all that you
can be. Let the world hear the roar of
your beating heart -- and with that heart, change the world.”
The audition room went
silent. Lloyd could see Sheila trying --
and failing -- to come up with any words; for what purpose, he couldn’t begin
to guess. Deirdre stood in place, arms
folded and a casual smirk across her face.
Sheila fidgeted, with her shoulders raised and quivering, and her brow
tightened almost to its breaking point. And
of course, Lloyd hadn’t forgotten about their stars. One half-filled star for the both of them,
even after all he’d done. Had he done
enough? Had he done anything?
He didn’t have to wait
long for an answer.
Sheila dropped her
hands and sighed, and stared blankly at the ceiling. “Deirdre.
Let’s combine.”
TO BE HEARTINUED…
No comments:
Post a Comment