Whispering
”…And don’t come back without the pastries! Idiot!”
He shouted at the door and when the young man was satisfied his tall shop guardian wasn’t coming back anytime soon, he began to tidy up the counter, but it was quickly done. It had been a quiet yet ordinary day in this little antiquarian bookstore and he had already locked the front door a while earlier. He didn’t expext any late customers and all the shipments for today were supposed to be delivered, so it was alright to close the store a little early, right?
Indeed. Henry could barely contain himself as he had waited for thw whole day for this moment. Apart from books, he had a habit of collecting stuff; little knicknacks, trinkets, pretty stones et cetera, but he was especially fond of his old gramofone. He had been a sick child, often bedridden due to his poor health, thus music and books had been his only friends. He did like dogs, though, and he had had a small dandie dinmont terrier called Lucky when he had been a kid. Lucky was now long gone, but he had fond memories of the old pooch, who had had a habit of sitting in the end of his bed when they would listen the records together. Or read books like Robinson Crusoe and Three Musketeers. Lucky had been the best sidekick ever, but in some way Henry was bittersweetly glad that the dog had passed away due to old age before he had moved across the pond.
He didn’t even like pastries, now that he thought about it. He had always been quite indifferent towards them, but it was a handy excuse to get Aaron out of the shop for at least half an hour, possibly longer, if the man would get lost along the way. He probably would, now that Henry thought about it. Oh well. A small evening stroll would only do good for the tall man, Henry was concerned that all day either sitting or standing still would make Aaron’s muscles to shrink. Some fresh air, so the man would sleep well.
Henry took out the brown manila envelope and opened it carefully with a paper knife, because he didn’t want to damage the contents. Then he carefully slipped out the record sleeve he had ordered from a nearby store and which had been delivered to him by an errand boy earlier today. Aaron had been so curious about it, but Henry had not revealed what had been inside the package, because the blond man would have wanted to listen the record with him, surely, but Henry wanted to preserve the joy of the first time for only his ears And perhaps also because he was a little embarassed. Usually he played jazz or old opera arias, so this was something quite else. It had been his sisters’ favourite song for a while and the record had been played back at home so much that it had eventually been ruined. Henry had always thought he hated that god-awful sappy American song, but now it had been stuck in his head in repeat for two whole weeks and to get it out of his system he had had to give up and order the bloody record to himself.
Henry sighed a bit, walked to his favourite armchair, which was next to the gramofone and made sure everything was ready for a nice listening session. Then he carefully lifted the gramofone needle on its place and the song began to play.
”Honey, I have something to tell you
And it's worthwhile listening to
Put your little head on my shoulder
So that I can whisper to you”
Yes, it was exatly as he remembered. Overly sweet, sappy, saturated-in-honey kind of sweet and awful song. But for God’s sake it was catchy, he just couldn’t sit still. Well, It was just as good time as any to dust the bookshelves, so he fetched the feather duster and began to dust the old books.
”Whispering while you cuddle near me
Whispering so no one here can hear me
Each little whisper seems to cheer me
I know it's true, there's no one, dear, but you”
Henry didn’t notice how he was humming and eventually began to sang along:
”You're whispering why you'll never leave me
Whispering why you'll never grieve me
Whisper and say that you believe me
Whisper that I love but you”
What if Aaron wouldn’t find way back home? The big man was built like an ox, but he surely lacked the sense of direction. Should he go after the man? Or maybe call the bakery and ask them to tell Aaron to wait for him, so he would come and get him back home safely? What if something would happen along the way? What if he would get into a fight -he might have built like a wild beast, but those strong, muscular arms and broad shoulders were more of an intimidation tactic than for real use, at least in Henry’s mind, because the bloody tank of a man was so so soft and mellow that he would easily get beaten up by a gang of teenagers, because he wouldn’t hurt a fly! Someone had to be the strong one here and Henry knew it was his call. He was already going to get his jacket, but stopped midway.
You’re an idiot! He can surely take care of himself! He’s a grown up man and what good are you anyway, you’re basically just a small sack of potatoes and have the strenght of an old barn cat at the death’s door.
Well, yes, but… he… didn’t want Aaron to get hurt. The man was, basically, if not yet his only friend, then maybe his only closer acquintance here in the Land of the Free. He didn’t want anyone hurting the gentle giant, the blond would get his skin all bruised and scratched an then he would need to take care of his wounds, as was his duty as the official landlord – Aaron didn’t really pay rent in money, but acted as a security in exhange, sleeping in the backroom of the Bookstore. But did landlord usually dance around their property, singing lovesongs and thinking about their tenants?
Blush crept on his pale cheeks and Henry let out an angry, embarassed huff, throwing the feather duster as far as he could. It ended up getting stuck on the highest shelf of the nearest bookshelf. That was Aaron’s fault too, Henry thought and fumed. The man should fetch it for him when he would get back from the bakery. Bloody idiot.
He shouted at the door and when the young man was satisfied his tall shop guardian wasn’t coming back anytime soon, he began to tidy up the counter, but it was quickly done. It had been a quiet yet ordinary day in this little antiquarian bookstore and he had already locked the front door a while earlier. He didn’t expext any late customers and all the shipments for today were supposed to be delivered, so it was alright to close the store a little early, right?
Indeed. Henry could barely contain himself as he had waited for thw whole day for this moment. Apart from books, he had a habit of collecting stuff; little knicknacks, trinkets, pretty stones et cetera, but he was especially fond of his old gramofone. He had been a sick child, often bedridden due to his poor health, thus music and books had been his only friends. He did like dogs, though, and he had had a small dandie dinmont terrier called Lucky when he had been a kid. Lucky was now long gone, but he had fond memories of the old pooch, who had had a habit of sitting in the end of his bed when they would listen the records together. Or read books like Robinson Crusoe and Three Musketeers. Lucky had been the best sidekick ever, but in some way Henry was bittersweetly glad that the dog had passed away due to old age before he had moved across the pond.
He didn’t even like pastries, now that he thought about it. He had always been quite indifferent towards them, but it was a handy excuse to get Aaron out of the shop for at least half an hour, possibly longer, if the man would get lost along the way. He probably would, now that Henry thought about it. Oh well. A small evening stroll would only do good for the tall man, Henry was concerned that all day either sitting or standing still would make Aaron’s muscles to shrink. Some fresh air, so the man would sleep well.
Henry took out the brown manila envelope and opened it carefully with a paper knife, because he didn’t want to damage the contents. Then he carefully slipped out the record sleeve he had ordered from a nearby store and which had been delivered to him by an errand boy earlier today. Aaron had been so curious about it, but Henry had not revealed what had been inside the package, because the blond man would have wanted to listen the record with him, surely, but Henry wanted to preserve the joy of the first time for only his ears And perhaps also because he was a little embarassed. Usually he played jazz or old opera arias, so this was something quite else. It had been his sisters’ favourite song for a while and the record had been played back at home so much that it had eventually been ruined. Henry had always thought he hated that god-awful sappy American song, but now it had been stuck in his head in repeat for two whole weeks and to get it out of his system he had had to give up and order the bloody record to himself.
Henry sighed a bit, walked to his favourite armchair, which was next to the gramofone and made sure everything was ready for a nice listening session. Then he carefully lifted the gramofone needle on its place and the song began to play.
”Honey, I have something to tell you
And it's worthwhile listening to
Put your little head on my shoulder
So that I can whisper to you”
Yes, it was exatly as he remembered. Overly sweet, sappy, saturated-in-honey kind of sweet and awful song. But for God’s sake it was catchy, he just couldn’t sit still. Well, It was just as good time as any to dust the bookshelves, so he fetched the feather duster and began to dust the old books.
”Whispering while you cuddle near me
Whispering so no one here can hear me
Each little whisper seems to cheer me
I know it's true, there's no one, dear, but you”
Henry didn’t notice how he was humming and eventually began to sang along:
”You're whispering why you'll never leave me
Whispering why you'll never grieve me
Whisper and say that you believe me
Whisper that I love but you”
What if Aaron wouldn’t find way back home? The big man was built like an ox, but he surely lacked the sense of direction. Should he go after the man? Or maybe call the bakery and ask them to tell Aaron to wait for him, so he would come and get him back home safely? What if something would happen along the way? What if he would get into a fight -he might have built like a wild beast, but those strong, muscular arms and broad shoulders were more of an intimidation tactic than for real use, at least in Henry’s mind, because the bloody tank of a man was so so soft and mellow that he would easily get beaten up by a gang of teenagers, because he wouldn’t hurt a fly! Someone had to be the strong one here and Henry knew it was his call. He was already going to get his jacket, but stopped midway.
You’re an idiot! He can surely take care of himself! He’s a grown up man and what good are you anyway, you’re basically just a small sack of potatoes and have the strenght of an old barn cat at the death’s door.
Well, yes, but… he… didn’t want Aaron to get hurt. The man was, basically, if not yet his only friend, then maybe his only closer acquintance here in the Land of the Free. He didn’t want anyone hurting the gentle giant, the blond would get his skin all bruised and scratched an then he would need to take care of his wounds, as was his duty as the official landlord – Aaron didn’t really pay rent in money, but acted as a security in exhange, sleeping in the backroom of the Bookstore. But did landlord usually dance around their property, singing lovesongs and thinking about their tenants?
Blush crept on his pale cheeks and Henry let out an angry, embarassed huff, throwing the feather duster as far as he could. It ended up getting stuck on the highest shelf of the nearest bookshelf. That was Aaron’s fault too, Henry thought and fumed. The man should fetch it for him when he would get back from the bakery. Bloody idiot.
The song mentioned int he text is called "Whispering" by John Steel, recorded in the year 1920. here is the link to the song in question.
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