The Myth and The Guardian
Chapter 8

Summertime, the fresh smell of freedom is inhaled by students all around the world, and all of the eager young minds were off to various destinations to recover from the previous academic pressures. The jocks were off to indulge in excessive drinking and making a game out of sexual conquests, the rich ivy leaguers were off to other countries with friends and families, and the scholars of middle class families were preparing for months filled with mind numbing work to help with next year’s tuition. All were preparing for a change of venue except for the underage children of college professors who work until the last few weeks of summer.

Austin was preparing for a summer of learning what he wanted to learn to relax from the boredom of learning a curriculum, and Chris was determined to spend the summer with his new girlfriend, Samantha Harding. The Hardings were a socially acceptable family who exuded privilege as a result of their abundance of financial success. Frederick and Genevieve Harding were both successful real-estate tycoons, and Samantha was their pride and joy only child. She had been spoiled since birth, and it showed in every minute detail of her character. Chris met her through one of his friends during the last month of school and adored every spoiled bone in her body. Everyone was surprised to replace out that the attraction was mutual due to the fact that Samantha considered herself a princess, but Chris was proving to be her quintessential prince.

Austin and Chris settled into their normal routine of not speaking after Chris helped him cover his mistake with the picture. They did not see each other often because of Samantha, but it was more than her that kept them from bonding. Chris resurfaced the awkward tension from when he and Austin first met, but Austin could not figure out the reason behind it. Chris proved that he cared about him by helping him, but he suddenly began acting like Austin was an alien again. Austin tried starting up casual conversations with his brother, but Chris would answer quickly and try to replace an excuse to stop talking or leave the room. At first, Austin thought he might have done something to deserve the awkwardness, and he did not want to add to the tension by trying to force Chris to bond with him. Soon, He began to replay his actions towards Chris in his mind, and he could not see any reason Chris should feel uncomfortable around him. The entire situation was confusing, but Austin figured that everything would get better over time.

Although the awkward silence between he and Chris bothered Austin, he viewed the lack of time spent with his brother to be potentially lucky. Given the last event with his scar, he did not want another unexplainable moment to be another reason his brother did not want to be around him. Austin spent half of his free time alone, and the other half was spent at with the Wilsons. Joel had not mentioned the altercation he had with the Andersons, and he quickly changed the subject when Austin would try to discuss it. Austin wanted answers, but he would not try to force them out of anyone. He stood by his belief that the people who cared for him had good reason for keeping things from him. The only annoyance was him not being able to figure any of it out on his own. A strong part of him wanted to succeed at that challenge, but he did not know where to begin without any details pointing him in the right direction. Austin simply accepted the fact that he would know what he needed to know when the time was right.

The first few weeks of the summer were proving to be fun due to the freedom Austin enjoyed, but the boredom of not having to do anything eventually caught up with him. It appeared the first year of college made his mind accustomed to having goals and deadlines. He was soon left with nothing to do but converse with his family about trivial matters and think about life in general. The Wilson children, his play cousins, were eventually too preoccupied with pursuit of romance to spend much time with him. Austin could not be angry at them for wanting to be around people they enjoyed spending time with who were not basically family, but he did not understand the fascination with love and romance in the summer time. It was as if vacation from school sent pheromones and hormones into overdrive. Frank and Susan were even going out on dates when the Wilson’s or Chris would be around to look after him.

One night, while Frank and Susan were out having an entire day devoted to romantic activities for their anniversary, Austin had to stay with the Wilsons and be witness to an entire house of people in love. The day did not start out too boring as Austin played video games with Joseph and talked about random topics with Joel. Then, the entire Wilson home was overrun with quality time with significant others. Amy brought her new boyfriend to meet her family, Joseph’s girlfriend of six months was helping prepare dinner for the evening, and Austin caught Joel and Angela making out four times in two hours.

Next, the women decided to make it an eventful night by suggesting they all watch “Titanic” while the food was cooking. Austin was inside of a nightmare forty minutes into the movie as all of the couples were cuddling and kissing. There was even a point in the night when Austin wanted to point out how much the scene was becoming identical to the beginning of an orgy in hopes of creating awkward tension, but he decided not to be a thorn in the sides of the romantically elated and suffer through the evening in silence. By the time Austin had accepted that the night would be completely boring, his hopes were elevated by the doorbell.

“I’ll get it.” Austin said quickly seizing the chance to leave the room without anyone asking him questions.

He walked to the door and opened it hoping Frank and Susan were coming to announce they were finally home. Instead, Austin opened the door to replace Dr. Farmer and a woman he had never seen before in his life.

“Great, another couple to be around.” Austin thought to himself.

“Hello Austin, what are you doing here?” Dr. Farmer asked politely.

“Oh, Frank and Susan went out for their anniversary and asked Joel and the family to take care of me in their absence.” Austin replied.

“Well that’s great that your folks are so crazy about each other. A great marriage makes a very happy home.” Dr. Farmer replied in a soft voice which was obviously to impress the strange woman standing beside him.

“Yeah, well I do not think other college kids have to suffer the humiliation of having baby sitters while their parents rediscover the wooing rituals from their youth.” Austin said jokingly.

“Wow, how old are you?” The strange woman asked.

“Oh, James is this the boy you were telling me about?” She asked Dr. Farmer before Austin could answer her previous question.

“Yes, this is Austin, the boy genius at our university and hopefully a future student in one of my English courses because he would not dare study under another professor. Austin and I are close friends, right Austin?” Dr. Farmer said in a proud voice.

Austin considered the statement to contain only a small lie and agreed.

“Right, Dr. Farmer.” Austin agreed reluctantly.

“And to answer your question, I am believed to be around ten years old now. I do not really know my birth date Miss...” Austin said to the mystery woman.

“Franklin, Debra Franklin.” The woman replied picking up on the hint. “I am simply fascinated by you. From what James tells me, you are the smartest person he has ever met in his entire life.” The woman said in an excited voice. “My ten year old daughter is similar to you. Well she is the same age and has a gift for art. She goes to school with Amy but studies art at the university. Have you seen her around?” The lady asked with pride in her voice.

Austin was sure he would have remembered anyone his age walking around the University on a daily basis.

“No, I do not believe I have had the privilege of meeting or seeing her around campus.” Austin said trying to hide his embarrassment from not noticing the one thing he was hoping for on campus.

He wanted someone his age to be at the school more than anything, and there was a peer for him to talk to the entire time without his knowledge of her existence. He wished the other kid could have been a boy instead. He wanted a friend that could relate to his situation, but he felt he would be able to relate more with a male. He did not mean to think like a chauvinist, but he could not see himself getting too close to a female without her being a maternal figure at this point in his life. He was closer on a personal level to Joseph than Amy, and Amy was basically family and only a few years his senior.

“So, how long have you two been engaged?” Austin asked with as much fake enthusiasm as he could force.

“How did you know?” Dr. Farmer asked Austin in a shocked tone of voice.

Miss Franklin was just as surprised by Austin’s question as Dr. Farmer. Their reactions to the question immediately let Austin know that he ruined what was probably a surprise.

“I noticed the undeniable body language between the two of you, and the fact that she has not let your hand go since the door opened or probably the car. She also has a remarkable diamond engagement ring on her ring finger, and you, Dr. Farmer, look happier than I have seen you so far.” Austin explained quickly.

Debra was astonished by Austin’s awareness of his surroundings, and Dr. Farmer merely smiled at her reaction to Austin.

“See, I told you. He is a genius all around. The kid notices everything without even trying.” Dr. Farmer said to his fiancé.

“I did not mean to ruin your surprise.” Austin said in a sincere tone.

“It’s quite alright Austin, but could you keep this knowledge between us until we announce it tonight?” The future Mrs. Farmer asked politely.

“Yes Ma’am. Mums the word.” Austin replied with a smile.

Debra turned to face Dr. Farmer’s car.

“Alex, would you please hurry up? You can pick the drawings up later.” She said to a pair of legs hanging out of the backseat of the car.

Austin heard the car door close and saw a lean figure clutching an expensive sketchbook case while walking towards the house with the wind blowing her hair in front of her face. The girl wore tight dark blue jeans, a dark sweater with a strange symbol on it, black and white sneakers, and a light brown coat which looked more expensive than the combination of the rest of her attire. She moved quickly towards the house and was still stuffing pieces of paper inside the case. She reached the house and walked inside without any form of invitation, and her mother closed her eyes out of frustration.

“Alex, we have not been invited inside yet?” Debra said to her daughter.

“Oh, Well, would you two care to come inside?” The girl replied jokingly while placing her case on the counter.

“Please come on inside.” Austin said noticing he had forgotten his manners during the duration of the conversation.

“Thank you” Debra replied following Dr. Farmer inside of the house.

“Alex, next time wait until we are invited inside before you rush into people’s home as if you own the place.” She added looking at her daughter.

“Please mom, they invited us over for dinner. I assumed they had an idea we would be coming inside of the house unless they have a drive thru window on the other side. Does that not count as an invitation.?” The girl replied to her mother in an overly cheerful tone of voice.

“It’s always the creative ones that have a rude answer for everything. Makes me wish I hadn’t switched babies at the hospital.” Debra said to Austin with a grin.

“You still love how I am mother dearest. I do not know why you insist on denying it.” The girl replied without stopping from her task of shoving artwork into the case.

Austin had not seen a child this friendly with a parent since Chris, Frank, and Susan. He could tell that Debra and her daughter were close and had a bond that surpassed mother and daughter. Austin could only assume it was because Debra was a single mom and her daughter understood, respected, and was grateful for her. Watching the two of them playfully bicker was quite an enjoyable sight to behold in Austin’s opinion. Austin could tell that he was going to enjoy being around this girl if she enjoyed being around him.

“Crap! Not again.” The girl exclaimed as the case fell to the ground and a few papers flew out of the opening.

“You should really thank your father for those clumsy genes you have inherited.” Debra said.

“Sure, I’ll write a note and give it to one of the local strippers.” The girl replied.

“Alex! Enough.” Debra said trying not to laugh from the clever joke and walking towards her daughter.

“I’ll help her.” Austin said hoping to get a good look at his potential friend.

“What a little gentleman” Debra exclaimed before following Dr. Farmer into the living room to join the others.

Austin reached down and grabbed a few papers and gave them to the girl.

“You don’t have to do that. I can manage.” The girl said while picking up more of the papers off of the floor.

Austin grabbed her hand, opened it, and placed the papers inside of it.

“I am sure you can manage, but I would like to help.” Austin said hoping he sounded sincere.

“Thanks” She said as she picked up the last of her drawings and placed them in the case a second time.

She looked up and moved her hair from blocking her face for the first time, and Austin looked at her at the exact moment the piano version of “My Heart Will Go On” started to play on the movie. He must have lost focus for a few seconds, and he uncontrollably spoke what he was thinking.

“So this is what love feels like.” Austin said without realizing what words were coming out of his mouth until it was too late.

“What?” the girl said looking embarrassed and confused.

“I am sorry. I did not mean to embarrass you, but you are what I often wish the world would be” Austin said trying his best to express himself without making the situation uncomfortable.

“And what would that be?” The girl asked trying to act casual.

“Beautiful” Austin replied immediately.

“Right, Nobody thinks I’m pretty other than my mom, especially not boys.” The girl said slowly as she turned her face toward the floor expressing the full degree of her insecurity.

Austin saw this and knew that she believed her statement more than anything.

“I know that you do not know me at all, and I am sure that you have reasons to think what you just said is true. The thing is, I am considered to be a genius and know most of the words in any dictionary, and trust me when I say that beautiful is the only word that comes close to describing you. “Austin said hoping that she would believe his words as much as he did.

“You really mean that don’t you? She said trying not to show how much she enjoyed the compliment. “I would give anything to see myself like you see me.” She added in a tone of voice that let Austin know she had never seen herself as beautiful.

She looked up at him with a flattered smile, and all of his troubles and thoughts seemed to disappear for the first time in his life.

“I’m Austin Anderson.” He said returning the smile to the girl.

“I am Alexandre Franklin.” She said getting up off of the floor. “You can call me Alex.” She added as she looked at Austin.

They shook hands, and the rest of the night flew by them without any other thoughts on their minds but each other.

A few weeks later, Austin’s mind was on fire with thoughts and ideas, but this was an area in which he had absolutely no experience or insight. He was a nervous wreck as he thought of ideas and quickly dismissed them aloud as being stupid or horrible. Frank and Susan were sort of amused by his so called “problem” as they watched him pace back and forth across the floor. They had never seen the normally confident boy genius second, third, and fourth guess himself, and the sight was “adorable” according to Susan. Austin and Alex had been spending everyday together over the past two weeks, and a defining moment had arrived in their relationship. Alex had given him no notice about her birthday which was the following day, and Austin had no idea what she would consider as the perfect gift.

“Austin, just buy her some type of jewelry that a ten year old girl would like from the mall” Frank said trying to be helpful.

“She is not the average ten year old girl, Frank.” Austin said still pacing across the living room floor. “She is smart and creative, and she makes me feel like there is more to me than my I.Q.” Austin added as he thought about his time with Alex.

“Aww, is my little boy in love?” Susan said in a typical motherly fashion.

“I believe I am, Susan. I have only spent a short amount of time with her, but I feel as if a day without her would cause me more pain than I can handle.” Austin said embracing his affection for Alex.

Susan and Frank gave each other a look and smiled at each other lovingly.

“Sounds like love to me” Frank said trusting that Austin knew what he felt better than anyone else possibly could.

Austin was possessed by the ultimate elation, and the idea seemed to come to him out of nowhere. He knew exactly what he would give Alex for her birthday, and he had confidence that it would mean more to her than any piece of jewelry ever could.

“Susan, do you still have the pictures from the night of Dr. Farmer’s engagement announcement?” Austin asked in an elevated tone that showed his excitement.

“Yes, they are still on my camera.” Susan answered with a confused look on her face.

Austin was about to burst with excitement as he realized he had everything he needed to make the perfect gift.

“I need to go to an art studio for a few hours.” He said knowing they would agree to his request.

The Art Studio was a small building with amateur and expert works displayed in the front window. Austin had never been there, but he remembered Alex pointing it out to him when they went to a movie with Dr. Farmer and the future Mrs. Farmer. He entered the building, and the aroma of fresh paint was the only smell in the air.

“May I help you?” The woman working the floor asked him.

He looked around for a moment and noticed that she was the only person working in the store.

“I am looking for Diego. I was hoping he was here.” He replied to the woman.

“Diego is in the backroom finishing his “masterpiece”, and he does not like to be disturbed.” the woman said staring at Austin coldly.

“Diego is finished!” said a voice from the back room. “Maggie, come witness the genius of Diego!” the voice added with the same amount of enthusiasm.

“Come with me.” the woman said to him as if she were a principal and Austin was a student in trouble.

They walked down the hall slowly and a strange man covered in paint burst from one of the rooms.

“Maggie, did you not hear Diego’s request? I, the great Diego, have completed my best work to date.” The strange artist yelled.

“Diego, I am looking forward to seeing your work.” The woman said in a monotone voice. “This little boy says he needs to talk to you.” She added in the same painfully dull tone.

“Who are you, and what business does a child have with Diego?” Diego said still referring to himself in the third person.

“Hello sir, I am a friend of Alexandre Franklin and...”

“Oh, my dearest Alexandre, my star pupil, my protégée, my beloved little creative princess. Any friend of the angel Alex can always replace a friend in Diego.” Diego said swinging his hands as if he was floating.

“Thank you Diego, I am here for your help in creating the perfect gift for her birthday tomorrow. Will you please spare a couple of hours to paint something for me?” Austin asked trying not to show how strange he thought the artist was acting.

“Oh but of course my friend, Diego lives to paint. How can Diego assist you, friend of Alex.” Diego said finally placing his hands together and stopping them by his chest.

“Well, my name is Austin Anderson, and I wanted to give Alex...”

“Oh, so you are the mysterious boy genius who has captured the heart of the fair Alexandre? She speaks of you with every visit, and I have noticed a spark in her artistic eyes since she spoke your name. Friend? No, Diego knows the background of young love, and you Austin are my angel’s muse.” Diego said with more excitement in his voice than Austin had ever heard.

“Really, she talks about me all the time?” Austin asked failing to hide his happiness from the confession.

“No there is no simple “talk” when it comes to the heart Austin. She sings your praises and makes them beautiful.” Diego said making more gestures with his hands. “Come, come with Diego and we shall make her happy with the passion of art.” Diego added as he motioned for Austin to follow him.

Austin would have to work hard in order to complete the gift before Alex’s birthday, but he would do anything he had to do in order to show her how much he cared. He went into the room, showed Diego the picture of her holding her art case, explained to Diego the details of his gift, and began preparing what he knew she would love, but he could only hope that she would understand the depths of his gift. His plan was for him to paint the background, and Diego would paint her picture once he was finished. It would be an embarrassing experience for him, but he was sure Alex would take that into consideration. Austin smiled as he thought about how much of a fool he was making out of himself, but a smile on her face because of him would be well worth the embarrassment.

That night, Austin knew he and Diego had worked as hard as they could have on Alex’s gift. It took them well over two hours to finish, but the completed gift was exactly how he pictured it inside of his mind. He knew that it was not the best gift that she would ever receive, but it was the perfect “Alex gift” coming from him. He thought about how much he had learned about her in the last few weeks, and he cherished the time spent with her. He felt as if he had known her since they were both babies, and he cared about her more with each passing minute shared between them. He knew that they were only ten years old, but the way they connected was more real than anything he had ever experienced. He began to think about how he would feel days, weeks, months, and years into the future, and he smiled as the thoughts of learning about life with her comforted him into the most peaceful sleep he had ever slept.