The Tale Told Through Their Eyes

By John Jacob and Jessica Nora

A novel that follows a young girl named Natalia and her quest to find salvation with Raphael. The rules of God and the community forbid their love. Raphael assists Natalia with her quest by going against the teachings and forms a new law. Love must prevail over all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483599885

Book preview

in.

Natalia quickly scanned the shopping list her mother had given her before galloping into the shop, repeating it over and over till it became a firm memory implanted within her brain. Five Granny Smith apples, seven Roma tomatoes, 1 litre light milk, one white bread, two dozen eggs, snap frozen vegetables, she muttered over and over again. She entered the palace of a supermarket and grabbed the nearest basket from the neatly stacked pile at the entrance. She then began meeting the demands of her mother’s bucket list. A six-foot-tall door, in a six-storeyed shopping complex, with a six-foot-tall employer. Tall as an old tree, Natalia could not help but stare at the disproportionate man. He was wearing a piñata-shaped hat with a bright red apple printed across it. His English was broken, but his spirit was fluent. At once, he handed Natalia a pamphlet, yelling at the top of his well-modulated voice, WELCOME TO RED’S, MANGOES ARE IN SEASON, 4.99 PER MANGO, spit flying from his mouth with each utterance. This did not seem to bother Natalia. She smiled, wiped her face, and giggled, Thank you Sir. She heaved a preparatory sigh and wandered through the store. Natalia held the handpicked Granny Smith apples (as green as her freshly cut front lawn) firmly with her girlish, lanky fingers. She shut her eyes before biting into the apple, careful not to spill its juices. The mixture of sugar and sourness caused her tongue to tingle; as she bit deeper into the apple, the moistness made her mouth wet enough to drown in. Natalia could sense the purity of the fruit as it touched her lips with each bite, as though it had come directly from God’s Garden of Eden. Ouch! she gave out a little cry, rubbing her sensitive teeth. Her teeth were vulnerable to sugary foods; yet, this did not stop her from indulging in them. One small bite after another, Natalia cautiously bit into the apple and continued shopping, collecting the rest of the items her mother had asked for. Once more, Natalia took another chunk of the forbidden fruit, sipping the juices like one would sip from a cup of tea. Natalia chewed the fruit to its core before waltzing to the checkout, swinging the trolley left to right as if it were a dance partner. Her momentum paused as her eyes landed on her primary school crush, standing firm on the other end of the aisle, right next to the heavenly, maroon mangoes. Natalia tilted her head in confusion, Raphael? she muttered. At once, she ducked carefully to avoid being spotted by Raphael. Her attempt to remain hidden failed as her clumsiness got the better of her. Natalia’s trolley lost control and slammed into the wooden leg of the table upon which the watermelons rested. The momentum from the accident caused a shockwave. The avalanche of watermelons began to roll down the platform and crashed down unforgivably, like a surging wave, showing no sign of stopping. Natalia’s face turned red, like the Roma tomatoes she had in her trolley. Her nose shone brighter than Rudolph’s. Her attempt at hiding had not only failed but produced the opposite effect. Suddenly, all eyes in the store were set on her. Raphael’s eyes fixed on her, devoid of any expression. Natalia stood glued to the ground, drenched in watermelon from head to toe. Raphael, along with a few other shoppers, paused and came to assist Natalia. Terrified and embarrassed, Natalia flinched in distress, and before Raphael could come close enough to recognise her, she fled to the nearest register, paid for her purchases, and fled the crime scene, leaving her dozen eggs and change behind as evidence. With each step, Natalia left a trail of red, watermelon paste – like footprints all the way to her door, 36 Bird Avenue.

Natalia’s entrance into the house was immediately commandeered by her mother, growling and snatching the grocery bags like an enraged wolf, What took you so long? And what is that on your pants!? Natalia’s silence was met with a passive smile from her mother, who then blurted, Well!? What is it? It’s sauce! Michael-Angelo yelled. At this point, Leonardo appeared on the scene, and the two cubs drew closer to Natalia’s pants, sniffing and licking the watermelon paste, as she tried to inch back. Nora, Natalia’s sister, was slouched against the kitchen door. It’s watermelon, you idiots, she answered with chewing gum wedged between her teeth, making it difficult to understand her words. Her voice was more muddled than normal, as if she was gargling water. Watermelon? Why are you covered in watermelon? Janet asked sternly. Natalia’s face turned pale, Ugh, umm… she was speechless. Janet ground her teeth, Well, spit it out! Tyrell gulped the last bit of his coffee, That’s enough, silence! Tyrell stood firm. Natalia, go get yourself cleaned up! Janet, make the boys something to eat! Natalia followed her king’s instructions and bolted upstairs to clean up. Janet too followed Tyrell’s orders and began to unpack the groceries to prepare breakfast. Nora watched from a distance whilst Natalia was preyed upon, What about me? asked Nora with a touch of attitude. Silence, I said! Tyrell growled at his youngest daughter. Nora was frightened; she swallowed her chewing gum whole and slowly tiptoed into the living room. Leonardo and Michael-Angelo followed close behind, sobbing, whilst Tyrell poured himself another cup and awaited to be served his meal, one fit for a king. Natalia grabbed the towel lying on her bedside table and wiped the fruity sludge off her pants, leaving behind a dark, smudged print that made it look as though she’d just had another accident. One could smell Janet’s cooking from the other side of the house. The sizzling tomatoes and mushrooms could be smelled even from the roof. Janet scavenged through the grocery bags, searching for the missing ingredient for the promised breakfast, Did you forget to get the eggs Natalia? asked Janet, mumbling at an in-house volume, careful not to arouse Tyrell’s anger. The ringing doorbell interrupted Janet’s interrogation of Natalia. The family shifted their attention to the door as Janet moved swiftly towards it; the smell of the eggs began to turn dull. Who is it?! she growled. The ensuing silence left Janet’s rhetorical question unanswered. Nora took the tomatoes and mushrooms out of the frying pan before they could turn into a pile of ash and placed them into a plate. Janet growled once more as she opened the door, I said who is– Janet paused. Before Janet could even finish expressing her rage, there stood before her a man, a tall white man with a gold crucifix hanging from his chest. His palms were scared and wounded with marks signifying deep penetration. The wound was deep enough to reach the other end of his palms, like something that had been bolted or nailed. But Janet’s attention was focused on his white, transparent teeth. He smiled and greeted Janet. Good morning, Miss, he answered her incomplete question. Janet smirked, Yes? Raphael’s smile disappeared as he muttered his first words, I believe this belongs to your daughter, and this is her change. Raphael handed over the eggs and the change. Janet snatched the goods like a road thief would snatch a handbag and interrogated Raphael What! What is this, why do you have her money! Where did you… The door sprung open as Janet continued her enraged interrogation. Natalia’s focus shifted towards her mother’s outburst, targeting the young, innocent Raphael. Enough! Mother! voiced Natalia at the top of her lungs, crossing the lioness’s territory. Raphael lowered his hands as the war came to a halt. His eyes measured Natalia with an intense stare, a stare that hid a touch of attraction. A moment’s silence passed before the intense eye contact was broken. The tall white man mouthed the words Thank you in Natalia’s direction. This signal was as clear as a green traffic light. Natalia slowly approached the door, her face brighter than the sunny Saturday outside. Apologies Sir, answered Natalia, waltzing across the walkway, approaching the door. With each step she took, Natalia became more and more lustful towards the tall white man. At once, Janet took the items and slammed the door shut before Natalia had a chance to speak with Raphael. Natalia rushed to the window; she could see her knight in shining armour fade away. Janet stood in front of the door, disallowing her to go even within metres of the handsome boy. Janet was edgy, like a landmine ready to explode. He is nothing but trouble Natalia, keep away from these Christian boys! growled Janet, swinging the grocery bag. Raphael knocked and knocked. His constant knocking, hoping to have the door opened to him was unattended to. Natalia clawed her way to the door, her mother growling again. Enough! Sit down! she said, pushing Natalia to the ground. The knocking suddenly stopped, and sounds of footsteps could be heard fading away. Natalia counted the footsteps as Raphael departed from the front door. Michael-Angelo, Leonardo, and Nora sat silently, frightened. Listen to your mother, Natalia! Please sit down so we can eat together as a family, ordered Tyrell with a somewhat pleasant voice, almost amused at what he had just witnessed and what his wife was capable of. Natalia obliged, and sat down at the table with her family, whilst Janet took the dozen eggs and began to fry them. A few were shattered due to Janet’s excessive swinging of the plastic, grocery bag. The family ate in silence, only the clinking of the silverware against the china could be heard. Nora and Michael-Angelo ate their meals whole, washing it down with a glass of fresh orange juice. At once, they fled to the television room. Leonardo nibbled his food and followed close behind. Janet whispered, Eat your food Natalia, you need your energy. Natalia was silent and blank. She whispered once more, Sweetie, please eat. Janet’s mood swing shifted the way an adult-sized rollercoaster swiftly spins. Natalia finished her meal and left the table whilst Janet cleaned up. King Tyrell began to have his third helping of the glorious breakfast. Natalia dragged her feet to the bathroom, just shy of a depressive state. But on her way, she stopped dead in her tracks as her peripheral vision focused on a small detail that had just caught her eye. A small, white piece of cardboard, which the eggs had once rested upon, was wedged under the front door. Natalia tiptoed soundlessly, careful not to bring any attention to her and fetched the cardboard piece at once. And there it was – a carefully handwritten note. Natalia opened Raphael’s message:

It was nice to see you again,

would love to catch up some time,

Raphael: 0419 499 950

Natalia’s eyes widened and she jumped in thrill, internally of course, as she still had to be careful not to bring any attention to herself. Natalia smiled, placed the card in her back pocket, and skipped to the bathroom to wash her hands after her immaculate, unfinished breakfast.

Natalia’s sleep pattern was disturbed that night, tossing and turning with her heart beating quicker than a rabbit due to the adrenaline that ran through her veins. The questions flowed to Natalia’s mind one after the other, I hope I can see him soon. Why did he give me his number? Does he like me? Her smile along with her pearly white teeth brightened the room in the pitch dark. She glanced at her phone – no messages, no phone call, there was nothing to suggest Raphael still had an interest in Natalia. The odds were slim to none. The phone vibrated on the fluffy pillow, Natalia dove head first into the pillow to silence the vibrating sound, and she did not want to wake the sleeping lions from their comforting bedroom cave. Her mouth opened wide, jaw dropping, which she could not close. The miracle came directly through her phone, He texted! she muttered silently under her breath. Natalia read the message silently in her mind, You awake Natalia? Natalia took less than a second to respond hoping to catch a response from Raphael immediately. I am, she answered. Natalia heartbeat slowed down as the conversation slowly took off from a halt. Raphael was blunt in his messages, Look outside your window. Natalia giggled, uncertain whether there was any truth in Raphael’s statement. I doubt he is outside, whispered Natalia. There was a soft scratching melody coming from the outside window, like a pebble slightly scraping against the glass window. At once, Natalia stood up, and creeped to the window It can’t be him, she thought, poking her head out slowly, hoping not to land in the crossfire. Natalia’s doubts were wrong; there stood Raphael on the front lawn disguising himself within the cover of the night. Natalia dared not risk wakening her hibernating family members; she questioned herself, Should I go down? Her sense of logic hit her fiercely, Why is he here? What does he want? At once, she answered her own questions; her fear of assault was outweighed by Raphael’s kindness. Natalia tiptoed out the bedroom and out the backdoor to stand in wait for Raphael. Her adrenaline disappeared awaiting by the back door in the pitch dark, not knowing what to expect. How are you Natalia? answered Raphael, Don’t be frightened, I just didn’t had a proper chance to speak to you today. Natalia soon settled, her muscles relaxed, I’m sorry Raphael. I was a little embarrassed to be honest, Natalia answered. She bowed her head in shame. Raphael touched Natalia’s shoulder, Don’t be, Natalia, he smiled passionately. I remember our friendship when we were young, what happened? asked Raphael. The night was too silent to let Natalia evade the questions, I don’t know. Family and culture? she muttered. I can’t avoid it Raphael, she cried, I don’t even see any of my friends anymore. We have each other Natalia. Remember our school days? he answered confidently. We were friends, she answered. Raphael replied, We are friends Natalia. You have always subconsciously been a part of me Natalia, Raphael hugged her, his honesty was portrayed vividly through his words. Natalia hugged back, I feel the same Raphael. But we need to be careful, she whispered in his ear. This is God’s work Natalia, muttered Raphael, and kissed Natalia on her cheek to express his loyalty and respect. I doubt that Raphael, she said, smiling back, careful not to hurt his feelings with her overwhelming statement. Believe me Natalia, he is, he smiled. Happy Easter, he kissed her goodbye. Raphael placed a chocolate egg into Natalia’s palms, more exotic than a kinder surprise. She tried not to turn red; her embarrassment soon turned to compassion, and her emotions bubbled up, Thank you, Raphael, she whispered, kissing Raphael goodbye. Get some sleep, he answered back, fleeing into the darkness, his kindness kept his halo glowing to guide him safely home. Natalia was quick to sneak back upstairs. Tyrell interrupted her in the hallway as she was creeping back into her room, Why are you still up? he asked, his eyes half closed. Natalia clenched her hands closed, hiding the piece of chocolate. I had to go to the bathroom, father, she lied, smiling at her father. Natalia quickly put the conversation to bed before her father could respond, Goodnight father, at once she entered her bedroom before Tyrell could ask another question. Before jumping into bed, Natalia unwrapped the piece of chocolate and crushed it within her palms. She glanced closely at the figurine inside the chocolate, and giggled under her breath. It was a slim, pink woman figurine in an elegant dress like a young Cinderella. Raphael’s first sign of friendship, God’s first sign shined on Natalia. At once, Natalia disregarded the chocolate in her side bin, the night was too late for a sweet treat. She put her phone close to her chest after messaging Raphael goodnight. She slept happily and just right like a little bear. Her miracle answered back as Natalia fell into deep