Milo's Journey

Chapter 19

Milo and Jose made quick work of the farm chores. Piyelito helped by herding the cows out into the pasture. He ran behind them, barking and playing with Cachita. She simply trotted along until she reached her favorite spot beneath the shade of the trees. Then she turned and mooed sternly at him. Piyelito immediately sat down and quieted.

Milo and Jose watched this and laughed hysterically.

“It seems Cachita has him trained,” Jose said, smiling at Milo.

“Yes, they have become very good friends.”

Milo let out a loud whistle, and Piyelito looked up and came running.

“Come, little one. It is time for breakfast,” Milo said as the dog came to heel at Jose’s right side.

Milo and Jose walked back to the house, laughing at Piyelito’s antics as he ran ahead, barking and jumping.

“Buenos días, Mama,” Milo said as he entered with Jose.

“Hola, nene. ¿Cómo te sientes, bien?” Natalia asked from the stove, where she was frying some ham to go with the fried eggs and potatoes she had made.

“I’m good, Mama,” Milo said, sitting down.

“And you, Jose—did you sleep well?” Natalia asked as she came over and set the plates on the table.

“As well as can be expected with the dreams we had. Does Singing Jaguar always stand at your right side like that?” Jose asked, glancing over Natalia’s shoulder.

Natalia startled and looked at Milo.

“It seems that Jose gained the sight in the night. I think it may have been because of the visitation he had yesterday. It seems to have changed him,” Milo said, reaching out and touching Jose’s arm.

“¿Es verdad?” Natalia asked, looking at Jose. He smiled back at her and nodded.

Natalia placed the rest of the food on the table and sat down. Milo served himself eggs and potatoes and passed the plate to Jose. Natalia poured juice for them both before serving herself. For a few minutes, they ate in silence until a bark was heard.

“All right, little man. No one has forgotten you. Your breakfast is over there in your dish,” Natalia said, smiling down at Piyelito.

Piyelito got up, walked over to his dish, then looked back at Natalia.

“Go ahead. You may eat,” Natalia said, smiling.

Piyelito began to eat, and Milo, Jose, and Natalia returned to their meal.

Jose and Milo waited by the school steps for Diego and Adriana. As they waited, Santiago and Mirena walked up the path arm in arm. Milo tried to ignore them, but as Jose looked up, he saw Mirena’s eyes narrow and knew she was about to say something cruel.

“Well, if it isn’t the little faggot and his boyfriend,” Mirena said, smiling viciously.

Milo tensed, but Jose gave him a reassuring wink.

Suddenly, the binder in Mirena’s hand slipped and fell to the ground, scattering papers across the courtyard as if pushed by an invisible force. She froze in shock. Santiago frantically tried to gather the papers, only to have them slide away each time he reached for them. When Mirena snapped out of it, she rushed to help him, scrambling to recover what little dignity she could.

Milo looked at the scene with his other sight and nearly choked with laughter. Campanita and the Prince were pushing the papers around. Every time Mirena or Santiago got close, they stirred a gust of spiritual wind, sending the papers flying again.

“Amor, let them be. I think you’ve made your point,” Milo whispered in Jose’s ear.

Jose nodded. The breeze went quiet, and Santiago and Mirena were finally able to collect the scattered papers.

Campanita and the Prince appeared behind Jose once more. Milo heard Campanita’s bell-like laughter. The Prince’s deep bass voice echoed in Milo’s mind.

Our drag graj—beloved horse—is precious to us and not to be messed with.

Jose whispered, “Querido, why did the Prince refer to me as their beloved horse?”

“Oh, my love, you have a lot to learn about the world of spirit,” Milo said, slipping an arm around him as they walked to class. “After school, we’ll start your education.”

Milo met Jose at lunch; he found him outside under a tree by himself. He called out, and Jose lifted his head and smiled. But Milo knew something was bothering him—he could see it in the way the smile didn’t quite reach Jose’s eyes.

Milo went over and sat down next to Jose, his back against the tree. He didn’t speak, just took Jose’s hand and sat in silence with him. He knew something was bothering Jose, and he wanted with all his heart to fix it—but he also knew that sometimes love needed to be quiet and patient. Love could protect, but love also had to let the other person be free to stand on their own as well.

Milo could feel the tension in the way Jose held his hand. He continued to wait; he knew Jose was still working things out in his head. Then he heard it—the soft release of breath that meant Jose had reached the place where he was ready to share.

“Milo, you know I love you more than anything in this world. I will stand by your side no matter what comes.”

Jose’s voice faltered, and he fell silent. A tear ran down his cheek.

Milo stilled. He knew he had to let Jose get this out, even though it killed him to see Jose in such turmoil.

“But Milo, the one thing I can’t bear is hurting you. What if whatever possessed me was evil? What if I hurt you—what if I…”

Jose faltered again, his breath beginning to come in gasps, as if he had run a long way.

Milo shifted, put his hand on Jose’s cheek, and made him look into his eyes. They stayed that way for a few moments—Milo letting Jose see that he loved him, that he wasn’t afraid, that he was okay.

“Querido, you are the purest soul I know. I know you would never hurt me.”

“But what if—what if what took me wasn’t good? What if it used me to harm you? That would kill me.”

The tears began to fall faster. Milo reached over and pulled Jose into his arms. He didn’t speak; he simply held him. He let his body be the anchor for Jose, the shelter he could rest in until he felt steady again.

Milo felt Jose’s arms tighten around him, as if he were claiming the love Milo freely gave. They sat quietly.

After a moment, Milo wiped away Jose’s tears and spoke.

“Querido, we haven’t really talked about what happened when you were possessed. Would you like to know what occurred?”

Jose simply nodded, not trusting his voice yet.

“Querido, even when you were absent, the entity that spoke through you was reserved. Piyelito wasn’t afraid of it—in fact, the entity put Piyelito at ease. Piyelito jumped into your arms, and the entity smiled at him. He reassured Piyelito, and all of us, that you were okay—just asleep right now.

“Some other things occurred while you were in trance, but the most important thing—the thing that reassured me that whatever took you for that moment was good—was the entity’s acknowledgment of your love for me, and its charge to me to take care of you and protect you. I knew then, in my heart, that what took you was good, demonstrated its goodness, and that I didn’t have to fear it… or you.”

“Thank you, mi amor. I was so afraid.” Jose took Milo’s hand again.

“It’s okay, querido. All of this is very new—not only to you, but to me. Whatever comes, we walk this road together. I will never leave you.”

At that moment, the first bell rang—a subtle warning that lunch was wrapping up. Milo looked over at Jose. No words were spoken, just a silent inquiry to see if Jose was settled enough to return to school. Jose smiled and nodded back. He allowed Milo to get up from the grass and pull him up. Putting his arm around Milo, they walked back into the school together.