The Radiance of Kevin: Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment of a Young Man. Chapter Seven.

A Round on The House

It was indeed a good start for both Simon and Kevin. They opened up to each other more over the ensuing months and talked freely about everything.

Simon told Kevin he deeply regretted his impulsive decision to give away all of Helen’s things while he and Kevin were at her funeral, and Kevin showed him the treasured book that Helen had given him.

They were sitting on the settee one day when Kevin asked about the green chair that had been so important in his life.

“Oh yeah, the married fellas next door asked if they could have it,” Simon explained.

“The married fellas? Wow, Dad, that’s the most progressive thing you’ve ever said!”

“Well, yer mum got on me about what I used to call our neighbors and gave me a proper education. You know how she was,” he laughed. Simon was quiet momentarily and said, “Maybe they’d give it back.”

The two married fellas did so happily because even though they had reupholstered it, they knew it would always be Helen’s chair.

***

After graduating from Cambridge, Kevin did go on to win numerous awards and accolades, just as Adaeve had predicted. She asked if she could keep one framed award at the bar if she protected it with her life. “I can’t have your dad getting all the glory!” she said. With a dazzling smile, Kevin agreed.

It took Simon a few years to stop nagging Kevin about finding a girlfriend, getting married, and having someone to share his life with the way he had with Helen.

One day, Simon finally gathered enough courage to ask Kevin whether he perhaps didn’t like girls and assured him it was OK if that was the case. Kevin explained to his dad that he preferred being alone, and it was as simple as that.

He never got lonely or felt like he was missing out, even though he occasionally had a beer with a friend or two. He also thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with fellow research scientists. Their conversations were scintillating and satisfying, and everyone always came away inspired.

Even so, when Kevin would get home to his flat in St. Ives, he’d let out a deep sigh of relief as he sank into Helen’s chair and had a bit of port. Simon offered him the chair when he moved out, and Kevin accepted gladly.

Driving from his flat in St. Ives, Kevin visited Simon frequently, and once Simon’s leg infection healed, father and son would take long, leisurely walks together. Over time, they developed a splendid camaraderie that neither of them could ever have imagined possible not that long ago.

Kevin’s favorite place remained his wetlands near his hometown, which he visited every time he returned to his birthplace, and his favorite book was still Hydrology and Hydrochemistry of British Wetlands.

After he led a passionate campaign to save the wetlands from development, his hometown wanted to put up a commemorative plaque to honor him at the entrance where the trail began. Kevin, being the humble sort, was going to decline, but Simon pressed him to allow it, saying, “Be glad it’s not a statue!” Sighing, Kevin said yes.

He was content. His work and research fulfilled him, and his relationship with Simon had healed despite occasional good-natured arguments over rugby or politics. Simon was as proud as any father could be, and he made it a point to go to the pub now and then to brag about his son.

Once Adaeve had plunked Simon’s ale on the bar, she would listen intently, usually tucking a stray curl into her gele head wrap. Occasionally, she’d shout at an impatient customer, “Don’t get yer knickers in a twist! I’m hearing about Kev!” with a “Carry on, Simon,” following.

She was happy that Kevin was living up to exactly what she had always known would happen. With every new accolade that Simon told her about, she would slam her hand down on the bar with a loud, “I knew it, I did!” before appeasing a customer or giving the side eye and nod to a server to get over to whoever was complaining.

Simon had a friend walk with him every time he went to the pub and back home because although he kept his drinking to a minimum, he found the uneven cobblestones challenging to negotiate with his cane.

He enjoyed the company of his comrades at The Boar’s Head, and often, when he heard the bell over the pub door, he caught himself waiting for the crowd to yell out that Kevin was there to walk him home. Sometimes, the memory would make his eyes tear up, and all his mates understood why.

***

Kevin had been in The States for two years straight, lecturing and teaching, when he realized Simon’s 70th birthday was fast approaching. He decided to conspire with the pub regulars, old and new.

Simon was at his usual place in the pub on his birthday, sipping his one beer. The place was packed to pay him homage and honor his rugby days. And while he was grateful, he was also sad because Kevin wasn’t there. Simon had been missing him terribly since he left. But he knew Kevin still had another year overseas, so he didn’t turn around when the bell above the door rang out.

Suddenly, everyone in the crowded bar shouted out loud and clear, “Hey, Simon! Kev’s here!”

He swiveled on his stool and saw the crowd part. Kevin strode toward him, smiling, tall, and handsome. The crowd hushed, and many were filming the reunion on their phones.

Kevin stopped in front of his dad. “Thought I should buy you a beer on your birthday,” he said. Simon stood up gingerly and said, “Can ya give yer sad old dad a hug?” As Kevin embraced his dad tightly, the crowd burst into applause and cheers.

When they broke their embrace, and both were wiping their eyes, Adaeze tossed a bar towel to each of them and grabbed one for herself. Everyone in the pub congratulated each other for the successful ruse they’d played a part in.

As the celebration continued, a familiar scent drifted over and around Simon and Kevin. Father and son locked eyes and said, “Prodigieux Le Parfum!” and hugged again, laughing and crying simultaneously.

Perplexed, the crowd murmured amongst themselves. But then they let out a cheer to rival the fans in the stands back in Simon’s days on the field when Adaeze raised her glass high and shouted, “Next round is on the house!” The End.

Thank you for hanging in there with my first fiction series. Once I stitch this all back together, this will also be available in one big chunk in my lists.

I felt my sister strongly in finishing this as she was my editor, but she died before we finished. I think she approves! I had Jasmine incense burning (her favorite scent) during my solo writing. It took me months to return to it, but I’m so glad I did. The link to her story is below. She was especially helpful in the ballet sections.

I did try with another editor, a brilliant woman, a writer, and a friend of my sister's since 4th grade. She helped me with changing my original bartender/owner, Clive, to Adaeze, my Nigerian bartender/owner, among other things. But I started back too soon and had to back away. Thank you, Kelly!

I have a great fondness for this story because it reconciled her and me when I asked her to help with it, knowing she had a fantastic eye for detail and understood my neurodivergent self, not to mention my dyslexia! During our time under the Cone of Silence, we put aside our differences (of which there were many), making the time editing this filled with hysterical laughter and joy. It was the best time I ever had with her in my 60+ and her 70 years. My gratitude for that time together cannot be understated.

The only thing she objected to was that she wanted Kevin to have a girlfriend and thought my idea of him as a grown man looking like Jeff Goldblum was horrifying. I think he’s sexy!

I wrote the below about ten days after her death.

For something a little lighter, here’s the Cone of Silence!