Punch's Cousin, Chapter 217

The baby’s cries awoke Mr. Punch who quickly bolted upright and hurried to the child who had been sleeping in the large, wicker basket that Marjani had brought for that purpose.


“Here, Colin,” Mr. Punch soothed, picking up the child. “Not to worry, you won’t always gotta sleep in no basket like some bunch of dirty laundry.”

The child hiccoughed and buried his face into Punch’s shoulder. “There now, that’s better, isn’t it? Uncle Punch is here and won’t let nothin’ happen to you.”

Punch yawned as he settled into a chair and rocked the baby. “You just settle down for a few ticks of the clock, and then, Uncle Punch will get you some breakfast. Coo! Breakfast! ‘Spose you’re too little for sausages, right? You don’t got teeth. Pity, that. I love sausages, I do. You’ll love ‘em, too.” Mr. Punch pointed to the partially draped window. “Look at that, Colin, my dear, looks like the sun is startin’ to come up. It’s a new day. So, ‘happy day’ and ‘good morning’ to you, little Chum. Big things will be doin’ today, they will. It’s gonna mean a whole new life for ya. A new life for all of us.” Punch sighed and looked at the bed where Robert snored deeply.

“Your Uncle Robert’s gotta get his rest—noisy though he is. He does so much for us, that one. So kind, he is. Here, you’d think he weren’t a human, he does so much. But, he is. So, we’ll let him sleep, we will. Your friend Marjani’s gonna bring somethin’ special today. You know what she’s gonna bring? Do ya?”

Punch looked at the baby who gurgled at him. “She’s gonna bring you a friend, she is—me chum, Toby. Toby’s a dog what’s soft and kind and he will look after you, too. She’s gonna bring somethin’ else, also. A puppet! You know what a puppet is? I were a puppet once, but I ain’t no more. Your Uncle Cecil, he made this one and it looks like me, it does. Well, looks like I look inside me head…” Punch paused for a moment, contemplating the ownership of his head. “Our head.” He nodded, correcting himself. “I share the head with your Uncle Julian. Here, but you got a lot of uncles, don’t ya? I ‘spose I count as one though I’m really two. But, you got an aunt, too. Aunt Adrienne who’s ever so kind. She’s from France. That’s where me cousin Guignol lives. He’s got a long braid of hair—or somethin’. Little nose—different sort of puppet. Still, I ‘spose we’re related. We’re both puppets at heart with a similar kind of purpose. That’s what makes him me cousin. Your Uncle Punch’s cousin.”

The baby began to fall asleep as Punch chattered away.

“That’s good, little Chum,” Punch sighed. “You sleep again. Marjani’ll be here soon. Today will be a good day, I swear it. You’ll see. Everything will be all right from now on.”

Meanwhile, at Louis’ little shack, Barbara Allen awoke from a terrible dream. She blinked her eyes rapidly as she studied her surroundings. She smiled when she realized that the warmth she felt next to her was Charles. She gently brushed his hair from his face and examined him. He looked quite handsome, asleep next to her. She felt a sort of comfort she’d never felt with Arthur.

“Arthur,” Barbara thought. “Gone to sea—forever.” She leaned against Charles. “I don’t suppose he’ll ever return. Perhaps he’s dead.” She thought. “How will I know if I’m ever free to marry again? There must be laws about such things.”

Barbara wondered what she’d say to Arthur if he ever did return. How would she tell him that she’d taken their child, and, then, gave him up again? Would he even care? Arthur had never shown a paternal interest in the boy. That’s why she sold him in the first place. Barbara’s sense of comfort began to fade as she thought of her baby. She cuddled closer against Charles who moaned slightly. “No,” Barbara said to herself. “Everything will work out. It must.”

In her small room on the ground floor of the house on Royal Street, Marjani grunted as she rolled over in her little bed. Her body ached and she was still weary from the night before. Getting back into the house had been exhausting. Once again, Edward Cage had stopped her as she returned, and once again she lied to him about having to nurse a sick friend. How would she manage to get out again that morning? And, how would she explain why she was carrying a puppet and a terrier?

For a moment, Marjani felt as though she could hear Naasir speaking to her. “It’s for The Great Man of the Rocks,” he said, “It’s your destiny.”

Marjani smiled and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she yawned and sat up.

Suddenly, Marjani gasped. “What you doin’ here?” She exclaimed at the shadowy figure which sat at the foot of her bed.

“I’ve come to settle our score, woman.” Marie Laveau smiled in the dim morning light.



Did you miss Chapters 1-216? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, April 11, 2011 for Chapter 218 of Punch’s Cousin.