Simons - A Beggars Kingdom

A SHTON STOOD, HIS BLOND HAIR SPIKING OUT OF HIS baseball cap, his arms crossed, his crystal eyes incredulous, listening to Josephine trying to sweet-talk Zakiyyah into going on Peter Pans Flight. Julian, Josephine, Ashton, and Z were in Disneyland, the last two under protest.

Z, whats not to love? Josephine was saying. You fly over London with Peter Pan aboard a magical pirate ship to Neverland. Come on, lets golook, the lines getting longer.

Is it pretend fly? asked Zakiyyah.

No, replied Ashton. Its real fly. And real London. And a real pirate ship. And definitely real Neverland.

Zakiyyah rolled her eyes. She almost gave him the finger. Is it fast? Is it spinny? Is it dark? I dont want to be dizzy. I dont want to be scared is what Im saying, and I dont want to be jostled.

Would you like to be someplace else? Ashton said.

No, I just want to have fun.

And Peter Pans magical flight over London doesnt qualify? Ashton said, and sideways to Julian added, What kind of fun are we supposed to have with someone like that? I cant believe Riley agreed to let me come with you three. Im going to have to take her to Jamaica to make it up to her.

You have a lot of making up to do all around, especially after the crap you pulled at lunch the other week, Julian said. So shut up and take it.

Story of my life, Ashton said.

What kind of fun are we supposed to have with someone like that? Zakiyyah said to Josephine. His idea of fun is making fun of me.

Hes not making fun of you, Z. Hes teasing you.

Thats not teasing!

Shh, yes, it is. Youre driving everybody nuts, Josephine said, and then louder to the men, Youll have to excuse her, Z is new to this. Shes never been to Disneyland.

What kind of a human being has never been to Disneyland? Ashton whispered to Julian.

Thats not true! Zakiyyah said. I went once with my cousins.

Sitting on a bench while the kids go on rides is not going to Disneyland, Z.

Zakiyyah tutted. Is there maybe a slow train ride?

How about Its a Small World? Ashton said, addressing Zakiyyah but facing Julian and widening his eyes into saucers. Its a slow boat ride.

That might be okay. As long as the boat is not in real water. Is it in real water?

No, Ashton said. The boat is in fake water.

Is that what you mean when you say hes teasing me? Zakiyyah said to Josephine. You sure its not mocking me?

Positive, Z. Its a world of laughter, a world of tears. Lets go on Its a Small World.

After it got dark and the toddlers had left and the crowds died down a bit, the three of them convinced Zakiyyah to go on Space Mountain. She half-agreed but balked when she saw the four-man luge they were supposed to board. Josephine would sit in front of Julian, between his legs, and that meant that Zakiyyah would have to sit in front of Ashton, between his. Can we try a different seating arrangement? Z said.

Like what? Ashton kept his voice even.

Like maybe the girls together and the boys together.

Jules, honey, what do you think? Ashton asked, pitching his voice two octaves higher. Would you like to sit between my legs, pumpkin, or do you want me between yours?

Z, come on, Josephine said. Dont make that face. Ashtons right. Get in. Its one ride. Youll love it. Just

Instead of you sitting in front of me, Ashton said to Zakiyyah, as cordial as could be, would you prefer I sit in front of you?

You want to sit between my open legs? Zakiyyahs disbelieving tone was not even close to cordial.

Just making suggestions, trying to be helpful.

Aside from other issues, I wont be able to see anything, Zakiyyah said. Youre too tall. Youll be blocking my view the whole ride.

Ashton knocked into Julian as they were about to board. Dude, he whispered, you havent told her Space Mountain is a black hole with nothing to see?

We havent even told her its a roller coaster, Julian said. You want her to go on the ride, or dont you?

Do you really need me to answer that?

They climbed in, Ashton and Julian first, then the girls in front of them. Zakiyyah tried to sit forward as much as possible, but the bench was narrow and short. Her hips fitted between Ashtons splayed legs.

Can you open your legs any wider? she said.

Said the bishop to the barmaid, said Ashton.

Josephine! Your friends friend is making inappropriate remarks to me.

Yes, theyre called jokes, Ashton said.

Theyre most certainly not jokes because jokes are funny. People laugh at jokes. Did you hear anyone laughing?

Zakiyyah sat primly, holding her purse in her lap.

Ashton shook his head, sighed. Um, why dont you put your bag down below, maybe hold on to the grip bars.

Im fine just the way I am, thank you, she said. Dont move too close.

Not to worry.

They were off.

Zakiyyah was thrown backwardsinto Ashtons chest. Her hips locked inside Ashtons legs. The purse dropped into the footwell. Seizing the handlebars, she screamed for two minutes in the cavernous dome.

When it was over, Julian helped a shaky Zakiyyah out, Josephine already on the platform, jumping and clapping. Z! How was it? Did you love it, Z?

Did I love being terrified? Why didnt you tell me it was a rollercoaster in pitch black?

They had a ride photo made of the four of them: Zakiyyahs mouth gaping open, her eyes huge, the other three exhilarated and laughing. They gave it to her as a keepsake of her first time on Space Mountain, a real artifact from an imaginary place.

Maybe next time we can try Peter Pan, Ashton said as they were leaving the park after the fireworks.

Who says theres going to be a next time? said Zakiyyah.

Thank you for making this happen, Josephine whispered to Julian in the parking lot, wrapping herself around his arm. I know it didnt seem like it, but she had fun. Though you know what didnt help? Your Ashton pretending to be a jester. You should tell him you dont have to try so hard when you look like a knight. Is he trying to be funny like you?

Hes both a jester and a knight without any help from me, believe me, said Julian.

Josephine kissed him without breaking stride. You get bonus points for today, she said. Wait until we get home.

And other days, while she walked through Limbo past the violent heretics and rowed down the River Styx in Paradise in the Park, Julian drove around L.A. looking for new places where she might fall in love with him, like Disneyland. New places where his hands could touch her body. They strolled down Beverly and shopped for some costume jewelry, they sat at the Montage and whispered in nostalgia for the old Hotel Bel Age that overlooked the hills. He raised a glass to her in the Viper Room where not long ago someone young and beautiful died. Someone young and beautiful always died in L.A. And when the wind blew in from Laurel Canyon, she lay in his bed and drowned in his love and wished for coral trees and red gums, while Julian wished for nothing because everything had come.

But that was then.

Gold enough stirring; choice of men, choice of hair, choice of beards, choice of legs, choice of everything.

Thomas Dekker, The Humors of the Patient Man and the Longing Wife