Tuesday August 3, 2004:

Eliezer Mouton was walking out of Radio Shack with his scanner radio, a Uniden BC72XLT on full blast. His SSI check was deposited a few days ago and after saving some of it, he used the rest to purchase that said scanner as he had wanted one for a while.

He had a huge smirk on his face, given the fact that he could tune in to the mall security.

Hannah Bienville was also shopping at the mall today as it was recently her birthday and she had some cash left over. She noticed Eliezer listening to the security guards with a mischievous smirk on his face. She was very much attracted to Eliezer so she smiled and waved at him.

He smiled back.

They stared at each other for a moment with smiles increasing and some blushing.

Hannah then motioned for Eliezer to come to her which he did.

They then went to sit on the bench in front of Kay Jewelers and Dillard’s.

“You’re so cute and handsome! What’s your name?” Hannah asked.

“Eliezer Mouton, but I liked to be called Eli.”

“That’s neat. My name is Hannah Bienville, but my dad gave me the nickname, ‘Hannah D.'”

“You could totally be a radio DJ, with a nickname like that.”

Hannah giggled and smiled from ear to ear.

Eli then continued, “Wouldn’t it be so cool to have a radio station that plays video game music?”

Hannah’s eyes lit up, as she said, “Whenever the war in Iraq is won the station could play the ending credits to Star Fox 64!”

“I think that is a pointless and illegal war but maybe there could be a news service that covers all the dirty things the government does and play the music from the Surface 2 level on Goldeneye!”

Hannah giggled heartily, then said, “You’re very sexy!” She then covered her mouth, blushed, and apologized.

Eli hugged her and then replied, “Well I think you are beautiful!”

Hannah’s blue eyes lit up even more and she smiled from ear to ear.

She then said, “You don’t know it yet, but we match.”

Eli was puzzled and asked, “What do you mean”

Hannah replied, “I will show you only if you promise to be my boyfriend.”

“I would be honored to be your boyfriend!” Eli said as he held Hannah’s hand and softly kissed it.

“Okay, here we go!” Hannah said as she slightly lifted her blue denim skirt and showed him her modesty shorts.

Both blushed boldly once again and Hannah giggled uncontrollably, as she said “Your yellow shirt and black pants match my yellow and black modesty shorts.”

Eli replied, “I guess that cupid has a bee’s stinger instead of a quiver of arrows because I could see myself falling for you!” Eli then held both of Hannah’s hands, then asked, “May I kiss you?”

“Of course!” Hannah replied.

Their lips sweetly pecked and then locked as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Something beautiful was blossoming.

“I am going to need your phone number,” Eli told Hannah.

“Of course. And I want yours as well!”

Eli pulled out a Motorola i60c and Hannah pulled out a Motorola i285 and subsequently programmed the numbers in.

“We both have Boost Mobile, can we also exchange our beep-beep numbers?” Eli asked.

“Sure. As if you even had to ask,” Hannah replied.

They then exchanged the Chirp numbers.

Hannah then said, “I’ve never seen a Boost Phone like yours.”

“Well, that is because it’s an older Nextel phone. I had one of my buddies order it for me on eBay. It looks just like the phone that one of the characters on my favorite soap opera uses and it is quite rugged, so I like it.”

Hannah then asked Eli, “Where do you go to school?”

Eli replied, “I dropped out and get SSI. I hope that you still want me after knowing this.”

Hannah simply kissed him again and say, “Of course, I do!” She paused then said, “I’m thirteen and in the fourth grade, so I kind of know what you’re going through.”

“Thank you for being so sweet. You’re beautiful inside and out!”

“You must have vision problems if you think I am beautiful.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because of my weight.”

“I like bigger girls but was always afraid of what others would think of me.”

“Nobody has to know about us except my mom and dad.”

Eli looked at Hannah and said, “But I’m no longer afraid of what others think, I had talked with my social worker about this and he helped me realize that people don’t talk that much anyway. I would show you off to everyone because you’re so beautiful and you have a good heart!”

Hannah embraced Eli, planted several kisses on his face, but then asked with slight distress, “How old are you though.”

Eli replies “17.”

Hannah then said, “Well you already know that I’m 13, but I really like you and I still want you to be my boyfriend.”

Eli replied, “As long as your parents are okay with it.”

Hannah then asked, “I’m just wondering, If you dropped out of high school, see a social worker and get SSI, are you okay?”

“I have schizophrenia, I hope you’re okay with that.”

“Of course. I have Autism, by the way, and I hope you’re okay with that.”

“It’s fine. Schizophrenia and Autism are similar, so I think we will get along just fine. I just hope your parents let me date you.”

“I think they will, at least as long as you treat me right and marry me when I am old enough.”

“I definitely would marry you.”

Hannah looked at Eli with puppy dog eyes and said, “You really would?”

“Yes: You have a really good heart, you’re beautiful and I recently became a Christian so it would be the right thing to do.”

“I became a Christian when I was eight, maybe you could come to church with me.”

“Yes, I’ve been meaning to find a church.”

“How did you come to the Lord?”

“Earlier this year, I was listening to a radio broadcast on shortwave and it had my undivided attention and as I listened, I realized that I was a hellbound sinner and Jesus is the answer to my condition, so I called on Him and I’ve been praying to Him ever since. The preachers I listen to on shortwave talk about joining a local church, but I have no ride to get there.”

Hannah then said, “My step-grandpa can take us. He already takes me.”

“My grandparents as most of my family are stuck in their catholicism.”

“We need to pray for them.”

“My parents kicked me out when I dropped out of school but my grandparents took me in.”

“I’m so sorry that happened.”

“It’s for the better. Is there a way I could meet your parents?”

“Of course, we could walk to Chick-Fil-A right now and meet my mom.”

“Then let’s go.”

Both were slightly nervous wondering what Hannah’s mother’s reaction would be.

Sheepishly they walked into the Chick-Fil-A where Beatrice was manning the cash register.

“Mom, there is someone I would like you to meet,” Hannah said.

Beatrice looked up from the register and asked, “Hannah, who is this young man?”

“This is Eli,” Hannah said beaming, and continued, “He is my boyfriend, that is if you’re okay with it.”

Beatrice looked at Eli and asked, “Exactly what are your intentions with my daughter?”

Eli looked at Beatrice and said, “I think she is the sweetest person I have ever met and to me, she is more beautiful than anyone else I have ever laid eyes upon. I would like to be her boyfriend and hopefully, one day marry her, when we are old enough. I am a Christian, so I do believe I should date to marry.”

“How old are you, son?” Beatrice asked.

“I’m 17.”

Beatrice then looked at Hannah and asked, “How did you meet him?”

“I just saw him walking out of Radio Shack and I thought he was handsome, so I motioned for him to come to talk to me and he’s nice.”

“Okay. I will let y’all date, but because of the age difference, y’all must be under constant supervision and no one can know about it.”

“That’s fine,” Eli replied.

“Of course,” Hannah added in.

“Do you work anywhere, Eli?”

“No ma’am, I get SSI for being schizophrenic.”

“I understand. Hannah is also special needs, so maybe y’all can help each other out.”

Beatrice then took her lunch break and came to sit with Eli and Hannah. She ordered them each a meal and continued conversing with them.

“What is your living situation, Eli?”

“I stay with my grandparents. We help each other out.”

“Where are your parents?”

“They emancipated me and kicked me out when I started receiving SSI. I guess me getting help from the government for having a disability was too big of an assault on their pride and ego, so my grandparents took me in.”

“You deserve all the help you can get. But you should be wise with it.”

“I try to be. I think they are also angry at me for dropping out of school.”

“Not everyone is meant to have a formal education. Hannah struggles with her studies and she is also bullied by other students.”

“I wish I could protect her from all that.”

“Just be there for me and comfort me, baby,” Hannah added in.

“You know I will. I thank God for you.”

“I thank God for you too.”

“How do you get around?” Beatrice asked Eli.

“My Pappy drives me.”

“How about I get you and Hannah each a bus pass.”

“That would be wonderful.”

“Good, then you can come to visit Hannah when she’s not in school.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome. Just only come visit her when I am home.”

“Sure thing. If it’s all right, I would like y’all to meet my grandparents.”

“Yes. We can do that.”

Hannah and Eli finished their meals, then continued holding hands.

Beatrice then finished her meal and said, “Well, I have to get back to work, but there’s some bad weather moving in later this afternoon. How are you getting home, Eli?”

“My Pappy is going to drive me home whenever I call him.”

“How about you take the bus home with Hannah and me and you can meet my soon-to-be ex-husband? It’s a long story.”

“That’s fine, I’ll tune in the weather on my new scanner in the meantime.”

“Now y’all go walk the mall together and get some exercise!”

“Yes ma’am,” Eli replied.

Hannah then kissed her mom and thanked her. She then asked Eli, “Are there any stores you want to look at?”

“What about Sears?”

“Sure. What do you want to look at in there?”

“The computers. I like to write, but it hurts to write by hand. So, I need a computer of some sort.”

“I’m working on a book as well.”

“Awesome. I think God put us together for a reason.”

“So do I!”

Hannah and Eli walked into Sears and were looking at the computers. They then went to look at the televisions. Finally, they went looking at the clothing on clearance.

Hannah then asked, “How does my outfit look on me? Do I need a new wardrobe? Be honest.”

Eli looked at Hannah’s grey Bobbie Brooks tee shirt, her medium-length denim skirt from Wal-Mart, her purple and black striped socks, and her blue tennis shoes, then said, “You look perfect just the way you are? In my eyes you are beautiful.” He then planted a kiss on Hannah’s forehead.

She kissed his lips in return.

“I can’t wait to be old enough to marry you, Eli!”

“I feel the same way. I thank God we crossed paths!”

“Me too, baby!”

They then embraced and kissed once again until they heard a loud crash of thunder.

Hannah grabbed Eli tightly out of fright, then said, “Sorry, I’m just scared of thunder.”

“I understand completely. Why don’t we go to a more interior part of the mall so we can be safe.”

“Lead the way, sweetheart.”

Hand in hand, they walked to the middle corridor of the mall. There were several more thunderings and rain began pouring down in torrents.

Hannah grabbed Eli’s arms several times. Eli rubbed Hannah’s back and kissed her.

They then made it to the bench.

Eli tuned in to the Weather Radio broadcasts on his new scanner.

They were notified of a severe thunderstorm in progress.

Hannah leaned against Eli and then said, “The storm isn’t so bad, since you are right here.”

Eli put his arm around Hannah and kissed the top of her head as he spoke, “You feel so wonderful pressed up against me.”

There was a deafening peal of thunder, then the power went out.

Hannah tensed up in heavy distress. She began breathing heavily as Eli held her with his left arm.

From his right pocket, Eli retrieved a Blue Mini Maglite and turned it on.

The look of distress on Hannah’s face turned to a beaming smile as she said, “It’s so sexy how you’re prepared.”

Eli blushed but was speechless.

Hannah grabbed Eli and planted several more kisses on his face.

Eli continued listening to the Weather Radio broadcast in case a tornado warning would be issued.

Mall security had begun to escort customers out.

They approached Hannah and Eli, to which Hannah said, “My mom works at Chick-Fil-A and she is our ride home.”

“Come this way, then,” the two guards, a husband and wife team, said as they walked Eli and Hannah to the restaurant.

By the light of the guards’ flashlights in addition to Eli’s, they safely arrived.

Beatrice greeted Hannah and Eli then said, “Sit tight, my shift will be over in about forty-five minutes.”

“We can listen to that radio device you have, until then Eli,” Hannah said.

Eli nodded and they sat at a table with Eli’s Mini Maglite in Candle Mode.

Beatrice then said, “Well Eli you are certainly a very resourceful young man.”

“Thank you, Ms. Bea, Eli replied, then continued, “My Pappy always taught me to be prepared and I take his words seriously.”

Beatrice did her work while Eli and Hannah sat and continued listening to the Weather Report.

The power came back on with ten minutes to go.

Beatrice continued preparing the work area for the incoming shift.

She then clocked out and walked with Eli and Hannah to the bus stop…

Back to “a.D. MMIV”