The Introduction

Before that night, it had been months since we last seen Henry. He showed up at the Watson Burger joint, wearing a robe, looking like a crazy person and sounding even worse. He was using a walking stick, looked more like a tree branch, which appeared to have the runes of some ancient language carved into it. “It is a secret,” he whispered with a buzz, “I learned when I became a god.” 

I chuckled. “When you became a god?” 

“I will introduce him to you later.” He said. My eyes went to his patient identification wrist band. “My family dropped me off there.” He buzzed. “May I stay at your place?” I felt terrible; I didn’t want him freezing to death in that stupid robe.

“Can I call your folks for you?” I asked.

“No, they will not listen, they will not hear me. May I stay with you?” 

“Well,” I pretended to consider, “I can’t speak for my roommates.” 

“Okay. I will introduce him to you later.”

That night as I told my roommates about Henry’s strange behavior, the inexplicable feeling of him waiting outside was confirmed when I opened the door and he entered. We agreed to let him sleep on our couch.

I awoke that night to whispers in the dark—multiple voices from the living room, despite my roommates sleeping in their beds. I cleared my throat to announce my entrance, then the voices stopped. When I switched on the light, I discovered Henry was nowhere in sight. Instead, piled on his robe were his formless face and hands. On the floor, his walking stick now legible to my eyes, called to me in its own voice. I will introduce him to you later.