Raising A Human

The child has transformed overnight. Moshe lifts the small being from the bed. He cradles it in his arms and gazes into its face. The slit for a mouth is developing into lips. The bump above the nostrils is becoming a nose. The slits for eyes now look like regular human eyes, though still closed. Eye lashes are beginning to grow, as well as hair of tight, black curls on the head.

Moshe wonders what color the being’s eyes will be. Ears are forming on each side of its head. He thinks the body may even be a bit larger and heavier than when he first brought the child into the tent.

He sits beside the fire pit and places the child between his legs. He removes the cloth covering. The child has released waste. Moshe will need to wash the child and the cloth. The skin tone has darkened to a creamy brown. The being is developing male genitalia.

The small one stirs its head and its eyes flutter until they open. The eyes are dark brown. “Good morning little one. Welcome to my camp.” Moshe says in a soft voice. The child’s eyes travel around trying to locate the source of the voice.

Moshe has prepared some of the fruit water for his first attempt at feeding the child. He removed one of the latex gloves from the first aid kit. It is not exactly a bottle, but hopefully the child will be able to feed from it.

He fills the glove with the juice water and ties the open end with a strand of forest twine. He raises the glove to his face and places the index finger in his mouth. He bites gently into the latex and pierces it. He squeezes the finger to keep the liquid from running out.

He lifts the child into his arms and directs the finger towards the child’s lips. He allows the juice to dribble just a bit, onto the child’s mouth. After several attempts, the child responds and begins to consume the juice in little gulps. Moshe allowed too much juice to flow out, making the child cough. He raises the child to clear its throat, so it will not drown on his first attempt at feeding.

Back into the cradle of his arm, the child becomes fussy and begins to cry. Moshe begins again to feed his little guest. The child figures out the process after only a few attempts and begins to suckle the glove teat. Both the man and the child are learning this process together. Moshe laughs aloud, “Oh, little one, we have many things to learn together. I hope you will be patient with me.”

After the feeding time, Moshe carries the child to the beach for a bath. He places the child on the sand and washes the cloth diaper in the ocean. He carries the child in his arms and moves into the water. The little one becomes excited and begins to move his arms and legs rapidly. He supposes that the child is frightened of the water, and lifts it up, away from the sea.

The child begins to cry, and he lowers it back into the water. The child stops crying and begins to move its arms and legs, again. Moshe places his hand under the child’s stomach and supports it in the water. The child moves with delight. “Well, you seem to enjoy the water. You came to me from these waters.”

Moshe lowers his hand a bit and the child begins to float. It dips below the water’s surface. He reaches to catch him from sinking. The child resurfaces on its own. He is moving his arms and legs like a being born to swim. Moshe wonders what other surprises he will discover about his guest.

Back at the camp, the child is being fussy. He objected to being removed from the water. Moshe had arranged some palm leaves as a mat to place the child on, outside of the tent. Moshe deposits him onto the leaves and arranges the washed diaper to dry on a rock.

He has been thinking of a garment he can make for the child. He will need to continue to use the cloth diaper. Since Moshe rarely uses his outer shirt, here in this tropical weather, he begins to remove one of the sleeves. With the knife, he begins to cut the material into a body length robe. He devises a belt from the fabric to tie around the waist and hold the robe together.

He had located some soft grass to place in the diaper. He dresses the child in its new clothes. The little one’s eyes move to observe Moshe. He notices the child watching him, “So, are you as curious about me as I am about you?”

Moshe lifts the child to his lap and holds it close. “And what shall I call you, my little guest?” Moshe recalls the name that his grandmother called him as a child. “My little Mohag.”

In his tribal language, “Imohag” is the name that the tribal members refer to themselves. The word translates to “free people.” Moshe looks in the child’s eyes and says, “I shall call you, Mohag!” He smiles at the child, “And my little Mohag, you look splendid in your new robe.” The child’s face makes a smile, sort of. He thinks that the little one likes his new clothes and name.

Considering the warming day, as it is late morning, with the sun heating the sand, already, Moshe carries the child into the tent. He arranges Mohag on the bed and begins again to feed the child with the latex bottle. Hopefully, with a full belly, little Mohag will take a nap. Moshe has some work he has planned for the day.

After a few minutes of feeding the child becomes still and quiet. Moshe leaves the tent and gathers some of the tree limbs, rocks, and twine that he had collected. He travels away from the tent and places his equipment in the shade of a palm tree, far enough away to allow the child to continue sleeping. Today, he will spend his time making tools.

Moshe works for a few hours before Mohag demands attention. He has constructed a few tools from his morning efforts. He now has an ax made from a sturdy branch and a flat, but sharp rock. Also, a stone hammer and two arrows. He has enough material to craft a few more arrows. He plans to create an atlatl after lunch. He will need something with which to launch the arrows. But now, he must attend to the child.

He prepares the glove feeder and lifts Mohag into a feeding position. The child suckles quickly, but soon begins to choke on the juice. Moshes inspects the glove. The finger has become ripped open. He ties the finger off, bites the next finger and resumes feeding the child. Again, the child chokes on the juice.

Moshe sets the glove aside and slides a finger into Mohag’s mouth. He feels the teeth that are breaking through the gums. “Oh, my little Mohag, you are growing fast." With this advanced growth, he thinks that maybe the child can consume more solid foods.

He carries Mohag with him to the beach. It is time to check the fish trap and prepare lunch. Moshe places the child on a palm leaf in the shade of an outcropping of rocks. He begins pulling in the fishing line. It is a good catch today. He drops the bounty into his shopping bag and recast the pouch into the ocean.

He walks back to Mohag and cannot believe his eyes. Moshe had placed him on his back, but Mohag had turned over and now lies on his stomach, perched up on his arms, his head bobbing around taking in the scene.

Moshe kneels in front of the child in laughter. “Look at you little one! Are you ready to see the world?” Mohag laughs and makes happy, gurgling noises at Moshe. Moshe laughs even more. He thinks the child’s voice sounds wonderful, and realizes, he has not heard another human voice for some days now.

Back at the camp, Moshe sets aside the shopping bag and moves a palm leaf in the shade of the tent. He lowers Mohag to the ground, “So how shall I place my little Mohag? Do you wish to watch me prepare our meal?” The child makes a cooing sound. He places Mohag on his stomach and adjusts his arms to his sides. As Moshe moves away to begin cooking their lunch, Mohag pushes up on his arms and raises his head to watch.

Moshe manages to prop Mohag into a sitting position, leaning the child’s back against the tent. After a few attempts to find his balance, the child sits upright, unaided, and is watching Moshe. “Is my little Mohag ready for lunch?” The child seems pleased, his face is almost forming a smile.

Moshe is on the ground in front of Mohag. He holds a leaf platter that contains several food items. Moshe has gathered some berries, fruit, fish, and crab meat. Also, a bottle of water. Mohag’s exposure to solid foods begins.

He lifts a berry in front of his own mouth. The child’s eyes follow his movements. Moshe pretends to eat the berry. Mohag makes a happy sound. He extends his hand toward the child and rubs the berry across his lips. Mohag rubs his lips together and smiles. Moshe takes a small bite from the berry.

He offers the berry to Mohag, “Here little one, see if you can eat this.”

Their mealtime lasts for a half hour. Mohag learns fast. Moshe must have said “amazing” a dozen times. The child can now eat, feed himself and to take a drink from the water bottle. He thinks that Mohag’s intelligence is maturing as fast as his body.

Now with a full belly, Mohag appears sleepy. Even Moshe feels tired. He had managed to eat a few bites while he was teaching the child. Though he doesn’t have a full belly, the lunch was satisfying.

He stands and reaches for Mohag. The child reaches his hands to Moshe’s hands. Mohag’s hands grip Moshe’s fingers. Moshe lifts his hands higher and Mohag hangs on. He lifts the child until his feet are parallel with the ground. Mohag pushes with his legs and stands straight. “Ha-ha, Mohag, you are a strong one. Just look at you!” The child makes happy, cooing sounds. He seems pleased with himself.

Moshe lifts Mohag and places his feet on top of his own. Moshe has not worn his shoes for days now.

They are just not needed here in this warmer climate, and the terrain of the land is easier to navigate with his bare feet.

Mohag seems to like this new view of the world. Moshe takes small steps moving around the camp, allowing the child to see everything. Mohag makes happy sounds as he looks at the surrounding landscape.

Moshe walks the child into the tent and places him on the bed. Mohag complains. Moshe sits beside him and pats his stomach. “Little one, you need to take a nap. You have just tried your first meal of solid food. A bit of sleep is in order. Here, I will rest with you.” Moshes stretches out on the bed. Mohag did not want to sleep at first, but now he is still. Both of them are still and sleeping.

Moshe awakens and senses that something is wrong. He feels like he has only been asleep for a few minutes, but the sun’s position informs him that over an hour has passed since he closed his eyes. He rises from the bed and immediately notices that the child is gone. Mohag is not in the tent. He is not outside of the tent. Moshe feels a panic. He must find the child.

Outside of the tent he searches frantically. He sees the tracks that lead to the beach and begins running towards the water. There is Mohag, crawling on all fours. He is near the water. Moshe runs with all his might towards the child.

He catches Mohag just before he enters the waves. “How did you learn to crawl, my child, you are an amazing being!” Moshe lifts the child up. Mohag smiles at him. The child smells like he needs a bath and a diaper change. Moshe walks into the waves holding Mohag.

Leaving the water and heading back to the camp, Mohag complains. The child loves the water. To calm his crying, Moshe lowers Mohag to the ground. He holds the child’s hands and allows his feet to rest on his own. Again, he takes small steps, moving Mohag along with him. The child is delighted and erupts in laughter.

Several times on their journey back to the tent, Moshe stops walking. Each time Mohag moves a leg forward, trying to take the next step, urging Moshe to keep going. Back at the tent, Moshe places the child on the shaded eastern side of the tent. He kneels beside Mohag and begins to work at constructing more tools.

While he works and tries to entertain Mohag, Moshe thinks about the child’s presence here on the island. Someone purposefully sent the child to him. He feels so unequipped to care for Mohag. It is either supernatural or maybe even alien. Forces beyond Moshe’s knowledge are at work. “What are they wanting of me?”

Moshe pauses from his work and watches the child. Mohag is playing with a branch and leaf that are near him. The child is changing so quickly. He only hatched from the cocoon two days ago, already he is the size of a two-year-old and he is beginning to display advanced intelligence. The muscular system of the being’s body has changed. Moshe thinks that the legs look strong enough to support the body. He should continue teaching Mohag to walk.

The afternoon is spent playing with the child and constructing more arrows. Moshe made an atlatl and tested it. He will need more practice and more arrows. The child seems interested in everything that Moshe touches, therefore, he must let Mohag touch the item, the child demands it. Moshe speaks to Mohag and explains each piece. Later in the afternoon, the child begins to attempt to speak. His moans and chatter mimic words that Moshe has spoken. “You are remarkable, my little Mohag!”

With their evening meal cooking, Moshe takes Mohag’s hands and pulls him to his feet. The child laughs. Moshe has already learned, he loves to play. He is a happy child. Moshe plays a gentle tug-of-war with Mohag, encouraging the child to take a step. The first step is an accident, Mohag moves a leg quickly, to find his balance. He laughs and seems satisfied by what he has just discovered.

There is something that Moshe sees in the child’s eyes, but he cannot quite identify it. There is a familiarity in his gaze. It is a resemblance of a face that he has seen before, someone he feels he should know.

Their evening meal is finished. Mohag is sitting on a leaf mat, playing with toys that Moshe constructed from twigs and small branches. Moshe is working, weaving a grass mat. He has decided that the child should sleep on the bed alone. He is growing quickly. Moshe will lie on the mat in front of the tent’s exit. He does not want Mohag to crawl away again, with him being unaware.

The sun has set. Moshe places the mat on the floor and goes to pick up Mohag, He is tired, and it is time for sleeping. To his surprise, Mohag is already asleep. He gathers the child in his arms. He is able to place him on the bed without waking him. He lies on the mat. He drifts off to sleep, content that he is maintaining a good life on the island, for Mohag and himself.

Moshe experiences a throbbing in his head, he awakens and immediately notices the vibration in the atmosphere. He raises himself upon his elbows. He looks at Mohag’s bed. The child is not there! “Not again!” Moshe says aloud and departs the tent. “How did he get past me? He would have to step over me to exit the tent.” Moshe runs towards the beach.

He sees the boy standing near the water’s edge. Moshe runs past the tracks that Mohag left in the sand. The child has walked out here on his own! “How could he learn balance so quickly?”

He reaches the child, kneels, and places a hand on his shoulder, “Mohag, are you okay?” Moshe looks into his eyes. Mohag has a blank stare. The child looks forward into the water. He does not blink or move. Moshe notices the blue lights swimming near the shore. “What are they doing to you, my little Mohag?”

Under the dark sky, Moshe watches the child stand beside the sea, as if he is hypnotized. The lights are performing their dance. Mohag seems to be in a trance, and rocks back and forth slightly, in rhythm. Should he try to wake the child? He doesn’t want Mohag to be harmed. Are the blue lights helping or hurting this little being?

Moshe decides not to interrupt, and watches the boy move to music that only he can hear. The lights have disappeared, and apparently the ritual is over. Mohag turns back toward the island and begins walking to the tent. His expression displays the same blank stare. Moshe follows him, amazed at the child’s ability to march in a straight line.

Moshe enters the tent and sees the child back in his bed, covered and sleeping. He does not feel like he can sleep now and chooses a place beside the fire pit. He stirs the embers and adds a few pieces of fuel. He needs to think about what just happened. There is probably not a way to prevent the lights from drawing Mohag to the sea, but what are they doing to him? Are they checking on his progress or giving him the plans for world domination?

Moshe remembers the first time he saw the cocoon. He wanted to destroy it, but now he knows, there is no way he could harm this special being. He is beginning to care for the child, as if he is his own son.