Broken Toys

Chapter 20

"Oatmeal," Billy explained as Casey investigated the contents of the pan on the stove. He shrugged, "At least I didn't burn it."

"Oatmeal's good, Billy. Is there any honey left?" Zeke asked as he walked past, pausing to give Billy's shoulder a quick squeeze.

"Cupboard next to the stove."

Casey got bowls and spoons and dished out the oatmeal while Zeke got the milk and honey. Billy refused the offer of more oatmeal but welcomed more coffee.

"You're getting pretty good at that, Case," Zeke said, watching as Casey balanced the bowls carefully and hopped over to the table.

"Yeah, I might actually have some muscles by the time I get the cast off." He made a face as he sat down. "First thing I'm going to do when they take the thing off is scratch my leg. It itches like crazy."

"You just need something to take your mind off it, Case." Zeke leered and Casey blushed just the slightest bit. Billy reached over and thwacked Zeke.

"Don't start that again; the dean called while you were upstairs. He said the roads should be ok for driving and he expects us all in class tomorrow. Oh, and you're to report to his office at 8am sharp, Zeke"

"We should straighten up before we go." Casey blushed again. "Probably ought to wash the bedding and towels at least."

"Nope, the dean said the cleaning service comes in every Wednesday. We're just supposed to put everything that needs to be washed in the hamper except for wet towels which get hung on the rack in the bathroom." Billy made a face. "Sounded just like my mother."

"How soon do we need to leave?" Casey asked, looking around, suddenly reluctant to leave. It was nice here, removed from the world and all its pains and annoyances. He looked over at Billy and blinked. Maybe not so removed after all.

Billy reached across the table and touched Casey's hand, his intent clear. Casey shook his head to stop Billy's words before they started, their eyes conveyed everything that needed to be shared about Billy's actions last night. Apology offered and accepted. Subject closed.

"My turn to wash," Zeke said, pushing away from the table and gathering up the empty bowls and cups. "If we get cleaned up and packed fast enough, we'll have time to throw more snowballs at you, Case."

"Oh, that's incentive." Casey rolled his eyes, but dutifully took the dish towel and started drying as Zeke washed. Billy took the dry dishes from Casey and put them away. The kitchen work was finished in five minutes.

"I already straightened down here so it's just the bedroom and bathroom, then packing and we're done. Good thing we did laundry yesterday; it will save the trouble when we get back."

"Thanks for letting us... sleep in, Billy." Casey said, a happy smile on his face. "Sorry you had to do all the work down here."

Billy shrugged. "There really wasn't that much, now come on, let's get packed and get out of here. If you two slackers get your butts on that sofa we'll be here another day."

"Yes, Mom," Zeke said cheekily, giving Billy a kiss on the nose as he walked past and started up the stairs.

"Hey, you'll be the one answering to the dean," he yelled up the stairs. It was probably a good thing Zeke's reply was too muffled to be heard.

*****

The ride back to school was subdued. Casey insisted that Billy ride in back so he could sleep, which he did for most of the trip.

In the front seat, Zeke and Casey talked about random things, neither one ready to address the realities that awaited them at the end of the ride. They picked a nice restaurant and lingered over a huge meal, knowing that it was back to cafeteria food the next day.

Drowsy and full, Casey took the back seat for the rest of the journey and it was Billy's turn to share quiet conversation with Zeke.

It felt odd that the return trip was so subdued, as if their lives had changed while they were away and there should be some kind of old-movie fanfare to herald their return. Instead they were greeted by snowdrifts and the normal sounds of students enjoying an unexpected day off.

"Billy!" Snuffy yelled, hurrying towards the car as they were unloading their suitcases. "Wondered where you'd disappeared to."

"Hey, Snuffy. Went on a road trip." Billy slapped Snuffy on the back and turned him towards Zeke. "Meet Zeke Tyler, he's the new guy."

"Snuffy Bradberry." Snuffy held out his hand and Zeke shook it. "Real name's Jonathan but only my Mom and the dean call me that."

"Nice to meet another reject," Zeke replied, grinning.

"Yeah." Snuffy turned to Casey. "Man, what happened to you?"

"Fell out of a tree." Casey answered with a shrug. Snuffy was nice, even if he did have some pretty wild theories about almost everything.

"Taking pictures?" Snuffy guessed and Casey nodded. "Well be more careful, you don't want to kill yourself before graduation."

Snuffy was really confused when the three other boys all laughed nervously.

*****

"So anyway, that's how I knew what really happened to all those missing pen caps."

Billy was laughing so hard he could barely get the door to their room unlocked. Snuffy was in full conspiracy theory mode today and he'd entertained them with his latest the whole way from the parking lot.

The door across the hall opened and Hank looked out. "'Bout time you got your butt back here, Billy. What'd you do pick up ... a stray?"

"Yeah. Hank, Zeke Tyler. Zeke, this is Hank. He's harmless."

"That's what he thinks," Hank retorted crossing the hall to join the group. Turning aside he yelled, "Hey Montoya, get your head out of your books and get out here."

A minute later the door next to Hank's opened and Ricardo came out with another, younger boy, and they both joined the group that had now moved into Billy, Casey and Zeke's room.

"Ricardo, Yogurt," Billy pointed to each boy in turn, "Zeke Tyler, blah blah blah. Introduce yourselves, I'm done with the host bit." Billy dumped his suitcase on the floor and dropped onto his bed.

Casey and Zeke sat down on Casey's bed while Hank claimed Zeke's. Ricardo sat on the floor by Yogurt, whose real name was Derek but only the dean and his teachers ever called him that.

Hank asked Casey about his leg so he had to tell about falling out of the tree again, then they asked Zeke about transferring and before long it was suppertime and everyone decided they needed pizza.

By the time the food arrived they had survived the "what I did on vacation" stories and had moved on to regaling Zeke with amusing and frightening stories about the school and its faculty.

By 9 o'clock, Zeke was no longer able to hide his fatigue and Casey suggested they all get some rest. It took three tries and nearly twenty minutes before they actually left.

Finally alone and ready for bed, they faced the problem that had been in the back of all their minds; sleeping arrangements.

They were all tired, particularly Zeke, and they all knew they wouldn't sleep well alone. Helplessly, they looked at each other.

"Felt," Casey said suddenly.

"What?" Zeke asked fuzzily. He was getting more tired by the minute. At this rate he'd fall asleep where he stood in less than ten minutes.

"Tomorrow after class we go to the store and get felt, the kind with the adhesive on the back. Cut it to size and stick it on the bottom of the bed legs. See? There." Casey pointed it out. "We'll be able to move the beds without making a lot of noise and the felt won't be too noticeable."

"Great idea, Casey." Billy said enthusiastically. Zeke just yawned.

"We'll just have to be careful to move the beds apart every morning."

"Right now, though, let's just move them together so I can get some sleep." Even without the felt, they moved the beds as quietly as they could.

Zeke was asleep almost as soon as he laid down. Casey and Billy joined him shortly after, but none of them slept particularly well. They were each, in their own way, worried about what the days ahead would bring.

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