Broken Toys

Chapter 50

"Hey," Casey greeted Zeke, watching as the older teen walked closer, blinking sleepily against the early morning light.

"Couldn't sleep?" Zeke asked as he dragged a beanbag chair over and draped himself over it, copying Casey's pose.

"I didn't want to bother you, so I thought I'd come up here and read."

Zeke reached over and tilted the book so he could read the title. "Modern Sculpture? You thinking of trying a new medium?"

"Maybe," Casey shrugged. "Clay could be interesting." He shifted onto his side so he could look right at Zeke. "I thought we might try it together."

"You're the artist, Case."

"Not really. I just like to take pictures. But maybe we could experiment with clay...just for fun." His voice trailed off and he looked away, towards the nearest window.

"Sounds interesting. I guess I could give it a try... as long as you don't expect it to look like anything."

"Don't worry about that," Casey laughed as he flipped through the book to the color photos in the middle. He turned the book around to show Zeke. "None of this stuff looks like anything and they're professionals."

Zeke reached over and took the book, flipping through it at random, making faces at a few of the more grotesque sculptures. "So why are you reading this anyway? It's not for a class."

"The dean told me about a former Regis student who is now a famous sculptor." He picked up the book and flipped to a page three-quarters of the way through. "R. G. Harrison. He did that big black sculpture by the scholars' path."

"The one that looks like an upside down duck?"

"It's called 'Ascendance'."

Zeke just smirked. "Good name."

Casey made a face and shifted so his head was resting on Zeke's leg. Zeke took the book and set it aside, then ran his fingers through Casey's hair to smooth it down. He hadn't combed it and it was sticking up at odd angles.

Casey was quiet for a long time and from his expression, Zeke could tell that the thoughts weren't all pleasant. After a while he leaned over and made a goofy face.

"Relax, Case."

Casey just smiled up at him and reached out to Zeke, lacing their fingers together. The sun cast stripes of warmth and light across their bodies and they looked at each other, communicating in comfortable silence until they heard Billy approaching.

"Thought I'd find you here," Billy called as he bounded up the stairs into the attic room. "I brought provisions." He strolled over and set down three cans of Pepsi and a box of Cap'n Crunch.

"You're gonna eat this instead of that omelet you've been wanting?" Zeke crossed his arms over his chest and tried to look indignant. The effect was ruined when Casey tossed a nugget of cereal at him.

"Hey, these are just survival rations."

"Yeah," Casey added. "You know - a snack before the meal. So you have enough strength for all that cooking."

"You're forgetting that you're on chef duty today, Case. I'm just gonna help."

"That so? And who exactly decided this?"

"Me, of course."

"Of course. So tell me, O decision-maker-for-us-all, what gourmet delights will I be preparing? Toast? Corn flakes?"

"You heard Billy. He wants an omelet. You wouldn't want to disappoint him would you?"

Billy leaned close to Casey and tried to look forlorn. Casey giggled in his ear.

"Dork."

Billy looked over at Zeke. "You're gonna help him, right? I don't want a runny half-cooked omelet or anything."

"Hey! I'm not that hopeless... unlike some people." Casey dropped his head in Billy's lap and looked up at him, batting his eyes and looking about 5 years old.

"Do not do that thing with your eyes. Geez, it's like one of those scary Precious Moments pictures with those big-eyed kids." Billy shuddered and shoved Casey off his lap then dropped a beanbag chair on him before sliding over to Zeke and pretending to cower behind him. "Save me," Billy squeaked in a painful falsetto.

"Like this?" Zeke asked, playing along as he turned and grabbed Billy, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him against him.

"My hero," Billy squeaked. He didn't see the beanbag until Casey bonked him with it.

*****

Late afternoon sunlight slanted through the living room window but a gentle breeze kept the room pleasantly cool. Zeke lay stretched out on the sofa paging through a book on gardening while Billy ran his hands lightly over the piano, his fingers tracing the tiny cracks in the finish on the upright instrument.

They'd spent most of the day working outside, raking leaves and clearing out the flowerbeds along the house and the vegetable patch in the back yard. Billy had been thrilled to find nearly a dozen vegetable plants growing in the neglected garden. He insisted that most of them were tomato plants and thought the rest might be peas or beans. Zeke and Casey decided to take his word for it - they'd find out soon enough anyway.

Once the debris was dragged off to the compost pile, they showered and straightened the house, but they were reluctant to leave. They rested for a while, then Casey wandered off to the study without a word. He'd been in there for a while and Billy had to keep reminding himself that Casey needed time alone with the past. With a sigh, he pulled out the piano bench and sat, flexing his fingers before striking a soft chord.

He frowned at the slightly off-key sound. Definitely needed to be tuned. He tried middle C and nodded, glad that it wasn't completely out of tune. Hmmm... He played each note, letting the last one linger, and looked up to see Casey watching him intently.

Billy said nothing, just looked at Casey and waited. After a long moment Casey moved closer, as if compelled.

"Can you really play?" Casey asked so quietly Billy barely heard him.

"Hope so. I'd hate to think I wasted two years on lessons."

"Would you play something?"

"Wouldn't it be more interesting if I showed you?"

"Really?" The excitement tempered with caution made Billy's chest tight. Hadn't Casey's parents ever paid attention to him? Not even to drag him to dumb lessons or anything?

"Sure," Billy smiled and slid an arm around Casey's waist. "Move closer, it'll make this easier." Casey grinned and slid over until he was plastered against Billy. "Good now... put your left hand in your lap, put your right hand over mine and close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes. Here..." Billy guided Casey's left hand down and covered it with his hand. Then he slid his right hand under Casey's and matched their fingers as best as he could. He checked - Casey's eyes were closed.

"Good, now just listen."

Billy played middle C a few times, then ran a simple 5-note scale up and down. Finally he tapped out "Mary Had a Little Lamb".

"You like that?" Casey nodded, smiling. Billy looked over and was startled by Zeke's expression. He had abandoned the book and was sitting up, watching. Their gazes locked and held for a long moment before Zeke stood and walked closer.

"How about something more challenging?"

Casey opened his eyes and looked up, surprised to find Zeke taking a seat beside him on the piano bench. He fit himself tightly against Casey and turned a bit to place his left hand under Casey's.

"Eyes closed," Zeke reminded Casey, waiting until he complied before looking over at Billy and mouthing the title of the song he wanted to play. Billy grinned and nodded.

Billy counted out the tempo and then...

Billy and Zeke struck their notes together, pounding out "Chopsticks" to Casey's delight. He laughed, keeping his eyes closed and letting his hands be guided. It was like dancing with just his fingers, he decided, feeling giddy and light. Just like dancing.

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