by C. Kennedy
Christy’s shout shot through his ear like a Roman candle gone bad. “Hey, babe.”
“Thimi has the first night with no bad dream!”
He moved the phone to the other ear, hoping to preserve what was left of his hearing. “Awesome.”
“You do not listen to me!”
“I am. I totally am.” He rolled over and put the pillow over his head.
“Thimi has the night with no bad dream!”
“I hear you, babe. That’s freakin’ awesome.”
“We can go to the painted horses today!”
Christy’s excitement was contagious, and Michael smiled to himself. “That’s epic. How was your night?”
“I sleeped. Oh. Wait. No. The word is slept, no?”
Michael couldn’t help it, he finally laughed. “It’s too early to care.”
“You sound as if you are far from me. Where are you?”
“Under my pillow.”
“Why are you there?”
“I always sleep like this.”
“You do not.”
“When you’re not with me, I do. What time do you want me to pick you up?”
“I changed the mind. We can go to the waterfront early?”
Now Michael felt threatened. “How early, babe?”
“When does this open?”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay. I call Lisa and I call you back.”
“Babe, it’s too ear—”
The line went dead.
Michael rolled onto his back, the pillow held to the side of his head, and prayed Lisa wouldn’t strangle him. The only other time he’d heard Christy so excited was when he’d seen his prom dress. He smiled to himself. It was going to be a good day. His phone rang again, and he looked at it. “Morning, bro. Christy called you too?”
“Phone calls like that constitute harassment.”
“See you in the kitchen.”
Michael stumbled out of bed to the bathroom and did his business. He quickly brushed his teeth, washed his face, and looked in the mirror. He was presentable enough for Jake and headed downstairs.
JAKE REACHED into the refrigerator for juice. “You know, it’s okay if my significant other wakes me at 5:00 a.m. It is not okay if yours does.”
Michael ran a tired hand through his hair and sat at the kitchen island. “It’s six.”
“Whatever.”
They drank juice in companionable silence until Michael’s phone rang, and they both jumped.
Jake shot Michael an annoyed look. “You are so lucky that’s yours.”
Michael smirked as he answered it. “Hey, babe.”
“Ten! Lisa says the painted horses open at ten! What time will you be here?”
“Nine.”
“Okay, I go to prepare. Do not be late, moro mou! S’agapó!”
“Love you too, babe.” Michael tossed his phone on the island.
Jake yawned. “Handle your guy.”
“I’m all over it,” Michael said with all the alacrity of a snail.
Jake’s phone rang, Michael shot a pointed look at him, and Jake rolled his eyes. “Ciao, bella.”
“Christy wants to be at the waterfront by ten to ride the carousel. I’m going directly to Wellington. What time will you be there?”
Jake rubbed a hand over his face and glanced at Michael. “What time do you want to pick them up?”
“Nine.”
“Nine,” Jake repeated.
“I’ll be there by eight thirty. Love you. Bye!”
Jake glared at Michael. “We are so not in control of this day, bro.”
“Nope.”
THIMI GASPED as he watched Sophia exit the town car that had driven her up from the city. “Didyma!” His exclamation was hoarse, soft, in spite of his excitement.
Christy smiled at the Greek word for twins. “You see? She is like me. You will like her.”
Sophia greeted Christy with a kiss to his cheek and spoke in Greek. “Kaliméra, agapiméne mou.”
“The drive is good?”
“Yes, and Ariel is comfortable with the new security. It was no problem for me to leave.”
“This is good. Thimi is excited to see you.”
She smiled at him. “Hello, Thimi. It is nice to meet you. Christy says very good things about you.”
Thimi continued to stare at her, still surprised by the resemblance.
She laughed softly. “We surprise most people.”
Thimi’s cheeks hued a light pink, and Christy smiled wider. “It is okay to be surprised, adelfáki mou. Come. Give her what you find.”
Thimi held a dandelion out to her with a trembling hand.
“We listen to the song of Tara Kennedy, Dandelion, and I show him what it is. He make the wish many times, and he find one for you.”
She accepted it. “Thank you, it is beautiful. Shall I make a wish?” He stared at her. She closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew. Thimi started as the seed heads floated away on the breeze, and she giggled.
“Come, Thimi. We go inside and speak of painted horses.”
MICHAEL KNOCKED once, and he and Jake entered Christy’s cabin. Without warning, Christy jumped into his arms. “Hey, babe! Watch the ribs!”
“We will have the good day!”
“Yep, let’s rock!”
“Okay, I bring the extra clothes for Thimi and the wheelchair. This is okay?”
“Yeah, but why do you have the wheelchair?”
“He is weak and cannot walk the long distance. The chair also helps with the people not touching.”
“Okay.”
Rob came around the kitchen island and held a small plastic bag out to Michael. “The medication is labeled.”
Michael nodded as he took it from Rob. “Any pointers?”
“Be prepared to come home early.”
“No prob.”
Sophia kissed Jake’s cheek. “Thank you for coming early.”
Jake smiled and pecked her lips but didn’t say anything. He still wasn’t over Christy’s 6:00 a.m. wake-up call.
Thimi and Zero sat at opposite ends of the couch, eyes keenly observing them. Thimi wore purple sweats and rainbow high-tops with sparkly laces.
“Great shoes, man!” Michael complimented.
Thimi almost smiled a full smile.
Zero wore black leather from head to toe. “Dude? Do you have a T-shirt? You’re going to be hot in that.”
Zero merely looked at him.
Okaaaaay.
“I have the long-sleeved T-shirt for him in with the clothes of Thimi. We can hit on the road,” Christy said, his excitement palpable.
Michael chuckled. “Let’s do it!”
Tad popped open the trunk of the limousine and loaded the wheelchair and backpack full of clothes. Christy climbed into the car first, Thimi followed, and Zero froze at the back door of the car.
“You okay?” Michael asked quietly.
Zero seemed to mull an answer over, then ignored Michael and climbed in. The three of them filled the backseat facing forward, and Jake, Sophia, and Michael climbed in to sit facing the back of the car. Tad closed the door, and Zero suddenly appeared inordinately pale and began to perspire.
“Hold up, Tad,” Michael called through the privacy window opening. He turned back to Zero and leaned forward, elbows on knees. “Zero, you’re looking stressed. Are you all right?”
Zero eyed him now, his expression one of desperation.
“Look. If you need anything, you can tell us. We’re into making things easy for you.”
Christy leaned around Thimi to look at him. “Zero?”
Zero glanced at Christy, apprehension radiating from him like the rays of a molten sun.
“We help with the terrible things. Say what is the problem, and we will fix this.”
Zero looked away, silent.
Thimi said something softly in Greek, and Christy glanced at him before turning back to Zero. “Zero, do you like to sit in the front of the car?”
>
Zero turned back to Christy now. “Yeah. If I can.”
“Okay, like this, it is easy. We move you to the front.”
Michael was on it instantly. “Tad, we need to move Zero to the front seat.”
“No problem.”
Michael reached and pushed the car door next to Zero open. “There you go, man.” Michael followed Zero out of the car.
Tad opened the front passenger door and Zero climbed in, now far less ashen than he’d been a minute ago.
Michael reached for the seat belt strap and held it out to Zero, who hesitated. Michael squatted and looked up at him. “Listen. None of us will ever get into your personal shit. But know that if you need anything—anything—no matter how small, just ask. Nothing is too stupid or weird or embarrassing with us.”
Zero looked down at his hands.
“Don’t try to be brave all at once. We’ll help you, and before you know it, you’ll be handling things like they never bothered you.”
Zero met his eyes.
“Seriously. Ask for anything. Whisper it, pull on my shirt, point, I don’t care. Same with Jake and Sophia.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Michael offered what he hoped was a comforting smile. “Have you ever been on carnival rides?”
Zero shook his head.
“Some might look scary. Just say you don’t want to do them, and we’ll hang with you, okay?”
Zero nodded reluctantly.
“How are you with a lot of people around you?”
Zero shrugged.
“It’s hard for Christy to be around a lot of people, and he says it’s hard for Thimi too. So if it gets uncomfortable, just say the word, okay?”
Zero nodded.
“One more thing, and this may sound weird, but I’m going to say it anyway. Sometimes it’s better if you hold somebody’s hand. You can hold anybody’s hand.”
Zero studied him intently.
“Seriously, man. Sometimes the connection just helps you feel safe, so do it.”
“Jake won’t get weird?”
Michael shook his head. “Jake is totally okay with it. Totally. So don’t sweat it.”
“’Kay. Um, can I use the bathroom before we leave?”
Michael smiled and stood. “Go for it, and take your time.” Zero jumped out of the car and headed up the porch steps. Michael leaned back through the rear door. “Anyone else need to use the bathroom?”
Thimi awkwardly unbuckled his seat belt and Christy moved his knees aside to make way for him to leave the car.
Michael held the door wide and looked at Rob over the top of the car. “Last minute pit stops.”
Rob nodded.
Michael leaned down into the car. “Zero’s scared.”
“Thimi explains he has the bad abuse in the car many times,” Christy said.
“I sort of got that, but it’s more than that, I think.”
Christy’s brow knitted in concern. “What is the problem?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll handle it. He’s never been on any carnival rides.”
“Do you say he can not do the ride and may hold the hand?”
Michael smiled. “Yeah, babe.” He turned to Jake. “I told him you and Sophia are cool with holding hands too.”
Jake nodded and gave Michael a thumbs-up, and Sophia smiled but looked concerned. “Of course. Both Zero and Thimi did well with me this morning. I’d be happy to hold hands.”
“Thanks, Sophia.”
Zero and Thimi came down the porch steps, and Michael noticed that Zero was attentive, seeming to wait at the bottom of the steps for Thimi. He smiled to himself and hoped a friendship was developing between them.
Once everyone was in the car, Michael patted the divide between the front and back areas of the car. “Let’s do it.”
CHRISTY WAS nearly bouncing in his seat when they arrived at the waterfront. “Okay, like this, we will do the walk slow to the carousel,” he assured Thimi.
Zero turned to look into the back of the car. “I’ll push him.”
Christy gestured with a hand. “If it is what Thimi wish, this is good.”
Thimi looked at Christy, seeming to seek his approval.
“It is what you wish, and you may change the mind as you wish.”
Thimi said something in Greek, and Christy smiled. “Okay, like this, Zero push you.”
The smile on Thimi’s face was the first genuine smile Michael had seen, and it gave him hope that all would be well once Thimi adjusted to being at Wellington.
WHEN THEY arrived at the waterfront, Tad quickly exited the car, opened the trunk, and Michael was quick to pull the wheelchair out and wheel it to Thimi. “Ready?”
A smile filled Christy’s face as he helped Thimi into the chair. “This is good?”
Thimi nodded.
“Okay, like this, we put the backpack on the chair.” Christy took it from Tad’s hands and stretched the straps, placing one over each handle. Satisfied, he looked out at the water, mesmerized by the view.
Michael worried Christy was thinking of the night atop the Ferris wheel. “Memories?”
Christy nodded slowly, his eyes still on the water. “I miss the water.” He turned to Michael. “I wish to paint this.”
Michael sighed a silent sigh of relief. “We can come back anytime.”
Christy ignored the comment and turned to Zero. “Okay, you push. If you are tired, I will push.”
“’Kay.”
Christy looked up at Michael. “Moro mou, the foot is better but I may have the small trouble. You will help me?”
“You know it, babe.”
“Okay, this is good.” He touched the screen on the phone a few times until he found a carousel. He set the video to play and handed it to Thimi. “This is what you will ride today.”
Thimi held the phone, spellbound by the music and moving image, and Zero peered over his shoulder. “How big is it?”
Christy smiled. “Very big.”
“How big?” Zero repeated.
Michael chuckled. “It’s about thirty feet wide and twenty feet tall.”
Zero’s eyes went wide.
Jake offered Sophia a hand. “We’ll prove it.”
Christy took Michael’s hand, and they walked and wheeled along the waterfront until Christy spotted Lisa. “Lisa is just there.”
Jake shielded his eyes from the morning sun. “She said she was working here this summer.”
“Oh, I forget this.”
Michael waved, and Lisa waved back enthusiastically as she and George approached, big smiles filling their faces.
“Thought you guys would never get here, Christy! It’s great to see you, Thimi. Zero, you too. How you both doing?”
Thimi merely looked up at her, and Zero shrugged a shoulder.
Christy beamed, his face filled with a smile. “Thank you, Lisa. Everyone is good.”
“Cool. There’s no one here yet, and Smitty said the first ride is just for you guys.”
“That’s seriously nice of him.”
“You know how he is, Mike. Especially with kids who’ve never been on rides before.”
“It’s still seriously nice.”
“Come on, he’s waiting for you!”
They arrived at the carousel to find Smitty standing at the gated entrance and sporting a huge grin.
“Hey, Michael! Christy! Jake! Sophia!”
Thimi looked utterly captivated by the beautiful carousel, his eyes as big as saucers as he looked up at it.
“Wow,” Zero said, pronouncing the single-syllable word as if it had two.
“Hello, Mr. Smitty. I have the good friends with me. This is Thimi, and Zero pushes the chair.” He gestured to Smitty. “This is Mr. Smitty, the uncle of Lisa and Gavin. He is the very good person and protects the young people like us.” Thimi looked confused, and Christy quickly translated.
Smitty smiled wide. “Nice to meet you. Ready to take a ride?”
Thimi stood from the
chair, and Christy held a hand out to him. “May we have the few minutes to choose the painted horse?”
“Sure. First time on, I’d put them on standers.”
“On what?”
“I’ll show you.” Smitty led them to the carousel. “Step on up and feast your eyes on the flying horses!”
“The horses fly?” Zero asked.
Smitty chuckled. “When the carousel was first invented, it didn’t have a platform, and the horses hung from chains.” Smitty pointed up. “When it turned, centrifugal force caused the horses to fly out. They’ve been called flying horses ever since.”
Christy’s eyes went wide. “This sounds dangerous.”
Smitty winked. “Not a bit. Go ahead and pick your horse.”
“Which are the… the stand ones?”
“They’re on the outside row, with two or four feet on the ground. They don’t move up and down.”
Christy turned to Thimi and Zero. “Okay, like this, you find the horse you like.” He quickly translated for Thimi, who still stared in awe up at the carousel.
Michael gestured them forward. “Let’s walk around the outside of it. That way they can see all the decorations.”
Lisa grinned. “The decorated side of the horse is called the romance side ’cause it’s what everybody sees when the carousel turns.”
“This is the good idea. Come.” Christy led Thimi around the carousel, and Zero followed.
Thimi said something in Greek, and Christy smiled. “He says he does not know which of the horse to choose. All are beautiful.”
“Start with the color,” Sophia suggested.
“Black,” Zero said quickly.
Michael laughed softly. “How’d I know you were going to choose black?”
Zero almost smiled.
“Which horse do you like, Thimi?” Jake asked.
Thimi pointed to a buckskin horse festooned with brightly painted roses and a wild mane.
“A prancer!” Smitty announced. “A fine choice. Step on up here and let’s get you up on your horse.”
Christy led Thimi onto the platform and guided him around to the far side of the horse. “Okay, like this. Put the hand here, and the left foot here.” He pointed to the grip in the mane and the stirrup.
Thimi complied, his small stature making the placement of his foot awkward.