Brothers 3

Chapter 23

James wandered the house at high speed for a good thirty minutes, milling in and out of rooms. Mrs Greene watched him as he passed her but she didn't say a word. after all these years living with him and his family she must have known better than to approach him when he was in this mood. When they were younger Robert was the only person who had ever tried to calm him down when he was in a strop. Thinking of his older brother made James wish he was here. Robert was always on his side, no matter if he was wrong or right.

Without even thinking about it he found himself in Robert's room. The furniture was covered in sheets, Robert hadn't slept in here for years. When he moved away Richard hadn't changed a thing. Just like James's room it was left as if he was going to walk in at any moment and pick up where he left off.

There was a large bed with the windows across from it. The curtains were drawn back letting the sunlight in. A dresser was against the same wall as the door. James went around and took the sheets off. Years old dust tickled his nose. He balled up the sheets and threw them out the door into the hall.

The midnight blue bedcovers were smooth as stone, untouched in so long. The wooden floor creaked beneath his feet and he settled on the floor under the windowsill. It was where he and Robert used to sit when they were kids.

His mind drifted back to that time. He could see Robert to his right. His hair was thick and combed back out of his face. His chin was a little chubby, baby weight left over as he moved into adolescent. James was seated next to him with his knees pulled up to his chest. He was wearing denim dungarees and chewing on his lower lip. The room was the same as it was now but there were comics and books stacked along the cabinets and hidden under the bed. James knew there were a few toys under there too. Robert had hidden them in here because James wanted to keep them but was scared that their Father would find them and punish him. He searched Robert's room way less often than James's or Eddie's.

"Is he still out there?" James whispered.

Robert arched his back and peeked out the window. He was still for a moment, like a meercat poking out of a hole in the ground. All of a sudden he dropped down again.

"He is out there!"

"Did he see you?" James's heart kicked up a notch and he knotted his hands together between his knees.

Robert crept higher, putting his eyes above the windowsill just enough to see. "I don't think so. He didn't stop."

James huffed out a breath. Thank god for that.

"I will keep an eye out don't worry. He won't find us."

James bit harder on his lip. "I didn't mean to do it."

Robert laughed, making James jump. He wished he wouldn't make sudden noises.

"I know that," he said, "and I think he knows too."

It won't stop him giving James the worst Chinese burn ever. James shuddered as a ghost of the sharp stinging started in his arm. Eddie was the worst and James would have suffered a fate worse than death for breaking his watch if Robert hadn't found him and hidden him. James had only wanted to try it on. It was a gift from their father for his tenth birthday. It was gold and shiny, like buried treasure. James had never seen anything like it. When he asked Eddie if he could see it he had said sure then ripped it away at the last second. James had no choice but to go and find it himself. It had been huge on one arm so James had wondered if it would fit around both of his wrists. One minute he was squirming trying to get it around his arms, the next the clasp snapped and a piece of it rolled under the dresser. It was not his fault.

Robert was watching him while he thought, and James's face heated with a blush when he realised he had been staring into space for a while. Robert must think he is lame.