Rotham Manor

Something New

"Silas, you want to play with me and Susanna?"

"Indeed!" Silas said, smiling.

"Silly's going to play with us!"

"Silly can be momma doll!"

"No! He can be father doll!"

"How about I play both!"

"Not fair!"

Silas, "..."

He sighed and waited as his sisters discussed the problem. He loved them dearly but sharing was never a strong virtue with those two. When they came into an agreement (Silas was to narrate the dolls' actions), Helga appeared with steaming tea.

"Stewart and Sloan wished to know if Young Master Silas would like to join them for a game of chess."

"Tell them that they'll be better off without me unless they wish to have two uninvited guests," Silas responded.

Helga nodded and disappeared down the hallway. Silas sighed.

The Rotham children always wanted to Silas accompany them as he was the middle child. Stewart, Stella, and Sloan were the eldest while Sally, Susanna, and Soren were the youngest. As far as back as Silas remembered, all of his siblings have been in his life. He once asked how anybody knew who was the oldest but none of them never knew a life without one of their siblings.

"It simply is so," Stewart said.

"Silly, I don't understand that question," Sally said.

"... Wah!" Soren cried.

Silas, "..."

He gave up on asking and continued his routine of eating, sleeping, playing, reading, and thinking. Until he met Leo.

Leo was unlike anyone Silas knew (which were limited). His manner of speech for instance fascinated him and his clothes were peculiar. His breeches (if you can even call those cloths that) and top felt similar to the top layer fabric that his older sisters used on their dresses while his shoes came with thin ropes looped through numerous holes. In return, Leo called the nightdress a woman's apparel. Indeed it seemed as though the more Leo talked the more astounded Silas felt. By the time Leo left, Silas couldn't bear to imagine not seeing him despite Leo promising he'll come back.

Thankfully he did come back several days later but this time he was in long sleeves. He emerged from the garden less clumsily and even had a few parcels tucked under his arm.

"Silas! I brought maps that show my world!" Leo said.

"Very well. Come to my room," Silas said beaming.

The two boys raced towards Silas' room. Leo went in first and spread the maps on the mahogany table. Silas pulled out the matching chairs and indicated for Leo to sit down.

"This map shows the town. Over there that map shows the region. To my right is a map that shows the country. The last one shows the world," Leo said.

Silas' eyes went toward the biggest map. He stared at the big prints and smaller prints that were on top of each chunk of green. It was difficult to read it since a lot of different vein-like lines squiggled throughout the paper too.

"Those are rivers, roads, and lakes. The red dots are the capitals of each country and in this corner is a compass," Leo explained. "Now that I have shown and told you about my world, it's time for you to tell me about yours."

"I live with my parents, six siblings, a maid, a butler, and a manservant," Silas started.

"How old are you guys then?" Leo asked.

"Old? What do you mean?"

"Like what number of years are you?"

"We don't label ourselves as numbers," Silas said confused.

"No-no. Your age is like an attribute of yourself just like how you have green eyes that look like a forest," Leo explained.

"I don't know," Silas said.

"So you have six other siblings? That's a whole lot," Leo remarked.

"Really? Do you not have siblings?"

"No. My parents said after seeing how many kids my uncles and aunts were having, they decided one would be enough."

"What are uncles and aunts?"

"You don't-oh never mind! Tell me about your siblings."

"Stewart, Stella, and Sloan are the oldest and Sally, Susanna, and Soren are the youngest."

"Hold up! You said you don't have number attributes but you have oldest and youngest attributes? Who determines that type of stuff?" Leo interjected.

"I am perplexed as you are. I tried to ask but no one seems to remember a time when one of us wasn't present from another including myself," Silas said.

"Silas, you live in a weird world."

"I believe it can be said for you as well."

The two of them then lapsed into a considerably long silence until Matthew the manservant announced it was supper time. Silas watched Leo closely to see how his companion would react with the rest of the family.

Sullivan Rotham sat at the head while Sybil sat at the foot. The older Rotham children including Silas sat at their father's right side of the table while the younger Rothams sat at the left side. Leo was placed with the younger children and faced directly across from Silas.

"Leo, is the supper to your liking?" Sybil asked wiping her mouth.

"Yes ma'am! The food is great!" Leo replied.

At this, Helga strode over and gave Leo another portion. When he finished that helping, Helga once again came silently and filled his plate again. Leo looked at Silas helplessly.

"Helga, Leo will become sick if fed too much," Silas announced.

"Very well, Young Master Silas."

Once supper was cleared away by Matthew, everyone followed the butler Brahm to the evening room. Sullivan and Stewart lit matches while Sybil and the older daughters did delicate needlework. Sally and Susanna played dolls as Soren took his evening nap. Silas would have normally stared out the balcony but tonight he brought his chessboard to play against Leo.

"Well, I have to go back before my mom gets angry," Leo said after losing his seventh round of chess.

Silas dreaded those words but he forced a smile as he got up. The two boys walked toward the garden. Leo suddenly stopped and stared at the night sky.

"Isn't this cool? I noticed that you always have stars," Leo whispered.

"Indeed. It is beautiful," Silas murmured.

"Hey, you sound a bit sad. Everything's okay?" Leo asked. "I'll always visit you. I promise. Look over there. You see that group of stars? That's the Leo constellation. Every time you see that you can always remind yourself of that promise and pretend I am watching and remembering you."

Silas nodded. He looked at the stars that Leo was talking about. He then heard some leaves rustle and when he turned around, Leo wasn't there anymore.

Leo...