If Angus had known how heavy the box was going to be, he wouldn't have filled it up so high. Opening the door was hard; keeping it open long enough to get through was a challenge. Everyone he passed smiled at him and said hello or backed up to let him by. The hallways that seemed to circle to nowhere eventually became a routine and they finally led somewhere. He knocked first to be polite then opened the door.
"Hey, Mal."
Malcolm looked up from his plate of eggs and toast. "Hello."
With a sigh Angus dropped the box on the little table beside the bed. He laughed to himself before turning to see Malcolm holding his hand out. Angus shook it.
"I don't think we've met."
"I have a forty year old footprint on my arse that says we have, Mal," Angus said retracting his hand. "I'm your brother."
Malcolm frowned. "Oh....huh. Did I ask for those?" He motioned towards the box.
"Ah, no," Angus said opening it. "These are from Linda...some are from Cliff." He pulled out a Chuck Berry record and set it on the bed. "Wife an' friend," he added seeing the confusion on his brother's face. "They sort of figured you'd want to listen to 'em instead of whatever the hell they have playin' here."
"It's alright," Malcolm said eating his toast. "A bit quiet but it helps me sleep." Taking an extra dusty record from the box Angus brought it over to the record player he bought for Malcolm's room. Sure, he could have played some music from a streaming service but where was the fun in that?
When he got it all set up Malcolm's eyes lit up. "This ain't bad," he commented. "Who is this?"
"This," said Angus pointing to the record on the bed. "is why we get up in the mornin'." Sitting at the foot of the bed he turned the record over and let Malcolm look over the setlist. His hands traced the sleeve.
"Shoulda listened to this guy a long time ago," Malcolm said. "He really knows how to play."
"So do you," Angus said smiling.
"Me? Nah. I'd like to, seein' as it's damn fine stuff. Huh." He set the record down and finished his breakfast. "Could you excuse me, I gotta get my stuff."
"Sure." Angus stood from the bed as Malcolm got up and walked to his dresser. The walls and furniture assisted his venture and his steps were small and precise...
A woman cheered as the ball made a dent in the net. A man ran down the length of the field and caught the laughing woman in his arms and kissed her on the cheek. "Another one for me, eh?"
"You've been getting them all morning," she said. "Couldn't you stand to have a bit of lunch?"
"Alright, alright." He gave the woman one last kiss before taking her hand in his. They walked together to the car park. "What are we havin', Linda?"
"Thought about steak and potatoes," she said.
"Sounds good."
"Or a chicken salad." Malcolm paused.
"Okay."
"Or smoked salmon." Malcolm stopped walking.
"Which is it?"
"None," Linda said hiding a grin. Malcolm stared at her. "I couldn't decide what to make so I threw together some turkey sandwiches. They're in the car."
"You know what?" Malcolm asked. "Anythin' you make is fine with me, an' I'm too fuckin' starvin' to care anyway." Linda laughed as Malcolm picked her up and carried her back to their car.
