Zib's Kid

Chapter 2

He dressed up as quietly as he could and ran downstairs to apologize for being late. He didn't like the idea of leaving Mr. Hammer Junior alone for too long, so he explained that we would not be staying for too long either. He played a few songs and left as soon as he could.

The kitten was still sound asleep on the couch. Zib sighed deeply, put on his pajamas and got into bed. His sleeping routine was all messed up but after a few minutes he could feel himself already floating in blessed unconsciousness.

Then something woke him up. He blinked his eyes open and nearly had a heart attack when he saw the kid standing still right in front of him like a little sleep paralysis demon.

Jesus. What little light was left in the room was being reflected on his big blue eyes. This was normal for cats, but still. Even his little pointy, curled ears looked like a cartoon demon's horns.

Zib took a deep breath, reminding himself this was, actually, just a child of flesh and bone and asked "What, you can't sleep?"

The kid didn't answer, but Zib rolled back a bit and lifted the bedsheet. The little boy climbed into bed with him and curled into a bit of a ball, with his back against Zib's chest.

"...Am I supposed to tell you a story or sing you something?" he couldn't think of any fairy tales at the moment, he was more of a music guy. He guessed any romantic song could sound like a lullaby when whispered to a kid.

So, very low and with subtle intonation, he whispered.

"Singing mermaid songs when I fall asleep
If I know I'll wake with your love
Singing mermaid songs when I fall asleep
If I know I'll wake to your warmth

When you look at me slowly
You make time stop
Just closing my eyes
I can feel the song

I enjoy every second
And won't trade them for years
Since I know you are the joy
Planted into my heart

And when I walk on the streets
No tree can give me shadow
Because my smile shines
At night more than a lamp

And I know when you leave me
I can count myself lucky
Since you have loved me
Same as I do love you

Singing mermaid songs as I fall asleep..."

It was later in the day, when the sun was up, that Zib woke. As usual, he had rolled around and found himself sprawled with one leg hanging off the edge, one arm feeling kinda numb. He went to pass a hand through his face and found he couldn't. The kid had rolled around too and was lying on his arm. That's why it felt numb. He used his other hand to pass through his face.

Then he got up carefully so as not to wake the kid.

He made some coffee and toast, and lit himself a cigarette. While the coffee was brewing, his eyes focused on one of the messy drawings nailed around the sitting room. He took it off the wall and looked into it.

The circular scribbles that covered most of the page without a specific line or shape were hard to decipher. He guessed it was a person by the telltale triangles at the top that formed the ears, and a few more lines that could be the tail and legs. He went around the room collecting all of them. Then he noticed something. One thing that all the drawings had in common.

He walked back into the room. The kid was drowsily rolling in bed, getting tangled in the messy sheets, but probably awake.

"Rocky?" The boy looked at him. "Rocky Rickaby? Is that your name?"

Rocky didn't answer. He seemed caught off guard, like he had done something bad and was figuring out if he was supposed to run. Zib lifted the hand with the drawings and gave it a little wave.