Here Comes The Sun [wattys 2016]

AUGUST 2007

AUGUST 2007

"Have you cleaned your room?" Alex's mother calls out.

"Yes." Alex lies.

"Are you sure? I don't remember you cleaning it."
"I did, okay? Anyway, it's just Ronan. He's just here for two days, mom." Alex and his mother are waiting for Ronan's taxi to reach from the airport. Alex's mom had offered to pick Ronan up from the airport but he had declined, telling her that he would take a taxi.

It's a windy- almost cold- day. The sky is cloudless and drab but by now, Alex is used to the dullness of the town. He wonders how Ronan will take to it.

"I know, Alex. But he's coming all the way to see you." His mom looks at him over her magazine. "The least you can do it have him stay in a room which doesn't have underwear hanging off chairs."

"That is not true."

"I would know, wouldn't I?" She keeps her magazine face down on the table and walks up to the window. "I've picked it up."

Alex scowls at his mother and looks away. She had suggested giving Ronan the third bedroom but Alex had vetoed the idea almost immediately. The third bedroom still had his grandmother's things lying in it. It was rarely used so it still smelled of incense and almond moisturizer. It didn't seem right to make Ronan sleep in the same bed his grandma had. Anyway, Ronan and Alex were used to sharing rooms. Back when his dad had been around, Alex had spent countless nights at Ronan's in a row. His mom would send him off, so that he didn't have to be around his father because if anything in the world scared him, it was his dad.
Alex suspected that Ronan's parents felt bad for him. It was the only plausible reason they would let their son's friend stay at their house for so many days consecutively.

"Is that him?" Alex's mom asks. Alex walks up to the window to stand beside his mom. He peeps out.

A yellow taxi had just stopped in front of the house. A tall, sturdily built boy gets out of the backseat. He is dressed in a black jeans and an expensive red jacket. The red of his jacket looked even brighter in contrast to his dark skin. His black hair is cut short but not neatly. Alex knows that Ronan always cuts his own hair and hasn't let anyone touch his hair since fifth grade when a barber accidently shaved off the back of his head because he lost control of the razor.

The taxi driver opens the trunk and Ronan retrieves his suitcase. Alex watches him pay the driver and the taxi drives off, Alex rushes outside.

Ronan is hauling his suitcase toward the front door and when he sees Alex throw up the door and rush out, he lets go of the suitcase and grins.

Alex embraces his friend in a quick side-hug. Ronan smells like he always used to- of mint and fresh dirt as if he had been taking walks in the rain.

Finally, Ronan pulls back and grins at Alex. "This is a really depressing place."

"Tell me about it." Alex says. "How've you been?"

Ronan picks up his suitcase again. He puts one arm around Alex's neck. "Swell, man. You tell me."

"Good. I've been good."

Ronan looks around and surveys the house. "Nice place," he muses, even though all the furniture is the same as before. It's a nice house, Alex supposed, but Alex could never think of it as home.

"Thanks."

"Where's your mom? I've missed her more than you."

"Ha ha," Alex answers monotonously. He takes Ronan's suitcase from him and leads him into the kitchen, where his mom is still standing at the window with her hands clasped behind her back. Her face lights up into a warm smile as she sees Ronan. "Ronan!" She embraces Ronan, still smiling. He's almost a head taller than her and the crown of her head tickles his chin.