"Summer was dead, but autumn had not yet been born when the ibis came to the bleeding tree. It's strange that all this is so clear to me, now that time has had its way. But sometimes (like right now) I sit in the cool green parlor, and I remember Doodle."
I was reading that story again, "The Scarlet Ibis" one. I wasn't quite sure why it intrigued me so much, but something about the language, the imagery, the feelings I got fom it just.... And I'm guessing that because it reminds me so much of Koda that I kept reading it over and over. The bird was a treasure bird- graceful and beautiful in a weird way. And fragile. At this point in her life, Koda is fragile. All I want is for her to be happy and loved. Andrew....
"...His motherfucking ass.."
"Whoa. What?" Bryan jerked beside me then leaned to see my phone screen. I snatched it away and looked at him weird.
"What? Get up off me faggot." I said to him.
"Who the hell you calling a faggot? Over there talking about a dude's ass and shit."
I squinted. "What are you talking about?"
Bryan shook his head. "You just said 'his motherfucking ass'."
I looked down. "Oh. I did?"
He nodded. "Sure did."
"Oh." I shrugged. "Well, I was just talking about Andrew."
"Son-of-a-bitch. I CANNOT stand that guy." Mikey commented from behind Jesse and Jer on the other couch adjacent to us.
"Tell me about it."
"So," Jeremy stood up and clapped his hands, staring at me. " I do believe you and I have business to settle."
"I don't recall asking for an ass woopen." I answered, a little taken aback.
He laughed. "No weirdo. Games? Video games?"
I nodded. "Oh yeah. Well, let's go. Time to beat you so far into the dirt you'll turn black."
"Um, Zach?" Jesse questioned me as Bryan moved and Jeremy came and sat beside me. I wiggled me eyebrows.
"Huh?"
"Dirt's not black."
"Some of it is!" Bry called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, see? He's taking up for me."
"Yeah, 'cause your little ass needs it."
"Whatever."
******************
Jesse's Thoughts
I was watching the guys play the newest Call of Duty and laughing everytime Zach died which was quite often.
"Face it Zach. You suck." I teased.
"Your mom."
"Yeah I'm sure she does." I rolled my eyes then turned around to see what the Mikester was up to. He was on Nike.com customizing shoes. I shook my head then stood slowly up and strolled lazily across the backside of the loveseat Zach and Jer were on. It had been about an hour since Koda and Zach's little session in the bathtub, and she hasn't come down at all. As I passed Zach, on my way to check up on her, I popped him in the side of his head, making him blow their cover and ruin the mission..
"Damn you Jesse!" he swatted at me and missed.
"You're welcome." I laughed then went on my way up the steps and down to the old Guest Room that is now Koda's. The whole hall up here still lingered in the scent of what was in the Master Bath, but it was light and pleasant. I came up on Koda's room and stepped inside, seeing the matching dresser that both Zach and I had sitting against the wall in the same position ours' were. I remember when we got those dressers. We were out scoping around town when I saw them in the window of a major furniture outlet. Three peices for like nine-hundred dollars. Beautiful beatiful works of craftsmanship these matching dressers with like mirrors were. Of course the guys were in no mood to haul each of them into a truck and back to our home, but they got over it. And besides myself, after we were on our way home with them, Zach decided he liked them too so we voted to keep one for each of us and put the other in the spare room on the top floor because no one else wanted the last one. I guess it all worked out just fine though.
