Curiosity {Joshler}

32. Pure - Wholesome and untainted.

After the encounter with his mother, Tyler sat at the kitchen counter and sketched. He was tempted to draw Josh again, but worried that his mother might see and ask him about it. Instead, Tyler aimlessly doodled a whole page full of tiny planets and stars.

The family was eating breakfast when Tyler's father looked up from his newspaper and frowned at his oldest son. "What's that on your lips?"

Tyler froze. Before he could even think of an excuse, Tyler's father unknowingly offered him one. "Is it lipstick?"

Quickly, Tyler nodded. Not seeming to care much about the idea, Tyler's father went back to his newspaper, and Tyler breathed a small, almost unnoticeable sigh of relief.

"I think you look lovely, Tyler," his mother commented with a kind smile as she took her son's empty plate. Embarrassed by his overbearing mother's praise, Tyler left the table.

He spent most of his morning in his room, reading. Tyler quite liked reading; it inspired him, gave him ideas for his own stories and poems, as well as ideas for songs. It also let him find new words, and memorize them for later use.

Around noon, Tyler finished his book, and set to drawing. By the time he was finished several hours later, there was a dozen pages in a row in his notebook featuring Josh's image. He drew Josh transmitting messages to his family in space, Josh greeting Tyler as he stood at the edge of the woods, Josh eating apple pie for the first time, Josh and Tyler watching the fireworks together, and finally, Josh and Tyler kissing.

The drawings gave Tyler a feeling of pure, sweet affection. He never wanted to let them go, nor the memories they gave him.