problematic ➳ reddie

46

may ❀ age 13 -14

the rain was hitting against every window in Derry, thunder growling above the dark clouds. bill was folding a paper boat for his little brother, coughing a bit as he did so.

"sure I won't get in trouble bill?" georgie asked after drawing a smiley face on the fogged window.

"don't be a wuh-wuss" bill looked up. "I'd come wuh-with you ih-if I weren't-" he fake coughed. "dying"

"you're not dying" georgie exhaled, still worry in his voice. he stood up from bill's chair and walked closer to the bed.

"you didn't see the v-vomit coming out o-of my nose this morning?" bill smiled a little and gestured with his hands.

"that's disgusting" georgie scrunched his nose and looked at the paper boat which was almost done.

"okay, go get the wax" bill said and pointed at his door.

"in the cellar?" georgie asked hesitant.

"you want it to fuh-fuh-float, don't you?" bill asked.

"fine" georige sighed and grabbed his walkie-talkie from the table and exited the room, leaving bill sitting on his bed, finishing the boat. he wrote S S Georgie on the side with a black marker.

his mother's piano playing could be heard from downstairs, the rain mixing to it perfectly. bill stuck his lip between his tongue as he looked at the boat, happy how it turned out.

then he grabbed his walkie-talkie, pressing the on button. "georgie, h-hurry up" he said and got up from the bed. he heard georgie breath silently on the other line and saying a small yes.

bill went to his table, sat down and held the boat in his hands.

soon georgie ran in the room, making bill flinch a bit.

"here you go" he sighed and gave bill the wax. the older one took it and began sliding the brush against the sides of the paper.

then he smiled a little and gave it to georgie. "alright. there you go. s-she's already captain"

"she?"

"we cal buh-boats s-she" bill explained.

"she." georgie smiled. "thanks billy"

he hugged his brother, bill wrapping his arms around the smaller one, smiling fondly. he softly tickled georgie's sides, making the other giggle.

"see you later" georgie grinned and ran out of the room. bill watched out of the window, seeing georgie run out in a yellow raincoat few minutes later.

bill grabbed his walkie-talkie and pressed the on button again. "be careful" he said. georgie waved his hand at him. bill looked how he ran along the street.

then he sighed, sitting back down. the phone was ringing faintly in downstairs. his mother picked it up.

"bill! it's for you!" his mother yelled. bill furrowed his brows, putting his robe back on and walking downstairs. he grabbed the phone from his mother's hand and put it on his ear.