Aviary // Joshler

// CHAPTER FIVE

Towards the end of dinner, Miss Lindsey clapped her hands together and announced that now seemed like a fine time to discuss how things worked at the Ballato estate, interrupting Tyler's thoughts. The brunette perked up, though, wanting to listen to the important things she had to say.

He would have school every weekday from ten until two, and he would be given textbooks to study with the other students in the dining room. For the most part, he would be left on his own, but if he needed any help, Miss Lindsey would be there. She expected him to turn in his work on time, and she would be giving him his grades. School, as well, ended on the first of May and began on the first of August.

Tyler would be expected to perform some chores, such as helping with the dishes and sweeping the floors. Other than that, his time was for him to do what he wanted with; the estate had a garden, a swimming pond, a library, and an attic.

There were some ground rules for Tyler as well. No fighting with the other children, certainly not physically. He must do his chores and turn in his assignments, and avoid harming anyone living there. He had to keep his room tidy and keep himself tidy as well. 

"If you follow the rules, you'll be given some rewards." Miss Lindsey smiled. "Tyler, did you ever go to public places with your mother while you lived at home?"

The boy nodded. His mother would take him to the public library, and he would help her with grocery shopping once a week. The birds would leave him alone if he went indoors--for the most part, that is.

"Alright, then. If you follow the rules, you'll be able to join the rest of us when we take outings outside of the estate, which we do about once a month. We do different activities--going to the zoo, the park, the public library, that sort of thing." Miss Lindsey took a breath, seeming slightly winded after her long speech. "So, does that sound good to you?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Good."

The conversation ended there, and Tyler went back to his food.

After dinner, he was instructed by Miss Lindsey to help Jenna wash the dishes, promising to add Tyler to the official chore schedule later. Thus, Tyler was left alone at the kitchen sink with the strange girl.

"I'll wash, you dry?" Jenna suggested, and the boy nodded in agreement.

"We haven't formally met, I guess," she added after they were starting to build a rhythm, with Jenna scrubbing a dish and handing it directly to Tyler, who would dry it with a dish towel before putting it on the drying rack. "I'm Jenna Black."

"I'm Tyler Joseph." He took the plate as she handed it to him. He was closer to her than he had been at the dining room table, and it was now clear, in fact, that she was covered with moths. The majority were in her hair, but one crawled across her upper arm, while two clung to her t-shirt, and another to her knee.

"If you're wondering about the moth thing," Jenna said, as if she knew what Tyler was thinking--oh, he hoped she couldn't read minds, too--"I don't understand it, either. They just flock to me."

"Are you empathetic with them?" Tyler asked curiously, carefully setting a glass on the drying rack.

Jenna shook her head. "Don't think so. Can't control them, either, they're just there."

"She's kinda like a giant light bulb!" yelled a voice from the stairs.

"That's still not funny, Brendon!" Jenna shouted in return, but she was laughing. Surprisingly, Tyler found himself laughing, too. Maybe he could fit in this place better than he'd originally thought.