SPECTRAL

Chapter 11

 Transitioning is a hard process, especially if you are Parker. The boy's life had seemed set in stone when he was in the orphanage. He was told countless times that he had little hope for adoption, so he never expected his life to change. He was so used to the ways of the orphanage that when Noah mentioned him going to a public school, Parker had tensed. After inquiring the young boy, Parker confessed that he never went to school. At the orphanage, he was always homeschooled. That's how they did it there. So Parker was terrified of the prospect. And he had a right to be.

The first day of school was stressful for the both of them. For Parker, it was the new experience and the unknown that stressed him out. For Noah, it was the possibilities and what ifs.

When Parker returned home and flung his backpack onto a couch, he was immediately interrogated by Noah. "How was it? Did you make any friends? Were they nice, do you like your teachers? What's your schedule? Did you see any ghosts? If you did, did you make any indication that you saw them?" He continued spewing out questions until he was out of breath.

The small boy couldn't help but grin at his overprotective brother, "I think I made some friends." Then his eyebrows furrowed as he thought back, "But they were kind of mean. Is that normal for living friends?"

Mildred, who was listening to the two, instantly cut in, "Were they mean in general or mean to you?"

Parker bit his lip as he nervously responded, "I guess both? They laughed at me a lot, but they could just be laughing at the jokes I told! Yeah, they laughed at my jokes, not at me." Noah and Mildred looked at each other, he really wasn't that convincing.

"Parker," Noah began, "They didn't make fun of you at all, did they?"

His heart fell at Parker's response, "Well, I don't think they did it on purpose."

This was the moment Anthony, who cared for the boy he saw as his son, joined the conversation, "What did they do?" His usually gruff voice had deepened with concern.

Parker hesitated, burrowing himself deep into his oversized sweater, "Well..." He paused, "They kept pointing out my skin." At that, everyone in the room bristled with fury. There were outraged cries from Noah, Joey, and Josh. An enraged screech from Mildred, and a roar from Anthony. Claire and Mia, who are usually more on the tame side, were ready to kill.

Anthony gritted out, "They are not your friends."

"But they were the only ones who actually wanted to speak with me! Everyone else just-"

"I said they are not your friends!" And he was right. Friend's don't make fun of differences, they embrace them.

---

Ever since that day, school had become a sore topic. Noah had wanted to take Parker out immediately, but after the motherly coaxing of Mildred, he knew he couldn't. Parker needed an education and he wouldn't be able to provide it. He just didn't have the time.

Parker refrained from talking about the school day. The only times he mentioned it was when he was talking about how nice his teachers were. Noah could tell that his 'friends' still hung out with him. Parker's usually bright grin had slowly faded, his favorite yellow sweater had made its way back into the closet and was hardly worn. Noah hated it, he hated that his Parker, his brother, was going through this and he could do nothing to help.

Today, Parker had returned home with tears in his eyes. As soon as Noah saw, a lump formed in his throat. Never once has he seen the happy child cry, he never wanted to see it again. Charley, who had been waiting at the door for Parker like he did every day, had instantly jumped into Parker's arms and began to lick his tears away. Just like he used to do with Noah.

Joey and Josh instantly ran over to him. The two troublemakers embraced him in a tight hug. Mia disappeared as the two comforted the young boy. As soon as Parker calmed down, Noah prodded, "What happened?"

"Do I belong?" None of them had been expecting that.

Mildred coughed, "What do you mean, do you belong?"

"They- They said that I shouldn't be going to school because I don't fit in." He paused then added, "Do you think it's possible to make my skin white?"

Anthony snarled, "Of course you belong. Your skin color doesn't change who you are, what you are."

"I'm the only one there that isn't white!" Parker cried out.

"I'm not white." Was the sharp reply from the elderly man.

"But you're dead!"

Everyone froze. Parker, who had just realized what he said, stumbled backward. Tears filled his eyes again as he stuttered an apology. Right when he was about to dart out of the house, Mia returned. In her arms was some canvases, brushes, and some paint.

"Why don't you paint? It will help." The young girl spoke, "I know it helped me while I was in the hospital and it has helped Noah as well. So why don't you paint?"

Parker was breathing heavily, his hand on the doorknob. After a couple of moments, he withdrew his hand and turned to Noah, "You paint?"

Noah nodded, "But I prefer to draw." Realizing something, he gestured to the paintings on the wall, "I painted these around the time I moved here."

"Can you teach me?" The small boy's voice cracked.

A small smile grew on Noah's pale face, "Yeah, but I must warn you, I'm not the best painter." Parker gave a feeble laugh, still shaking slightly from what he had said.

With that, the two brothers took the supplies from Mia and set up on the floor. They didn't notice when all of the ghosts left them to paint in peace.

"Why don't we paint each other?" Noah offered, looking at Parker's puffy face. The boy nodded.

The two began to paint. Parker would occasionally ask questions and Noah would answer him. In the end, Parker didn't need as much help as he had expected. His portrait of Noah was messy and colorful. He had painted his older brother grinning, freckles littering his face. Parker used a lot of pinks, oranges, and yellows. Sure, Noah's teeth were messed up, the eyes were crooked, and the hair was a little too wild, but it was perfect. And Noah had painted a portrait of Parker with flowers in his hair. He used a lot of yellows and reds, bringing out the warmth of his little brother. Again, the portrait was messy, but everything was painted with care. Parker's nose may have been a little too large and his ears a little too small, but once again, it was perfect.

Parker had calmed down after they painted. As soon as he saw the two portraits side by side, his usual grin returned. "They look nice."

Noah looked at the two paintings and then back at Parker, "They are perfect." Grinning, he spoke, "Once they dry, we'll hang them up right here," The tall teenager pointed towards an empty space on the wall behind the couch. "And we will be able to see them every day."

With those words, Parker flung himself at Noah and hugged him tightly. Repeatedly, he murmured, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Pulling his younger brother closer, he spoke gently, "It was no problem. I can show you where I keep the paints and all the supplies later. You're free to use them whenever you want, especially if it helps." He paused before adding thoughtfully, "Maybe we could designate a night where we just paint together. How does that sound?"

"Perfect."

They stood in silence for a minute before Noah spoke once more, "Just remember that friends come and go, okay?" Parker looked up at his brother curiously, "Don't hang out with people who are toxic just because they are the only ones that seem to want to befriend you. Eventually, your true friends will come."

"Do you have any true friends?"

"No. But I have my family, and now you do too."