In the morning I was still puzzled by my dream. I said my prayer to Mark before I got dressed and went to breakfast. I thought perhaps I should talk about my dreams to the men, but there was no opportunity that morning.
When Tyler came downstairs for breakfast, his face looked better, although some bruising was still evident.
Over breakfast Peter asked Tyler how he had slept.
“It’s the best sleep I’ve had for a long time,” he replied.
I asked the men if it would be okay for Tyler to stay for a few days, and they assured both of us that it was fine. They made bag lunches for the two of us, and we drove to school.
“Thanks for helping me,” Tyler said as we rode.
“Glad to,” I said.
In the school hallway, I saw Cormac with a girl I didn’t know. He introduced her to me as Sheri. She was quite pretty, in a teen girl sort of way. She had a nice smile and a cute little laugh.
At dismissal time, Tyler and I met again at the school exit and drove to Osterville. As we rode, I said to Tyler, “There’s something I need to discuss with Peter and Christian when we get there. Do you think you could make yourself scarce for a bit?”
“Sure,” he said. “I have a lot of homework tonight, so I’ll just go upstairs and work on it.”
At the house, after Tyler had excused himself, I told Peter and Christian that I needed to discuss something.
We sat at the kitchen table, and I asked, “Do you believe that dreams mean something?”
“Do you mean daydreams or sleeping dreams?” asked Peter.
“Sleeping ones.”
“Well, I think that dreams are sometimes reflective of things we have on our minds, things we may not even be aware of in our waking state.”
I told them about my dreams. I don’t think they were at all surprised that Mark was always in my dreams, but they were intrigued that Cormac and Tyler were also there.
“I have no idea what that means,” I said.
“Didn’t Mark tell you to look for a new partner?” asked Christian.
“Yes. But I don’t think I’m doing that. I know now that Cormac is straight, and I’m really not attracted to Tyler.”
“Has Mark said anything about them in your dreams?” asked Peter.
“No. He seems to get along with them okay, but he’s never said anything about them.”
“Maybe that’s because he wants you to think for yourself.”
“Maybe. I just don’t know.” I sighed and went upstairs to do some homework before supper.
Just as I sat at my desk, Tyler came into my room. “Richard, I’m having some trouble with my math. Could you help me?”
He showed me the problem he was working on, and I quickly spotted what he was doing wrong. I showed him and then encouraged him to try another problem. He did, and after a little thought, got the problem right. He thanked me and returned to his room while I began some English homework.
Although we were in the middle of winter, there hadn’t been much snow to date. That was not unusual on the Cape. Because our temperatures were moderated by the ocean, the air was often warm enough to prevent snow falling and water freezing. So when storms piled up snow in the state, we usually got less or sometimes none at all.
But that night we had quite a storm, which dropped nearly a foot of snow on the Cape.
I was awakened at about 4:00 in the morning by the sound of Tim’s truck plowing our driveway. I got up and looked out the window, watching him drive back and forth. The snow was still falling and the wind was howling, blowing the snow so it flew almost horizontally. I knew he would be back for a second pass later in the day.
Before going back to sleep, I turned off my alarm, because I was certain there would be no school in the morning. Sure enough, we had a snow day. Snow days are a much-anticipated event in our part of the country. Schools are closed for the day, yet kids manage to find their way to hills, often on a golf course, where they can ride sleds and toboggans down the slopes. If the snow is wet enough, friendly snowball fights erupt, usually followed by hot cocoa.
When I awoke, I dressed and went downstairs to scare up some food. Both men were sitting at the kitchen table, so I joined them. Christian gave me a plate full of scrambled eggs, sausages, and toast and Peter poured me a mug of coffee.
Tyler soon joined us. He asked, “Do we need to shovel the snow?”
“Only the walk from the house to the street,” I said. “Tim has already plowed the driveway once.”
“Who’s Tim?”
“My older brother. I guess you haven’t met him yet.” I explained to Tyler about Tim and where he lived.
After we finished breakfast, Tyler and I put on jackets, hats, and boots, and went to the garage, where we got shovels. Although Tyler was smaller than either of the men, they managed to find snow gear which he could wear. As we worked, the sun was just beginning to peer out from behind the clouds.
Our work done, we stuck our shovels standing upright in the snow, and reached down for handfuls of the stuff. Soon we were engaged in a snowball fight, giggling and throwing as fast as we could.
When we stopped, we were soaked and shivering. We put away the shovels and went into the house, where Peter made hot chocolate with marshmallows for us.
Upstairs, we both stripped and got into the hot shower. I realized that I had never seen Tyler naked, nor had he seen me. Furthermore, I had not showered with another boy other than Joey since Mark had gotten sick.
We took our time, sharing the water and chatting about nothing. Tyler seemed nervous at first, and his chatter was almost nonsensical. I wasn’t nervous, but I was intrigued that our joint shower happened so naturally and with no discussion.
After our showers, Tyler phoned his mother, assuring her that he was okay. I heard him tell her that I had helped him with his math and that we had shoveled snow. He didn’t mention the snowballing.
When he finished the call, I asked him how she was doing.
Looking rather sad, he answered, “She says she misses me and wants me home, but she realizes that wouldn’t be wise as long as Dad might appear.”
I nodded my understanding, wondering when things would be stabilized enough so that Tyler could rejoin his mother.
After lunch we played video games for a while before I decided to play my CD of the Unfinished Symphony for Tyler. He listened attentively, smiling and occasionally looking at me with a puzzled expression. Maybe that was because I had tears in my eyes, as I always did when I listened to that particular music.
As the music ended, Tyler asked, “Why did you play that piece? I can see that it upset you.”
I told him how I had first learned of the piece and the meaning it had for me.
He reached over and gave me a little hug.
“You really loved him, didn’t you?” he said.
“With all my heart,” I replied. “I still do.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon reading.
School was open again the next day, so we drove there and parked in the student lot. We parted inside the door, heading to our lockers and homerooms.
In the middle of third period, the classroom door opened and Mrs. Talbot, the school guidance counselor, asked to see me.
When I joined her in the hall, she said, “There’s been a problem and Tyler has asked for you.”
I wondered why he needed me, but without saying anything, I followed her to a conference room. Inside the room, Tyler was seated with his back to the table, while a policeman and the school nurse sat on either side of him. Tears were flowing from Tyler’s eyes. His face was red and his nose was running.
“What’s happened?” I asked.
Tyler looked at me and said, “Dad shot Mom. She’s dead.” Then he completely lost control.
I pulled a chair up next to him and hugged him as he sobbed, his shoulders shaking and his arms trembling.
Later, I learned from the officer that Mr. Warren had gone into the house, shot his wife, and then turned the gun on himself. He too was dead.
I asked to make a phone call. When I got Christian on the phone, I told him what had happened. He said he’d come immediately.
I told the adults in the conference room that, because of the unrest at home, Tyler had been living with us and that Christian was coming to get him.
When Christian walked into the room, Tyler and I both stood. Christian hugged Tyler firmly, telling him over and over that he was there and that he would take care of him.
Tyler struggled for control but eventually got to the point where he could go to his locker and get his jacket and whatever else he needed. I assured him that I would go home with him. Mrs. Talbot went with us, saying that we should both take a little time off and not worry about school.
Tyler just nodded while I thanked her.
Tyler and I walked out to the car with Christian. We two boys sat in the back seat, Tyler lying over on my lap and crying silently. We rode to Osterville without a word, leaving my car in the student parking lot.
Tyler went upstairs to his room, where I later found him, still sobbing quietly. I sat beside him on the bed and instinctively began to rub his back like Grandma used to do for me when I was upset.
We stayed like that for a long time, before Tyler said, “What’s gonna become of me? The only family I have left is in jail.”
“Don’t you have any grandparents, or uncles or aunts, or maybe cousins?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head.
“I’m sure that Peter and Christian will take care of you,” I said.
“Why would they? I’m nothing to them.”
“You aren’t nothing to any of us,” I said, a little heatedly. “Nobody is going to cast you adrift.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He turned, pulled me to him, and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you,” he said.
Was I startled by the kiss? Of course I was. The only boy who had kissed me before was Mark. I loved Mark; I didn’t love Tyler.
Or so I thought.