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“Home is different. We’re guests here,” she says.
“Buddy, you can stand on my couches,” I say. “I can stand on them too.” I get up and stand on the couch. “What comes next?” I look at Skylar and Crew.
Skylar rolls her eyes, but she stays on the floor. “We sing the song ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno,’ and we act out the words like the protagonist, but obviously, I can’t dance right now.” She looks down at the cast on her leg.
“Got it.” I nod.
Skylar and Crew begin to sing, and Skylar sways her hips to the song while doing all kinds of finger motions. It’s completely adorable and carefree. It’s life and happiness.
“I don’t know the song, but I’ll try,” I offer.
“We’ve only watched this movie about fifty times, so we know it all by heart,” Skylar explains.
“That makes a whole lot of sense. We could’ve watched something else,” I say.
“But Crew loves this movie,” Skylar says. “We don’t talk about Bruno, no, no, no.”
I sing too, only I belt out the lyrics entirely off-tune. Crew begins cracking up so hard he can’t continue to sing, and Skylar laughs too. I put on a whole show of shaking my butt and belting out loud.
Skylar laughs so hard she holds her belly and keels forward.
Crew falls back on the couch and kicks his legs in the air laughing.
“I need to get this on tape,” Skylar jokes.
When the song is over, I bow, and then we sit back on the couch and share a bowl of popcorn. I could get used to this. My empty lonely apartment now feels filled with life and good times. At the end of the movie, Crew yawns and says he’s too tired to walk to bed.
Skylar goes to pick him up.
“I can lift him. He’s a big boy. You’re probably too heavy for your mommy,” I say. Plus, she’s wearing the cast. The weight of holding him is probably terrible for her ankle.
I lift him, and he puts his head on my shoulder. Having him trust me in this way also does something to my insides. We place Crew in bed.
“Good night, sweetie,” Skylar says, and she kisses him.
“I don’t want to sleep alone. I’m scared,” he whines.
“It’s a new place, so that’s normal,” Skylar says. She’s such a good mom. A good person overall.
She gets into bed with him.
“Good night, buddy,” I say.
“I want you to stay too,” he says.
I look at Skylar for guidance, and when she shrugs and nods, I climb into bed on the other side.
“We match,” Crew says.
I know he’s talking about our pajamas, but he’s right. We do match.
* * *
I’m back in my childhood home. I’m walking through the house and heading to my room after a hockey practice. I pass by David’s door and look at that stupid sign that says danger.
“Liam, come down to eat dinner,” Mom calls from downstairs.
I knock on David’s door, but he doesn’t answer, so I keep knocking.
