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‘What is Cambodia like?’ I asked, partly to distract him from the time.
He re-energised. ‘It’s beautiful!’
As he launched into sharing his road trip, I felt my eyes getting heavy. It was the happiest I had been in a very long time.
The next day I woke up just before noon, and watched my sleeping friend’s chest rise and fall. I was happy to finally see the warm man that replaced little boy running around the house, chasing me and my brother, pretending to be Indiana Jones again. He may have been taller and his hair darker, with a more professional cut, but it was just as messy, with his eyelids hiding those green eyes with the brown flecks I had known all my life. His mouth still curved up at the edges, even while he was sleeping. I got up gently, so that I didn’t wake him, for a shower. By the time I returned, he was tussling with the coffee machine.
‘Morning, MrGrumpy,’ I teased. ‘You still love Mommy’s pancakes?’
‘Yes! Dahlia has ruined pancakes everywhere else for me.’ He laughed.
‘Mommy’s pancakes it is. After you’ve had a shower. I bet you’re stinky,’ I said, eyeing him suspiciously.
‘Deal. Want to do something fun today?’
‘You don’t have to get back?’
‘Not till tomorrow night.’
‘Yes!’ I jumped for joy inside.
‘I’ll be back in twenty.’
‘I’ll have pancakes!’
‘Done!’ He jogged away.
It really was the best birthday weekend. After Jasper had eaten five pancakes, leaving me with one, we jumped in a taxi. We spent the whole day in the bowling and arcade centre we’d practically lived in when we were kids.
Afterwards, we left to have dinner at the massive American diner we used to love as kids, and very quickly realised our love for the place was fuelled by ignorance, balloons, sugar and the free shiny little toys.
‘Sleepover!’ I announced when the cab dropped us off at home that evening. ‘Put your pyjamas on and meet me back at mine. Ten minutes!’
‘Fine!’ he agreed, laughing.
By the time he arrived, I had changed into my warmest onesie and was making some strong coffee, so I asked him to close his eyes and led him to the living room.
‘Surprise! Movie marathon!’
I pointed to our old VHS player, hooked up to our television, with three Indiana Jones tapes, in Jasper’s specific viewing order, next to it. He laughed so hard he bent over, holding his tummy. I smiled to myself. He liked it.
‘Goodness, Aari, you’re so dramatic! Why didn’t you just download it?’
‘Meh. It isn’t the same!’ I knelt by the cassettes. ‘Temple of Doom?’
He nodded as he pulled two cushions to the floor, opposite the TV.
‘Before you get comfy, there’s vanilla in the freezer – that’s your job. I’ll bring in the coffee. Affogato time.’
We made our desserts and settled in.
I fell asleep somewhere at the beginning ofTheLast Crusadeand finally woke up to the final credits ofRaiders of the Lost Ark, with a dull ache on my side.
‘Hey.’ Jasper had felt me move.
‘Hey. Good, wasn’t it?’ I pretended I’d been awake for it all.
‘You were snoring and drooling before the first film finished.’
