Chapter 10

Charles was standing at the bus stop when Sedgewick walked up.

"Where were you this morning, boy—running late, or thinking about your date?" Sedgewick gave an embarrassed grin.

"Hi Charles. I missed you, too."

"You can't fault an old man for wondering."

Sedgewick clapped him on the shoulder and stood next to him as they waited for the bus. He told Charles everything that had happened since he'd cleaned his paintbrushes and left the playground mural. He told Charles about the late night coffee at Perkins, about Allison not wanting to go home and spending the night at Sedgewick's place. He told him about getting up that morning and leaving early, wanting to be alone. He told him about the afternoon in the art gallery, seeing her again and feeling that maybe everything would be okay after all.

Charles quietly took it all in. Before the story was half over the bus came and they boarded and sat together near the back, and Sedgewick continued his story. Charles let him finish and then let silence fill the space before speaking.

"You know, I heard stories about you long before I ever met you. Your grandmother, Gertrude, she used to play cards with Rita and some other ladies at the church. Some community gathering of seniors. Rita would come home and tell stories about this woman who was raising a grandchild. We always had such sympathy for her."

Sedgewick watched Charles while he spoke, never remembering his old friend to talk much about their past.

"Then we heard about your grandfather. It was crushing news. I remember that's when I met you for the first time. Your grandmother needed some space and I took you outside. You were just a little squirt."

"I remember that."

"Yeah, I suppose you do. I'm just saying so because times like these often require help unlooked for. Nobody can ask for it, because they don't know what they need. But when it comes, they cling to it."

Sedgewick nodded and looked to the floor. He could handle that part. Being there with Allison was hard, it was painful, but he could manage.

"What I don't know, Charles, is what happens next."

"Are you asking for advice about girls?"

"Yeah, I suppose I am."

"And you think an old fool like me would know what to do?" He chuckled and gave Sedgewick a shrug of his shoulders.

"Well, Rita hasn't left you, not yet anyways. I figured you might know something." Charles laughed and slapped Sedgewick on the knee.

"Let me ask you this, boy, is she a girl or is she a pearl? You can treasure a pearl, you put it on a necklace and display it or you get it appraised and keep it safe and valued. But that's not enough for a girl. Sure, they love to be treasured and protected, and they don't mind walking arm in arm, but if that's all you do you've just got a trophy. A girl's worth a whole lot more than that."

Sedgewick didn’t say anything but nodded slowly. The bus rumbled on and the two sat quietly.

"That's all this old man knows," Charles said after a while. "So she slept in your bed, huh? And borrowed your sweater?" Charles raised his eyebrows and made Sedgewick laugh.

"C'mon, boy, that mural needs some more work. Do you have time today?" Sedgewick nodded and followed Charles off the bus.