There are four years between him and Matthew, but it often felt nearer to one year, or several months. Arthur blames this illusion on Matthew's height (Arthur always, always, always, had to look up at the boy, even when they were small) and the quiet maturity that masked Matthew's childish laughter and slightly perverse sense of humor. He forgets, sometimes, that Matthew is naught but a child—a child that grew up too fast.
Matthew's sitting on the piano bench, banging on the keys in some deformed tune Arthur supposes is meant to be "Strawberry Fields Forever". He doesn't ask, because Matthew's having a grand time, even though he's absolute rubbish at it. Arthur's sitting on the couch, yellow notebook open on his lap.
Matthew writes poetry. He writes lines of images, so trivial and so profound. It's clean, and Arthur has trouble finding mistakes when he's asked to. Arthur's always been rubbish with editing, and he doesn't know why Matthew would ask him to do this. Matthew's always been rather gifted things pertaining to words and art, and could probably fix his already wonderful poetry better than Arthur could.
Arthur doesn't know shit about poetry.
Arthur needs long lines of prose. He needs a subject and a predicate. Arthur can say a whole lot and mean very little. But Matthew, everything means something with Matthew.
"People don't think like that, though. You think in feelings and imagery. Don't you get it, Arthur?" Matthew had said once on the subject. Arthur thinks he's been spending too much time with the frog.
I still don't get it. Matthew's started to play a different tune on the piano behind him, real slow-like, as if he's trying to figure out how the play the song.
"You know 'concur' means to agree, right?" Arthur asks from his spot on the couch, a small, amused smile on his face. Matthew had used it to mean the opposite.
The piano stopped, and Matthew had turned around to look at the back of Arthur's head. His blond hair was a wreck, as per usual.
"You're kidding." He decides, and Arthur laughs one hearty chuckle when he hears Matthew get up and walk across the room. Matthew reaches up for the dictionary on the top shelf and flips it open.