Little Boy Blue,
come blow your horn.
The sheep's in the meadow,
the cow's in the corn.
Where is that boy
who looks after the sheep?
Under the haystack,
fast asleep.
Will you wake him?
Oh no, not I.
For if I do,
he will surely cry.
Little Boy Blue
XXI.
Henry is playing Space Paranoids when Emma arrives, and surprisingly, it's a lot of fun. The mayor isn't very good at giving presents, so he's used to smiling and pretending to be happy to receive another action figure or sweater or detective story. But this present is different, he actually really likes it, and she was right, he does like being the hero instead of just reading about them.
But then Emma drops something into his lap and he forgets all about his game. It's hisbook, his story book! And Space Paranoids might be fun, but it's not real, the book is real - it's real and it's right back in his hands where it belongs, thanks to Emma, the real hero.
He asks her where she got it and Emma shrugs and says she found it in a gutter, like it's no big deal, like it's just a coincidence or something. But Henry knows better - it is a big deal. And for someone who says she's not the savior, Henry thinks she's getting pretty good at saving the day.
It's a sign, he says, things are going to be better! And he believes it, because he believes in her. Because she brought back his book, just like she'll bring back the happy endings.
I hope you're right, kid, and with a grin and a nudge, she's gone.
Henry watches her leave, and then opens the book, flipping through those familiar pages. It's good to have you back, he whispers. He closes his eyes for a moment and sees a beautiful castle, an enchanted forest. He closes his eyes and sees magic.
Henry?, the mayor's voice interrupts his dream. He shoves the book into his backpack just as she rounds the corner. He grabs the video game and pretends to be busy. Henry, come on, it's time to go home.
She grabs his hand and leads him back to the car. I see you were playing with the game I bought you, she says on the way home. Do you like it?
Oh, yeah, Henry says, it's really fun. Thanks.
The mayor smiles at him and pats his cheek, See? I knew you'd like it better than your book. And Henry smiles back and pretends she's right.
When they get home, he goes straight to his room, hides the book under his bed. He wants to read it so badly, but it's not safe and he can't risk losing it again, so he leaves it under his bed and tries not to think about it.
Henry can't read his book and he has nothing else to do, so he plays Space Paranoids until his thumbs hurt.
And later that night, when Henry goes to sleep, he holds the video game in his hand.
He pretends it's his book instead.