Epilogue B: Repeated In Parts
as told by Shon Cohen
(age: between 14 and 15)
25 December

I can see dad looking over everyone to see if we're all here. We're not...

He looks to me and neither one of us has to say anything. I know what he wants.
I grab my camera and scarf and make my way out. Going down the stairs, I pass my sister, Cade, Jaime and their two.

Cade smiles at me, "Off to find him? Good luck."

I just nod. I don't need luck.

It's the same every time, every year.

For I'm am simply my best friend's keeper.

Ever since I was born we've had some secret, unspoken, unwritten code. We stick together. He is my fist and I am his shoulder.

When everyone else was going off to school; He and I, when it was my turn, were homeschooled.
He was kept home just in case any thing happened to Uncle Roger, he would know. It was so they could spend as much time as they could with what time was left. I was just there, that how it was.

I approach the familar building and pass it to go through the familiar gate with the familiar guard.

"Hey, Ted."

"Hey, Shon. Same place."

I nod. I can already see him.

As I approach I can see he wearing the same old plaid pants and hoodie he found in the closet years ago, as always.
It's no use telling him that the outfit is out of style...not that I have any place to talk about. According to him my clothes went out of style when Laura Ingalls still pranced about the prarie, although to this day I still don't know how he knows about Laura Ingalls or her prariie.

I keep my distance as I do every time.

He keeps his focus on the four headstones. Angel and Collins on the right. His parents on the left.

"It weird how we only knew one of them alive, but we still kind of know them all."

"You don't remember Collins?" Same question, different day.

"Just his voice."

It's been seven years and we still have the same conversation.

I look down at my feet. Three, Two, one...

"When I saw him the last time...he looked strong, but maybe I was imagining it...he was so sick."

"No, Noah, remember him strong."

He nods.

"He told me...he didn't want me to think he was abandoning me. And I, I...I told him it was mom's turn and that one day I'd see him again. He made me promise I'd take my time...that I wouldn't make any of the mistakes he made..."

I could hear him break down and I moved to embrace my best friend, holding back my own tears, my own memories.

I was his shoulder.

"It's a miracle..."

"That I don't have it, too. I fucking know that."

"No, that you had as long with him as you did. He held on for you."

We spend a few more moments.

"Come, on let's head back, everyone's waiting."

He nods and we start the trek back, trying to lighten the mood I ask, "So, is your girlfriend making an appearance? Is it Ashley or Kiera?"

"Her name is Madison and you know it. No, she has to go to Jersey to visit her aunt."

"Madison? I guess I just got mixed up with all your groupies."

"Well, at least I have groupies."

"I have some...fans of my work..."

"Your sisters and Aurora don't count..."

"You're a wierd boy, Noah Davis."

"No, Shon Cohen, I'm a weird man."

"Well, it's nice to see your ego's back."

"Yeah, well, hey, you said everyone's there?"

"Very subtle topic change, Davis, yeah, well, Scott shipped his letter and some stuff."

"What's he doing now?"

"Hell if I know."

"Hell, if you ever know."

It's all an act you know, him trying to be stronger than he really is. He thinks he has to be. He thinks no one knows. So who am I to tell? If I tell he'll think he failed. Maybe that would be worse, so I keep my mouth shut.

I trugde up the stairs after him.

"Noah! Shon! Come see what I made." Aurora calls excitedly from across the loft. She holds up a ridiculously long blanket. She's gone through a sewing phase that and she's had plenty of time...since the day before Thanksgiving break she's been suspended from school. She punched out a couple kids when they asked questions about her family project she was presenting during English. God knows Joanne tried to play it from every angle, but they weren't saying anything bad they were just asking questions. Joanne eventually resigned her self to the fact that Aurora is Maureen's daughter.
Then again, looking around at our family, how do you explain us?

We just are.

Author's Notes:

Only one more to go...its been written so I'm just editing and posting before my show opens next week than I going to move on to working on Deeper than the Surface during the run of the show...

I'm trying so hurringly post this during a break during rehearsal...

Review Response:

BwayDiva: There will be more on Roger in the next chap...explanation of sorts...and next chap is Mark so all is good. Thanks as always.

Lils: I was really hoping you would enjoy this. Thanks.

until next time, this is me...signing out.