Back at the house, I unload the cleaning supplies then help Cody go through and sort his toys that are outside. There are a couple casualties from Alan and Zach's clash yesterday that we say goodbye to before tossing in a trash bag. Cody seems not too troubled over it and while I am glad he's such a resilient little dude, it breaks my heart that he seems used to saying goodbye to his stuff. I remember Sad Cody from Zach's sketchbook with no toys from the night we first kissed and I vow to make sure this is the last time he has to experience this.
Once we've picked up and packed all his stuff, I help Cody pack a bag for his stay over with Tori. He decides to pack his new skater shoes along with his pajamas and clothes for tomorrow. He grabs the caterpillar to present to Tori and shoves it in his bag. Before he zips the bag closed, he runs to grab his trusty walkie-talkie.
"If I miss you, I can call you now," he chatters as he pushes it down into the bag to make room to close it.
"Aww buddy, that is so sweet and you are so smart!" I exclaim as I knock on his head while he beams at me. "The other one is at my place so we will have it when we are done packing up here and I'll keep it with us until you're back with us, okay?" He grins and nods.
"Awesome. I'm gonna go draw a picture to send to Mommy," he informs me, grabbing some crayons from his packed box and a take out menu off of the fridge. He is happily situated on the floor of the kitchen absorbed in his task, so I head back outside to pack up Zach's studio.
I grab a couple of bigger storage containers from the back of the Volvo and head to the studio area, created from a few tables, some stackable shelves and crates, drying racks, and a clothes line full of hanging works. For living in "the ghetto," his view of the bridge and cranes and skyline are topnotch and I can see how it inspires his work. I see sketches etched on the table and painted canvases tacked up, and it's clear that a majority of his street art work that can withstand the elements resides here. Much like delving into his sketchbook, I feel like I am gaining more insight into the creative character of Zach. Where his sketches in the book featured the softer side of who he is, with his focus on subjects like Cody, the art here is the more industrial side. I try to keep things organized as I pack, putting all the cans of spray paint into one bin, next to the cans of house paint, folding up canvases carefully and packing them next. Makeshift palettes and paint brushes, markers and other elements get packed next. Some of his supplies are already stored in crates so that helps to make this chore easy. As I finish stacking everything against the wall, Zach pulls up.
He jumps out of his vehicle and grabs me in a hug, dropping a kiss on my neck before letting me go. After his incredibly sweet greeting, he looks over to the skeleton of his art studio and whistles.
"Nice, dude. I should have booked a couple more shifts so that you could finish this up," he jokes. I roll my eyes and jokingly box his shoulder. We head inside to see Cody finishing up his picture for Jeanne. I make sure to pack it carefully among some of the other things that will be coming with us. Then he leads his uncle to see the hard work he'd done packing his things.
Cody's side of the room is barren, making a stark contrast with the maximalist look on Zach's side of the room. The balance that Cody's tiny canvases with dream monsters that Zach created to hang above his bed was gone now that they had all been carefully packed away to move. With his side cleaned up, I can better see that Cody's bed only consists of a box spring on the floor supporting a mattress.
Zach's side is covered in the industrial prints that have been altered by the artist living under them. I remember from before there were some red bits here and there. Since then, it has evolved with the red squares dominating and even moving onto his headboard to mingle with the other graffiti there, creating a cohesive merging of the art styles visible in his outdoor studio and his sketchbooks.
Zach looks over to me sheepishly. "I can uh, get rid of my bed probably, huh?" he reasons. It makes sense that he won't need it but I hate to get rid of this work of art. Apparently, I am not the only one hesitant to see his bed frame get put in the donation pile.
"No way! I want your bed for my new room," Cody's high-pitched voice chimes in to my relief.
"Really, Codes?" his uncle inquires with a raised eyebrow. "You know you can decorate your room however…" he offers and I am glad he too wants to spoil the child, even if only a little bit.
"Yeah it's gonna be perfect, Uncle Zach," Cody patiently explains. "I wanna make a Bat Cave and it will be perfect and maybe I won't get scared anymore!"
"That's a great idea, Ankle-Biter," I interject as an idea pops into my head. "Plus, if you ever do get scared, you can call us on the walkie-talkie in your room to the walkie-talkie we will keep in our room so we can come help you if you do get sad or scared," I offer, glad to add some permanence to a beloved "toy" Cody has probably played with his entire life. Zach nods and ruffles the hair on Cody's head.
"That is a great idea, Shaun," he declares, smiling down at his nephew. "And a great idea for your bedroom, Codes."
Tori arrives a couple minutes later and gathers Cody and his things. Cody bids his uncle farewell with a high-five then I head back outside with him and Tori to transfer his carseat from my car. I marvel at how easily Tori uninstalls it and then installs it into her car, and I enjoy the fact that for the first time, I am a bit jealous of Zach's ex.
Once they take off for their sleepover, I head back to Zach's room, where he has since finished de-wallpapering his side of the room. The black and white (and now also painted red) prints are organized in neat rolls and stashed in a crate that carries even more of his art supplies that were too delicate to handle the outdoors. Zach has tossed his clothes into trash bags and set them with things to take with us. As he finishes, I start vacuuming wherever I am able throughout the house. Soon after, he has completed the task and we take some of the bags of trash to the dumpster together.
I know Zach is normally a more introspective person, but he's been unusually quiet since coming home, even for him. I have been patient not trying to pull whatever he's dealing with out of him, since I can imagine that he is experiencing a lot of conflicting emotions and feelings alongside the bittersweet ones that generally come up when you move. My patience is rewarded because as soon as he doesn't have a task to occupy his attention, he spills.
