Ch 16 The Estate Sale
They landed softly on a side street. "I've gotta get one of those updates for my omni," Bogg said, rubbing his sore shoulder.
"You will, I didn't even have to ask, they're giving them to everybody." As Tom finished, he stared at Phineas, who was now walking across the narrow street, as if in a trance. Tom followed, and realized what his friend was watching so intently. In the back yard of the house, a young boy with curly black hair sat on the wooden board of a swing that hung from the limb of a large maple tree. Tom couldn't see his face, but his body language could easily be read. He looked downtrodden and without hope, as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders. As he watched, the child twisted the swing and then let it twist back as he dragged his toe in the dirt. He reached up and brushed something out of his eyes. At the same time, Phineas moved forward.
"No Phin," Tom said and moved to block Bogg's view of the boy. "It's not time, you should not be seeing him this young at all... ever." He stared him down, until Phineas reluctantly turned and they walked down the block and around to the front door of Jeff's old home.
The sign on the lawn read "Estate Sale" and the house was crowded with people. Bogg walked in, anxious to see Jeff's father's study. It was just inside the door, off the central hallway and the two friends entered it together.
Bogg found the desk quickly and scanned the bookshelf. Suddenly he smiled and reached out for a book. He shook his head, "this is perfect," he whispered.
"What?"
Bogg held up a book, "remember I told you about the book? How to kill birds?" Tom nodded and Bogg showed him the cover of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Tom's expression showed surprise, but before he could speak, Bogg answered his unspoken barb. "He IS very smart, but he was only ten after all."
Bogg looked back at the shelf, crammed with loose-leaf binders and took down the only other book that was there. "The Habit," he whispered and suddenly found a lump in his throat as he realized just how young Jeff had been when they met.
Tom took the book from him and stared at the cover, "do you know what this book is about?" he asked Bogg.
"It's not about a drug habit," Phineas said softly as someone appeared at the door.
"Do you need any help?" a young woman asked.
"Are you in charge here?" Phineas asked.
She put her hand out, "Elizabeth Jones," she said and Bogg released her hand quickly. Jeff hadn't ever said very much about his aunt, and definitely didn't miss her. Bogg didn't need to know more than that to dislike her.
"I'm interested in these books," Phineas said, "but I'd like to look around some more."
"Here's a bag, put what you want in here and you can check out near the front door with my boyfriend Tom," she said and turned away from them.
"I don't think we should stay much longer," Tom began, and as they exited the room and Phineas started toward the stairs, he quickly moved to block the way. "Not up there. His room is too personal, something you see or do could change things."
Phineas paused, then forced himself to walk through the rest of the house and out into the garage. The rear wall of the garage contained a window, and through it they could see Jeffrey, still sitting forlornly on the swing, staring at the ground. "Hang on kid," Phineas thought to himself, and as he watched, he saw a large brown dog approach the boy and sit down directly in front of him. The dog pushed his nose under the boy's hand, but the child didn't respond. As Phineas watched, Ralph put his paw up on Jeffrey's leg, and slowly, Jeff came off the swing, knelt on the ground and wrapped his arms around the dog. Phineas could tell that Jeff wasn't crying, just quietly kneeling beside Ralph, who sat still and let Jeff hugg him tightly. Tom put an arm in front of Phineas and forced him to turn away.
"Come on, you know I'm right" he whispered.
Phineas sighed and glanced around the inside of the garage, "I guess I'm done."
After they paid for the items, they walked down the street away from the view of the yard. Phineas didn't want to see Jeff again. When they were far enough away, he stopped and faced Tom, "listen, thanks for bringing me here, I didn't realize how hard it would be."
Tom stared at his friend, "that's okay," he whispered back.
"I hate to ask another favor, but there's something else," Phineas said.
"What more could there possibly be?" Tom joked as Phineas began to explain his next request.