New chapter! :)

The Gray household is just as it appears in Animal Parade, but there are a few adjustments you'll soon see.

The Empty Wall

All the way home, Gill's mind was buzzing. Like flies in a jar. He felt like he was waking up for the first time and only now realizing he had been caged.

"You can never limit the possibilities," Julius prattled on, telling Mr. Gray not everything he knew but enough to keep him interested. It surprised him how little Gill actually knew about the world and its potential. Gill Gray was scholarly, but by no means was he worldly.

By the time he parted ways with Lord Wotton, Gill was all in a twitter, a large smile spreading across his face. He even took to whistling as he searched his coat pockets and turned the key to his door.

The little home with the rose arbor. Most people wouldn't give it much of a second look if it hadn't been for the people inside. Lord Julius was not the only person in Harmonica Town that didn't know the mayor had a son. Was it a secret? Why? It had quickly come a point of gossip in town amongst the shops and cafés. The little home with the rose arbor was mysterious and exciting.

The inside was quite the opposite. As soon as Gill kicked the door closed behind him, the world shut out for the night, a silence settled. Hanging up his coat and hat, Gill stopped his whistling and listened for a moment. It was odd that it was so quiet. Perhaps his father had gone to bed.

A strange scratching noise could be heard and suddenly trombones pealed out some upbeat melody. Ah, so he was awake then.

The record music grew louder, becoming an oldies classic when the bedroom door opened. Bumbling out came Gill's father, the Mayor Hamilton Gray. A rotund man, he was aged and chose to style his grey hair in fantastic, sweeping ways up over his head. He had a large button nose most children wished to 'honk' and his raucous laughter could be heard towns away. Even at home, he wore his full pale blue suit for success.

"Gill, mind the door! Don't be kicking it closed now. See the footprint you've made?"

Turning, Gill indeed could see a light footprint. He quickly rubbed it away. "Sorry, Father."

"Where've you been all evening? Meeting the townspeople, I hope?" Hamilton marched to the kitchenette and poured himself a glass of water. He was only half-listening, still humming out the tune of his record.

"I've been to Toby Hallward's again."

"Who?"

Gill was patient. "The fisherman. With the light hair?"

"Oh, yes," Hamilton nodded quickly. "Yes, of course. What were you doing over that way, Gill?"

"I was sitting. For the portrait, Father."

"That's fine, that's fine," Hamilton nodded again, already forgetting the subject. "Have you had anything to eat?"

"Yes," Gill admitted. It was a lie. "It's late, Father. You'd best be off to bed."

Hamilton turned to look at the clock. "Good gracious! Past ten already? Dear me, dear me. Good night, son," He downed the rest of his glass and set it down, nearly missing the counter top. "Big day tomorrow!"

And with that, the record was muffled by the closed door. Gill removed his shoes, never having moved from the door. Striding to the refrigerator, Gill started to make himself something for supper as quietly as he could. But when the stove ignited, the record in the other room stopped.

Hamilton cautiously opened the door and looked around. "Gill?"

"Right here, Father," He answered, lifting a few containers from the fridge.

"Oh! I didn't hear you come in!"

Gill closed his eyes. "It's awfully late, Father. You had best be off to bed."

"What?" Hamilton asked. He looked up at the clock and let out a low whistle. "Good gracious! Already past ten? You had best be off to bed, too, son."

"I will," Gill promised. "Just up for a snack."

"Alright, then off to bed with you," Hamilton Gray nodded and smiled wide. "Good night, son! Big day tomorrow!"

"I know. Good night, Father."

The door closed. The record was put on for a few more minutes before it was rudely taken off with a squeak of protest. The house was finally quiet.

Gill didn't sleep well.

His mind was still racing. Though the calm of his house and his dementia damaged father reminded him that nothing had changed, he couldn't help think of how things could change. Where would he start? Julius really made it clear – Gill was wasting his time. He really hadn't done a single sinful thing in his life.

The early rays of a fine morning were pouring in through his window, illuminating the bare floor and clutter-free desk. Gill wandered about taking in his room at different angles.

Where was the excitement? The adventure?

There wasn't any. There was a desk directly across from the window. There was a fireplace made of brick and thick lines of grey mortar across from the door to the living area. Two over-stuffed armchairs sat before it with a small table between them for drinks. A picture of his deceased mother hung above the mantle. A bookcase. A small bureau. A mirror by the door leading out. A table he used to hold the important papers he needed to attend to. And then the door off to the left of the fireplace that led to his small bedroom where he kept only his bed to sleep in. A great expanse of wall was left blank by his desk, sun shining on it accusingly. The only real focal point was the vase full of flowers he changed every so often at the request of his father and the candy dish beside it full of mints to get his mind off of the work that was supposed to belong to his father but he was too old and flighty for.

There was nothing extraordinary about Gill's current life. Nothing new or crazy or odd. Gill was itching for anything, just anything that would prove Julius wrong. Never done a sinful thing in his life…

Gill caught sight of the mirror and strode up to it. Julius' words continued to ring in his head. If I were as young and good-looking as our lovely Mr. Gray, I would be enjoying life to the fullest.

He had never really looked at himself. There was no need to. But something in Lord Wotton's words struck a chord. Like his opinion out of anyone else's mattered. Like he was always right.

Gill Gray stared into the glass and turned his head. He had never noticed he had such a nice jaw line. Or how his hair complimented it perfectly, if he dared to venture. Or how his eyes were brighter and bluer than anyone else's on the island. Anyone else he knew, really. Gill once heard (could that have been from Julius?) that beautiful people had good symmetry. That's why others liked them. He held up a hand and divided his face. Perfect symmetry.

He wasn't small either. Gill was tall. Very tall and evenly proportioned. He wasn't scrawny and he wasn't protruding like his father. He was right perfectly in the middle. Now mind, Gill wasn't one to do intense, physical labor, but he had done enough exercise in his life so that he wasn't all pudge. He had muscle enough. Muscle enough…

With a huff, Gill collapsed into his chair. Enough of this. Back to work.

The sun went higher into the sky and soon the light began to fade from his room as it approached noon. He could hear his father moving about in the living room and was soon out the door. Probably forgot Gill was even home.

Pausing from reading a request form sent in from someone in town, Gill pondered the stability of his father. Should he be allowed to cook for himself? What if he left the stove on one day and the house burned down? Was his dementia that bad? Well, he never seemed to remember seeing Gill. He still wasn't used to having him home even though it had been a few months since school finished. Maybe he shouldn't go to Town Hall anymore either. Someone could easily con him into selling cheap. But then again, what would he do with himself? Town Hall was all his father had these days…

Gill's glance crept to his mother's picture over the fireplace. He let out a sad sigh when the telephone rang and surprised him. Snatching it up off the receiver, Gill answered: "Hello? Gill Gray speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Gray! Fine morning," the voice said. It was Toby.

For some reason, Gill was disappointed. Like he expected the phone call to be the hotline to adventures. "Oh, yes, hello Mr. Hallward! Fine morning indeed."

Toby caught his hesitation to answer. "Yes, well… I'll get right to the point."

Gill thought Toby Hallward sounded smaller over the phone. "Yes?"

"Fishing's done for today. I just can't let that portrait go another day. So close to being done, yes? The sooner it's done the sooner I can get back to fishing regularly and the sooner I'll stop bothering you."

Gill shook his head. "Don't be foolish, Mr. Hallward, you're not a bother. When do you want me over?"

"Any time today would be excellent."

Before Gill agreed, he suddenly stopped. "Will Lord Wotton be there?"

There was a pause on the line. "Julius?" Toby asked. There was another short pause. "Well, I don't know. You haven't known him long, but I can assure you what you see is what you usually get with Julius Wotton. He rarely calls and he always invites himself over. Rather a tumbleweed character."

"I understand," Gill said.

"I can get him over… if you want," Toby offered.

Gill declined. "No, no, don't worry about it. He's just… very interesting. Perhaps if he's not around though, you'll be able to work easier. I'll be over around two, is that all right?"

"Right! Yes, very good. Come whenever you want; I feel it's a lazy day today. Thank you very much, Gill."

"There's no trouble, Mr. Hallward," Gill assured.

"And Gill?"

"Yes?"

"Call me Toby."

Gill put the receiver back in its cradle.