Drawing Board

The boy huffed as he stepped back to try and admire his handiwork. His shoulders sagged despondently. So, for about the hundredth time, he tried to modify it. The window murmured under his fingertip, the city becoming clearer with every traced line. It wasn't the town he wanted to see, though.

Jamie sighed in aggravation before slumping to the floor, resting against the carpet and the bed frame. No matter what he did or how much he tried to recall, he just couldn't do it.

The nine-year-old stood and rested his forehead to the chill of the glass, eyes gazing at the snow forts him and his sister had made during the last hours of light that day. Jamie pressed the palm of his hand against the window to erase the frost. He looked away from the outside world for only a second. When he looked again a pair of cerulean orbs stared straight back at him.

Jamie jumped away from the window with a quick yelp. "Jack!" the boy exclaimed with a broad smile.

"Hey, Jamie," The figure stepped gracefully into the boy's room, staff leaning on his shoulder. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Jamie shook his head before rushing over to wrap his arms around the Guardian's waist. Jack sat down on his knees, hugging the child to his chest. "Good to see you, too, kiddo. By the way, I saw the snow forts. I'll certainly be looking for you and Soph if I ever need to build a fort for a snowball fight."

Jamie drew back and smiled in thanks. "Well aren't we quiet tonight?" Jack chuckled at the silence and ruffled his friend's hair. "You doing okay, Jamie?"

"Yeah," Jamie muttered. "Other than drawing, it's just been a pretty boring evening."

"A drawing? Can I see?" The boy's cheeks flushed in embarrassment as he pointed at the window.

"Huh," Jack said with interest as he studied the doodle on the bottom pane. "Not bad."

The child sat on a chair, crossing his arms on the backrest. "That's Sophie's," Jamie said with a hint of jealousy. "Mine's above. It's not my best."

Jack scrutinized over the scrawl and hummed. The spirit stole a glance around the room, taking in the sketch paper and simple artwork that lined the walls. It was odd; Jamie's normally fond of everything that he draws.

"It's not as good as the one you drew."

Jack blinked in realization, but otherwise remained expressionless. "Well, of course it's not," He sauntered back to the window as Jamie groaned. Jack cracked a grin and set his staff on the floor before raising a hand up to the window. "It's still missing a final touch."

A second after Jack put his hands at its feet, the drawing of the rabbit sprang fervently onto his palms. Jamie sat up straighter and laughed when the bunny hopped around the room to its creator. It stared at Jamie for a long moment, ears pricking at the sound of the boy's amusement.

Jack turned at the sound of the bedroom door creaking. Much to his relief, Jamie's little sister walked in and not his mother. It'd be a bit of a strange sight to see Jamie interacting with an imaginary flying rabbit

"Jack!" Sophie squealed joyously, but then her attention diverted to the small creature flitting and leaping about. "Bunny, bunny!" The little girl threw her hands to the air in pure delight, eyes twinkling behind her mop of blond hair. "Jack make bunny!"

"You do realize she thinks your favorite animal is a bunny now, right?" Jamie snickered, making the Guardian blanch.

After bringing Sophie's drawing to life and making it snow in her room, gold sand weaved its way through the window and fluttered above the little girl's head. With a yawn, Sophie's head slowly fell to the pillow. Wishing her a good night, Jack stopped the snow, switched her nightlight on, and padded across the hall. A wide grin spread across the Guardian's face when he entered.

White flakes fell gently and silently over the bed. Small, gold fireworks sparked right above Jamie. Jack walked over and sat on the blue comforter, watching his first believer dream. Both of their smiles nearly flew off their faces when the sand swirled and remorphed into Jamie having a snowball fight with the winter spirit. Jamie hummed in his sleep, grin never faltering.

Jack waved his hand and the snow ceased, the last of the snowflakes melting into the floor and rug.

Before leaving, Jack ran his pale fingers over the drawing that depicted Jamie and his friends when he went on that crazy sled ride through town. He let out a quiet chuckle.

"You can keep that drawing, you know," Jack turned at the drowsy voice. Jamie tilted his head off, rubbing a fist against his sleepy eyes. "You always look at that one when you visit."

"You added me into the picture," Jack gazed delightedly at the crudely drawn version of himself.

"You were there the entire time," Jamie remarked. "You can have that one."

"Thanks, Jamie." The Guardian took the tack from the wall, releasing the drawing.

As if it were made of precious glass, Jack delicately folded until it fit perfectly in the front pocket of his navy hoodie. When Jamie fell back asleep, the Guardian leapt out of the room, yet he didn't leave.

For many minutes, Jack perched himself on the tree branch just outside Jamie's window, staring at the drawing of the day that forever changed his immortal life.