Another Kind Of Hurricane Part 22

ZAVION.

Everyone was there. Papa, Isaac, Enzo, Tavius, Skeet, and Osprey. Ms. Cyn, her knitting needles flying. Papa rushed to grab Zavion as soon as his feet hit the ground. He gave him a tight hug and then a good shake.

"You dont do that. You dont do that to me, do you understand?" he said sharply.

"But-" started Zavion.

"Never. Never again."

"But I wasnt lost-I knew where I was-"

"You knew where you were? What good did that do me?"

"Im sure you were so worried." Jake had made his way around to the other side of the truck.

Papa turned to Jake and shot him a look that made Zavion wince. "Thank you for bringing Zavion home. But you dont have a clue what I was feeling-"

"Dont have a clue!" said Tiger.

"Shhhhh," said Henry. He stuck the birds cage behind his legs.

"Dont have a clue, ya bonehead!"

"Tiger," Henry hissed.

Osprey laughed. She squirmed out of Enzos arms and ran to Henry, dragging Green behind her.

"Nice dog," Henry said. "Looks like he runs fast."

"Thank you," she said, grinning. "His name is Green." She pointed behind Henry. "Nice bird."

"Thanks," said Henry. "His name is Tiger. And Im Henry."

"Im Osprey."

"Falcon?"

"No, Osprey."

"Eagle?"

"No, Osprey!"

"Owl?" Henry was laughing now.

"No! No!" Osprey poked Henry in the knee and giggled.

Zavion was amazed. In a matter of seconds, Henry and Osprey had become fast friends.

"If you think youre going on any other d.a.m.n adventure, Zavion, dump that idea out of your head right now," said Papa. "Youre coming with me to Gabes and Im attaching you to my wrist with Ospreys leash all the way there. Do you understand me?"

"Papa-" Zavion forced himself to look into his eyes. "Papa-" His voice came out a whisper. He opened his palms. The two roof s.h.i.+ngles, chipped and gray, sat in his hands. "This is whats left of our house," he managed to say.

"Sweet Jesus-" Papas eyes filled with tears.

"Two more canvases for you to paint," said Zavion.

Papa pulled him close one more time.

chapter 50.

HENRY.

"Lets go inside," said Ms. Cyn. She circled her arms around Tavius and Skeet like she was herding sheep. "Time to eat, dont you think?"

"For someone who hates the kitchen, you sure do like whats inside it," said Tavius.

"Hush," said Ms. Cyn. "Get on in-" She ushered them through the door.

Henry hung back and watched Zavions father hug him hard. He couldnt hear what he said, but he saw him whisper something into Zavions ear.

I cant lose you. That was what Henry imagined he was saying. I cant lose you.

Henry remembered Jake saying that to him only a few short hours before.

chapter 51.

ZAVION.

"If theres cake, theres a party!" said Enzo.

"Thank you, Cora!" said Tavius.

"Yes, thank you kindly!" said Skeet.

"And coffee and wine!" said Enzo.

"And juice!" piped in Osprey.

"Thank you, Luna!" said Tavius.

"Yes, thank you kindly!" said Skeet.

"Mind your manners!" squawked Tiger.

Ms. Cyn poked her head into the kitchen. She made the party complete. Everyone from the Baton Rouge house was here and accounted for. Even Pierre had come to join them, plus Henry and Jake from Vermont. Vermont! Here! Zavion couldnt quite believe his luck.

Or maybe it wasnt luck. Zavion was too tired to think. He was just relieved and amazed and overwhelmed by the fact that they were here.

"Hope we arent keeping you awake," said Jake to Ms. Cyn. "I know its late."

"It was this bird," said Ms. Cyn. "When he was screaming out that grocery list: milk, cheese, b.u.t.ter, juice, sausage, eggs-"

"Sorry," said Henry.

"Ms. Cyn thought she was having a bad broccoli dream," said Enzo.

"A noodle night terror," said Tavius.

"A nut b.u.t.ter nightmare," said Skeet.

"Very funny, you clowns," said Ms. Cyn as she plunked herself down on a chair. "I wasnt asleep. Do you think I would miss a party? Even one in the kitchen? I was just busy." That was true, her scarf looked like it was a mile long. "I wouldnt miss this"-she gestured with her hand around the room-"for anything."

"Tiger is funny," said Osprey.

"But Ms. Cyn is funnier," said Skeet.

"Hey, yall," said Ms. Cyn. "Ribbing doesnt officially begin until the sun rises, okay?"

"Okay," said Enzo.

"Maybe," said Tavius.

Skeet paused. "Nah," he said.

Zavion took a bite of Coras cake. It was the best thing he had ever tasted. Better than the sandwiches he made and lined up in the refrigerator, better than the bread he had just learned to knead and bake, and maybe just as good as Mamas ginger mint iced tea.

Across the kitchen table, Osprey scooped some cake into her hand and held it out for Tiger, who reached his beak down to s.n.a.t.c.h it up. "Crows dead," said Osprey, "but youre not dead, Tiger. I like you."

"He likes you too, Osprey," said Henry. "You wanna hold him?" Osprey nodded. "Do you think Green will mind?"

Osprey laughed. She pulled her leash onto the table, and attached to its clip was a small spoon. "This is Silver, not Green." She leaned in toward Henry. "And dont you know, Henry? Silver is only pretend."

Henry clicked softly and pointed to the table. Tiger hopped off his shoulder and landed next to Silver. Osprey imitated Henrys clicking sound.

"Thats right," Henry said. "Now hold out your arm." Tiger hopped onto Ospreys wrist.

"Hi, Tiger," she said.

"h.e.l.lo," he said. Then he leaned over and looked at himself in the silver spoon. "What a beaut!" he said. "What a beaut! s.h.i.+ny!"

All of a sudden, Enzo hopped up. "s.h.i.+ny! That reminds me of the woman at the convention center."

"The singing woman?" said Tavius.

"Yeah, remember her? Right before we left?" said Enzo. "Remember what she sang?"

"'This Little Light of Mine," said Tavius. "She was incredible-"

"She walked around the center belting that song at the top of her lungs, and people began to follow her, singing along," said Enzo. "By the time we joined in, we couldnt even see the woman-"

"There was such a long line," said Tavius.

"This little light of mine," sang Enzo, "Im gonna let it s.h.i.+ne-"

Tavius joined in.

"This little light of mine, Im gonna let it s.h.i.+ne-"

Skeet began to sing too.

"This little light of mine, Im gonna let it s.h.i.+ne."

Osprey got up too, and marched around the room.

"Let it s.h.i.+ne, let it s.h.i.+ne, let it s.h.i.+ne."