Page 82 of Resilience on Canvas

Robert took Henry’s hand and rubbed the back with his thumb. Every swipe of Robert’s finger had Henry’s heart soaring while somehow making it feel heavier too.

Finally, when Henry couldn’t stomach the weight no more, he sighed and said, “Robert, we’re out of time. Aren’t we?”

Robert took a long pull of his cigarette. Exhaling the smoke, he tilted his head back to rest it on the wooden siding.

“Yeah. We are.”

“We need to talk to my folks. Ask them for the money.”

Robert shook his head. “I can’t.”

Henry’s stomach tightened. “Then . . . then I will.”

“Ah, I can’t ask that of you. I was the one who told yer pop that I wouldn’t take his money.”

“Yeah, but I’m still his son.” Henry winced from the sudden twinge in his chest. “I think.”

Robert turned to him. “Don’t feel like you have to talk to him for me, Hen. Not if it’ll hurt.”

“No, I-I can. I want to. I mean, I said I wanted to help, so...” Henry let out a long breath. “So let me help.”

With a hum, Robert leaned in to rub their noses together.

“Thank you,” he said. “Tell me yer mine, little wolf.”

“Always.” Henry planted a soft kiss on Robert’s lips. “Always yers.”

Robert snuffed his cigarette out and flung it off the porch.

Henry asked, “Are you mad?”

“Not at you. Just mad at myself. I’m mad that I couldn’t figure out how to come up with the money. Son of a bitch, why couldn’t I come up with it?”

“Ain’t yer fault it’s so expensive,” Henry said. “I bet your parents were makin’ plenty of money back before the land stopped supportin’ most of the crops. The only reason my parents can afford to move is because my mom happens to be a teacher. And I think maybe they feel comfortable bleedin’ through some of their savings because my father will be workin’ out there. Goodness, they’ll have two incomes if she teaches out there too. No wonder they could pay for that movin’ truck. No wonder they’re fine with payin’ sixty bucks to load their car up on the train.”

All of a sudden, Robert’s hands flew to Henry’s shoulders. He pushed Henry back, forcing him to sit upright.

“Say that one more time.”

Henry arched an eyebrow. “Uhm, which part?”

“Did you say that yer parents are payingsixtybucks to put their car on the train?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Well, what if... what if you and me take it to California instead? And in exchange, they can pay for most of the train tickets? Kind of like payin’ the two ofusthe sixty bucks.”Robert’s eyes went wide and wild. “And then the two of us could pay for the last ticket or two. Whatever they think they need. And we can pay for some of the food and such, too, with the money we’ve saved from the store. We’ll have to set some money aside for the gasoline, but—”

“Goodness, Robert that’s perfect!” Henry’s heart sped up a little, invigorated by Robert’s infectious positivity. “Because, then, we wouldn’t owe them no extra money. Only the funeral money.”

“Exactly! And once we’re in California, we’ll find us some work.” Robert paused to wet his lips. He looked as though he might burst out of his skin. “Once we pay yer folks back for the funeral, there won’t be nothin’ stoppin’ us from savin’ up for our own place.”

Henry smiled back, his own eyes becoming wide and wild like Robert's.

“Because we’ll have two incomes too.”

“Two incomes. You and me, little wolf, we’ll take care of everybody.”

Tears sprang to Henry’s eyes, and he let out a happy laugh. And then Robert started laughing too. Deliriously happy laughter. Because, Lord, they were so close to prosperity.

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