The Gentlemen's Parlor: Room of Chains by Geoffrey Knight

Author:Geoffrey Knight [Knight, Geoffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00AW4DF9M
Publisher: Storm Moon Press
Published: 2012-12-27T11:00:00+00:00

Chapter VIII

Home.

Growing up, home was the house Josh had shared with his parents, a threebedroom place in Brooklyn with a noisy hot water system, two broken porch steps and a tiny attic where Josh liked to study. It was the neighborhood where he had met Brady. It was the street where his parents and Brady's parents had become friends through their sons' friendship. It was Josh's home—

—until the night everything changed.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come?" Josh's mom had asked one last time as she hung her coat over one arm. "Brady's folks are joining us. It's supposed to be a very funny movie."

"I can't," Josh said from the top step of the pull-down ladder that led to the attic. "I promised Brady I'd help him study."

"If Brady flunks algebra it's not your fault, honey."

"I know. But if I help him maybe he'll—"

At the same time, Josh and his mother both shook their heads and said, "He's never gonna pass."

Josh's mom shrugged and gave a motherly smile. "Numbers just ain't his thing. He's not a genius like you. Now why don't you give yourself a break and come to the movies with us?"

"Nah, I'm okay. You guys have a good time."

Josh's mom blew him a kiss. "Okay then, honey. You be good. There's some meatloaf in the fridge if you boys get hungry."

With that she turned for the stairs, holding onto the banister the entire way down. She'd worn her heels. Josh's mom loved a night out; she always tried to look her best, even if it was just a trip to the movies.

From up in the attic—filled with books and beanbags and a stereo on the floor—Josh heard the doorbell ring as Brady's parents arrived.

Sixteen-year-old Josh felt his heart flutter just a little. He knew Brady would be with them. He heard the four adults say goodbye to Brady and leave the house. He heard all four doors of his dad's 4WD close as his parents and Brady's parents climbed into the car together and pulled out of the driveway.

Then he heard the thump-thump-thump of Brady's footsteps racing up the pull-down ladder, beating in time with the thump-thump-thump of Josh's heart.

He sometimes wondered exactly when things changed. When did his heart start beating so fast every time Brady entered the room? When did he start feeling so nervous and excited every time the phone rang, hoping it was Brady? When did he start dreaming of Brady in ways that confused and thrilled him?

Both boys had changed so much in the last few years, at least physically. They had shot up and filled out, especially Brady who had always been the pocket-rocket of the neighborhood. Now he was tall and handsome and the center of every girl's attention at school.

But the one thing that hadn't changed was the friendship between Brady and Josh.

"J.D., you goddamn nerd! I can't believe you volunteered to help me study for this stupid exam instead of going to the movies!" Brady bounced up through the entrance in the attic floor and instantly hit his head on the low, slanted ceiling.

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