Small Wonders by Lux Courtney

Author:Lux, Courtney [Lux, Courtney]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781941530467
Publisher: Interlude Press
Published: 2015-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

seven.

Things are getting harder and easier all at once. Making rent had been nearly impossible at the beginning of the month, and the full pain of fewer people to split the bills makes Trip and all of his roommates feel the full injury of Jude’s disappearance when they can’t make electric. Scarlett takes their cash and writes a check for what they have and sends it in, hoping it at least buys them more time.

Trip tries playing in Central Park, the steps at the Met, subway platforms and anywhere else he can think of to draw in a new crowd that might be more willing to pay him for whatever entertainment he provides. The crowds have been steadily thinning in the parks; the weather’s turned so cold that most people have brought out their winter jackets and spend little time milling around. Trip throws his shirt at Nate when he informs Trip that he’s heard whispers of the possibility of snow before Halloween.

Today there is no snow, but there is freezing rain. The skies are heavy gray, the rain pounds the windows of the apartment, and Liam has a fit when a leak develops above the window near the corner of the living room that holds his sculptures.

Devon puts an empty paint bucket beneath the crack. They take turns emptying the bucket into the bathtub, but no one offers a more long-lasting remedy.

Trip sits on the floor beside the bucket and watches the steady drip, drip, drip of water. He’s trying to motivate himself into going out to play for a few sympathy dollars. He’d spent the entire previous day with Nate and he’s too aware of how little money he has for their impending rent payment.

Usually spending time with Nate is not a problem. Trip spends his days playing, working his way steadily east until he arrives at Nate’s building in the dusky early hours of the evening. The doorman insists on calling Nate the first few times Trip comes over, but he’s shifted to only watching Trip with wary eyes as he passes him on the way to the elevators. Nate always answers the door with his near-signature frown, though he steps aside without any coaxing to let Trip into the apartment.

Trip makes a point of getting him to laugh. He sings a lot, strips off his clothes along with his shoes at the door and fusses with the things in the fridge until Nate relaxes enough to put a record on or strip out of some of his clothes, too. Their routine is inconsistent. Sometimes Trip spends the night; other times he sneaks out once Nate’s asleep. Occasionally he climbs out of bed, still sticky and catching his breath, puts his clothes back on and leaves with a sing-songed goodbye. Nate never comments on his more abrupt disappearances; he watches Trip as if there’s something he wants to say but doesn’t know how.

Tuesdays are the one steady part of this thing he and Nate have created together, and Trip has spent the past three Tuesdays with Nate.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.