Page 85 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Chapter Fourteen

“Yeah, they’re nice.” I say, looking around. Then I notice my
new skin colour under the black light. “Your teeth look really
strange, Jimmy. Oh wow, and yours too, Vian.”
“Yours do too,” Jimmy laughs. “And look at your skin? You
can see every tiny piece of lint.”
Vian giggles too. “We look so tanned.”
“Kinda funny, isn’t it?” Jimmy stands up and surveys his
kingdom. “Which poster do you like the best?”
“I especially love all the neon colours. But I think I like this
blue one the best.” I point to a silhouette of a naked couple,
down on their knees, embracing one another. I think it’s
romantic and somewhat daring. Then again, I think everything
about Jimmy is daring.
“Look at that big one,” Jimmy points to the largest poster
in the room. “If you stare at it for a while it’ll start moving.”
Vian and I gaze at the large design for a few moments. And
he’s right! It starts moving every which way, in enormous swirls
of colour. It actually makes me feel a bit queasy. This is crazy!
The entire experience down here is like nothing Vian and I
have ever experienced before.
It’s obvious Jimmy is really unwinding now. Eyes closed;
head tilted back. He’s totally digging that old chair. It’s almost
like I can see fragments of his mind escaping; as if he is allowing
the music to wrap around him like a python, slithering its way
around every limb. My brother smiles like he’s in pure heaven.
Several minutes pass by. Vian and I can’t tell if Jimmy is
sleeping or just really getting into the music, so we just sit in
silence. Finally, Jimmy opens his eyes and reaches for the top
drawer of the wooden table beside his chair. He pulls out a
carved wooden box. Vian and I look at each other in wonder.
What could be inside? Jimmy takes out a funny looking pipe
and a small silver ball; something wrapped in tinfoil.

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