Yesterday, James made his friend in this town for the first time. But it's not just anyone, it's the mysterious youngest grandson of the Rosewoods. He can't wait for the school hour to be over. In fact, James was excited but at the same time nervous for he wasn't the type of person to have a lot of things to talk about. Finally, when the bell announced it's time to go home, he immediately packed his things and dashed to the hallway. Students nearby couldn't help but mumbled to each other to why James was on a rush and making fake scenarios like the infamous Alex would beat him up again or his uncle is in a bad mood and he needs to go home quickly. Neither was the truth, only you and James knew it.
Outside the gate, Maurie was waiting for James. Her twin brother asked for accompany James so that he would not be shy knocking and he will be treated as a visitor and Maurie agreed eagerly. Finally, she saw James running towards her and you can see sweats running down on his forehead, "Sorry for the wait..." He said while panting because of the long run he had. Maurie, who was flustered just shook her head, "It's alright! You're... You're a visitor! so..." She doesn't know what to say. Especially if the person she was talking to was the boy she likes. Everyone was like that. "Anyways!" She exclaimed to change the topic, "We should go! My brother might be waiting for us!" With that, she spun around and began walking and tried to hide her red cheeks while James followed behind. While walking, James couldn't help but observed how Maurie don't look like her twin brother.
She has straight dirty blonde hair that falls down her shoulders while her brother has golden short curls. Her eyes were blue as the sky while the other has ambers. She has very fair skin that is clear while the other has ivory skin that has a lot of freckles around his face and body. The only similarity they have is that they're quite–no they're really good looking. "You... You and your brother don't look like each other." James stared as a matter of fact. Maurie turned to look at the boy while they walk and nodded, "That's right! Daddy says that we're unique!" She said happily as they continue to walk "Though, our grandma from our mommy loves my brother more..." That caught James's attention, "Why? Does she likes grandsons more?" Maurie shook her head at that "No, she likes girls in fact! But I think it's because he looks like our mommy!"
"That doesn't make sense... Wait, your brother looks like your mom more than you both look like each other?" James was getting confused at this point, "I don't know why too! But our grandma from our mommy's side is very weird, y'know?" With those words, James has a lot of questions but didn't say more for it would just makes things more complicated and plus, they have finally arrived to the Rosewood's house."We're home, grandma!" She shouted as she walks inside, "I got a friend as a guest too!"
"Okay, you guys doing whatever you want!" The voice came from the kitchen where you could hear someone cooking. James removed his shoes but was stopped by Maurie, "What are you doing? Let's go upstairs!" James hesitated and don't know what to do but just quickly removed his shoes and then followed Maurie again. "We're not allowed to go inside his room for now but..." She scurried towards her room and then came back with a telephone tin can, "We can use this to talk with him!" She gave it to James and then took his hand to drag him towards her brother's door and then knocked. "Mark Louise! Your friend is here!"
Mark Louise? So that's what his name is. But it's quite a word, isn't it? Maurie took the other side of the can and opened the door. Inside, you can see the boy sitting on his bed as he looked to both of them. She rolled the other side of the tin can phone inside towards her brother who has to pick it up. "There! You can guys talk now!" James awkwardly brought the can closer to his lips and talked when he saw the other putting the other side closer to his ear, "I'm James... The boy from yesterday. Nice to meet you..." Mark Louise couldn't help but let out a weak smile and replied back with his soft quiet voice, "... I'm Mark Louise... Nice to meet you too!.."
James was nervous as they talked but at the same time, he feels a certain connection between them that makes them encourage to talk with each other more. "I heard that you're sick... Are you okay?" "Mhm... The doctor says that my condition is getting better... But I can't go out yet..." You can hear the disappointment on his voice to which makes James chuckle, "It's a good thing though. I mean, if possible, we won't use this tin can anymore in the future." On the other side, Mark's face lit up and he smiled again "I hope that happens! I want to talk to you guys face to face and make friends too!" He was already looking forward for it. When you're imprisoned for too long, you can't help but seek for freedom. Like how a dove in a cage does.
"Did you met Maurie? She's loud isn't she?" James laughed. The Maurie he met was in fact the opposite. At least that's what he thought. Maurie was quiet and shy, only talking when something caught her attention.
"Anyways... Why are you sick?" James couldn't help but ask out of curiosity. Mark paused for a moment, hesitant about what he has to say next. "...um... I don't know too, I think because I was kinda clingy to our mom when she was sick..." The answer was vague but it's enough to fill his curiosity. He thought that maybe Mark doesn't remember much when he was a child. "Oh... Sorry about asking." He apologised awkwardly but Mark shook his head in dismissed, "No need to! It's not your fault." But James still felt guilty as he holds the side of the tin can. Eventually, Mark noticed this and changed the topic for the sake of their growing friendship, "How's outside?" The only thing he can ask for the moment,
James perked up at that but you can see his eyebrows furrows, "Well... It's not exactly good for me as you thought it would be... Everybody avoids me." Mark goes quiet. This not the path he wants to cross, he changed the topic for a reason, y'know? But nevertheless, it's this or an awkward silence, "Why? Did you do something that makes them hate you?" Mark asked again and James' expression just turned even more sadder. "It's because I'm a murderer... I murdered my parents... Or so they thought."
"Did they blamed you?..." James nodded and Mark felt pity. He didn't know this friend of his was enduring something more heavier. "That's cruel..." The only thing words he can let out, "Yeah, it is. But don't worry about me, I'm strong!" James showed his bruises around his body as proof. Some big while some were in the process of healing, James even joked about it saying he was strong as superman and Mark laughed at that. James then told stories about their town. About how Mr. Burke's obsession to his chickens and taking care of them like they're his children, how some woman gossips everything they thought is bad, how the church's bell ring during the mass.
Mark like how James describes everything he can't see. How James tells them as if they're story from a book. To him, it all feels magical and fun to think that he can live in a world like that. Even though they're far from each other, the tin can and its long wire helped them communicate with one another as if talking on the phone. You can also notice how even though Mark is sick, he brighten up at every story James have in his sleeves. He was glowing slightly if James describes it. But not far away, you can see someone watching them. The old lady smiles with glee as she saw her grandson making a friend for the first time while the old man beside her couldn't help but feel lost,
"Are you sure it's alright to let a random lad in?" The old woman sighed at those words as if he broke an important moment, "Oh, of course it is! He's Maurie's guest, remember? And I've met him before so stop gawking!" The old man went quiet for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders, "Alright... If you say so..." He turned around to walk back downstairs to the living room where he left his coffee along with the TV running his favourite show. "Ugh... That man... How did I even marry someone like him?" The woman could only mutter to herself as she watches the disappearing figure.
But neither James or Mark noticed this. They were caught on their own world as they talk to one another. For the first time, the both of them made their first friend after being isolated for years.