Xavier in the Meantime, page 11
Dear Zavia.
I dont now if thats how u spell ur name so sory if its rong. Im not very good at spelling to so probly ull think im dumb after reading this. I just wanted to say sory for caling you a freek and stuff. I can be realy mean. I am realy mean I think. Iv been mean to Aster and so many other pepel and I dont now how to make it rite. I dont now y Aster is still so nice to me. I dont now … much of anything. Exept that im sad and I think maybe ur sad to. I saw u go all funy at the farm and I just coldnt stop thinking that u looked how I feel exept u didnt throw stuf and break stuf. So I gess ur a better person then I am. I dont realy now y im writing this exept to say thanks for the sheep and sory for being a cow to u and that I gess I understand feeling sad and mayby if you forgive me we cold see the sheep again. IDK. Its watever but I think id like it.
Indigo.
PS Sory about the speling. Asters helping me get better. Shes trying to get me to like poetry too but nah. Shes realy cool thow. Maybe one day shell like me as much as she likes u.
PPS u do realy dress like a freek thow. Just saying.
PPPS (I dont even now if thats a thing) My mob number is 03498765. So u can txt me if u want to.
Xavier folded the note, carefully, and slipped it into the pocket of his bright red jeans shorts (layered over red and blue polka-dotted cut-off leggings).
He did have unusual taste in clothes, but he wasn’t changing.
Some change was good. But sometimes staying yourself was exactly what was needed.
Xavier walked down the stairs. His mum and dad were in the kitchen, drinking tea, reading different sections of the newspaper.
For some reason, the sight of them doing this completely boring, old person thing made him feel happier than he had in ages.
His mum looked up. “You okay, Xave?” she asked. “You want some ginger cake? I was just going to have a piece. Not a bad belly day today, so cake it is.”
“Yes, please,” he said. “Not a bad brain day, so … And, oh … can I borrow your phone?”
His mum’s eyes narrowed. “So you can go on the Ticky Tocks? You know how I feel about—”
Xavier suppressed a smile. “I promise I will never go on the Ticky Tocks, Mum,” he said. “No, I just … need to text Indigo.”
His mum raised an eyebrow. His dad looked up from the paper and did the same. “Indigo Michael?” he asked. He looked at Iris. “She was great at the farm,” he said. “Really kind to the lambs. Really gentle, but … sad.”
His mum and dad exchanged a long look, telepathically discussing parent stuff, while Xavier waited.
Finally, his mum reached into her handbag and pulled out her ancient Nokia. “Come to think of it, I don’t think you could ticky tock on this even if you wanted to,” she said. She passed it over to Xavier.
Xavier clicked on the message button and typed, quickly.
Hi, Indigo. Xavier here (Zavia is also fine. Sounds cooler actually). I’d love to hang out. But only if you don’t mind being seen with someone who dresses like a “freak.”
He hit send.
A moment later a little envelope appeared on the screen and the phone pinged.
His parents looked back up again. Xavier waved a hand at them. They raised their eyebrows at each other and looked back down at their papers.
Just dont dress too freeky No tutus
PS u txt like an old person
Xavier couldn’t help grinning. He was just about to pass the phone back to his mum when it pinged again.
Aster here, on Indigo’s phone. Thanks for that. She’s smiling like a quokka. Maybe she could even come to the sheep planning meeting? PS u rlly do txt like an old person (but I love you anyway)
Xavier’s grin got even bigger.
He gave the phone back to his mum.
And then he cut them all a slice of ginger cake.
He searched the corners of the room for the black dog. It wasn’t back. Not yet. It would come back sometime, but not in this moment.
Xavier let himself smile.
He swiped the comics page from his dad.
He breathed in.
He breathed out.
And enjoyed the meantime.
Chapter 27
A Last—and Important—Affirmation: Hug a sheep.
Xavier, Aster, Esme, Zach and Indigo lay on their backs on the emerald green grass. They each had a lamington on a plate beside them, and a Keep Cup full of milkshake.
The lambs danced around them, bleating and bouncing.
Somewhere close, they could hear Willow teaching Hugo about Emily Dickinson.
The sky was the bluest Xavier had ever seen it—full of those clouds that look like fairy floss, and the clouds you see in dreams.
There was another group of kids somewhere, being led by Xavier’s dad around the farm—the first proper group to visit the farm, under its new business name—Meantime Hobby Farm and Sheep Hugging Experience!
His mum was in the house—their house, for the next however-long—having coffee with Maren.
Xavier knew that none of it was perfect.
He wasn’t perfect.
He never would be.
But this moment was good.
And then Aster leaned over and said, “I love you forever, best friend,” and Xavier replied, “No matter what.”
And the meantime got even better.
Kate Gordon, Xavier in the Meantime
