The Many Portraits of Nicholas Pope

In The Rookery, the boys lay on the blanket with the roof open to the blistering blue. “You haven’t asked yet?” Nicky heard the accusation in A.J.’s voice. “We’ve never had a sleepover at my house. I mean it’s great at your house with Mrs. Bacon baking cookies all the time and the pool. Things are a little more relaxed at my house. And my birthday party is going to have lots of people. I want to make sure we get to have fun.” A.J. drew on the paper using a blue ballpoint pen. It was a mess of crab claws and octopus tentacles. So weird, Nicky thought as he considered how to answer. Nicky sighed heavily. “Um, you’re not going to like this, but I don’t have a choice.” A.J. put down the pen, set aside the paper and pushed himself into a sitting position. “Ok. Hit me with it.” Nicky sat up to face A.J.’s patient look. The hair that had once simply stuck out like straw was now a tangle of curls and lazy loops. A.J. complained about it, but the curls fascinated Nicky. They had formed along with A.J.’s broadening shoulders and sharpening jawline. “I’m going to Leighton Academy in September.” Everything was quiet and bright, the shadows beneath them small and tight. “Well, it sucks, yeah. It totally sucks, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s not a boarding school. We’ll still see each other after school and on weekends.” “I thought you’d be more upset.” “I am upset, Nicky. I’m pretty mad at your parents, for sure. I’m kind of mad at you, too. You should have told me sooner. Maybe the summer would have been different. We should have packed more into it. Anyway, now you have to spend the night at my house because you owe me. Promise that you’ll ask your parents?” “I promise.” • • • By midnight, the visitors were gone. The boys slipped downstairs for slices of cold pizza. They toyed with figuring out how to tap into the birthday cake reserved for the pool party, but neither was confident of their ability to hide the destruction. Bellies full and feeling a little sick, they sneaked back to A.J.’s room to play more Atari. “Where am I sleeping?” “In here. With me.” A.J. walked to his dresser and rooted through the tangle of unfolded clothing until he found what he wanted. Nicky went to his suitcase which had been laid on A.J.’s bed. His pajamas lay neatly folded on top. He pulled them out along with his toiletries bag. When he looked up, A.J. was shrugging out of his clothes, immodest as always. Nicky unbuttoned his shirt, unable to look away from his friend. A.J. noticed. Nicky’s face darkened, and he looked away. But his eyes darted back. Not only had A.J. grown taller, he just looked older and sturdier. Nicky disrobed, hiding behind the lid of his suitcase, overly conscious of everywhere A.J. had a wisp of hair that he did not. Then it was over. A.J. was in a t-shirt and loose shorts, and Nicky was dressed for a sleepover in a boardroom. A.J. walked to the dormer window and pushed up the sash, the sound of crickets flooding the room. They were close to Taylor’s Woods, and every living thing in it was chorusing the sounds of the night up to the waning moon. A.J. thrust his head out of the window and bayed like a werewolf. Dogs in the neighborhood set to barking their response. He laughed as Nicky poked his head out beside him, also giggling at the prank. “Where’s Orion?” A.J. peered out towards the woods. “No, the other way. It’s in the east this time of year, but it’s probably right at the horizon.” “What’s that one?” A.J. pointed into the southern sky. Nicky drew close to A.J. and grabbed his hand with his own to make sure they were looking at the same constellation. “That’s Cetus.” He let go of A.J.’s hand but stayed close. “Cetus? I’ve never heard of it.” “It’s in ‘Clash of the Titans.’ Cetus is the big sea monster that was going to eat Andromeda, because her mom ticked off Zeus. Then Perseus kills it and marries Andromeda.” “No, that was the Kraken.” “In the movie it was the Kraken, but in Greek Mythology it’s Cetus.” “What about Leo? Where’s that?” A.J.’s eyes darted across the wedge of sky they could see from the dormer. “It’s too late in the year. You can only see Leo in the spring.” “Nope. Makes no sense. I’m a Leo. I should be able to see my constellation on my birthday.” They were quiet then, listening to the musical crickets and frogs in Rusty Creek and looking at the sky. Nicky turned to look at A.J. but said nothing. A.J. turned his head to face Nicky. “What?” Then Nicky kissed him on the lips. Under a tumble of curls, A.J.’s eyes widened with surprise. Nicky looked into them calmly, not sure what was about to happen. After a moment, he looked back into the sky. “See Aquarius over there? That’s for birthdays in January and February.” A.J. said nothing in reply. His body weight shifted against Nicky. The boys pulled themselves back inside the room, and A.J. closed the window soundlessly. A.J. walked over to the television and snapped it off. A little light streamed in through the window, enough for them to see their way to a side of the twin bed. Nicky was conscious of how close they were. The sensation was both intolerable and desperate. A.J. turned on his side, and Nicky did the same so that they faced each other. “It’s ok,” A.J. said softly. “It’s ok,” he said again but with a note of finality. Then he turned on his back and shut his eyes. Nothing is ok, Nicky thought while confused tears slid silently from eyes to his ears.