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I watch his face as the song really gets goin’, with the man singing about drawin’ pictures and yellow suns. About a minute into it, I see it the second he must hear his name.
He straightens, his mouth gapin’ all big with shock.
And I’m grinning even wider.
And now he’s grinning too. Not a big one, like mine, but it’s still a smile. Still counts.
His eyes are locked right on mine, and he’s not looking away or trying to hide. And I don’t know if it’s ’cause I know they’re twins or what, but I search real hard, trying to find any differences. Like it’s one of those games on a placemat, where you have to circle all the ways the two pictures don’t match up.
“Mason?”
At Mrs. Montgomery’s voice, I turn around to find her standing under the archway. Her head’s tilted, a small smile on her face as she looks between us. I wonder how long she’s been standing there. Or why I even care.
“Your mom’s here.”
I nod, and turn to face her fully. Behind me, the music plays on, muffled against JJ’s ears.
“You’ll ask her about the piano lessons?” I say, double-checkin’ so she doesn’t forget.
The music’s playing louder now—more clearly—telling me JJ removed the headphones.
Mrs. Montgomery’s gaze darts behind me, super quick, but then she’s nodding and smiling back at me. “Of course.”
JJ’s not looking at me anymore when I turn back to face him. He hands me the headphones and mutters, “Thanks.”
He then pushes away from the table, and all but runs out of the room. “See ya,” I say, but he’s already gone.
Forehead wrinkling, I just shrug, and get my things.
Outside, Momma’s standing by her car talking with Mr. Montgomery.
“Momma, Momma,” I say, running over to her, hugging her waist. She looks down at me, eyes wide with shock, a smile teasing her face. “I can play piano! Izzy taught me. I need lessons. Please? I want to get better. I need?—”
“Whoa,” she says, crouching down, clutching my shoulders. She’s nodding, and Mr. Montgomery’s chuckling. “Okay, okay. We’ll get right on that.” She searches my face. I don’t know what she’s looking for, but whatever she sees has her smiling real big. She looks up at Mr. Montgomery, then her gaze flashes behind me to where Mrs. Montgomery stands in the doorway. “Thank you,” she tells them.
“Of course. He’s welcome here anytime.”
Momma releases me to open the car door, and I’m just about to climb in when I hear racin’ footsteps, and Mrs. Montgomery calling out from the porch, “Bubs?”
I turn around just as JJ stops in front of me in the driveway, and thrusts a stack of comic books at me. Ultimate Spiderman.
Our eyes meet, and he says, “So you can catch up.”
I smile and take them. He goes to turn away, but I say, “Wait.”
He stops.
“Hold on.” Turning, I set the comics in the car, and reach for my bag. Pulling out my MP3 player, I make sure the cord is wrapped tightly around it, and turn to find JJ standing there, looking at what’s in my hand.
“Mason, you don’t have—” Mr. Montgomery starts to say. He’s joined Mrs. Montgomery, standing at the base of the steps.
“It’s okay,” I tell them quickly. “He’s just borrowin’ it. I have my CD player at home to use.” And I hand everything to JJ.
He stares down at the bundle in his hands like he’s not sure what to do with it all.
“Bye, JJ,” I say.
He meets my gaze and mouths something before whipping around, and racing back into the house, rushing past his parents without a word.
