PTE

offered El

d many affections since leaving home - a few in London as well - that were f

ion, I had never on

ave held it, and he spent my b

ime when Dad's firm hand held my small fingers and led me through the streets of London. I

r. But soon my hands were required to clean the flat and care for Mum and the si

went my

d never again to offer

am I

is, and we need

try, so close to downtown. Around us, gentle hills swelled and fell, and

espassers w

released his hand. I gestured at t

clear that you, and I, are

it say?"

etches. That sign says that if we continue, there is a dragon waiting to devour your drawings.

about my departure. I would not leave until I knew how much he knew, and if his knowing - his

ouldn't. N

ng: I didn't draw them. Any of them. I draw in stick figures." Again, he glanced

icks, and when the mon - when the Other One shows up, those same hands

etter than sp

yes and jogged after. The road veered

d," I

ems and mini roller coaster cars clung precariously to rotted beams. A small Ferris whee

ispers of wind whistling through vacant crevices and collapsed rides. I was in the cinema flick, one where the hero returns t

s al

e, with bo

y invasion of odd humans and colourful tents. And, of course, rides. Taken with horses at the time, I rode the merry-go-round th

He stood at my side, one hand on

knight, oka

s, milady. Whe

tral

pointing out the Great Barrier

Don't tell me it wasn't real; my mind circled the

hat the whole time, I h

s my knight would lea

ant to see

ack over what had once b

. I only said that I don

rom the spectacle. "You said that you don't want to s

e, I softened. This boy heard. He listened, right down to

proached the gate. "There's a

ot go inside. Not until yo

he glanced back over his should

ou say n

d offered a

n we need

lain horse near the gate. "

d back, "The owner was losing money, and he figur

hat is

g my fingers between the links, I applied gentle pre

," he

illed with impressive mounds and conv

d in what's below the surface,

This is what you

m the pit and walked to an old service g

sheet, and benea

xactly

e vehicle: part Jeep, par

e Elis." He stood on the front seat and smiled sheepish

achine and its maker. A li

und in the repair shed. It looks a little front heavy, but that's because I had to build the mount and wheel base around the engine from the tilt-o-whirl." He fl

who doesn't draw can build this kind of vehicle." I jumped

enius and a part-time artistic, autistic bloke all balled up in a handsome p

him or understand him or ever know him. Elis w

opens until suddenly nothing means something, something more than the sum of the parts, right? I see one hunk of meta

fear to affection. I wanted to kiss him. No, I

ut the pictures you drew, or part of you drew? You swear you

you're smart and . . . pretty." A third finger shot up. His voice trailed off, and he turned a fetching shade of pink before wincing and a

t - you haven

ed me build the engine, but he wouldn't let

t to be invol

of bluish smoke. "It works. It so works!" He peeked over at me. "Now, those fu

, and felt a gentl

to come with me on

felt like a ki

her

en. One s

napped against my waist, and wi

for the shoulder harness. Wind and dust whipped across my face, and I don't know if it was

a neat circle and stopped, our n

e, and I recog

ed perm

n your mum's car, and I should be driving calmly back t

e, but we're

fast. I covered my face and waited for the clank of metal on metal. I never felt it. The next sensation

oward heaven, and crashed down again. The Elis never faltered. All four wheels clawed forw

oy and grime covering his

"Get me out of here. Get me out . . ." I started to laugh. ". . . Out of here." My laugh gained force

ild eyed. "Thanks

now I had

eeling around the mounds and tractors and small ma

ast thing,"

ng. An

up. The Elis churned and roared

your vehicle, that's now bouncing down

ed. "I'll need to str

ost. We slid down and backward, and th

rnesses kept us suspended from danger - at least I felt no danger. It felt the perfect ending

The gentle browns of his eyes

fallen

ard pack, dust se

d fumbled for the bar rel

from me. You can suspend me

ot to be

d find the seam in whatever you've fallen through, b

th. "Ask the one wh

s made no sense. I only knew that I would likely spend the night upside down with a boy I knew ev

wasn't wh

li

as faint, b

nev

li

hand free of the frame and wave

and Juan to reach us, ten more f

longer to explain