I Am Noman

[plaguedrat]

He's always preferred to own his books, but his refusal to seek out work and forge any real ties to the city have forced him to budget, to compromise. It's what takes him to the public library today. Signing up for a library card is different, he tries to convince himself. It's not as if it requires money, nor does he have to maintain it. It's different.

It's netted him a thick stack of books that he's negotiating into a bag while he sits on the steps. The acetate-bound copy of The Odyssey rests on his knees, the one he plans to read first.

Perhaps he's like Odysseus, trapped for years on an island and prolonging his foolish journey.

Comments

[silenttrainbaby]

Suddenly alert, the cat wriggles from his sling to bat a front paw at the dangling, elusive thing.

Grey expels a breath that could possibly sound like a laugh.

[plaguedrat]

Rat smiles at that, surprisingly genuine and affectionate, letting the cat chase and pounce the string.

[silenttrainbaby]

Catching the string between his paws, the cat claws at it, trying to pull it closer to bite it, tug it, conquer the string.

It makes Grey's chest feel tight and fizzy watching, watching Rat's face, too.

[plaguedrat]

"Quite the hunter, isn't he?" Rat says, tugging the lace out from the cat's paw.

[silenttrainbaby]

He is. That fits. Maybe Grey was meant to find this cat.

The cat doesn't let the string get too far, leaning nearly too far out of the sling, one paw on Rat's knee, the other batting at the string.

[plaguedrat]

He continues to tease the cat with the string, but never outright taunting, just enough to entertain Polyphemus.

[silenttrainbaby]

Eventually, the cat does tire of the game and nestles back against Grey's chest. Pulling the sling around him again, Grey smiles at Rat.

[plaguedrat]

"He seems happy with you," Rat says, still smiling.

[silenttrainbaby]

And with Rat. Grey meets his eyes, taking a deep, content breath.

[plaguedrat]

No, Rat would say. He's just entertainment. The cat has no reason to be terribly attached to him.

He looks up at Grey, trying to read his face.

[silenttrainbaby]

Even though the smile fades, it isn't as if Grey looks angry or displaced. The sun is warm on his head, the cat is warm on his chest and though his cast itches, he feels all right. He looks right back, blinking slowly.

[plaguedrat]

Rat's never before tried to fill silence but now, with Grey's contemplative gaze, he feels somehow exposed. "If you want to take out books...you can get a library card too."

[silenttrainbaby]

Reading?

Grey never had the time or resources for reading in on the train. He supposes, though, that he could now. He nods; he'll think about it, for sure.

[plaguedrat]

"You'll need some way to get books when you get sick of my reading," Rat jokes.

[silenttrainbaby]

How would Grey get sick of that? The reading was wonderful. Grey shakes his head, touching Rat's shoulder.

[plaguedrat]

Because even Rat knows he's not that entertaining.

"What kind of stories do you like, then?"

[silenttrainbaby]

At that, Rat has to shake his head. He hasn't heard enough to know. He points to Rat's books, though. He's sure he'd like those.

[plaguedrat]

"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes? The Hobbit?" Rat asks, picking up the various books. "The poems of Pablo Neruda?"

[silenttrainbaby]

None of those sound familiar, so Grey shrugs. Why not?

[plaguedrat]

"Poetry? Mysteries? Or adventure?" Rat says, touching each book in turn.

[silenttrainbaby]

Finally, Grey catches Rat's wrist, shaking his head when he has the other boy's attention. It doesn't matter. He doesn't know enough to make a choice.

[plaguedrat]

The touch startles him again but Rat nods, getting the message. Because it's the top of the pile, Rat picks up The Hobbit.

[silenttrainbaby]

Letting go, Grey settles back, petting over the cat's ears. That sounds good to him.

[plaguedrat]

Rat nods and flips to the first page, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

It's a quiet, happy existence that Bilbo Baggins lives. Not one that Rat could ever envision.

[silenttrainbaby]

The words and Rat's delivery makes Grey relax more.

It is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. When he finally thinks he should go to get the cat some food and water, he touches Rat's hand in thanks.