31. Willow
THIRTY- ONE
Willow
I sneak into my bedroom, but Dax wakes up enough to ask, “How was it?"
“How was what?"
"You know what. I heard a lot of…movement…underneath the window."
Horrified, I look over at their bed to find Dax smiling. "Oh my gosh. You heard us? You think anybody else heard us?”
"They were probably sleeping. I'm a night owl…and a light sleeper. And...I was worried about you."
This softens me. "You don't have to worry. But it's sweet that you do.”
"You remind me a little of my sister. Can't help it."
"I didn't know that!"
"Emily. She’s beautiful too.” After a second, during which I process the compliment, Dax adds, “We’re twins. I was born female, but I don't like to identify as that. I believe I'm both. I am all the things. ”
“Huh. Thank you for sharing that with me.” There's something poetic about the way they explained themself. Since we’re discussing it, I decide to brave a curious question. "How did your twin react to your being non-binary?"
"It wasn't a surprise.”
"And your parents?"
"Same. From the beginning, I rejected the normal color patterns children are given. I used to take off the pink clothes and cry until they put me in something that had no association with male or female. Purple is my favorite color. I love that dress by the way, but I bet you love it even more now."
“True.” I smile, "Never throwing it away."
"Or washing it?"
I laugh, “Ew,” while changing into my pajamas. "Are you attracted to any particular sex?"
"I'm attracted to the person. It doesn't matter which sex they are.” Dax rises up on an elbow, lit by moonlight streaming in through gauzy curtains. “All people can be beautiful. So for me, I'm attracted to who they are, not what they are. I've been with all types."
"That increases the playing field," I note, heading to brush my teeth. “Lucky.”
“They’re not always attracted to me.”
“Well, that’s everyone’s problem, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s a bummer.”
Before I disappear into the bathroom I smile, “If only everyone liked us back. ”
“Rejection is God’s protection.”
This comment draws me back. “I love that! Do you believe in God?”
“I believe in a Higher Power.”
“What is that to you?”
“I don’t know. But something exists. I feel it.”
I whisper, “Me too,” leaving the room.
I n the morning, after a long, hot shower — so great to be in a city where I don’t have to watch how much water I use — I dry my hair and head down for breakfast wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, ready for moving Sylvia to her new room.
After yoga, over breakfast, we all agree that’s the first thing we’ll do today.
Some phone calls bring over Rachel, Jaxson, Jonny and also Ben. With this many of us the room switch gets a little chaotic, nearly everyone with ideas of how to tackle it best. But because of the sheer number of hands to help, we get it done fast.
When all is done, Laura excitedly says, “What about putting Dax’s painting of Sunflower in your new room?!”
It’s presented to Sylvia. Tears jump to her eyes as she holds it up for Rachel’s appraisal, “Look! It’s incredible! ”
Her business partner beams. “Oh, it’d be perfect in your room!”
“No way.” Sylvia smiles, wiping a stray tear. “Everyone has to see this. Let’s put it by the front door.”
“Really? Are you sure?” Rachel tilts her head while staring at the painted wood in admiration. “It was given to you .”
“It’s given to everyone.”
Rachel claps her hands to her chest. “I love it so much!”
Dax isn’t the type to be effusive in their reception of compliments, but I can tell they’re beyond happy the gorgeous depiction is so well received, and will be enjoyed for years to come by so many.
We go downstairs for the hanging of perfection on the entrance wall, and take a moment, all of us together, to drink in the vivid colors, the beautiful painting of the place we’ve all had such a fun and unexpectedly unusual time in.
Sylvia asks Rachel, “Would you say this is our most memorable group?”
She takes in our smiling faces. “Yes. Yes, I would.”
Jonny asks Dax, “How do you paint?”
“I’ve been drawing since I was younger than you. Then I took classes. The ones about textures and palettes were the most interesting to me. If I didn’t know how to paint on wood — which is porous and rough…well, until sanded — then I couldn’t have done this. ”
“But you have a gift,” Laura argues. “That’s something classes can’t teach.”
Maggie adds, “That’s what I was going to say! I could never paint something like this.”
Dax opens our minds with, “No, you’d paint your own version of Sunflower. And that’s how it’s meant to be.”
Jonny says, “I can draw a little.”
“Do you like drawing?”
“Can you make a living at it?”
Dax asks again, pointedly, “Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
“Then explore it if you like it.”
Jaxson tells Jonny, “You can make a living at anything you put your mind to it.”
Ben, who’s been quiet for most of today, along for the ride, adds, “Your grandpa’s right. Do you want to learn how to paint?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll get you the materials.”
“You can use ours!” Rachel says. She pulls Jonny to her in a hug. “That way we can see you more.”
“Who wants to milk some cows?” There’s a mixed reaction that makes everyone crack up. Jaxson smirks and adds, “I’ve already done their daily milking, so I was planning on just showing you how it’s done.”
Steven shouts, “I want to milk a cow!" causing another fit of laughter, which, from the grin on his face, was his desired intention.
Ben leans to whisper in my ear, “You’ll have lots of time to milk cows when you come back to visit me.”
“Oh I’m coming back?”
“Yes.”
“Yay!”
“How about we ride horses today.”
I whisper back, “With Jonny?”
“That’s what I was hoping for.”
“Can I ask him?”
“Yes,” Ben smiles.
“Jonny, how’d you like to ride horses with us while everyone learns about milking cows?”
“Yeah!!!” Jonny shouts.
“And just like that, a beautiful afternoon is planned. At least for us.” Everyone laughs, and breaks off to get ready for their day.
“Snacks first!” Rachel calls out.
Great idea.