2
Cody
Cody stared at his computer screen with bemusement. His friend from London had been in a fit of giggles for at least two minutes. ‘When you’re ready, Humphrey.’
Humphrey waved a hand. ‘I can’t stop visualising you prancing around the stage.’
‘Seriously, I did the worst job known to man, and he still hired me.’
‘He must have been desperate.’
‘I think he was stoned.’
Humphrey laughed again. ‘Oh, that’s made my day. Make sure you get me a ticket. There is no way I’m missing your acting debut.’
Cody scoffed. ‘I’m not telling anyone.’
Humphrey’s blood-red eyes looked menacing as he turned down his background light to peer into his screen. ‘Mwah-ha-ha. I hold your secret within my palm, young Wisher.’
‘Take the contact lenses out. You’re going to ruin your eyes.’
Humphrey turned his light back on and sat back. ‘Nope, I’m feeling the red tonight. Hey, I’ve just had a thought. I hope rehearsal times don’t interfere with our game nights.’
‘I won’t let it. I’m only booked in with the superhero wannabees on Wednesdays and weekend nights. Joy!’
‘Superhero wannabees?’
‘Lavender Lockwood and Kip Kirkland. I mean, what kind of name is Kip anyway?’
‘A sleepy one.’
Cody snorted a laugh. ‘Humphrey, you need to help me get these people out of my head. Talk to me.’
‘I will, once you tell me why you’re going through with this debacle.’
‘Debacle?’
‘I’m testing out words I don’t normally use. I think I can pull off debacle.’
‘What about discombobulate?’
‘I’m sure we can fit it in somewhere. Now, why are you taking part in plays? I thought it was a misunderstanding.’
‘It was. Of sorts. Anyway, I promised Willow. She doesn’t want to do it on her own.’
And I can’t tell you about her secret soulmate .
‘Okay. Let’s talk board games now. Have you got a name for your idea yet?’
Cody’s shoulders slumped. He’d been tossing around names for a while and still hadn’t landed on anything. ‘No. But I’ve got some sketches down, finally. And…’ He tapped on his keyboard, sending some pictures to Humphrey. ‘Look. See what I’m dealing with.’
‘It’s the colouring. Not a match.’
‘Purple always goes with silver.’
‘If you’re a wizard. I thought you were opting for demons with dragons.’
He was, but since moving into the main house on Silver Wish Farm, his concentration levels had diminished.
‘What’s wrong, Wisher? You’re looking a little lost over there in Pepper Bay. Are you missing London?’
Cody shook his head. ‘No. It’s not that. Oh, I don’t know. I feel a bit off since being back here. It’s been years since I lived on the island. I keep having surreal moments.’
‘That’s understandable. You have memories there.’
Wasn’t that the truth. Growing up in such a small close-knit community, then being dragged off to the big city of London was quite the culture shock, especially as he was only eleven-years old. Zach only brought him back for a couple of weeks each summer, but he knew that was just to make sure their house hadn’t fallen down or gained squatters or something.
Cody would have liked to live there whilst waiting for his big brother to return home for good, but the house had been in such a state of disrepair, Zach was having it rebuilt, so it just wasn’t practical, let alone hygienic.
Humphrey started to set up their Dungeons and Dragons game whilst they waited for their other friends to join the mix, and Cody took that time to reach into the bottom drawer of his desk to simply look at the box holding a stack of letters from back when Willow was his pen pal.
He smiled at the memory of her wanting handwritten correspondence filled with news, pictures, and pieces of dead plants. At least, they were dead by the time they arrived his end.
Willow’s grandmother, Fran, had given him the second biggest bedroom in her house, which he figured used to belong to her eldest son, Heath, who was Willow’s dad. The eldest always got pick of the bunch. His thoughts went to his box room at Zach’s. Not that it was his brother’s fault.
Cody was never ungrateful. Had it not been for Zach, he’d have gone into the care system after their mother died. But squeezing into someone else’s life never made him feel he truly belonged.
‘You been to your old home yet?’ asked Humphrey, cutting into his thoughts.
‘Not yet. Perhaps tomorrow.’
Humphrey ruffled over the one wide white stripe in his black hair and smiled supportively. ‘You can call me when you’re there, if you like.’
Cody was lucky to have good friends. ‘Thanks, Warlock.’
‘No worries. Ooh, hang on, I’ve forgotten my snack tray. Won’t be a sec.’
Cody watched him leave his gaming chair, then turned to his side to see his own snack tray was lacking. Zach had put some money in his bank account, and Fran had bought extra supplies for the kitchen, but he felt bad dipping into her pantry, even though she had managed to buy all his favourites. He put up his Be Back Soon sign, which was a plastic orange one he’d bought online, then headed to the kitchen, with a pitstop to the bathroom. Game night was long haul, so the right number of snacks was a must, and pee breaks were for the weak.
‘You okay in there, Cody?’ asked Fran, making him jump.
Cody’s head snapped out of the pantry, where he was rummaging through the large wicker basket of crisps on the bottom shelf. ‘Oh, I was, erm…’ He trailed off, feeling awkward.
‘Game night, is it?’
He avoided her eyes by focusing on the tips of her white hair. For as long as he’d known Fran Silver, she’d always had white hair, but she never seemed to age much. Her soft features didn’t tell of a woman in her early sixties.
‘Take what you want at any time, son. They all do here.’
‘Even though they’ve all moved out?’
‘I’ve got three sons all living on my land, and as grown as they are, they still use this kitchen like a supermarket at times.’
‘Oh, I won’t—’
‘It’s okay, Cody. It’s how I like things to be. My kitchen has always been open to everyone. You should know that by now. So you make yourself at home. How’s your room? I know I keep asking, but I want to make sure you’re settled here.’
Cody nodded as he smiled. ‘It’s perfect. Fits all my stuff.’
‘Yes, well, I did hear on the grapevine you had a lot of computer equipment.’
‘I like gaming and designing. It takes up a lot of desk space.’
‘I noticed. I’ve only ever seen one monitor on people’s desks. Not sure I could handle three. I wouldn’t know where to look.’
Cody laughed. ‘It just helps with my concentration if I have things I need staring me right in the face.’
‘I’m like that when I’m cooking.’
‘Do you want me to make you anything while I’m here? I have time.’ He totally didn’t. Humphrey would be giving his orange sign the death glare by now.
‘No, lovely. I’m just going to fix myself a cuppa, then have a read. Don’t stare at the screen too long. You’ll have a headache in the morning.’
The last time someone fussed him was when he was eleven. Living with his mum and grandfather at the Boat Hut were the best times. Life was a lot easier then, and spending time on the rowboats on Pepper River was the best. Having online friends became a necessity once all he had was a box room in a concrete jungle, where Zach wouldn’t let him play out.
Cody grabbed some more snacks and went back to the confinement of his bedroom. It might not be the room he was used to, but living that kind of life was. Maybe joining the play would be good for him. Travelling with Willow certainly was. Going to university, spending time away from home, and being back with his best mate was the respite he needed. He just had to make sure he didn’t slip back into the humdrum life he had in London.
‘Game’s off,’ said Humphrey, as soon as Cody came into view.
‘Oh, what! Why?’
‘Ren’s too ill, and Lacey’s been frogmarched to her cousin’s wild and whacky twenty-first birthday party, which she’s sure will find many ways to eat her soul alive. Her words. She did barricade herself in her room, but her dad switched off the router, like the fun sponge he is.’
‘Oh, I just reloaded my snack tray as well. What shall we do now?’
‘I feel too depressed to do anything.’
‘Come on, Warlock.’
Humphrey raised a hand and flapped it dramatically, showing his distaste for having Dungeons and Dragons snatched so rudely from the palm of his hand. ‘I must leave this realm of darkness and draw my way into another.’
‘Yeah, see ya, Warlock.’ Cody waited for his friend to sign off, then wondered if he should swap his keyboard for his drawing pad as well. He had another idea. Grabbing his pen and packet of sticky notes, he made his way downstairs, exiting the house via the kitchen side door.
Heath’s barn conversion was the first home he saw, then Willow’s uncle’s house, and then her old treehouse in the middle of a field out back. His destination.
Climbing the rickety ladder was concerning. He was sure at least one rung would snap, but he should have known better. Willow’s dad had made the treehouse years back, and as he was a carpenter, the old house was still pretty solid.
There was a pink blanket on the floor and a battery-operated lamp on a small footstool alongside a white vase filled with purple blooms.
Cody figured Willow had been up. He switched on the light, sat crossed-legged, and stared at the wall. There was a board game waiting to be invented, and it wasn’t going to happen by itself.
Scribbling away on sticky notes whilst softly singing songs from the 80s, Cody made a start on a storyboard. One by one, he stuck his ideas onto the wall in front of him, sitting back every so often to assess his arrangement. Somehow the treehouse would play a part. He wasn’t sure where it would fit into his world of demons and dragons, but it was happening, because where he sat was one of his favourite places and always had the ability to inspire him.
‘Hello,’ called Willow.
Cody poked his head out the door. ‘Hello.’
‘What you doing up there this time of night?’
Cody glanced at the dark sky. It wasn’t that colour when he’d arrived. ‘What time is it?’
‘Late,’ she whispered, climbing the ladder. ‘Ooh, what’s this?’
Cody tugged her down to his side so she wouldn’t be tempted to reach out and touch any of his notes. ‘I’m inventing a board game.’
‘What kind?’
‘Fantasy.’
‘Cool.’
‘You think?’
Willow shrugged as she lifted the lantern closer to the wall, creating a soft glow on her pale face. Big chestnut eyes flashed his way, smiling in approval. ‘I love it already.’
He had to laugh. She was always so full of encouragement and positivity. ‘Why are you up? You start work first thing.’
‘I couldn’t sleep so went for a walk. Saw the light on.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t say that. You can come here anytime you like.’
Cody pointed at the array of colourful sticky notes. ‘And decorate?’
Willow’s laugh was muffled. ‘Why not!’ She put the lamp down and sat back, and Cody joined her on the blanket.
‘Thanks for letting me stay here, Wills.’
‘If I had a pound for every time you said that.’
He shrugged, pressing his shoulder into hers. ‘I’m just grateful.’
‘And my bezzie mate, so where else would you be when in need?’
‘I could be in London.’
‘Oh, we both know you hate it there.’
Cody leaned closer to her arm. ‘Thanks,’ he whispered.
Willow nudged him as they both laughed. ‘Have you learned any of your lines for the play yet? I had a peep at the first few pages. We’re in the first scene. I think we’re enemies.’
‘I haven’t looked properly yet, but I know it takes place under the sea.’
‘You don’t have to do it with me, Sully. Honestly, I don’t mind.’
‘Nah, I’m going to give it a go. It gets me away from the screen for a bit. I want to be outdoors more.’
‘He says just as we hit autumn.’
‘I like this time of year. The weather is just right.’
‘I agree.’ She shivered. ‘Although, I prefer warmer nights.’
Cody put his arm around her and pulled her in for a hug. ‘We should get to bed. Early start for you, and I’m on bookkeeping duty.’
‘I feel too awake to sleep. Do the thing.’
‘Oh, come on. In here?’
‘Pleaseeee.’
Cody smiled and closed his eyes, resting his head back against the hard, wooden wall as Willow snuggled further into him. Quietly, he started to sing ‘Rainbow Connection’ by Kermit the Frog.