Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Rhys
Cockermouth is for Lovers
Duncan turns and steps back onto Main Road. The caramel is burning a hole in my pocket but my chest feels light. Now that we have successfully shoplifted, a bit of my brain space has freed up and lyrics around the word "yes" are spinning through my mind.
I chuckle following behind him as we pass the tea shop and the shoe repair store across the way. Duncan is swinging his candy bar like he’s a baseball player stepping into the batter’s box.
He spins and backs through a door, all the while grinning at me. With my eyes wide open, and oddly feeling no reservations at all, I follow him into the thrift store.
"What are we doing here?" I ask.
"Picking outfits for each other." He says as he starts to thumb through the racks. "You a medium?"
"Yes. Sometimes large."
"Me too Charming, me too." I roll my eyes but head to the rack next to him.
An employee walks over and waves. She’s wearing a pin saying "I talk with my hands…because I’m deaf."
Hello. I sign and she beams.
Welcome in. Can I help you?
No, I think we’re fine but I’ll let you know.
Sounds good. She gives me a thumbs up and heads back to the counter.
"That’s so cool." Duncan says and I glance back at him.
"What?"
"You signing with her. Teach me something."
"Do you know any BSL?" I ask because British Sign Language and American Sign Language are different.
"I thought it was ASL?"
"Aye Laddie but here in Scotland we sign British Sign Language."
"You throwing on that accent shouldn’t be as hot as it is." Duncan points a finger in my face. "Watch it or we’ll be breaking the sex rule."
I laugh. "Fine, do you know Thank You in ASL?" I place my closed flat hand against my chin and push it forward and a little down.
"Yeah everyone knows that one." He copies me.
"Well, in BSL it’s a little different." I split my finger, keeping it flat, and make a V with my index and middle finger. After letting it tap my chin, I pull it down and away like I did for thank you in ASL.
Except this one essentially means fuck you.
Duncan confidently practices it as he goes back to looking for clothing and I work to suppress my giggle.
"Was it tough to grow up with deaf parents?"
"I don’t really know any other way."
"That’s fair." He shrugs as he slides hangers on the rack.
It’s easier to admit things when his deep brown eyes aren’t tripping me up. "It was tough sometimes. And I felt different."
"Were other kids assholes?"
"Not really, it helps that we’re like the most prominent family in the area."
"True."
A teal Starter jacket for an American football team catches my eye and I pull it off the rack. "We’re paying for the clothes right?"
"Yes Rhys, I’m a highly paid professional hockey player. I can swing a new outfit from a thrift shop."
Like we didn’t just steal candy. "You’re ridiculous." But his sarcasm keeps me in the present. If I drift off into lyric land or even just memories of Mike, I’ll miss something and I know he’d tease me endlessly about it.
"You like it."
A little too much.
"Are we showing each other what we’ve got?"
Duncan’s head falls forward into the hangers. "Rhys Reid, seriously?"
I laugh at his voice muffled from the clothing. "What?"
Duncan lifts his face to mine, those bright eyes now dark, pupils blown.
"I’ve seen what you got. I had it in my hand last night, twice. And you’re the one who said no sex today so stop being so needy." He turns his back to me.
"I’m not, I meant…"
He winks at me over his shoulder. "We can show each other what we’re picking out but remember, the only acceptable answer is yes."
***
"No." I shake my head as Duncan makes a loud game show buzzer noise.
"You have to. And that’s two more minutes of touching added to your penalty."
"Duncan."
"Rhys."
"You seriously expect me to wear this?"
"Yes."
I glance down at the mustard yellow t-shirt with the slogan "Cockermouth is for Lovers" he picked out for me.
My eyes fall closed and I resign myself to my fate.
Cockermouth t-shirt.
Tweed bell bottom trousers.
A suede vest with fringe detailing.
"Fine. Now, go put on what I picked out for you."
"Gladly." He pulls the curtain closed with a flourish.
I gathered up the Starter jacket and then I found a matching pair of track pants. The shirt under the jacket is a sequinned tank top that says "Daddy’s Favorite" across the chest.
"Rhys, you did good." He says before stepping out. He lunges forward. "I actually love these pants."
He stands and swishes his thighs past each other and the noise they make fills the shop. "Oh my god, that’s so loud!" I laugh. And also hate how good his ass looks in the ridiculous pants.
"I know. So great. I kind of want to go to the library now or something and just walk around." He says as he adjusts his wig in the mirror before he twists to check himself out.
"We could, it is yes day."
"I have something else planned next." He raises an eyebrow and heads to the register.
Find everything? The girl signs.
"Yes, I think we found exactly what we needed." I say as I sign. I elbow Duncan and then wink at the girl. "Say thank you?"
"Yes! Thank you." He says loudly as he signs fuck you.
The girl could win an Oscar for her reaction. Her face almost fawns as she reaches forward and touches Duncan’s hand. She shakes her head no, places her other hand on her heart and then signs fuck you right back at him.
I cannot control my laughter and she grins.
"I can’t believe I just communicated in a new language! I’m a fucking genius." He preens and I sign it all for my new friend at the counter.
She nods and gives him thumbs up, a universal sign of approval.
We pay for our items and put the clothes we wore, and his gigantic candy bar, into bags. Duncan waves enthusiastically on his way out and confidently signs fuck you two more times before we leave the shop.
"Alright, do you want to know where we’re going next?" He asks as the sun peeks through the clouds for a moment.
"Yes."
"Darn, I walked right into that one." He shakes his head. "We’re headed to Kincraig Rink!"
"Really?" I love roller skating. I used to skate through the house as a child, spending hours spinning around and around the rooms.
"Yeah! I love how excited you are for this!" Duncan brings his hands together in a loud clap as we reach the car.