Norbert looked at his motley crew waiting at the bus stop, knowing that he would be a sight for the others. The dusty road was empty even in the middle of the day as people went about. Looking over the fields around him, he tended but empty. Bored out of his brain, Norbert started to hum, passing the time as he waited for the next bus to take them to town.
It was a day after they had left the village of Placentro; nobody had interrupted them on their journey up north. Over the rocky hills, the three made their way as Norbert sat there at the bus stop, wondering what else would be happening in his path. Norbert stared at the others, seeing as they were just idly chatting to each other.
Norbert wondered how Bartholomew could talk to Obsius at all, only ever seeing the traveller able to talk to the bird and himself. But then again, for himself, it seemed more like he was just what he thought was being said, not understanding what the bird was properly trying to say.
Shrugging his shoulders, he looked down the road again, standing up as dust began to billow from the road. Staring ahead, Norbert waved it down, thankful to see the yellow bus crest over the hill. Bartholomew stood up as the three waited for the bus to arrive. As the bus stopped before them, the doors opened, and Bartholomew stepped up first.
Speaking to the driver, who nodded in response, indicating for all three to enter the bus. Norbert took out the money to pay for the ride as Norbert went past, sitting next to the seat that Bartholomew was already sitting in. On his way down the aisle, he looked at the empty busty.
Shrugging his shoulders, thinking they must be busy, seeing the boy gazing out the window as the bus leached forward, taking them further on their adventure.
People came and left the bus. Still, it continued forward, the sun once above their heads now on the horizon again, bleeding into the rest of the sky as it landed below the horizon, turning the sky orange.
As it winked out over the horizon, Bartholomew moved, pressing the buzzer. The sound shocked Norbert, awoken from his stupor, jumping up in his seat. Seeing the sign and Bartholomew wanting to move, Norbert stood up, ready to exit the bus.
With a screech, the bus driver punched on the brakes; Norbert moved forward from the momentum, catching himself on the rail and stopping himself from being flung any further forward. The three of them hopped off the bus, the doors closing shut behind them as it sped off once more. Dust followed it as Norbert looked to where he was staying.
Finding himself inside another town, this one flat but of similar design to the last town he found himself. Bartholomew headed off without even saying a word. Looking to Obsius, now on his shoulder, Norbert just shook his head, following the boy as he made his way forward.
Through the darkened streets, they were illuminated by the streetlamps and the houses, bright with families having dinner; the sounds escaped as the trio looked around at the houses.
Walking down the street, Bartholomew stopped at a house with only a single light on the second story, the rest of the building shrouded in black. The lights around the yard were off, the entrance in darkness, the wooden door hidden in the darkness.
The boy walked forward, stopping as he stared at the door handle. Moving his hand to the side without looking away from the handle, he rang the bell—the electronic sound bounced within the quiet house.
A few moments later, I heard scuffling coming from upstairs. One by one, the lights turned on inside the house, showing how the occupant was making their way down. Hearing the stairs creaking, the trio waited patiently for them to come down.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Norbert heard some cursing, probably about getting disturbed this late at night. Pulling out his phone, Norbert saw the time, saying it was 10 p.m. Whistling to himself, not believing it was that late at night.
As Norbert started leaning forward to show Bartholomew the time the door opened, the light from behind it poured over the three of them.
"Whatever it is, it's too late; come back tomorrow." The woman said.
Bartholomew looked back, a tear forming in his eye. "Ok, whatever you say, mum."
The woman, now waking up suddenly, saw who was there. Instantly, she stepped forward, embracing the boy as the two cried in each other's embrace. From the stairs, a shout echoed from below, "Honey, who’s down there?" He asked.
The mother, unable to respond, continues to weep in response. The man looking down the stairs stopped, staring at his two family members embraced below. Storming down the stairs, skipping one at a time until finally reaching the bottom, the three reunited again.
As Norbert just stared, amazed at what he saw, "Wait, Bartholomew, so for all this time you could speak English?" Norbert asked, placing his phone back in his pocket.
The three family members, turning around, looked at Norbert. "Yep", Bartholomew responded, sticking out his tongue before embracing his family again.
"But why? We wouldn't have needed to sit in silence. And all that I talked to myself. Man, you must think I'm crazy." Norbert responded, now starting to talk to himself again.
His mother, moving her head away from her son's shoulder, responded, "He's always been like that." She responded before going back to hugging him.
Norbert just stared at them. The family closes the door on him. Seeing in the glass as they went to the family room just behind, Norbert followed the voices as they grew distant. Staring at Obsius still on his shoulder, Norbert just smiled. "And that's another happy family reunited," Norbert said.
Standing on the porch, Norbert stared across the road. Stepping off, Norbert looked back at the house; instantly, it started bucketing down. Staring up at the sky and sheltering Obsius under his hand, Norbert laughed aloud.
Exclaiming with all his might, "Is this the reward for a good deed?" Norbert asked, his voice echoing off the street and houses in the lane.
The door opened behind them, and he turned around, the rain coming toward him. Wiping his brow, Norbert stared, seeing Bartholomew there; the door opened, his parents behind him, smiling.
"Come on, before you get a cold. Or maybe you can't cause you to know. You stupid." The boy said.
Norbert just stared, taken aback by the tone of his voice and its bite. Norbert quickly jumped back onto the porch, nearly slipping on the wooden flooring before taking his sneakers off and jacket, brushing the water off them before entering the house.
As Norbert looked around, seeing the quaint tiny family home, Norbert made his way to the kitchen, seeing the sofa already out. The mother is over by the sofa, placing a blanket and a pillow on it. Norbert saw where he would be spending the night.
He took his bag off his shoulder and placed it beside him; Norbert sat on it.
"Well, not wanting to disturb you, but I'm calling it early. Had a hectic night last night. Just imagine I'm not here." Norbert said to the family.
Receiving signs of confirmation, the talk continued but slightly quieter as the boy started recounting his story. Taking his socks off, Norbert laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes as Obsius joined him over there.
Obsius chirped to Norbert as he turned around before replying so the family wouldn't hear. "Yeah, I know, but they need the time together, and they don't need a stranger to interrupt." He said. Obsius chirped once more, Norbert grunting in reply, not wanting to voice a response, or else the family might start thinking he did lose it.
***
Darkness had consumed the house, now the house was at peace and the united family departing upstairs. Norbert checked his phone, seeing that nearly two hours had passed since he arrived.
Sighing, he sat up on the sofa. Taking out his phone, he texted Sarah, notifying her that the kid was now back with his parents. Waiting and hearing no reply, he returned it; the rain was now slowing down.
A flash of something outside the window went past the screen, barely catching the light. Shivering like he was being watched, Norbert stood up, taking out his phone and shining the torch, seeing the reflection of the light in the window, and just past it, a face staring back at him, smiling—their teeth reflected in the light.
As Norbert stared, their canines went far below the gum of what an average person would have. Pointing to the door, Norbert just nodded, turning the light off for the phone as he walked to the wooden door.
Standing there, a man in a jacket looked back at him. The lightning flashed behind him, casting a shadow.
"So, you going to let me in?" The man outside the door said.