Never before had Denzel so desperately wanted the ability to rush into the center of a scandal and calm everyone down — even if it meant a fist to Pixie’s bridge of the nose. Back when Denzel still could, he had occasionally handed out light slaps like that.

  Because Pixie had always behaved disgracefully. And now, only a jab would do, because:

  “They can’t stand up for themselves. Kasta is calm and not malicious, and SeaAsia can’t say anything in response at all. How dare he!”

  The yelling went on for quite some time, even after the front door slammed with unprecedented force. It was obvious that the younger brother had stormed outside in a fit of wounded feelings, after showering his addressee with a ton of ornate, old-fashioned insults scavenged from historical novels.

  After a while, Kasta appeared in the living room and wheeled her daughter in. It was clear that they felt crumpled and lost. All Denzel could do was signal with the cursed bell and ask forgiveness with his eyes from the completely innocent participants in this disgrace.

  “I’m so ashamed! Forgive me. It’s not my fault that this bastard is my brother.”

  That morning, the caregiver’s daughter didn’t write anything. The notebook lay on her lap completely abandoned, and its owner sat with her eyes closed, not even wanting to look at Denzel. As if he were somehow to blame…

  “But that’s not true! Please understand me…”

  And the next day, Kasta came alone. Completely alone.

  “How is that possible? Why?! Is it because of yesterday’s fight? He’s just a hurt child who had his precious gift — money — taken away, and now he’s taking his anger out on everyone,” the young man screamed wordlessly.

  Denzel’s heart practically stopped at the realization that he might never see SeaAsia again. He could only watch her mother — and she was behaving very unlike herself.

  The reflection of her feelings revealed itself in her twitching head, which slowly turned into a pendulum and could no longer stop. Her will simply wasn’t there. The caregiver’s gaze darted from side to side, and finally, bending forward and exhaling heavily, she collapsed into a chair.

  Denzel’s little finger moved toward the bell, but the explanation came without his reminder:

  — Forgive me, sir, but my daughter won’t be here today. She’s had a complication related to her illness. Nothing critical, but she needs rest and medical care, so she’s in the hospital now.

  “Is she lying?! Is this just a convenient excuse not to come here? Or did SeaAsia really get worse? Either option is horrifying. And if my brother is the reason for this breakdown, then I’ll— but what can I do?! Damn it! What am I supposed to do? How can I contact her?”

  Meanwhile, Kasta was riding out her emotional storm in her own way. Reluctantly, she took out a bag, pulled from it the notebook everyone knew so well, and opened it, saying:

  — If you don’t mind, I’ll read this to you, Mr. Denzel. My daughter gave it to me so that you could hear what she wrote. She asked me very much to do this, so…

  “Read it! Come on!”

  Denzel was tearing apart from the desire to find out what his new friend had been writing all this time. And, secretly, he hoped there might be some warm words about him in there. Let’s be honest — he really wanted that.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Lingering with her eyes on the first page, she hesitantly began to taste the words.

  — So… no, that won’t do.

  It was obvious she wasn’t used to reading aloud. She even stood up and walked over to the small table near the couch where Grandpa was sleeping, to take the carafe of water and a glass.

  After drinking and clearing her throat, she finally managed to find the right approach to reading what had suddenly become real life.

  Now He is not quite He, just as She is not exactly She.

  Bang!

  Denzel sprang lightly and briskly out of the wheelchair and stared at it in confusion. Where did this even come from? Grandpa didn’t seem to have issues of that kind! Maybe it was left behind by the previous owners of the house?

  In any case, what did it matter, if it served as nothing more than a convenient seat.

  Stretching his legs and rising onto the tips of his toes, he did a couple of gymnastic exercises. After that, he felt overflowing with energy.

  The day promised to be excellent!

  — Wow… I see you’re quite charged up.

  Someone commented from the direction of the couch, and the guy almost jumped out of his skin. Pulling himself together and keeping his usual unshakable, manly expression firmly in place, he looked at the guest:

  — My apologies, miss, but who are you?

  Near Grandpa’s now-empty couch sat a girl, turning a rook over in her fingers — a piece she had taken from the chessboard. Smiling, she explained:

  — My name is SeaAsia. I’m a volunteer from a social foundation that helps lonely elderly people. Today is my first shift, and my supervisors assigned me to your relative. While you were sleeping, he and I played a game of chess. Much to his great displeasure, I won — so he got a bit upset and went to the store for some kefir.

  — An astonishing coincidence. I was just looking for a helper for my Grandpa — and here you are. However, it’s not only he who needs company. I, too, wouldn’t refuse a companion for a walk through the big city. Would you grant me that honor, dear Miss Social Worker?

  Denzel narrowed his eyes, pulling on his denim jacket lined with faux fur and adjusting the belt on his slashed jeans.

  The girl flushed with a faint blush and offered her hand to the gallant young man, who helped her to her feet:

  — I wouldn’t mind, but I still have an hour left in my shift, and I’m supposed to stay with your Grandpa.

  — I can assure you that I will personally explain the reason for your disappearance to Grandpa. And I promise to leave you the finest possible review with your employers. You have my strongest word.

  The young man spoke confidently and with emphasis, feeling every comma in his monologue.

  Thinking that she might have flirted just a little more, SeaAsia didn’t even notice how she got carried away following her new companion. She walked alongside him, warmed by his springy stride. At the same time, she kept typing a message to her boss, saying that her first workday was going well.

  Not just well. Super-fantastically-unbelievably-amazingly!

  “Easy there, girl. You’re getting carried away and already overdoing it. Nothing has even started yet, and you’re already squealing with delight and climbing onto the stage at this concert.”

  A female voice sounded in her head, painfully similar to her own. SeaAsia even tucked her head in and glanced around, not understanding where it was coming from.

  “Don’t be scared. From time to time, I’ll be adding my author’s comments about the lore, the characters, and the scenes. So worry less and open the front door.”

  Deciding that she must have imagined it after all, the girl stepped outside after Denzel into a pleasant spring day. Spring was still early and a little frosty, but already that very kind — inspiring and nudging one toward small, innocent foolishness.

  For example, awkwardly catching the car keys that Denzel tossed to her on the move:

  — Take the reins. I hope you’ll like Grandpa’s old Chrysler, which I tuned up and gave a more dashing look. Almost the same as the one he used to show off in the ’60s — maybe even better.

  The car stood right behind the gate. This old-school miracle stared at them with bulging headlights, boasting a low stance and a gleaming body.

  — Not bad.

  The girl decided to hide her satisfaction so as not to waste compliments every single minute. Maybe those words she’d heard out of nowhere were actually a little bit right?

  Patting the roof, Denzel smirked from the corner of his mouth, having seen through her maneuver:

  — I dare assume that the word “not bad” will soon be replaced by something else. I’m thinking: “extreme satisfaction from fast driving.”

  — I don’t like speed.

  The newly minted driver muttered and plopped herself into the driver’s seat first. Her companion sat down as if mounting a rodeo bull, clearly feeling even more at home in this car than in the house.

  — So… is the city waiting for us? Or how does it go? There has to be some phrase that precedes an adventure, right?

  Denzel asked, looking into the rearview mirror and combing his eyebrows.

  — Camera? Motor!

  The girl started the engine and engaged first gear, to their shared, joyful laughter.