The mail drop went off without a hitch the next day.
Crusty old Cyrus was there instead of Patrick, and he didn’t even bother talking to “Mr. Vander.” The bags were traded without a word and the boat motored off into the waves and fog and was gone. The rest of the boys, who had been hiding safely around the corner, came out to peer through the arch at the disappearing boat. It looked so small, and the distance so great. A gust of wind blew a mist of salty spray into their faces.
“One more day,” Sebastian said with satisfaction. “At least one more day.” He held the Admiral’s sword casually in one hand, its blade resting against one of his cheeks. “Hand out the mail, Benny,” he said, before spinning and heading back across the courtyard.
Benny pulled the rumpled envelopes out of the mailbag one by one and called out the names written on them. Jonathan jumped when his own name was called.
“Grisby. Got one for you here, Johnny.” Jonathan bit his lip and stepped forward to claim his letter. Benny held it out and Jonathan grabbed it, but Benny didn’t let it go right away. Jonathan looked up at him and tugged a little harder, and Benny narrowed his eyes and smirked. “I wonder what Mommy and Daddy have to say to you, Johnny,” he said in a quiet voice. “Nothing too nice, I bet, huh? After what you did?” Jonathan’s heart clenched like a kicked puppy and he felt the red creep of shame rising on his face. Benny showed his wet teeth and then let go. He blinked a bored, slow blink and called the next name.
Jonathan walked across the courtyard and inside. He lay down on his mattress, still with the others in the corner of the dining room, and ripped open the envelope. One folded piece of paper was inside. Jonathan swallowed, then pulled it open and read the words written in his mother’s familiar, neat cursive writing.
Dear Jonathan,
Your father and I hope this letter finds you well. You were taken away just moments ago, and we’ve sat right down to write it. We will mail it tomorrow and hope that you will receive it soon.
The house feels so terribly empty now.We don’t know what to say to you. So much needs to be said, we know, but we don’t know what it is yet. We miss you. We’ve missed you for a long time now. We will write you every day, Jonathan, and hope that maybe we can find what it is that needs to be said. We go every day, with the flowers, like you asked. Maybe having you gone, for a while, will help all of us.
With love,
Your mother and father
p.s. If they let you write, please do
Jonathan chewed his tongue thoughtfully and read the letter again. He whispered a line aloud. “The house feels so terribly empty now.” He licked his lips, then reread the last line. “Maybe having you gone, for a while, will help all of us.” He blinked his eyes hard and sniffed.
A door slamming open behind him made him jump. He rubbed at his eyes quickly and stuffed the letter under his pillow.
Sebastian stormed into the dining room, dragging another boy by his collar. It was the little kid named James, whom Jonathan didn’t know well, but he knew he was one of the boys to whom Sebastian had given one of the grown-ups’ rooms.
“Everybody gather around!” Sebastian hollered. Benny and Gerald were just walking in from the courtyard. Sebastian pointed at them with the sword. “Get everyone in here,” he commanded.
Jonathan jumped up and joined the nervous crowd assembling around Sebastian and a terrified-looking James. They kept a few safe paces back.
“I wanted you all to see this,” Sebastian said, glowering around at the group. “I just caught James here, sneaking into my room.”
“It’th not really your room,” Colin murmured.
“Shut up, Colin.” Sebastian’s eyes flashed cold fire at Colin, standing beside Jonathan. “I caught him in my room, going through my stuff.”
“I’m sorry, Sebastian, I didn’t think—” James whined, but Sebastian cut him off.
“Shut up, James. I caught him red-handed, eating my chocolate.”
“It’th not really your chocolate.”
“Damn it, Colin, you better shut your mouth.”
Jonathan nudged Colin sharply with his elbow.
“Drop it, Colin,” he hissed out of the corner of his mouth. Colin sighed angrily.
Sebastian scanned the crowd, looking for defiance. All the eyes dropped to the floor when Sebastian’s met them, except Jonathan’s.
“What are you going to do?” Jonathan asked.
Sebastian’s dark eyes flickered with uncertainty. He chewed his lower lip and looked doubtfully at James, still trembling in his grip.
Benny slipped forward in the hanging silence and hissed something into Sebastian’s ear. Sebastian’s brow furrowed and he whispered something back. Benny leaned even closer and put a hand on Sebastian’s arm, whispering fiercely into his ear again.