The Gray House

Finally he spoke. He said that he wished all of us luck, whether we were leaving or staying. Or leaving thinking we’re staying, or staying thinking we’re leaving. Or, finally, returning. Blind said that whatever we chose, every one of us would have to begin our lives anew, because the life that’s waiting for us would have nothing in common with the one that was ending. Many would remember nothing of this life, but that shouldn’t frighten us. “Those who live believing in the possibility of a miracle will find it.” Then Blind said that he was not saying good-bye to those who were leaving, only to those who were staying and returning.

By this time I was thoroughly confused, and couldn’t figure out which of them I was.

But it got even more mysterious.

Blind declared that he needed two volunteers—an experienced guide for the inexperienced guide, and a caretaker.

“This latter position is permanent,” he concluded, and jumped down.

As soon as he did they switched on the wall lamps and everyone started getting ready to go.

I didn’t realize that the Fairy Tale Night was over, it happened so suddenly.

The lights exposed piles of dirty plates and half-eaten food, candle drippings, and overstuffed ashtrays. It was no longer cozy, as if we all found ourselves in a train station, and just like people do when coming to a station, everyone everywhere hugged, said good-byes, and gave each other trinkets to remember them by.

Black sat next to me, slapped me on the shoulder, and said, “Take care, man . . . See you around.” And then left. Then I was being kissed by Needle, her face tearstained and puffy. Horse gave me a tiny broom, for luck. Lary hugged me and burst into tears, so passionately that it was all I could do not to start sniffling too.

I didn’t have time to wallow in misery and get steeped in the farewell spirit. They quickly hoisted the backpacks on their shoulders and went out, with a sizable crowd trailing along to see them off.

Alexander helped me climb up on the windowsill, and together we looked at them crossing the yard.

It was still dark out, but Needle’s wedding dress seemed to be glowing, and I could clearly see her in the crowd. Her, and Lary in his operatic white shirt. For some reason, out of all the happenings of that night, this stood out in my memory, how they all walked across the yard to the gates, bride and groom leading the procession. Someone was holding Needle’s train. Black was certainly striding along purposefully, lugging his enormous backpack, lips pursed severely, but him I couldn’t distinguish from above, I just knew that he must have been there. Him, Horse, Bubble, and Zit, and Genepool . . . and also Red, as it turned out later. And those two from the tent camp.

There actually weren’t that many of them leaving, but the darkness made it seem like it was a large crowd, so I even started fretting if they all would fit in their bus, because I remembered Black saying that it was quite a small one.

Then they closed the gates, those who were seeing them off returned, and we tried to re-create the cozy night in the candlelight, but it just wasn’t the same anymore. People still cried, talked in whispers, said good-byes and gave out remembrance gifts, though more subdued now. Less tragic.

I discovered that I’d been holding armfuls of presents, and more were scattered around on the bed, but I didn’t remember whom most of them came from.

Humpback climbed on the top bunk and was playing the flute. Beauty and Doll discussed Needle’s bridal attire in excited whispers.

The old night guard disappeared somewhere. I didn’t know then that he had also left with the bus, so I assumed he just went away like the two from the tent camp. R One was the only unusual guest still remaining. He was sitting on the bed that was pushed against the wardrobe, drinking Vulture’s tequila straight from the bottle.

Blind sat next to him and asked something. Ralph choked, and Blind slapped him on the back. I was curious what it was they were talking about, so I crawled closer.

“As you wish,” Blind said, getting up. “But it is entirely up to you.”

R One grabbed his arm and made him sit back down. “That was a joke, right?”

Blind said that he had no intention of joking. Then he extracted a grubby brown envelope from his pocket and handed it to Ralph.

“If you change your mind, open this. When you are done with all the rest of it.”

Ralph immediately stood up and looked around. He looked like Blind had just reminded him of a bunch of urgent and important things he had to do.

“All right,” he said. “How much longer is this night going to last?”

Blind shrugged.

When Ralph left, Blind took his place on the bed and grabbed the guitar left by Shuffle. The bandage on his hand interfered with playing, so he took it off.

Sphinx sat down on the floor next to the bed. Tabaqui stopped driving around the room and also crawled closer. A little while later, Alexander joined them too.