Case # 37: Video

[19centconstable]

[Someone is holding the communicator carelessly in one hand, as though they don't know it's on. The floor passes by slowly under the camera's lens. Whoever they are, they're walking hesitantly toward something. Bathroom tile appears, and then: the base of the toilet.]

Sweet wounded Jesus. I've died and gone to heaven.

[It's a boy speaking; his voice soft and high, his accent somewhere between Irish, British, and Pirate.

In other words: George Crabtree.]

Comments

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

I can draw feathers!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

And we can pretend the bows and arrows!

[George is quickly forgetting how grown-up he's supposed to be.]

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Okay! [A pause.] Um...can you come let me out? The door is too high up.

Then we can play!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Uh. Sure. Where are you?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

My room, George!

Oh yeah. Um. Level seven, the first room!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[George starts off in that direction.]

Hey. You...know older me?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Uh huh! He's my friend.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Is he...am I really a policeman?

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. Is that okay?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

No! I wanted to run away with the circus.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

What's a circus?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

It's a circus. Animals and acrobats and such.

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Oh. [Pause.] Are you almost here?

Spam?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[There's a knock at her door.]

Jane?

Spam!

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

[Her childish voice replies:] It's me! Come in!

Re: Spam!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[Twelve year old George is skinny. Not scrawny, just a bit underfed and overworked. His hair is uncombed, and he looks a little dirty. He gazes down at her.]

You're tiny!

Spam!

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

So? I can still beat you! [She holds up the nearest object- a shoe- and grips it threateningly.]

And I'm really not tiny! I'm twenty!

Re: Spam!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[He shrinks back. He knows from his trillions of aunts just how scary women can be, regardless of size.]

I didn't mean...you talk like you're bigger!

Spam!

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

[Satisfied, she put down the shoe and wandered over to hand him the horse.]

Because I am bigger!

Re: Spam!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[He boggles at her. It's a difficult thing to wrap one's mind around.]

Was it...did a witch do this?

Re: Spam!

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

No, the Admiral did. He might be a witch. [She thrusts the horse at him again. Insistently.]

Re: Spam!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[He takes the horse, tapping a finger against it and frowning at the strange material. Young George doesn't have as many ideas as older George, though, so he doesn't theorize.]

I don't think you can be a man-witch.

Re: Spam!

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Okay. [She shrugged.] Come on! [She raced for the door, the doll in her hand.]

Re: Spam!

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

[He lopes after her, with the clumsy stride of all boys everywhere.]

Where are we going?

Re: Spam!

[thebestnose.livejournal.com]

Outside! To play in the snow! [She took the stairs as quickly as she could, gripping the railing tightly as she did so.]