Alone Together

It was the first day Mitch went to work since Nick had come to live with him. The doctor had specifically told Mitch to be sure he didn't leave his brother alone. He needed to work, especially since he was now not only providing for himself, but for his brother as well. He had talked to his neighbor, Jack, knowing that his wife was a stay-home, now, wife he figured that she might be able to look after him. Other than that it was business as usual for the brothers. Mitch, meticulously getting ready for work and Nick sitting on floor, behind the coffee table, drawing endlessly and wearing nothing but a white terry cloth robe.

"Can you at least put on some pants?" Mitch asked as calm as possible, while closing a bottle of Prozac.

"I'm busy," Nick barked back while selecting a new marker.

"Fine...at least close your robe. Jack and Sally will be here any minute," Mitch blurted as he put his hand, full of pills, in front of Nick's face. "Here take these."

Nick didn't respond, but kept his focus solely on his drawing. "I don't have time for this."

At hearing the mention of time, Nick threw a marker across the room and put out his hand to receive his medication.

"I don't have time for this. I don't have time for this," Nick said, mocking his brother. "All you fucking care about is time."

"I'm not the one drawing fucking clocks. Twenty four fucking hours a day."

Finally, the door-bell rang, interrupting their hostility and surprising them both. Mitch gave his brother a quick warning and let his neighbors in. Sally, Jack's wife, immediately made herself comfortable on the couch, looking over Nick's shoulder in wonderment at his drawings.

Mitch, catching a glimpse at her rain boots, asked, "Is it raining?"

Jack responded with a chuckle, "She dreamt there was a flood. Hasn't taken 'em off since."

"So, no flood?"

"Not yet."

"Soon though," Sally said with her sweet childlike voice, standing up for herself and simultaneously she put another piece of gum into her mouth.

"Does she have to chew that gum so fucking loud? I'm trying to work here," Nick burst out and in turn was ignored.