Nora’s voice was soft in return. “I wish I had more answers for you.”
Chapter sixteen
Nora
Theradiogrewmorestatic throughout the meal. Tilly came out a few minutes later, crestfallen. “The sound isn’t working anymore.”
Nora frowned at Tilly’s sad eyes. “Must be something outside. Didn’t think there would be more rain though.” She looked out the window. “Yeah it’s hazy as all get-out.”
From behind, Simon scooted his chair back. “Is this common?”
Nora didn’t answer but instead opened the door. The wind took it and a breeze, with dust, flew inside. She quickly shut it again, pulling hard. “Woah. Ah, well, good thing we went today to that mall. Dust storm is picking up. Let me get on the filters.”
Simon brushed the cat off his lap and went to walk next to Nora. “We had dust storms back then as well. Monsoons.”
Nora hit the black filter, trying to get the compartment in front to snap back on.It’s stuck.“Yeah. And yes, they’re common. Only gonna last the night, but the haze is always just awful for a few days after. We’ll have to wait to show you the town, find more projects around the house. Can’t drive in this. Hurts to breathe if you stay out too long.”
Tilly made a face but then brought her plate into the kitchen to finish eating. “Aw, right in the middle of the show too.”
“They’ll replay it tomorrow before the new one.” Nora frowned at the air filter. “Alright Mr. Air Filter. Time for you to work.” Her hand hit it on the side, aggressively, pushing the filter in place. It started sputtering a moment later. “Ha!” She turned to Simon and let out a snort. “Luckily you turned on before I got to that point.”
“I’m sure that wasn’t in my manual.” He chuckled, a low deep sound.
Nora laughed back, pointing a screwdriver at him. “None of what’s happening here is in a manual. We are officially past manual territory.”
The air filter hummed in the background. She tied a cloth over her face and went outside, closing the covering on the chicken coop and starting the air filter out there for them as well.
When she got back in she saw Simon giving Tilly another serving of food. Nora hummed a bit with the air filter, shaking her head to clear the dust, before she returned to the table to continue working on her sewing.
After eating, Tilly left the room and came back carrying her chalkboard and chalk. She laid her supplies out on the table next to Simon, pushing Nora’s half-made pants to the side.
Simon’s reaction definitely confirmed Nora’s thoughts about his patience. It only took a few moments before Simon was pointing out mistakes Tilly was making as she wrote. She was writing a sign advertising her own play ofPrincess Pearl and the Dastardly Three. Only in Tilly’s version it was,Tilly the Princess and the Dastardly Four.
“That’s how you spell it,” he said softly, writing how the title should be spelled under Tilly’s attempt on the faded chalkboard.
Tilly scrunched her nose. “You sure?”
“Yes.” Simon’s eyes crinkled.
Tilly copied it underneath, then held out the board. “Can you spell radio?”
Simon took the chalkboard in response. His hand was steady and uniform as it made perfectly formed letters. It was almost mesmerizing, how effortless he made it look.
Nora watched, transfixed.He makes writing all of that seem so simple.It came to her then, making her breathe in fast and almost stick herself with the needle. Another benefit to this odd arrangement they now had.
“Schoolwork,” she said. “Tilly, he can teach you so much more than I can.” Nora swallowed and then added to herself only.I could probably learn more too.
Tilly didn’t answer. She was too busy concentrating on Simon as he showed her how to form the letters. Her tiny eyes were narrowed in concentration and the chalk screeched slightly on the board as she pressed down hard.
Simon, however, eyed Nora curiously. She met his eyes, swallowed, and looked down again, embarrassed.
After Tilly finished the lettering she was working on she held it up. “Done!”
Simon’s tone was warm. “Very good, Tilly.”
The little girl beamed and then took the chalkboard, dragging it over Nora’s sewing and up to her face. “Look, look.”
Nora examined the letters made by Tilly and then Simon’s perfect handwriting underneath. “That’s great.”
