Page 66 of Black and White, Twice the Might

We look at the rest of the pieces, and Sal and Jodie wrap them up so they don’t break, giving the boys a box each.

“Now don’t forget to show John,” Jodie reminds them.

Enoch picks up his box. “We’ll go and show him now. Thanks, Nix, Sal, it was fun.”

“It really was,” Xander agrees.

“Thanks, guys. How much do we owe you?” Whatever it costs, I’ll happily pay.

“Nothing, it was a fun treat for your brothers,” Nix says.

“Thank you,” Sly says.

“Yeah, thanks, as you can see, the boys loved it. We’ll get out of your hair and see you at dinner tonight.” That was really nice of Nix not charging us for the boys’ creations. I would have happily paid any amount just to see my brothers smiling happily.

“You will. Enjoy your afternoon,” Nix says, and after a round of goodbyes, we leave Shattered Glass and retrace our steps to the bookshop.

Sly opens the door and lets the boys in first.

John, Ernest and Alfred are at the counter eating cake.

Enoch spies John and rushes over. “John, do you want to see what I made?”

John smiles at him. “I do indeed, and what Xander made. Open your box here, and we can all see your creations.”

“Okay,” Enoch puts the box on the counter and opens it. Inside is a lot of packing peanuts. “This is the vase,” he says, pulling out a bubble-wrapped package. He gently opens it and passes it to John.

“Wow. Enoch, this is lovely. Look, boys,” he says, showing Ernest and Alfred.

“Wow indeed,” Ernest says.

Alfred grins at Enoch. “That is awesome.”

John carefully wraps it up and puts it back in the box.

Next, Enoch pulls out the paperweight and some glass caterpillars. All of them are amazing, and the three of them heap praise on him.

Once they have seen Enoch’s creations, he moves his box so Xander can show his.

“Wow, Xander,” John says, looking at his vase.

“That’s awesome, Xander,” Ernest says, “The way that green seems to shimmer.”

Xander smiles and blushes a little. “Thanks. Look at the others.”

Again, John wraps up the vase and puts it back in the box as Xander pulls out his paperweight and caterpillars.

“These are lovely,” Alfred says, turning the paperweight this way and that.

“You both did so well that you deserve one of Callum's cupcakes,” John says, wrapping the last item up and putting it in the box.

Sly smiles. “Cupcakes?”

“Oh yeah, you’ll love them,” Ernest tells him.

“Then lead us to cupcakes, John,” Sly says.

I shake my head as I watch them walking away. “I seriously don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much cake.”