Page 66 of Marked By Shadows
“It’s just sort of natural for me,” Alex said without elaborating.
We parked at the restaurant, which didn’t look like much from the outside, but had a nicely spread out layout inside. There was a sushi bar, and actual bar section and then a large dining area. We got a table in the middle of the dining area. I didn’t even need to look at the menu as my heart was already set on the chicken and rice bowl with egg sauce. Alex browsed the menu, while MaryAnn marked the sushi request card.
“This will probably be the group’s last big get together anyway,” Chad remarked folding up his menu.
“Why’s that?” Alex asked. “I thought you guys did this a couple times a year at different events?”
“We did. But we’ve reached the end of an era, really,” Chad said.
“It’s really sad, but everyone is older now,” MaryAnn added. “Moving on to other careers and interests. Me to professional costume design, Jonah to modeling and TV, the girls are opening up a shop, and even Chad is starting a non-profit. You were sort of the pioneer in that, Micah,” she said. “Not the videos as much as the shop. Chad and I watch snippets of your tours all the time.”
I looked at Chad. “You’re starting a non-profit?”
“Teaching sewing to kids,” he nodded. “I follow the Instagram pictures of costume stuff you do,” Chad said. “I love those gloves you do for the kids. Can you show me how to make them before you leave? We’ve been doing some classes in low income areas teaching some basics. That would be a fun project for them.”
“Wow, sure. I can donate some supplies too,” I said, more than a little shocked that they seemed to follow my career. “I don’t do a lot of big costumes anymore. More everyday small things, capes, gloves, hats, headbands with ears, or clip-on tails. Never thought of offering classes.”
“Not sure we have the space or the time between the shop and the tours,” Alex pointed out. “Maybe a once a month thing if we can find a place to rent space? Something people could schedule ahead like the children’s tours.”
“Teaching kids is amazing,” Chad said. “I love the time cosplaying when everyone wants a picture with me and I get a couple thousand likes, but nothing compares to when you show a kid something new. Their eyes light up and the world opens for them. I mean, I’m from Michigan. We’ve had some ultimate crap dumped on us, communities abandoned. A lot of people left or gave up hope. But kids are still growing up there. If I can inspire one or five or fifty kids that they can be more? Then I’ve done my part.”
“Wow,” I said, stunned. Chad, the burly ex-football player, who had always taken on the role of dumb-jock, seemed to really have it together. “That sounds amazing.”
“It’s not full-time yet,” Chad added. “But we have the non-profit registered, all the paperwork filed. We’ve got a few partners in the community. Freya’s donating a few machines. MaryAnn’s new vendor is sending some fabric. Lots of small area donors of supplies and talent. We’ve had basic mending classes, how to read patterns classes, crochet and knit classes, and even upcycling classes.”
“There will be a lot of expansion to the non-profit in the new year,” MaryAnn said. “Part of why we are here, to make connections at the convention with suppliers.”
“If there is anything we can do, please ask,” Alex said.
“Agreed,” I said. “And I can teach you a couple basics while we’re here. The gloves are easy, so are the capes. The ear headbands don’t even take any sewing.”
“We’ll probably take you up on that,” Chad said as the waiter appeared to take our orders. “Most of the group is contributing something, whether it’s skill, or even a promise to visit and host a class. Every little bit helps.”
“We hope the group continues,” MaryAnn said. “Maybe expands in a different way. Like meetups to teach classes or at major shows. I don’t think anyone is giving up cosplay, just changing our focuses a little.”
We ordered, and I couldn’t help but be dropped into a food for thought mode. How out of touch had I been? And hadn’t I blamed them for not reaching out? Only they were all busy creating amazing things too. Yes, I’d been floundering for a while, but I’d found a paddle and was working my way through the edge of troubled waters into a new career. Had the others been doing the same?
Alex squeezed my hand under the table and I turned to look at him. He made a silly face, tongue sticking out, eyes crossed. “You’re so weird,” I told him.
“You love my weird,” he said, tapping the chopsticks like they were drumsticks instead.
“I do,” I admitted.
His cheeks turned pink.
MaryAnn cooed at us. “You’re adorable.”
“You love my weird?” Alex asked again, looking me straight in the eye.
“Yes.” Then I realized what he was really asking. We hadn’t said it, had we? It was always something I hesitated with, again compartmentalizing. Yes, it was soon, but the time he’d been gone was brutal, lonely, and uninspiring. If he were ripped out of my life again, I wasn’t sure I’d hold it together. “Yes, I love you, and your weird.”
His face turned pinker. “Really?”
“Do I need to have it skywritten? Translated into Farsi? Paper piece it into a quilt?”
“No,” he said and leaned over to kiss me lightly on the lips. “I thought maybe because we were still learning…teaching…whatever, that it was too soon.”
“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same yet,” I told him. “Emotions are complicated things. And we have plenty of time to learn about each other.”