Their mother sat between them like a wall of unanswered questions. There was so much to be said but both siblings expected her to do the talking as always. In fact, now would be a good time to play one of those games that dissolved the tension between Roy and Charles, so they could say what needed to be said and do what they came to her favourite spot to do, but she stayed silent. From the corner of his eye, Roy looked over at Charles. The boy was digging his heels in the sand, his feet firmly planted apart, his head bent low like he was searching for something. Roy knew he could go at it for hours. Charles could do most things for hours. It was usually Roy’s job to convince him to trade one activity for the other. Roy remembered when his mother taught him all about the spectrum because Charles was on it. To her delight Charles took to having a little brother like a champ, it was always the baby this, the baby that, never Roy. They did most things together, well, not in the last three weeks. His mother had called him recently to say Charles missed him and he was sorry but insisted he needed to hear the apology from the culprit. Today he could not remember what their squabble was about.
“Charles-”
“The baby-
They spoke at the same time.
“I miss you and I’m sorry”, Roy said
Charles was nodding enthusiastically. “I miss you and I’m sorry”
Don’t copy my words, Charles!
Mummy said I should say it, right Mum? He directed his question to the urn between them.
Roy laughed at the bitter-sweet moment. Okay, okay let’s do this together, are you ready?
‘No Charles’ replied but he stood up anyway. Picking up the urn filled with their mother’s ashes, they walked closer to the waves to say goodbye.
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