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Rex pressed his face to the frosted, cold glass and stared out at the falling snow. He wanted to be out there, in the snow, letting it fall on his eyelashes and trying to catch the tiny, fluffy flakes on his tongue.
Not in here, doing homework.
“Rex! Finish your homework! We have to set the table for dinner in 15 minutes.” Cody called to Rex, as he passed through the dining room towards the kitchen.
“Why don’t you finish your homework,” Rex muttered petulantly under his breath.
Cody turned around and furrowed his brow at Rex. “Rex, if you don’t finish your homework again, you know your teacher will call home. Mum was really upset that your teacher called home twice in November.”
Rex turned and scowled at his older brother. When Cody had finally turned away again, he flipped the bird at his fifteen-year-old brother's back.
Rex huffed and sank back on the hard chair, kicking his feet restlessly against the wooden legs.
It wasn't fair! Rex's cousin Fives told Rex that he and Echo were gonna go out and build a snowman tomorrow after school, if it snowed enough. But Rex just knew he wouldn’t be allowed to go. Rex hated being stuck inside doing homework and chores every single night. He just wanted to have a little fun with his cousins for once.
He sighed and picked up his pencil, staring down at the math questions.
This sucked.
“Did you see the huge piles of snow out there?” Echo whispered excitedly to Rex as they opened their lockers to put away their coats. Rex bent down to pick up his books for first period. “I can't wait to get out in it, after school!”
Echo's twin brother, Fives, chuckled from Rex's other side. “Little Echo couldn't stop talking about the snow all night.”
Echo narrowed his eyes at his brother's teasing tone. “I wasn't the only one excited! You just always pretend you're too cool to do things like building snowmen. But I'm not the one that picked out the perfect hat and scarf for our snowman last night before we went to bed.”
Fives' neck flushed. “It doesn't hurt to be prepared. I just know how much you want our snowman to look good,” Fives muttered petulantly.
“Liar,” Echo folded his arms.
“Why you--!” Fives said angrily and pulled his brother into a headlock.
Rex smiled at the two of them and shook his head. The two of them were always bickering. They looked almost identical, but their personalities couldn't be any more different.
A teacher poked their head out of a nearby classroom and told the two of them off for fighting.
“But he started it!” The two of them whined in sync.
“Right Rex?” Echo looked over at him with wide, sweet looking eyes. Sometimes Rex had a hard time believing the two of them were already eleven, like Rex. Most of the time they seemed to act about as old as Rex’s eight-year-old brother Boba.
Rex just laughed and left them to the scolding, heading off to his first class as the bell rang.
“Why can't I just go over to Fives and Echo's house?” Rex pleaded with his mum, when she came to pick them up from school that afternoon.
“Rex,” she sighed and looked at him in the rear-view mirror. “I need to get Boba to his appointment on time. Then we have to take Cody to his hockey practice. I don't have time for this.”
Rex scowled and looked out the window. Sometimes he wished he'd chosen hockey like Cody had, instead of soccer. Then at least he'd get to play in the winter. But there were moments when he looked at the scar around Cody's eye and his brother's crooked, broken nose and he was happy he hadn't chosen that sport.
But it was just so boring sitting with his mum and Boba in the bleachers, watching Cody practice for hours..
“How about on Friday?” He pleaded, going for broke. “Boil and Waxer invited me and Fives and Echo over to play board games!”
His mother merged into traffic and hummed sadly. “We have to pick-up your dad from the airport that night. He's getting back in from his business trip!” It was good his dad was coming back just in time for Christmas, but Rex would rather spend the night with his four cousins. “You'll see them at Wolffe's skating party next week, after Christmas break starts.” She said apologetically, trying to make amends.
“I don't even have my own skates! And the rental ones always pinch my toes.” Rex argued. “I'd rather go to their board game night this week!”
“Rex,” his mother frowned as they came up to a red light. “You haven't seen your dad in almost four months. You really need to come with us to the airport.”
Rex slouched down in his seat and looked out the window. Not noticing Cody's thoughtful expression, from the seat beside him.
The week passed by slowly. Rex couldn't wait until Christmas break, so he wouldn't have any more homework, but he was dreading telling Waxer and Boil he couldn't come to their game night.
He'd been hoping to wear his mother down and get her to finally let him go, but he hadn't had any luck. Instead he'd just made her more and more upset and he'd gotten grounded Thursday night. He hadn't even been allowed to play Mario Kart with Boba after all their homework and chores were finished.
So Friday morning Rex was in a foul mood, and might have snapped a little too hard at Cody when he came out from his room and saw his older brother measuring Rex's snow boots.
“Get away from those, they're mine!” Rex yelled and ran towards his brother.
Cody dropped the boot and frowned at him. “Fine, jeez. Breakfast is ready.”
“Well why didn't you just say that instead of getting weirdly intimate with my boot!” Rex said crankily.
“I don't think that word means what you think it means,” Cody rolled his eyes and pushed past Rex. He didn't retaliate though when Rex shoved him into the wall as he passed by.
“Grow up Rex.” Cody scolded and moved towards his room.
Rex was happy to see his dad. Only, with their dad gone most of the year for work, he really would have rather been at Waxer and Boil's Friday night, and seen his dad later. What was the difference of a couple hours?
He was still a little pissed his mum hadn't let him go, so he made sure to give her the cold shoulder all of Friday night and whenever he saw her on Saturday.
Most of Saturday he ended up staying in his room anyways. He read some comic books and talked to Echo on the phone about what presents they were getting their families.
He briefly considered asking Boba to play video games with him on Saturday evening after dinner and finally left his room to find his little brother.
Cody was sitting in the family room when Rex came in, hoping Boba would be there.
Rex frowned at his older brother, who was sitting on the couch, reading a rather boring looking book. “Where’s Boba?”
“Dad took him out shopping for Christmas presents,” Cody replied. Cody looked up at him for a long moment and then put the bookmark in his book and set it down.
“Ah,” Rex sighed and turned to leave.
“Rex,” Cody said seriously, the tone of his voice making Rex stop dead in his tracks.
“What?” Rex said sulkily, not bothering to turn around and face his brother again.
“You need to give mum a break. You know she has a lot on her plate with dad gone most of the year. She’s been so excited about him coming home this weekend. Don’t make her upset just because she wouldn’t let you hang out with our cousins.”
“What do you care?” Rex turned and spat at his older brother.
Cody sighed and rubbed the scar on the side of his face. “Rex, you’re better than this. Mum does a lot for us, and–”
“What does it matter to you, you’re not my parent.” Rex felt his neck heat up as his anger grew. “Besides, she deserves it, she never lets me do anything I want to!”
Everything was always about everyone else in this family. Rex was sick of it. Rex wanted this to be about him for a change.
Cody stood and moved closer, putting a gentle hand on Rex’s shoulder. “Rex, that’s not true. She loves you. She–”
“I don’t care!” Rex exploded, feeling a bit out of control. He shook off Cody’s hand and stomped off to his room. He slammed the door and jumped onto his bed, burrowing under the covers.
Sometimes he wished his whole family would disappear.
Sunday was mostly spent with everyone doing their own thing. Their parents went out for some last minute Christmas shopping and Rex had heard Cody telling Boba he would help their little brother wrap his presents while they were out.
Rex spent the day in his room, avoiding everyone and complaining to Fives on the phone.
Cody had left a plate of dinner for him outside his door, but mostly everyone had left him alone for the day.
As the sun began to set in the early evening, a heavy snow began to fall. Rex sat at his desk by his window and watched the flakes tumble down, wishing he were a part of any other family but this one.
Monday dawned bright and early. There was a bracing chill in the air when Rex went out to shovel the walks.
Rex tugged his scarf tighter around his face, moving quickly, intent on getting the snow shovel and getting this over as quickly as he could.
The sound of a shovel scraping met Rex’s ears as he rounded the side of the garage.
“Cody?” Rex frowned into his scarf. “What are you doing?” Shoveling was Rex’s chore.
“I thought you could use some help,” Cody said, not looking up from the section of driveway he was scraping snow from.
“I would have been fine,” Rex said quietly, his stomach feeling strangely warm.
“There’s another shovel in the garage,” Cody gestured with his head to the open garage door. “We can get this done faster if we work together.”
Embarrassed, Rex stretched his fingers inside his mittens and moved away to get a shovel.
The two of them finished the walk and driveway in awkward silence.
Rex reluctantly dragged himself down the hall a couple hours after lunch, not at all excited for the skating party.
It would be good to see Fives and Echo and Boil and Waxer, but he was not looking forward to wearing those awful skates he would have to rent.
He also wasn’t too keen on having to sit next to Cody for the hour drive to the outdoor rink.
The two of them hadn’t talked much since Rex had shouted at his older brother. Rex was feeling a bit ashamed about his behavior Saturday, especially since Cody had taken time out of his morning to help Rex finish the shoveling. He should probably apologize, but he was still a bit upset that Cody had taken their mum’s side.
Rex moved towards the closet to grab his snow boots, reaching around Boba who was zipping up his puffy winter jacket.
“Rex,” Cody said quietly behind him.
Rex turned and frowned at his older brother. “What?”
Cody was clutching a large shoe box. When Rex turned, he held it out for Rex to take. “I want you to have these.”
Rex took the box and lifted the lid. Inside were Cody’s previous pair of skates, the only pair of skates Cody had ever purchased with his own money. Cody had saved his allowance and done chores around the neighbourhood for cash two summers ago, in order to save up for those skates. They weren’t the cheap brand that mum and dad had been buying him before. They were professional grade.
Cody had been so proud when he’d finally saved enough to buy them. Rex still remembered Cody bringing them home and showing Rex how sharp the blades were and how supportive the leather interior was.
“I don’t fit in them anymore,” Cody admitted, with a tiny bit of sadness.
“Cody,” Rex said quietly, feeling a bit choked up. Rex knew that when Cody had grown out of them, he’d been really sad to leave the skates behind. He hadn’t been able to save up enough to buy another pair and this year was skating on much cheaper skates. “You shouldn’t give these to me. I know you can trade them in for a lot of money towards your next pair.”
He couldn’t imagine why Cody would want Rex to have them. Rex had been a pain in the butt lately. Yes, Rex had been upset a lot lately, but he still knew he hadn’t been the nicest to his mum and dad and Cody.
“I know,” Cody said quietly, “But you’ve been so down lately, and I just want you to be happy Rex.”
Rex opened his mouth to reply, but couldn’t think of anything to say. He stared down at the box of skates he was holding, not sure what to do. Cody moved around him to help Boba tie his boots because the boy had already put his mittens on and was struggling with his laces.
Rex heard the front screen door slam closed and looked up, realizing he was alone in the entry hall, his brothers having left to get in the warming car with their dad.
His mum walked into the hall, trying to bundle her curly hair into a large, knitted stocking cap.
“I’m sorry,” he blurted out, clutching the box tightly to his chest.
His mum paused, a little startled and then smiled. “It’s alright Rex,” she said softly and pulled him in for a hug. “I’m sorry things have been so hard for you lately. I love you.” She paused, looking down at the box of skates Rex was still holding. “And I know your brother cares about you so much.”
Rex closed his eyes, shutting away the tears forming and leaned into her embrace. He thought of Cody and how patient and kind he’d been. He thought of how worried Cody had been for Rex. He was always there for Rex. “I know,” he whispered and moved away.
He set down the box reverently and finished getting ready for Wolffe’s party.
Rex glided along the ice. These skates were amazing. He felt like he was flying over the surface.
“Rex!” Echo shouted, barrelling towards him at a very chaotic speed. “Catch me!”
Rex shrieked and moved out of the way, letting Echo crash into Fives, who’d been staking just behind Rex.
“Echo!” Fives cried, betrayed. “I had just finally got going!”
“Blame Rex!” Echo said, voice muffled from where he was twisted up, face squished against Fives’ shoulder.
Boil skated up, stopping quickly and kicking up fine ice chips all over the twins. “It’s like you’re trying to sabotage each other!” Boil began to laugh and beckoned for his own twin to come laugh at the two of them as well. “Waxer! Come look at these two doofuses!”
Rex grinned at the four of them and looked over to the other side of the rink where Wolffe and Cody were helping steady Fox as he slowly tried to turn. Fives and Echo and Fox were not the most graceful of skaters.
Cody looked over and met Rex’s eye and smiled.
Rex’s grin widened.
“Waxer, let’s push Rexy into the pile as well!” Boil called, moving away from the twisted disaster of a pile that was Echo and Fives.
Rex laughed. “Not on your life.”
He sped away from Boil’s outstretched hands, giggling.
Maybe his family wasn’t so bad, after all.