Work Text:
The lights in their house were already dimmed. Only a single lamp in the living room illuminated the script on the half-gilded pages of the thick book Andrew was reading.
He lifted his eyes briefly to see the hour glowing red on the decoder display. He would have to get ready for work soon.
"Andrew?" a voice rang in his ear. "Can I ask you something before you go?" The man tucked a bookmark between the pages and looked at his husband.
"What is it?"
"Could you sew up this hole? I'm afraid I'll tear it more in my sleep." Luca showed him the hole under the toy's paw.
Andrew nodded and stood up. He grabbed a small, long, battery-operated lamp from under the TV and a whole sewing kit from the kitchen.
"Sorry to ask about it this late, but I'll probably forget tomorrow." Luca added as he sat down at the table and switched on the lamp.
The toy was now almost forty years old. Thirty-seven to be exact. Its grey fur had long since lost its fluffiness and shine, and the rat itself had probably shrunk a few times in the wash. It’s plastic whiskers were bent, and two of them were gone.
Andrew squinted and, in a few quick but precise movements, sewed up the hole. With each stroke, the gold ring on his finger glittered in the corner of his eye.
"Here you go." Kreiss handed the plushie back to him as he tore off the last stitches with his teeth. "A very brave patient." The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Thank you, dear." Andrew carried the kit back to the kitchen and headed for the bathroom. "Aren't you going to make yourself something to eat?"
"No. I just have to finish the tomb today, it'll be quick." Andrew didn't shut the door behind him. Luca saw him tie his blond hair into a bun.
Luca knew that the grave keeper’s job was getting harder and harder for Andrew. His husband often complained of back and shoulder pain. He could see the stiffness in his movements and how crooked he walked. But he still did not have the courage to bring it up.
The brown-haired man went to his son's room. The boy was sleeping peacefully, holding a white plush seal.
He went back to bed, but something kept him awake. He fidgeted in bed for a while, listening to the sounds Andrew was making. He put his toothbrush down on the sink, water running from the tap and splashing against the stone basin. The rustling of his jacket.
Luca bit his lower lip and got out of bed. Andrew was already pulling on his heavy boots.
"Ands?" The man looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "Do you have your childhood plushie?”
"Strange question for a farewell." He adjusted his collar and took his keys from the shelf. "I don't. My mum couldn't afford it. But there were always equivalents." Andrew kissed him lightly on the lips. "Sleep well." He shut the door behind him.
Luca could still hear his footsteps in the stairwell. He leaned against the window, watching the car leave the driveway until its warm yellow lights disappeared into endless darkness.
*
Luca awoke with a weight on his stomach.
He rubbed his still sleepy eyes and reached for the phone on the bedside table to turn off the alarm earlier. He skimed his fingers over Andrew's embracing shoulder. His white hair bowed under the weight of his touch. The big strong hand was rough underneath, full of calluses from clenching the metal shovel.
Kreiss snored loudly. Probably from a runny nose, brought on by working in the icy air.
Luca quickly slipped out of his embrace, carefully not to wake his husband and went into his son's room to wake him.
“Dad will pick you up after school, okay? I've got to go over to granny, something's broken with her cooker.” He explained. Gerasin nodded and jumped up on the chair. He had recently gotten new glasses and looked like a little owl.
Before he left, he tied up Gerasin's scarf, which Andrew's mother had knitted for him. Gerasin and Andrew were now easily exposed to all sorts of diseases and he wanted to protect them as much as possible. Before he left for his workshop, he leaned over his son and said loudly enough for him to hear through his hearing aids.
"Have a good day." Gerasin just smiled and walked deeper into the school.
*
Halina lived in a cramped flat on the first floor on the outskirts of the city.
The woman let him in with a warm smile. Clutching a toolbox, he went into the kitchen.
"Would you like something to eat before you start?" Luca had already managed to unscrew the gas bottle and carefully secure it.
"Oh no. I already ate at home." He replied, cursing himself. Halina really was a good cook.
"Then I'll at least pour you some compote, eh? I made it yesterday."
"Please." Luca pushed the machine away and knelt on the tiles. He grabbed a torch and stuck his head behind the cooker.
"How's Gerasin?" Luca heard the drink hit the walss of the glass. The woman pushed back her chair, which clattered on the floor.
"Very well. He's getting used to his new glasses." He switched off the burner. "He's going on holiday soon and we'd like to go to the mountains." He rummaged behind the cooker and stood up. "The oven is working normally, yes?"
"Yes, yes, there's nothing wrong with the oven. It's just the burners that are acting strange." Luca pushed back the metal plate that covered the burner. "And Andrew?"
"And Andrew is working and complaining of back pain." Kreiss replied sourly. "I think the nozzle is blocked. I can fix it."
Halina sighed.
"He'll never think of himself. Let's hope he doesn't get sick."
"For some reason I can't talk to him about it." Luca bit his lip and pulled out the necessary tools. "I'm afraid he'll be angry with me."
"Oh, I'm sure he won't be angry with you, Luca. Or I'll talk to him - I can't remember the last time he disobeyed me." Luca smiled broadly.
"You could also tell him not to cut his hair."
"He wants to cut his hair?"
"Yes, because he complains that it bothers him and looks like straw."
"Then he should start using a better shampoo." She muttered.
Andrew's mother had always been a particular person and said what was on her mind. But she never held it against anyone. Luca was sometimes afraid of her, because she could make his own father behave.
It took him a while to clean the nozzle. He did it all in silence so he could concentrate. When he was done, he turned the gas back on and lit the burner.
"All done."
"Oh, thank you." Halina walked over to the stove and Luca sat down behind the table and lifted a glass of the already cold compote.
He swirled his glass and took a few sips. The woman immediately began pacing the room, putting pots and kettles on the stove.
"What was Andrew like as a child?" he asked suddenly. "We've been a family for so long and I feel like I've never asked that question." Halina's cheeks widened into a warm smile.
"He was a very quiet child." She began. "Would you cut this fruits for me?" she asked, handing him a bowl. "While you're here, you can help me."
Luca accepted the bowl and began to peel the apple so that he could cut it later.
"He started talking late," Halina continued. "I was worried about him, but he finally said the long-awaited 'mummy'. He also loved animals very much.” The woman disappeared into the next room and took out the fruit dryer.
Luca remembered that it was Andrew who had taught her how to use it, and that as soon as autumn came, she would start making compotes. Throughout the autumn and winter, their blood turned into compote.
"He was also very sensitive." She pointed out. "He always wanted to help. I wasn't sure if we'd ever get out of this poverty, so I taught him what I could do myself. If his father was still alive.."
"Your husband... when did he die?"
"Andrew was a year old. We didn't have the money for his treatment, but he was a truly wonderful person." Halina plugged the machine into the socket and he began to arrange the slices on the plates.
"You are a wonderful mother, Halina. You can't be surprised that Andrew has grown up to be so talented." Halina laughed.
"And what have I done? I just taught him to cook and to sew. The things every man should know."
"Yesterday I asked him to sew a hole in my stuffed animal," he says. He recalled. "He said he didn't have any plushies."
"He didn't have any." She nodded. "We had to keep money for our upkeep. But his father could carve wood, so he always made something for him. A horse, a cat.. Later I tried to make him some substitutes out of sticks and plants. He was happy. He never made a fuss."
"Oh, really? Every time I cook him, he gets picky." Halina started to laugh. "Well, okay, maybe I burned the pot once or twice."
He finished arranging the fruit on the plates and the woman closed the lid. The machine started to hum.
Luca looked at his watch.
"I have to go. Andrew's probably back with Gerasin by now and I've got a few things to do."
"Wait, I'll give you some compote." Halina took the pitcher and poured the drink into a glass.
"Thank you." Luca took the glass from her and went into the hall to put on his shoes.
"I'm the one who should thank you." Halina leaned against the doorframe.
"At your service."
"Drive safely. And tell Andrew not to cut his hair under any circumstances!”
*
"Dad, are you OK?" Gerasin let go of Andrew's hand and walked deeper into the house.
"I'm fine, sweetheart." Andrew smiled sourly and limped into the kitchen to heat up dinner.
"But you're walking funny." The boy said.
"I think I've pulled something, you know?" He handed him a plate. "I'll put some ointment on it and I'll be all right. You eat, I'll go change." With that, he went to the bedroom and took off his special uniform to change into something lighter.
Later he did homework with Gerasin. They had just finished maths when the door opened and a panting Luca came in.
"I'm back!" He kicked off his shoes.
"I'll heat up your dinner." Andrew rose from his chair and whispered a bundle of curses too soft for Gerasin's ears.
"What's wrong?" Luca cocked his head, entered the kitchen and combed his son's hair.
"I think I pulled something when we buried the coffin." He groaned.
"Lie down, I'll prepare food myself. I'll give you a massage."
"But I'm fine. I still have to do my shopping and give my mother her books."
"You need to rest, Ands." Luca said pleadingly. "I'll take care of it, but you shouldn't strain yourself anymore."
"I'll stop hurting tomorrow."
"Andrew, I can see you need a break. Do you see the way you walk? You can hardly get out of bed."
"I'll be fine." Andrew replied more hissily than he intended. "I have to water the flowers at the cemetery today."
Luca sighed. He didn't want to argue with him.
"At least let me give you a massage." Andrew finally agreed and lay down on the sofa in the living room. Luca sat on his legs, rolled up his t-shirt and elbowed him in the lower back.
"Christ..." Andrew gasped as the pain started to radiate even more.
"How was school, love?" Luca turned to his son who was now sitting on the carpet colouring a colouring book.
"Very well. I'm ready for the times tables test tomorrow. And Mr Diruse said he would take us for a walk tomorrow. To show us different plants."
"Well, that's wonderful." Luca bent his elbow at a slightly different angle, Andrew twitched.
"And I taught Robbie how to say good morning in sign language." He added proudly. "Robbie says he really wants to learn. So he can talk to me when I'm without my hearing aids or I will hear worse.”
"I'm glad, sweetheart." Andrew mumbled with his face in the pillow. "That your colleagues want to help you - Jesus, Luca, do you have to push so hard?"
"You're all tense, you old prick. What about your glasses?"
"I can see the letters better. It's easier for me right now." Gerasin hid his nose in his painting book. "And what happened to dad?"
"Oh, he's very reckless, you know?" Luca squeezed the space between Andrew's shoulder blades. "He works too hard."
"You should rest." Gerasin said.
"See? Even your child tells you that."
Andrew pressed his lips together and made no reply.
*
Willing or not, Andrew had to take some time off. The pain in his back had gotten so bad that he felt like he was going to break in half.
Halina was to pick up Gerasin from school and stay with them until Luca returned.
Andrew sat on the sofa and tried to concentrate on his book, but the pain wouldn't let him sit still. He took a deep breath and got up to walk around the flat a few times.
"Dear child, sit your ass down.” Halina said as she entered the apartment.
"Good morning, mom." He replied sourly.
"Now, now. Luca said something about heat packs, I'll put them on right away."
"I can't, mum... it hurts all the time. No matter what I do."
"You're going to pull something again."
"Sit down!" Gerasin patted his knee.
"Very good, Gerasin, very good." Andrew groaned and sat down on the sofa.
Gerasin dug around in his rucksack for a moment and pulled out a slightly bent piece of paper.
"I got an A! On that multiplication tables test."
"Congratulations, darling." Andrew hugged his son. "Well done. Hang it on the fridge so papa can see it later."
"Have you eaten, son?"
"Yes." Andrew mumbled.
"Give me your back. I'll put a compress on it." Andrew mumbled again, but obediently lay on his back. A moment later he felt a pleasant, glorious warmth spreading through his body.
He almost fell asleep on the sofa, but Halina’s loud steps woken him up.
"I have something for you."
"Eh?" Andrew sat down.
"I could finally afford it." Halina pulled a knitted rabbit stuffed with cotton wool out of her pocket.
Andrew took the soft toy in his trembling hands. It was white, and both ears were down. It stared at him with red eyes made of buttons.
"Let me see!" Gerasin ran over and climbed into his lap. "Cool!”
"You know. I was talking to Luca two days ago. You had a reallt difficult childhood. Come here, son." The woman stretched out her arms and took Andrew into them.
"Thank you." He just whispered, feeling a single tear run down his cheek.