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Leif shuffles down the path behind Mama’s trailer. Since moving in with Dave and Mary, they don’t get back here very often. But they have an appointment to uphold. They have their newest sketchbook in their bag, a deck of playing cards, and a picnic blanket slung over one arm They don’t tend to come with Paul on this walk, not after the first time. They don’t want to intrude on his time with his dad.
But having Jonah and the other ghosts back is… Leif is so relieved. Their disappearance at the same time as Dad made everything feel so off-kilter. For a while, Leif thought maybe they’d just imagined the tree ghosts. They’ve never been so horrified and glad to be proven wrong. Reconnecting with them takes a lot of magic, and many promises that they are being wary of Hatchetmen.
Jonah’s tree shivers as Leif arrives and lays out the blanket at the roots. They settle, cross-legged and facing the tree. After a moment, Jonah’s spirit rises from the roots to sort of settle on the other side of the blanket. He smiles, and Leif pulls out the deck of cards first, dealing them both in. They organize their cards and begin their game.
“Has it been very busy?” Jonah asks, smiling knowingly.
Leif sighs softly, but also smiles, “Yeah. They changed my art class to something year-round. Which is nice for my income, but it means I’m at the community center all day. Like, all day . Gotta do homework and grading at the same time. It’s weird.”
Jonah grins, his head cocked to the side. “I still remember how much you wanted to be a ‘woods scientist.’”
That pulls a laugh from Leif. “God, I was sure I’d spend the rest of my life in the woods. I mean, I still love coming out here, but I don’t want it to be my job. I like just enjoying the trees and the critters on my own terms.”
“Speaking of critters! Those owlets in me finally took flight this last week. Hopefully their mother will have another clutch next year. I enjoy watching them grow.”
Leif asks some more questions about the fledglings as they settle into the game, and Jonah asks for more details about their classes, teaching and learning. Leif shows him their sketchbook, the stuff they do for class and the mock-ups they make for their students. He listens and seems to take the time to really look at the art. He doesn’t just humor them, and Leif appreciates that so much. They worried, for a while, that Jonah would only tolerate them for a little while, after so long without contact. But he’s been genuinely excited to get to know them again, as an adult, and Leif does their best to honor that.
“Paul said you might be moving onto the farm?” Jonah finally hums, after they’ve grown tired of playing cards at all and are just slowly flipping through the sketchbook. There are some still lifes in there from the farm and the apartment, which Leif loves getting to show him.
They shrug, “Emma and Lori have been building some smaller houses on the farm. For Ziggs, for Starlight… I… They’ve invited us to come stay. I dunno what Dave’s thinking, because Mary’s still pretty little. But like. I wanna live there. I like being close to them.” They sigh and look up at Jonah. “I dunno how other young adults go off and just live alone an’ shit. I love being near my family.”
Jonah gently brushes his hand over their hair, a touch even colder than Paul’s. It almost feels like he doesn’t even touch them, though their hair does move. “There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re allowed to want to be with your people. I haven’t met Dave yet,” and there’s something pointed there that Leif just rolls their eyes a little at – such a dad move, “but he sounds reasonable. And he cares for you. Be honest. You’ll figure out what’s best for you.”
“You’re so wise it’s infuriating, actually,” Leif teases. “Is this what being a ghost does? You get wisdom from beyond the grave?”
Thankfully, Jonah laughs. He ruffles their hair again and they settle in to flip through the final few pages of Leif’s sketchbook before they have to pack up.