Work Text:
Nicky was looking at all the delicious cakes at the baker's window, having a hard time choosing one, when someone poked him on the shoulder.
Nicky: "Morning, Majid. You are up earlier than usual."
Majid: "Yeah, a guy has to earn some money if he wants to buy a new game for his PlayStation."
Nicky: "Okay, well, I am only nine, so I don't know anything about that."
Majid: "You will one day, Nicky."
Nicky sniffed. He hated having a cold.
Majid: "Do you have any big plans today?"
Nicky: "Besides buying a cake for my pocket money? Not really. Why are you asking?"
Majid: "Could you maybe check on Joe?"
Nicky: "Is something wrong with him?"
Majid: "He came last yesterday at that art thing he signed up for. And now he refuses to get out of bed or eat for that matter."
Nicky: "Joe is refusing to eat? That was a new one."
Majid: "Yeah, I agree. Listen, if I buy you all the cakes you can carry, could you give it a try to cheer him up?"
Nicky: "Of course, but what about your new game?"
Majid: "You don't have to worry about that. All you have to worry about is cheering up my over-dramatic little brother."
After buying all the cakes Nicky could carry, Majid bought Nicky a bus ticket so he didn't have to carry five boxes of cakes throughout town.
Busdriver: "Are you sure you can carry all of that?"
Nicky: "Yeah, I got this. Have a nice day."
Nicky stepped out of the bus before he picked up the boxes. While walking towards the house where Joe lived, Nicky was grateful for knowing the way, because he couldn't see where he was walking.
Nicky: "I am so sorry. I didn't see you, literally."
Nicky peeked to the side to look at the person he had bumped into.
Miriam: "I can understand that. Where are you going with all these boxes?"
Miriam was Joe's mother.
Nicky: "Morning, Mrs Al-Kaysani. And to answer your question. I am going to see Joe and cheer him up with cake. It was Majid's idea, and I think it's a brilliant idea."
Miriam: "Me, too. But let me help you with the boxes. We can use the pram."
Nicky placed the boxes in the pram.
Nicky: "Thanks, very kind of you. Where is Sophia?"
Sophia was Majid and Joe's baby sister.
Miriam: "She is with a friend today."
Nicky shook his sore arms.
Nicky: "No, no, let me push the pram."
Miriam: "Okay. So, besides feeding my son cake, what is your big plan when it comes to cheering him up?"
Nicky: "I don't know yet. I will figure it out when I am there, but I promise, before I leave, he will be eating and smiling again."
When they reached the house, Nicky picked up all the boxes again and carried them inside.
Nicky: "Morning, Mr Al-Kaysani. How are you doing?"
Nicky kicked off his shoes before going inside.
Ibrahim: "I had plans of pruning the bushes. Do you need some help?"
Nicky: "No, I got it. And please be careful when you do the pruning, okay. The last thing you want is to get in trouble with your wife."
Ibrahim laughed.
Ibrahim: "You have inherited your father's humour, Nicky. Promise, never to lose it."
Joe and Nicky's fathers were old friends, and it was through them that they met.
Nicky: "I promise. I'd better find Joe."
Nicky knew the way to Joe's room in his sleep. Because Nicky had his hands full, he kicked the door open.
Nicky: "Sorry about the dramatic entrance, Joe, but as you can tell, I've got my hands full."
Nicky placed the boxes on the floor before looking around the room.
Nicky: "I love what you have done to your room. Is the darkness inspired by the Batty Cage?"
Nicky looked over at the bed where Joe was hiding under his duvet.
Joe: "It's called the Bat Cave, and go away, Nicky. I am not in the mood to talk today."
Nicky: "That might be, but I am not going anywhere before I am sure you are alright."
Nicky walked over to the window and pulled the curtains to the side. Then, Nicky noticed Joe's sketchbook in the trash bin and picked it up.
Nicky: "Maybe we should open the window, because it smells in here. Have you been farting again?"
Nicky opened the window.
Nicky: "I still say I could always find you in a crowd by the way your farts smell."
Nicky heard a small giggle coming from underneath the duvet.
Nicky: "Glad to hear your giggle. Now, you listen to me. I want you to get out of that bed and join me, unless you want to watch me eat five boxes of cake all alone. And you know I will do it."
Joe kicked the duvet to the side before getting out of bed.
Joe: "I am only here because I don't want you to have a stomachache."
Nicky: "Very kind of you. Hmmm."
Joe: "What is wrong?"
Nicky: "You can not eat cake when you look like you have just rolled out of bed."
Nicky got up.
Joe: "I did just roll out of bed."
Nicky: "Yeah, I know."
Nicky took the green scrunchie lying on the night table before he pulled Joe's curls back into a ponytail, something Nicky and Joe's mother was only allowed to do.
Nicky: "That is better, because now you can see what you are eating."
Joe: "Okay, you might have a point."
Nicky: "Good. Let us eat cake."
They opened all the boxes and started to eat the cake.
Joe: "Where did you get all these cakes from?"
Nicky: "A kind soul, who wants to see you in a better mode."
Joe: "Who are you talking about?"
Nicky: "Your brother."
Joe: "Majid?"
Nicky nodded.
Joe: "Why is he suddenly being so nice to me?"
Nicky: "You have to ask him. I want to ask you something. Wanna tell me what this is doing in the trash bin?"
Nicky held up the sketchbook with one hand while eating cake with the other.
Joe: "I am done doing art. From today, I am going to do.... Well, I haven't planned so far ahead, but I am done with art for good."
Joe looked at Nicky, who looked a bit annoyed.
Joe: "What?"
Nicky: "To me, it sounds like you are quitting, something I know my best friend would never do."
Joe: "I am not quitting, I am just..."
Nicky: "Done with art. Yeah, I heard you the first time. Let me ask you this."
Nicky licked his fingers before speaking again.
Nicky: "Do you think your art heroes stopped making art the moment something did not go according to their plans? Okay, yes, they might have sulked for a bit like you are doing right now, but they still decided to make art again, and they created some of the world's best art humans have ever seen. And one day, you will join your art heroes with your art, I know it."
Joe stopped eating cake. He loved that no matter what, Nicky always believed in him.
Joe: "I hate losing."
Nicky: "I know, Joe, because I have seen it first hand."
Joe: "I am still sorry about that."
Nicky: "I forgave you, but I am not going to forgive you if you give up making art."
Nicky flickered through the sketchbook, and when he found the sketch he was looking for, he showed it to Joe.
Nicky: "Because you promised me that you would turn this sketch into a painting I could hang on my wall. And if you don't do it, Joe, you have broken a promise to me, something we both swore we would never do."
Joe looked at his oldest friend with a smile that said I am sorry.
Nicky: "I forgive you, Joe."
Joe: "Thanks. It means a lot to me."
Nicky smiled, and they ate cake until they could not eat any more.
Joe: "Nicky, should we go to the cinema? They are showing 'The Lion King'."
Nicky: "I would love that, but Joe, please take a shower first and put on some clothes."
Joe: "On it. Be back in five minutes."
While Joe showered, Nicky cleaned up and carried the rest of the cake out into the kitchen.
Nicky: "I thought you should have the rest."
Miriam: "Thank you, very kind of you. And thanks for cheering Joe up."
Nicky: "Don't mention it. We are going to the cinema. Is it okay if we eat a burger when the movie is over?"
Miriam: "Yes, it is. Have you told your parents about your plans?"
Nicky: "No, could I borrow the phone?"
Miriam: "Yes, you know where it is."
After calling his parents, who had no problem with the trip to the cinema, Nicky and Joe left for the city. When Majid got home after work, Miriam kissed him on his cheek.
Majid: "Uhm, thanks, Mom, but what have I done?"
Miriam: "You know what you did, and I want you to know I am very proud of you."
Majid: "Thanks again. Is it okay if I visit Karl when we have eaten dinner?"
Miriam: "Go and have fun, but before that, could you please make sure your father doesn't harm himself?"
Majid: "On it."
When Joe returned home, he hugged his parents and told them he loved them before starting on the painting he had promised his best friend.