The Arcade
Chapter 19

When Cosmo and Joe had returned from the hospital, it wasn’t even noon. They were both hungry, so Rosemary fixed a light lunch for everyone. Cosmo and his father both had grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, while Rosemary nibbled on a salad. After everything that had happened this morning, she wasn’t very hungry. It never ceased to amaze her how men never seemed to lose their appetites no matter what. Earthquakes, floods, typhoons, apocalypse – didn’t matter. All they wanted to know was what’s for dinner.

Shortly after they had all finished eating, the phone rang. Rosemary answered, and to her relief, it was Theo’s mother. They were still at the hospital, but Theo was awake and – although groggy from the pain medication – seemed to be doing fine, even though he had suffered a concussion. She told Rosemary that all the tests had come back negative for any sort of brain injury, although he was – in her words – “trussed up pretty good.” The fractured leg was in a traction cast, and the arm was in one of those types of casts which are attached to the upper torso. In short, he wouldn’t be riding anything any time soon.

After a few more minutes on the phone, Cosmo’s mom said her goodbyes, and promised to light a votive down at Saint Andrew’s after Saturday Eucharist. Most of Cosmo’s friends and their families attended Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church, and it was considered a sort of extended family by everyone in the parish.

Upon returning to the table, she gave the news to Cosmo and Joe. Joe was the first to speak up. “So when we will he be able to have regular visitors?”

Taking a sip of her coffee, Rosemary replied “Vita tells me that he should be okay for regular visits after the doctor checks up on him tomorrow – probably in the afternoon.”

Cosmo said “Well that’ll be cool. I can round up everyone at school, and we can go see him after school lets out.” Looking at Joe he asked “Dad, do you think you can swing by and pick us all up?”

Joe’s eyebrows went up as he asked “Well it all depends, son – how many of you are there going to be? You know the Volvo will only hold five.”

Cosmo thought for a moment, then brightened. “That works out fine. You and mom in the front – Bobby, Holly, and me in the back. See? Public education at it’s finest!”

Cosmo’s mother swatted his shoulder. “Ha, ha. You’re only going to a public school because all your friends are there, and because Saint Mark’s Academy is too far out of the way for your father to drive.”

“Lucky me!” Cosmo hooted.

Joe cleared his throat, and said “We can change that, you know.” The look on his dad’s face let Cosmo know he was only half serious, but not to push it.

Cosmo assumed his most innocent expression. “What? It’s cool. I like everything juuust the way it is. Look at me, the good, obedient, loving and thankful son – getting up to take out the trash.”

With a big, cheesy grin plastered on his face, Cosmo excused himself from the table to do just that – take out the trash. As he was walking out the patio door, Joe glanced at him, then looked over at Rosemary.

“You know, he really has been a different boy the last few months. I like the change.” Joe said, sipping his coffee.

Rosemary nodded. “So do I, but I can’t understand what caused it. It’s like one day he doesn’t really care about anything, like some sort of robot – and the very next day he wakes up with a soul. If I didn’t know better, I say he’d been switched by aliens or something.”

Joe chuckled into his coffee cup. “I know what you mean. I’m going to accept it as a gift from God and go with it. It’s kinda nice to have your kid tell you that he loves you.”

Rosemary nearly did a spit-take with her coffee. “He said what??”

“Yup. When I dropped him off at school one day a month or two ago. I should have marked it down on the calendar.”

Rosemary just looked at her husband, then slowly shook her head. “God really does answer prayers in a very peculiar way.”

“You have no idea, Rosie…”

The afternoon was spent calling the school, St. Andrew’s, various parents, and of course – Joe’s office. Everyone was notified of what happened, when they would be able to visit, and given as many details as possible, without infringing on the privacy of the Castelhanos.

After all the phone calls that could be made were made, Cosmo and his parents settled down in the family room for some coffee and cookies. Cosmo’s mom was famous among kids and parents alike for her coconut sugar cookies. They practically melted in your mouth, and somehow always made you think of the holidays.

Taking a sip of his coffee, and helping himself to the first of the freshly baked bits if heaven, Joe said to no one in particular “I think it would be a good idea if we went to evening Mass tonight. I also think I’m gonna ask Father Larkin to mention Theo in the closing prayers.” Looking up from his coffee, he continued “Any takers?”

Rosemary smiled, and nodded her agreement. “I think you read my mind, honey. That’s a wonderful idea.” Standing, she walked over to Joe and kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll be right back – I’m going for more cookies and coffee.” She grabbed the coffee urn and empty plate and headed for the kitchen.

Joe looked at his son. “How ’bout you, buddy? You up for going to Mass tonight? I’m sure you don’t have any plans tonight – do you?”

“No dad…” Cosmo answered around a mouthful of cookie. “I’m in. There’s a few other prayers I think I’d like to offer up. Are there any patron saints that deal with what’s happened lately?”

Joe chuckled. “I don’t think so, but for right now I’m going to worry about Theo.” His expression becoming more thoughtful, he said “What’s going on with you and me will have to wait.”

Cosmo chased his mouthful of cookie with a swig of coffee, then replied “Yeah, I guess your right. Besides, I have a funny feeling I’m gonna be seeing Sal sometime soon.”

Joe’s eyebrows notched up slightly. “Really? When does he usually pop in on you?”

“Usually at night, and always when I’m alone. In fact, the funny part is that no one else seems to be able to see or hear him.”

“Really?” Joe didn’t seem too surprised.

“Yeah,” Cosmo continued “in fact – one night he popped in on me, I was upstairs doing homework – well, trying to – and POOF! There he was. We must have talked for ten minutes, and you and mom never heard a thing, apparently.”

Joe rubbed his chin and thought about this. “I sure would like to talk to him. I’ve had questions I’ve been wanting to ask him for a long time now. More now that you and I have talked.”

“Yeah – me too.” Cosmo agreed.

“Well, we’ll talk more later. I hear your mom coming, and that can only mean more coffee and cookies.”

Cosmo smiled. “Yeah…cookies. I had forgotten how much I liked her food.”

Joe snorted. “I hadn’t.”

Cosmo looked at his father in mock offense. “I beg your pardon. Are you implying I eat too much?”

“For a water buffalo, no. What I can’t understand is where you put it all.”

Cosmo’s eyes grew wide. “A water buffalo, huh? Well I got one for ya…”

“Take your best shot.” Now Joe had a laughing sort of twinkle in his eyes

“How is it that there haven’t been more plane crashes since you lost the rest of your hair – because when the sun hits that head of yours just right, it becomes a landing beacon, ya know.” Cosmo starting laughing as he said it.

Joe opened his mouth to give what might have been a witty retort, but found that he was laughing too hard himself to reply.

When Rosemary walked into the room, she found both of them laughing loudly and, with a look of confusion asked, “Have I missed something?”

They only laughed harder.