Tire Swings

There was a time when I could breathe my life in you. And one by one your pale fingers started to move. And I touched your face and all life was erased. You smiled like an angel, fallen from grace. We’ve been slaves to this world from the moment we touched, and keep begging for more of this resurrection. –Resurrection HIM

She often told him he had to take Liam with him, despite the fact there was no possible way his friends could want to see the kid. He was nine, for Christssake. But he couldn’t really be left alone in the house, and tonight it had been particularly dark, and even though they wouldn’t be getting back until it was past Liam's bedtime…

“Put your jacket on.” Noel said from the doorway of their room, where his younger brother was flopped out on one of the beds (ownership was a moot point when it came to the two of them) reading a comic book, most likely one he had nicked from the news-stand around the corner.

“Really?” Liam lit up. Usually it was a struggle between the two of them that started with asking to tag along, went to whining, and then became begging. Usually their mother had to break in and insist that the younger brother be allowed to come along, but tonight she was working late, and for some reason Noel couldn’t put his finger on, he thought Liam could come.

“We’re going to the park. My mates are meeting me.” He tossed the kid his denim jacket. Normally he’d balk at the thought of wearing it, especially when Noel wasn’t wearing his, but tonight, perhaps because he didn’t want to risk his chance of going, he slipped it right on and tied his sneakers.

The young boy was unnaturally quiet as they walked through the dark streets the few blocks to the park. Technically it was closed, but it was dark, and the law had better things to do than worry about children playing.

“Go play,” Noel said as he spotted a knot of boys with shaggy haircuts and cigarettes dangling from their lips.

He didn’t need to be told twice. He scampered off immediately to the tire swing. It must be a treat, Noel thought, amused in spite of himself. Usually there was quite a line to use it, but now the kid had it all to himself.

Noel joined the boys, lit a cigarette and they started talking. Talking about birds, their lack of classes, the latest record, everything and anything. No one said a word about the kid on the swings, and no one seemed to notice when Noel glanced at him from time to time.

Before too long, the clouds started coming in, and the air grew thick and heavy. Noel frowned at the flash of lightning that illuminated the wooden monkey bars.

“Best be leaving then.” Someone mumbled. One by one, they all said their goodbyes and wandered off. Noel jammed his hands in his pockets with a sigh and made his way over to the swings.

His baby brother was laying across one, his bottom securely in the hole. He was staring up at the sky with quiet interest and a dreamy look in his eye. If Noel didn’t know better, he would have thought the child was beautiful.

“We’ve got to go.”

“Oh!” Liam jumped. “Couldn’t we stay just a bit longer? It’s so—so pretty out right now.”

“I suppose,” there was no hurry to get home. He’d just have to coerce him into a bath and into bed, and it wasn’t a fight he was in an rush to begin. He leaned against one of the poles and contemplated his brother.

Before he really noticed, he was moving towards the chains. Gently, he sent them spinning. Liam giggled and grinned.

“Faster?”

“Mm,” he spun the kid again, this time faster. Liam laughed out loud, and for some reason, the sound and the way he smiled only added to the electricity that was floating in the air between them.
“It’s going to rain soon. We ought to get home. Mam’ll kill me if you get soaked.” Noel stopped the swing by grabbing the chains. Liam stared up at him, and their eyes met just as another bolt of lightning flashed through the sky.

Noel’s fingers tingled as though it had jolted through him.

“Carry me,” Liam said in his simple way. Noel bent and swept up the kid, aware not for the first time of how nicely he fit against his chest, with his long legs locked around his waist and his head resting on his shoulder.

“I oughtn’t keep you out so late.” The older boy muttered to himself. The child made no reply other than to nestle further into his brother’s shoulder. A few tiny drops hit Noel on the had and he stopped.
“Hold on.” He set his brother down and stripped out of his sweater before lifting him back up. Wordlessly, he dropped the wool over his brother’s head before turning and heading home.