Page 118 of Red River

The sound came again.

River lifted his head, glancing around as if searching for the source.

Then he murmured, "Wait. I think… someone’s playing my violin."

The sentence was so bizarre, so out of place in our raunchy role-play, that even I jerked my head up and muttered, "Yeah… probably not monsters after all. We should go check it out."

River nodded with fake seriousness. "Definitely. Monsters will have to wait for their turn with me."

We quickly threw on some T-shirts and boxers before stepping out of my room. River’s bedroom door was open—and it wasn’t empty.

There was a single kid inside. I recognized him, even though I’d only seen him a few times before. He looked up at me with big, hazel eyes.

"Avery? What are you doing here?" I asked, keeping my voice as gentle as possible.

The boy seemed startled, clutching the violin tightly in his hands.

River smiled softly and said, "Hey, I’m River. Are you Milo’s brother?"

Avery nodded.

River continued, "Do you like playing the violin?"

Another nod, though he still looked a little nervous.

"I had no idea your family had musical talent—that’s really cool. I come from a family of musicians myself," River added with a friendly grin.

I figured it was time for me to step in.

"Still, you shouldn’t touch an expensive instrument like that without permission, especially if you don’t know how to play it properly."

"I… kinda do," the boy whispered, looking like a guilty thief caught in the act.

River waved a hand dismissively. "If you do, then it’s fine. I’m sure you know how to handle it carefully. Do your parents send you to music lessons?"

Avery shook his head.

"Not anymore," he admitted sadly. "I used to take lessons from Mr. Rogers, but he passed away a few months ago. Now I don’t play anymore because there aren’t any violin teachers nearby, and my dad hates online courses. He thinks they just don’t work."

"Well, it’s hard to learn an instrument with only online lessons," River agreed.

"Mr. Rogers used to visit our preschool too—he’d play for us and teach us little songs. But then he got hit by a car." His face fell.

"I’m really sorry to hear that," River said gently. "But… if your dad is okay with it, maybe you could come by, and I could show you a thing or two. I know a little about playing the violin."

I glanced at River in mild surprise. I could feel his energy even more than before—there was a hint of hesitation, but he really wanted to say that.

Avery slowly nodded. "Okay. I’ll ask my dad. I really liked playing. Mr. Rogers always said I had a knack for it."

River tilted his head. "You playedTwinkle Twinkle Little Starreally nicely. I could definitely teach you a few more fun pieces. My son, Lake, knows how to play it on the keyboard—maybe you two could play together sometime?"

Avery made a funny face. "Yeah, I met Lake. He’s the one who told me where to find the violin. That’s why I snuck in here. They’re probably looking for me by now." He spread his arms in a helpless gesture.

"No problem," River assured him. "Now that I know you actually play, I wouldn’t mind you stopping by my room to practice—as long as you handle the violin carefully."

"Of course," Avery promised. Then, with complete innocence, he added, "Anyway, I should go. Lake said you guys are making a baby."

I choked on a laugh. River did too.

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