Page 110 of Them Bones

Mr. Bard would be seeing the new piece for the first timeat the event.

Mildra popped an Ativan and another Pepcid.

Several U-Hauls had pulled up in the back loaded with wooden crates and teenagers, and she directed everyone to the lobby where Mr. Bard had decided he wanted Dustin’s installation to be front and centre, the first thing everyone saw when they walked in.

Dustin and a black-haired girl and boy who must have been twins directed traffic, seeming to know exactly what spot to place each crate in. They’d custom-built the transportation crates; apparently one of the senior students had done it as her end of the year project. It was ingenious, really; instead of using nails and having to pry the lids off, each side of the box slid into grooved slots in the wooden frames, so if you popped the panels out by sliding them upwards, the frame naturally came apart into pieces.

As each piece was unveiled, her anxiety eased.

“I told you he has something special,” Nancy said, stepping up beside Mildra. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and he’s onlytwelve.”

They watched in silence as the crew began assembling the pieces of metal and wood, similar texture choices to the piece he’d built for the school display but with a totally different feel… The one at the school had felt cool and otherworldly, like the secret garden of a mermaid, or something. This one had a distinctly earthy, woodsy vibe despite the heavy use of metals.

It took almost seven hours to complete, but as they all stood back to admire their handiwork, Mildra had to admit she’d never seen anything quite like it.

While not a single individual part looked like a tree or a plant inanyway, she had the very specific feeling of walking through some kind of sacred wood, each cluster of materials expertly welded and carved and melted together, somehow feeling like… theessenceof trees.

It was breathtaking, and they all walked among the piece in silence, taking it in. She half expected some kind of pagan wood nymph to appear out of nowhere and take her hand, leading her away into a metal meadow.

Dustin excused himself to get changed for the event and returned wearing a very nice suit. Nancy was looking at him withpride, tears in her eyes, and even Mildra felt her heartstrings tugged. The boy was looking at Nancy with pure, unadulterated gratitude, but what she noticed most of all was that Nancy was the only person she’d seen him make eye contact with all day.

Mr. Bard’s driver delivered him to the doors at exactly 5:54pm with six minutes to spare before the opening.

Mildra watched his face as he took in the installation and smiled to herself.

She’d be getting agoodbonus this year…

LANEY

Shane in a suit was driving her crazy. Everywhere they went she could feel women’s eyes on him, and her jealousy was boiling over.

She knew Shane was just as jealous. She could feel the hot, heavy gaze of men on her exposed back and the involuntary, irritated squeeze of Shane’s hand every time their eyes raked her over.

She’d worn a slinky, silk green halter dress, the back indecently low, showing the dimples in her low back and ending in a point right above her ass crack. Shane looked like he’d swallowed a lemon when he’d seen her.

His hair was slicked back and he was disgustingly handsome in his black suit and black shirt with the sleeves pushed up, no tie. He was dark, and dangerous, andhers.

They drifted hand in hand through the crowd, each cradling a glass of champagne, people parting for them like royalty as they took in Dustin’s exhibit.

“This is miraculous,” Shane had said with genuine awe. “Dustin is fuckingbrilliant.”

Nancy was there in a white robe with blue embroidery, wearing pointy-toed silk slippers, keeping her distance fromDustin to allow him the spotlight but never far enough away that he got uncomfortable. Laney felt a wave of gratitude for Dustin’s teacher; not only had she introduced him to art and gotten him into a wonderful school, but she seemed to reallyunderstandhim and gave him just enough space that he didn’t feel pressured but stayed in his orbit enough to feel supported.

“I think Dustin’s got this,” Laney whispered to Shane. “I think… he doesn’t need me. Not this time.”

Shane looked at Laney with longing and glanced at Dustin.

“Do you want to get out of here?” he whispered to her.

She nodded eagerly, and he put his arm around her as they slipped out of the A.G.O.

“The truck is that way,” Laney said, as Shane started walking in the wrong direction.

“We’re not going to the truck. Not tonight.”

Her cheeks warmed at the tone in his voice, and he tucked her even closer to him as they walked quietly down the busy city street, catching the curiosity of passers-by.

When they stopped in front of a grand-looking hotel made entirely of glass, Laney felt her heart start pounding out an uneven rhythm.

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