Page 11 of Sparrow

"Okay, I'll talk. My name is Owen Joseph Atkinson. I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and I still live there, although I've beenin California a lot during the last two years. I moved out there when we made that first movie."

"What's it called?"

"The Sound of Silence. My friend wrote it. It's the true story about another one of our friends."

"And that's how you got famous?"

"Yeah, if you can call what I am famous. I had auditioned some before that, but no film roles. His movie was my big break."

"What about your family?" I asked.

"My parents are still married. I have a sister named Caroline. She's in school to be a pediatrician. My mom's family, my grandfather, had cattle ranches back in the day, lots and lots of land. My mom had a lot of money ever since she was a little girl. She went to boarding school and things like that. When she was a teenager, she was introduced into society."

"What's that mean?" I asked.

"I don't even know. I'm not sure what it is. My dad's a physical therapist. He owns a big clinic in Memphis. We have two dogs, two golden retrievers named Sonny and Cher. My mom is all about homemaking. She decorates and entertains. Me, my dad, and my sister just get dressed up when she tells us to."

I laughed, finishing a bite and shaking my head. "How is your story so wholesome and perfect?"

"My parents paid for my theater stuff, and I'm thankful for that. I had a good childhood in a lot of ways. But I spent a lot of time feeling guilty that I wasn't playing football and baseball like my cousins. My dad was sort of embarrassed about the theater stuff when I was younger. As I got older, he changed. His clients started seeing my shows and congratulating him and then eventually, he came around. He wasn't mean about it. I just sort of always had this awareness that he would have beenprouder if I were playing football. I'm not complaining though. When it comes down to it, my parents are the ones who paid for all the theater, camps, lessons, costumes… I can't imagine how much they spent on all that when I was growing up. I'd probably feel bad if I knew the total amount. I've done eighty-two plays."

"Eighty-two?"

"Yes."

"You're not even eighty-two years old."

That made him laugh. "I hope not. I did more than one play a year, obviously."

I stared at him with a still-confused expression that made him laugh again. The sight of his laugh was ever so distracting. His smile. I had never met anyone who looked like him.

"I seriously didn't even know there were eighty-two different musicals in the whole world."

"Well, not all of them were musicals, and some of them are repeats. I've done Mary Poppins and the Addams family each three times, and there are a lot I've done twice."

I finished my last bite of burrito. "That is so far removed from my life," I said. "I'm trying to imagine doing musicals with my time, and it's just so different. I think we have the exact opposite lives."

"I guess you mostly meet new people when they come out here fishing. Our guide said it's a popular area for that."

"Yeah, but I don't really meet anyone. We have a family friend who runs a guide service, and he taught me how to fish, but I never go out fishing with him. I'm… I, uh, I spend a lot of time alone. I know that sounds bad. I’m not depressed about it or anything, it's just a fact. I don't have any brothers or sisters. It's just my mom and me, and Stanley, and a lot of times I just… go at it alone. I don't mind it. I'm not this kind of person who needs to have a big social life or anything."

"Did you already tell me who Stanley was to you? Are you related?"

"No, we… my… Stanley's not related to us, but we've been with him for a long time. As long as I can remember. I have a whole backstory that would probably freak you out, if you're not already."

"I’m not. This is just getting interesting."

"I brought juice and water," I said, turning to retrieve two thermoses out of the bag.

"I'm okay," he said. "Actually, I'll take some of the juice, if you don't mind."

I smiled as I handed him the pink thermos. He poured a sip into his mouth without holding it to his lips. I watched as he made a face as he drank the juice. He screwed up his face comically, and I laughed. He was a funny guy, and he was handsome, even when he was making faces and playing around.

"Grapefruit juice?" he said, still squinting.

"Only the best," I agreed. "Do you not like grapefruit juice?"

"No, it's fine, it's good… just not what I… I don't know what I expected when you said juice. Maybe apple? I was not expecting grapefruit."

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