at Casper's

Emily found Casper's house. It was smaller than she expected. But he still had brothers and sister there in their little Victorian style home.

"Well, he won't shut up about you," His older sister Carly told her. "I was beginning to think you were imaginary."

Emily smiled when she heard that.

She noticed Carly's long face a bit like Casper's. Her hair was dark and in a thick braid. She had the brownest eyes. She looked like something from long ago. When people went to one room school houses. Except she was in jeans and a light smock.

"Well, I'm here." She was a little afraid to meet these strangers, but not really. She wanted to know him. She wanted to know how it was at his house. Was it normal?

They all seemed so pleasant and fun. Someone was busy with a painting in the dining room. A younger brother was in the den practicing the violin. There was so much creativity going on everywhere.

"Well, lets just go see what he's doing." She lead the way, leaping up the stairs to his room. She opened the door. He had his back to them listening to something on his ear phones.

"He's practicing French, possibly. He might even go to Paris this summer. Something about being the number one French student in state. I think." Carly told her.

Emily nodded, not knowing just how smart Casper really was. She felt a bit unfit to even be here. Her throat was parched. How would she ever be that good at anything. Her eyes filled up with tears.

"Maybe I should go, he looks really busy." Emily found herself saying. She could back out now. He'd never have to know, would he?

"No, no you can't," Carly pulled Emily back into Casper's room. "He thinks so much of you. You can't. You just can't."

Emily nodded. Carly left them alone then and shut the door behind her.

Emily blew out a breath. What was she doing here? What had she expected?

She sat down on his bed. It was just a little twin bed. Wobbly. But she could see he was content with that. His fingers were moving quickly along a keyboard like a dance of some kind. It was like watching a robot at work. How could she dare ruin some sort of progress being made?

Finally he stopped what he was doing and pulled off the big earphone, got up and came over to her.

"I've been wondering when you'd get here," Casper smiled. "I've been sending you thoughts through my head for days now. I just didn't think you'd listen."

"That was you, huh?" She sighed. "Sorry, I took so long."

He took her hands in his.

"Um, I've been thinking I could use a haircut, don't you think?"

"Maybe," Emily sighed.

"I think we could all use a good haircut here. All of us." He nodded.

"All of you?" She was a bit unsure what he meant.

"Yes, all my brothers and sisters. Even my mother. I would even say my father, but he's off in Chicago at the moment."

"You want me to cut everyone's hair?"

"How will you get better if you don't cut more hair?" Casper was certain. "But you must be a stylist. Yes, style it. I want to look more, edgy, you know."

"Edgy?" was he serious, she wondered as he pulled her up to her feet. "All right, then."

Maybe she would never get better unless she started doing the thing she really loved.